A When Calls the Heart Jack and Elizabeth Story

What if things were different: Reversal of fortune

Elizabeth Thatcher, wearing a simple skirt and blouse, stood in front of the chalkboard, writing the day's math assignment in figures large enough that even the children who would sit in the back of the room would be able to see it.

As she pushed a rebellious curl out of her face, she realized that she had probably gotten chalk dust on her forehead. For a moment, she wished she had taken a room at the saloon, instead of agreeing to stay with Abigail Stanton, so she could quickly go upstairs and check her appearance in a mirror. She liked staying with Abigail, but it was a bother that her home was one of the farthest from the saloon.

Oh well, she thought. The students would be here soon and it wasn't as if they would be immaculately groomed. Not like the wealthy kids she had expected to be teaching at the prestigious school in Hamilton.

She had splurged and spent more money than she could afford on getting a nice dress in anticipation of teaching in Hamilton. Now the dress, with its lace detail and tiny cloth-covered buttons, lay in her room at Abigail's. There was no reason to wear such a fancy dress to teach in a saloon.

Hamilton. That was where she had expected to be teaching. She had dreamed of living in a big city, teaching a classroom of motivated students, visiting museums in her free time. She had finally gotten her dream job, to teach at one of the top rated schools in the city, and then suddenly it was taken away.

She still didn't understand how she had ended up here, in this small town of Coal Valley. Even the name was unimaginative.

The sound of footsteps and a glimpse of red clothing out of the corner of her eye caused her to turn around.

"Oh, hello, I didn't know anyone else was here", she said when she saw the man, about her age and wearing red serge, walking past the tables.

"Good morning, I'm staying in one of the rooms upstairs until something more permanent can be arranged."

"I'm Elizabeth Thatcher. I'm the new teacher here, but I guess you've probably already gathered that".

Elizabeth offered her hand to the man and noticed that he was only a few inches taller than her, although perhaps that was because she was wearing heels.

"Constable Jack Thornton, I'm the new Mountie in town, but I guess you've already gathered that", he said with a friendly smile.

He spoke like a man who came from wealth. She noticed his confidence, his perfect diction, the way his uniform fit him impeccably. He was also handsome, there was no denying that, but Elizabeth wasn't interested in meeting any handsome Mounties. She had come to Coal Valley to teach for year, hopefully less, and that was it.

Why, he's actually flirting with me, teasing me about feeling cheated out of chalk dust, Elizabeth realized when she apologized for thinking she had gotten some chalk on his hands. Why is it that men in uniform or with wealth always think they can turn a poor girl's head?

When Elizabeth, trying to think of polite conversation, mentioned that she was surprised that Coal Valley merited a full time Mountie, she was even more surprised by the constable's answer.

"I've always dreamed of having an assignment out west, in a small town, living so close to the wilderness. I don't want a job working in an office building or a big city. I couldn't ask for a more perfect assignment that being out here."

"Not me. I've lived in a small town my whole life. My original teaching posting was in Hamilton but that suddenly changed," Elizabeth responded candidly.

"I imagine Coal Valley will be a little quieter for you than a busy city like Hamilton"

"Wait, you know the city?"

"Very well, my family's lived there and has had a business there for many years."

"What's the business?"

"Thornton. Thornton Shipping"

"Thornton Shipping. . . Your mother is Mrs. Thornton, the education philanthropist?" Elizabeth was stunned.

"Well, I don't think of her that way, but yes, I suppose she is."

"Well, now it's all making sense", Elizabeth said coldly.

"What is?" Jack asked, clearly confused.

"Constable Thornton, a week ago I had never even heard of Coal Valley and while I was planning my trip to Hamilton, I was told that I was being reassigned by the Superintendent of Schools. Reassigned at the request of a very powerful family. I'm almost sure it was your family."

"My family?"

"Your mother is a well-known socialite and reformer, especially when it comes to education. She's donated money to several schools and funded numerous scholarships."

Elizabeth's voice was harsh as she continued her rant, "She obviously heard about this town because her precious son was getting stationed here. And she found out that there wasn't a teacher here, so she probably contacted her connections and made sure that this dusty coal town had a teacher!"

"Miss Thatcher, I'm sure my mother had nothing to do with you getting posted here."

"Well, I am just as sure that she did. You want to live out your dream, and your mommy is making sure you have the perfect little town your family money can buy. Because of you, I'll be spending the next year teaching barely literate barefoot children instead of the taking class field trips to art museums and city hall and libraries and listening to visiting scholars!"

"Miss Thatcher, let's be clear. Even if my mother did pull strings to get you assigned here, I have no need for a teacher who doesn't want to teach students who desperately need her. Good day."

Elizabeth stood there fuming as Constable Jack Thornton put on his hat, then grabbed the brim and slightly tipped it to her in a gentlemanly fashion before walking out of the saloon.

