Hamilton vs. Hope Valley
Chapter 8:
Lost and Found
Author's Note: UGH! Please forgive me? One of the worst cliffhangers ever!
Previously on Hamilton versus Hope Valley…
We learned that identity of the younger brother, Wade Barrett. His older brother Connor, decided to take matters into his own hands by abducting Elizabeth. As we all know that is never a good idea, taking Jackson's love from him.
Meanwhile, Charles and Wade want to take the two women that Connor and Wade had originally captured for ransom, away from it all.
Miss Welche, wants to go home and Charles hopes to help her get away, albeit with the aid of his arch rival, Jack Thornton.
Connor Barrett is a dangerous man and needs to be taken down or at least taken away…
Let's continue, shall we?
Ch 8: Lost & Found
Wade Barrett made his way back to Julie Thatcher. He had just walked into her room, when he heard his brother slam the door open. Wade pressed his finger to his mouth to quiet Julie.
She nodded her agreement to not speak.
Wade stood frozen as he locked eyes with none other than, Elizabeth Thatcher. He swallowed hard as his gaze moved from her piercing gaze to his brother's.
"What have you done, Connor! Now there is no turning back!" Wade fumed.
"Watch your tone with me, little brother!" Connor snarled. "Don't think I won't turn on you, after the stunt you pulled!"
"All I'm saying is, with Miss Thatcher here, you've crossed a line with that Mountie of hers." Wade sat on the nearest chair, his head in his hands.
"Good!" Connor spoke darkly. "I would like nothing more than to rid this world of that Mountie!" Connor dragged Elizabeth to the second room. "Now you be good, or I'll show how mean I can be, Miss Thatcher!"
Elizabeth stood silently as Connor shut the door behind him. She heard sniffling, which caused her to turn around.
"Julie!" Elizabeth squealed. "What on earth are you doing with these men?" Elizabeth questioned.
Julie slowly stood up. Elizabeth sighed and opened her arms to her younger sister. She knew she needed comfort, not condemnation.
Julie ran to her favorite sisters open arms and crumpled.
"There! There! It will be alright!" Elizabeth soothed Julie. "As you've said before, 'Jack will save us!'" Elizabeth used her best 'Julie' impression.
Julie looked up from her sobbing. Smiling slightly, she calmed down momentarily.
There was a knock on the door, which cause Julie to lose it once more.
"It's me, Jules!" Wade spoke through the door. "Please be okay?"
Elizabeth opened the door. She glared at the whom she once thought was a nice man.
"What do you want, Mr. Barrett?" Elizabeth glared.
"Look, Elizabeth, I'm honestly here to help you and Julie escape." Wade explained. "We are planning to..." Wade began.
"We? Who is 'we'?" Elizabeth interrupted.
"Charles is trying to get help from the Mounties..."Wade was embarrassed to admit who. "Well, Jack as a matter of fact!" He stammered.
"Jack!" Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew he'd come for us!" She neither could nor wanted to erase the smile from her face.
"Yes, well, Connor is counting on his coming so he can..." Wade halted his words at Elizabeth's icy glare.
"So he can, what, Mr. Barrett?"
"Surely we are passed the formalities, Elizabeth?" Wade ventured.
"Surely, you are gravely mistaken, Mr. Barrett!" Elizabeth huffed her disdain.
"Fine. Miss Thatcher, we don't have time to explain the plan, my brother will be back shortly." Wade looked to Julie, still in Elizabeth's arms.
"Jules? Please look at me?" Wade took a step forward. "We will get out of here."
Julie looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth shrugged, but knew that Julie was stubborn enough to talk to Wade, regardless.
"Do you promise, Wade?" Julie stepped closer.
"Yes." Wade smiled. He stretched his arms out to her.
Julie ran to him. Wade wrapped his arms around her. He glanced at Elizabeth who walked towards the window to give them what little privacy she could.
Wade lifted her eyes to his.
"Julie, please forgive me for getting you into this mess?" Wade pleaded.
"Oh, Wade! Of course, I forgive you!" Julie stepped on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Their kiss was sweet, but short.
Connor yelled for Wade to come talk to him. Julie held Wade close one last time, Wade held her hand until he could no longer touch her. He smiled as he closed the door behind him.
"Oh, Elizabeth!" Julie sobbed as she sunk to the floor at her feet.
Elizabeth picked her up and walked her to the bed.
"Rest a while, Julie. You'll need your strength when we do get out of here." Elizabeth pulled the blanket up to Julie's shoulders and moved to stand by the window.
"Come soon, Jack! Please!" Elizabeth prayed quietly. "We'll be waiting for you!"
Across town...Jack was meeting with Charles.
"What have you done, Charles?" Jack fumed.
"This is on you, Constable! You were the one who left her unprotected at the manor." Charles was livid.
Jack stepped towards Charles. Another constable grabbed him, keeping him from laying a hand on Charles.
"You have some nerve, Charles!" Jack seethed. "You can let me go." Jack turned to the constable restraining him.
The constable raised his eyebrow.
"I will play nice!" Jack assured him.
The constable released him.
"Sirs, we must leave now if you want to put your plan in action." The constable advised.
"We will go when we have the signal." Jack informed him.
"What signal?"
"The one my colleague set up." Charles answered, with a smile.
"You mean, your accomplice?" Jack spat.
"You say accomplice, I say colleague!" Charles defended.
Jack glanced at his watch. Any moment, and he would be heading to where Elizabeth was being held.
Four hours earlier...
Jack ran towards the station. For once in his life, he was glad that the Thatcher's did not live too far from headquarters. He went to his commanding officer's desk.
"Jack, what are you doing here?" He looked puzzled. "You are supposed to be meeting with Charles."
"He didn't meet me as planned." Jack advised. "He was held up. I left Miss Thatcher for a few moments to see who would come to the house. The man was too quick. I arrived just as he was speeding away." Jack slumped into a chair. He still couldn't believe that he didn't take the car across the street too seriously.
"Don't beat yourself up about it. You'll meet with Mr. Kensington and fix his mess soon enough." The commander informed him.
"I'm heading to the meeting spot now, sir!" Jack acknowledged as he swiftly left the office.
End of Preview
Author's Note: Sorry, dear readers! I hope to finish this in the next day or so...Here's a preview to keep you until then!
