Chapter 76: An Abundance of Frogs & Toads
The very next morning Nathan and Gabe got up bright and early to do a little investigating prior to school, although it was more strategizing than anything else.
They basically already knew what had happened, and pretty much who had done it.
They even knew their why: this mess was done as a childhood prank.
Today, the Chief Inspector and Constable simply had to stop the prank in process and see that nothing like this would ever happen again!
"Gabe, whatever we do, we have to handle this in a way to keep my daughter completely out of it! Got it?"
"Come on, Nathan! You know me better than that," grinned her Uncle Gabe. "Allie who?"
"Yep, I forgot for a second what a chameleon you are, Gabe! Funny, too!"
"I'll take that as the highest compliment!" responded Gabe, proudly, strutting out his chest.
"Afraid that wasn't meant as a compliment, Brother!" retorted Nathan looking up at Gabe from his crouched position on the cold ground.
"Hey, how did you explain not walking her to school like you always do?"
"I told her the truth, Gabe, as always! I told her that Kyle would be taking my place since I had investigative work to do with her Uncle Gabe, which is all true!"
"Did she catch on as to what we're investigating?"
"No, thankfully, I could tell by Allie's eyes that she hadn't made the connection to her revelation from last night! Frankly, I'm hoping a good night's sleep made her forget our discussion altogether. She's got a lot on her mind with the Wedding and new family to meet. She's so excited, she can barely think of anything else! Good grief! Just look at all these holes!"
"I never understood how in the world these little things dig like this to get down there in the first place! Do you?" asked Gabe as he glared at the ground surrounding him.
Or more aptly, what was left of the ground, as they were standing amid holes more than anything else!
"Didn't you listen in biology class?" teased Nathan. "No, seriously, Gabe, they go for loose soil, then use their hind legs, which apparently are really strong, to move the soil out of the way. This sounds weird, but then they actually back into the hole until it collapses over their head. I've seen them do it!"
"You're kidding me!"
"Nope! They call it self-burial. It's pretty amazing to watch! The little things cover themselves so well, you can't usually find their holes till spring when they burrow out! So, judging by all these holes, these kids have just 'hit and missed' it till they got lucky. But goodness! How much time did this mess take? They must have had every boy in Hope Valley and beyond, digging nonstop!"
"Why in the world did these kids come up with toads in the dead of winter?"
"Who knows? Allie says they think they have toads, but my bet is they've also got frogs. There aren't enough toads around this pond for them to have lucked out enough to have found an even hundred of them!"
"Don't tell me you know the difference between the two! Needless to say, I might have flunked Biology. Well, not flunk, but you know – not my favorite subject!"
"Let's see, Gabe! Both are amphibians, meaning they usually spend part of their time in the water or around moisture, although it's been said that toads can also exist in the desert. It's funny – all toads are frogs, but all frogs are not toads! Don't dare ask me to explain that one! My 6th-grade teacher used to always say that, and I'd spend hours trying to figure out why. Ultimately, I just had to take her word for it!"
"You're a better man than me!" sighed Gabe. "I couldn't wait to escape class and get to my horse."
"You know, once you see a frog and toad side by side, it's pretty easy to tell them apart. Frogs have smooth and slimy skin, while toads have rough, 'warty' skin, although they're not really warts as we know them. Frogs have really long legs for jumping, while toads have shorter legs and don't jump as much! Seems only frogs can have brightly colored skin, but both can have poisonous skin. Oh, and frogs can have teeth too, but Toads never do! Is that enough information?" (*65)
"More than I'll ever remember!"
"I fish, Gabe. That's how I know most of this stuff! You should come fishing with Allie and me! You'll learn all kinds of things!"
"Someday! Looks like we've finished our investigation of all two hundred plus holes. Why is each one about a meter (3ft) deep? Can you imagine all this digging for a stupid prank? Now to strategize!"
"That's exactly the depth frogs and toads dig to hibernate! Wonder how the kids knew that or did they just dig till they found them?"
"How do you know that?" asked a perplexed Constable.
"That, Gabe, is from biology. It was on a test once! One I didn't do so great on if I remember correctly!"
