Chapter 7: The Search, Part I
DISCLAIMER: The characters within are the property of the Hallmark Channel & Crown Media pictures. All credits are to be given to Brian Bird, Michael Landon Jr., Janette Oke, and all responsible for When Calls the Heart. These characters are not mine – I'm just playing with them and will put them back (relatively) unscathed when I am finished.
Jack and Elizabeth walked to Cat's house in relative silence. Elizabeth was very afraid – she remembered when she had been taken by the notorious Tolliver gang and how badly that had scared her. And she was profoundly thankful that she hadn't been hurt, just badly shaken. How lucky she had been that Jack had come to the aid of her and Julie! Part of her still wanted to shake her gullible little sister for having gotten so involved with such a scoundrel – although Elizabeth strongly believed that Julie had learned her lesson.
Good things do come out of bad.
Things could have ended much worse than they actually did. Luckily, Jack had been her knight in shining armor once again. She looked over at him, with fondness in her eyes. She really had been fortunate in coming to Coal Valley. While she was not blessed with the physical luxuries that she had enjoyed at home, Elizabeth had been blessed in far greater ways. The children, the women with whom she enjoyed a close friendship – particularly Abigail, and Jack – all of them were gifts far more precious than a hot bath or chef-cooked meals.
"Do you think she's still alive?" Elizabeth whispered.
"I believe so. If Gowen had anything to do with this, eliminating Abigail permanently would seriously damage his standing in this town." Jack replied, "Many people might be afraid to stand up to him but they would take it very badly if anything happened to Abigail."
He turned to look at her, "What Gowen has underestimated – and I know this will lead to his downfall – is the integrity and the loyalty of most of the people in Coal Valley. I told Bill Avery that these people are special. And I meant it."
Elizabeth smiled in the darkness. "And we're so grateful to you, Jack, for your protection of all of us and for your donation."
Jack grinned, "Let's not talk about that. **Doesn't anonymous mean anonymous anymore?**"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Elizabeth had to smile.
Finally, they arrived at Cat Montgomery's home. Elizabeth stepped up on to the porch and knocked on the door.
Cat Montgomery, a pleasant looking woman in her mid – to-late thirties, opened the door. "Why, Elizabeth, how nice to see you."
Elizabeth looked apologetic. "Cat, I'm so sorry to inconvenience you like this and so late at night but something's happened to Abigail. Would it be all-right if I stayed with you while the gentlemen are out searching?"
"Of course!" Cat was more than willing to help, feeling guilty about the way she had treated Abigail since the meeting, "Is she all-right? What's going on?"
"We don't know," Elizabeth confessed, "Jack and I were on a walk, he brought me back to the café and the door was open. We both went in there and a candle was still lit, there were signs of a struggle and Abigail was gone. He thought it would be appropriate that I stay with you while the others are searching." She struggled to hide her fear.
Cat was horrified. "That's terrible! Well, Elizabeth, come on in and get warm. It's cold out tonight." She came out on the porch quickly and nodded to Jack.
"Thank you for bringing her here," Cat said, "we'll say a prayer for your safety and for Abigail. I hope she's all-right."
"We'll find her, Mrs. Montgomery," Jack tipped his hat. "If you do happen to see any of the men, please direct them to the saloon. We'll set up search parties from there." He looked at Elizabeth seriously, "Please, Elizabeth, stay inside tonight. Until these men are caught, I don't want you venturing outside."
He raised his hand when Elizabeth started to respond, "And before you say something about not needing a father…I just don't want anything to happen to you. Could you just do this for my peace of mind?" He smiled at her softly.
"Of course," Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "Please be careful."
Jack nodded. "I will. I promise I will make it safely back to you."
Jack was worried. He hadn't wanted to reveal the extent of his worry to Elizabeth since she was already frightened enough – even though she was trying to hide it. He knew those dark spots on the floor (though they were small) were blood – he just wasn't sure who shed the blood. Knowing Abigail, she probably had put up a fight since she wasn't the type to just back down and go quietly.
He hoped that she hadn't been hurt too badly. From the knocked over chairs and shattered vase, there had been a struggle and she probably had been overpowered. His mouth tightened – if those men had hurt one hair on her head…they would pay. He would make sure they would go to prison for a long, long time. And if Gowen had anything to do with it – if there was ANYTHING to link them to him – he would be going down right with them.
As he got closer to the saloon, Jack thought about Bill. He knew his old Academy friend and Abigail had been getting closer and he had been a little concerned about that. Although he didn't know the full story, he knew that Bill had suffered a horrible tragedy early in his Mountie career and that it had changed the man drastically. From stories he had heard in his academy days, Bill used to be a fun-loving, poker-card playing man about town. He had been seen on the arm of a few different beautiful women, always smiling and laughing. And, according to some of the older Mounties (that were far more talkative about such things), Bill Avery could drink with the best of them.
When Jack met him at the academy, there was little to indicate in Avery's appearance that he had ever been such a fun-loving man. The Bill Jack knew personally was quieter, more subdued, and much more private. It was rare for him to speak about anything other than his investigations. Laughter and jovial poker games seemed to be a thing of the past and he was never seen with any women, even on the rare nights out on the town to enjoy a beer at the saloon. And he rarely drank.
Jack had noted a white band of skin around the finger where a wedding band would traditionally be worn. Bill had never said a word about it and Jack never asked. But Jack watched – and sometimes he would see Bill look at his hands with a far away, distant look in his eyes. Jack wished there was something he could do to help the older man – but his innate sense of courtesy and respect for boundaries held him back from prying. He restrained himself even from attempting to become a confidante.
For although they were friends from academy days, Bill was considerably older than Jack (over a generation), and had been his instructor. Since the ranks were so strictly maintained, fraternization between the ranks was strictly prohibited. And also because of the age gap, Bill and Jack never became close friends. However, Bill had taken Jack under his wing and, to some extent, had mentored him in his early days.
Jack liked Bill and respected him. And he had been glad to see warmth coming back into his mentor's face when he saw Abigail Stanton. Jack might be young still but he was far from stupid. He knew when he saw Bill and Abigail together that there was an interest on Bill's part that he had never seen. Jack had heard from Elizabeth herself how Bill had leaped to Abigail's defense when Gowen had tried to intimidate her into silence.
Interesting, Jack thought, Bill didn't tend to pull the "I am a Mountie and I can arrest you" card for simply anyone. In fact, I don't ever remember him pulling it at ALL.
And now he had to tell him that Abigail was missing. He wasn't looking forward to that conversation. Not at all.
