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Chapter 20

"I like your mother," Elizabeth said, now holding Lucas's arm as they continued their unhurried walk towards her house. "She is kind, but she also speaks her mind. I appreciate that."

Lucas laughed. "You are not wrong about that, Mrs. Thornton."

"Will she give you a hard time when she decides she wants to talk to you?"

"She will want answers, and honestly, I don't like that my mother doesn't know the truth. I just didn't think it was the appropriate time to tell my parents when I wrote that last letter and sitting in the saloon, it didn't feel like the right time either. But I am going to have to tell her, and the longer I wait, the worse it will be."

"You will find the right time and the right words," Elizabeth encouraged. "I have faith in you. And I'm sure your mother will understand the situation you are in."

"I hope you are correct."

"Good afternoon, Elizabeth, Lucas."

At the sound of Molly's voice, they glanced across the street and smiled at her and Florence who were taking a leisurely stroll. They decided they needed a respite from their switchboard duties throughout the week. The two women crossed to stand closer to Elizabeth and Lucas.

"Good afternoon, ladies," Lucas said, while Elizabeth nodded.

"Don't you two look cozy," Florence commented, not unkindly.

Elizabeth released her hold on Lucas's arm.

"Lucas was kind enough to walk me home," Elizabeth said.

"What a gentleman," Molly said and smiled. "So much like his uncle, it seems."

"You've met my uncle?" Lucas asked, surprised.

"We both have," Florence said.

"Carson had lunch with him yesterday at Abigail's. We happened to be there, too."

"How nice of Carson," Elizabeth said. "I'm sure you found Lucas's uncle to be a pleasant man. I guess the other ladies met him, too. I know Julie was joining you."

"She did," Molly said. "It was good to see her. We all met your uncle, Lucas. He seemed to be a very nice and friendly man."

"Thank you," Lucas said. "My uncle will be pleased you thought so."

"Will he be in Hope Valley for a while?" Molly asked, trying not to sound too interested.

"He will probably be here for a little while," Lucas answered, curious as to why she wanted to know.

"How nice," she said. "I hope we will see him again."

"He's at the Queen of Hearts if you want to stop by," Lucas offered.

"Thank you for that information," Florence said. "We will think about it."

"Yes," Molly agreed, looking satisfied. "Thank you for letting us know."

"You're welcome," Lucas said, still not sure what that exchange had been about as they wished each other a good day.

As they continued walking, Lucas asked Elizabeth if that had been a strange conversation. She laughed.

"You didn't notice?" she asked.

"Notice what?"

"I think your uncle impressed Molly, which is not easy to do."

"Oh. Well, I guess I can understand that. I'm sure he treated all of them with his usual kindness."

"But maybe especially Molly?" Elizabeth teased.

Lucas looked at her. "You think so?"

She shrugged. "Molly seemed to have more than a passing interest in him."

"Okay, then. I guess I will have to talk to my uncle about more than just being a host at the saloon."

"Seems like you have a never-ending list of things to do," Elizabeth said, lacing her fingers with his once more.

"It does, doesn't it?" he agreed.

"Whatever will you do once you have some free time again?" she asked, only half-kidding.

"Spend more time with you, of course," he said seriously.

Elizabeth looked at him. "You know I would love that."

"I would, too, and I look forward to that time more than you know. We'd better take advantage of today because after tomorrow…"

"Do you think we won't be able to spend time together after tomorrow?"

"It depends. You are going to be just as busy, if not busier than me, so I have to be considerate of your time."

"You are so sweet. We will see each other. I know we will."

Lucas grinned and then spoke in a hushed tone near her ear. "We can always have clandestine meetings."

Elizabeth laughed. "Now, you're being silly. I don't think we need to go to that extreme."

"Okay, Mrs. Thornton. If you say so."

"For now, come inside so we can visit."

She called out for Julie when she didn't see her or her son and then saw her note that she and Little Jack were visiting with Rosemary and Lee.

"I guess they know the latest," Elizabeth said to Lucas, as they sat at the kitchen table after she put away the tea. "Julie should be home soon. It's almost time for my son's nap."

"I am relieved he's feeling better."

"Believe me, I am, too. I thought I might have to take him to see Carson, but he seemed much better this morning. I am kind of glad we are alone, though, because I have a question for you."

"Is it where to meet for our secret rendezvous?" he teased. "I've already thought of a couple of places, you know, just in case it comes to that. You never know what we might have to endure. We should be prepared. I'm just saying."

Elizabeth gave him one of her trademark smirks he had come to love and then shook her head. "You know the word I'm about to use for you, Mr. Bouchard."

"Ah, yes. I think it begins with an 'I'?"

"Yes. Now, be serious."

"Okay. What is your question?"

"I was thinking about this as we were walking, but I didn't want to say anything until we were here."

