By the end of the week the full scale of Lucas's troubles were well known in town. The reaction from people was mixed. Many felt sorry for Lucas. People like Mike Hickam and Mayor Fiona Miller spoke in support of him telling detractors that he'd done the best he could with the oil business given his complete lack of knowledge when he'd taken over. Nathan wasn't so generous when it came to Lucas but he understood that many only knew him as the man who donated the library building, opened the saloon up for public events, or threw the Christmas festival. Nathan could respect that. They hadn't had the personal struggles that he and Lucas had experienced over the years revolving around Elizabeth. The more he thought about it Nathan was again reminded of Pastor Joseph's sermon, now many months past, about forgiveness. Forgiving Lucas had never crossed his mind. He just figured the two of them would always be at odds. They'd had brief moments of mutual respect but it never seemed enough to erase all the negative tension between the two. Nathan was going to have to think long and hard about it.
The saloon was still closed and Lucas was still laying low. James Stafford had become a fixture at the café whether eating or working. He'd commandeered the corner table and could be found there most days saying the saloon was dark and empty and not where he wanted to spend his days. Nathan and Steven sat with him on occasion and got to know him better. He was an accountant but also had a law degree. Nathan asked him if it was a depressing job watching people lose everything they've worked for all their lives. James explained it from a different perspective. "I start working with people when they are at their lowest. If I do my job well they are able to salvage some part of their former life, get out of debt and start fresh." Nathan hadn't thought of it that way and wondered if Lucas would come out of this with a fresh start. He also wondered if Lucas wouldn't leave Hope Valley as soon as he'd resolved his financial issues.
"Lucas hasn't been seen out much lately. How is he handling this?" Nathan asked.
James told them that Lucas was going through everything to be sold at auction the following Tuesday. Nathan and Steven asked what would be on the auction block. Most of the items were from Henry's office at Gowen Petroleum and many of the items from Lucas's saloon office which was filled with memorabilia from his many travels. The library building, Gowen Petroleum building and Lucas's car were being sold by a silent bid auction where private bids were being accepted and would be opened and awarded following the live auction.
James' knew the live auction wouldn't produce enough funds to pay off much of the debt but combined with the real estate and auto it was expected to be enough to pay off Lucas's debts and allow him to still keep the saloon. Nathan thought it would be the ultimate embarrassment to have your possessions sold off to the highest bidder.
Later that afternoon Nathan was going over some reports pertaining to an investigation he was overseeing and Steven was out on rounds when Sarah came into the office with her arms laden with pink and blue party decorations. "Nathan, I have a huge favor to ask you."
Nathan came around the front of his desk and leaned against it with an amused look on his face. "What is all this stuff?"
"It's for the baby shower tomorrow. I need to get it all to Elizabeth's and there's so much I don't think I can carry it all there. Would you mind riding out on Newton and dropping it off at her house?" Sarah was out of breath just trying to carry it all from the mercantile.
The last thing Nathan wanted to do was drop anything off at Elizabeth's but looking at Sarah's pleading eyes he couldn't say no. "Okay, how can I say no to you?" Nathan started looking through everything Sarah had brought with her. "Do you really need this much stuff for a baby shower?" He couldn't imagine what it was all for but then he remembered the elaborate bachelorette parties the women would throw compared to the men's bachelor parties which were nothing more than drinking beer and playing cards. "What do you do at a baby shower?"
"We celebrate the mother to be, or in this case the mothers to be. We play some games, we eat and Clara and Rosemary will open presents. We "shower" the new mothers with attention and gifts." Sarah was trying to separate the pile so Nathan didn't have as much to carry but he stopped her and said he and Steven would take it all and drop it off.
"Well, if you're willing to do that I would greatly appreciate it." Sarah reached up and gave Nathan a kiss.
"Well, that makes it worth it." He smiled at her. "I promise to deliver it all and not forget anything."
Sarah was on her way out when Steven was coming in. "Constable, how are you today?"
