"But why do you have to go all the way to Edmonton? And, why now? Can't you just use the telephone? Doesn't he know we're almost a week away from our wedding?" Emily asked, walking with her fiancé down Main Street.

"Of course, he knows, Em. He's hosting our reception. But this is something that has to be handled now, in person. Look, he needs my help." Nathan replied. Emily crossed her arms and looked away.

"I need your help too," she said.

Nathan smirked. "What do you need my help for?"

Emily fumbled. "I need you here with me. We're getting married."

"And I will be with you, I promise. Just as soon as we take care of this meeting with the judge. Look Em, it's important that I go, and not just for Lucas. It's important for our future and the future of this town. It's important for our future children."

Emily turned toward him; her deep blue eyes shaded in disappointment. "How long will you be gone?"

"A day. Maybe a day and a half, tops."

She stopped in her tracks. "Nathan Archibald Grant! The town is throwing us a party two nights from now! Minnie, Molly, and Florence have worked so hard!"

"I'll be there."

"You just told me you'd be gone a day and a half!"

"Possibly. Maybe less."

"What if it's more? What if you get delayed?"

"I said, I'll be there!" he replied, reaching forward, and taking her hand. She snatched it away.

"Emily, please don't do this. If I say I'll be there, I'll be there. Nothing in this world can keep me from it. Besides, I have some surprises of my own that I have to prepare for."

Emily began to walk again. "Yes, you keep saying you have a surprise – but truthfully, nothing is as important to me as having you here with me. We are only going this way once, and, well…I want to experience it together. ALL of it."

"And we will. Sweetheart don't worry. Lucas's issue isn't going to interfere with our plans. I promise."

"It's my job to worry," Emily replied, lowering her eyes.

Nathan reached out his hand again, this time Emily took it. "I love you, you know," he said with a slight smile. " You are the most incredible woman I've ever known, you're smart and beautiful and funny and just a tad temperamental."

"Oh!" Emily said, in mock consternation.

"And I can't wait until I'm your husband and we begin our lives together as a married couple. I just need you to trust me."

Emily raised her eyes toward his. Her countenance was no happier, but her look was one of love. "I do trust you. And, I love you. Please be careful and don't let Lucas get you into anything dangerous."

"I'm just going to testify, and I'll be home before you know it," he said, stopping and taking her by the shoulders.

Emily moved in and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head upon his chest. "Ten Days," she said, squeezing him tightly.

Nathan kissed the top of her head. "Only ten more days," he smiled. "I can't wait."

"I apologize for the delay. I had to speak with the builder concerning a matter pertaining to my parents' new home. They're just about finished," Lucas said to his in-laws as he walked into his study. He reached into his desk drawer and retrieved a stack of papers he'd been working on throughout the morning, then joined his wife and her parents by the fireplace.

"You're a busy man, son, which I do understand," William replied, lifting a cup of tea to his lips that Elizabeth had brought to him just moments before. "So, I presume since we're here, you've explained our plan to my daughter."

"Yes, explained it…" Lucas took a seat across from Thatcher. "…and, explained why I'm rejecting it."

"Come again?!" Thatcher nearly choked on his tea. Leaning forward, he set the cup down on an end table. He narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean you're rejecting it? You can't mean you're just going to let the criminals take over?"

"That's not what I said."

"You might as well have! Lucas, I never even considered that you would turn your back on your country and duty and allow a criminal element to put my daughter and grandchildren in danger!"

"Sir, I…"

"I guess my trust –"

"Father! Let him speak!"

Thatcher clinched his jaw, and stared at his son in law but a soft touch from his wife's hand and a stern look of her own tempered his reaction. He took a deep breath. "Oh, alright. I suppose you have an explanation for this decision."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, go on. Out with it!" Thatcher barked.

"William!" Grace said, glaring at him. She turned to Lucas. "Lucas dear, please continue."

"Thank you, Grace," Lucas said, before taking a deep breath and leaning forward in his chair. "William, I understand your disappointment. It's not that it was a bad idea. For the company's aims, it would have likely worked very well, except for the fact that I have zero interest in being a member of Parliament, am absolutely not a politician, and I have zero interest in being an agent again."

