Dear Readers, I hope you have enjoyed my previous Vignettes written under the name jellybean49. Each of them has a different unique theme. In Vignette 10, "Snowfall", Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy on a cold snowy December evening in the town of Bear Creek.

I got the idea for this newest vignette from a reader who wrote that "Wishes" was one of her favorite words. Thank you for the inspiration.

Vignette 11 – Wishes and the Necessary Vessel

Chapter 1 - Sleep

The winter sun wouldn't be up for at least another hour but the baby in the mercantile house didn't care. He kicked out his legs and alternated between sucking on his fist and making cooing sounds as his father looked adoringly at him.

At four weeks old, the infant had no idea that most families did not live in a mercantile turned into a home, or that it was unusual to have a Mountie for a father.

He didn't know that his mother had given up a high society lifestyle of fancy galas and a mansion staffed with servants to marry his father and live in a small town.

The infant had no idea that one of the soft blankets which covered him was made of the finest cotton and had been sent by his grandparents who had purchased it at one of the most exclusive stores in Canada. Or that the second blanket in his bassinet was hand crocheted by his other grandmother.

The infant only knew that he liked the feeling he got when the man who was now looking down at him was around. He liked the man and the way he cuddled him.

And he liked the woman too. The usual gentle sound of her voice and the warmth of her breast when she fed him.

"I wish I could sleep all morning", Elizabeth grumbled as she pulled a pillow over her head.

"I wish you could too but I've got to get to work and someone has to watch the baby", Jack replied as he finished buttoning up his shirt and then reached into the bassinet and picked up his son.

"Why doesn't he ever sleep?" moaned Elizabeth.

"I thought he slept through the night", Jack said in surprise.

"You slept through the night. He was up at 10:30 at night and then again at 1:30 in the morning and again at 4:00."

Elizabeth had expected that the first months of being a new mother would be tiring. But she had never thought it would be this bad. Three hours. That was the longest the baby had slept at one time. That was the longest Elizabeth had slept at one time.

Sitting up in bed, she reached out her arms and took the baby from Jack.

"Come here, Pumpkin", she said wearily as she brought the infant to her chest. "Mama loves you. Mama can barely keep her eyes open, but she loves you."

The four weeks of motherhood had flown by. The awkwardness and nervousness of the first few days had been replaced with comfortable ease after the routine of feedings, changing diapers, and baths had had become more frequent.

The town, so thrilled with Elizabeth as a teacher, hadn't objected to the new school schedule.

After the new year began, Elizabeth had been granted her request for a two week extension of winter break. And after that, she had started a shortened day. Classroom instruction for just three hours in the mornings and independent assignments in the afternoons.

It meant that she had many more papers to read and grade. But she preferred that to leaving the baby for longer times with a sitter or keeping him for more hours at school, where she found herself continually looking at him in the cradle by her desk.

During the afternoons, when she was waiting for Jack to come home for dinner, she would snuggle with the baby sleeping on her chest and read her students' papers until she too fell asleep.

The temperature was too cold for the baby to spend much time outside, but the weather didn't prevent Jack from having to do his rounds. Elizabeth missed him now more than ever when he was gone. Never before had it been so clear that a part of the family was missing when Jack wasn't home.

The helpless little baby boy who couldn't sleep through the night had done something much more important. He had made the Thorntons into a family.

What'd your father say?" Jack asked that evening as he walked around the front room, gently rubbing the baby's back as the boy's head rested on Jack's strong shoulder.

Elizabeth set down the letter she had been reading and glanced up.

"They want us to come visit as soon as the weather is better. And the family lawyer needs to know our son's name so he can start the trust fund and add him to father's will."

"Doc Hudson asked me again today. He says he needs to register the birth certificate. It's already been four weeks."

"I still can't decide", Elizabeth lamented.

"Well, you better hurry up because I am not putting "Pumpkin Thornton" on the birth certificate."

"But he is my little pumpkin!" Elizabeth replied as she looked at the tiny baby, her eyes full of adoration.

