Chapter 8 - What's In A Name
"Forgive me, but I'm still a bit stunned that a little town like Hope Valley is so industrious."
Mike Hickam nearly stumbled over a rock as he walked beside Fiona and Ellie. His eyes were glued to this new woman, studying her every expression just as thoroughly as Ellie Bancroft studied the activity surrounding the oil well. She held her extravagant hat in place with one delicate hand as her head tilted to observe the towering wooden framework surrounding the operation.
"Is it really so surprising?" asked Fiona without missing a beat. When her two walking companions looked in her direction, Fiona reiterated. "Actually, I shouldn't say that. It's been kind of all over the place - the whole Hope Valley oil industry."
Ellie raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? How so?"
"Well...at first there was a big push to drill for oil a few years ago -" Fiona explained, looking to Mike to back her up.
"T-that was when Henry Gowen was in charge," he added.
"Yes," mused Ellie. "I remember now. I've heard a lot about Mr. Gowen from Fiona. He was the driving force behind this whole enterprise before turning it over to you."
"But, it wasn't smooth sailing," said Fiona. "I'm sorry - this is a lot of information to throw at you."
Ellie reached out a hand and placed it lightly on Fiona's shoulder. "Oh, no. Please. A businesswoman like me hasn't reached where she is by not listening to how things have come to be. I actually find it very impressive that such a small place like Hope Valley has a rich history, especially when it comes to industry. Not only is there oil, but there's also a robust lumber business. Not to mention a newspaper."
Fiona clasped her hands together as they continued to walk along the work site. Men were digging with shovels off to the side, while another group checked on some heavy machinery.
"Needless to say," said Fiona, "we are up and coming."
"As evidenced by all the shady folks trying to work their way into your little community." Ellie's questioning stare was directed at both of them. They came to a stop near the beginning of the roadway leading into town.
Mike, doing his best to be firm and impressive, folded his arms. He took a breath.
"That's why I was so...intent...on meeting with you, Miss Bancroft. To say that there have been some shady folks making their way into Hope Valley, as you put it, is correct. There was one man who tried to buy the barber shop right out from under Fiona's feet."
Fiona watched as Mike took the lead in the conversation. Just the way that he closed his eyes as he finished speaking about the unsavory businessman who nearly ruined not only Fiona's livelihood, but also Clara and Jesse's entire life savings, touched Fiona's heart. Mike paused, pressing his lips together. He shook his head and continued.
"That sort of business doesn't sit well with me. Not at all. So, I thought that the best way to stop everything from being bought out from under us is to get our own investors involved. People that we trust, who are on the same page as we are."
A smile tugged at Ellie's lips.
"And you thought that I'd be a good fit?"
Mike looked at Fiona, giving her that timid smile that she had come to know so well.
"If you're good enough for Fiona, then you're more than good enough for me," he said. "It just comes down to you. Are you impressed with us?"
A breeze swept through the area, tugging at the trees that surrounded the work site. Wisps of Ellie's chestnut hair pulled free from her hat and played against her face as she gave the area one last look before moving on.
"I have to say that I'm actually quite impressed," she said, taking the lead back down the dirt roadway into town. Their shoes crunched on the dirt. "I'm impressed not just with your operation, but also with your community. That's the one thing that most business enterprises fail to realize. A good community helps any business go a long way, and it seems to me like Hope Valley is perfect in that regard."
"Well...maybe not perfect," said Fiona with a chuckle. "But, close to perfect. There's a reason that I chose to settle down here."
Mike's eyes darted to her after she said that, remaining for just a brief moment before his smile grew and he looked away.
There was a prolonged moment of silence between them all as they walked. Fiona was wondering what else they could talk about during the long walk back to town, but she didn't have to wonder for long. Straightening up once again, Mike took the lead.
"So, Miss Bancroft," he said. "You've heard all about us. What about you? What's your story?"
Ellie brightened at the sudden spotlight.
"That's a pretty good question," she started. "What's my story? Hmm… Well. First of all, you can call me Ellie. 'Miss Bancroft' sounds so official and stuffy. I appreciate the formality - truly. But, nobody calls me that. Even my associates. I like the personal feeling of being called Ellie. It keeps me from forgetting where I came from. What I have to prove."