"So, you refuse to serve your country?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that at all." Lucas picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, suddenly feeling parched. "Sir, I left the life of a SIS agent many years ago and while I understand and appreciate what the agency is attempting to accomplish, I now have a wife and family, and my priorities are with them. My focus needs to be on them, and the life Elizabeth and I are building here in Hope Valley. That said, seeing that the current situation with Bertram puts my family and this town in danger, the two worlds are by necessity intersecting. As such, I will do my duty and run for parliament…."

"But I thought you said…."

"…On my terms and according to my plans, not the agency's. I will do so without the agency's assistance and for the sole purpose of protecting my family and our town from Bertram and from Torrio - and I will succeed in eliminating Bertram from the race. After which time, I will return our life here in Hope Valley where Elizabeth and I will finish preparations for my parents' arrival and the soon arrival after that of our unborn child."

"I'm sorry, but I'm confused. You're saying you're running, but you are going to do so without SIS's help?" Thatcher asked.

"Correct."

"Exactly how do you plan on doing this. You're a relative unknown. We have the connections you need."

"You do have the connections I would need to implement the full plan of actually serving in parliament, but I am not an unknown. My recent notoriety in our national news has taken me from unknown to being a bit of a national curiosity. The phone at the Queen has not stopped ringing with reporters and others who want to tap into my story for their benefit. I even had a movie producer contact us wishing to do a documentary on my life inside organized crime. Of course, he knows nothing of my true background, but I will capitalize on that curiosity in order to ramp up my campaign quickly. I anticipate hitting the campaign trail the week after Christmas."

"What then?" William asked.

"I run in the primary, defeat Bertram – thereby eliminating him from the race. And then, with my mission being accomplished I embark upon the rest of the plan. Angus McDermott is the next likely winner and already has his base of support. I will just lose to him, and…."

"You would sabotage your own race?" Grace asked, surprised.

"There's no reason for me being in the race with Bertram gone," Lucas responded. "McDermott is a conservationist, and he is unlikely to want to bring rapid change to our community. He would never support the new route, for instance. Hope Valley would be saved, and we buy a little more time in Canada's fight against Torrio. Truthfully, with the rumblings of prohibition being overturned in our fair province, I suspect any delay at all will cause Torrio to feel it's no longer worth his while to pursue the new road."

William thought for a moment. "You came up with this 'plan' rather quickly. Are you sure it will work?"

"Of course. I have it all mapped out here," Lucas replied, handing his stack of papers to William who moved over next to his wife so that they could study them together.

"Impressive," Thatcher replied after reading a few of Lucas's notes.

Lucas glanced at Elizabeth whose lips curled up in approval. He smiled shyly, then focused again on his in-laws, ready to answer any questions they might have.

Henry Gowen scraped the bottom of his boots across the rug just inside the mayor's office, removing the slushy residue from the newly fallen snow before entering the room. Already seated inside were Ned Yost, Bill Avery, and the town's new banker, a young man from Toronto named Gerald Reed. But it wasn't until he walked a little further into the room that he noticed someone standing near the bookshelves. He squinted in recognition as the man turned around and a broad smile appeared on his face.

"Mr. Gowen?" the man said, his cheerful expression shining precisely the way it had five years prior when Henry first encountered the man after he tried to sell him a fabric brush to clean spilt mustard from off of his vest.

"Walter Johnson?" Gowen said, walking toward the young man, now in his mid-thirties.

Walter smiled as he crossed toward him, shaking Henry's hand in the middle of the room. "Mr. Gowen! It's so good to see you again! It's been a long time."

"Call me Henry, Walter. It has been awhile. What brings you this way?"

"Walter wants to open up a new business in Hope Valley," Lee chimed in. "A clothing shop."

"Is that so?" Henry asked. "Things must not have gone well in Union City."

"Well yes, and no," Johnson said, walking with Gowen toward their chairs. "The job you helped get me with Mr. Tolliver was really the cat's pajamas."

"Um….what?"

"Cat's pajamas. You know, the bee's knees. Really berries."

"He means it was good," Reed explained.

"Ah. So, what happened?"

"Mr. Tolliver went back to England," Walter replied.

"Ah."

"Yes, he had some family issues back in Somerset that caused him to close up shop. He left three months ago. Just packed up and left. I'll really miss him."

"Arnold was a good man. I'm surprised he'd leave so suddenly and not provide at least something for his employees," Henry mused.

"Oh, he did better than provide. He taught me all the tricks of his trade. It turns out that I found my niche in menswear design. I've taken the money saved from my work at Tolliver's and have purchased the little building across from the library as my home office. And, with the contacts I made over the past few years, I have lined up several investors to help me start up production line of my own for men's high-end suits and coats."