"Nathan, is there anything you don't know?"
"Tons, Gabe!"
"Doesn't sound like it!"
"Oh, whatever you do, don't use the words kidnapping or murder when we talk to the kids!" instructed Nathan, shuddering to think what a field day Gabe would have with those two words!"
Having been privy to Gabe's dramatic tendencies in the past, Nathan knew, without doubt, there was a strong possibility the children would be in tears before they could even confess!
Gabe had the best heart, yet he was a cut-up who could be comedic at times and overly dramatic at others, all the while never realizing that he's always being taken seriously because of the serge.
"Oh, come on, Nathan! Let me play the bad cop, please?"
Nathan just shook his head at his sometimes child-like partner! There wasn't a better man than Gabriel Kinslow, but he couldn't resist comedy, drama, or a good sting, no matter the reason.
"We're talking about children here, Gabe! We don't want to scare them to death. The goal here is just to make them see that what they did was wrong and to never do it again. We just need to keep it plain and simple!"
"Got it! So, I'm the bad cop, right? Please, pretty please!"
"With delight, Gabriel Kinslow! With delight," chuckled Nathan.
But then he got serious, remembering his friend's somewhat roguish ways.
"As long as you behave, Constable…"
Nathan and Gabe held back, hidden against the wall from the children's view as they entered the schoolhouse grounds.
"Gabe," whispered Nathan. "The kids have just finished going inside. Follow me!"
The two quietly maneuvered themselves up the steps to the schoolhouse porch, where they stayed behind the doors Mrs. Nelson had just closed, listening there to what was being said inside.
They could clearly hear the teacher as she walked to the front of the class.
"Class, please stand. Robert, will you please lead us in today's morning prayer?"
"Sure thing, Ma'am! Happy to, in fact!" answered Robert in an over-zealous fashion, as he usually balked at being asked to do anything, especially in front of the whole class.
But this morning, he was winking at the students as he strode to the front of the room, as though he were holding court, with his legions of subjects egging him on, meaning each and every boy in the class!
The girls just rolled their eyes at his bravado!
Warily, Mrs. Nelson made a conscious decision to ignore her strong instinct that something huge was up with one Robert Wolf, and tried instead to concentrate on their morning rituals.
Once up front, Robert cleared his throat, then with a devilish smile on his face, proceeded to bow his head and pray.
"Dear Father, we thank you for our day and we ask that it might be a happy one, full of really slick, knobbly, and hoppy, er happy possibilities and surprises. Amen!"
Outside, Nathan brought his finger to his mouth as he glanced at Gabe, who was about to chuckle out loud at Robert's choice of words!
Of course, inside, the entire class burst out laughing!
"Students, our prayers are not meant to be funny! They are messages to God. And although I do believe God has a wonderful sense of humor, I tend to believe He wishes our prayers to be sincere ones. Robert, you will be called on again tomorrow morning and each morning thereafter till you can pray a proper prayer, in earnest. Smirks are not humorous, nor are they sincere. And they most certainly aren't giving God our best!"
"Yes, Ma'am," sighed Robert heavily as he sat himself down with a thud, having had his imperious smile wiped off his face.
At least for the time being!
Mrs. Nelson raised a brow at the class snickers but carried on.
"Come to order, class! Allie, will you please come and take a more serious tone to lead us in our national anthem?"
Allie walked to the front of the classroom and started leading in her clear soprano voice, as her classmates lustily joined in:
"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." (*66)
As soon as Nathan heard Allie walk back to her desk, he knocked abruptly on the door.
Then he and Gabe entered single file into the schoolroom in all their regally uniformed glory, but, more importantly, with their commanding sense of authority!
Mrs. Nelson looked up in surprise to see her two official but unexpected visitors, who nodded back at her in respect.
"Chief Inspector Grant, Constable Kinslow, welcome! What can I do for you this morning?" having just sat down, she smiled warmly, as she rose from her desk chair, to shake their hands and greet them.
"M'am, we were wondering if we might have a bit of your classroom time to get some help with an important case we're working on?"