"Elizabeth, have you actually ever seen a pumpkin? Because thankfully our son is not a round orange vegetable without arms and legs."

"I know. I know. But I can't decide.", Elizabeth said with a sigh. "That's the problem with being a school teacher. Every time you say a possible name, it reminds me of a student. Then I think of something I didn't like about that boy. I've had a lot of truly dreadful boys in my classes."

"Well, Thatch wants an official name."

"I am not naming our baby Thatcher. People will think he thatches roofs for a living. It's not even a real first name", Elizabeth said dismissively.

"It's the perfect name," Jack countered as he turned his head to the side and gave the now sleeping baby a gentle kiss. "He reminds me of you every time I see him. Stubborn and loves me. Besides, he likes it when I call him Thatch. I can tell."

"I like Jack."

"It's too confusing. Having two Jacks in the house."

"We can call him Jack, Jr. or J.J. or Baby Jack, or even Little Jack", Elizabeth offered helpfully.

"Except that's what Sabrina calls Jacklyn", she said as she thought of their close friends the LaPointes and their adorable daughter that they had named after Jack when he both saved Sabrina's life and delivered Jacklyn in the same day.

"Although this is the real little Jack", she added with a smile as she stood up from the couch and walked over to her husband and son. She softly ran her fingers over the baby's fine dark brown hair.

Jack was hesitant to name the boy after himself. Not only because it might be confusing to have two Jacks in the house, but because it felt a little vain to him. And he was worried that it would perhaps put too much pressure on the boy to live up to his father or be compared to him.

Although, secretly Jack had to admit that it would make him feel both honored and humbled to have his son carry his name.

"I'll be gone for four days. Can you try to come up with some more choices when I'm gone?"

"I'll try. But no guarantees", Elizabeth said as she smiled at her son and lightly wiggled one of his little feet.

Elizabeth and Jack had spent weeks trying out possible names.

Stephen. Walter. Frederick. Ethan. Jacob. Silas. Adam. Douglas. Peter. Brian. Patrick. Scott. Francis. Marcus. Anthony. Daniel. Sebastian. Arthur. Carleton. Robert. Christopher. David. Gregory. Henry. Louis. Oscar. Sean. Victor. Howard. Barney. Stuart. Timothy. George.

Nothing seemed right.

Elizabeth had offered Charles or Charlie as a suggestion, thinking that it would be a nice way to honor Jack's mother Charlotte. After all, Charles was the masculine form of the name Charlotte. It wasn't until Jack had given her a strange look at her suggestion, that she realized that it was entirely inappropriate given her past friendship with a man by the same name, even though she had pretty much entirely forgotten about him.

Even Thomas, Jack's father's name, didn't seem right because it was also Jack's brother's name.

"I don't want to think of your little brother Tom every time I look at my son", Elizabeth had explained to Jack.

When she had explained it that way, Jack had readily agreed that it wasn't the right choice.

And Jack cringed at naming the baby William after Elizabeth's father.

Unable to agree on the perfect name, the couple fell into a habit of doing what came natural to them. Jack called the baby 'Thatch' or 'my boy', and Elizabeth called him 'pumpkin'.

For four weeks, the little Thornton baby was adored, cuddled, fed whenever he was hungry, snuggled in bed, bathed in kisses, swaddled, rocked in loving arms, sung to, and worshiped.

He just didn't have a real name.

Despite Elizabeth's promise to Jack that she would try to come up with some more name choices while he was gone, she was too busy with the baby, laundry, and school work to even think about any.

When Jack arrived back in town three days later, a day earlier than expected, his eyes lit up when he walked in the front door and saw his family.

Elizabeth pushed the pile of freshly laundered cloth diapers from her lap, picked up the baby from the couch beside her, and greeted Jack warmly.

Jack gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before taking the baby from her arms and giving the small boy all his attention.

"Go get freshened up. I'll make you something to eat", Elizabeth said as she headed to the kitchen.

