Author's Note. Thank all of you for your continued support. I'm still approving only a limited number of Guest Reviews (names who have reviewed that way in the past) due to the issue that came up over the weekend, so I apologize for any inconvenience. One thing to note is this chapter is set in two very different time zones, so if you feel like we're jumping back and forth, we are. I hope you enjoy the chapter and I would love to hear from you. If you would like to leave a review and haven't in the past, I encourage you to set up an account. And now, on to our story.

Lucas pulled through the gates at Wingrave feeling satisfied that he'd accomplished everything he set out to do. Most of the souvenirs and household items that he and Elizabeth had acquired while in Europe were now on a ship bound for Canada and would be met by Mike Hickam and Joseph Canfield, who would see that they made it safely to the family's home. Their return tickets had been exchanged as well. They would now be leaving from Liverpool two and a half weeks earlier than planned, boarding the steamship Corsican that Friday, September 10th.

Their accommodations had been upgraded courtesy Lucas's parents because they were so excited about the news of their coming grandchild. The Bouchards insisted the family spend a few days with them in Montreal before traveling to Hope Valley.

Returning the car that he borrowed from Sir Lionel to its spot, Lucas noted that the family's larger automobile was gone. His mother-in-law had suggested taking the grandchildren to a children's book expedition in Oxford, and most of the family agreed to go along. Julie and Agatha wanted to get out of the house, and Elizabeth, who was feeling somewhat better in her second month of pregnancy, looked forward to some 'mommy-time' with Jack. But Sir Lionel and Viola stayed home, indicating they had some personal matters to take care of and would catch up with the rest of the family later that night. Lucas was happy to see Elizabeth spending time with her parents before leaving England. Likewise, he was glad Jack would have just a little more time with his mother's family. In the month they'd had together, he'd found himself assimilated into the Thatcher clan and had begun to feel at home with them. He'd have to make a point of visiting with them often. Perhaps after the holidays or when the baby was born, he thought.

Lucas walked through the front door of the estate and down the hall toward the library where he planned on returning Sir Lionel's keys to the desk drawer he had been instructed to deposit them in. He stopped short of the doorway when he overheard his brother-in-law and sister-in-law in a heated conversation. Lucas began to turn back towards the stairs to give them some privacy, but stopped again when he heard words confirming suspicions he'd had ever since he'd arrived.

"What about Victor's schooling?!" Viola said. "Our son isn't going to get half the education in London schools that he would here."

"Darling, I will see to it that they are enrolled in the finest school system in London. But you don't seem to understand what I'm saying. We aren't given a choice. We are broke – as in, there is not enough money in our bank account to support our lifestyle, much less send Victor and Violet to an expensive private school. This isn't up for debate. We have to move."

"Have you spoken with Sir Andrew, the Grand Duke?"

"My uncle? Hardly," Lionel replied. "He already disdains me for missing Aunt Estelle's luncheon."

"Due to me being in labor!"

"Viola, we've already discussed this. There is family, and then, there is family. My uncle believes the birth of a child is such a common thing that it should obviously take second place to anything he wishes to happen. It was fine if you missed..."

"That's big of him."

"But not me. It was an important social gathering, and he wanted me to be there. Never mind reason and rationality - and before you ask, I'm not going to ask the Earl either. Last time I spoke with him, he called me a 'leech and a sluggard.'"

"For what? You've never taken a penny from him."

"I know. We can thank Cousin James for that one. He's slandered my name to more than one family member - as if that will help him inherit any more when they're gone."

"James Grey's the sluggard. I would think the Earl would know that by now."

"One would think, but as it stands, he's convinced that I am not 'earning my keep' in the family, and if I ask him for so much as one red shilling, he'll see to it that I'm cut off faster than cousin Jane."

"Cousin Jane?" Viola asked.

"Grey. Lady Jane? You know, the one Queen Mary.…." Sir Lionel made a slicing motion across his neck, and Viola gasped.

