Back Story 1

The way I'm going to do this is I'll have chapters of in the present of the story, (like chapter 1) and then chapters in the past (like this one called Back Story) All the ones that are called "Chapter 1, 2…" are in the present. And of course, all the ones that are "Back Story 1, 2…" are in the past.

The young woman stepped down out of the stage and gave a contented sigh as she looked around the town. So, this is Hope Valley where Aunt Abigail lives. She thought as she surveyed the town. "Miss McCallister?" A voice brought her back to the present. "Here you go, you're such a good boy." Cooed that lady who had been holding David as she passed him down to his mother. "Thank you." Rachel replied as she took him in her arms.

"What would you like done with your bags, Miss?" The driver asked as he untied her luggage from the back of the coach.

Rachel quickly looked around. "Um, just next to the chair please, oh, and the crib belongs to me as well." She said as she pointed to a wooden cane basket on the top of the roof. She waited until the driver had gotten her belongings down, then she placed David inside his crib and gave the driver a small tip for his help.

As she watched the coach move down the road, she wondered if coming to Hope Valley was the right thing to do, then she saw her aunt. "Abigail? Abigail!"

Abigail heard someone calling her from behind and turned around. "Rachel Harrison?"

Rachel nodded.

"Rachel!" Abigail said as she ran over to her. "You didn't tell me you were coming to visit!" She exclaimed as she gave Rachel a warm hug.

Any doubts about if she should have come here or not quickly vanished as Rachel saw how excited her Aunt was to see her. "If I did, it wouldn't have been a surprise, would it?"

Abigail nodded, still not believing what she was seeing. "What are you doing here?"

"There's plenty of time to answer your questions later, but first I'd like you to meet someone." Rachel giggled as she led Abigail over to the crib. She picked David up and handed him to Abigail. "Abigail, this is David. David, meet my Aunt Abigail."

Abigail giggled as David tried to grab her hair with his chubby hands. "How old is he?"

"Ten months today." Rachel replied with pride.

"You must be exhausted and hungry after your ride in from Cape Fullerton."

"Yes, the food at the way station wasn't exactly first class, and neither was the accommodation." Rachel laughed. "They didn't even have lights."

"Come on then. You can come over to the café and I'll get Emily to serve you up a nice meal. It's on the house."

"Why don't you join me?" Rachel asked as she took David back from Abigail.

"I would love to, but I have to go to the office, I'm already late." Abigail said, noticing Bill crossing the street. "Bill, can you come over here for a minute?"

Bill checked the road before he jogged over. "Yes, Abigail?"

"Can you give Rachel a hand with her luggage? I need to go to the office. Just take it to the café for the moment until I find somewhere for Rachel to stay."

"Oh, you don't need to do that." Rachel protested.

"Well, the hotel isn't suitable for a young woman to stay in by herself, but I don't have any room at my place either. I'll ask Emily if you can stay with her and her husband when I get off work." Abigail replied.

Bill stood waiting for the women to make up their minds, but he quickly got tired of that and placed the luggage just inside the door of the café. "If you don't need me anymore, I'll get back to the jail. I'll stop by later with your lunch, Abigail." Bill said as he passed them on his way back to the Mountie office.

"Thanks, Bill." Abigail replied as she started to walk to her office.

"You don't mind if I walk with you?" Rachel asked quietly.

"No, it's a pleasure."

"Is it just me, or is there something going on between you and that handsome sheriff?" Rachel prodded.

Abigail rolled her eyes and went red. "We're just friends and business partners, nothing more. Is this why you wanted to walk with me?"

Rachel giggled. "Maybe. I'm not blind, I can see the way he looks at you. He's in looove with you." She joked.

"Rachel!" Abigail laughed. "We're only friends." She was about to say more when Josie came galloping up on Thowra, and leading Abigail's horse, Eagle. "Josie, what's wrong?"

Josie slid Thowra to a stop. She didn't answer the question but made her own. "Is Carson in town?"

"No, he had to go out to visit the Johnsons. Their boy is sick, and Faith went with him. He won't be back for a few hours. What's happened?"

"There's been an accident on the road just south of here. A buggy went over the side of the bridge and there's a couple of people badly injured. If you can ride out and see what you can do, I'll go and try to find Dr. Shepherd and Faith." Josie said as she threw the other horse's reins to Abigail.

"Right." Abigail said as she mounted the horse. "Get Bill to come give me a hand too, and tell Lee to bring a couple of his wagons. If they're badly injured, we'll have to move them using the wagons. Rachel?" Abigail asked as she was about to turn the horse around.

"Yes?"

"I'll need you to tell that man in the grey suit over there that I can't meet him today. Let him know that we'll reschedule his appointment for a time tomorrow."