Elizabeth smiled as Jack maneuvered off his jacket, shrugging a shoulder out of the sleeve, while he held securely to the baby with the other arm. Even his three-day stubble of beard growth and his slightly disheveled hair couldn't distract from his good looks.

As she carried some potatoes from the pantry and thought about making a quick meal of chopped potatoes, onions, and eggs, Elizabeth noticed how Jack set the baby down on the floor and sat down beside him to pull off his long Mountie-issued boots. Cooing and smiling at the baby the whole time.

It's so good to have him home, Elizabeth thought as she appreciated how gentle Jack was with the baby despite his strong arms and ruggedness.

As Elizabeth looked at her handsome husband, the desire in her was so great that she could barely think straight.

She was almost giddy just thinking about it.

I never thought I'd want something so desperately.

Elizabeth wanted one thing and one thing only.

Sleep.

She wanted hours of uninterrupted sleep without a baby tugging at her breast. Or whimpering to be held. Or fussing because he needed to be changed. Or cooing just because he was awake and happy.

And now that Jack was here, she could have it.

Not a whole night. But maybe four or five hours in a row!

Elizabeth loved being a mother. But even a mother needs sleep.

I'll feed them both quickly, kiss them goodnight, and crawl into bed.

Bed!

The first thing Elizabeth noticed the next morning was the warm sun on her face. Oh, I feel wonderful. Who knew hours of continuous sleep could be so delicious. She realized that she had probably slept at least five hours straight.

Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and stretched, raising her arms from out under the thick feather bed covering. She looked over at the bassinet next to the bed.

Thank you, Jack, for taking the baby, she thought with a smile as she snuggled against her pillow. I didn't even hear the two of them get up this morning. And it's a Saturday! No school!

Sitting up and noticing the serene quietness of the house, Elizabeth reached into her nightstand drawer and took out her journal. Flipping through the pages, she realized she hadn't written anything in three weeks. Between feedings, diaper changes, and preparing school lessons, she simply hadn't had the time.

Time to rectify that, she thought as she turned to the next blank page.

Or maybe not, she thought as her body let her know that the baby was overdue for a feeding.

"Jack?"

"Jack, I need to feed the baby", she said louder this time.

When she was met with silence, Elizabeth crawled out of bed and slipped into her flannel robe.

"Jack?" she called out to the empty home as she looked in the front room and then walked into the kitchen.

Elizabeth took down a mug and some tea from the cupboard, filled the kettle with water, and placed it on the stove as she thought about Jack.

He's so adorable. He's either at the livery teaching the baby about horses, although I can't believe he expects him to understand a word of it. Or they're at the jailhouse again. Learning about Mountie work. Gosh, I hope my baby's first word isn't arrest, or wanted, or culprit, instead of mama!

He better not be with Michael again. Walking around town seeing whose baby gets the most oohs and aahhs in some sort of manly competition!

Elizabeth had been slightly upset last weekend when she found out that the baby had missed his nap and been cranky because Jack and his friend, Michael, were parading their babies though town while keeping a tally of which little boy got the most compliments. The only thing that had mollified Elizabeth was when Jack told her that their son had won. Well of course he won. With those blue eyes and dark brown hair. Of course, he won!, she had told Jack with a smile as she had taken her son from his arms and unwrapped him from his thick blankets and hat.

Now as she crawled back into bed with her cup of tea, Elizabeth looked at the clock.

If he just keeps the baby another 30 minutes, I can write in my journal, drink my tea, and even maybe read a bit, she thought happily.

The jingling of the bell over the front door, a remnant from the building's days as the town mercantile, caused Elizabeth to smile and set down her book.

"Is that you, Jack?"

"Yeah, It's me. Morning, sweetie. The Websters send their best. I was over at their homestead. Sorry I was gone so long," Jack yelled out as he took off his jacket and hung it on the hook by the front door.

"I'll be right back to you. Let me just put some stuff in the pantry. Mrs. Webster gave us some canned sauces and preserves," Jack called as he headed to the kitchen.

