Bill's Reaction – Chapter 28

After receiving his orders, Nathan went home and broke the news to Allie that he had been temporarily reassigned to Mountie HQ, Hamilton. Since Bill was already at the Grant household, he heard at the same time how he was expected to take Nathan's active cases for the next while – including the disappearance of Lucas Bouchard. Bill was not impressed.

Naturally, Allie was upset with the sudden change of plans, however, she'd lived with Nathan long enough to know Mounties sometimes lived like gypsies. The three years they had been in Hope Valley was a long time to be in one posting. What she didn't understand was why she wasn't invited to move to his new posting with him. Nathan honestly explained he didn't know what the Mountie business entailed. He loved her and wanted to keep her safe and that meant staying in Hope Valley. Allie suddenly stood up from where she had been seated on the couch and ran upstairs.

Nathan knew she was upstairs crying and he felt like a heel for not going up to comfort her, but there was much to do and precious little time to do it in. He would have a conversation with Allie before he left town.

Once Allie was out of earshot, Nathan turned to Bill and asked in frustration, "Have you ever heard of any such thing before? Allie is my legal daughter. If they are going to reassign me – even temporarily - surely they would have me bring my daughter with me?"

Bill looked at Nathan with a pensive look, "Nathan, you just said it yourself. You don't know what this temporary assignment entails. Allie will be safer in Hope Valley. Besides, you will be able to stay at the Mountie Barracks, but where will Allie stay?"

Bill shook his head and continued, "No, it is just not practical. Even if you could take her with you, when would you see her? You are there on a temporary work assignment. You were not invited to the Mountie Ball!"

Nathan nodded his head, "Of course it's not practical. It's just I never want her to think for one minute that my job came before her."

Bill nodded his head and put his hand on Nathan's shoulder, "I know, My Friend."

Unbeknownst to both men, Allie had been listening at the top of the stairs. She heard everything they had said and decided to let her dad off the hook. As she walked down the stairs, she looked at her dad and said, "Don't worry about me. I will be fine here by myself."

Nathan reached out to give her a hug and quickly replied, "Um, Allie, I know you are mature for your age, but you cannot stay in Hope Valley by yourself."

Allie was not happy with that answer. She assumed her most enduring expression and said "Okay, well let me know when you figure it out. Opal and her family are gone so..." She went back upstairs, this time going straight to her room.

Downstairs, Bill took the opportunity to advise Nathan the Weiss Family, where Allie normally stayed, were out of town. "Perhaps Allie could stay with Lee & Rosemary? You know I'd stay with her, but that would just not be appropriate."

Nathan nodded his understanding and quipped, "Yes, it's best the two of you weren't left alone in each other's company for too long. I don't want Allie picking up any bad habits." He smirked as he brought his hand behind his neck to massage the tension away.

Bill responded, "What are you talking about? I don't have any bad habits. No bachelor does - at least until he gets married!"

Bill turned serious again and asked, "Who did your orders come from?"

Nathan closed his eyes and thought back. Suddenly, his eyes went wide and he felt kind of sick to his stomach. "The orders came from the Assistant Deputy Commissioners office."

"My Friend, I have no idea what is going on, but this is big. That office handles internal affairs. It means this operation involves one of our own. The question is why were you tapped to be part of the investigation? Also, why so few details?"

Nathan suddenly looked at Bill with an ashen look on his face, "After the inquiry this year, what if I'm the one being investigated?" Nathan shook his head without waiting for a reply, "I need to make plans for Allie, while I'm away."

Nathan nodded as he was walking out the door.

As Nathan was walking over to the Coulter residence, Lee was coming out the front door to get an after-dinner breath of fresh air. Seeing Nathan approaching, Lee spoke to him. "Hey, Nathan, how's it going?"

Nathan replied earnestly, "To be honest, Lee, I was on my way over to see you; I have a big favour to ask of you and Rosemary."

Lee, seeing the seriousness on Nathan's face, responded with, "If we can help, count us in. Nathan looked at Lee appreciatively and continued, "I have been called out of town on sudden Mountie business. I need someone to care for Allie while I'm away. I'm going to be upfront and honest – I don't have very many details regarding the assignment. Would Allie be able to stay with you and Rosemary awhile? From the information provided, I was able to find out it is a temporary assignment, but I have to go all the way to Hamilton and I don't know how long I'll be gone."

Lee looked at Nathan and said, "Well, I have no problem with it. I don't really envision Rosemary taking issue with it either, but we'd better step inside the house and ask her." He looked at Nathan and with a wide smile said, "One of these days, you will understand."

Nathan only nodded by way of reply.

Once inside the Coulter home, Nathan quickly restated his dilemma and Rosemary was only too accommodating. She was delighted at the prospect of having Allie stay with them. She promised to care for Allie as if she were her own daughter.