"Walter's investors have agreed to purchase the textile factory and bring it up to code," Lee said.

"Is that a fact!" Henry replied, amazed.

"Yes, sir. And Mr. Gowen, it all started with you helping me get that job in Union City. All I needed was an opportunity, and someone to believe in me, and you were that man. So, thank you."

"No thanks required, Walter. I'm just happy to see things worked out so well for you."

"I'm happy they worked out too," Walter replied. "You know, it's funny. Back then I was hoping to one day be able to afford to buy a fine coat like the one you wear. Now I'm making them!"

Henry chuckled. "So, is that why we're meeting?" he asked Lee. "To sign off on Walter's plans?"

"Yes," Lee replied. "And to get the town council's approval for fixing the factory. Getting that factory up and running again will mean a lot to our town."

"Indeed," Gowen replied. "Where do I sign?"

Henry sat down at the table applying his signature to a set of documents that Lee had brought forward. Given that those present represented a quorum, signatures from Elizabeth, Mike and Fiona- the other current council members – were unnecessary. Upon the final signature, Lee reached out his hand to shake Walter's.

"Congratulations, Mr. Johnson! You are now the newest business owner in Hope Valley," Lee said.

"Yes, congratulations, Walter!" Ned said. "Let us know if you need any help setting up. The mercantile can get you all sorts of supplies at wholesale prices."

"Thank you, Mr. Yost," Walter replied.

"It's Ned, please."

The door to the mayor's office opened just as the meeting was breaking up and Nathan stepped past Ned and Reed as they walked through the door. He caught Bill's attention just as Henry and Walter squeezed past him on the way toward the exit.

"Need to see you a minute," the Mountie said, motioning toward his friend who was finishing up with Lee.

"I'll just file these documents while you two talk," Lee said, stepping away from Bill and walking toward his file cabinets.

"We were just finishing up," Bill said. "What's up?"

"I need a favor," Nathan responded.

"Okay?"
"I need you to step in for me for the next couple of days. Lucas and I are heading to Edmonton."

"Really? What's in Edmonton?" Bill asked.

"Provencial Judiciary. He has a private hearing with the judge over his case. He's going to get his name cleared."

Bill smirked, "Well, that didn't last long. Bouchard not like his name in lights?"

Nathan chuckled. "No, it's not that at all. He needs to get his name cleared so he can run for Parliament."

"So he can what?" Lee asked, stepping away from the open cabinet drawer and joining the men.

Bill looked equally as dumbfounded. "Bouchard's running for Parliament?"

"Yes."

"Canadian Parliament?"

"Yes." Nathan replied.

"Why on earth would he want to do that?" Lee asked.

"So he can defeat Lyndon Bertram," Nathan replied. "I can't get into it all right now, but the short of it is Bertram has some plans that would change the landscape in Hope Valley forever. Lucas intends on stopping him."

"Change the landscape? If something affects the town, shouldn't the mayor know?" Lee responded.

"Now, Lee. If Nathan isn't at liberty to say, we need to respect that." Bill said. "We just need to drop it. Besides, I'm sure Bouchard will get around to explaining it soon. In the meantime, I'd be happy to fill in for you, Nathan."

"Why thank you, Bill."

"Don't mention it it." Bill smiled, placing his hand on Nathan's shoulder. He began leading him toward the door. "In fact, let's just head over to the jail right now and you can fill me in on more of your caseload."

"My case…?"

"Yeah, you know. You know that guy from Millersville that was heading this way.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Bill," Lee said. "I'm the mayor. I'm going to find out sooner or later."

"I'm sure you will, Lee," Bill replied. "Keep up the good work!"

Lee raised his hand to speak but the closing of the door and the ringing of his phone sealed his fate.

"Mayor Coulter," he said, sitting on his desk. "Oh. Certainly sweetheart. Chocolate or vanilla?"

"So, what's the scoop?" Bill asked as he and Nathan made their way over to the jail.

"You're incredible," Nathan replied, shaking his head.

"What?! If Lucas is into something and I've got to fill in for you, don't you think I need to know what it is?"

"There's nothing to fill you in on other than knowing Bertram is working with Johnny Torrio on bringing his operation North to Alberta."

"Johnny Torrio, the mobster?"