"Miss Crawford, when are you going to start calling me Steven?" he inquired.
"When you begin to call me Sarah" she smiled.
Once Sarah was out the door Steven remarked to Nathan. "You are a lucky man." Nathan couldn't help but agree.
Nathan looked at the time and told Steven he had an errand to run. Walking over to Lee's office he wasn't sure if his idea was crazy or logical. He was thankful Rosemary wasn't there when he arrived. "Lee, I need your advice." Lee invited him to sit down and listened as Nathan asked what he thought about him bidding on Lucas's car which was being auctioned on Tuesday. "I can't expect Sarah to ride a horse back and forth between the house and work every day, especially in the winter or if it's raining. What do you think?" Lee told him it sounded like a good idea so wondered what was holding him back. Nathan spun his hat around in his hands a few times before finally admitting "I don't know how to drive." Lee told him that wasn't a problem. He'd be happy to teach him and suggested they go for a driving lesson Saturday afternoon while the ladies were having their baby shower. "That would be great, but please don't say a word to Rosemary, Sarah, or Allie just in case it doesn't work out." Lee assured him he would say nothing.
Back at the Mountie office Nathan convinced Steven that he should help him transport all the baby shower decorations Sarah had left in his care to Elizabeth's house. "Since when is this Mountie business?" Steven asked.
"Since my lovely fiancée asked me to do it." Nathan told him. Between the two of them they were able to fit most of it into their saddle bags. They headed out knowing school was almost dismissed for the day and Nathan wanted to catch Allie on her way home. While Nathan chatted with Allie in the schoolyard he sent Steven to tell Elizabeth they needed to drop off the decorations at her house. Elizabeth let him know that Robert was there with Little Jack and they could leave it with him.
Knocking on the door of Elizabeth's house they heard little footsteps running across the floor. Robert opened the door and Little Jack was standing there with a big smile on his face and shouted 'Nafan' when he saw Nathan. "Hey little buddy, how are you? Nathan put everything down and lifted Jack up tossing him in the air. Little Jack's laughs were infectious and pretty soon they were all laughing along with him. "Hi Robert, we're just dropping these things off for the baby shower tomorrow." Robert told them they could put it on Mrs. Thornton's desk. As they walked through Elizabeth's house Steven saw a table that held several pictures of her and, he assumed, Jack Thornton. The picture that stood out though was one of Nathan and Elizabeth at what looked like a wedding. Steven didn't say anything until they left the house.
"Nathan, excuse me if I'm stepping into an area I don't belong but I couldn't help but notice Mrs. Thornton has a picture of the two of you on display in her house." Steven watched the shadow that cast across Nathan's face.
"That was from Clara and Jesse Flynn's wedding. We were better friends back then." Nathan couldn't believe Elizabeth still had it or that she had it on display in her home. He said nothing more to Steven who got the silent hint not to ask about it again. After dinner that evening Nathan took a walk up to Elizabeth's. When she opened the door and saw Nathan she drew in a deep breath. His presence on her doorstep was a surprise and she invited him in. For the first time, Nathan declined her invitation. "Elizabeth, when we were here this afternoon Steven noticed you had the picture of us from Jesse and Clara's wedding on your table. I am asking you to please not let Sarah see it. That picture is from a long time ago and was taken under very different circumstances. I don't know why you still have it but please, out of respect for Sarah's feelings, either get rid of it or at least put it some place she won't see it." Elizabeth apologized to Nathan and tried to blame it on Little Jack saying he missed Nathan and liked seeing his picture. Nathan shook his head. "Elizabeth, I can't tell you what to do with it but I'm asking that you not let Sarah, or Allie for that matter, see it." With that Nathan turned around and walked away. Elizabeth watched him from the doorway knowing he was right but struggling with his request anyway.
