Chapter 51 Trouble at the Queen of Hearts

Lucas parked the car around the back of the Queen of Hearts and opened Elizabeth's door to help her out like the gentleman that he is. They walked hand in hand into the Queen of Hearts. He escorted her to their private table and helped her into her seat. "I'll be right back, love." He kissed her on the cheek and headed to the kitchen where he made her a cup of ginger tea. He returned, bringing the tea and a beautiful, single red rose. "This is for you my dear."

"Darling, you are always such a romantic." She shot him that look reserved only for him, and he knew exactly was she was thinking.

"Enjoy your tea, let me get these signs up and check in with Gustave and we will be on our way." He told her.

Hope Valley had become quite busy with the rail depot there now. It was bringing all kinds of business. Like any growing town, the more good you bring to the town, the more opportunity for the bad as well. The Queen of Hearts was packed. There was not an empty seat anywhere and the hotel was full as well. Lucas was in the back trying to get a sign to hang for hiring managers and put them up. He couldn't help but think they were going to have to expand the hotel or build another one. He had also thought about adding a theater for Rosemary. That was the talk for another day. Today they were on a mission and he would not be deterred or so he thought. Gustave had mentioned that there had been some men in there causing trouble as of late.

Elizabeth was sitting at the table enjoying her tea by herself why Lucas was outside hanging the signs. Two men came over to the table, "What is a pretty little filly like you doing sitting here all alone?" One of the men asked with a cheeky grin.

"I am not alone and I am not a horse." She replied anxiously.

"Do you mind if we join you?" He asked but not waiting on an answer he took a seat at the table.

"My husband will be back in a moment and I think it best if you get on your way. He is very protective and does not appreciate being disrespected." She said in a very straightforward way.

"I am not worried. Surely he wouldn't mind sharing this table with us." The man said evident he had been drinking already. The other man brought them two beers and sat down.

Elizabeth started to get up and leave when the man grabbed her arm. "Why don't you just sit back down?" He said squeezing her arm and jerking her back down into her seat.

Lucas had just walked in to see what was happening and could feel the heat rising to his face. He was furious. Trying to calm his rage he walked over to the table. "Excuse me gentleman, is there something I can do for you? This is a private table." He said standing tall and with a serious face.

"No, we are just going to enjoy our beers with this beautiful woman here." The man said laughing while taking another swig of his beer.

"Now, I am not going to deny she truly is beautiful. She also belongs to me and you have certainly done us an injustice by imposing. If you care to apologize to the lady I will let you stay assuming you will cause no more trouble, however if you don't I am going to throw you out of here. It is your choice." Lucas spoke with raised brows anticipating the way this was going to end.

The man stood up wobbly, "I would like to speak with the owner of this establishment. I don't feel like my service has been very good."

"That would be me and I am sorry to hear that. Are you going to apologize to the lady?" Lucas asked.

The man picked up the mug of beer and swung it at Lucas which he blocked with his left arm. The mug busted on Lucas's arm causing it to bleed. "Lucas!" Elizabeth yelled. Lucas followed with a hard punch to the man's nose with his right fist. The man fell to the floor as the other guy charged him. Lucas ducked under him and sent him flying, crashing down on the table behind him.

Gustave seen what was happening, and ran to get Nathan from the Mounties office. He came running in to see the men lying on the floor and Elizabeth with her arms wrapped around her husband. "What happened?" Nathan asked.

"These men were causing trouble and refused to leave. I was defending myself after they attacked me." Lucas said while all eyes were on him.

The whole place was now focused on the commotion as Nathan gathered the men and took them to the jail.

"Gustave, Can you get someone to clean this up please?" Lucas asked still running off of adrenaline and trying to calm himself. "Elizabeth, are you okay?" He asked concerned while he observed the marks on her arm where the man had dug his nails into her skin.

"I am fine but we should get the cut on your arm looked at. It is quite large." She spoke with a voice of concern.

They walked arm in arm over to the infirmary. "Oh my!" Faith said as she looked at the cut. "I think this will need sutures. Lucas can you get your shirt off for me?" She asked.

Shyly he asked, "Can you just cut the sleeve off?"

Elizabeth was laughing at her husband's resistance to remove his shirt in front of Faith. "Darling, you have nothing to be shy about." Elizabeth and Faith giggled at each other.

"Lucas, I have seen you without your shirt before." Faith reminded him about the incident with Walden.

"Okay! Okay! I was unconscious then though." He said with a blush to his face slowly unbuttoning his shirt.

Faith put the sutures in while Lucas and Elizabeth watched. "You will need to keep these dry for ten days Lucas."

"I know the drill. Can you look at Elizabeth's arm please, Faith?" He asked concern in his voice. "That man grabbed her and drew blood with his nails. Also, can you please check on the babies?"

"Okay, I will." Faith said admiring Lucas's concern for his wife.

Faith put some ointment on Elizabeth's arm and checked on the babies. "Everything is great Lucas. The babies seem fine and Elizabeth seems fine."

Lucas threw his shirt away and just put back on his jacket. Then wrapping his arms around his wife gave her a huge hug, while rubbing her back and kissing her on the top pf her head. "Elizabeth, I need to give Gustave some instructions and then we can go about our day, besides I need to get a new shirt from my office."

"Faith, do you have a list of names for us to check on about private care?" Lucas asked.

Faith handed him a piece of paper with a list of names and numbers on it for him to contact.

"Thank you." He said.

They went back to the Queen of Hearts this time Lucas took Elizabeth with him. He changed his shirt and told Gustave to call him if anyone had inquired about the management position.