As Nathan said the words, with his back turned to the class, he gave Mrs. Nelson a communicative wink, who quickly understood that there must be a 'problem of sorts' now, right here in her own classroom, just as she had suspected.
And she was positive Robert was involved.
Perhaps a prank she had not yet discovered but most assuredly would have, no matter the trauma it might inflict on both her and her class.
Mrs. Nelson had worked long enough to know that Teachers everywhere endure a lot, even on a daily basis. And she had quickly found Hope Valley was no exception.
As a teacher, you never knew what your pupils would come up with next since there was most certainly no guidebook available to include all the many and sometimes ridiculous antics of children!
But that was one of the reasons Mrs. Nelson loved working with them, as their imaginations were constantly running wild, untainted by restrictive adult responsibilities.
Yet still, she understood the importance of instilling responsibility cognizant of their ages and worked hard to do just that.
It was a tricky balance, but one that intrigued her and made her a better teacher than most.
Because she cared very deeply.
And she cared not only about grades but about all aspects of her students' lives, wanting each to be the very best person they could be!
Her golden philosophy was to let her pupils fly, but of course, within the restraints of consideration and empathy for others, as well as teaching them socially accepted decorum!
It was a monumental task, not at all easy, but one she was dedicated to!
It was because of that dedication, that Nathan didn't want Mrs. Nelson's discovery of the frogs and or toads to be in the shocking way her male pupils had intended. Although he had no doubt she was able to handle the boys, it was the frogs and toads that concerned him. What woman, or man for that matter, would wish to be attacked by a hundred frogs, a hundred toads, or a combination thereof?
Certainly, no one he knew, and probably no human being, period, for that matter!
"Please, Chief Inspector, Constable, the floor is all yours! Pupils, let's give our guests our full attention," Mrs. Nelson motioned into the air and sat down at her desk once more, giving her esteemed guests the floor with the utmost respect.
"Thank you, Mrs. Nelson. So very kind of you!" nodded the Chief Inspector.
Then the Chief turned to the class, towering over them, looking so authoritative, he would have done so even without the uniform! He looked at each student solemnly, one by one, in order to make sure he had their attention. Then he began speaking, without cracking a smile.
"Sadly, I'm afraid today, that we are here on official business. And I'll get right down to it," he added with a most solemn face. "We need help in an investigation. We are starting here at the schoolhouse as it is closest to our crime scene, which happens to be the pond. But I can assure you, if necessary, we'll be knocking on every door, canvassing all of Hope Valley till we solve this case."
'What could these Mounties, these men of the law possibly be talking about?' wondered the children.
Especially the boys!
'This sounds exciting!' thought the girls.
'Uh oh,' thought the boys, one by one.
But Allie knew instantly if this case involved the pond, that this visit had to have something to do with those toads!
The girls looked straight ahead, curious and excited to learn more, but the boys were looking more than a bit nervous, breaking out in a sweat, stealing fearful glances at each other, wondering if they might have really made a huge mistake this time.
After all, the Chief Inspector had said the pond was the crime scene.
And they had all most certainly been at the pond!
Why oh why hadn't they filled all those holes back in?
What were they thinking?
'Surely this isn't about our toads. Nah, it couldn't be! Not with both the Chief Inspector and Constable here! No this is something a lot more important than anything we did!'
So, with the boys suddenly feeling smug again, the pupils settled down and listened, intrigued to hear about a real honest-to-goodness crime.
"For those of you who don't know, this is my colleague, Constable Gabriel Kinslow, from Brookfield. He is filling in for us till a new Constable can be named for Hope Valley. I trained with the Constable and I can verify that he is one of the very best in the force. Constable Kinslow never leaves a job undone! Nor do I! And we always get our man, woman, boy, or girl, as the case may be!"
"Can he shoot," interrupted Bobby, who had been privy to see the high degree of accuracy with which the Chief Inspector could shoot.
"Yes, Bobby, like me, Constable Kinslow is a trained sharpshooter too, although I don't believe we will have to use that skill in this particular endeavor! This is about life and having respect for all living things. Not only humans like you and me, but animals as well. As humans, it's our God-given responsibility to take care of nature, including animals, fish, fowl, reptiles, and even amphibians. By that, I mean frogs and toads. All living creatures, really!"
