Chapter 12
Nathan made his way toward the Queen of Hearts. He felt like he was walking on a cloud. Nathan hoped Sarah believed him when he said it was the most fun he and Allie had had in a very long time. He couldn't remember when he and Allie had laughed and teased each other so much. He truly felt light hearted. He prayed that Sarah had an equally good time.
Approaching the entrance to the saloon Nathan could hear the raucousness coming from inside the building. This was getting to be a weekly thing with so many new residents looking to blow off steam on the weekends.
With a deep breath and a prayer for patience, Nathan entered the building knowing that his red serge would make his presence known before he could take two steps inside. The first person to notice him was Lucas who made his way across the floor to address Nathan.
"Constable, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Lucas was always formal to the point that it sometimes sounded artificial. Nathan sometimes wondered what it would be like to just have a regular, unguarded conversation with the man who had won Elizabeth's heart.
"I'm just doing my regular rounds for a Saturday night Lucas. The number of complaints about the noise and fighting in the streets grows every week. There must be a way to tone down the crowd a bit."
"Well Constable, the looser they are the more they spend so the idea of "toning down the crowd" is counterproductive to the success of my business."
Nathan knew that underneath the sometimes pompous façade Lucas could be a very generous man. He'd done a lot for Hope Valley but Nathan thought in the last few months he seemed to forget he was an integral part of the community and was just focused on making as much money as he could.
"On that note Lucas I'm going to just wander around a bit making sure everyone knows there is someone paying attention to what's going on here."
Nathan made his way around the saloon. He recognized the faces of Jesse Flynn and Mike Hickam playing cards at one of the tables. Even Fiona and Faith were there playing darts. Nathan made his way over to say hello. "Nathan it's good to see you." Faith greeted Nathan enthusiastically.
"Ladies, it's good to see you. Having fun this evening?"
"Yes, though it seems to get louder and more crowded every week." Fiona threw the dart that was in her hand.
Suddenly from the other side of the room Nathan heard, before he could see, two men up out of their seats accusing each other of cheating. Fists started flying and Nathan quickly made his way over to the table. "Gentleman" he shouted. "Sit down."
Before Nathan could respond one of the men had his gun out and was waving it around above his head threatening to shoot anyone who tried to stop him.
Nathan tried to talk him out of his weapon but the man would hear none of it. As Nathan turned to move toward him he narrowed his gaze, aimed the gun and pulled the trigger. Nathan felt a hot, searing pain rip through his arm and looked to see blood seeping through the sleeve of his serge. With his other arm Nathan knocked the gun out of the hands of the shooter who seemed as shocked as anyone at what he'd done.
There was a flurry of activity as Lucas jumped in and grabbed the gun that was sliding across the floor. Faith made her way to Nathan asking everyone to stand aside and give him room to breathe. Fiona grabbed napkins and towels from the bar to give to Faith so she could put pressure on the wound. Nathan was awake and though the pain was like nothing he'd felt before he knew he could get across the street to the infirmary. Faith and Fiona helped him make his way there and once he was on the exam table Nathan used his good arm to unbutton his serge. Faith helped him remove the jacket. She had to cut off the shirt underneath to access the wound. Fortunately for Nathan the bullet had gone straight through his arm missing any major muscles or nerves. Nathan was given something for pain and to help him sleep so he would be unaware of the repair work that Faith needed to do.
Bill Avery who'd been wrapping up at the café heard the gun shot and ran to the saloon just in time to see Faith and Fiona walking Nathan to the infirmary. Bill ran into the Queen of Hearts and searched for Lucas who was, with the aid of Jesse and Mike, holding down the shooter. Bill made his way over to them and arrested the man hauling him over to the jail.
Sarah had been getting ready for bed when she heard the commotion out on the street. She'd thought she'd heard something that sounded like a gunshot but assumed it was a car back firing. She peered out the window that overlooked main street and saw Faith and Fiona walking Nathan over to the infirmary. Sarah threw on her clothes and rushed down the street entering the infirmary not knowing what she would find. Once inside she saw Fiona sitting in the waiting area and could hear Faith's voice reassuring Nathan that he would be okay. Sarah looked to Fiona "What happened?"
Fiona was surprised to see Sarah and wondered why she was there. Fiona had met Sarah briefly but knew she hadn't been in town long. "Nathan was shot in the arm by an angry drunk over at the saloon. Sarah wasn't sure what to do but she knew someone needed to go be with Allie. "Faith" Sarah tried to get the doctor's attention. Faith stepped around the privacy screen to see Sarah in the waiting area with Fiona. Sarah asked if Nathan was awake and could she talk to him. Faith told her he was in and out of sleep and that he needed to have his wound sutured. "Please ask him if he would like me to go sit with Allie." Faith spoke to Nathan and after a few moments she came out and told Sarah that he would greatly appreciate if she could do that but to please downplay his injury so as not to worry her. Faith added that Nathan would need to stay the night just to monitor him for any infection.
Sarah assured Faith that she would try not to alarm Allie and left quickly to make her way to the Grant house.
Sarah knocked on the door and heard Allie approaching the door from the other side. "Allie it's Miss Crawford, can you please let me in?"
Allie opened the door wondering why Sarah had returned. She was expecting her dad.