It wasn't that Elizabeth had something against teaching the students. She would teach them as best as she could. But she had grown up poor herself, going to a one room school of barefoot and barely literate students.

Hamilton had been her chance to live her dream, to get out of a small town. And now, a rich infuriatingly handsome man who wanted to play Mountie instead of working in the family business was interfering with her plans!

Abigail handed Elizabeth the bowls of steaming soup to put on the table, as she checked on the dinner rolls in the oven.

"How is teaching going so far?"

"Fine, other than I had to break up a fight between some boys."

"The children are going through a rough time, with the mine accident. It's affected everyone in town, in some way or another."

"I know, Abigail, and I'm so sorry for your loss. And I can relate to the students." Elizabeth said sympathetically.

"How old did you say you were when your father died?"

"Ten. It was rough. My mother took in sewing to help, and by the time I was 12, I was working odd jobs to help out . . . sewing, . . .cleaning . .. watching children."

The women moved around the kitchen quietly for a minute, each thinking of their own losses: Abigail's son and husband in the mine accident, and Elizabeth's father from sickness.

"What do you think of the new Mountie in town?" Abigail asked, as she poured them each a glass of milk.

"He's got no business being here. Did you see the fancy clothes he's been wearing when not in uniform? He's worn a different shirt every day. It's obvious his clothes are all hand tailored just for him. I'm sure they cost a fortune."

"You must have been staring at him quite a bit to notice that", Abigail said with a grin.

Elizabeth blushed a little as she quickly explained, "I sew. I notice well-made clothes. That's all."

"I heard him, over at the Saloon, talking to some men. He was mentioning an animal he had seen in the woods, and asking if anyone knew what it was. I had to tell him it was Fisher cat. The idiot thought it was a weasel or muskrat."

"Elizabeth, that's harsh. I'm sure a wealthy city boy isn't used to seeing Fisher cats in the city. The women in town seem to be quite taken by him. He's been talking to the widows, asking questions about the mine accident and also the church burning. I'm actually impressed with him. He seems like a very thorough, intelligent, caring man. You can't blame him because he comes from a wealthy family."

"I'm sure he's nice enough. If the town women want him, they can have him." Elizabeth said with a disinterested shrug.

"What about you? You don't think you'll ever settle done and marry?"

"I want to be a teacher. Most places don't allow married female teachers. After I teach for a while, I want to go back to school some more, and maybe one day even teach at a college! There's no room in my life for a husband. If the school system wanted female teachers to marry, they wouldn't make it against the rules."

Jack sat at his desk surveying the jail. He had never lived in such a primitive town and it would take some getting used to. But if he had to choose between this town and working in the family business, he was choosing this town.

He had spent his summers, home from boarding school, working at Thornton Shipping, learning about contracts, how to make a profit on cheap labor, the best transportation methods, and even the best type of wood for shipping crates. He hated it. He hated that everything and everyone involved was about making the most profit. Not just that, it was dull.

Jack had promised his family that he would write when he had arrived in Coal Valley. He had already sent a telegram, but he knew Tom would appreciate a letter. Even though he and Tom were opposites in many ways, they were still close.

Dear Tom,

Coal Valley is everything I imagined. I really feel like I'll be doing some good here. There's been an accident at the local mine that caused the death of over 40 miners, as well as a possible case of arson at the church. Pretty exciting for my first week.

The trip here was interesting. After sleeping in a tent and eating off a campfire for a few days, I can't say I didn't miss my feather bed and Cook's warm breakfasts.

I know father expects me to take over the Shipping business one day, and I appreciate you stepping up and supporting me. Father thinks I'll get this "Mountie business", as he puts it, out of my system, but I don't think so.

I'm sleeping at the saloon for now. It's probably best not to tell mum or she'll most likely get hysterical and order father to quickly have a house built for me. My room is small and barren, nothing like back home, but I am enjoying the experience.

Give my best to everyone back home, including the boys at the club.

P.S. You can tell mum that there's a new teacher in town. She's infuriating, but quite the looker, but best not tell mum that part. I'm sure Mum's already lining up more suitable marriageable ladies to force on me when I get back to Hamilton. If mother thought she was sending an old schoolmarm here, I think she'd be very surprised.

Jack

As Jack sat there, he found himself thinking more about Elizabeth. Despite her objection to teaching in Coal Valley, he had heard nothing but good things about her from the students and their parents. By all accounts, she was a fine dedicated teacher.

He decided that if she wasn't so stubborn about being assigned to Coal Valley, they might actually become friends.

The more he thought about Elizabeth, the more he realized that he liked her unruly hair, the way she put her hands on her hips when she was frustrated, her feistiness. She was nothing like his female friends back home in Hamilton. Jack smiled when he thought about what she would be like if she was in the same room as the ladies he had grown up with. He had no doubt she'd be able to hold her own.

Jack decided he might just like to see more of Miss Elizabeth Thatcher.