"What you have to prove?" Fiona raised an eyebrow. "I've known you for years, Ellie. What's all this about needing to prove anything?"
"I don't talk about it too often," Ellie explained. "It's actually a funny story. At least, I think it is."
She paused, staring off in the distance.
"Well?" Fiona prodded. "Don't leave us waiting in suspense. Tell us about it! You know you can trust me."
"After all that we've been through? I have no doubt." She took in a deep breath, exhaled it, then started. "Alright. I suppose I can let you both in on this part of my life. It goes all the way back to my childhood, if you can believe it. Before I was even born. My father wanted a boy. He was adamant that he was going to have a son. He was so set on having a boy that he already had a name picked out." She smirked at Fiona.
"That sounds like one very determined father," Fiona said. "What name did he have picked out?"
Ellie's eyes flicked down to the roadway, her lashes fluttering.
"Eli," she said. "A good, strong, Biblical name. 'My son Eli is going to be a great businessman like his father,' he always said. Sadly for him, instead of a son, he got me. Needless to say, he couldn't name me Eli, so my mother compromised with him and called me Ellie. I may not have become a businessman, but I think he's pretty proud of the businesswoman I've turned out to be."
Fiona clapped her hands together. "And if he isn't, then he should be! You've accomplished so much."
"I'm not done yet. There's still a lot to do."
They came to a corner in the dirt road where a few tiny footpaths all converged. Sunlight dappled the tall grass and illuminated the foliage overhead. Halfway back to town.
Fiona and Mike kept shooting each other anxious glances. What did Ellie mean, that there was still a lot to do? Was that a code for saying that she wanted to invest in their town? In their business venture? Or was she referring to things in general?
A stab of anxiety flooded through Fiona as she had the terrible thought that maybe Ellie was thinking that the oil business had a lot more to do before she was willing to invest. Could that be it? They had already put their best foot forward. Even so, there was always the possibility that their best foot wasn't good enough.
The tension was killing her. Fiona motioned to Mike with her eyebrows. Say something!
"Uh…" Mike started, taking the hint immediately. "Does that mean...that you've decided to work with us?"
The pause was excruciating.
Please say yes, Fiona thought. Please.
Ellie brought a hand to her lips, mulling it over. Then she smiled at them both.
"Look at me, keeping you two in suspense. Of course I want to work with you! I'm more than impressed with everything I've seen so far."
Their joy must have been completely obvious because all the tension was released and laughter replaced it. Mike reached out a hand to shake Ellie's, perhaps a bit too enthusiastic, though Fiona didn't comment on it. Instead she enjoyed watching how animated the man became at the sudden success.
"You don't know what this means to us, Ellie," he said. "I know that you won't be disappointed!"
Ellie humored Mike and shook his hand as long as he wanted, though eventually Mike realized that he was holding on too long and he stepped back with a chuckle.
"I fully intend to sign on the dotted line," Ellie explained. "But, before I do, I still have to meet with the other half of your company. I believe there's a mister Lucas Bouchard that I have yet to speak with."
"Yes, of course," said Fiona. "Lucas is co-owner with us. Well...with Mike. I'm assisting, but you already know that."
Ellie gave Fiona a devious look.
"Is this Mister Bouchard going to give me a hard time?"
"Absolutely not!" Mike practically wheezed. "To be honest, he's more of a businessman than me. Lucas has all the experience. I'm sure that I have a lot to learn from him yet."
Fiona nodded. "And when do I meet him?"
Without warning something small and incredibly energetic came dashing out of one of the footpaths that converged, zipping around in front of the group. Fiona gasped, and Ellie barely had a second to stop before the little boy made it to the other side without being trodden on.
Within seconds two more figures came racing out the end of the path.
"Jack, not so fast! You - oh my goodness…"
Elizabeth Thornton came to a stop beside the group, brushing her hair out of her face. To Fiona's surprise, Lucas was right behind her.
"Speak of the devil," Fiona said, hands clasped together.
"Fiona!" Elizabeth muttered, a bit flustered but still her normal cheery self. "Mike! I'm so sorry, I was chasing after Little Jack."
Jack came to a stop behind Fiona where he hid himself, giggling. Clutched in his arms was a stuffed animal.
"Don't worry, Elizabeth," Fiona said. "We wouldn't let anything happen to Little Jack. Has he been eating candy? Because he sure runs a mile a minute!"