"Ooh, sounds yummy. Can you put some jam on a piece of bread for me?" Elizabeth called out towards the kitchen as she remained snuggled in bed.

"And some juice?" she asked happily as Jack walked into the bedroom a few minutes later with a plate of bread and jam.

Jack smiled. "Sure thing", he said as he handed her the plate and then turned around and went back to the kitchen.

"Where's the baby?" Elizabeth asked a minute later as she swallowed a bite of bread and took the glass of juice from Jack.

Jack laughed. "What do you mean, 'Where's the baby?"

"The baby, Jack. Where's the baby?" Elizabeth asked again with a chuckle.

With a perplexed look on his face, Jack stared at her.

"Seriously, Jack. Where's the baby? I really need to feed him", Elizabeth said as she set the glass of juice on the nightstand and unbuttoned the top of her nightdress. "I'm so full it hurts."

When Elizabeth looked up at him expectantly, Jack furrowed his brow in confusion and returned her gaze.

"Jack? The baby", Elizabeth said more insistently.

For goodness sakes I'm not speaking a foreign language. What is so hard for him to understand? she thought humorously with a shake of her head.

Jack swiftly crossed the room and looked into the bassinet.

Seeing that it was empty, he glanced at Elizabeth.

When she just looked at him curiously, Jack hurriedly reached over to the bed and frantically pulled back the feather filled cover and the sheets, revealing an empty mattress except for Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth! Where's the baby?!" he asked in alarm.

"What the hell did you do with the baby?!" he asked more urgently as Elizabeth now stared at him in surprise.

"You have him!" Elizabeth yelled. "You took him so I could sleep!"

Elizabeth scrambled out of bed when she saw Jack's horrified eyes. "Didn't you?"

"No! I've been gone for three hours. I told you I was leaving! He was in his bassinet when I left!"

"I didn't hear you! I was asleep", Elizabeth replied as she quickly picked up the pillows from the bed and then threw them on the floor when they revealed nothing.

She too now grabbed the sheets and feather cover. Thinking that she must have sleepily brought the boy to bed with her.

Hurriedly she moved the bedding around as if the baby would simply tumble out onto the mattress. When she didn't see any little fingers or toes or his plump little body, she patted out the puffy parts of the thick feather cover and then lifted it up and shook it.

"Maybe I heard you. But it didn't register. When I woke up I thought you took the baby with you!", she yelled as she threw the empty bedding on the floor.

"Why would I take the baby if I were going on rounds?!"

"I didn't know!", Elizabeth wailed. "I didn't pay attention when you were talking to me. I told you I was sleeping!"

"Jack, he can't get out of his bassinet by himself!" she yelled as she watched Jack frantically looking under the bed and in the small closet.

Jack hurried into the front room, but almost immediately came back to Elizabeth, who was now staring in shock at the empty bassinet.

"He's not there!" he said desperately.

"And I didn't lock the front door when I left this morning. I thought you'd be up and about", he admitted.

"You must have heard something! What have you been doing for three hours?" he demanded as he continued to frantically look around.

While Jack checked the bedroom window and found that it was still locked, Elizabeth guiltily explained that she had been asleep most of the morning and then relaxing in bed.

"I don't understand", Elizabeth said in a stunned voice.

She felt dazed. Unable to grasp that the little boy was not with her or Jack.

Elizabeth looked in the bassinet again as if somehow she and Jack had both merely overlooked the boy. She half expected him to be laying there under his blankets looking up at her and waiting to be fed.

But he wasn't.

Elizabeth found herself unable to breath while at the same time she couldn't control her rapid heartbeat.

Finally Jack spoke the words neither of them wanted to think.

"Someone took him. Someone stole our baby."

Jack and Elizabeth stared at each other in shock.

Their baby. The infant without a name was missing.

Someone had taken the Thornton's tiny adorable baby boy.

Elizabeth, so overcome with fear and dread, didn't realize that her and Jack's wish from earlier in the week had come horribly true.

She had slept all morning.

Up next: Chapter 2