Chapter 21 A Discovery from the Air

Lucas began maneuvering the balloon in the general direction of the town. They made their way past tree-covered hills and at one point Lucas handed Elizabeth the binoculars, "straight up there is the ridge I told you about. The one I rode to last fall just before we were engaged. I would love for us to ride up some time and camp. There is only a short distance that is a bit difficult, but I am confident that I can make the trek with Jack in front of me. We can take it slow and bring an extra horse to carry our supplies."

"It looks lovely, Lucas." Elizabeth continued to view the hills and at one point saw an area lower in the hills with stone buildings that were mostly obscured by overgrowth. "Lucas, take a look over there, can you get any closer?" Lucas looked and could see the area that Elizabeth was pointing to. He let the balloon drift in that direction but still stayed a safe distance away.

"It looks to me that a large area was once cleared but has become overgrown with the scourge of the area, blackberry vines. Look at that side, there is a large orchard that is unkept, but you can still make out the rows of trees. And I can make out a stone house and a couple of other structures. The house is quite overrun with vines," Lucas commented.

"I remember years ago, there was a family that lived out this way. They all moved to California a few years ago I believe."

"Maybe Bill Avery knows something about it; I will certainly ask him when we get back to town. It seems that the road to get to the property must branch from the one that goes to the ridge. I didn't see one when I rode up there, but it may be overgrown like the property. Once we talk to Bill, it might be a fun adventure to go take a look. I think we will do that without Jack though, at least until we have a chance to inspect the area."

"Oh my, a new adventure. Life with you is never dull."

"As I intend my sweet." And with that, he turned her against his chest and enfolded her in his arms while maneuvering them back home.

The breeze drifted them away from the church, which was their target, but they ended up safely landing in one of Mr. Henderson's pastures. The balloon men arrived in their little truck almost at the same time.

"So how was it, Miss?" Asked Mr. Hennessy.

"It was glorious. And my dear husband as it turns out is an excellent pilot although we did have a little bump at the end there." She smiled up at Lucas.

"Did you have to mention that my dear? You will tarnish my impeccable reputation."

"Never you mind, Lucas. We all have some bumps along the way," said Mr. Hennessy.

They headed home to rest for a while before dinner. They had decided that since they would be away all afternoon, they would pick up Jack and the Coulters and they would leave Sunday dinner to Gustave at the Queen. While they were being seated, Lucas noticed that Bill and Molly had just come in behind them. He motioned for the maître de to have them join their group. Bill and Molly had a companionable friendship but there was always an undercurrent that made one wonder if a romance could blossom.

Lucas stood to shake Bill's hand and then helped Molly to her seat. "Lucas," Molly said, "I hear you and Elizabeth went up in the balloon. A man of many talents…..." He tended to blush when attention was placed on him, but these were friends now and he did his best to take the tease like a champ. Lucas smiled at her, "well this one doesn't come in handy very often."

"Bill, if you are available tomorrow around noon, I would like to speak with you about something that Elizabeth and I saw from the balloon. Nothing troublesome, just curious about some buildings."

"I think I will be helping at the café during lunch tomorrow, Joseph has some business away and Minnie can use my help. Why don't you come by there and we can have lunch while we talk?"

"I don't want to be in the way, and I will likely have Jack with me."

"Well, all the better. I always like to hear how great the food is over at the café. Best macaroni and cheese in the province. Right, Jack?"

"Sooo good. The best in all the world."

"Now that is an endorsement for the Café if I have ever heard one," Bill proclaimed.

The next morning, Elizabeth kissed her guys goodbye as she set off for work. "I can't wait to hear what you find out from Bill. Is Laura coming this afternoon?"

"Yes, we will pick her up on our way back from the Café. I can come and pick you up after school if you are willing to come to the Queen for a bit while I take care of some invoices in the office. I can have Gustave make us tea."

"It's a plan." She smiled and waved as she headed out. Lucas watched until she was out of sight. He never got tired of watching her as she walked away. He was sure that he still had that goofy look on his face as he had years ago when he was a lovesick puppy, and she had no inkling whatsoever.

"Okay, Buddy. What would you like to do until it is time to go to see Uncle Bill?" They contemplated several indoor activities, but the day was just too nice to be wasted. So, they headed to the farm to see the baby chickens that Mr Henderson had told Lucas were hatching. Jack was sure to be delighted with the fluffy little chicks and if they were lucky, they would see some pecking their way out of their shell. Lucas wasn't sure quite how to deal with the inevitable questions that his curious buddy would have, but he and Elizabeth had discussed that they should just stick with the most basic concepts without too much detail at this point. Jack was aware that he had been in his mother's "tummy" so Lucas would work with that.

