Chapter Thirteen
"In life you need either
inspiration
or desperation."
Tony Robbins
Jack stood in the doorway of the jailhouse and watched Superintendent Houston and Constable Williams head to Abigail's Cafe to get some lunch. He frowned as he replayed his conversation with Houston. The Mountie supervisor had said all the right things but Jack's instinct told him that something was not right. His suspicions were raised more when Constable Williams had arrived shortly after Houston. Williams explained that he had travelled from Calgary at Houston's behest to assist with Bill's transfer. Houston told Jack that he and Williams would be taking Bill back to Hamilton for questioning and, ultimately, his trial.
"Jack?" Bill called from his cell, breaking into Jack's thoughts.
Jack walked back inside, closing the door behind him.
"So, who do you believe?" Bill asked as Jack approached his cell.
Jack glared at Bill. "You're still insisting that Superintendent Houston is involved with the counterfeiting ring?"
Bill nodded. "I know he is," he confirmed. "Come on, Jack! Why else would a superintendent come all the way out here? He could've sent a couple of Mounties to bring me back. No, he doesn't intend for me to ever get back to Hamilton."
"What?" Jack asked, confused and concerned.
"Oh, I have no doubt that Houston knows that I know he's dirty," Bill explained. "He doesn't want me back in Hamilton asking questions or telling people my suspicions. I'm certain that somewhere between Hope Valley and Hamilton something will happen to me." Bill met Jack's gaze for a moment but, seeing the expression of alarm in Jack's eyes, looked away.
Jack shook his head. "But he has Constable Williams with him..."
"He's no constable," Bill interjected.
"What?" Jack asked.
Bill shook his head. "He's part of the counterfeiting ring. He's not a Mountie," he insisted.
"How do you know?" Jack inquired.
"He was driving the car when I met with a member of the Crenshaw Brothers' Gang in Hamilton a couple of months ago," Bill answered. "Either Houston doesn't think I'd remember him or he doesn't care than I know their plan."
Jack considered Bill's statement as he stared down at the floor. He'd noticed that Williams' jacket sleeves were too short, his pants seemed tight, and he walked like his boots didn't fit. Jack had thought that the Mountie may have just gotten the wrong size uniform or had gained weight, but now, he frowned, knowing that Bill was correct. He felt a headache coming on as he realized that Bill's life was in danger if he left Hope Valley with Superintendent Houston. "You can't go with them," Jack stated.
Bill expelled a frustrated chuckle. "Well, yes, but how can you hold me here? He's your superior and when he orders you to release me, you have no choice. We have no proof he's involved in the counterfeiting. And you can't charge Constable Williams with impersonating a Mountie without tipping Houston off that you suspect him."
Jack's frown deepened, clearly unhappy with his lack of choices.
"So," Bill continued, "it would seem we have just a little while longer until I'm gone for good. As soon as Houston finishes his lunch, all three of us will be heading out of town."
Jack looked at Bill, anger and frustration filling his expression. "I'll try to convince him to hold off leaving town til morning," he told Bill.
Bill shook his head. "That'll never happen. He wants me out of here as soon as possible."
Jack cleared his throat, releasing a short groan, as he walked back to his desk. He sat down and stared at the papers, wracking his brain for other options. He glanced over at Bill's cell and saw that he was sitting with his head in his hands. Despite Bill's cavalier attitude, it was certain that he felt the gravity of his situation. Jack expelled a discouraged sigh. His glance fell once again to his desk as he tried to determine a better course of action than just letting a corrupt superintendent take Bill. His mind reeled through possible excuses for keeping Bill in Hope Valley, but he rejected each as implausible for one reason or another. His jaw and facial muscles tightened as the stress weighed on him. Then, an idea crossed his mind and his eyes widened slightly. As he entertained the thought, his expression softened. He stood and headed to Bill's cell. "I think we might have a way out of this," he told Bill.
Bill looked up at Jack, clearly skeptical. Jack nodded back and gave him a small smile of encouragement. "This just might work," Jack reiterated.
Less than an hour later, Houston and Williams were back at the jail. They'd retrieved Bill's horse from the stable and all three horses were now tied up outside the jail. Jack opened Bill's cell and placed the handcuffs on his wrists.
"Well, I'm out of your hair, now, Constable," Bill told Jack as he held out his wrists. "I'm sure you're ready to see me go." He added a little head nod.
Jack stared at Bill. "I'm just disappointed that you would turn to the wrong side of the law. But, you'll have the long ride back to Hamilton to think about what you did wrong," Jack told him.
