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Chapter 35

After his conversation with Elizabeth which had him very upbeat about planning their future together, Lucas entered the Queen of Hearts and approached Rick and his uncle at the bar. Harsh reality set in once more because he knew he needed to find out about this man named Whitman.

"I need to see the ledger we use to keep track of customers who have not paid their tabs and who we have made notes about for various reasons."

"Sure," Rick said. "It's right here. I keep it handy just in case I need to refer to it."

"What's going on?" Ernie asked.

"I think there may be a disgruntled employee at Gowen Petroleum who has caused problems here, too. I want to make sure I have the right name. Does the last name Whitman sound familiar to you?" he asked Rick.

"Yeah, it does," Rick said. "Why am I thinking of a poker game awhile back?"

Lucas nodded. "That's what I'm thinking, too. Involving Henry, right?"

"Yes, I think that's the one, although if memory serves, it was more than one night."

"That's what I'm remembering, too. I think this guy is bad news all the way around."

Lucas looked through his notes and found the name. "Owen Whitman. That name matches what I found in our payroll records."

"What are you going to do?" Ernie asked.

"Confront him tomorrow at the oil field and find out if he's been deliberately sabotaging the production orders."

"What if you can't prove it?" Ernie asked.

"There have been witnesses, but I'd rather he confess. I'll have to see how it goes, but based on everything I know, I want this man gone."

"Be careful, Lucas," his uncle said, concerned.

"I will. I won't be alone with him. I want all of you to be on high alert, too. If he should show up here, go to Constable Grant immediately. Don't confront him."

"Got it," Ernie and Rick said, as they looked at each other.

"I'm going to let Nathan know. I don't think this man would do it, but I want to make sure Nathan's aware of him, in case he tries to get to Henry at his home."

"That is a very scary thought," Ernie said.

"I know, and I hope it doesn't happen, but I also know desperate men do desperate things. I don't want there to be any trouble if it can be avoided."

The three men nodded in understanding.

"I have to take care of something in my office here and then I'm heading to my room. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good luck, son," Ernie said. "Let's hope everyone stays safe."

Lucas entered his office, knelt down to open the safe and made sure his gun was loaded and ready. He had not had to use it since his altercation with Amos and his men, and he prayed he would not have to use it the following day. But he also knew he needed to be prepared. Just in case.

Elizabeth answered the knock on her door. She would have been happy if it had been Lucas, but she was not completely surprised to see Nathan. She ushered him inside.

"I hope I haven't come too late. I was on my way home and thought I would stop by since we…we didn't get to talk earlier."

"It's fine. Please. Have a seat."

She was thankful Lucas had told her about his conversation with Nathan; otherwise, this visit would have had her a bit unsettled.

They both sat on the sofa. Nathan set his hat beside him.

"I won't stay long. I just…well, I wanted to apologize for the gruffness I displayed around you on more than one occasion."

"I see. That's very decent of you to realize how badly you treated me sometimes and wanting to apologize."

"Yes, well…I thought I had good intentions. I thought…I don't know…maybe you needed protection from Lucas…I had my own view of him, and I know….I projected that attitude onto you…which I….I never should have done. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted," she said and smiled.

Nathan sighed in relief. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I…I'm realizing I didn't have the most honorable…of intentions towards you. It was more my antagonism towards what I thought…Lucas represented…than maybe the way I genuinely felt for you. I apologize for that, too, if I caused you unnecessary distress. That was not my intention, but I just…I couldn't get past thinking Bouchard would…only end up hurting you. But now, I realize, that's what I did. Please forgive me?"

"I do forgive you. Believe it or not, I think I understand what you ae saying. Maybe for the first time."

They shared a friendly laugh.

"I…I want to do better," he said. "I want to be better."

"Because, maybe, you've found someone who truly does want to make you be a better man? For her?"

Nathan looked down at his hands for a moment and then back up into Elizabeth's caring face.

"Yeah. I think that's what might be happening."

