Nathan sighed as he hung up the phone, running his hands through his hair and closing his eyes for a moment. It had been a long day, going over reports about the jewels and following up with the Mounties who had detained Lucas Bouchard. The man refused to answer anything, swearing to communicate only through his attorney. When they placed him under arrest, he cursed and fought them the entire time. While they had now recovered all of the stolen gems, they still had no idea who was behind everything. And now this…
"Allie!" His daughter appeared in the doorway a moment later, her face falling when she took in his serious look. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me about your day?"
Allie shrugged. "Not really. I still haven't made any friends and my classes are so boring."
"Anything happen in Mr. Wentworth's class that I should know about?"
Again he was met with a shrug. "Not really."
"So why did I just get a call from the headmaster, asking me to come in for a meeting tomorrow?"
Allie straightened from her slouch against the doorframe. "I didn't do anything wrong, I swear," she cried, her eyes filling with tears. "Mr. Wentworth just doesn't like me."
Nathan stood, gathering his daughter into his arms. He stepped back after a moment, resuming his seat and nodding her towards the chair on the other side of his desk. "What happened?"
Allie sat stiffly, still on the defensive. "I didn't do anything wrong! Mr. Wentworth gave us a test, and most of the class didn't do so well on it. I learned this stuff last year, so I should have gotten a hundred on it, but he marked one of my answers wrong when it wasn't. I raised my hand and very politely pointed out that he'd made a mistake."
Nathan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could just imagine Allie's version of 'polite'. "And I take it he didn't agree with you?"
Allie shook her head. "No, he definitely did not. When I tried to tell him the correct answer, he got mad and told me I didn't know what I was talking about, but I do. I tried to tell him that I'd learned this stuff already, but he wouldn't listen."
"Well, we have a meeting first thing tomorrow. He complained to the headmaster about your 'unruly behavior' and suggested you be removed from his class," Nathan informed her.
Allie stormed out of his small office. Nathan stood to follow her, only making it as far as the doorway before she ducked into her room. He stopped outside her door, knocking gently before letting himself in. "Talk to me, kiddo."
"I miss Hope Valley," she admitted, her eyes filled with guilt. "I know you love your new job, and I'm trying to be happy, but I don't like it here. It's just like it used to be. Everyone thinks that because I'm a 'Mountie kid' that I'm stupid or something, that moving around meant I didn't learn anything. And no one talks to me. I'm not pretty or frilly enough to fit in with the girls, and because I'm a girl the boys won't include me in anything. I bet I could run faster and throw a snowball further than most of them, and I know I could catch more fish than all of the put together, but they won't even give me a chance."
Nathan sat on the bed, gathering her into his arms again. "You are beautiful, Allie, don't ever forget that. And I'm sorry this has been so hard on you," he said. "I thought moving would be good for us, that we could start fresh, but it doesn't seem to be working out for either one of us, does it?"
"Because of your case with Mr. Thatcher?" Allie asked. Nathan had shared the very basics of the case, so she knew he had been in regular contact with Mrs. Thornton's father. "So much for leaving everything behind."
"Guess not, huh?" he agreed ruefully. He gave her another hug before standing. "We are meeting with Mr. Wentworth and Mr. Chambers first thing tomorrow morning. We'll straighten this out, I promise."
"Thanks, Dad. I love you!"
"I love you too, Allie girl."
Nathan and Allie arrived at the headmaster's office a few minutes before the appointed time the next morning, and they could hear Mr. Wentworth already inside.
"It's ridiculous if you ask me," he grumbled. "That girl has had so many different teachers and been to so many places that she probably doesn't even know the basics. She should be in the remedial class, if she's even here at all."
"According to her transcripts, she's actually had high marks in all of her classes, particularly math and sciences. I don't think the curriculum is a problem," the headmaster pointed out.
"It's irresponsible, letting an unmarried man take on a girl like that. She needs constant supervision and structure instead of being dragged all over the country and treated like a boy!"
"I can assure you, gentlemen, I have never once mistaken my daughter for a boy," Nathan scowled as they stepped into the room.
Mr. Wentworth flushed, embarrassed at being overheard, but stood and turned to address Nathan. A man of average height, his eyes fell first to the gleaming buttons of the Inspector's uniform before moving up to meet his stern gaze. "Mr. Grant," he said simply, nodding.
"Mr. Wentworth, I presume," Nathan replied. He turned to greet Mr. Chambers, shaking his hand before helping Allie into the chair on the end and taking the seat next to her teacher. "So, what seems to be the problem?" he asked.
"Miss Grant was insubordinate in my class yesterday. I assume someone of your training would agree that is inappropriate behavior," Mr. Wentworth stated.
Nathan stared at the man silently for a moment before replying. "I certainly do not condone irresponsible behavior, but from what my daughter tells me, she acted appropriately. She raised her hand and asked for an explanation to a problem. It's my understanding that rather than answer her, you refused to acknowledge her concern."
"I knew she'd try to turn this around!" Mr. Wentworth whined. "Just because she's new to the formal school setting doesn't give her the right to question a teacher's authority."