"One in the same."

"What's Bouchard got to do with it?"

"His former, um, 'company' is trying to strong arm him into running for Parliament."

"For what purpose? And why would Bouchard even consider moving to Ottawa with all he has going on here?"

"Oh, he doesn't plan on moving. In fact," Grant said, opening the door to the jail, "he plans on losing."

Nathan walked into the building and hung his Mountie hat on the rack. He turned around only to discover an empty room. Taking a couple of steps backward he peered out the still open door. "Are you coming in or am I going to heat the outside too?" Nathan asked with a raise of the eyebrow.

Bill blinked his eyes then slowly entered. He walked across the room and took a seat across from Nathan's desk chair while the Mountie took his place. "Let me get this straight," Bill finally said, "you and Bouchard are heading up to Edmonton to clear his name so he can run for Parliament and lose the race?"

"That's what I said."

Bill squinted his eyes in confusion. "Want to help me out here? What's this all about?"

Nathan chuckled. "It's simple. Lucas figures he doesn't actually have to win Bertram's seat to accomplish his goal. He just has to knock him off the ticket. And that means…"

"Winning the primary," Bill replied, quickly ascertaining Bouchard's plan.

"Precisely."

"Who do we get stuck with if he loses the general?"

"Angus McDermott or Paul Caldwell…."

"McDermott's a Tory. He would be fine, but that Caldwell's a communist!"

"Socialist."

"Same difference. I always knew Bouchard's politics were crooked."

"You'd rather have Johnny Torrio's puppet representing Alberta?"

"Of course not. But it's a big risk he's taking, opening the door to a Trotskyite."

"Yeah, well Lucas isn't going to throw us to the wolves. He's pretty certain McDermott will win. Besides, in terms of politics, I think you'll find his political views are more in line with your own."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, I know for a fact that he voted for you for mayor."

"He did?"

"Yes, he did."

"I always knew that guy was smart. Elizabeth must have talked to him."

"Eh…."

"Eh, what? She didn't talk to him?"

"I don't think they discussed it. Besides, she voted for Lee."

"She what?!"

"What can I say? She thought he'd make a great mayor."

"And I wouldn't?"

"You already have a job. Besides, Lee's Jack's guardian."

"And I'm his godfather!" Bill replied.

"I don't know what to tell you," Nathan responded with a shrug. "Maybe her politics are crooked."

"Hmph!"

"Listen Bill, I don't want to run you out of here, but I need to take off and go get packed. I promised Emily we'd have dinner tonight at the Queen and I want to hit the hay early because we have an early start. Papers about the guy from Millersville are over on my desk."

"Who?"

"The thief from Millersville that you asked about, the papers on him are on my desk."

"Oh. Yeah, yeah…" Bill waved him off.

"Hey, she still likes you."

"Who?"

"Elizabeth! She just had to make a tough choice and picked Lee. Doesn't mean she didn't think you were capable."

"I suppose you're right," Bill conceded, standing up from the chair and walking toward the door. As he reached the door he turned. "But, just in case there's still a chance, do you think you could convince Bouchard to talk to his wife? You know, get her to see the error of her ways?"

Nathan laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

The morning trip to Edmonton was smooth and uneventful, with one exception. Lucas. From the moment they got into the car, Bouchard seemed anxious, irritable, and generally out of sorts.

"Now tell me again what you're going to say to the judge," he said, as they headed around the mountain bend toward Rock Creek.

"About what?" Grant replied, having answered a similar question just ten minutes earlier.

"About everything. About Judson. About Moy. About Me."

Nathan took a deep breath. "Well, as I said before, I'm going to tell the judge that something about Judson seemed fishy the minute he pulled into town and that I somehow knew he was up to no good."

"Did you have any proof?"

"Certainly. The testimony of Paul Blakely for one, and Timmy, and all of the children's injuries."

"That's good…."

"Good?"

"I mean, not good as in it wasn't good that the children were getting injured, but it's good to establish that Judson was unconcerned about safety and law, and that there are several witnesses that can attest to that. It shows that you at least have some concrete evidence as to Judson's nefarious activities outside of what happened on the day in question. Other witnesses. Solid proof. If we're going to win this thing, the evidence must speak for itself."

"You don't say," Nathan replied, rolling his eyes.

"I'm being serious!" Bouchard said, turning toward Grant.

"Didn't say you weren't. Watch the road."