"Oh! Lady Jane Grey? Really?! You never told me we were related to her."

"It's not exactly something we brag about. Regardless, we'll just have to make arrangements on our own."

"Lionel, we're not moving."

"Viola."

"I'll ask my father."

Lionel walked across the floor and took her by the arm. "You'll do no such thing. Most of your family believes that I married you for your money, to begin with, and you married me for my title. Since we married, I've worked hard to alter that opinion and earn your father's respect. I won't lose it now by begging him for money. We'll figure something out."

"Lionel, stop being obstinate. There's nothing to figure out. Father will be happy to help, I'm sure."

"Viola, I said no. We're not asking your family for a handout. I do have some pride left. Now, unless you can figure out how to make at least an additional £500 a month to cover our expenses, this conversation is over. We will begin looking for an apartment as soon as your family leaves."

"But, Lionel…."

"It's over. Begin considering what you want to pack and what we can give to charity."

...

Lucas stepped away from the library and slipped unseen to his and Elizabeth's suite, troubled over what he'd heard. He knew how Lionel felt, having been in a position where his finances were tight before and not wanting to ask for help - including losing it all last year. Still, as a gambler, he'd always known this was a possibility and tried to keep that perspective. For Sir Lionel and Viola, social position and wealth were everything - except for their children, whom he could see they loved and were trying to do the right thing for. Perhaps they were growing. Then there was the consideration that despite their financial difficulties, they'd treated his family very graciously during their stay. They'd even become friends. Lucas knew he needed to help them.

"Nathan Grant, hold still!" Emily said, pulling the straight pin from her mouth.

"I thought I heard someone coming," he replied.

"You heard the wind," she responded. "And if you don't stop moving, you're going to hear the sound of Faith bandaging up your knee from this pin. I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd think you're embarrassed to be seen in a kilt."

Nathan craned his neck. "Uh, why would I be embarrassed? Lots of people wear them at weddings, right?"

"Exactly," she replied with a smile, sticking the last pin in the hem. "And with your Scottish ancestry and my Irish, what could be more fitting than…."

"Dad?!" Allie Grant stood in the doorway staring at Nathan with a confused smile on her face.

"Oh, hi Allie! I didn't hear you come in," Nathan replied, stiffening up with a shocked expression.

She wrinkled her forehead. "What's with the skirt?"

Nathan flushed. "It's not a skirt. It's a kilt," he replied, pausing while he thought of an explanation.

"Okay. And, you've decided to wear one because of…why?"

Emily stepped over by Allie to take a look at Nathan.

"It was in a package of items sent from home, from my father. Since he can't be at our wedding, Nathan's going to honor him by wearing the kilt that he wore when he married my mother," Emily replied.

"Oh, cool! Did they get married at Christmastime too?" Allie asked.

"No, in May. Why do you ask?" Emily replied.

"Because of the green and red in the skir – I mean, the kilt. I figured that was because of Christmas."

"Those are the colors of the tartan from County Dublin," Nathan explained, nodding toward a box on the kitchen table. "Emily's father sent her a whole box of things."

Allie walked over to the box and removed the first thing she saw. "He sent you a horseshoe?"

"For good luck," Emily replied. "I'm going to carry it down in my bouquet."

"Really?" Allie asked.

"Yes. Legend says if I hold it upright that all the good luck of the day will be gathered inside."

"We're going to hang it right above the doorframe over there once we get home," Nathan added as Allie perused the box some more.

"If you say so," Allie replied. "What's this?" she asked, pulling a porcelain bell out of the box.

Emily glanced at it as she had Nathan remove the kilt, his pants underneath rolled up to the knee. "That's called a make-up bell," Emily said. "It's for when we argue after we're married and need to call a truce."

"But of course, it'll never get used," Nathan responded, handing her the kilt.

"It won't?" Emily asked curiously.

"No. We're never going to argue," he replied, kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh, I see. You're sure about that?" she said, putting her hands on his waist.