"Good for you," Elizabeth said. "Be that better person, Nathan. I know you can do it. Whatever animosity you felt towards Lucas should not be present in your relationship with Francine. You two have a chance for a fresh start. Seize that opportunity. I don't know Francine all that well, but what I do know of her, I think she is a lovely woman. I think you two would be good for each other. You know she's already won over Allie, and I believe Allie has done the same with her. Why not take a chance with someone you already know and who knows you so well?"

"That's what…I've been thinking, too. She has…awakened something in me. You're right. She's been…wonderful with Allie. I want to give…to give us a chance."

"I hope it works out the way you want it to."

"Thank you. I…and I mean this sincerely…I hope everything works out the want it to, Elizabeth. With Lucas and your son and with your writing career. I witnessed you and Lucas together that night. I didn't want to…but when I did, I knew you two were for real…and I knew I had to apologize to both of you for assuming way too much that really….shouldn't have been my concern."

Elizabeth inclined her head. "I am glad you came to that realization, Nathan. Lucas has been nothing but wonderful to me and my son. We love each other very much. We are looking forward to our future. Together."

"I realized that…the other night. I wish you well."

"And I wish you and Francine and Allie, well, too."

Nathan stood and reached for his hat. Elizabeth rose as well.

"I should be getting home."

At the door, Nathan looked at Elizabeth and gave her a rare warm genuine smile.

"Thank you. I do care about you, Elizabeth. If you ever need anything…"

"Same here. And yes, Constable," she said, with a hint of laughter her voice, "I do know where to find you."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Nathan. Be well."

Lucas had narrowed his choices to four people he wanted to contact about hiring as consultants when there was a light rap on his door. He answered and was somewhat surprised to see his mother.

"Good evening, Mother. Please. Come in."

"Are you busy?" she asked, after seeing another empty plate on the nightstand and papers strewn on the small table.

"Not really. I finished eating and was looking at some information Alexander gave me. How are you doing?" he asked, while clearing space so he and his mother could visit.

"I'm well," Helen said, taking a seat. "I'm sure you know Elizabeth and I are making wonderful progress with her story. We should have the final draft ready to go by the end of next week."

"That's good news," Lucas said, sitting across from his mother. "I know Elizabeth will be relieved when the manuscript is finally sent."

"You are planning to be with her for that occasion, right, son?"

"Yes, Mother, I am. She and I talked about that. I want to be there. I would enjoy a small celebration of the fact, too, maybe with you joining us?"

"Well, I don't know if I should be there, but that is very thoughtful of you to think of doing a small celebration. And to think of me."

"Without you, Mother, this would not be happening. I know Elizabeth is very grateful for your help."

"It's been my pleasure, but let's be honest, son. Without Elizabeth's writing talent and your push to help her pursue her dream once more, none of this would be happening."

Lucas smiled. "I guess you're right. I get caught up thinking about how many authors you have assisted and how well most of those books have done, and I just know Elizabeth and her novel will end up being part of your legacy, too, as an editor. You know I am fascinated by the entire process."

Helen returned her son's smile. "I know, dear. I remember with such clarity and fondness the first time you asked to sit with me. You couldn't have been more than ten, but devouring books had already become a part of who you were. When you realized what I was doing, you wanted to know everything. You had no idea until then that I helped in the process to bring those books to life. You became so very interested in what I was doing. During that time, I wondered whether you would become an editor but then, as you got older, I saw your interests changing. You still loved books and were a voracious reader, but you began to want to learn more about what your father and uncle were doing. I know the fact we moved around so much didn't help facilitate the stability you needed. I began to see you searching and trying to find your own niche. I knew then you needed to forge your own path and that most likely, it would be more in line with your father's work than mine."

"I never knew you thought I might want to pursue your line of work. I just thought you liked having me around for company since editing seemed to be such a lonely and sometimes thankless job. I wanted to spend time with you even though you had so many rules."

Helen laughed. "I guess I did, didn't I, son? I knew I had to concentrate fully on what I was reading, and I had only a certain amount of time to complete my work. I knew if I let you be who you were, I would never get any work done. You always asked so many questions. They were good and insightful questions for a young boy, but they distracted me from my task."

"Because I was curious," Lucas defended, but his eyes were smiling. "You taught me to be that way. Always ask questions you said. But maybe I also asked because, for a fleeting moment, I did think about becoming an editor or at least working closely with books. You instilled that in me, Mother."