Lucas quickly turned his attention to the road, narrowly avoiding a missed curve. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his mind obviously still churning.

He continued. "Okay, what then? You knew Judson was up to no good. What made you know that I wasn't?"

"Wasn't what?"

"Up to no good," Lucas said.

"Who?"

"Me."

"Oh, I thought we were still talking about Judson."

"Nathan! Would you please pay attention?!"

"Sorry, I just got distracted watching the road for you." Nathan bit the inside of his jaw, enjoying the opportunity to get under Lucas's skin.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"What are you going to tell the judge in terms of how you knew that I wasn't in on the deal, that the charges against me aren't true."

Nathan was quiet for a few more seconds, then gave an animated shrug.

"Well, to tell you the truth, Lucas. I don't."

Lucas swerved as his eyes turned toward Nathan. "What?!"

Grant quickly grabbed the steering wheel. "Do you need me to drive?"

"No! I'm fine. I'm perfectly capable of driving my own automobile. I've been driving for nearly twenty years." Lucas turned his focus back to the road, and tried to appear calmer, though Nathan knew he wasn't. "It's just, I thought I heard you say you don't know the charges against me aren't true."

"I did."

Lucas frowned. "But…."

"Well, it is kind of an assumption on my part. And, now that I think about it, you were involved with Shu Moy, one of the west coast's most notorious criminals and…."

"I explained all of that!"

"And this idea of you being a government spy…it does seem sort of far-fetched. I guess I really don't have any evidence that you're not guilty with the rest of them."

"Oh, sweet mercy," Lucas replied, agitated.

Nathan burst out laughing causing Lucas to again look his way, albeit this time not losing control of the car. "Lucas, would you look at yourself? Would you just relax? It's going to be fine. Listen. I know you're not guilty because I was there, okay? I saw everything that went down and dealt with Judson firsthand. Besides that, I know you. You're probably one of the most honest guys I know, so settle down. It's going to be fine."

Lucas inhaled deeply and nodded once, focusing his eyes straight ahead. But rather than seeming more relaxed, Nathan noticed that his knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. Grant narrowed his eyes.

"Hey. Hey, what's going on with you? This isn't like you."

Lucas clinched his jaw and shook his head. "It's nothing."

"It's something or you wouldn't be acting this way. Talk to me."

"It's stupid."

"Well, it must not be too stupid if it has you all hot and bothered. You're acting like a completely different person from yesterday, like you're scared to death or something. Did something happen that I don't know about?"

Lucas was silent for several more moments to the point that Nathan believed that he wasn't going to speak, but then his quiet voice pierced the air.

"How much do you know about Johnny Torrio?"

Through his connection with law enforcement Nathan's exposure to the Chicago mob boss was largely limited to members of Torrio's gang occasionally stirring things up across the Canadian border, but he had an innate sense that Torrio more than your average thug. "I know some. I know he's not a nice guy."

"No. Not a nice guy at all. His predecessor was a man named Big Jim Colosimo, they called him 'Diamond Jim.' Colosimo brought Torrio into Chicago to deal with the Black Hand, another group that was threatening Diamond Jim's life."

"I've heard of them. They were notorious killers."

"Yes. But not terribly organized, and soon, after Torrio took care of - and by took care I mean killed -a good number of their ranks, the Black Hand faded away and Colosimo's crime family rose to basically own Chicago. Colosimo is said to have married an aunt of Torrio and together they forged a very profitable empire, if you will, netting around fifty G's a month."

Nathan whistled. "That's a lot of money."

"It is indeed. Anyway, something happened between Colosimo and Torrio. Don't know if it's the fact that Big Jim divorced the aunt or what, but it was said Torrio hired a hitman to take out his former boss. Colosimo was ambushed inside his restaurant and left in a pool of his own blood. Torrio took his place."

Grant shook his head thinking how often he'd heard of members of criminal gangs turning on each other. Crime paid but often not in the way that its participants assumed. "Well, they say live by the sword the die by the sword. It always seems to catch up with them."

"That may be so, but my point is that Torrio singlehandedly took out not only a notorious Italian mafia gang, the Black Hand, but took down one of America's highest crime lords as well, right in his own back yard. That's who we are facing with this election."

Nathan looked at Lucas whose visage was as serious as he'd ever seen it. "Do you want to back out?"