"You sound disappointed."

"Not at all, but it's not realistic. I'm sure we'll argue some. Besides," she stepped closer, "If we never argued, then we'd miss all the fun of making up." She leaned forward to kiss him.

Allie cleared her throat. "And this?" she said, pulling out a cream-colored handkerchief trimmed in golden Irish lace.

Emily turned toward her and smiled. "Now, that's my magic hanky."

"Your what?" Allie asked.

"My magic hanky. I'm going to carry it down the aisle as well."

"You're going to do magic tricks at the wedding? Did Mr. Bouchard teach you in Baltimore?"

Emily laughed. "No, I tuck that piece away in my sleeve. It belonged to my mother and her mother before that and her mother before that. It's magic because I wear it as a hanky on my wedding day, then, sometime later, it'll be reused as a bonnet at the christening of our firstborn child." She said, gracefully running her fingers down the back of Nathan's arm.

Nathan looked over at her. Their eyes locked – transfixed for the longest time as they saw their future in each other.

"Yeah, whatever," Allie smiled. "Just don't let him wear that kilt thing any other place besides the wedding. I don't want to have to explain it at school."

Nathan looked at his daughter and smirked. "We wouldn't want that."

Allie rolled her eyes. "The things people do for love."

Lee and Rosemary sat quietly at the kitchen table, eating the lunch she'd prepared for them. The atmosphere was full of tension. After several long minutes of witnessing the scowl on his wife's face, the delectable meal that he had so looked forward to, was suddenly not so appetizing.

"Alright, let me have it," he said, setting his fork down on the plate.

"Have what?" Rosemary replied flatly.

"You're still upset over the court order I signed barring you from the factory premises."

The scowl grew. "Really, Lee! Your own wife!"

"Rosie, I had no choice! It was the second time you'd been caught snooping…."

"I was NOT snooping! I was working and…."

"…caught you snooping around trying to find out what goes on at the factory. And this after the Mounties gave you a stern warning not to do so. You were trespassing and going against the orders which came straight from the provincial police. It was either sign the restraining order or allow Nathan to throw you in jail! What else was I supposed to do?"

Rosemary stood up and grabbed their plates, even though Lee wasn't finished with his food. Slamming them down on the kitchen counter, she cried out when one of them broke, and a shard cut her hand. "Oh!" she exclaimed.

"Rosie! Here, let me!" Lee said, jumping up from his chair and rushing to her aid. "Please. Sit down! Here, I'll get you a cloth and some bandages."

Rosemary sat down and began to cry, holding out her bloodied hand as she buried her face in the other hand.

Lee returned with a damp cloth and some supplies and sat down. "Here, sweetheart. Let me get you cleaned up. Doesn't look too deep," he said as he dabbed at her wound. "Let me put a little Mercurochrome on that so it doesn't get infected."

"Okay," she said, not looking up. "You take good care of me."

"Yes, I do -even when you're not acting like you. Now, do you want to tell me what this is really about? This isn't really about me having to sign that old restraining order keeping you from the factory, is it?"

Rosemary sniffled. "No, I suppose not. I know you were just doing your job. And, Nathan did warn me."

"Twice. So, what is it? What's bothering you?" he said, placing the bandage on her hand then holding her hand in his own as he listened.

Rosemary twisted her mouth to the side then sighed. "I don't know. I think it's everything," she said. "I'm about to lose the newspaper. The new marketing campaign isn't taking off. My best friend, besides you, has been away on her honeymoon, and I miss talking with her, and the last letter I had from her was a month ago. I'm afraid she's forgotten. And, then, when she comes back they'll be moving into their new house, and we won't have little Jack as much, and I know Jonathan will miss him and…and everything just seems to be going wrong, and I just need for something to go right and I…."

Lee wrapped his arms around her. "There there, sweetheart," he said. "Don't cry. You know you're going to continue to see Elizabeth. She hasn't forgotten anything about your friendship. And we just need to give the paper a little more time. Who knows, maybe Judson will slip up, and your main competitor will disappear…."