Nathan's glare turned even colder, causing Mr. Wentworth to shrink back into his seat. "My daughter has been in a 'formal school setting' since she was five. Some of those schools were part of a military facility, while others were regular schools like this one and her previous school in Hope Valley."
Mr. Wentworth scoffed. "I hardly think that a one room schoolhouse in a frontier town in the middle of nowhere compares to the schools here in Union City."
"As a matter of fact," Mr. Chambers interrupted. "Mrs. Thornton, Allie's teacher at her previous school, is rather renowned in the area. She's done wonders for students struggling with learning difficulties, less than ideal home lives, and very little financial support from the families."
"And that one room schoolhouse means that she has the opportunity to really know all of her students and plan lessons in the ways that help them learn best," Nathan added.
"Humph," Mr. Wentworth grumbled. "Well previous education aside, she still doesn't have the right to question my abilities in the classroom."
"Miss Grant, would you like to tell us your side of the story?" Mr. Chambers invited politely.
Allie sat up even straighter, glancing at her father. At his nod, she told the headmaster the same thing that she'd explained to him. "If Mr. Wentworth had let me explain, I would have said that he just forgot to carry over. He changed the value of 'x' which changed the answer."
Mr. Wentworth huffed indignantly while Mr. Chambers just stared in surprise. Nathan sat back, a smug smile on his face. Allie waited and when no one spoke, she pulled her test out of her bag and placed it on the headmaster's desk. "See?"
Mr. Chambers studied the girl's work before sliding the paper over to the math teacher. "Is she right?"
Mr. Wentworth scowled as he pulled the test over, putting on his glasses and scrutinizing her calculations. When he looked up, his face was red with embarrassment. "She is."
Allie beamed at her father, then sat patiently in her chair awaiting the headmaster's decision.
"I think we can all agree that this was just a misunderstanding," Mr. Chambers said. "Miss Grant, perhaps the next time you have a question you can address it outside of class time. I hope your teachers will all be welcoming of questions and suggestions in the future?" He looked across the desk at Mr. Wentworth, who nodded silently. "Excellent. Miss Grant, I believe you are due in biology soon, and Inspector Grant, I'm sure you have duties to get to. I appreciate you coming in this morning so we could get this all cleared up."
Nathan got home shortly after Allie did that evening. While she had started dinner and finished her homework already, she still seemed down, sitting next to the window with her favorite book unopened in her lap.
"How was your day?" he finally asked as they were eating.
Allie stirred her stew around but didn't meet his eyes. "Okay, I guess," she shrugged.
Nathan frowned. "Was there another problem with Mr. Wentworth?"
"No," Allie replied sullenly. "He was fine."
"So what's wrong?"
Allie finally looked up, heaving a deep sigh. "The other kids are mad at me," she explained. "Mr. Wentworth showed everyone how to get the right answer to that problem, and he even suggested I could help tutor if anyone has questions."
"And that's a bad thing?"
Allie shrugged. "Now all the kids think I'm being a know-it-all and that I'm trying to be teacher's pet."
Nathan's heart ached for his little girl. He'd been sure that after all the friends she'd made in Hope Valley and how well she'd settled in once she opened herself up, she would have no trouble doing it again. He was beginning to feel like he'd made a mistake bringing her here.
Allie's mood brightened considerably with the arrival of the weekend and, more importantly, her grandmother. Nathan's mother, Alice Grant, surprised them by coming to town for a visit, something she had never managed while they were in Hope Valley. The Grant women were doing some shopping—more looking than buying—before meeting Nathan for lunch. They had stopped outside a bookstore, debating whether to go in now while they were on a time restraint, or to return after lunch when they would have time to get lost in the aisles.
"Allie!"
She looked down in surprise as a small body collided with her legs.
"Jack!" She picked the little boy up, settling him on her hip and looking around.
"And who is this?" Alice asked. The child's familiarity with her granddaughter, as well as the hugs they were exchanging, made it obvious that the two had an established friendship.
"This is Jack Thornton. For a while there I thought he was going to be my little brother, but his mom decided she didn't really love me and Dad. That's why we moved here, to start over."
"I love you, Allie," Jack declared, snuggling close. "I wish you could be my sister."
Behind them, William and Elizabeth heard their exchange and Elizabeth's heart broke. "What have I done?" she moaned, tears welling in her eyes.
"What are you doing here, Jack?" Allie asked the boy.
Jack beamed, excited to have found another one of his favorite people. "Mama and I came to see Grandpa William. He said he would buy me another train and some ice cream!"
Allie continued to look around for Mrs. Thornton, but Elizabeth had ducked behind her father while she tried to get her emotions under control. William squeezed his daughter's hand and nodded towards the hat shop next to them, allowing her an escape while he went to retrieve Jack.
"There you are!" William laughed as he reached them. "You scared me running off like that, young man!"
Jack looked up, giggling. "Sorry, Grandpa," he grinned, not sounding the least bit contrite. "I found Allie!" he added, hugging her again.