"Not an option, unfortunately. This affects our home and our family. To back out would be cowardly. But still, I must confess, a dream I had last night has left me shaken – and you may think me foolish, but it's really had me preoccupied trying to make sure we have everything in order."

"A dream?"

"Yes. I dreamt that I was giving a campaign speech in Calgary. You were there guarding me. There was this massive throng of people and things were going well until suddenly a man charged the stage from out of the crowd. He had a pistol in his hand. There was a flash. I heard you yell 'no!' then, I saw myself fall. The very next thing I saw was Elizabeth dressed in black being comforted at Cross Creek Meadows Cemetery. Then I woke up." Lucas looked toward the Mountie with somber eyes. "Nathan, I have to get this right. Too much depends upon it."

Nathan breathed in then nodded. "You will. I have confidence in you. If it will make you feel better, I could round up some of NWMP's finest to provide security for you at your campaign stops. Emily and I are going to be gone for a month on our honeymoon to Ireland, or I'd do it myself. But I know some really good men that I'd trust with my own life. I'm sure they'd be happy to help."

"You would do that?"

"Of course," Nathan replied. "This is a matter of public safety and it's what I do. Besides, what are friends for?"

Lucas smiled softly then exhaled, nodding back at the Mountie. "I accept your offer. Thank you, Nathan. I feel somewhat relieved."

"I'm glad," Grant replied, though a sense of foreboding now hung over the atmosphere. How great was the danger Lucas was stepping into? He decided to inject a little levity into the conversation. "How much longer before we reach Edmonton?"

Lucas reached into his vest for his pocket watch. "Twenty-five minutes."

"Great. I'm starved. What are you buying us for Lunch?"

Lucas glanced at the Mountie and chuckled. "What am I buying? Would that not be considered a bribe considering your imminent testimony?"

"How much do you think I'm going to eat?" Grant asked. "I'm just talking a sandwich."

"Get me through this day, and you can have anything you want," Lucas replied.

Lee Coulter walked into his home carrying a basket of items he'd picked up for lunch including two pints of vanilla ice cream for his lovely wife. He'd purchased enough food for Minnie as well, but was surprised when he felt two small arms wrap around his leg the moment he set the basket down.

"Jonathan?" he asked, naturally assuming his son was home.

"I am not Jomatham, Uncle Lee! I Jack!"

Lee smiled and turned around spotting the adorable young lad right at his feet peering past him toward the basket on the table.

"Well hello, young man!" Lee exclaimed. " What a nice surprise!"

"Mmhmm," Jack said, then pointing toward the basket he looked up at Lee with his most charming smile. "You have ice cream?"

Lee looked at the ice cream and then at Jack, thankful he'd bought enough that they could share. He bent down and picked the boy up. "Yes, I do. But I'm not sure I'm allowed to share it with you right now. Are you here with your mommy?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go ask her and see if she thinks it'll be alright, okay?"

"Alright!"

Lee carried Jack up the stairs and toward his and Rosie's bedroom where, as expected, Elizabeth was sitting by Rosemary's bedside having a chat with her friend.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Bouchard! Pleasure seeing you here today," Lee said, setting Jack down on the floor the minute they arrived in the room.

Elizabeth turned toward him and smiled. "Good afternoon, Mr. Coulter!" Lee had seen Elizabeth regularly in town in recent days but in the past week or so her pregnancy had really begun to show and she had a vibrant glow about her."

"It's about time you come by to see us." He said.

"I agree. Lucas and Nathan are on a trip to Edmonton today, and I thought Jack and I would stop by to see Rosemary and Jonathan. I forgot the Campbells are keeping him."

"Yes. He enjoys spending time with Laura, but that does remind me, we need to make a play date for Jack and Jonathan soon."

"We do!"

"Oh, boy!" Jack yelled running around the room in a circle to the adult's laughter.

"So," Lee continued. "Nathan mentioned that he'd be heading to Edmonton to testify today, to clear Lucas's name so he can run for Parliament?"

"What?!" Rosemary squealed. "You never said anything about this?! Why wasn't I informed?"

"We just found out," Elizabeth replied. "It was one of the things I wanted to discuss today. My father and his friend informed us that some big-time mafia lord from Chicago is wanting to branch out and expand his bootlegging ring with the new road they have planned for south of Hope Valley."

"The Trans-Canada roadway?" Lee asked.