"Allie, there's been an incident at the saloon and your dad was slightly injured." Sarah opened her arms to Allie who held onto her and cried quiet tears. "He's going to be okay Allie, he just needs to stay the night at the infirmary so Faith can make sure his arm doesn't get infected. As long as everything goes well he'll be home tomorrow. Faith is making sure he's getting a good night's sleep."
"Thank you for coming to tell me Miss Crawford. I wonder if I should go sleep at Opal's tonight."
Sarah wasn't sure what to do. It felt too personal for her to stay there especially overnight. "Allie, I think going to your friend Opal's would be fine. If you'd like I can walk over with you and let her mother know what is going on."
Allie agreed and went upstairs to pack her overnight bag.
Sarah heard a knock at the door and went to open it. There on the doorstep were both Rosemary and the woman who Allie identified as her teacher Mrs. Thornton. Rosemary entered and immediately began asking Sarah questions. "What happened? How is Nathan? Where is he now? Will he be okay?"
Sarah did her best to answer the questions. She told the women what she'd heard from Fiona. While Rosemary looked relieved Mrs. Thornton looked pained. Sarah extended her hand to Elizabeth. "Mrs. Thornton, I'm Sarah Crawford. I am the new manager at Dottie's. It's a pleasure to see you for a second time this evening though I wish it were under better circumstances."
Elizabeth was having a hard time keeping herself in the present. So many memories were going through her head. Images of the young Mountie who'd told Elizabeth that Jack was dead, the sight of Nathan returning to town following the botched prisoner transfer more than a year ago. Rosemary could sense Elizabeth's distress and stepped into the exchange. "Elizabeth are you okay?" Rosemary asked her friend.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Elizabeth shook Sarah's hand. "It's nice to meet you. Are you sure Nathan will be okay?"
Allie's footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. "What are you doing here Mrs. Thornton?" Again, Rosemary intervened.
"Mr. Bouchard called from the saloon to let us know what had happened to your father. We wanted to check on you and make sure you are okay."
"Thank you Mrs. Coulter, I'm fine. Miss Crawford is going to take me over to Opal's to spend the night."
Elizabeth finally found her voice. "Allie, you are welcome to stay with me tonight."
"No thank you, I'll be fine at Opal's."
Elizabeth felt a pain at Allie's words and the tone she used. She knew asking Allie to stay with her went way beyond the boundaries but certainly this situation warranted such an offer.
"Sarah, how did you hear about what happened?" Rosemary was curious how she'd gotten there even before them.
"I had dinner here this evening with Allie and Nathan. Nathan walked me home before he did his rounds and went to the saloon. He said with all the new people in town it was necessary to make sure there was a Mountie presence at the saloon to help keep the peace. I was just getting ready for bed and heard the commotion from my apartment. I saw Faith and Fiona walking Nathan to the infirmary from my window so I ran over to see what was going on. I offered to come be with Allie."
"Miss Crawford, can we get going? I don't want to get to Opal's too late."
"Yes Allie, let's get going." With that Sarah and Allie directed Rosemary and Elizabeth to the door and followed them out. Within minutes Allie had been dropped off at Opal's and Sarah was heading home walking part of the way with Rosemary and Elizabeth back to their houses.
Rosemary and Elizabeth entered Elizabeth's house and Lee, who'd been sitting with Jack, returned home. "Elizabeth, I'm going to make some tea, would you like to talk?"
"Oh Rosemary, I don't know what to think. When I heard that Nathan had been shot I was so afraid. I'm so thankful that he's okay but I must say I feel a little lost that I'm not able to help Allie or let Nathan know that I'm worried about him."
"Elizabeth, please don't take this the wrong way, but it's no longer your place to do either of those things. You can certainly worry about Nathan, you can pray for him and for Allie, but you are no longer in a position to make your presence known to them. I would suggest if you want to do anything you can leave a note for Nathan and Allie and just let them know you are thinking of them and keeping them in your prayers."
It was obvious that Elizabeth was struggling with the truth Rosemary was sharing with her. She knew her friend was right but after caring so deeply for Nathan these last few years she was battling her desire to make her way to the infirmary to sit with him and make sure he was okay. Thankful that Rosemary was there to sit with her Elizabeth said a silent prayer that Nathan would be okay and Allie wouldn't worry.
Sarah arrived back home but only after stopping again at the infirmary to check on Nathan. Fiona had gone home but Faith was there monitoring Nathan's vital signs. "How is he?" she asked quietly not wanting to wake him.
"He's sleeping peacefully and I've given him something for the pain. He'll be in a sling for a while but the wound should heal nicely as long as no infection sets in."
"Thank you Faith for letting me know. When Nathan wakes up please let him know Allie is okay and is spending the night at Opal's."
Faith thanked her and assured her that knowing that will give Nathan some much needed peace of mind.
Exhausted, Sarah lay in bed thinking of all that had happened this evening. She had to admit how frightened she'd been for Nathan and was thankful he was going to be fine. She'd found Mrs. Thornton's reaction a bit strange. Of course she and Rosemary were concerned for Nathan. Certainly they were all friends but something just seemed off about Mrs. Thornton's behavior. Too exhausted to give it anymore thought Sarah fell into a fitful sleep.