Nathan was thankful and said so. He said he wanted to spend his last night in town with Allie, so would need to bring her over early the next morning, so he could make the first train.

They agreed upon a time to come over in the morning and Lee told Nathan he would drive him to the train depot. They parted so Nathan could go home to his upset daughter.

Nathan came home earlier than expected, so Bill left to cover Nathan's spot at the jail, but not before assuring Nathan that he would keep an eye out for Allie, as well as the Coulter's. She would be in good hands. With that, Bill left father and daughter at home. There was a lot to do and talk about.

Nathan went upstairs to pack, first. He took Bill's advice and packed for every contingency. Once the packing was done, he returned to the living room, where Allie was waiting for him.

Nathan and Allie stayed up all night. Since neither one knew when they would see one another again, it was critical they make the most of the time they had left.

They tried to focus on other things that made them both happy – singing, reading, and just talking. They also had all the important conversations out of the way, so there could be no regrets.

Eventually, it was time to go. They said their goodbyes at the house, so the Coulters did not see tears from either one of them a few minutes later when they parted.

As Nathan was about to enter Lee's car for the short trip to the train depot, he was surprised when Bill showed up at the Coulter's to say goodbye. As he shook Nathan's hand, Bill slipped Nathan a piece of paper. He looked directly at Nathan, gave him a half-smile and whispered, "This is the address to go with that Hamilton phone number you have committed to memory. Make good use of it while you're there!"

Nathan nodded his head, as he put the address to the Thatcher mansion in his breast pocket for safekeeping.

With one last hug for Allie, he climbed into the car and Lee drove away.

Nathan thanked Lee for dropping him off at the train depot. He was carrying more luggage than usual and it would have been difficult to walk to the depot.

The train arrived within a short while of his arrival at the depot. As instructed, Nathan showed his identification badge which served as his boarding pass. Once on board, he was shown to a basic cabin. Nathan was thankful he would at least have a bed to sleep in for the next three days.

After staying up all night, he was tired. His first priority was to get some much-needed sleep. As he lay in bed, his mind wandered. He was sorry he had to leave Allie behind in Hope Valley, but orders were orders. He was grateful that Lee & Rosemary agreed to care for Allie in his absence. The only other person he would have considered leaving her with, was in Hamilton.

Then his mind went to Elizabeth. He had no time to call and tell her he was heading her way. He would miss her call on Sunday. Hopefully, when she called, she would simply be told he was called away on Mountie Business. If he had a chance, he would call her from Mountie HQ, after he had reported in. His mind wondered if he could possibly see her in Hamilton, but until he knew what this Mountie business was about, he didn't dare hope for too much.

Then, his mind drifted to the reason he was headed East in the first place. Nathan was more concerned than he cared to admit – it is not often a Mountie is summoned to Hamilton Mountie HQ by the Assistant Deputy Commissioners office directly, without there having been some prior interaction. In other words, this should not have been a surprise.

He spent a good part of the first travel day trying to think of what he had done – or failed to do – that warranted this trip. He just couldn't figure out what he had done to warrant a summons. Even Bill had a concerned look when he asked him to cover for him. This was not usual practice. Nathan prayed it was nothing too serious.

He finally concluded that as long as he could be with Allie, it didn't matter what he had done. If need be, he was prepared to resign his position and move on to his next role in life. Nothing was more important than being Allie's dad.

Then he remembered, the constable who called him apologized for the lateness of the call. Could it be that it only seemed urgent because of the late notice? Maybe his mind was making this out to be more serious than it really was? In any event, he needed sleep and prayed for his mind to settle, so sleep would come to him.

Nathan awoke just in time to order dinner. He wasn't sure how long he had slept, but he felt rested.

On his way to the cafeteria, he decided to wander about the train in civilian clothes. That was one good thing. He was on duty when he boarded, so he dressed in the Serge. He would be appropriately dressed in the Serge again, when he left the train upon arrival in Hamilton. In the meantime, he could be just another passenger.

The first person he encountered was a fellow Mountie. He showed the uniformed Mountie his identification and introduced himself. The young Mountie responded in kind with, "Sir, my name is Constable Stephen Michaels."

Nathan responded with, "Nice to meet you Constable Michaels. I see you pulled train security duty?"

Constable Michaels replied, "Yes, Sir. I found out I am being reassigned once we reach home port."

Nathan looked curiously at Constable Michaels and asked, "Oh, where are you bound for?"

Constable Michaels was thoughtful as he replied, "Well, we're well on our way so I guess there would be no problem telling you. I will be reassigned to Mountie HQ in Hamilton, at least for the first while."