"Yes. Father and Allistair said that Lyndon Bertram is right in the middle of it and is about to drag the valley right down into the sewer. All sorts of illegal activities will corrupt our town unless we act now."

"And they think having Lucas run for Parliament is the answer?" Lee asked.

"Yes."

"What do you think about that?" Rosemary asked. "I hear the Chicago mafia is very dangerous."

"I'm not thrilled about it," Elizabeth replied. "But Lucas has figured out a way to keep Bertram out of that seat while still losing the race."

"Really?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes," Elizabeth replied.

"What's he going to do? Beat him in the primaries?" Lee inquired.

"Precisely. Lucas believes that he can win the position the way most politicians win, by promising the public the moon. Then, after he's secured the nomination, he plans on losing the race by telling them how much the moon is going to cost them," Elizabeth smiled. "Pretty ingenious, isn't it?"

Lee laughed, "Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good plan. But what if it doesn't work?"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked. "You don't think he can beat Bertram?"

Lee thought for a moment. "Bertram's been around awhile and has his supporters, but I've heard a lot of dissatisfaction concerning him as well, so, knowing Lucas – handsome young man who is articulate and has a beautiful young family, he can probably win. But what if the second part doesn't work out and he ends up getting himself elected?"

Elizabeth looked at Lee and shrugged. "That's what Nathan asked him too. Apparently the two have a steak dinner riding on whether Lucas will lose or not."

"You mean you might have to move from Hope Valley?" Rosemary exclaimed.

"Only if he wins," Elizabeth said. "But Lucas thinks he can arrange it so that he won't win." She looked over at Lee who was suppressing a grin. "What? You think he's wrong?"

Lee shrugged. "I think he might be underestimating the power of shiny things upon the imagination of the public. Once he's ignited that, it's going to be hard to turn it back."

"Oh, dear!" Elizabeth said.

"Yeah. Keep your steak knives handy. You may be entertaining a Mountie pretty soon." Lee replied.

Three hours after stepping into the judge's chamber, Lucas Bouchard stepped out a free man. He was visibly happier as he and Nathan walked out onto the sidewalk into a chilly but sunny afternoon scene.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," Lucas said, breathing in the clean air.

"It went very well. You don't think your father-in-law pulled any strings, do you?"

"I doubt it. I let him know under no uncertain terms that I don't want 'the company's' involvement in this at all. Don't get me wrong. I love my in-laws and I appreciate his wanting to help, but Elizabeth and the children are my responsibility. I can take care of them."

Grant looked at Bouchard and was going to note that there was no shame in accepting help, but he quickly surmised that it was important to Lucas to be able to prove that his ability to care for his family was undiminished, despite his disability. "You do a good job at it too," Nathan said. "Elizabeth should never have any doubts about your devotion."

"I would hope never to give her reason to," Lucas replied, stopping at the corner and looking around. "Which way did they say the provincial election's board is?"

"This way," Nathan replied, pointing to his left toward a large building about two blocks down.

"Ah yes," Lucas said. "Shall we go throw our hat into the ring?"

Nathan smiled. "You're the one begging trouble. I'm just the observer, remember?"

Lucas shook his head. "Then let's get a move on, Mr. Observer. If we hurry, we can surprise your precious bride-to-be with an early return tonight."

"That sounds like a plan."

After lunch, the Bouchards left the Coulters leaving Lee and Rosemary with a little quiet time before the Campbells were to bring Jonathan home. Lee surprised Rosemary by drawing her a nice warm bath and then pampered her afterward with a light massage before she returned to bed.

"You're so good to me," Rosemary said. "What did I do to deserve a man like you."

Lee squeezed her shoulders to him and kissed her head. "I'm the lucky one."

Rosemary shook her head. "No luck to it. We were fated to be."

Lee chuckled. So typically, Rosemary. "No doubt there," he replied stroking her arm. "I just have to wonder why so many other things are fated for us as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, like why it was so hard to conceive a baby and then to find out after we adopted that this little one was on its way. And why we're having trouble now."

Rosemary sighed. "We don't always get to know the answers as to why. But what we can know is that each new challenge, each burden, everything good and bad that happens in our lives happens for a reason and that how we handle it often determines who we will be from that moment forward. As Joseph says, we can become bitter or better. It's our choice."

"Do you think I've handled our challenges okay?" he asked.

"I think you've done marvelously, Lee Coulter, " Rosemary replied, cuddling closer to him. "You're my hero."