As always, the Henderson's dogs came running for Jack. He was down on the ground before they even got there to lick him. He loved the pile-up. "Oh, well," thought Lucas, "we will have to go back home for a change of clothes before lunch." He sighed, but really it was just for show because deep down he loved that he could give Jack this sheer little boy joy. There would be plenty of time for being more grown-up later.

They were indeed lucky to be able to watch a couple of the new chicks work their way out of the shell. "Look Papa, the egg is broken."

"It is a baby chicken that is coming out of its egg." Lucas replied.

They watched as the haggard looking chicks emerged but as their feathers dried, they began to look like the other puffy chicks. Jack was ecstatic. Lucas knew that they had ample dinner conversation for tonight as Elizabeth would hear about every little detail of the venture.

They headed into the café, Jack in a new outfit that already had dirt on the pants from kneeling to pet a dog he had encountered outside. Lucas sighed again but Bill certainly wouldn't care. They found a spot by the window and Anna greeted them and handed Lucas a menu. "Good afternoon, Anna, would you let Bill know that we have arrived."

Bill soon emerged from the kitchen, "I can break now; I have prepared braised beef for sandwiches would you like to join me?" Lucas nodded and Bill said to Anna, "we will have two of the beef sandwiches and an order of macaroni and cheese for my good little man here. He will also have a glass of the grape juice that we special ordered. And tea for Mr Bouchard and me.

"So, what are you so curious about?" asked Bill.

"We saw what looked to be a large stone house and a couple of other stone buildings that had become overgrown with vines. There was a large orchard that hadn't been maintained but was quite discernable. It was in the lower foothills below the ridge that I went to last Fall if you remember…."

"Oh, you must mean the old Pellegrino place. Mr P joined his sons in California's Napa Valley several years ago after his wife died suddenly. He has two sons and several grandchildren there. They left it for sale, but no one has ever been interested. Most folks come here for the timber or oil business. The orchards take special care and grapes don't grow in this province except in that one area of the valley. Mr Pellegrino was from a similar terrain in Italy and was a skilled winemaker and provided HV with fruit juice and ciders that we now must import."

"Very interesting. Bill, this is between just you and me right now, well and Elizabeth of course, but I may be interested in that property. You know that I was born in Montreal of French descent, well, I still have family in Eastern France near Switzerland. They own a winery there; it is quite exclusive, and I have several cousins in the business. Coincidently, one of them has just written me and invited us to visit while we are in France this summer."

"So, what are you saying, Lucas?"

"I don't quite know yet, but this is too much of a coincidence to let it go without some thought. I am looking for another venture as I wind down my role in the oil business and get others to run the saloon. I haven't had time to really contemplate yet, and Elizabeth and I need to discuss it, but I think this is a sign. A Bouchard owning a winery here in Canada, it would be coming full circle back to my roots."

"Well, that does sound like something to consider. Not that anyone is going to suddenly be interested but would you like to have rights of first refusal?"

"Yes, let me speak to Elizabeth and I will get back to you very soon. Thank you, Bill. This could be a dream come true; one that I didn't know I had."

That evening, Jack indeed had the floor with his tale of their adventure to the farm and how the chicks escaped from the eggs to become puffy little balls. And of course, he told her about the dogs and getting dirty, so Papa had to change him. And how they gone to have lunch with Uncle Bill… and … and…. There was just so much to fill a little boy's day. Elizabeth listened attentively and oohed and aahed in all the right spots. They cleared and washed the dinner dishes while Jack got out some toys and played in the living room.

"Elizabeth, we need to talk about what we saw from the balloon. You know that I received an invitation from Antoine to visit the Bouchard estates when we are in France. Well, I don't know if I believe in signs, but if I did, this would be one. Bill says the orchard/winery we saw has been for sale since a Mr. Pellegrino left to be with his sons in Napa Valley California. You know that I am searching for my passion in business, and Elizabeth I think this could be it. If we were to purchase the property and restore it, it would be like going back to my roots. I won't speak to anyone including my family in France, except for Bill of course, until we have decided whether to pursue this."

"I like the light I see in your eyes when you speak of this. I know you are one for history and the chance to bring your family's legacy here to Hope Valley is one that needs all the consideration we can give it. I say we explore this with the idea that we are both very interested and see where it takes us."

"Thank you, Elizabeth, for knowing me so well and for supporting me as you do."
"That is what I am here for, to be your other half. You have been all about my dreams and supporting me, I want to be that for you as well."

"I love you, Elizabeth Bouchard." And he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms tightly around her as she leaned against his chest.

"And I love you, Lucas Bouchard. Go ahead and tell Bill that we are very interested and let's take a ride up there on Friday. We have a four-day weekend for St Patrick's Day. Rosie will be happy to take Jack on Friday since that is her "stand-by Mommie" day."

He stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes," I adore you; you know that don't you?"

"Yes. And you never let me forget." And she lifted her hand to his cheek and leaned in for a gentle kiss on the lips. And then sighed as she once again rested her head against his chest.