"Good for you, Constable. Say, I'm just heading to the cafeteria. Would you like to have coffee with me when you're on break? Or, perhaps you'd like to join me for your dinner break?" Nathan inquired.

Constable Michaels smiled., "How about we meet up for dinner. The meals are part of my compensation package and the food is pretty good. I would certainly welcome the company. My watch ends shortly - I usually go for my meal at 5 p.m. Does that work for you?"

Nathan checked his watch and saw it wasn't that far away, so agreed. He couldn't believe he had slept that long. They agreed to meet up in the cafeteria in a half hour.

The time went by quickly and they soon met up in the cafeteria. Constable Michaels had been slightly delayed as he went to his cabin and changed into civilian clothes.

After both men went through the line and ordered the daily special, hot roast beef, smothered in brown gravy, with mashed potatoes, peas, and a cup of piping hot coffee, they found a quiet table in the corner.

By this time, the two men were on a first name basis.

Stephen looked across the table and asked, "Nathan, why are you enroute to Hamilton?"

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and decided to be cautious with his reply, "Well, I got a phone call late last night advising of a temporary reassignment and orders to report by Monday morning. Since it's a three-day train trip, I figured I'd better leave this morning."

Nathan cocked his head to one side and asked, "How long have you been a Mountie, Stephen?"

Stephen got a funny expression on his face and said, "Just over three years." As he paused and thought about how to phrase his next comment, Stephen looked closely at Nathan before continuing, "Weren't you at Fort Clay almost four years ago?"

Nathan looked at the younger Mountie and said, "Yes, I was. How did you know that?"

Stephen replied, "I was a recruit back then. I thought I recognized you. You were supposed to be my training officer…until…"

Nathan's face became very sober and he nodded. He knew what "…until…" meant.

With a sad look in his eyes, Stephen shared, "I happened to be inside the main admin building and overheard when you were fervently trying to reach Chief Superintendent Collins in order to stop the training exercise. I never knew if you reached him or not, as I was called out to the field."

With glassy eyes, he continued, "I was on the field when Constable Thornton pushed two young rookies out of the way, and ultimately lost his own life. I never understood why Superintendent Hargraves ordered the training to continue, despite the poor weather conditions from the night before."

Nathan was stunned and allowed several moments of silence to pass. It felt like a very small world that he would meet this particular young Mountie today. "I'm sorry you had to experience that, Stephen. After witnessing that horrible incident, it is a credit to you that you completed your training."

Stephen thanked Nathan for his words. "I briefly considered not completing the training but, in the end, I had wanted to become a Mountie for a long time. I vowed that if I was ever fortunate enough to rise through the ranks, I would always listen to the Mounties under my command. I believe if Hargraves had done that, Constable Thornton would never have died that day. Instead, he would have gone home to his wife and son."

Nathan's head jerked up, "How did you know Constable Thornton had a wife and son?"

Stephen, seeing Nathan's reaction, quickly replied, "I met them on the train. They came through here a few weeks back. Nice lady, but really upset that no one from the Mounties had ever officially told her anything about her husband's death. At her request, I shared what I knew. I really didn't want to and tried to back out of it, but she was so determined to know the details. She wants to move on with her life, but can't get past this."

Nathan pursed his lips together and asked, "How did Mrs. Thornton seem after you shared these details with her?"

Stephen replied, "She was tearful, but she seemed relieved. She thanked me for reliving that horrible day."

Nathan closed his eyes, sighed, and shook his head. He couldn't believe this rookie Mountie had told Elizabeth the full details of Jack's death. He was thankful she seemed relieved, but silently wished someone, other than a stranger, had been with her to offer support as she heard these details for the first time.

Not wanting to discuss it any further, Nathan asked, "Do you know why you've been transferred to Hamilton?"

Stephen replied, "Not specifically, no. Although, I sure am looking forward to the opportunity."

Nathan looked at him and nodded his understanding. It would be an exciting time for a young Mountie.

Nathan began to wonder to himself…'how would a young rookie like Michaels get a plum posting to Hamilton, unless…was it possible his own reassignment was connected to Michaels' transfer? Perhaps his own inquiry was not being reopened, but instead there was an investigation into Hargraves?'

After finishing off his dinner, Nathan excused himself. He needed to go back to his cabin and think things over. He did not know why God had arranged for him to meet Constable Michaels, but he prayed for wisdom for whatever lay ahead in Hamilton.

Once he had done some quiet reflecting alone in his cabin, suddenly his own trip to Hamilton all made sense. Both he and Michaels had been at Fort Clay at the same time and both men had been summoned to Hamilton at the same time. The unsettling reason he had felt in the pit of his stomach since receiving orders was valid.

The reason both men had been summoned had to have something to do with Hargraves and that fateful day at Fort Clay.

