Bill's Reaction

News of Elizabeth's choice of Lucas as her next "love interest" spread like wildfire in Hope Valley. Bill Avery was stunned! Nathan must be crushed! Goodness knows Jack would be spinning in his grave!

What was she thinking, pairing herself up with Bouchard? As far as he was aware, she really knew very little about his background – just superficial stuff. The guy barely acknowledges Little Jack, so how on earth does she see him as a potential step-father for her toddler son?

Bill didn't have the answers to these and other questions, but he sure was going to ask her, first chance he got. Much to his dismay, that opportunity came sooner, rather than later.

Elizabeth came bounding into the café, early the next morning. Since there were no other customers yet, Bill saw his opportunity and acted upon it.

"What brings you in here so early, Elizabeth?", he asked.

"Oh, Lucas and I are going to spend the day together – just the two of us – to relish in our new found courtship. I am just so excited to be in love again and we will be blissfully happy." she beamed.

Bill's reply was much less enthusiastic, "Yes, I heard you are now officially courting Bouchard! Until I heard it directly from you, I was hoping it was just a vicious rumour!"

"Bill! What an awful thing to say! And why can't you address him properly? His name is 'Lucas', and I would appreciate you addressing him, as such!

Oh, I know, being an ex-Mountie, you probably wanted me to marry Nathan, even though I am not in love with him.' She lowered her eyes with sadness, as she recalled her conversation with Nathan.

"Not in love with him?! How can you look at me with a straight face and tell me you are not in love with Nathan? Wherever he is, your eyes seek him out. Even when you're with "Loo-cas", your eyes are following Nathan around. You have spent the last three years interjecting yourself into Nathan's personal life and even worse, you far overstepped your responsibilities as Allie's teacher and acted more like her mother. How do you expect them to feel, now? I am surprised at you, Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth, now crying at Bill's sharp tone of voice, replied, "Well, as I told Nathan, I do love him; I'm just not "in love" with him. There's a difference, you know. I wasn't seeing Nathan for himself. I was seeing Jack in him. Every time I saw the red serge, I was reminded of my beloved Jack. You have no idea how hard it was to tell Nathan that, but it had to be done".

Bill's eyes were as wide as they could get and he just shook his head at her, "How hard it was to TELL NATHAN?! You mean to tell me, you ACTUALLY TOLD Nathan that, for three LONG years, you have only seen him as a one-dimensional man – a carbon copy of Jack, because of the serge?!

Is it really possible that you are unable to see that Nathan & Jack are nothing alike, except they are both Mounties? Or is this Bouchard's influence on you?"

He continued on, not waiting for a reply, "You need to practice what you teach, because right now, I am beyond appalled at your lack of compassion and kindness, Elizabeth. For a smart, society-raised, proper woman, you sure are lacking in people skills.

Elizabeth had her back up and was digging in her heels. She sneered at him and replied, "How dare you say such things to me? Seeing as how you are unable to support the choices I make for my life, please refrain from commenting on my personal life. "

Without missing a beat, Elizabeth continued on, "I am in a courtship with Lucas Bouchard, whether you like it or not. It was not my choice to lose Jack like I did, however, I had to move on with my life."

Softening his tone a bit, but making direct eye contact with her, Bill replied, "Yes, Elizabeth, you needed to move on with your life. There is nothing Jack would have wanted more than for you to find happiness, again. But, there's one small thing you seem to have overlooked. It is not just your life, anymore. Your choices have a direct impact on Jack, Jr's life, too. You have chosen a man who, in the past three years, has paid little or no attention to your son – and don't even try to argue with me on this point. I am a trained investigator and I get paid well to be observant. The Mounties trained us to understand what we actually see, but they also trained us to observe what isn't there, too."

Elizabeth glowered at him and through gritted teeth she retorted back, "Bill, I think I have heard quite enough from you. I will take care of my life and my son's future, as I see fit."

Bill tried to diffuse her anger, "As you wish, Elizabeth. But, if you remember nothing else, please remember this: I love you like the daughter I never had and, as Jack, Sr's mentor and now, as Little Jack's godfather, I speak up out of care and concern. I really wish I could offer you my full support and blessing, but I just do not see Lucas as the key to your long-term happiness. Now that I have said my peace, you will not hear anything further from me, personally, on the subject."

Elizabeth thanked him for his promise not to further interfere in her life and, with tears streaming down her face, turned on her heel and abruptly left the café, without purchasing anything for her upcoming picnic with Lucas.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE JAIL….

Constable Nathan Grant was speaking with Mountie HQ in Hamilton. It seems the same boot print Judge Avery found in the stolen car located in Hope Valley a couple of months ago, was located at another crime scene in Hamilton, a few months prior. Although circumstantial evidence at best, HQ found it curious the same type boot print was found at two different crime scenes, such a great distance apart. Although they currently did not have an identification of any suspect, Nathan was told to be on the alert for any strangers in the Hope Valley and surrounding area.

Further information identified the owner of the stolen car as being a very prominent Hamilton citizen, William Thatcher, owner of Hamilton Shipyards. Mr. Thatcher, his business associate, Charles Kensington, III and the Thatcher Family chauffeur have already commenced their journey via the stagecoach to Hope Valley and should arrive within the week. Nathan was advised to make arrangements for the very best accommodations for the Thatcher party.

As Nathan ended the call, he wondered to himself, how he was ever going to find suitable accommodations for the Thatcher party, without having to ask Lucas for a favour.

Then suddenly, a recollection hit him like a ton of bricks! Nathan remembered where he recognized the name from – "Thatcher" was Elizabeth Thornton's maiden name. Her first book of short stories was published before she had married.

Oh boy, this was going to be a long, awkward week.