"Alright."

"Thanks, Git up." Abigail quickly wheeled her horse around and cantered in the direction that Josie had just come from.

Rachel sighed as she watched Abigail and the other girl that had come to tell her about the accident ride back out of town again. Well, this was a unexpected welcome. She chuckled to herself, then started on the task Abigail had appointed to her.

As Rachel opened the door to the café, the smell of fresh bread greeted her and reminded her of just how hungry she was. She put David down into his crib and sat down at a table.

"Won't be a minute." A voice called out from the kitchen, then Rachel could hear the ladies' footsteps approaching "Rachel?"

She turned and saw her best friend from school standing near the counter. "Emily! What on earth are you doing here?"

"Well, I could ask you the same thing!" Emily exclaimed. "The last I knew of you, you were still living in Australia."

"Well, my husband owns a lot of properties around the world, and he had to come to Vancouver on business, so I decided to come and visit my Aunt Abigail. I never expected to find you here too!" Rachel exclaimed she gave her friend a hug. "How on earth did you end up here?"

"Long story, but that can wait. I want to hear about you." Emily teased as she sat down at a table next to Rachel.

"And I'll be happy to listen to it, but right now David needs to have a feed. Is there any place private that I could feed him in?" Rachel asked as David began to fuss and cry.

"I'm sure Abigail wouldn't mind you using one of the rooms upstairs. She would be happy for you to use it. I have to go and make a delivery of backed goods to the school for the kids treats, and then I'll be back and we can talk." Emily said as she got up and grabbed a basket that was on another table.

"Okay, sounds good." Rachel said as she picked David up. "Yes, yes, lets go get you fed."

It was later in the afternoon when Abigail and Josie finally got back to the café. She walked through the kitchen door after Josie closed it and sighed as she took off her gloves and muddy coat. "Emily?"

"In here, Abigail." Emily called out from the front of the café.

"Here," Abigail passed a towel to Josie. "I won't be long." She said as she walked into the other room.

Emily turned around. "What on earth happened to you?" She asked as she looked at Abigail's muddy and damp clothes.

"Well, I had a little accident myself and ended up in the river for an unplanned swim. Rachel, by the way, did you tell the man about us having to change the time of our meeting?"

"Yes, I did. He wasn't too happy about it I might add as well. But that doesn't matter. Are the people who were injured in the buggy accident alright?"

"There was nothing we could do for one of them, he passed on the way back, but the girl and wife should be fine. Our doctor is looking after them now. And I might add, that you jinxed me this morning too, Rachel." Abigail wiped her face with another towel.

"And how might I have done that?" Rachel asked cheekily.

"Bill Avery, the sheriff had to pull me out of the river! I'm not going to live that down for a very long time." Abigail laughed. "At least he got as dirty as I am. The mud down there is very slippy."

"You're sure he didn't push you in so he could be the great hero and win your heart?" Emily joined in on the teasing.

"Very funny, you two. I can see that I'm not going to get any sympathy from you. I need to go get out of these clothes before I catch cold." Abigail said as she walked into the kitchen to go upstairs.

"If you did, then your knight in shining armour could come take care of you." Emily giggled as she watched Abigail leave.

When Abigail and Josie had come back downstairs, Emily and Rachel had prepared some tea and biscuits for them. "Mmm, that smells good." Josie said as she tried to steal a warm piece of shortbread from the tray.

"Oh no you don't." Emily teased. "You can wait for a moment until we're all seated."

Abigail quickly winked at Josie. "Who's that over there?" She asked, pretending to look out the window and while Emily was distracted, they both stole a piece each.

"Oh, you two." Emily pretended to be angry. "Come on then." She said as she picked up the tray and put it down on the table in the living room.

"Its really good Emily." Josie said as she sat down and took a bite. "The best shortbread ever."

Abigail pretended to be offended. "What wrong with mine?"

"Nothing, it just comes second to Emily's." Josie poured herself a cup of tea, then filled up the others cups too.

"So, how have you and Emily been getting along?" Abigail asked Rachel as she sipped her tea. "If I didn't know better, I'd say the two of you were best friends." She looked a little perplexed as both Emily and Rachel started to laugh. "What, did I say something funny?"

"We are friends." Rachel started to explain. "When dad moved us to Australia after your sister, my mum died, Emily was at the school I attended in Adelaide. We quickly became best friends, but when we grew up, we lost contact."

"Well how about that. Finding each other here. Indeed it's a small world." Abigail put her cup down. "And where is that beautiful baby of yours?"

"He's having his nap. I hope you didn't mind that I used your blanket. The one I brought got quite dusty."

"Its quite alright. Now, the question is where are you going to stay?"

"Its all settled." Emily interrupted. "Rachel can come stay with me, we have plenty of room."