William shook his head, smiling himself. "I see that." Turning to the young lady, he reached out a hand. "You must be the famous Allie I've heard so much. My grandson has mentioned you many times, and your father brags about you every chance he gets. I'm William Thatcher."
Allie placed Jack on his feet and took Mr. Thatcher's hand, shaking it firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My dad told me he's been meeting with you about a case, but he never mentioned that Jack was here. Has my dad seen him?"
"He has. Jack rather took over our last meeting." William was truly pleased to meet the girl he had heard so much about, both from Nathan as well as from his own daughter. He turned to the older woman next to Allie, smiling and tipping his hat. Judging by the familiar piercing blue eyes, he guessed her to be Nathan Grant's mother.
"Alice Grant," she confirmed. Her son had mentioned the older man was in town on business but had failed to mention that any of his family had joined him. She glanced around, intrigued to meet his daughter.
Elizabeth chose that moment to join them, stopping beside her father. "Hello, Allie," she greeted cautiously.
Alice watched her granddaughter tense before she turned and politely greeted her former teacher. She saw the brief pain in Elizabeth Thornton's eyes before the young woman masked it and introduced herself.
"My daughter, grandson, and I were just headed to lunch," William broke the awkward silence. "May we escort you ladies somewhere on our way?"
"Thanks, but we're meeting my Dad soon," Allie hastened to reply. She stooped to give Jack another hug and then stood, wishing a polite farewell to Mr. Thatcher and Mrs. Thornton.
Alice and William both saw Elizabeth flinch at the girl's chilly farewell. Their eyes met briefly before Alice turned to follow her granddaughter and they shared a moment of parental insight. They both knew they needed to fix this little family.
Back in Hope Valley, Lucas remained in jail. Though Bill had mentioned moving him to Union City, where there was more space and more Mounties to guard him, the orders had not come through yet. While the town's new Constable had been delayed yet again, there was a constant Mountie presence as the men from Nathan's team in Union City oversaw the prisoner and combed through his private residence, the saloon itself, and the oil office. Inspector Grant had been very clear that while everyone working for both businesses needed to be questioned, the day-to-day operations should be allowed to continue. He knew that they were the primary source of income for many of the town's families, and he trusted the Hope Valley residents running them in Bouchard's absence.
Helen Bouchard, who had left just after the New Year when Elizabeth's book tour concluded, returned when she learned of her son's arrest. The Mounties questioned her at length, eventually determining that she had nothing to do with the jewel heists. Vincent Bouchard was also cleared of any affiliation with his son's illegal activities. Both of them urged Lucas to cooperate with the police and share any information he had, hoping that by helping bring down others in the scheme he would earn a lighter sentence.
Lucas remained silent, waiting for Elizabeth to return and come to his defense, certain that she would take his side. When he learned that she had voluntarily turned her engagement ring over to the police—and to Nathan in particular—he was furious. As he continued to await her return, he planned his next strategy. He knew the others were upset that he had let his ego get in the way of securing his father-in-law's cooperation. With his wealth to protect them and the sweeping connections that his international shipping contacts offered their organization, William Thatcher had been a key piece of their plan. Lucas was confident that once Elizabeth returned, she could be convinced to smooth things over with her father, opening the door for the others to approach and bring him into the fold.
"So, who's going to question the fiancé? Is she considered an accessory?" Two of the visiting Mounties were eating lunch in the jail, intruding upon Lucas's thoughts.
"Inspector Grant already cleared her," the other answered. "I guess she went to him in Union City and turned in the ring. He determined she didn't know anything about the other jewels, or where that one came from."
"But now that they're back here, we need to keep an eye on her and the little boy, just in case anyone else tries to question them."
It gave Lucas a brief pause to think that one of his 'business partners' might try to hurt Elizabeth or Jack. Then he realized what the Mountie had said- Elizabeth had apparently come home and not made any attempt to visit, speak, or even write to him. He couldn't believe that she didn't want to see him, sure that the Mounties were keeping her away. Then he heard her and Jack outside, talking to Judge Avery.
"Going to see your fiancé?" Bill asked sullenly.
"No," Elizabeth replied, glancing nervously at the open door of the jail. "I don't have anything to say to Lucas. At this point, I think it's safe to say our engagement is off," she added.
Lucas cursed as all his plans went to pieces. He had been counting on the Thatcher name to protect him should the jewel scheme fall apart, but now his last remaining link had been broken. He knew that the others involved would never lift a finger to help him, instead setting him up to take the fall for all of them. Perhaps it was time to consider talking to the police…
Outside, Bill's eyes lit up, thrilled that Elizabeth had finally come to her senses. Now if we can just get Nathan and Allie back to town. He was doing all he could to stall the assignment of a new Mountie in Hope Valley. While he couldn't have been prouder of Nathan's promotion and knew it was long overdue, he had started to think of the man almost like a son, and family should be together. Watching Jack and Elizabeth walk away strengthened his resolve.
Family should be together.