Nathan deferred to Gabe, who started out more than seriously enough but got appropriately heated for added emphasis as his emphatic words seemed to crescendo.
"As the Chief Inspector mentioned, I'm new to this area. And I'll admit, I'm still getting my bearings as far as this community goes. But I must say, I couldn't help notice this morning as I rode by the pond, that something was very, very wrong! Someone or a group of someones, I'm not sure who, exactly, has or have obviously committed a serious crime! One I won't tolerate on my watch, especially because living creatures are involved!"
"What kind of crime, Constable Kinslow?" asked Robert, very bravely, considering the circumstances.
"This matter involves poaching, and whether you call it kidnapping or murder, someone's been poaching our frogs and toads! Quite simply, poaching is a crime! A most serious one. And, I'm telling you, I won't stop till I arrest the perpetrator or perpetrators who did this!"
Dead silence, chocked full of fear, descended on the little one-room schoolhouse, as male eyes widened like saucers, flashing back and forth to each other, while their clammy hands immediately drew to their pockets, in order to better hold on to their prey.
"Can you please share with us how you know that, Constable?" asked Nathan, giving him a corrective glance as to their agreed-upon strategy, as well as terminology.
"Why, there are gaping holes dug all around the pond! I might not have even noticed had I not had to dismount to allow Apollo to drink!"
"How many holes and how deep are the holes?" asked the Chief Inspector, for the purpose of the students' clarity.
"Well over a hundred that's for sure! And they're one meter (3ft) deep! Each and every single one of them! These holes didn't just happen. They were intentionally dug with the intent to kidnap frogs and toads! And that's poaching, no doubt about it!"
Lips started working. The girls were relieved they weren't involved at all. But the boys were feeling more and more guilty by the moment!
"You see! That's how we know the frogs and toads are missing!" the Chief faced the children. "As I'm sure Mrs. Nelson has taught you, these amphibians hibernate a meter (3ft)below the ground, so that they can survive the freezing winter temperatures. The awful thing is they're supposed to be hibernating right now, in order to make it through the winter! Yet Constable Kinslow is telling me they've not only been disturbed but dug up as well! And I'm very concerned because quite frankly, I don't know what happens to them when their hibernation is disturbed at all, much less when they're removed and placed in this cold air! Can they even survive? I don't know, but I do know, this is not what God intended for them!"
"That's the awful part of this mess, Chief! As awful as it is, that's our crime, all right! Now to find who did it," and that's when Constable Kinslow shot a menacing glance throughout the class that was met by several very fearful perspiring male faces.
"Who would willingly risk these frogs' and toads' very lives just because they can? Who would do that?" mused the Chief, purposely, out loud. "I certainly am ashamed to think it might be someone we know! 'Someone' or 'someones' right here in this room."
Heads were hung even lower.
"This case is rapidly progressing from kidnapping to murder if you ask me!" declared the Constable.
Nathan had to swallow hard to not choke!
There would be words with this wayward 'bad cop' Constable, who had gone totally rogue with his obstinate legal nomenclature.
Make no mistake about that!
Allie's eyes narrowed at her Dad and Uncle Gabe till she suddenly put together exactly what they were doing, and then her face twisted in an effort not to show her hand!
The girls were still looking intently toward the speakers as well as stealing a few furtive glances at each other here and there wondering what was going to happen next.
But all in all, they were relishing in the fact that the boys were in very hot water, which was getting hotter all the time!
Every single boy in the class, from the oldest to the youngest, by now, was hanging their head low, without looking up once, including Robert.
Yes, the feeling in the schoolhouse on this particular morning was what one would call very heavy and forlorn indeed!
Trying hard to make this an educational experience, and hoping to sideline the Constable, the Chief Inspector patiently started again.
"I'm sure Mrs. Nelson has taught all of you the importance frogs and toads play in our environment. As you know, they eat nasty insects and such, but when they're not around to do their jobs, all havoc breaks loose in nature," explained the Chief. "God made them to be a necessary part of nature's cycle. To get rid of bad insects and serve as a source for nature's food chain."