Sarah stopped by the Grants Saturday afternoon to pick up Allie for the baby shower. She was going to help decorate and then keep an eye on Little Jack during the party. After he saw her at the café he'd not stopped talking about her and Elizabeth took a chance that maybe Allie would be willing to watch him. They got to Elizabeth's an hour before the shower to decorate. Sarah had only been in Elizabeth's house once but it was obvious that Allie was much more familiar with it and not just because it was the same floorplan as her own house. As expected, Little Jack followed Allie everywhere. Sarah knew Allie's history with Elizabeth and that they'd been very close at one point but also Allie had struggled with her anger toward Elizabeth as a result of the situation between her and Nathan. Allie seemed to have gotten past the worst of it and their relationship seemed to be on much steadier ground.
Sarah was hanging some decorations and stepping back she turned and saw Elizabeth, Allie and Little Jack all together laughing and getting ready for the party. Without warning, the image of the three of them plus Nathan entered her head and it struck her that, not all that long ago, this was the life Nathan had dreamed of for himself and Allie. The thought came on so suddenly and was so overwhelming that she had to step out on the back porch to regain her composure. What was she thinking? Had Nathan really given up his hope for this idyllic family he'd been imagining for much longer than he'd even known her? Nathan had repeatedly told her how much he loved her so why did she still have this nagging doubt? Sarah became aware of the cracking sound of an axe hitting wood far off in the distance. She turned to her left and could see the outline of Nathan in his backyard chopping firewood. She didn't know how long she stood there watching him as her emotions continued to spiral out of control. Sarah wasn't used to feeling this way. She always prided herself on her even disposition. Even after calling things off with Tom and then losing her father, she seldom let her emotions overtake her. She heard the door open and spun around seeing Allie in the doorway. "Miss Sarah, are you okay?"
Sarah took a moment to gather herself. "I'm fine Allie. I was just feeling a bit warm and needed some fresh air before the party starts."
Allie didn't look convinced. She put her arms around Sarah's waist and looked up at her. "I just want you to know I think it's really nice of you to let Mrs. Thornton help you with the party." Sarah put her arm around Allie.
Sarah took a deep breath to quiet her nerves. "Thank you for saying that Allie."
There was no time to dwell on it now. Rosemary and Clara arrived first and took their seats of honor. Soon the house was full of laughter as games were played and Minnie's delicious treats were eaten. As Clara and Rosemary took turns opening the overflowing pile of gifts the sound of oohs and ahs filled the house. The atmosphere was one of excited anticipation knowing that very soon there would be two new babies joining the Hope Valley family. Sarah tried to enjoy the festivities but in the back of her mind the nagging doubt was growing. She looked across the room and saw Allie holding Little Jack with Elizabeth not far away from them. Her mind kept inserting Nathan into the picture. Sarah felt a hand touch her arm and saw that Anna was trying to get her attention. "Sarah, are you okay?"
"Of course, why do you ask?" Sarah looked at her quizzically.
"Because you're crying." Anna said.
Sarah quickly turned away from the crowd wiping her eyes hoping no one else had seen her. She hadn't even felt the tears fall. Sarah steadied herself and tried to busy herself with cleaning up the leftover food. She looked for anything to keep her busy. She berated herself for her doubts. She knew Nathan loved her. He did. It was obvious whenever they were together. Other people commented on it. Why was she feeling this way? She knew why. As nice and cordial as she and Elizabeth had been to each other under the premise of becoming friends, Sarah knew that Elizabeth still loved Nathan and she didn't trust her to give up on him. She also knew how strong Nathan's feelings for Elizabeth had been. As confident as Sarah was in other aspects of her life she allowed herself to think that she could never live up to what Elizabeth had meant to Nathan or that Nathan would ever love her with the intensity he did Elizabeth.
Sarah couldn't wait for the shower to end. She held herself together and put a smile on her face long enough to say goodbye to everyone and help clean up. As soon as she could she left and went home telling Allie she wasn't feeling well. Allie knew something was wrong but wasn't sure what it was.