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Chapter 30
The Search for Tom Thornton
Nathan, Cadet Brooks, and Gabe Montgomery were the ones who Nathan picked for tracking Tom Thornton. While Gabe wasn't technically a Mountie, Nathan had observed that he needed a sense of purpose and he and Brooks could more easily speak to Tom Thornton as veterans of a war they didn't sign up for. Cadet Cross was being monitored by Bill as the interim Hope Valley Mountie.
Charlotte was somehow convinced to stay in Hope Valley while they searched for Tom. Nathan hadn't been part of that conversation, but he assumed Jack and Allie had both given her their best pleading, puppy dog pouts, and knew that very few people could say no to their cuteness, let alone when they happen at the same time.
Nathan led the men to the last place Charlotte had contact with Tom. It was East Edmonton, and Tom Thornton had been doing very well for himself before the war. They walked to his last place for rent. Nathan explained to want to see the room to the super, showing his badge.
"It's empty, sir," the man said, but grabbed his keys.
They followed him into the room.
"May we look around?" Nathan asked.
The man nodded.
There wasn't anything of personal touch that said that Tom Thornton had ever lived there.
"How long has this unit been empty?" Nathan asked as Brooks took out his notepad and started taking notes on the conversation.
"About a month and a half," the man replied.
"Who was the previous tenant?" Nathan asked.
"A Tom Thornton," the man said with his arms crossed. "Is he in some sort of trouble?"
"No. He's a missing person. Did you ever have any issues with Mr. Thornton as a tenant?" Nathan asked.
The man shook his head.
"No. He always paid on time. Wasn't loud or throwing parties in the unit. He was such an ideal tenant we agreed to keep his lease and keep his room while he was in the war," the man said.
Nathan looked at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Did you notice any differences when he came back?" Nathan asked.
"Who goes to fight in a war and doesn't come back damaged? He was more jumpy, and loud noises began to throw him back onto the front, wherever the Hell he was. Some of his war pals ended up showing up, and they convinced him to go out to the gambling halls and saloons around here. He would return blackout drunk. It seemed to me that his only way of dealing with the trauma was to drink his way into oblivion each night. But even then, he was a good tenant. I was still surprised when he came into my office and said he was moving out."
"Did he leave a forwarding address?" Nathan asked.
"No. At the time he said that he was almost in a place, but needed to wait for the official agreement to be made and written out. And he would be back to give the address. That was the last time I saw him," the man said softly.
Nathan thanked him and shook his hand.
"I truly do hope you find him," the man said.
The three men all ate a quick lunch to go over the details of their previous interview.
Nathan then showed them to where Tom Thornton had worked before his disappearance.
Tom Thornton's old boss was a well made man.
"My name is Instructor Nathan Grant. This is Cadet Brooks, and Mr. Montgomery," Nathan introduced the three of them.
"Instructor?" the man glared suspiciously at the odd group.
"It's a new position. I'm Cadet Brooks' mentor on this assignment," Nathan explained.
"And the civilians?" the man sneered at Gabe.
"Is hardly a civilian. He and Cadet Brooks were picked specifically because they have common ground with our missing person. Both have served in the front," Nathan said.
The man looked at the two VERY young men…both looked almost childlike to the older men's eyes.
"How can I help you?" the man asked.
"We're looking for Tom Thornton," Nathan explained.
His eyes went up and he sighed heavily.
"Tom Thornton was one of my best workers…before everything went to Hell with that stupid war," the man growled out. "He tried his best when he got back. But it was obvious that a lot of his spirit was gone. I had to speak with him multiple times for inappropriate behaviors, but then he stopped coming into work. When he arrived drunk…I had to fire him."
Nathan nodded.
"When was this?" Nathan asked.
"Two months ago," the man said.
"Did he leave a forwarding address?" Nathan asked.
"No. He left with his last pay that day. I haven't seen him personally since then," the man said.
