Hopeful Hearts - Chapter 1

Lucas's words echoed in Elizabeth's ears, "I don't want you to worry but I think you should know what is going on." Struggling not to let panic set in, Elizabeth looked on as Lucas fought to say his next words, "Wyman Walden is back."

With every step on his way to Elizabeth's house, worry settled in Lucas's heart. He had no idea how this conversation would end but he knew it was time. He had to tell Elizabeth everything.

"Why is he back now?"

"I have a fair hunch but I need to explain some things to you first," Lucas replied. Elizabeth raised her eyebrow expectantly for him to continue.

"Remember when I returned last year after I had been to Grand Isle, Louisiana helping my friends rebuild after the hurricane?" Elizabeth nodded her head.

"During that time I reconnected with my friend we've talked about, Janette Aucoin, from New Orleans. Amidst catching up on each other's lives she also shared Treasury information with me, wanting my insight regarding some gambling rings and other shady business dealings happening in Louisiana. After I returned to Hope Valley we stayed in touch and I continued to be a sounding board on some of her Treasury work.

Elizabeth, just after you and I started courting, I shared with Janette I had almost sold the saloon to Wyman Walden. Janette was surprised to hear Walden's name and then she told me that he was one of the primary shady New Orleans businessmen the Treasury was after. I told her he had been chased out of Hope Valley after his schemes with Jesse and Clara and other townspeople and didn't know when he might return. The work at the foundry seemed to be on hold during the winter months but I agreed to contact her once Walden showed back up in Hope Valley."

Elizabeth sat down on the settee trying to process everything Lucas was sharing.

"Walden returned to Hope Valley the day of your book release. I've been trying to get close to Walden to remove him from Hope Valley for good."

"Is that how you got your black eye?"

"I got my black eye because I refused to continue working with Walden."

"You were working with him?"

"I was trying to let him run a grift on me, a swindle, so I could beat him at his own game."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because these kinds of people think they can do whatever they want. I contacted Janette and we planned to operate a sting with Walden here in Hope Valley so she would have enough evidence to capture him and build a solid case against him."

"Ok, hold on a minute, Lucas, something isn't adding up. Why would Janette be discussing her Treasury work with you in the first place? What aren't you telling me?"

"Elizabeth, there is still more I need to tell you," Lucas sighed.

A knock sounded at the door interrupting them. Elizabeth couldn't imagine who could be at her door right now. Little Jack was next door with Rosemary. Elizabeth quickly opened the door, hoping to move whoever was there along so she and Lucas could get back to their conversation, only to find Bill and Nathan standing there.

"Bill, what are you doing here?" Lucas had come to stand at Elizabeth's side when she greeted her visitors.

"Ask Lucas, he's the one who asked us to come," replied Bill, raising questioning eyes in Lucas's direction.

"Thank you both for coming on such short notice."

"Well, we are here now. Want to tell us what is going on, Lucas?" Nathan asked.

Lucas motioned for all of them to follow him into the kitchen and they took a seat at the table. "After some new developments this morning, I felt it was past time I explained to Elizabeth what has been going on with Walden."

Bill asked, "Why the sudden change of heart now, Lucas? What's changed?"

Elizabeth gave Lucas one of her teacher's 'I'm not pleased you've been keeping things from me' looks.

"Walden is back and he's trying to muscle me into selling the Queen of Hearts."

"I thought he gave up on that," Nathan stated.

"When I saw him in the saloon a few months ago, Walden even said he wasn't interested in buying the saloon," Elizabeth responded. "Although he did say at the time that he admired your business instincts. Now I know why," she sighed.

"Lucas, what's changed?" Bill asked again.

"I'm sure Walden is not happy I backed out of business dealings with him again so he's out to hurt me the best way he…"

"Why did you back out?" Bill interrupted. "After you connected with Nathan and me back in the Spring and told us about your work with your friend in the Treasury to trap Walden, you asked us to help you to keep the town safe. Why would you back out?"

"Lucas, what is Bill talking about? Why would you be concerned about the town's safety?"

"Sorry, Bill, I had just started to lay all this out to Elizabeth when you showed up. Please, if you will allow me to catch her up."

Lucas rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger trying to relieve the headache that was settling there. "Elizabeth, the night I got my black eye, one of Walden's goons jumped me right outside of your house…"

"Outside of my house?!... Lucas!"

"I know… I know, Elizabeth. The next morning I was in town with Jack talking to Henry at the Mercantile and saw that Bill and Nathan had confronted Walden again out in the street and the conversation looked tense. I wanted to leverage that moment so I asked Henry to watch little Jack inside the Mercantile and I confronted Walden and his guard dog. I told them if they wanted to send me some kind of message to try and intimidate me I was fine with that. But I warned them not to go anywhere near you or Jack."

"Lucas,..." Elizabeth's eyes were wide and she was beginning to let the worry creep in.

"I really thought you were being over the top when you suggested we have a code phrase to single to me if there were any issues with the Pinkertons, Lucas. But I was grateful that day we had discussed it. I knew after you told me 'everything is aces' we'd be talking as soon as you could get away."

Trying to distract Elizabeth from the worry he could see beginning to settle on her face, Bill faked a dry cough and asked, "Elizabeth, I hate to ask, but would you mind getting me a glass of water?"

"Sure, Bill. Let me grab a pitcher of water and a few glasses for all of us."

Lucas replied to Nathan, "Yes, well it's good to know you had my back then and now. Although I really could have used you this morning when Walden and his number one Pinkerton guard dog, Spurlock, barged into my office threatening me into selling him the Queen of Hearts."

The sound of breaking glass sounded behind Lucas. All three men jumped to their feet. As he turned Lucas saw Elizabeth's frightened and ashen face.

"Spur… Spur - lock…" she stammered. Lucas dashed forward to catch her before she crashed to the floor.