"Well, that's great then. It'll be good for you two to catch up. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go have a chat to the sheriff." Abigail said as she got up.

"Ooooh," Josie began to tease. "To thank him for saving you?"

"No," Abigail ruffled Josie's hair. "To talk to him about the bridge. I need to make sure that it wasn't any of our fault that accident, or if it is, it will cost the town a lot of money of they decide to sue. I'll be back in time for dinner, Josie, can you help Cody with his homework?"

"Sure, mum." Josie said as she yawned. "After I have a nap."

"I hope you weren't expecting a palace." Emily said as she opened the door to her house.

"Oh, no, a castle would have been fine." Rachel replied as she put David back down in his crib.

Josh ran in. "Hi mum, guess what Annie did today?"

"And where are your manners young man?" Emily asked as she noticed that he had closed the door on his sister. "Go and let her in please."

"Sorry, Annie." He apologized as he opened the door.

"That's fine." She replied as she took off her coat. "I was walking slow anyway."

"Now, kids, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is my best friend Rachel and her son, David." Emily said as she gave the kids a cookie each.

"Hello." Josie replied as he grabbed another cookie.

Annie saw him grab it, and she grabbed another, then quickly ran out of the room.

"Rachel is going to be staying with us for a little while Josh, so I want you to be on your best behaviour." Emily said as she stopped his dog, Patch, from running into the living room.

"How long are you going to be staying here for?" Josh asked as he clicked his fingers for Patch to come.

"Uh." Rachel wasn't sure what to answer. "A few days. I don't know a week." She looked at Emily for permission.

"You can stay as long as you want." Emily replied. "You can go out and play with Patch for a little while before dinner if you like.

"Sure mum, come on Patch." Josh said as he ran out the door.

"What can I do for you?" Mike Granger asked as he saw Matt and Rob ride up and dismount their horses.

"Got some fresh meat for you." Rob said, motioning to the leg of lamb he was holding.

"We don't need no charity." He replied, rather gruffly as he continued to chop the pile of wood beside his cabin.

"You remember that grass fire about a month ago? This is for helping out when we needed a hand." Matt replied.

Mike looked at his wife and daughter who were standing behind him. "Yeh, fair enough."

"Meat safe?" Rob asked Mike's wife.

"Yes, thanks Rob." She motioned for him to follow.

"It will make a pleasant change from fish and rice." He put his ax down. "I suppose you know I'm going under."

"Yeh, well, a couple of bad years has made it hard for everyone."

"Banks make it a lot flaming harder."

Matt nodded.

"I'll be lucky to walk off this place with the shirt on my back."

"I could have a talk with Jenkins at the bank."

"Nobody's asking you to do that."

"I know that, but I'm offering to do it anyway."

"Thanks Matt. I'm not sure what good it will do though."

"Rachel McCallister." Emily said as she stirred the pot on the stove.

Rachel giggled.

"I cant believe it, after all these years, you suddenly show up and give me the surprise of my life."

"I meant to write back in Australia, but you know me." Rachel said as she sat down.

Emily noticed Josh come back in, looking at the cake on the table. "Alright, you can have one piece and go play with Cody if you like." She saw him grab two. "Now, is that other one for Cody?"

Josh giggled. "Nope. Patch."

"Very funny, go on, you can have it this time." Emily said as she sat down beside Rachel.

"So, tell me, I want to know all the gossip."

"Well, we're up here for about three months, and my husband, Thomas is assisting his boss on some construction work."

"And where are you hiding this husband of yours?"

"He's looked up in his boring business meetings day and night. I couldn't stand the awful little boarding house a moment longer."

"But there's some nice places to stay in Vancouver."

"Thomas's boss has a very mean view on expenses. I needed a break, so I decided to come here to see Abigail, and found you as a bonus." She giggled.

"Your husband doesn't mind you coming all this way?"

"Oh, he likes me being independent. But what about you? Are you sure you don't mind me staying?"

"No, no not at all." Emily reassured.

"What about your husband?"

Emily giggled. "Mmm, Colin's wonderful. He wont mind at all. He's out doing his pastoral rounds at the moment, and I know he'll want you to stay just as much as I do."

"Emily," Rachel laughed as the realization of what Emily had just said sunk in. "You married a preacher?"

"I did."

"How could that be? You were always so,"

"What?"

"Naughty." Rachel said with a smile and they both started to giggle again.

Away in Vancouver, at a little stream running through a park, McCallister was fishing. A man rode up, saw the buggy and stopped, then dismounted and walked over to him."

McCallister gave a passing glance behind him as he reeled in his fishing line. "You'ld be Mr. Linsk."

"Yes, sir." The man replied.

