A Stranger in Hope Valley

Elizabeth, Rosemary and the children arrived safely back in Hope Valley from their field trip. Everyone was happy, but definitely tired. Elizabeth asked the students to go into the school and hang up their coats, while Rosemary gathered her belongings in the wagon.

"Rosemary, thank you for arranging for the field trip. The children all had a wonderful time. Could you thank Lee for us?"

"You are very welcome, Elizabeth. I'll certainly pass your thanks along to Lee. You know he would do anything for those darling children. I'm going to drop off the wagon and horses to the mercantile and then head over to the saloon to see if our visitor has arrived." Elizabeth gave Rosemary a hug and headed into the school.

"Children, please take your seats. I'm sure you're all tired after our hike this morning. I'd like to take a few minutes to talk about what you saw and what you learned this morning. Cooper, would you please start."

"I learned about insects. I saw a lot of them when I moved the leaves on the ground. I drew pictures of them. I'm not sure what they all are, but I'm going to look for a book in the library to help identify them."

"That's excellent, Cooper." The other children all took turns discussing their observations and what they still needed to complete their school projects. "It's just about time to leave. I'm sure you're all very tired after today. I'd like to ask that you all go straight home and maybe rest up a little before you start working on your projects or doing your chores. Class dismissed."

"Angela, do you have time to go to the mercantile today to get our blotting paper?" asked Allie. "We didn't have time yesterday with everything that happened."

"Sure, I can do that. Mama gave me some money."

"Uncle Nathan did too. Come on, let's go."

"Girls, where are you going? Aren't you going straight home?" asked Elizabeth.

"No, Mrs. Thornton. Allie and I need blotting paper from the mercantile. We're going to put our leaves between the sheets of paper so they don't get moldy."

"Oh, OK." Elizabeth sat down next to the girls. "After you go to the mercantile, I'd like you to go straight home, please. Allie, your Uncle Nathan spoke to me yesterday about Mr. Spurlock coming to the school, and he was concerned for both of you. I think it would be best if you go straight home after you visit the mercantile."

"Alright, Mrs. Thornton. We will," said Allie.

"Will your Uncle Nathan be home, Allie?" asked Elizabeth.

"No, probably not."

"Could you stay at Angela's house then until he comes home?"

"I think so. Angela, is that alright with you?" asked Allie.

"That would be wonderful. We could work on our project. Maybe we can practice the piano too." The girls left together and headed to the mercantile. "I hope we don't run into Mr. Spurlock today. He scares me, Allie."

"Me too. Let's go."

Rosemary headed directly to the saloon to see Lucas. "Good afternoon, Lucas. How are you on this beautiful Hope Valley afternoon?" asked Rosemary.

"I'm fine, and it sounds to me like you are too, Rosemary. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" asked Lucas.

"Well, Elizabeth and I took the children to Lee's lumber camp so they could work on their school projects. Elizabeth had an encounter with a tall, handsome stranger, who was headed for Hope Valley. Did he ask for a room here at the saloon?"

"Rosemary, you know I can't tell you that. I respect my guests' privacy."

"Can you tell me if someone new checked in this morning? You don't have to tell me his name."

"I'm sorry, Rosemary. I can't do that. I'm afraid you'll have to find that out on your own."

"Elizabeth said you wouldn't help me. I guess she was right. She is right once in a while." Rosemary thought a moment. "I'll find out. Just you wait and see. I'll be back." With that, Rosemary turned and left. She walked over to Lee's office, where he had set up a desk for her for the Valley Voice. Bill came in to get some maps he let Lee borrow.

"Oh, Bill. I'm so glad you're here."

"Hello, Rosemary. What can I do for you?" asked Bill.

"Have you seen a tall, rather handsome stranger in Hope Valley this morning? He was driving a new touring car. He has a moustache, and he's nicely dressed. Elizabeth saw him at Lee's lumber camp this morning."

"No. I haven't seen him. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just asking. I thought it might be something my readers would be interested in. You know, Bill, I never write gossip; just news. I wonder who he is," said Rosemary.

"I don't know. I have to get some maps I let Lee borrow. Rosemary, I need to ask you a favor. It's very important."

"Why, of course, yes, Bill."

"I know you run the newspaper, and you are probably looking for information about this man, but I'm asking you not to. I can't tell you why. When it's over, I promise I will give you, and only you, an exclusive interview for the Valley Voice. I promise you, the larger newspapers in Calgary, and maybe even Vancouver, will be interested, but I will only talk to you. Can you trust me and not go visit this man?" asked Bill.

"But, Bill, my readers. They'll want to know who he is. What do I tell them?"

