Bill's Reaction – Chapter 26

Hamilton

Elizabeth was awaiting Nathan's call. She had put Little Jack down for the night and walked down to her father's study. There was a lot of news to share. She was pondering telling him about her encounter with Ruth Lockwood, when the phone rang.

She let it ring a couple of times so she did not appear overly excited, even though she was. She felt like a schoolgirl.

Upon answering the telephone, Elizabeth's excitement turned to anxiety as she heard not Nathan's voice, but Bill's.

"Hello Elizabeth", Bill started, "I thought you'd like to hear my lovely voice tonight."

She audibly gasped and became awkwardly silent on the other end of the phone, expecting the worst news.

Bill suddenly realized the sound of his voice instead of Nathan's had alarmed her. He quickly added, "Don't worry - Nathan is fine. He asked me to call and let you know he got tied up with some last-minute Mountie business and was not able to make this scheduled call. He said he might be able to call later on if it is not too late, given the time difference."

Elizabeth released a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you for letting me know, Bill. Is this a dangerous assignment?"

"Now, Elizabeth, you know I am not going to discuss Mountie business with you! I will tell you this much, Nathan is in his office making calls to surrounding Mountie depots."

Elizabeth sighed in relief. "Thank you for letting me know, Bill. Please ask Nathan to call me when he gets a chance, even if it is just to say a quick 'hello'."

"I will give him the message." Bill gave a low chuckle and asked, "Say, how is my godson enjoying his time away? I can't believe I haven't seen him in almost two weeks!"

Elizabeth laughed and replied, "Oh Bill, Little Jack is just thriving!" She lowered her voice and spoke directly into the mouthpiece of the phone, "You know, I never would have thought my parents would become such 'hands-on' grandparents. When we were growing up, they were so 'formal'."

Bill laughed, "Time and life experiences – both good and bad - have a way of changing people, Elizabeth. Accept it for what it is. Please give Little Jack a hug from me."

Elizabeth commented, "Yes, I guess you are right about my parents. I am just so happy they have shown such an interest in him. After the way Jack, Sr was received and the way I am raising Little Jack, I wasn't sure my parents would approve. As for that hug, I will see to it Little Jack gets it in the morning. He is down for the night."

"Elizabeth, speaking of Jack, Sr., have you had a chance to speak to Sam Collins, yet?" Bill inquired.

Elizabeth replied, "Oh yes, we had a very interesting discussion. He was able to enlighten me on a few issues from Jack's last day. Oddly enough, it was Mrs. Collins who gave me some peace. Someday, I will have to share all the information I found out – but not tonight." Once again, she reminded Bill, "Now, you will remember to tell Nathan to call before 9 p.m. your time, if he gets a chance."

"Yes Elizabeth, I will see that the message is delivered." Bill chuckled as he inquired, "Might there be anything else you would like me to tell Nathan on your behalf?"

Elizabeth, sensing Bill's jovial tone, politely declined his offer and they ended the conversation.

As Bill left his office and walked towards the jail to pass along the message, Bill thought to himself, 'I wish those two would figure things out for themselves. They both remind me to deliver messages to one another like I'm passing notes in school. I feel like one of Elizabeth's students – trying to find out who like-likes whom!'

Since Elizabeth already had the use of her father's study, she decided to place a couple of overdue phone calls. Firstly, she called the Lockwood's and made arrangements to see Victoria.

Victoria had been surprised to hear from her old friend and given her resistance to seeing people, she almost turned down Elizabeth's request to come and visit. Thankfully, Ruth encouraged Victoria to have Elizabeth over and so it was set – Elizabeth would visit Victoria on Thursday afternoon. She advised she would have to confirm that time was suitable for either of her parents, so Little Jack would be cared for. Victoria told her, "If your parents are unable to babysit, please bring him with you. It would be fun to see your little boy."

Elizabeth thanked her and told her she looked forward to seeing her tomorrow afternoon.

Secondly, she called Canadian Pacific Railway to see if she could reach Constable Stephen Michaels. Happily, they confirmed the train was his current duty assignment. The operator agreed to ring his quarters to see if he would take the call.

When Constable Michaels heard who was calling, his curiosity got the better of him and he asked the call be put through.

Constable Michaels answered on the second ring, "Hello, Mrs. Thornton?", he asked questioningly.

"Yes, Constable. How are you?" Elizabeth replied.

Michaels conveyed his astonishment. "Quite frankly, Ma'am, I'm more than a little surprised to hear from you! How may I help you?"

Elizabeth replied, "No doubt you are surprised, so I will get right to the point. After you shared your eye-witness account of the Fort Clay incident, I did some investigation of my own with Chief Superintendent Collins." She hurriedly added, "Don't worry, your name was kept confidential!"

"Ma"am, I didn't know you knew the chief," said the Constable, sounding surprised. "What did he have to say?"

Elizabeth replied, "I have met the chief on a few occasions over the years and I requested him to share his findings regarding my late husband's death."

Elizabeth then chose her words very carefully, "Chief Superintendent Collins advised there is an ongoing investigation regarding the day of the Fort Clay landslide. Since you had provided me with some information I had no way of knowing, he requested the name of my source, as they would like to add their name to the witness list. I told him I would not disclose your name without your consent." Elizabeth sighed deeply before continuing, "So, Constable Michaels, are you willing to cooperate with Chief Superintendent Collins and be added to a witness list into the Mountie investigation?"

Constable Michaels whistled under his breath, "What is this about, Mrs. Thornton?"

Elizabeth told him, "I have shared all the information I feel I can. If you wish to remain anonymous, I will keep your name confidential." Elizabeth added, "The choice is yours. Would you like to think about it?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone as Constable Michaels briefly paused to consider everything he had just been told.