"Good point! I hadn't even thought of that! Because they eat insects and other such horrible things, they keep down the presence of positively horrid diseases," explained the Constable. "Did you know that? Diseases we humans don't even want to know about! Boils, warts, and such, you know!"
The boys jerked up their heads all at once together, looking quite pale with eyes suddenly even wider in alarm!
"You mean we could catch the diseases too?" cried a cute red-haired ten-year-old boy named Sam, pretty much destroying their cover, and earning him a strong contemptuous glance from Robert as well as the other boys.
"I'm afraid it's a strong possibility for anyone who's handled them," answered Gabe very solemnly. "But don't worry. I'm sure Dr. Carter will know what to do when the problems arise!"
Gabe achieved the desired effect because, with those words, there wasn't a single boy in the room who wasn't sick with worry! And massively so!
If you could only see the frightened and worried looks passed from boy to boy to boy and back again!
Their guilt was palpable, and it was quite the moment to behold!
Nathan cleared his throat in an effort to get Gabe back on track, explaining his take instead of going the disease route, which thanks to Gabe, had already struck profound fear into every single boy!
"My concerns are the fish and some larger animals that need them to eat. Why, if they don't get their food, I can't even imagine how they'll survive! I guess fishing's going to be mighty rough come summer! Yes, it's true that without frogs and toads," began the Chief, before being interrupted by his colleague.
"All kinds of evil havoc will break loose!" finished Constable Kinslow, reiterating most melodramatically, in an ominous tone, and with slitted eyes, staring every single male pupil down.
With that pronouncement, everyone was quiet as a churchmouse, except for a couple of whimpers from the youngest boys who by now were beyond terrified, again thanks to Constable Gabe!
"Anyway, could you young people help me solve this mystery. Where are 'Hope Valley's Frogs and Toads?'" Gabe asked most seriously, grabbing his chest, reflecting mournful pain in his eyes, while almost choking on his words as if to cry.
"Gabe, you're not Hamlet!" hissed the Chief in a whisper.
Then aloud, he spoke to all, as well as the Constable.
"It's obvious to us, that there's been a violation of nature or two, such as poaching, as Constable Kinslow mentioned. But I don't believe either of us has mentioned the punishment that carries."
Nathan very serious and stalwart, but professional, stood beside his wayward colleague, who was pouring it on even thicker to the class.
"Actually, if my calculations are correct, I believe this poaching is more like kidnapping! One hundred kidnappings to be exact! And no telling how many murders! There can't possibly be that many frogs and toads who have survived this traumatic ordeal. I'm sure many will die if they haven't already done so. But how are we going to find the kidnappers and murderers who did this, Chief Inspector?" asked Gabe innocently.
"I don't know about you," answered the Chief through gritted teeth, since he had expressly instructed Gabe not to use his two favorite words.
"I'm not concerned about who did it, Constable. I just want those frogs and toads found and put back where they belong! That's why there's a huge basket placed back by the schoolhouse door. If there happen to be any frogs or toads inside here, there will be a ten-minute arrest-free period for all of them to be placed there, no questions asked, so they can be taken back into their natural habitat, where they belong," assured the Chief Inspector.
But Gabe broke in to play bad cop yet again.
"After the ten minutes is up, if any persons are found with any frogs or toads on their person, and I'm afraid this includes you, Mrs. Nelson," added the Constable with a twinkle in his eyes.
Gabe paused just long enough to peruse the room one more time before he began again.
"Those persons will have to be immediately arrested for poaching, and kidnapping. And murder if those toads don't live!" interjected the Constable using his favorite words yet again, with a leering expression on his face that almost scared his niece.
Despite Gabe's antics, Nathan kept his same calm tone for the children's sake. It was, however, the adult child standing beside him, the peaceful man wished to throttle!
"If you come forward during the ten-minute period, there will be no arrests," reassured the Chief Inspector, with another frown directed toward his colleague. "Let's just fix this best we can and try to do right by nature!"