"Do you know anyone who he spent time outside of work with?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know, but you may ask the workers he worked with. They might know better than me," he said.
The group stood and politely left the boss' office.
They spoke briefly with each of his coworkers, and each said the same thing.
Tom was a good worker, their best, before he went to the front. When he came back he tried, but failed to assimilate back into daily life. He started drinking more and more to get pass out drunk and that affected his work habits. They hadn't seen him since he was fired.
The group then went to the bars that Tom Thornton had liked to inhabit.
They asked questions of the bar keeps and the patrons.
And while their information on when he was last seen there, and who with, it was still outdated by a month.
"He seemed to be getting more paranoid…more stressed…knew he had a lot of problems and didn't know how to properly be fixed," said the bar keep in the last bar. "It seemed like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and the biggest secret, but he never said anything about what truly bothered him."
"Can you give any guess as to what it might have been?" Nathan asked.
"Tom isn't the type of drunk who word vomits his problems when drunk, but in being in this profession for some time, it seemed like he was suddenly under the stress of having a wife and child to care for," the bar keep answered.
Nathan looked surprised.
"Was he married?" Nathan asked.
"Not that he ever mentioned it. I don't know for sure. But in being able to read people's reasons for being in my bar, over the last few times that he was in here he had that sudden fatherhood look for new fathers who don't know how to be a dad or provide for another mouth," the man answered.
Nathan thanked him and led them away.
"Do you think he could be married with a child?" Brooks asked.
"It's entirely possible." Nathan sighed.
"But why hide it from his family. Mrs. Thornton would have been thrilled," Gabe asked the problematic question.
Nathan sighed.
"Why would you hide your new wife and child from your mother?" Nathan asked back.
"My Ma would have my hide if I EVER hid this from her," Gabe said.
Nathan nodded in agreement. Cat Montgomery was a force to be reckoned with.
"Still…what are some compelling reasons a man would hide this from his family?" Nathan asked.
"The wife and child could be another race?" Brooks said softly.
"That is a good point, but Charlotte wouldn't care," Nathan said politely.
"Maybe they met overseas, and she has to get here first," Gabe added.
"That's probable, but why not tell Charlotte?" Nathan asked back.
"Maybe he needs to have his wife with him before mentioning her. He was not the type to settle down. Mrs. Thornton said that herself, right? Maybe, they thought that they would need to prove themselves, himself, as a responsible husband and father first," Gabe added.
Brooks and Nathan both nodded. But didn't know how else to look at the problem.
"Tomorrow we start hitting hospitals," Nathan said.
They both nodded before laying down and sleeping.
The next morning, Nathan, Gabe, and Brooks had trouble with the hospitals closest to where Tom Thornton had lived having a Tom Thornton in their care. It was only on their second afternoon and looking into the hospitals towards the west of the city that they finally had success.
"We have a Tom Thornton here. I don't know if he's who you're looking for, but he's awful sick. I can only take one of you back," the head nurse said.
"I will go. Stay here and wait," Nathan ordered.
Both men nodded.
The nurse led him to a closed room with only one patient.
Nathan looked at the patient through the window. It was the Tom Thornton they were looking for, but he looked like he was very ill.
"What's wrong with him?" Nathan whispered.
"A whole bucket full of problems. Shell shock is the most prominent symptom. Most vets have it. He doesn't get enough sleep because of it. His lack of deep rest has caused more mental issues. He's also tried to self medicate with drinking, but because he was a hard drinker and partier in his teens and early twenties, his liver is now failing," the nurse said.
Nathan took in a deep breath.
"Do you think he can be cured?" Nathan asked.
The nurse just shook her head.
"Has he had any family come through?" Nathan asked.
"Not yet. But he's mentioned a Marie. We think she's his wife with how he's said her name in his sleep," the nurse answered.
Nathan nodded.
"May I go inside?" he asked.
The nurse nodded.