"Ah, but in the end, your passions were totally different. Card games and magic tricks and a head for business that comes from the Bouchard side. I will take credit for any creativity you may have, but that's about it."

"You've given me a lot more than that, Mother," Lucas said seriously. "You showed me what it means to live a life that matters and how to live life to the fullest, and that is something I will always be grateful for."

"I'm grateful for you, Lucas, and I hope you know that and will always know that."

"I do know that," he said, his voice somber.

"Good. Because I saw the thickness of that envelope with your name on it from your father and had to know what he had written to you. I spoke with him today. Lucas, why didn't you tell me what had happened between you and your father?"

"Father told me not to say anything to you or Uncle Ernie. He said this was an issue between him and me, and he would not have the two of you choosing sides. I honored his wishes. I knew if I said anything, it would have only caused more problems. Besides, I had already decided to leave."

"Yes, but it did not have to be under those circumstances. You know what he did was wrong, don't you?"

"I didn't know what to think when it happened. I was stunned. When I left, I think I was still in shock and denial. Then, I tried to learn to live with it, even though I continued to reach out to him to no avail. But that has all changed, Mother. I hope he told you that."

Helen nodded. "He did. At first, when I asked him to tell me what he had written, he balked. He said he wanted you to have the opportunity to read what he had written without any outside influence, but I forced him to tell me what he wrote to you because I needed to know. I was so afraid of what he might have said to you about this oil business, and I felt guilty your uncle and I pushed you into doing something you didn't want to do. And now I know why you didn't want to ask your father for help. But when your father told me about his confession and his regret for all of the lost time he knows he will never get back, my heart softened towards him. Again. Your father has a way about him sometimes, Lucas, which few people can resist. I think you've inherited that from him, too, although I don't believe you have the stubbornness he can sometimes display with the best of them."

"I don't know if you would call it stubbornness, but I do believe in making things happen sometimes, and I try not to give up so easily, even though I did with Elizabeth until we finally reconnected. I would have lived with that regret for the rest of the my life if I had messed up my chance to be with her because I wasn't willing to wait the way Father told me he'd waited for you and the way I had told myself and Elizabeth I would wait."

"Your father was stubborn," she said, with a mild laugh. "And he knew I was the only woman for him before I was ready to admit it. Sound familiar?"

"Maybe," Lucas said, sounding a bit reserved to be talking about this topic with his mother. "A little. Although Elizabeth and I have started talking about seriously planning our future. Together."

"Lucas, that's wonderful! I am so happy for the two of you."

"Thank you. Nothing has been decided," he cautioned, "and I told Elizabeth I want to ask for her father's blessing, so we have to work that out, too. There's just so much going on, but I know there will never be a perfect time, and we are finding it harder and harder to be apart. But I want to do right by the woman I love and do this the correct way so, again, I will follow Father's lead and be patient."

Helen reached out to squeeze her son's hand.

"I know it's difficult to be patient when you love someone as much as I can tell you love Elizabeth, son, but trust me. The wait will be worth it. You'll see."

After a restless night, Lucas rose before dawn and prepared to face the day. With no one around, he made his way to the safe where he retrieved his gun and holster, concealing it under his suit jacket. He brewed a pot of coffee and cooked oatmeal for sustenance. He knew it was going to be a long day; he wanted to be ready.

By the time the sun had risen and people had begun walking the streets, Lucas had already been in the office, getting ready to head to the oil field. After Mike and Alexander arrived, Lucas told them what he planned to do and then left quickly without answering any questions. He stopped by the jail to let Nathan know about Owen Whitman.

"Do you want me to go with you or send one of my men?" Nathan asked.

"No, it's fine. I'm hoping he leaves quietly. I have protection if he doesn't. I did tell my uncle and Rick to inform you if he shows up at the saloon. I told them not to confront him. I also wanted to tell you so you can keep watch on Henry's house, just in case. I know Francine is there, too, and I would hate for anything to happen to any of us."

"Thanks for the heads up. My men and I will be on guard all day and well into the night if we have to. I will call for extra support until we know he isn't a threat."

"Thank you. I'm heading out."