"This does sound serious."

"It is, but not in a bad way. Here's my thought: what if you asked your uncle to be the one to take over the saloon? As more than a host? What if you asked him to take control of the Queen of Hearts until you can get Gowen Petroleum up and running again so you can step away?"

"I don't know," he said, sounding doubtful. "I think that's a lot to ask of him. I'm sure he's still working even though he's overseeing my mother's visit. I know he has a lot going on, too. We haven't talked much about his work, but because of my mother's letter, I know he left New York to come here. He was probably working on some type of deal there."

"Maybe he was able to finalize the deal or whatever it was he was working on before he left. Lucas, you are not going to find anyone you trust more than your uncle. Right?"

"True."

"And the last thing you want or need is to have something bad happen with or at the saloon while you're not there to supervise."

"You're right, of course, but to ask my uncle? I don't know, Elizabeth. I think it's asking too much."

"I think he genuinely liked the idea of being at the saloon as a host. What if he is not opposed to taking on more responsibilities? You know he's perfectly capable, right?"

"He definitely is, but I don't know. I don't think I can or should put that on him. He's already helping me with Gowen Petroleum."

"Maybe just ask him?" Elizabeth suggested, trying not to push but not wanting Lucas to totally ignore her idea.

"Why is this so important to you?" he asked, genuinely wanting to know why she seemed to have such a vested interest in the saloon.

"Because, sweetheart, you need someone you can trust or you are never going to be all right with not being at the Queen of Hearts, and I don't think you are going to find that person. If your uncle were to oversee the saloon, Rick and Gustave can still do the majority of the work you assigned them, but they would know there was someone else they needed to answer to the way they know they need to report to you. I think it would help you and them. Even if Ernie just checked in on them, they would know someone was in charge. And that you put that man in place to help you. I think they would respect your uncle's position as your interim manager or whatever title you give him. Don't you?"

"I'm sure they would. How do you know so much about all of this?" he asked, impressed by her knowledge and by how much thought she had given to his situation.

"I heard my father discuss his business sometimes," she admitted. "It didn't truly interest me, but I did find the inner workings of how some decisions are made fascinating."

"I guess I can talk to my uncle. You're right about one thing: he is the only one I can truly trust."

She gave him a satisfied look. "You might be pleasantly surprised by his answer."

Lucas gave her a curious look. "You and my uncle didn't have this conversation while I was with my mother, did you?"

"No," she answered. "But the little we did talk about his role as host at the Queen of Hearts, I had the sense he had been thinking about the saloon ever since he knew you bought it."

"I never knew that. He wrote me a congratulatory note and said how happy he was for me and that he thought I had made a wise purchase, said he laughed when he heard the name but that it fit me, but I would have never thought he would have any interest in being a part of the saloon. I guess all I can do is ask."

"And like I said," she added with a grin, "don't be surprised by his answer."

"Elizabeth?" Julie asked, as she and Little Jack entered the house. She thought she heard her sister's voice. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

"Hi, Julie. We are in the kitchen. We didn't need to go to the train station. Ernie picked up Lucas's mother. We ate lunch with her at the saloon."

"Mama!" Little Jack said, hearing his mother's voice before he saw her.

He scampered into the kitchen with Julie right behind him, heading straight for his mother but stopped in his tracks when he saw Lucas.

"Lu-cus!" he said.

Holding onto his lamb, he pointed at Lucas who waved and said hello to him.

"You have not let go of that toy," Elizabeth said.

"He hasn't," Julie agreed. "He clutched that white, soft woolly animal the whole time we were with Rosemary and Lee. You should have seen me trying to feed him."

"He wouldn't let it go to eat?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, but to be fair, I had him on my lap, so I'm sure he wanted to keep it with him."

"Is he all right?" Elizabeth asked, holding out her arms for him to come to her, but he stayed near Lucas.

"Yes. Just a little bit clingy, so I held him. I think he's ready for his nap."

"I'm sure he is," Elizabeth said, rising from her chair. "Come on, Jack. Let's go upstairs and get you ready to go to sleep for a little while."

Reluctantly, Lucas stood, too, realizing Elizabeth needed to tend to her son.

"I should probably head back to the saloon. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your suggestion. I will definitely consider it."

"You don't need to go," she said, her eyes imploring him to stay.

Little Jack held out his arms for Lucas to pick him up.

"You want Lucas to hold you?" Elizabeth asked, when she saw her son's arms were raised.

Jack nodded.

"Looks like he doesn't want you to leave either," Elizabeth said.

"How cute," Julie said.

Lucas picked him up and held him in his arms. Little Jack showed him the woolly lamb and then pressed it against Lucas's beard several times which made everyone laugh, including the young boy.

"You are being so silly," Elizabeth said to her son, as she rubbed his back. "Come on. Let's go upstairs."