Nathan gently knocked on the man's door, before entering.
He gave him a completely clueless look.
"Hello, Mr. Thornton. My name is Inspector Nathan Grant," Nathan introduced himself.
"Inspector Grant, how can I help you?" Tom said with a lot of pain in his voice.
"Your mother opened a missing person file on you. I am here, and on your brother's family's behalf," Nathan answered.
"Ma, and my brother's family?" Tom looked confused.
"I'm the Constable assigned to Hope Valley," Nathan explained.
Tom looked at him with some recognition.
"Why did Ma go all the way to Hope Valley for the request? That would have been backtracking for her, and she knows better with a missing person," Tom questioned his mother's plan.
"She was bringing my daughter her birthday present," Nathan said.
"You have a daughter? Elizabeth said something about the new Mountie when he arrived, but he was a single man guardian to his niece," Tom said.
"That was me. I adopted Allie this past summer," Nathan explained.
Tom gave a slight head tilt to give acknowledgement.
"I was still in route to come back home," Tom admitted.
Nathan looked at Tom Thornton. This man was Jack Thornton Sr.'s little brother. Jack took the fair haired look of his Uncle more than his father, but they were obviously related.
"Your family is very worried about you," Nathan said.
Tom sighed.
"I knew they would be, but when I started getting sick, I couldn't bring myself to drag them from their lives to make sure I'm okay. Ma, would fuss…I knew deep down that I am not going to get better. I couldn't make them suffer watching me rot away," Tom admitted.
Nathan gave him an eyebrow raised in skepticism.
"So, you decided that instead of having the comfort of your mother's love, you were going to suffer alone," Nathan summarized.
Tom nodded.
"And how is that going for you?" Nathan asked.
"Not so great as it turns out," Tom began coughing.
Nathan waited until Tom regained his breath.
"In my search, they have said you might have a wife?" Nathan asked.
Tom sighed, but nodded.
"Marie is a French nurse. She helped heal a lot of wounds for us on the front. She's an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, and nurturing woman. We felt a click right away. We got married while over there. And then have kept in touch through letters. When the war ended, they wouldn't let her come back here with me. I have had to put in the paperwork for her visas, and send them to her. She's supposed to arrive any day."
Nathan gave him a long look.
"Does she know you're sick?" Nathan asked.
"Yes. That is also why we are trying to get her here as fast as she can. She said she was pregnant and we want our child to be born here," Tom said.
"And you haven't told Charlotte that you're married or expecting?" Nathan gave him a look.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Because, at first I wanted to ease her into it in person. Let her know and rage on the ranch."
Nathan raised an eyebrow for him to continue.
"Then, as I got more ill, and I had decided to suffer alone, I knew I couldn't tell her about Marie otherwise she would have been here to kill me herself," Tom admitted.
Nathan smiled at the description of Charlotte.
"Why did you decide to go to a hospital at all?" Nathan asked.
"At first, I had planned on suffering alone in a cabin," Tom admitted. "But everyday I kept hearing these two voices. One sounded like my late brother, Jack, and he kept telling me that I needed help and to ask for it."
Nathan nodded.
"The other voice was a female I've never heard before, and SHE would yell at me that I was being stupid, to stop being stupid, that I needed help and she would get her little brother Mountie Nate on finding me if I kept being stupid," Tom looked a little shy about admitting this outloud.
Nathan could barely suppress his humor.
"Let me guess, this voice was when no one else was around?" Nathan asked.
Tom just nodded.
Nathan just shook his head as he started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"The female voice, I'm pretty sure, was my late sister, Colleen," Nathan explained.
Tom looked at him with suspicion.
Nathan just took out his wallet and showed him the picture of Colleen he had in his wallet. It was from before she met Dylan so she looked younger than when she had died. Tom looked at the picture and had a reaction.
"That's her," Tom confirmed.
Nathan smiled.