"Even though I sometimes doubt?" Lee responded.

Rosemary reached over and took Lee's hand and held it. "We all doubt sometimes, particularly after some disappointment. But like everything else, we can grow past that as well. You're a brave man, Lee. You don't give yourself enough credit, but you've been through some very difficult things in your life, and you've not let it keep you from being a good, honorable man. If having doubts is bothering you, maybe it's something you should talk to Joseph about. Maybe he'll have some words of wisdom."

"I already have, and Jesse, and Lucas."

"Oh. Well, maybe you might try talking to God? You've already run through the human element. What do you have to lose?"

Lee smiled softly, considering his wife's words, then squeezed her tightly.

It was a little before five o'clock when Lucas and Nathan left the board of elections and began to prepare for their trip home. It had been a surprisingly easy and productive trip and after cancelling their hotel reservations, they would get a quick bite to eat and be on their way home. But by the time they had finished eating, they were confronted with a new phenomenon that neither had expected. Stepping out of the restaurant a flashbulb temporarily blinded them as a swarm of half a dozen press people surrounded the new candidate.

"Mr. Bouchard, what does it feel like to be a free man?"

"Do you know who might have framed you?"

"Are you going to testify against Darius Judson at his upcoming trial?"

The two kept walking as quickly as they could until Lucas heard a question he needed to answer.

"Is it true that you are running for office?"

Bouchard stopped and turned.

"To answer your question, it feels no different being a free man now than before because my innocence was never in doubt. And who framed me is less important to me right now than ensuring that this kind of criminal element never makes its way into Alberta again. So, yes. In answer to your question, I have filed with the board of elections to run for Parliament, Lyndon Bertram's seat. Bertram has long been leading our fair province into decay and the only way to stop further degradation is to get involved. I plan on formally beginning campaigning the week after Christmas and I'll have much more to share with the good people of Alberta at that time. Now if you'll excuse me, we hear the weather might be turning and my friend and I would like to get home before it hits. Thank you gentlemen."

Lucas took Nathan by the arm and walked with him up to the car.

"You sure you're not a politician?" Grant asked with a smirk.

"When I set my mind to something, I'm all in. Might as well start now," Lucas said, tossing him his keys. "You drive."

"You sure?" Nathan asked.

Lucas opened the passenger's side door. "Absolutely. I must warn you, I'm feeling a bit fatigued so I may doze off for a bit, if that's okay."

Nathan got into the car and stuck the key into the ignition. "That's fine. I'll just enjoy the scenery." He started the car and immediately grinded the clutch. Lucas winced but said nothing, only closing his eyes.

"Sorry," Nathan replied, checking in his rear-view mirror before turning out onto the road.

A half a block away, the head of the board of elections, Antonio Smith, watched out a window as Lucas's Dodge pulled away. Once it was gone, he turned around.

"They're gone," he said to a man in a white suit surrounded by two taller men.

"So, what do you know about him?" the man asked.

"Nothing much. All I know is he's from Hope Valley and he's taking on Mr. Bertram in the primary. Didn't have the first clue that he was coming."

The man took out a cigar and one of his attendants lit it.

"Well, I need you to find out anything you can as quickly as you can. It could be he's just some local wanting to make his way into politics. Or it could be something more."

"And if it is?"

The man stood to his feet. "Then you let me know and we'll take care of him. We've got a deal worth millions of dollars on the line here and we're not going to let some schmuck from happy town get in our way. You got it?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Capone. I'll make it priority one."

"You're a good man, Smitty. I know you won't disappoint." Capone and his compatriots walked toward the door. "You know, if you come up with somethin' before Christmas, there may be a little bonus for you in your Christmas stocking."

The man smiled. "Thank you, sir, I'll call you next week."

Stepping outside into the chilly winter air, Al Capone slipped his expensive leather gloves over his hand and buttoned his coat. He took a step forward as a 1921 Pierce Arrow pulled up to the curve.

"Where to boss?" the chauffer asked, opening the car door.

"The MacDonald," Capone replied, referring to the temporary residence he'd taken up while in town for Bertram's posh Christmas Eve party the following week. Capone and his colleagues slipped into the back seat.

"What'd you think about this Bouchard guy, Al?" one of the men asked as the automobile took off down the road.

"I think he's trouble. You?"

The man nodded. "Yeah. Time to call Johnny?"

"You read my mind, Sammy. Read my mind."