"Don't I wish? But, it's not just that," she said, stretching back and drying her face. "Being a mother and running in that competitive business is turning out to be a lot more than I thought. I get worn out just thinking about all I have to do, and I get so frustrated. And while I do have some help – part of me wants to dig in, but another part just wants to step to the side and let it go and come home and be Jonathan's mom."

Lee thought for a moment about how overwhelming it all had to be for his wife, in addition to what she didn't mention, which was being the wife of the mayor. Still, he decided not to weigh in on what he thought she should do. Brushing his hand through her hair, he smiled. "Well, you know I'll support you whatever you decide."

"I know," she said. "You'll always be my Honey Bunny."

He kissed her on the nose, "And you're always going to be my Squidget."

The Thatchers, Elizabeth, and Jack returned to the estate just in time to get cleaned up for a late dinner. Elizabeth and Julie took the children upstairs and were headed toward the children's rooms when Lucas exited the couple's suite.

"Papa!" Jack yelled, running to and being scooped up in his father's arms.

"Hi, buddy! Did you have a good time?" Lucas asked, kissing the boy on the side of the head before setting him down.

"Yeah! I got some books!" he smiled."You read'm wif me?"

"Certainly. We can read them later on, but, for now, would you go with your auntie Julie and get ready for dinner?" He turned the boy toward his sister-in-law. "Julie, would you mind terribly? I'd like a moment to speak with Elizabeth."

"Sure, Lucas. I'll handle it," Julie responded. "Jack, Victor, Violet? Do you want to see who can get ready the quickest?"

"Yeah! The children shouted as they went running down the hallway.

"Slow down, Jack!" Elizabeth called out, but he didn't hear as he was having too much fun.

"It's good he's going to have someone to play with soon," Lucas said. "We can't possibly keep up."

"Oh, you do pretty well," she replied. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine," Lucas replied. "I just wanted to have a word with my hiring consultant to get her thoughts on an idea."

"Hiring consultant?" Elizabeth said. "What is this about?"

Lucas led her into the bedroom and shut the door.

Later that evening, after dinner was served, the family spent time around the dinner table; the women sat around discussing the future addition to the Bouchard household while the men discussed politics. The subject of Sir Lionel's meeting with some of the members of the Armistice committee came up and he informed them that changing the terms of the peace was a no go, as he suspected it would be.

"Then prepare your boys," William was heard to say.

Lucas looked over at Jack and imagined the pain of him and Elizabeth sending Jack off to war. Perhaps cooler heads will prevail. He thought to himself. But in his heart of hearts, he knew they wouldn't, and the ache of parental responsibility hit him strongly. Looking up, he noticed that Elizabeth was looking his way, and it was almost as if she had read his mind. The two exchanged a sad but knowing glance then turned back to their conversations.

Around nine o'clock, the dinner party broke up. Grace was exhausted from the day's travels and decided to retire early with William joining her. Agatha and Julie also went to their rooms, leaving the Bouchards, Sir Lionel and Viola, and the children.

"Have a good night's sleep, Lucas and Elizabeth," Viola said as the couple took Jack by the hand and walked toward the stairs. Lucas turned toward the other couple. "Actually, Viola, Elizabeth, and I were wondering if you and Sir Lionel could wait up until we can get Jack tucked in for the night."

"Wait up?" Sir Lionel asked.

"Yes, I was hoping you might join Elizabeth and me in the study for a nightcap. We'll be leaving soon, and with the baby coming, who knows when we'll be able to make it back."

Lionel looked at Viola, who nodded. "I think we would like that," he replied.

"Yes. That sounds nice," Viola said, looking toward her sister, who smiled.

After lunch, Lee and Rosemary both returned to their offices, with Rosemary feeling better at having aired out her frustrations. He was such a good husband. She never regretted giving up her career in theater and becoming Lee's wife for one moment. She smiled and shook her head as she put the key in the door to the Valley Voice.