Elizabeth was about to ask if he was still on the line, when he replied, "Mrs. Thornton, it suddenly occurred to me HQ must be reviewing something related to your late husband's passing. I wouldn't think that investigation would still be ongoing, after so much time has passed."

A new strength came into the Constable's and he spoke with resolution. "Ma'am, thank you for protecting my anonymity, but I knew what I was doing when I signed up to become a Mountie. I took a vow to be of service to all people - and that includes my superior officers. If I have knowledge needed in an investigation, I would be obliged to cooperate with Chief Superintendent Collins. I will await further direction from him."

Elizabeth told him she would pass the information along and wished the young officer "Godspeed" both in life and as he performed his duties as a Mountie.

Upon completion of the second call, Elizabeth exited her father's study and joined her parents in the sitting room. They both looked at her with knowing smiles on their faces.

Elizabeth looked at them and scrunched up her nose. "The phone call you heard was from Bill Avery. Bill was asked to pass on a message - Nathan is fine, however he got tied up with some last-minute Mountie business and was unable to call as scheduled, tonight." She sighed deeply and continued, "however, if he gets a chance to call later on, he will. Please don't be alarmed if you hear the phone ring, later than normal."

Her parents just looked at her, bemused.

Grace spoke first, "It was very thoughtful of Nathan to arrange for that message to be given to you. Now you know he is safe, just delayed."

William agreed with his wife, "Yes, I could see he was very thoughtful when I first met him in Hope Valley." He turned to Grace and said, "Did I tell you Nathan and his daughter moved out of their home so we didn't have to stay over the saloon?"

Grace looked at William, "Yes you did, Dear. That was right before you moved in with Elizabeth and Little Jack, for a few days."

William nodded and turned to Elizabeth, "So, did Bill say what the Mountie business was about?"

Elizabeth shook her head and replied, "No, I asked, however he told me he would not talk to me about it. He said all I needed to know was Nathan was safe – and he's right, that is what matters the most."

William and Grace gave each other a 'knowing glance'.

Grace recovered first and commenced telling William about her shopping excursion with Elizabeth. "Dear, I was able to talk our daughter into buying several different outfits." Giving Elizabeth a pointed look, she remarked, "Now she will be properly attired for the duration of her stay in Hamilton and will no longer have to raid her sister's closets for proper clothing!"

Turning back to look at William, she continued, "I also found the most beautiful bridal gown at Suzanne's."

Elizabeth interjected, "Mother, we were not shopping for bridal gowns today."

Grace looked at Elizabeth and replied, "Well, perhaps we weren't today, but maybe there will be a need in the future?" Grace beamed at her daughter, "You must realize, Elizabeth, it is not every day your father speaks so highly about your suitor."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and looked directly at her mother, "Well, I'm not sure what Father has told you, however, I do not currently have a suitor."

At this point, William interjected, "Well, perhaps not today, Dear, but in time, I expect Nathan will call the phone in my study and he will actually want to speak with me." Now it was William's turn to beam at his daughter.

Elizabeth could not stop the blush from reddening her cheeks. She secretly longed for the day when that might happen, but did not dare voice that aloud. The silence in the room became deafening.

Grace spoke up and changed the subject, "Elizabeth, when you were speaking with Ruth Lockwood at the orphanage today, did I hear you making plans to visit with Victoria?"

"Why yes, Mother. In fact, after my conversation with Bill, I called the Lockwood's and arranged to visit Victoria on Thursday afternoon."

Grace responded with, "I'm surprised she agreed to see you. She became quite reclusive a number of years back. I had heard she had gotten engaged awhile back, but there was no wedding. I'm not sure what happened, but right afterward she stopped attending any social engagements. Today was the first time I'd seen her mother in quite some time."

William, recalling the conversation he had with Elizabeth, suddenly felt uncomfortable. He hoped Elizabeth would take this opportunity to share the Lockwood story with her mother, but he didn't feel right bringing it up. He could only pray Elizabeth would take her mother into her confidence.

William was thankful as Elizabeth started to share the story with her mother.

Upon retelling the story again, Elizabeth marvelled at how God had used the theft of his vehicle to bring her father and Charles to Hope Valley. They wound up being such a blessing to her, before she got in too deep with Lucas. She shuddered at what could have happened had she actually married him!

Grace was just as shocked as William had been when he first found out.

She eventually replied, "My goodness, what a horrible man! I do hope he was brought to justice and is now in jail?"

Elizabeth scrunched up her nose and shook her head. "Lucas' offenses were committed against several wealthy families, both in Hamilton as well as other cities – well, Bill and Nathan say "he allegedly committed these crimes", as nothing was ever proven in court. Regrettably, none of the parents wanted to press charges because they did not want the publicity. Without any witnesses or complaints made, there could be no charges, which means Lucas is a free man."

Elizabeth sighed deeply and continued, "Which brings me to my story. If any money had been requested from me, I can only hope I would have reported him, but he did have me fooled. I'm ashamed to say I didn't believe it when I was first told. My ego made me think Nathan was just jealous and Bill, well he never liked Lucas to begin with."

After a brief pause, Elizabeth continued, "In my case, he wanted to make sure he married me in order to gain control of my money. As my husband, once he had access to the Thatcher Trust he could withdraw funds at will, and there would have been nothing anyone could have done. After the money was gone, he would have left me, penniless. Now you know why I must speak with Victoria. I truly understand her position."

Grace was in shock at Elizabeth's story. She was just about to ask Elizabeth some more questions, when they all heard the phone ringing in her father's study. As Elizabeth rose to answer the phone, she checked the time.

Two hours later than scheduled, but she didn't care, just as long as the next voice she heard was that of Nathan Grant.