The girls nodded in agreement, although the boys were still struggling.
"Class, are you ready for the ten minutes to begin?" asked the Chief.
But before the children could offer their responses, a hundred combined frogs and toads began croaking on cue in unison, as though they were being directed by Handel, himself, moaning as loud as their little voices could, croaking for their very freedom.
There was quickly a loud chorus of murmuring yeses in answer to the previous suggestion, particularly by the boys to try to cover the myriad of croaking sounds, as well as the escaping frogs and toads, but to no avail!
The croaking sounds of "ribit-ribit' and "croac-croac" included "quacking," "bellowing," "honking," 'snoring," "trilling," "snuffing," "growling," "squeaking," and "bleating" won out as though there wasn't even a contest to be had!
At the same time, the boys suddenly were all over the floor on their hands and knees trying to capture their escaping frogs and toads, who were literally jumping all over the place!
Some of the toads even latched on to the frogs' backs, presenting quite the eery panorama, as the frogs launched into the air, with the toads along for the ride, piggy-back style!
When the girls realized what was happening, all of them screamed and jumped up on their desks, except for Allie, who got down on her hands and knees to help capture the poor frogs and toads!
It was quite the industrious sight alright!
Perhaps the only person in the room who was truly shocked at this odd chain of events, was Mrs. Nelson, as alarm spread over her face upon hearing the loud croaking and accompanying sounds, as well as seeing the slimy little things escaping and jumping all over her schoolhouse.
In the midst of the chaos, the Chief Inspector couldn't help but patiently smile, as their Mission was almost accomplished. And it had been done without terrifying their kind teacher! Which had been one of their main goals.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your ten minutes start now!"
An even more chaotic scramble ensued by each and every boy in the class.
Needless to say, there was a literal swarm to that basket with the escaped frogs and toads they had captured.
All were emptied at a furious rate into the huge basket, still croaking as furiously as they could, by each and every male in the class, along with Allie's help!
After that, school satchels, lunch bags, jackets, coat pockets, and pant pockets were all double-checked for any 'non-escaped stow-away' frogs and toads!
And there were several!
The girls had never seen so many icky frogs and toads in one place in their entire life, and it could be argued not many had! Neither had Mrs. Nelson, who was really alarmed at what might have happened had it not been for these kind Gentlemen in uniform being present.
But as a professional, she was trying hard not to show her apprehension or fears!
The 'gals' together, having endured this spectacle of an ordeal, were feeling quite content to sit back and now watch the 'guys' face their music.
And what a dramatic symphony it was going to be!
Much grander than that of the still croaking frogs.
But what do you know?
Exactly one hundred frogs, including escapees and stow-aways, were all placed in the large basket Kyle was guarding. Which happened to be exactly the number that had been predicted missing!
And so far, none were dead, which thankfully for the young boys, eliminated Constable Kinslow's dreaded threats of murder charges, at least for the time being!
"Chief Inspector Grant, will this go on my permanent record?" asked a frantic Robert, panicked, realizing he might have just made a grave error in judgment, especially since he dreamed of nothing but being a Mountie!
"Yes, Robert!" answered Constable Kinslow immediately, in the gravest voice. "It most certainly will!"
Robert's face fell with dismay.
"It was just a stupid prank! And it's all my fault. I talked the other boys into scaring Mrs. Nelson! I'm so very sorry. I won't ever do anything that dumb again. I give you, my word!"
"Well, right now, Son, I don't think your word has a very high currency!" declared Constable Kinslow, not relenting an iota.
But Nathan had had enough of Gabe's antics!
"I think as long as Mr. Wolf apologizes to his teacher, we can expunge any records, Constable. After all, this is his first offense," explained the Chief.
"Thank you, Sir! Thank you! I'm so sorry and this will be the very last time I ever pull off something like this. I promise! Never again!" cried Robert as he tearfully threw his arms around the Chief, then saluted and humbly made his way back to Mrs. Nelson.
Mrs. Nelson accepted Robert's apology, now fully understanding just exactly what had been planned by her devious little monsters, and so she thanked the Chief Inspector and Constable profusely.