Just then, she heard laughter coming from around the corner of her office and then voices.

"You need to let me go. I'm already late." The female voice said. "The children will be wondering where I'm at."

"Okay, but not without a kiss," the male voice said.

Rosemary turned the corner and walked down the street to the back of her facility, where the voices were coming from, and what she saw surprised her so much that she let out an audible gasp.

Miss Sarah Hill saw her. "Oh no!" she said, turning and taking off on foot toward the schoolhouse. The man began to pursue her but knew it was no use. He turned toward Rosemary, walked up to the newspaper editor with a somewhat stiff expression, and looked her in the eye. "I trust that this will remain between the three of us?" he said. "Town gossip is a most terrible thing, and I'd hate to see what might happen if word got out."

"Why would I say anything?" Rosemary replied. "You're two adults. It's none of my business."

"I appreciate your discretion. Have a good day, Mrs. Coulter." He said, tipping his hat.

"You do the same, Mr. Walden," Rosemary said weakly, watching him cross the street and get into his car.

Immediately, she ran inside and called her husband. "Lee! You won't believe who showed up around my office and who he was canoodling with!"

A half-hour after taking the children upstairs, the Bouchards rejoined Viola and Lionel in the study by the fireplace. The two men and Viola each received a small glass of expensive cognac, and Elizabeth a glass of blackberry cordial made from blackberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice they reserved for the children. The couples sat down and, for a few minutes, engaged in small talk about their return home and if they were excited about returning to Hope Valley.

"Europe is a beautiful place to visit," Elizabeth said, "And, I hope we return someday. But Hope Valley is home."

"I agree," Lucas replied. "Which…," he exhaled, "brings me to something we were hoping to talk to you about."

"Alright? What is it you wished to talk about?" Sir Lionel asked.

Lucas began to open his mouth, but Elizabeth blurted out the reason. "Lucas is overextended. And we need your help."

Shocked and now uncomfortable, Sir Lionel began patting his pockets, unsure of what to say. "Oh, well, I…um…uh…."

"How, um…how much do you need?" Viola stiffened but tried to appear natural.

Lucas and Elizabeth both feigned surprise, looking to one another briefly before Lucas continued the conversation.

"Oh, no. Not help like that," Lucas said. "Elizabeth didn't mean financially. She meant time. We're doing okay on the financial front, but time – that's a big issue."

The other couple visibly relaxed as Lucas explained. "You see, the town rebuilt the hotel and restaurant for me, expecting me to run it as usual, and so I have that, and the oil business, and now the trucking company which is a lot. And while I have capable people helping me in each of these endeavors, with the surprise of a baby coming this Spring – let me put it to you this way.

When I was growing up, my parents were always so busy, and they never really had a lot of time for me or each other and well….I swore when I had a family of my own that I'd never do that to my children or my wife. So, I was thinking of how to address it, and I'd like to make a proposition to you that I hope you'll consider."

"A proposition?" Viola asked.

"Yes, both of you," Elizabeth said, smiling at her sister.

"Alright, I'm listening," Sir Lionel replied, offering Lucas more cognac, which he refused.

"I know the importance of keeping Thatcher businesses within the family," Lucas continued. "And, while William has asked me to run the trucking company and eventually the entire enterprise, I can't possibly do it on my own. I can't handle all of my businesses and the travel that will inevitably be required to make sure that our business grows as it should and give my family the attention it deserves if I'm spending much of my time sailing across the Atlantic to England or Ireland, or France. And, while I know you're a busy man with many responsibilities, I was wondering if you might consider joining up with me."

Lionel tilted his head. "Joining up?"

"Yes. I would like you to be my Vice President in charge of our European operations."

"Sir Lionel, a Vice President?" Viola asked.

"Yes, Lucas loves to have everything planned out, and he was laying out a list of all of the things he'd have to do, at a minimum, just to get started in this area," Elizabeth said.