"Do cinnamon apples count?" Elizabeth replied with a shake of her head. "I'm sorry. Here you are with a guest, and I'm interrupting your walk."
Fiona noted how Elizabeth turned to Lucas in that way that all partners consulted with each other wordlessly. Glances. A touch of the arm. Letting each other know that they are there for one another, no matter what.
"It's not a problem," Fiona reassured her. "In fact, this is pretty good timing. We were just talking about Lucas a minute ago."
"Were you?" Lucas blinked and tilted his head back in his signature appraising way. "I wasn't aware that I had any appointments this afternoon. Perhaps I misread my schedule -"
Fiona waved a dismissive hand.
"You didn't misread anything. We all knew that you were booked for the afternoon. This is very informal, but I suppose I should introduce Miss Ellie Bancroft. She's an investor interested in funding our pipeline."
"Ah." Without missing a beat, Lucas reached out to shake Ellie's hand. His handshake was briefer than Mike's had been. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bancroft."
"It's just Ellie," she said. "And the pleasure is all mine, I assure you."
Lucas turned and motioned to Elizabeth. "This is Elizabeth Thornton, our resident school teacher and librarian. Also a newly published author in her own right. And you've already met Little Jack."
Ellie crouched down to get on Little Jack's level. "We have. And what a handsome young man he is. What have you got there, Jack? Is that a dog in your arms?"
Jack laughed and held out the stuffed animal to show everyone.
"Puddy!" he proclaimed.
"And he's learning his words!" Ellie stood back up. "I think you will have another writer on your hands in no time, Miss Thornton."
Elizabeth was all smiles at that suggestion. "We'll see," she said.
"So, Lucas," Fiona took the lead. "What are you doing this evening? We all plan on having dinner to continue our discussions."
"At the saloon, no doubt?" Lucas gave a short chuckle. "Are you asking me if I'll already be there?"
"You usually are. So, what do you say? Can we expect you to join us? There's still a lot to discuss. Today is just the preliminary tour."
Lucas ran a hand through his hair as he thought it over. "How many days are you planning on staying in Hope Valley, Ellie?"
"At least a week," Ellie replied. "I want to get a good feel for the town. It's part of my own process of investing. If I believe in the people, then it's a good sign. The only way to get to know the people is to spend time with them."
Lucas raised his eyebrows slightly. "I like that. And I'm pleased that you want to include me so soon in the discussions, but I have to check with Elizabeth. Were you expecting me for dinner?" He touched her arm lightly as he asked.
"Oh - no, don't worry about that," said Elizabeth. "I can eat with Rosemary."
"Are you sure?"
Just the way that he double checked was enough to make Fiona's heart swell for Elizabeth. To be truly cared for, and checked on, even for something as simple as dinner plans.
Elizabeth returned Lucas's touch. "That's very sweet, but don't worry about us, Lucas. We will be just fine at Rosemary's. You're always welcome to stop by after dinner to see us if you'd like."
Lucas grinned. "You know me well. I'd like that very much."
The affection was too much for Fiona. She clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention. "That settles it! We'll see you tonight at the saloon. Is six alright?"
Lucas nodded. "Perfect. I look forward to seeing you then. Now, if you'll excuse us…" He came around, reached down and picked up Little Jack in his arms, much to the laughing protests of the boy. Lucas slung him over his shoulder. "I've got a young man and his mother to get back into town."
They bid the three of them farewell and it wasn't long before it was just Fiona, Mike, and Ellie once more.
"Well," said Ellie. "Mister Bouchard seems like a good man to have around. The way that Jack laughed when he was picked up." She sighed. "Miss Thornton is a lucky woman."
"I'd say they're both lucky," Mike muttered, drawing all the attention to himself. At the realization he stuttered and explained, "It's just that Elizabeth almost didn't end up with Lucas."
"Oh?" Ellie fell into step with Mike. "You mean she had a choice between two men? That's very lucky. Who was the man that she turned down?"
"The constable, if you can believe it," said Fiona.
"A man in uniform?" Ellie's mouth dropped open slightly. "Do you think that you can introduce me to this man, Fiona? I do so love a man in uniform."
"Trust me," said Fiona. "I doubt you'll need me to introduce you to Nathan Grant. The man always makes himself known, whether you want him to, or not."