Chapter 5
Henry arrived at the courtroom about 15 minutes ahead of time, though still flustered. He hung up his hat and saw that Lucas was already there, and Elizabeth next to him. Their conversation appeared to be solemn, but soft at the same time. Lucas had a hand on Elizabeth's arm, reassuring her of something. She gazed up at him, ultimately giving him a resigned nod, and a tender kiss on the cheek.
Elizabeth walked back then and saw Henry at the door. The older man tried to hide the fact that he'd been watching the new couple, and Elizabeth, in turn, seemed to be embarrassed to be caught showing public affections, particularly to a man that was opposing her friend.
"Good morning, Henry," she said softly.
"Good morning, Elizabeth." He smiled to demonstrate he had no hard feelings about her position.
"I'm sorry I was not able to stay Lucas' hand on this, but I want you to know that he is a good man who respects you as the same, Henry. This is simply a business disagreement, but you are and will always remain our friend."
Henry was quite touched by the kindness. "There is no reason for you to take on the weight of my mistakes, Elizabeth. You have no blame here in the slightest. I am honored by your friendship. And I pray that I can do right by both you and Lucas today."
The young woman blushed a bit at the pairing of her name with her new beau's and began to take her leave from the proceedings.
"Elizabeth?" Henry stopped her.
"Yes?"
He reached out and gently held her hand. In a quiet, gravelly voice, he asked, "Does he make you happy?"
Elizabeth's eyes shone. She spoke slowly, trying to control her sudden emotion. "It feels as though he has taken all my broken pieces and made a work of art."
Henry pulled her into a hug and knew. All things work together for good.
ooooo
The initial formalities had passed and Bill was saying now, "Mr. Gowen, I am in receipt of your answer, which frankly is unorthodox and I am unsure why I am entertaining it."
"I apologize if my answer was improper, your honor, but I did not have time to retain counsel," Henry smirked.
Bill narrowed his eyes. "You write here that you admit to the allegations outlined in the complaint, but that you wish to proceed with the settlement conference anyway?"
"That's correct, your honor."
"What is it exactly you want to settle besides showing Mr. Bouchard the books?" Bill asked perplexed. Lucas looked similarly at a loss.
"I'd like to formally offer Mr. Bouchard not only the financial information as requested, but also the position of general manager, and majority ownership of Gowen Petroleum at the initial investment rate."
"What?"
Henry continued undeterred. "I will retain a minority stake, and otherwise only ask in return that I be granted the privilege of a position as sales manager. I'm good at it, I know the players, and Mr. Bouchard will need some assistance in learning the oil business."
Lucas fell backward against his seat, completely flummoxed.
Bill looked back and forth, mouth agape. "Mr. Bouchard, do you want to agree to this settlement?" he sputtered.
Lucas thought a moment, still awe-struck. "It's not without its temptations. However, my recent change in romantic circumstances puts me in a more conservative position than usual in regard to risk. May I see the financials first?"
"Don't ask me, this is barely a legal proceeding anymore!" Bill answered, throwing up his hands.
Henry took several books from in front of him on the table and handed the stack to Lucas. "You're welcome to them, but I should tell you there is one new account not yet reflected," he said.
"Oh?"
"As of this morning, Gowen Petroleum is the Northwest regional supplier of oil for the Canadian Corps."
ooooo
"To the continued prosperity of our business," Lucas cheered, raising his glass of whiskey.
"To all continued prosperity," Henry answered in kind.
They took the celebratory first sips of their drinks, sitting on opposite sides of a table in the saloon.
"So now, tell me, Henry, away from the forbidding figure of Bill Avery - why did you really want this deal?"
Henry shrugged. "I made a mess of things, and you're a good businessman. Maybe this isn't the life I need anymore."
Lucas put his whiskey down on the wood and stared squarely at his companion. "Henry, I trust you. I trust you because Elizabeth trusts you. I don't think you're trying to pull the rug out from under me, but I also don't believe that reason for a second. Why would you step back from a fortune in military payments when all you had to do was show me the books?"
Henry swirled his glass thoughtfully. "Bouchard. French Canadian. 34?"
"32."
"Oh, weren't those the days?" he smiled self-deprecatingly. "The military may bring fortune, but wartime often does not. Particularly not to young men or young wives."
Lucas' eyes lifted as he gradually recognized the other man's meaning. "And soon involuntarily so," he continued with a soft wonder in his voice.
