The door to the Coulter's office opened and all eyes watched as Nathan and Lee entered the room. From their solemn expressions, Rosemary could tell that things were not as they had hoped but it was Elizabeth's haunted expression that Nathan Grant would never forget – as if she were waiting for a repeat of news she had heard nearly four years before when her beloved Jack was taken from her way too soon. Knowing that he needed to put that fear out of her head immediately, his first words to her were "He made it out of surgery and is resting." She seemed to melt with relief exhaling then embracing Allie who had thrown her arms around her teacher's waist. Whatever would follow, she thought, the fact that Lucas was alive was enough to give her strength.
The men crossed the room and Nathan took a seat across from her as Lee joined his Rosie.
"How is he aside from that?" Elizabeth asked, softly.
Nathan clinched his jaw as he searched for words. "The bullet…the bullet passed clean through his shoulder, hitting nothing major."
"Thank God." Rosemary said.
"But his leg…" Nathan looked up at her through his deep blue eyes and the sadness they expressed when he looked at her foretold the rest of the story. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. There was just too much damage. She had to…"
Immediately, Elizabeth brought her hand to her face and began to sob and though Nathan longed to, it was Rosemary who joined her on the couch and allowed her to weep into her shoulder. It had been months since there had been any question concerning his and Elizabeth's relationship, yet it still pained him to see her expressing such grief. Still, if there were any question as to her love for Bouchard prior to that evening, it was gone. Nevertheless, he and Allie stayed with her for a good while until, finally, she steadied herself and dried her tears then touched him on the arm.
"Thank you, Nathan. You are very brave." She said. He remained speechless.
"Would you mind walking with me to the Infirmary? I'd like to go see him."
He nodded his head and the two of them stood up to go. Rosemary promised they would pick up little Jack from Laura when they got home and that way she could stay as long as she needed. Then she hugged Allie and Nathan and Elizabeth walked out the door.
Making the dreadful trip down the street, Elizabeth looked sadly at the still-smoking embers glowing red in the night of what once was the Queen of Hearts Saloon. Even in the dark, she could see it was a total loss. Still, she knew that loss was nothing compared to everything else that occurred and so she walked with Nathan to the infirmary door.
"Thank you, again." She said. "Tell Allie, I love her. She's a very special young lady."
"I will." He responded. "If there's anything you need."
Elizabeth nodded then turned and knocked on the door.
A few seconds later a weary and puffy-eyed Faith Carter opened the door and Nathan walked away. Giving Elizabeth a hug she wiped her eyes and invited her in.
"I was wondering if I might see Lucas." Elizabeth said, looking over Faith's shoulder at a pile of bloodied sheets that the doctor had packaged up in order to be incinerated.
"Of course." the doctor replied. "He's sleeping. I've given him enough morphine to keep him out until sometime tomorrow. It's important for him to rest. Everything is still quite swollen and will be for a while. Plus, I want to manage any pain he might have from the surgery as best as possible. I can't keep him on the drug for long because of its addictive properties, but for now..."
Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you. I'm sure he would appreciate that." She said as they walked past the operating area that had been cleaned up and restored so that nobody would ever suspect what had transpired there just a short time before. Walking just a few feet further, they moved past a cloth screen to Lucas's bedside and Faith stepped away to allow for more privacy.
Elizabeth was pleased to see that he appeared to be resting peacefully but he looked pale to her and the affects of his trauma were seen by his now-bandaged shoulder, some bruises and scrapes on his cheek and forehead and the uneven rise of the blanket which covered his severed limb. She choked back tears.
Pulling up a chair beside him, she reached across his body and ran her fingers through his thick onyx hair, normally so well-coiffed, but now matted down with sweat and smoke; and she wanted to embrace him. How could it be that this good and beautiful man who just hours ago had been the model of health and vibrancy could now be laying there motionless and broken? Life could be so hard.
She reached for his hand to hold it and when she did, her eyes scanned his blanket and she wondered about all that lay ahead. One thing was for certain, she would never leave him. Her heart and her life were now inextricably bound to his and she was more determined than ever to be a help meet to him and a friend. Indeed, she would love him to her dying day.
Across the room, Faith placed a bottle of medicine back in its place and turned out a light. Returning to Elizabeth, she let her know that she was going to try to get a little sleep on a cot and asked if there was anything she needed before she laid down.
"No. I'm okay." Elizabeth replied. "How are you?" she asked, sweetly.
Faith swallowed then nodded. "I'm…I'm okay. I'm just so sorry."
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to Lucas's hand. "Thank you. We appreciate that."