"You just tell them that he is no one special. He's just passing through. Can you do that for me? I wouldn't ask, Rosemary, unless it was very important."

"Alright, Bill. I'll agree to your terms, if you agree to give me an exclusive."

"Then we have a deal, Rosemary." Bill and Rosemary shook hands. "I just want to be sure that you stay away from him, and please don't say anything about it."

"You can trust me, Bill."

"I know I can. Thank you, Rosemary."

Bill left with the maps and went back to his office. Nathan was still there, and Bill filled him in on the new visitor in town.

"This must be our guy, Nathan. Why don't we do a little surveillance out at Walden's cabin."

"Sure, Bill. Let's go."

"Wait a minute. Take off that serge. They'll see you coming a mile away. Here, put on some of my work clothes."

Nathan rolled his eyes, but he changed his clothes. He and Bill took their horses, but tied them up a distance from the cabin and walked the rest of the way. They set up behind some brush. The touring car Rosemary described was parked in front of the cabin. The cabin windows were open, and Bill and Nathan could hear the conversation clearly. By the sound of things, the stranger had just arrived.

"Walden, this is my associate, Mr. Vernon T. Blackmore. He's my banker, so to speak. You have a nice, private set up here. Do you have a map of the properties you purchased? I'd like to see it."

"Yes, Mr. Cathcutter. I do." Bill and Nathan could hear the map being spread out, and Walden showed him the various properties he purchased.

"This will do nicely. Good job, Walden. We can build the refinery on this property. I think this one will work well for storage, and on this one we can build our offices. Who owns this parcel here in the middle?"

"Bill Avery. He's the local judge. I offered him a good price for that property, but he wasn't interested in selling it at any price," answered Walden.

"Judges can be bought, Walden. It happens all the time. Why don't you let me talk to him. I bet I can convince him to sell. You get me all the information you can on this Judge Avery, and I'll pay him a personal visit."

"We, I mean you, can purchase all the lumber you need right here in Hope Valley. That should save you some money, and there are two local men who own a couple of oil wells in town."

"Gowen Petroleum. Yes. I've heard of them. Gowen is a pretty savvy businessman, who has been known to break a few rules. He'll be easy to work with. Bouchard doesn't know the first thing about the oil business. I understand he wants out. Maybe we can pick that business up cheap. I brought some drawings Blackmore had done with the proposed structures. We'll need to be real nice to the local town council, but we can do that. I expect to have this wrapped up in a week. Does that sound reasonable, gentlemen?"

"Yes, sir. I think we can do that. The town council doesn't meet for a couple of weeks, but we can request a special meeting," responded Walden.

"That will work. Set that up will you, Walden. Remember, we're not asking their permission to build the refinery. I have the backing of the government, because we're providing for the war effort." Cathcutter laughed, but it sounded more like a snicker. "That's the ace up our sleeve. We're very patriotic, we are. Well, do you have a decent place to eat and sleep in this two-bit town?"

"Oh, yes sir. The Queen of Hearts Saloon has a French chef. He's quite good. There are rooms above the saloon you can stay in. They're actually very nice."

"Fine. Remember, don't make a fuss. I'm just passing through. I don't want to attract any attention. Then," and Cathcutter slammed his fist on the table, "We come in for the kill. They won't know what hit them." The men shared a hearty laugh at the town's expense.

"Come on Nathan, let's get out of here," Bill whispered. They got their horses and rode back to Bill's Office.

"Bill, we need to plan for when Cathcutter comes to see you about your parcel of land. I was thinking I could be out behind your office. Leave the window open, and I'll be able to hear him bribe you. I was also thinking we should call Mountie Gabe Kinslow, from Brookfield, to come to Hope Valley in plain clothes."

"Yes, that's a good idea, Nathan. If he tries to bribe me, we'll have him. We'll call Gabe today and ask him if he can be here by tomorrow. After Cathcutter's visit, we can schedule the town council meeting. That's when I'll let him know about our ordinance on large-scale developments. I believe the town council will turn down his proposal. I know he thinks he has the backing of the government because of the war effort, but I doubt he'll want to deal with that. It would be easier for him to build elsewhere. We should also look into who he's dealing with in the government. Chances are someone there may be dirty."

"I agree," answered Nathan.

"The girls overheard Walden and Spurlock talking about Cathcutter giving Walden a down payment of $100. I think Walden has put out all his own money, and he'll be looking to be reimbursed by Cathcutter after the deal goes through. I think Walden is going to be holding a lot of land and businesses he doesn't need when this is over."

"Bill, we need to get this right. The town's future is at stake here."

"We will, Nathan. You can count on that."