"Unless a tribunal finds those young men to be of better service to the war effort through other means."
Lucas was overtaken and could not find an adequate response to the amazing gift he had just been given. Henry too could say no more. Instead, the two men, in keeping with their mutual habit of offering few unguarded words, tipped their heads and glasses to each other in an understanding silence.
ooooo
Later that night, Abigail had closed up the café and gotten Cody off to Robert's house for the evening – one in a series of outings and sleepovers to make up for time lost – when she decided to call on Elizabeth, though she was not sure if the visit was intended to distract her from the outcome of Henry's case or to casually find out what the outcome was. Bill had come briefly into the café just ahead of the dinner rush to take a scone back to his office, but when she'd looked at him expectantly, he'd simply huffed and thrown up his hands at some invisible absurdity, then left.
When Elizabeth answered the door, her cheeks were a very charming shade of red.
"Abigail!"
Peeking beyond her friend, Abigail could see the reason for this maiden flush.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know you would have company, though I should have realized. I'll find you in the morning."
"Certainly not; it is I who should go," Lucas interjected. "I just came to say hello to Elizabeth and Little Jack before his bedtime, but I have plenty of work I need to get to in any case."
"The saloon has seemed even more bustling since you brought on Gustave," Abigail agreed.
"Ah, kind of you to say, but I meant my new job, with Gowen Petroleum."
Abigail did a double-take. "Gowen Petroleum?"
"Abigail, have you not heard?" Elizabeth gushed. "Henry settled with Lucas for majority ownership and made him manager!"
"My goodness," Abigail took in a sharp breath. "That must have been some case for him to have to negotiate away so much. Is what he kept from you so awful?" she asked, growing upset.
"Oh no, quite the opposite. The oil business is booming and he brought me aboard willingly," Lucas smiled. The news seemed to affect Abigail in some confusing way, and Lucas and Elizabeth shared a glance.
"Abigail, had you talked with Henry about the company at all?" Elizabeth asked curiously, remembering their earlier conversation in the mayor's office.
"As mayor, it was not my place to bring in my personal feelings to this matter," Abigail repeated with some bitterness.
Elizabeth took another step toward her and took her hand, speaking gently. "And what feelings are those?"
Abigail shook her head slowly, unable to articulate an answer to the question. Elizabeth glanced at Lucas uncomfortably, and Abigail's manners kicked in. "No no, it's alright, Elizabeth. Whether Lucas was here or not, I don't think I would know what to say."
"Mayor Stanton," Lucas cut in, "would you mind if I walked you back to town? I think it would benefit us both to discuss the settlement."
The women were taken aback, but Abigail's curiosity and grace got the better of her. "Thank you, Lucas, I would appreciate it."
Elizabeth gave her suitor a questioning look, which he answered with a reassuring nod and a kiss on the cheek.
When the unlikely companions had walked past Elizabeth's hearing, Lucas began.
"Henry Gowen is a good man, Mayor Stanton. I don't think I have to tell you that, as it's my understanding you've always been one of his strongest advocates. But in case it's been forgotten while you were away, or his pride has caused some harm, I wanted it to be said."
"He certainly seems to have done right by you," Abigail offered, still guarded.
"More than I can explain to you in this moment. You'll have to trust me when I say that Henry gave me more than a piece of his business today. He acted selflessly, sacrificing quite a bit of money in the process, and Elizabeth and I will forever be indebted to him. Which is why I feel compelled to ask you to reconsider your relationship with him."
"Relationship!" Abigail cried.
Lucas slowed. "I apologize for overstepping. It's only that Florence has some old habits she has not broken. Rest assured, though, I doubt she herself knows how unusual it is for the mayor to call the head of an oil company about barrel prices," he explained, trying not to grin.
Abigail was embarrassed and slightly offended. "Mr. Bouchard, I'd be grateful if you did not share any more of your suspicions with me."
"Again, I apologize, but I must say I cannot regret it. It would grieve me to allow Henry's character to suffer when he acted so nobly today, so please allow me to hazard impropriety for one final thought: You are an intelligent woman, Mayor Stanton. The depth of affection that Henry Gowen has for you is not lost on anyone, and it certainly cannot be lost on you. Whatever wrong he has committed or troubles he has not shared, I can say without hesitation that it was only for fear of losing you."