"No." Faith continued. "I don't just mean about the attack and what that did to him. I'm sorry there wasn't more that I could do to help him. I thought perhaps there was a chance but the damage was too extensive. Still, I never thought we'd have to go that far." Faith began to tear up. "I'm just so…so sorry."
Elizabeth placed Lucas's hand back on the bed and walked over to Faith then gave her a hug. "Faith, it's not your fault and I don't blame you. I know you did everything you could and I know when Lucas wakes up, he will know that too. Please don't blame yourself. You likely saved his life and that's what is most important. Right?"
Faith shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Yes. That is what is most important. Please. Don't hesitate to wake me if you need anything. Anything at all." She said before sadly bidding Elizabeth goodnight and walking to her cot.
At home, Nathan spent a sleepless night watching over his daughter who was traumatized from the events of the day and just needed her dad. He contemplated all of what had transpired, Lee having filled him in about their search for Robert and the evidence they had found. First thing in the morning, he would drop Allie off with the Weise family and they would take her to school with Opal. He and Bill would then plan their approach in capturing the criminals.
From Allie's description, it was suspicioned that the man whom Lucas killed may have been Davey Tyler himself and Nathan figured Bill could compare fingerprints recovered from the printing press at the shack with those on file to confirm. Given the fact that there were three men present, one at least six-foot eight, it would give them at least a 50/50 chance of Tyler being dead. From there, they would go for the others.
From what they had confiscated, it was pretty clear what the group was doing. They had gone from bootlegging to counterfeiting money which was a pretty convenient tie, Nathan believed, to Morgan Hiatt and Lombardi. Perhaps Gyp was the other man. Regardless, try as they might, Bill was right – it was going to be a little hard for them to hide seeing they were "travelling with Goliath." Nathan was hopeful they would apprehend the gangsters quickly and was anxious to return Robert Wolf to Hope Valley, unharmed – for Robert's sake, and for Allie's.
The next morning, the town awakened to a world that was changed. The Saloon had always been more than a place to drink and gamble as, next to the church, it served as Hope Valley's primary social center. Weddings were held there and receptions, town meetings, and parties – and, with its sub-business as a hotel, there were memories of visits from relatives and friends that several could recall. But buildings made from wood could be rebuilt and memories remained. What was most on people's minds was not the material possessions that could be replaced but the fact two of their own were in trouble. Lucas and Robert, two individuals whose interaction with the community was entirely different were in people's thoughts and prayers continually and offers of help regarding the situation poured in from far and wide.
At around eleven o-clock in the morning, the infirmary door opened and Rosemary Coulter stopped by with baby Jack. It was clear to Rosie that Elizabeth hadn't slept much at all and so she did what any good friend would do at that point in time and encouraged her to take a break.
It was no surprise when Elizabeth protested. "I really can't. I want… I need to be here when he wakes up."
Faith overheard. "I'm not going to start stepping him down from the morphine until around one o'clock and then only in increments. I think you have a few hours if you want to go freshen up and get a little something to eat."
Still, Elizabeth was hesitant. "I'm not really that hungry."
"You need to eat." Rosemary replied. "Minnie Canfield has stepped in and is handling school, since she has experience in homeschooling her own, and three families have delivered plates of food to my office for you and little Jack so that you don't have to run home to cook. Plus, little Jack was fussy last night missing his Mommy and with everything that lies ahead, you're going to need your strength."
Elizabeth looked at her son and then at Lucas who was still sleeping "Okay. I'll go. But not for long." She then kissing her fingers she touched Lucas's hand. "I'll only be gone for a little while, my love." Turning to Dr. Carter, she made her promise to come and get her if anything changed and Faith said she would.
Nathan finished a second search in the woods and had just returned to town when a call came in to him from the Benton Hills Mountie Station. The suspects had been spotted in the area but were headed East instead of West, back toward Hope Valley. Immediately, Nathan made his way to Judge Avery's office to inform him of the development.
"They're headed back this way." Nathan said.
"Who is?" Bill asked.
"Our assailants. Benton Hills placed them on the road East early this morning. A woman and three men, one of whom sounds like Robert."
Avery crossed his arms and rubbed his chin."Well, that's bold. I wonder what would make them take that kind of a risk? They have to know everyone is looking for them."
"Your guess is as good as mine." Nathan replied. "We have their equipment. What could they possibly want?"
"Treasure! And lots of it. That's what the kid said." Gyp Lombardi told his common law wife, Morgan Hiatt, as they waited by the side of the road.
"What kind of treasure?" Morgan replied.