"Lu-cus!" the boy said.

Elizabeth looked at her son. "You want Lucas to take you upstairs?"

He nodded.

"Okay. If that's what you want."

"Are you sure, Elizabeth?" Lucas asked, trepidation present in his voice.

"Yes, I am sure. You will be fine and so will my son."

Not at all certain the words she had spoken were true, Lucas nonetheless followed Elizabeth up the stairs, feeling more and more uneasy with every step he took. He paused just outside her bedroom door and tried to hand Little Jack to his mother, but he wanted to stay with Lucas.

"I think he wants you to put him down for his nap," Elizabeth said.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucas asked again.

"My son seems to be sure," she said, with an approving smile. "I'll take off his shoes and then you can sit him down in the crib. He'll make himself comfortable."

"Okay, little man," Lucas said, as he hesitantly entered Elizabeth's bedroom after she had removed her son's shoes. His sole focus was on the crib and Little Jack. "It's time for you to take a nap."

When Lucas tried to put him in his crib, Little Jack's lower lip started to tremble and he shook his head. When Lucas held him, he stopped.

"What's wrong, Jack?" Elizabeth asked, checking his eyes and his cheeks while Lucas cradled the back of his head.

He placed his head on Lucas's right shoulder so he could see his mother and gripped the lamb to his chest.

"I think," Elizabeth said quietly, with a gentle smile, "you are going to have to rock him to sleep."

"I don't think I can," Lucas said, speaking just as quietly while trying not to panic.

"Yes, you can," she returned, while continuing to console her son.

He looked at her with pleading eyes. She smiled at him.

"You pushed me out of my comfort zone," she said, still whispering. "Now, my son and I are going to do the same for you."

"But what if he cries?" Lucas asked, his voice low and uncertain. "I don't want to upset him. Maybe he's still not feeling well. You need to rock him to sleep. Not me."

"Look at him, Lucas. You are soothing him, not upsetting him. Just sit in the chair and slowly rock him and pat his back. Let him lean against you. He'll follow the motion and before you know it, he will be asleep."

"But what if he doesn't fall asleep?" Lucas whispered, concerned. "I don't think I can do this, Elizabeth. I don't want to scare him."

"Sweetheart, he is not scared of you. He trusts you. Just like I do. Sit in the chair, Mr. Bouchard. I will be here. You and he are going to be fine. You are going to rock my son to sleep."

At Elizabeth's insistence, Lucas, holding Little Jack close to him and trying to calmly reassure him everything would be all right, even though he did not feel the least bit certain of that outcome, sat down gingerly in the rocking chair and after Elizabeth neatly folded a blanket and placed it over Lucas's right shoulder, she encouraged her son to lay his head on the soft material.

"Close your eyes, Jack. Lucas is going to rock you to sleep. Is that what you want, sweet boy?"

"Mama," he said, and then he felt the soothing warmth of Lucas's strong but gentle hand through the shirt on his back, and he laid his head on the blanket so he could see Elizabeth.

"Just rock the chair with steady motions," she told Lucas. "Let him get used to the rhythm, and then he will close his eyes."

Concerned he would startle the young boy who he couldn't quite believe he was trying to coax to fall asleep by sitting in a rocking chair, Lucas barely moved; Elizabeth grinned.

"You can rock a little more than that," she guided. "Just nice and easy. That's it."

After a few tentative moments when he tried not to panic for fear he would distress Little Jack, Lucas began to understand what he needed to do and after reminding himself to breathe; he was able, with Elizabeth's help, to comfort Little Jack who finally closed his eyes and snuggled closer to him, feeling comfortable in his arms. An overwhelming need to protect Little Jack came over him as he felt the boy's reliance on him escalate as he continued to grow more comfortable within the confines of his arms and began to rest. Lucas could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against his own. He wanted to hold him as close to him as he could and never let him go. He could not fathom how this tiny human being could be so trusting of him. He had never held a small child the way he was holding Elizabeth's son, and yet, a love so pure consumed him as he realized Little Jack trusted him. Completely. He wasn't sure he would ever be able to adequately describe this moment.

With Elizabeth continuing to encourage him, Lucas stayed with the same motion until he felt the boy relax completely in his arms. Once he heard and felt Little Jack's steady even breathing and saw the toy slip from his tiny hand, Lucas knew he was asleep.

"Stop rocking," Elizabeth whispered, "but let's wait a few minutes before you put him in his crib."

Lucas nodded; Elizabeth smiled at him.

"You did well," she said softly, her eyes shining bright with love.

"It's an indescribable feeling and absolutely amazing to have this little boy trust you enough to fall asleep in your arms," Lucas whispered.

"I know," she said, elated he understood the significance of what had just occurred. "That's why I wanted you to have this experience."