"There's no way I could get it done," Lucas added.

"Much too extensive to handle from Canada." Elizabeth continued "So, he concluded that he needs someone else to run it for him – and what better person than…."

"Me?" Sir Lionel said. "I've never run a trucking company."

"Neither have I," Lucas laughed. "But, think about it. With your connections and understanding of the business world here in Europe, you're a natural. I need someone to make connections, drum up business, and with your network of contacts, we have a ready-made base to build from."

"And, not just you, Viola too." Elizabeth smiled. "Imagine giving dinner parties like we used to have in Hamilton with caviar and fine cuisine."

Lionel and Viola looked apprehensively toward one another until Lucas quickly added, "at company expense, of course." Both perked up.

"So, I'd work for you?" Sir Lionel said.

"I prefer to think of it as working with me," Lucas said. "We'd essentially be partners, though I would be chairman of the board. You would be my Vice President, working to build relationships with some of the larger manufacturing firms here in Europe so that when their goods come to North America, they choose our company to deliver them to their destiny."

Sir Lionel tried to look neutral. He nodded. "I see. Well, um….not that it matters a lot, but what would be the salary that would come with this position?"

Lucas nodded. "Yes, of course. Because we're just starting out, I couldn't offer much. Would £8000 a year plus 10% of any proceeds from the new business you bring in suffice."

"£8000s?" Lionel said.

"Yes, and as things grow and the business becomes more established, we can, of course, increase that sum."

By now, Viola was poorly hiding the smile on her face.

"What do you say?" Lucas asked.

Lionel and Viola were quiet, both feeling a bit overwhelmed that the answer to their financial woes was before them.

"It's a great offer," Elizabeth said.

"Well, I …." Lionel began.

"We accept!" Viola nearly shouted.

Lucas looked to Lionel, who nodded affirmatively. "It would be my honor to work with you, Lucas."

"Shall we raise a toast?" Bouchard asked.

The two couples raised their glasses as Lucas said the words, "To our expanding family and its expanding businesses."

"Here, here!" Sir Lionel said as they sipped on their brandy.

"Emily, that meal was delicious - and filling," Nathan said as he picked up his plate and began to head to the sink with it.

"No, you just sit back down and rest awhile. Let me handle the dishes," she replied.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Positive," she smiled, taking his plate and looking over at Allie's. "Are you finished, young lady?"

"Yeah," Allie said. "I'm about to pop."

Nathan looked at the clock. "Well, why don't you pop on over to your bedroom and start working on your homework. Morning comes awfully early, and I recall Miss Hill saying you had a geometry quiz tomorrow?"

"Like she'd notice."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"She's acted weird ever since she started dating this guy."

"What guy?" Nathan asked.

Allie shrugged. "I don't know. She's never said, but she started wearing makeup, and she comes in with flowers every day. So, there has to be a guy, doesn't there?"

"Sounds like it," Emily said. "And that's a good thing. Miss Hill always seemed so alone. Maybe she's found true love."

"Maybe," Nathan said. "But it sounds like true love is interfering with her paying attention to her students. Do you think I should talk with her, Allie?"

"Nah. Just leave her be," she responded. "Besides, she'll only be here another month or so before Mrs. Th- Mrs. Bouchard comes back. I'm sure she'll catch us up then."

Nathan nodded. "You're probably right. But I still want you to get your homework done and get to bed at a decent hour."

"Okay."

"And, no writing Robert!"

Allie grinned. "Whatever you say, dad." She leaned in and kissed him goodnight.

The Bouchards stayed up with their in-laws for hours, discussing business plans and brainstorming how they would kick off a campaign to make Northwest Shipping a courier of preference amongst the European elite. They were having such a delightful time that they completely forgot what time it was until the clock chimed two.

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "Is it really that late?"

Lucas checked his pocket watch, and Sir Lionel and Viola leaned and looked at the clock.