"Gold? I don't know. But, from the way the boy talks, the area is full of it. I figured we head into town under cover of night, you can sneak in there long enough to drop off the ransom note at the general store they pay up, then we grab the loot and roll. Leave the kid somewhere down the road."
"It sounds risky." She said as the giant and Robert returned to the group after Robert required a 'nature break.'
"It'll be fine. We're out in the middle of nowhere anyways. Who's going to stop us?"
"They stopped Davey." The giant man said. "He never returned with the girl."
"He got sloppy." Gyp replied. "We ain't gonna get sloppy, ya hear me, John? Just get in and out. Kids' parents drop off the money and we high-tail it out of there and disappear for a while. Nobody gets hurt. Sound good?"
"Sounds good to me." Morgan replied with a sigh. "I'm tired of running. This was supposed to be an adventure."
"Baby, Gyp Lombardi ain't never made a promise he ain't kept. Trust me, your adventure's just begun."
"How are you holding up?" Rosemary asked Elizabeth while the latter handed her son a plate of food. Elizabeth sat down at her own place setting and picked up her fork, absentmindedly poking at some chicken salad while she talked.
"Scared. Hurt. Sad." She replied.
"That's natural. I know when I thought Lee was dying, it was the most frightening gut-wrenching moment of my life. And poor Lucas…it has to feel horrible to see him lying there in that state."
"It is." Elizabeth replied. "But you know, in another way it feels sort of natural. I mean as unnatural as the events are that caused all of this, being by his side through it and helping him get through the pain of it all, it seems like where I'm supposed to be – if that makes sense."
"It makes perfect sense, especially since I know you and how giving you are to those you love. But as your friend I think I need to admonish you right now to remember to take care of Elizabeth. You have a full plate already with the school and with little Jack and now you're placed in the role of helping a man who prides himself on being one who helps others – not in a bad way of course, but Lucas is not used to being dependent. He just snaps his fingers and makes things happen. Who knows how he's going to take this."
"Psychologically it's bound to be really tough. But we'll get through it."
"I know you will." Rosemary replied.
A couple of hours later, the door to the Coulter's office opened and Fiona poked her head inside.
"Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth was sitting on the floor playing with Jack and turned to see who was speaking.
"Dr. Carter asked me to come down here and let you know he's beginning to wake up. Figured you might want to be there."
Elizabeth looked at her earnestly then turned to Rosemary. "Yes, I do."
"I'll watch little Jack." Rosemary said. "Don't worry about anything"
"Thank you, Rosemary" Elizabeth replied and then she was gone.
Lucas was very drowsy when Elizabeth first walked in the room but awake enough to realize where he was and to whom he was talking.
"You're awake." She smiled as he opened his eyes.
He looked at her and smiled softly then reached out his hand and took her own. "I'm sorry to have frightened you." He replied. "I never wanted to do that."
"I'm just thankful you're still here. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?" she asked.
"No." he said, stretching out his arms. "Not really. A little sore and my left foot itches but, other than that… I'm just feeling…really tired."
Elizabeth just nodded then looked over at Faith with wide-eyes as he again began to doze off. Faith motioned for her to step to the side. Whispering, Carter explained to her what was happening.
"He's not feeling any pain right now because of the morphine but that could change over the next couple of hours as I reduce his dosage, so be forewarned."
"And the itching?"
"It is very common in amputees to still 'feel' their missing body parts – itching, pain, cold, heat... They call it a 'phantom limb.' We don't' fully understand the phenomenon but scientists believe it is a neurological reaction. There have even been experiments with electrical current that have…"
"I'm sorry…" Elizabeth interrupted. "But does Lucas not know what happened to him?"
She sounded a little terse being more concerned with Lucas's mental state at the moment than she was with a lesson in medical science.
Faith grew quiet.
"No. He is wholly unaware. And…I think that's alright, for now. Wait until he's more lucid and is more able to understand."
"I see." Elizabeth responded, not wishing to second guess.
Suddenly, the door to the infirmary opened again and there entered three people, two men and a woman.
"Where is he? Where's my son?" the blonde-haired woman in her mid-fifties said as she entered the room.
"Helen?" Elizabeth said, walking to greet her. "How did you...?"
"Bill Avery. We were in San Francisco visiting friends when we got the call. Where is Lucas? We took the train and caught the first stage coach into town." She explained.
"He's over here." Elizabeth said motioning with her hand. "And you are…?"she asked, looking at a man around sixty with a salt and pepper beard, thick hair and piercing brown eyes that looked quite familiar.
"Peter Bouchard. Lucas's father. You must be Elizabeth." The man replied. "And this is our family's personal physician, Dr. Bernard Luison."