Houston scoffed, "I'm sure!" He nodded to Williams before he commanded, "Let's go, Avery."
Williams grabbed Bill's arm and pulled him toward the door. Houston followed them and Jack brought up the rear. As the men mounted their horses, Jack watched from the jailhouse porch. He noted that Houston had a tough time climbing onto his horse. Clearly the man was not accustomed to riding a horse very often. He looked over at Williams sitting on his horse and he seemed quite uncomfortable. He sat very stiffly, holding the reins as though he were driving a carriage rather than riding a horse. If Houston was out of practice with horse riding, then Williams appeared to never have had much practice in the first place.
Houston looked to Jack. "Thanks for your assistance, Thornton," he called.
Jack nodded but remained silent. He looked at Bill, who gave him a small nod. Jack watched as the three men slowly headed down Main Street and out of town. Then, he had a feeling that he was being watched and turned around. He looked up Main Street and spotted Nora Avery standing on the porch of the saloon, staring back at him. Her intense gaze made the hair on the back of his neck rise. This was not the first time that Jack had spotted Bill's wife watching him. Jack had found it odd that she never visited her husband while he was in jail, even if they were estranged. In fact, he had noticed that Nora Avery had exhibited some pretty odd behavior since she'd arrived in Hope Valley. He didn't feel like he could read her personality at all. As he watched her, she turned away and scurried back into the saloon. He shook his head with disbelief and started to head down the stairs to the street but stopped when he caught sight of Ned Yost rushing down the street. "Constable?!" Yost yelled and waved a telegram over his head.
Jack climbed down the stairs and met the shopkeeper halfway. "The reply to the telegram you sent earlier," Yost explained as he handed the paper to Jack.
Jack took the paper, nodded, and offered, "Thanks, Ned." He opened the telegram and read it as Ned turned and headed back to the Mercantile. When Jack finished reading, he shoved the telegram into his pocket and looked around Main Street. His gaze stopped at Abigail's Cafe and his feet quickly followed his gaze.
He entered through the kitchen door and immediately saw Abigail kneading bread at the kitchen table. She noticed Jack, smiled, and pointed a dough-covered finger toward the living room. He nodded his appreciation before he followed her direction and saw Elizabeth sitting on the couch, reading. He started toward her but halted when he heard loud laughter. He glanced back to the dining room and saw Julie and Clara seated at a table, apparently have a very funny conversation. Returning his attention to Elizabeth, he continued walking to the couch and called her name in a low voice, "Elizabeth."
She looked up as he sat down next to her. "Jack!" she replied, surprised.
Abigail looked up from her work and stole a glance at Jack and Elizabeth. She saw Jack sit next to Elizabeth on the couch. He reached for her hand and their fingers intertwined. She smiled, very pleased to see their relationship going so well. She turned back to her bread dough, giving Jack and Elizabeth their privacy.
Jack and Elizabeth were smiling at each other when a sudden realization came over Elizabeth. "Is it three o'clock already? Is it time for our picnic?" she asked as she set her book on the side table.
"Ahhh..." he began, hesitant, "I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to go on our picnic today."
Elizabeth's expression fell. "You have to work," she observed, studying their clasped hands to hide her disappointment.
"Yes, I do," he confirmed, giving her hand a squeeze of reassurance. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. But, when I get back..."
Her head snapped up. "Get back?" she asked sharply.
Jack nodded. "I have to go out of town for a little while," he explained. "I'll be back as soon as I can and we'll have our picnic."
She studied his face for a moment and something in his eyes worried her. "Will you be in danger?" she asked.
Recalling her fears about the dangers of being a Mountie, he took her other hand in his. "I'm so sorry! It's Mountie business. You know I'll be careful," he told her, trying to ease her fear.
She nodded. "I know," she told him. "You're good at what you do," she said, teasing him.
He smiled and looked into her eyes. Though she was trying to hide it, he could see her concern. He exhaled sharply before pulling her hands up to his lips and kissing her fingers. He met her gaze and told her, "Look, none of us knows what's going to happen, but God does. I trust Him to bring me back to you."
Elizabeth smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. Then, they held each other for several moments. Jack whispered into her hair, "I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you!"
"I love you," she whispered into his shoulder.
As they broke their embrace, their lips met for a few seconds. Elizabeth looked up and saw him smile back at her. "See you soon!" he assured her before he stood and headed for the door.