With the school year over Elizabeth was now focused solely on Little Jack and finishing her book. She was very close to writing Helen Beauchard and telling her to shove off. Every correspondence was re-writes, re-writes, and more re-writes. But Elizabeth couldn't deny that she was learning more from these rewrites than she had from any class. But at this moment her mind was elsewhere, focused on the dream she had had of Jack. Was it a dream though? It had felt so real, he had felt real. He had even smelled the same.
As her fingers absentmindedly drummed she noticed Little Jack waddle across the floor. She smiled. This Jack, at least, was as real as she was. Finally he made his way towards the window and held tightly to the ledge.
"Daddy"!
The explanation caught her off-guard, prompting her to look out the window. It was Nathan, and judging by the shocked look on his face, Little Jack's declaration had caught him off-guard as well. But Little Jack's smile was so infectious that Nathan couldn't help but return it. Elizabeth took a moment to compose herself before opening the door. Nathan was standing there with her shawl. She had completely forgotten about losing it in the clearing.
"Hey", he said, "um, I didn't know how to clean it so I asked Rosemary if she wouldn't mind. I didn't want to return it filthy. She insisted that I return it myself".
"That was very sweet Nathan", she said, taking her shawl back, "Would you like to come in"?
"Well, I was actually going to take Allie fishi.."
"We Would Love To", they heard the young lady call from the carriage before making a bee-line for the door.
"Aren't you supposed to be feeling bad," Nathan asked with a light stare.
"It's amazing what a little fresh air will do for the immune system", she retorted, returning Nathan's glare.
Nathan sighed in frustration. Then looking down and smiling at Little Jack he asked, "is four company"?
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. "It certainly is ". As Elizabeth closed the door neither one heard the short, high pitched squeal from the Coulter house, nor did they see the blonde head rush by the window.
Rosemary Coulter didn't even see Lucas as she ran past him, her dress pulled up just enough for her to move her legs as fast as she could. Lucas watched in bewilderment as she blew past him, raising a tiny cloud of dust behind her. He shook his head and chuckled. That Mrs. Coulter certainly was something else. As he approached Elizabeth's row house he could hear her distinct laughter...and the laughter of Nathan Grant. Taking a deep breath he steeled himself. 'you promised you'd try', he reminded himself. He knocked three times.
"Allie, could you get that", Elizabeth asked.
Lucas was smiling his signature smile as Allie opened the door, frowning when she saw who it was.
"Lucas, hi", Elizabeth said, still smiling. Both she and Nathan were covered in flour.
"Did I miss the fun", he asked, taking in the sight of the two. Nathan, to his credit, didn't frown at him like he used to. Both men were living true to their deal.
"Nathan and I were just making a pie for dessert".
"And the bag if flour decided to attack"?
"That was actually me. We were arguing about who was better at measuring when we got into a, food fight I guess, and..." Nathan finished the sentence by gesturing to both th himself and Elizabeth. There was silence between the three when Allie, to Nathan's surprise, asked Lucas to stay for dinner. Nathan excused himself and Allie so they could go home and clean themselves off. Allie declined the offer, saying that she should help Mrs. Thornton clean up the kitchen. But from the look she was shooting Lucas he knew it was just to keep an eye on him and Elizabeth. Nathan smiled and silently thanked her. Not that he didn't trust Elizabeth, it was Lucas he was worried about.
Dinner had gone off without a hitch. After dinner the adults sat around the living area and chatted. Eventually Elizabeth put Jack down to bed. Allie was beginning to get sleepy as well. As the twelve year old nodded off, Nathan scooped her up in his arms and carried her home. As he was walking down the row of houses, Lucas stopped him.
"Nathan, do you mind if we get that drink tonight"?
"Sorry, I don't feel comfortable leaving Allie alone. Maybe tomorrow"?
"I don't want to be blunt, not when we are both trying to be amiable, but I need to talk with you tonight".
Nathan stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the look of desperation in Lucas's eyes.
"Sure".
Lucas's hands were shaking as he poured himself a glass of bourbon. He offered a glass to Nathan, who politely declined it. Lucas downed the tumbler of dark liquid and poured a second. He drank the second without hesitation, placed the empty glass on the bar and breathed heavily.
"I know you don't like me Nathan, even though we both promised, and what I'm going to tell you will make you hate me".
Nathan didn't say anything, keeping his expression emotionless.
"Is this about Francois Dupont"?
Lucas looked shocked.
"How do you know about him"?
"I got a wire from Mountie Headquarters that he had arrived in Cape Fullerton. I did some research and learned that your father had recently visited him in Paris".
Lucas hung his head. "That's why he was in Paris", he exclaimed, "I told him not to get involved".
"Look, I may not be your friend Lucas, but I'm still a man of the law, but most importantly we both...care about Elizabeth. And whatever happens, we need to work together to keep her and Jack safe".
Lucas nodded, still not meeting Nathan's eyes. Nathan stuck his hand out.
"Can I trust you to have my back, Lucas"?
Looking into the Mountie's eyes Lucas saw what Elizabeth saw. 'That's why she loves him', He thought.
"You can", he said, taking Nathan's hand.
It was close to midnight when Nathan left the saloon. He walked swiftly to his office and opened the door. At his desk he lit the lamp and took out the Warrant poster that had been sent along with a folder of records. The man on the poster was clean shaven and frowning. His long hair appeared matted. Studying the face Nathan took a pencil and sketched a beard over the face. He sighed with disappointment as he looked at the face of Lucas Bouchard; or, mor accurately, Francois Dupont jr.