Later that morning, Lucas arrived at the bungalow and met with Sam.

"I checked our records," Lucas told him. "You're right about Whitman. He's never worked a forty-hour week. He also caused problems at the saloon when he lost several, I'm assuming high stake, poker games to Henry. If you are able to corroborate what you believe he's doing to our orders, I want to terminate his employment. Today."

"Let me see if his supervisor and another crew member are here. They are the ones who told the consultant about this issue, I believe."

Lucas waited while Sam went to the field. He returned with two fairly young men who appeared anxious at being summoned to talk to the boss.

"You two are not in any trouble," Lucas assured them, once Sam had told them to sit. "I just need to ask you some questions about Owen Whitman."

The two men looked at each other.

"What about him?" the supervisor asked.

"Is that the name of the person you told the consultant you believed was interfering with our orders?"

They looked at each other again.

"Yeah. That's him," the crew member said. "I can't believe he's gotten away with it for this long."

"I am here to make sure he does not get away with anything else," Lucas said. "But I need to know I have the right man and that you will not recant your story."

"I want him gone," the supervisor said. "He's given me nothing but headaches and trouble. I tried to tell Henry…"

"Okay," Lucas said, holding up his hands. "I understand. But Henry is not here. I am. I will take care of this guy. He will be gone. Today."

"That would be a good thing," the crew member said. "You have many unhappy workers, Mr. Bouchard. If you can get rid of that guy, we'd all be better off."

"Consider it done."

After the two men nodded and left, Sam looked at Lucas.

"I guess you know what you're doing. Whitman will show up. It's payday."

Lucas allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. "I know. I have his last paycheck right here," he said, patting his jacket pocket. "Although he is not getting paid for forty hours of work he did not do. But if he wants his final paycheck, he will see me. And only me."

Lucas returned to the office that afternoon feeling as though things had gone better than he hoped but still wary Whitman could show up in town. For that reason, he decided to remain armed and ready just in case. He saw Nathan patrolling when he returned and told him so far, so good. Nathan acknowledged his message with a nod and kept to his route.

"How did it go?" Hickam asked, as soon as Lucas sat at his desk.

"Fairly well, all things considered. I wanted to deal with Whitman without a lot of the other workers around, but when he put up a fight, the witnesses and other workers surrounded him and wouldn't back down. I threatened to have him arrested if he didn't leave the premises; he finally left. I just want to make sure he doesn't show up here to cause any trouble."

"You told the Mountie, right?" Alexander asked.

"I did. He's patrolling and has a few extra men around, too. I don't expect any trouble, but you never know. Whitman does have a bit of money from the paycheck I gave him when I fired him, so who knows? Hopefully, he'll find some other watering hole to drown his sorrows in."

"That would be good," Hickam said. "I didn't realize this type of business could attract such shady men."

"Oil is a dirty business," Alexander said, "in more ways than one."

His pun allowed all three men to enjoy a much-needed chuckle, which relieved some of the tension they realized they'd been feeling.

"Mike should know," Lucas said. "He was once completely covered in oil."

Hickam shook his head. "Please, Lucas, don't remind me."

"I would have loved to have seen that," Alexander said, amused.

"It was a sight to behold," Lucas said and then laughed as Hickam shook his head at his boss.

"I never thought you would be the one to bring that up to me," Hickam said. "I guess this just proves we never know who we might end up working for. I will have to be more careful what I do and who sees what I do."

But he had to laugh, too.

It felt good to laugh and to hear the sound of genuine laughter, Lucas realized. He hoped to be able to do more of it as soon as he'd gotten more of the issues he faced under control and resolved.

But he also knew firing Owen Whitman and confronting the older and hardened man in front of his superiors and his peers was not something Lucas wanted to do as a matter of course. He dreaded having to take such a drastic step and hoped he would not have a repeat performance. The conflict he experienced and how it affected him made him even more grateful for the dedicated and loyal workers he employed at the Queen of Hearts. They were like family to him, and days such as this one sorely reminded him how much he longed to be back at the only place he knew he truly wanted to be. His saloon. Oh how he missed being at and taking care of his "baby."

He couldn't wait for the day when he would finally be "home."