After a few moments of shared understanding in blissful silence, Elizabeth motioned for Lucas to stand and carry Little Jack. While she held the back of the chair so it did not move, he carefully rose and slowly made his way to Jack's crib where he gently laid him on his back. Little Jack never stirred. Elizabeth pulled up the blanket that was already there and propped up his lamb against the side of the crib, so he would see it when he awakened.

"Sweet dreams, my precious son," she whispered, and then reached for Lucas's hand to hold in hers as they descended the stairs.

"Is he okay?" Julie asked, when they returned to the area near Jack's playpen. "I was ready to bring up one of his toys or blankets."

"He's fine," Elizabeth said, looking at Lucas and smiling. "Lu-cus," she continued, using her son's pronunciation, "rocked him to sleep."

"I wish I could have seen that," Julie said and smiled unabashedly. "Why is there never a camera around when you need one?"

Looking down, Lucas laughed a bit nervously, as he tried unsuccessfully to downplay what had just occurred. He felt suddenly reticent about what had transpired between him and Elizabeth's son and how those precious moments had affected him.

"Elizabeth really did all the work," he said.

"I did not," she protested.

She refused to let Lucas think what he had done was nothing because it had been something very special, and during the silent but emotional moments they shared in her bedroom, they both knew it.

"I guided, but Lucas was the one rocking him in the chair. He fell asleep in your arms, not mine."

Lucas's features softened as he recalled once more how it felt to have that little boy who was so trusting fall asleep while he was holding him.

"You're right. He did."

"Sounds as though he trusts you," Julie said.

"He does," Elizabeth affirmed. "My son trusts Lucas the same way I do."

"Thank you," he said, the emotions of the day, and maybe even of the past couple of weeks if he were being honest, suddenly overtaking him, "for trusting me. And especially for trusting me with your son."

"That," Julie said, slinking away from them, "sounds like my cue to leave. I will be upstairs."

Once Julie had disappeared, Lucas gathered Elizabeth into his arms and held her close. She pulled him even tighter and laid her head against the expanse of his chest. He gently brushed her hair with his fingers. They stayed that way for a while, both just wanting to enjoy the feel of being in each other's arms.

"I'm going to miss this," she finally said. "You have so much going on, and I want to know everything that's happening, and then I want to be in the safety of your arms just like this."

"You will be busy, too," he said, kissing the top of her head. "And your work is going to be so much more exciting than mine. I am going to need updates. From someone. Anyone."

He never failed to make her laugh, and she loved him for it.

"What?" he said, pulling away for just a moment to look at her. "It's true."

"I was just thinking we could be like the disobedient students in my classroom and pass notes to each other when we think no one is looking."

Lucas feigned outrage. "You would really suggest such a thing with my mother in town, watching my every move? You really do want me to be the one who has to clean your chalkboard, don't you, Mrs. Thornton?"

She laughed again and then gave him a coy smile.

"Well, Mr. Bouchard," she said, running her finger along one side of his beard. "Don't you think it would be worth it?"

Her playful look, tone, touch and words had an effect on him he couldn't quite explain, but he knew he needed to kiss her. He truly didn't think they would be apart for that long or would have absolutely no contact with each other for a long period of time, but observant eyes were on them now, and he wanted to make sure he never forgot that. This was a moment they had to be together, with no one else around, and he wanted to make the most of it. By the look on Elizabeth's face as he saw her watching him, he knew she felt the same way and knew he had to seize this opportunity.

"I definitely think what I am about to do would be worth it," he said, his tone almost reverent as he ran his fingers gently through her hair.

Elizabeth's heart rate accelerated as she saw desire in his gorgeous brown eyes. She knew exactly what he was going to do and took a step to close the gap between them before he framed her delicate face with the palms of his hands and then teased and tasted and teased her lips with his until he finally brought the two of them together in a tender yet tantalizing display of affection and longing she knew they both felt. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck just wanting to enjoy and appreciate the fact they were together and that she knew they loved each other enough that this kiss would help them in the days to come when they most likely would not be together.

They remained in each other's arms for a few moments after the kiss had ended.

"I love you, Elizabeth," Lucas said, lifting her chin so he could look into her beautiful blue eyes while appreciating her inner beauty as well. "I am not sure I have said that to you this plainly and succinctly in a while, but I want you to know it's true."

"I love you, Lucas," she said, surprising herself and him with how emotional her voice sounded. "I feel the same way. You show me every day how much you love me, but you're right. I don't think we have said those three most important words quite that simply to each other in a while, and we should. You are forever in my heart. I love you."

All teasing vanished. The words they had spoken to each other were borne of a love and a trust they knew would carry them through these next days and weeks and, if they were honest, they would say what they felt for each other would carry them through for the remainder of their lives. As long as they knew they could be together.