20 Years Ago, Paris
19 year old Francois Dupont walked down the street, his hands in his pockets. He was purposefully bumping into people on the busy steeets, not hard enough to cause a disturbance, just hard enough that when he finally did bump into someone, like this fine looking gentleman here, he could apologize and leave quietly with the man's watch and wallet. Afterwards he would stop at the market and pick up some groceries, drop by a pharmacy, and walk to the rough side of Paris. This was the area of town where most stayed away from. But not Francois, he was as comfortable here as he was in an elegant ballroom. As he passed a shabby beggar he knelt down and held a short conversation with the woman before leaving a few sous and a couple livre into her hands. This was not an uncommon sight to see. This was the Neighborhood that Francois had grown up in. His mother had bled her fingers raw scraping out a living by day, and working on manuscript after manuscript by candlelight. When he was thirteen his father found them and demanded that Francois come live with him. Francois never knew until he found his mother years later in Hamilton, Ontario. It was part of the deal that she and his father made. She leave France with enough money to make a comfortable life, and Francois come live with his father...and Francois won't be killed.
Francois stopped at a door and knocked three times, a beautiful, brown headed girl, about his age, answered. Upon seeing who it was she threw the door open and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek.
"Oh my love, I feared you would never come".
"I promised I would. How is she"?
"Worse, I fear she won't have much longer, not even the night".
Francois frowned. He wasn't able to visit as often as he wanted. He wished he could do more, but with his father's spies hanging around it was all he could do just to do this.
"At least we can ease her pain", he said.
Present, Hope Valley
Lucas Bouchard sat alone in his office. He was intently focused on a picture of his younger self with a smiling young woman on his arm. He had been so in love, and so foolish. It was because of him that she had died. Setting the picture aside he stood up and checked his watch. 4:30...it was time.
The streets of Hope Valley were empty. The sun had yet to rise above the mountain, which was his destination. Instead of his fine clothes he had opted for the clothes of a rancher, in addition he had completely shaved his beard and mustache.
"You look like a new man", Constable Grant called from his horse. Well, he wasn't Constable Grant at the moment, choosing to remain in his everyday dress and not his red surge.
"I feel like a dead man".
"You remember the plan, right", Nathan asked, giving Lucas the reins of the horse he was leading.
"Yeah yeah. I'm going to camp out at the abandoned cabin on the Mountain while you and Bill do your best to throw Dupont off my trail which, I repeat, won't work".
"Lucas we don't have any other option. Dupont will be here in a matter of hours and we're wasting time as it is".
"Fine, let's just get going".
20 Years Ago, Paris
Francois Dupont sr. stood above the flowing river Seine, his disappointment in his son ran as deep and as strong. He could hear the struggle behind him and he heard the exhale of breathe as his son was thrown do hard onto the pavement of the bridge.
"I took you, lovingly, into my home. I made sure that you wanted for nothing, needed nothing, and yet you squander your skills and life in the trou de merde that you grew up in".
He turned to look into the bloodied, blue and purple face of his son. His men had done their job well.
"The girl and her mother"? Dupont asked his men.
"Dead", the shorter man simply said.
Young Francois thought back to how the men had crashed through the door as he was holding his grieving fiancee in his arms. They callously shot her and beat him to within an inch of his life. He was stupid to think that he could evade them.
Through bloodied eyes he looked up to see his father walk towards him.
"You have interfered with my business far too much. This will be the last time you do".
With that final word, Dupont pulled out an American cap and ball revolver, a gift, Francois recalled, from a friend who had visited America during their Civil War. Dupont leveled the revolver with his son and put three lead balls into his chest.
"Dump him into the river".
Present, Hope Valley
Francois Dupont sr. stepped out of the coach and onto the dusty streets of Hope Valley. He sneered at the small town with it's small buildings. He looked around and found what he was looking for. With quick, purposeful steps he made his way to the 'Queen of Hearts'.
"Good morning", an older man called. The man's blonde hair was fading to grey, but his voice and gate spoke of a strength beneath that could rival a younger man's.
Dupont ignored him and continued to cross the street.
"Excuse me", the man said, blocking his path, his arm extended, "Bill Avery, judge and acting Mayor of Hope Valley, who might you be".
"I am looking for this man", Dupont said, showing Bill the poster of his son, "he is the owner of this saloon and I wish to see him at once", he said, his thick accent lacing the words.
"I'm sorry to say that Mr. Bouchard is out on business, but if you wait a couple of days I'm sure you can speak with him then".
"Thank you for your time Mr. Avery", the man said sharply. He continued towards the saloon, "I will purchase a room to stay in until Mr...Bouchard returns".
Alright, fellow Hearties, Francois Dupont sr. has arrived in Hope Valley. What do y'all think will happen? A new/old character will be appearing. Any ideas who? Here is a hint. He is a character from season 1.