"Thankyou for coming out. Not often I get time for this."

"Well, you've got a nice day for it sir."

McCallister cast his line back out into the water. "With a flick of my wrist, I can take the wing off a dragon fly at forty paces." He turned to the man behind him. "Something my daddy taught me."

"Interesting lesson sir."

McCallister handed his rod to one of his servants. "I think its important for a man to pass on what he knows to his son. What do you reckon, Mr Linsk?"

"My father taught me a thing or two sir."

"You've a reputation for finding things, they say you're the best." McCallister reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo. "My wife." He handed it to Mr. Linsk. "Her name's Rachel. We've had some problems which I deeply regret. She's left me and has taken my son with her."

"Any idea where she might have gone, sir?" He asked as he put the photo into the pocket on the inside of his jacket.

"She once mentioned an Aunt, who lives in a place called "Hope Valley" You've heard of it?"

"Ranching and logging country."

"It's the best lead I have. I'll need you to be quick about this, I'm worried about my boy. Rachel hasn't been coping to well as his mother."

"Bill! Wait up!" Abigail called as she saw him about to ride out of town to go take another look at the accident site.

"Woah, easy boy." Bill pulled his horse to a stop. "Yes, Abigail?"

"I need to talk to you, about the accident. If you'll wait for a couple of minutes, I can go get my horse and come with you."

Bill sighed. "Alright, I'll wait here. Don't take to long." He called after her. He patted his horse and went back over his theory of what had happened while he waited.

It wasn't long before Abigail can back, this time riding her paint stallion Josie had given her, Eagle. "Right, I'm ready." She said as she rode her horse up next to Bills.

Bill nudged his horse forward and they began to ride down the road to the accident site. "Glad to see you've cleaned up. That was quite a fall." He chuckled. "Better not do that to many times or you'll get people talking."

"Very funny." Abigail chuffed. "Emily, Josie and my niece Rachel have already started that. Now, lets get to business. What do you think happened?"

"I'm thinking that maybe next time you should have been more careful." Bill chuckled. "I might not always be around to rescue you. Woah, easy boy." He pulled on the reins as Jerry stopped and began to rear. "Woah."

Abigail quickly stopped her horse, who had started to shy and fidget as well. "Easy, easy, woah Eagle." She looked around for something that might have startled them. "See anything?"

"No." Bill replied as Jerry reared again and whinnied. "Steady boy, steady. Something must have set them off, but what?"

"I don't know." Abigail replied as she stroked the side of Eagles neck. "I'm beginning to think that maybe the horses got spooked and that's what caused the accident."

"I'm thinking that too. We're not to far away from the bridge, so I think its best for us to dismount and lead them the rest of the way." Bill said as he quickly got off. "Woah, easy." He handed the reins to Abigail. "You stay here, I'll go have a look."

"Be careful Bill." She cautioned as he went around a corner. Abigail counted every minute until he came back, especially as Jerry was still quite nervous. "Find anything?"

"Yes." Bill replied as he grabbed the reins of his horse. "There was a rock slide, and evidence of an earlier on as well. It must have been what spooked the horses, now and earlier."

Emily unclasped the lock on the suitcase that was on her bed and opened it. "There we are."

"Oh, Emily, this is great!" Rachel said as she picked up a baby boy's sweater. "Mmm, perhaps a might small."

"Ahh, this." Emily said, pulling out jumpsuit.

"Oh, its perfect." Rachel said as Emily passed it to her. "Your sure you don't mind?"

"Oh, why should I? Besides Davie has to have something to wear."

"I can't believe he went through so many things on the way up here. I'll wire my husband and have him send some more things up."

"Save your money. I'm just glad to see them be of some use."

"Gracious," Rachel said as she sat on the bed and looked at the other things for a baby boy that was in the suitcase. "You must have kept everything of Josh's from the day he was born."

"There not Josh's. His parents died in a fire and we've looked after him ever since."

"But these?" Rachel motioned to the clothes.

"Annie had a twin brother. He died on the way over here and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of them."

"But your still young."

"I had lots of problems falling pregnant, and I nearly lost both Annie and James twice before they were born." She shook her head. "The doctor said no"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Emily. You sure you don't mind?" She questioned about the clothes.

"Of course not. The family's still careful about what they say, but I've gotten used to the idea now. It doesn't worry me."

"What about your husband? I suppose he wanted his own son, men seem to think that so important."

"Colin's not like that, not in that way."

"Thomas is, he has a very set view about children."

"Its not something we really talk about."

"Sometimes they say you don't need words." Rachel giggled.

"Are you like that with your husband?"

Rachel ignored the question. "I'm so glad your happy. Colin must be a great man they way you keep talking about him. You deserved a good man and you've found him"