Thursday afternoon – Lockwood Estate

Elizabeth arrived to visit her old friend shortly after lunch, as planned. She had thought about bringing Little Jack with her, but her mother's schedule was clear for the day and she said would enjoy spending some more time with her precious grandson.

She was welcomed by a member of the Lockwood's household staff and promptly shown to the sitting area where Victoria was waiting. The table had already been set up using the family tea service with sweet treats elegantly displayed.

Elizabeth and Victoria hugged warmly and both commented on how long it had been since they last saw each other.

As the two women sat down on the elegant furniture in the sitting area, Victoria asked one of the staff to serve afternoon tea.

Elizabeth spoke first, "My goodness Victoria, it is so good to see you again. It is so hard to believe so much time has passed since we were debutantes!"

Victoria replied, "Yes a lot has happened since that glorious time in our youth." She took this opportunity to extend her condolences to her childhood friend. "We were all so sorry to hear of your husband's passing. It was all so tragic. If you don't mind my asking, how do you ever cope with such a loss?"

Elizabeth prayed for God to allow her the strength to answer this question. "I am truly a blessed woman. I live in a community made up mostly of God-fearing people. My friends and neighbours share our lives and help me raise my son. I'm not sure I could have stayed in Hope Valley without them, after Jack passed away."

Victoria commented, "I am so glad you have such a good support system among your friends. I was looking forward to meeting your son."

Elizabeth smiled, "Well I was going to bring him with me, but my mother told me she wished to spend some more time with him." Elizabeth winked at her friend and continued, "I secretly think my mother just wants to spoil Little Jack. She doesn't get much opportunity to look after either of her grandchildren, with me living in Hope Valley and Viola & Sir Lionel in Great Britain."

"My goodness, it must be lovely for your parents to have two grandchildren, even if they don't see them very often." Victoria cast her eyes down to the floor and shyly commented, "I'm afraid my parents will never know the joy of being grandparents. Neither my brother nor I are married."

Elizabeth, mindful of the heavy topic that was coming, replied encouragingly, "Oh, Victoria! There is still time for you to have a family."

Victoria shook her head, "Oh no, I will never be married.' She sighed deeply before continuing on, "I was almost engaged once…..but…. Elizabeth, I feel I can trust you because we've been friends for so long. I guess I can tell you what happened. I was betrayed by the man I thought was going to marry. It turned out he didn't love me at all; he only wanted my money. I now have trust issues with people I don't know very well." Victoria lowered her head in sadness, "I haven't had a happy life, Elizabeth."

Her comment sent a chill down Elizabeth's spine. Lucas stole more from Victoria than her money – he stole her zest for life and her trust in humanity.

Elizabeth was suddenly distracted by the realization that she had done the same thing with Allie! This was a new insight she would have to digest later, but this moment, she was here to help Victoria, so she put all thoughts of Allie temporarily to the back of her mind to be considered later.

Elizabeth took Victoria and embraced her in a soothing hug, "Believe me, Victoria, I know how you feel. I…"

Victoria interrupted, "Elizabeth, you sadly lost your husband, but you have already known that special kind of love that I will never know. You weren't humiliated and made to feel like a fool." She shook with tears and anger, "I feel like such a fool thinking a man like him would ever love me."

Elizabeth took Victoria by the shoulders, looked directly at her and firmly told her, "Any man who violates your trust is not worthy of you or the love you have to offer. Victoria, I do understand and you are not a fool."

"Victoria, I have to confess I have already heard your story, but not in the way you think. I have a story to tell you too."

She prayed for strength as she continued with her story. "A few years after my husband passed away, I made a very poor decision and entered a courtship with the wrong man. I did not see that he was just using me for financial gain. Your story saved me, Victoria! I came here today to share that with you."

Victoria wiped her eyes and looked very confused as she asked, "How could you know what happened? Father kept it out of the papers."

Elizabeth gently took her friend's hand and answered, "Recently, my father and Charles Kensington had cause to come to Hope Valley, where I live. They met the man I was courting. Charles recognized him as a man he had known from Hamilton and alerted our town Mountie of some deplorable things he had done in the past. I naively did not believe the report from the Mountie. With a heart of kindness for a childhood friend, Charles alerted me and shared details with me of what happened. Thankfully, I believed Charles and terminated the courtship."

Elizabeth patted Victoria's hand and said with emphasis, "Victoria, as hard as it is to believe this could happen, it was the same man who had deceived you and he was trying to do the same thing to me because he knew about the Thatcher wealth. Please understand how your story saved me!"

Victoria was stunned. She managed to stutter through her next sentence, "If y-you really know who th-this is, wh-what is his name?"

Elizabeth looked at her and in a firm voice stated, "His name is Lucas Bouchard."

Victoria gasped, turned very pale, and then fainted back into her chair.