"This is also a current photo of Jack Jr.," Nathan said as he flipped it to the wedding photo of Jack and Charlotte.
Tom took it and smiled.
"He looks so much like Jack. Can't part with his Mountie toys either," Tom commented as that particular picture had his toy Mountie in it.
Nathan smiled and nodded.
"Ma seems to be overdressed for his birthday or Christmas, what was this taken for?" Tom asked.
Nathan sighed.
"Elizabeth and I got married. This was taken at our wedding reception," Nathan explained.
Tom looked at him in shock and then back down to the photo.
"I seem to have missed a lot," Tom said.
Nathan nodded.
"To be fair, this year had a lot has happened in all of our lives this year, personally. I had my own near death experiences and both Colleen and Jack were the ones encouraging me to fight and come back to my life and my family. So, I completely believe you when you say that you've heard them," Nathan explained.
Tom looked over at him, but didn't add anything else.
"Your family will either come in mass here, or have you go back with me to Hope Valley, which would you prefer?" Nathan asked before he intended to leave Tom Thornton to his rest.
Tom sighed and leaned back against his pillows.
"I need to be with doctors, unfortunately," Tom said as he looked at his bed and the medications he was taking.
"Hope Valley has its own infirmary with two doctors. And I know from personal experience, you really can't have a better doctor team than Dr. Sheppard and Dr. Carter," Nathan encouraged.
Tom looked at him.
"It would be easier and less costly to move me. I don't want to disrupt their lives any more than necessary. But we have to wait until Marie gets here," Tom said.
"I have other men with me. I will send one to get Marie and explain that we have gone to Hope Valley. If that is alright with you?" Nathan asked.
Tom just nodded.
Nathan stood and left the man's room to update Gabe and Cadet Brooks. He sent Cadet Brooks to find and travel with Marie Thornton. Gabe was sent ahead of Nathan and Tom in order to find a place where Marie could live temporarily.
Nathan then called Charlotte.
Charlotte took the phone call in the privacy of Bill's office.
"Nathan?" Charlotte asked with worry and hope.
"We found him, but he is quite ill. His doctors here have said it's only a matter of time before he dies," Nathan said.
Charlotte sat heavily as she processed the news.
"Where are you? I want to go to him," Charlotte asked.
"West Edmonton. But I've convinced him to go back to Hope Valley. Tom and I are taking the earliest train we can get after I get him released," Nathan admitted.
"What about Gabe and Cadet Brooks?" Charlotte asked.
"Gabe headed back already to prepare for Tom and his family," Nathan explained.
"His family?" Charlotte asked.
"Apparently, he got married while he was in France. Cadet Brooks is meeting her at her station before bringing her to Hope Valley," Nathan said.
Charlotte didn't quite know how to process this news.
"He's married? Why hasn't he told me himself?" Charlotte asked.
"I, personally, think his explanation is a bit weak. I wouldn't like being given the explanation that he gave if it were Allie or Jack, but I also can understand that he was trying to protect you from more heartache and worry," Nathan said.
Charlotte banged her head against Bill's desk.
"He's always been the pain in my side," Charlotte said with frustration.
Nathan smiled at her reaction.
"Thank you for finding him and bringing him home," Charlotte finally said.
"It's my pleasure, Charlotte," Nathan said before they hung up.
"I'm going to lose my other son, Bill," Charlotte said as she hung up.
Bill just put his arms around Charlotte.
"Nathan is bringing him back here to have family around before he passes, but the doctors where he is say that he is going to die," Charlotte added.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"With Tom and Jack, I expected it on some level. They were both brave and honorable men whose calling was to serve and protect their people. Tom Jr. was never meant to be in service. God has put me through some horrible tests, but to lose all of my boys in this way," Charlotte cried into Bill's arms.
"It is completely unfair for you to lose all of them. And it's okay if you have trouble with coming to terms with that. I will be here for you whatever you need, as usual," Bill said as he held out his handkerchief.