"Oh dear," Lucas said. "I hate to do it, but I believe I must get this young lady up to bed so she can get some sleep. Jack will be crawling across the bedsprings in five hours, waking us up, and we have a long day ahead of us."

"Yes, Viola and I were supposed to drive to London tomorrow. Perhaps we'll see one another at breakfast?" Sir Lionel asked.

"Absolutely," Lucas replied. "You two have a good evening."

Lucas and Elizabeth left the other couple and quietly climbed the stairs toward their suite. They had just cleared the top of the stairs to where they could no longer be seen when they heard Viola's excited squealing and unintelligible chatter coming from the study. The Bouchards peeked down the stairs into the study and saw Lionel and Viola embracing.

"Oh, Lionel, it's the answer to all our problems," Elizabeth's sister said.

"And I won't have to rely on my family," Lionel replied. "Darling, I know I've not always been the man you'd hope I'd be, but I swear I will endeavor to become that man. I promise."

Viola ran her hand through his hair. "Lionel, don't you dare speak that way. You're the man I fell in love with, and I wouldn't have you change a thing."

Lucas and Elizabeth turned to one another and smiled.

"Job well done, Mr. Bouchard," she said as she took him by the hand and walked him down the hallway. "You played your role well, preserved their dignity, and allowed them the ability to do for themselves."

"I really do need the help," he said. "Besides, I see something in him, something he probably doesn't even see himself. I believe he will do a good job."

"Even so," Elizabeth said, turning to him as they got inside their room and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I've never really seen you performing in that kind of a role, and I must say, I found it very attractive."

Lucas grinned, his eyes softening as he looked at his beautiful bride. "You did?"

Elizabeth unbuttoned his dress shirt then slid her hands under its fabric across his chest and torso. "Very."

Lucas swallowed then smiled again, walking her backward toward their bed as he shrugged the shirt off and let it drop to the floor. "Then I shall have to bring you to all of my business meetings," he said, leaning down and kissing her as her knees hit the edge of the bed.

She reached up and pulled him down with her and deepened the kiss. "What'll my role be?"

Lucas began to kiss her neck as she shed the jacket she'd been wearing. "Oh, I've already stated you're my hiring consultant."

"Yes, but that only works if you're hiring someone," she said, pulling his tee-shirt over his head.

"True, how about my assistant?" he replied, reaching to the back of her dress.

"What would I assist you with?" she asked.

"You can start with this clasp," he replied, kissing her more.

Elizabeth smiled against his lips. "That sounds like an excellent first assignment."

Lee left for The Valley Voice's office at 7:00 PM, fatigued from a long day at work which ended with a late zoning meeting. A large swath of property to the southwest of Hope Valley was being sold to some out-of-town investors to build a mattress factory. Residents of the area were not in favor of the landowners selling their properties to an international manufacturer, citing the change in atmosphere and traffic that it would bring to their tranquil community. One of the key riding trails would be gone, as would a large patch of forest, and the ecosystem would be disrupted when the creek bed would be filled in. "Bouchard's Bridge" would also go.

The meeting was contentious, but Lee felt a strong responsibility to preserve their little town's character as much as he could, even as it grew. He'd spent a lot of time over the past week working with Judge Avery to look up land laws and precedent. And at the end of the day, he swayed the other council members to deny the zoning change. There would be no factory on that land.

Feeling relieved, Lee drove down the street to pick up Rosemary and go home to see their son. But when he entered the building, he was surprised to see the office dark.

"Rosie?" he called out, but there was no answer. "Huh, that's strange."

Flipping on a light, he picked up the phone to call Laura, who was babysitting for the Coulters while the two of them worked during the day. Laura answered and informed Lee that she hadn't heard from Rosemary since earlier that afternoon and said she'd hang around until they got home. He thanked her and hung up.

"Where did you go?" he thought out loud. Suddenly, he had an awful feeling. "Ah, Rosie, you'd better not be where I think you are!" He turned to go but stopped when he spotted her purse out of the corner of his eye. The notepad she carried with her for when she was investigating stories was also there, and even the new 35mm camera that he'd bought her for her birthday for snapping pictures for the paper was there. She couldn't have gone to Judson's. But where could she be? He told himself not to panic. She probably went to the Queen of the Valley to pick up dinner.

Leaving the office, he traveled across the street to the large complex. Business was slow. Entering the restaurant, he immediately started to look for his wife. Bill Avery, who'd stopped by for a take-out order before heading home, spotted him. Lee saw him too.

"I think the case went rather well," Bill said, walking up as he carried his dinner-in-a-bag with him toward the exit.

Lee nodded briefly, then almost looked through him. He was beginning to worry. "Yeah. Glad they went along with it-hey, have you seen Rosemary?"

"No. Is she missing?"

Lee paused. "Yeah. She isn't at the office, and she didn't call me to tell me she was going anywhere. She knew what time I was leaving work."

"Maybe she stopped by to visit someone. Weren't she and Fiona working on Founders Day preparation?"

"Not tonight. Fiona and Mike took a trip to Union City to go see some show. Besides, Rosie's purse is still in her office."

"Really? That's strange. A woman seldom goes someplace without her purse," Bill replied. "Did you two have an argument or something?"

Lee looked at Bill. "No. Well, a small one this morning, but she was chirping like a songbird later this afternoon after she spotted the schoolteacher around the corner of her office being rather friendly with a person you'd least suspect."

"A person I'd least suspect? Who?" Bill asked.

"I'm not allowed to say," Lee replied. "But you'd be surprised."

Bill tilted his head. "Now, Lee."

"What?!" Lee replied. "I promised Rosemary I wouldn't."

"And now she's gone missing."

Lee frowned. "She's not missing. I just don't know where she is. She's probably gone somewhere and will be right back."

"Without her purse?" Bill said.

"You have a point," Lee responded. "Do you think they're connected?"

"If the somebody is who I think it was, yes. Would this mystery someone happen to be Wyman Walden?" Bill asked.

Lee's mouth gaped open. "Um – yeah. How did you know?"

Bill smirked. "Three things. Our list of eligible bachelors is quite meager these days. If the man the teacher was seeing weren't a bachelor, Molly would have known and told me by now. Word travels fast."

Lee nodded.

"Plus, I saw Walden meandering around town shortly after lunch."

"That's when Rosemary saw him too. You don't think he has something to do with her disappearance, do you?

"The fact Rosemary saw them bothers me. I don't trust that guy as far as I can throw him."

"What do you want to do?" Lee asked.

"How about we start by going across the street and taking a look around Rosemary's office. Maybe there will be some clues as to where she is."

Bill spent several minutes perusing the office and found nothing out of order aside from the items Rosemary left behind. It was now after eight, and Lee was becoming very concerned.

"Should we take a drive down to see Walden?" he asked. "Maybe interrogate him?"

"On what basis?" Bill said. "Having a conversation with a woman in private is no grounds to interrogate someone."

"That's true. But, Bill, this isn't like Rosemary. She doesn't just – disappear." Lee replied.

Bill looked at his watch then walked toward their phone. "You're right. I'm going to call Nathan and get his feeling for what we should do."

Lee nodded.

Bill sat down on the edge of Rosemary's desk and tried to reach the switchboard. "Hello, Florence? Yes, this is Bill Avery. I…uh." Suddenly he stopped when he noticed the back door, the one next to Lee's desk, had a scrap of burgundy colored fabric sticking out from it. Lee noticed when Bill stopped speaking.

"What is it?" he asked.

Bill nodded toward the door. "I'll call you back, Florence." He hung up.

Walking across the room, he reached the door and bent down to examine the fabric. He frowned. Standing, he opened the door and discovered Rosemary Coulter lying unconscious on the ground, her skirt caught in the door and bleeding from her head.