It is well known that some people are scared of snakes and spiders, while some are scared of other things. But there are those who have a particular fear of anything related to the slimy, stretched, almost translucent skin of frogs and toads with their bulging eyes, and their ability to jump anywhere and everywhere without warning!
Not to mention their croaks!
Croaks that whistled, and yes, 'croaked,' as well as ribbited, peeped, clucked, barked, moaned, and grunted; you could pretty much name the sound and it would fit!
Sometimes all at once!
Especially when the frogs and toads were found in large numbers, like today.
Yes, even frogs and toads were both loved by some and loathed by others!
As such, and after the spectacle she had just seen play out in her own classroom, Mrs. Nelson wasn't about to leave this matter without repercussions!
And boy, were they big ones!
As the boys filed back to their seats in deep humility, Mrs. Nelson stood between the auspicious-looking Officers and made her thunderous pronouncement.
"Young gentlemen," and yes, she was addressing all of her male students, and they indeed knew it.
"Be grateful that due to the kind hearts of these fine men of the law, you will not be spending your evenings in jail tonight after this precarious stunt! Be very grateful! But if our Chief Inspector and Constable will be so kind as to accompany me with the male portion of my class to the aforementioned pond this afternoon, precisely at 4 pm, I will see that my husband brings shovels, and each of you boys, in turn, will see that the poached frogs and toads are put back precisely where they belong!"
"But Mrs. Nelson, we're going to freeze!"
"Yes, just like the frogs and toads you so inconsiderately dug up!"
The boys didn't like it, but at least it could have been worse, and they knew it!
Little did they know, though, that 'the worse' was coming right now, as their teacher continued.
"Then since you seem so concerned about the cold, there will be a matter of community service to be served each Saturday in May when the weather is nice and warm for baseball! But instead of playing baseball, sadly, you will be performing said community service each and every Saturday, under the jurisdiction of Chief Inspector Grant, Constable Kinslow, and myself!"
To Gabe's delight, there were audible moans at the mention of the 'Bad Cop.'
But that wasn't all.
"For tomorrow and all of next week, the boys will also stay after school with me each day for one hour and give the schoolhouse a thorough scrubbing down from top to bottom!"
Not a sound was heard because the boys knew any complaining would only make everything worse!
All they could now do was accept their dastardly fate.
"It is probably redundant to say, but our Biology lessons next week will extol the virtues of frogs and toads; you will learn so much about them, you will never forget this incident ever! And each of you will become experts in our now favorite amphibians!"
There were audible groans.
"And may it be known, from this day on, if a living creature is brought inside this building without express permission from said teacher, said student will be my personal assistant for an entire month."
"Thank you, Chief Inspector! Thank you, Constable. Along with the frogs and toads, we are all personally indebted to you both!"
Then she turned her back to her classroom to privately add more, in a very low voice not to be heard by any of the children.
"More than you can know, as I'm terrified of the little slimy things and most assuredly would have been inundated with terror had they just been launched in mid-air without your presence! You have saved me, kind Sirs, and I am most grateful!"
"Just doing our job, M'am!" then both Nathan and Gabe saluted the teacher, who, given her calm demeanor along with her sound decree of punishment for the perpetrators, both had great admiration for.
Needless to say, thanks to the combined effort of one Chief Inspector, one wayward Constable, and one committed Teacher, no innocent frogs or toads were ever dug up from hibernation in Hope Valley again!
Nor was a living creature of any kind ever again brought to Mrs. Nelson's classroom, unless expressly requested by said teacher…
By the time, Nathan and Gabriel made their way back into town, everyone they met offered a warm smile, followed by a hearty chuckle.
"What's that for?" asked Gabe, after this had happened at least five times.
"Haven't a clue, Gabe!"
"Got any frogs or toads? Would love to buy a hundred or so!"
That was Lee, chuckling so hard, he simply had to walk on, almost doubled over!
"What in the world?" asked Gabe. "Are they making fun of us?"
"Just be thankful they didn't say kidnapped or murdered frogs or toads! Gabe, what were you thinking?"
"Come on, Nate! Those kids needed the fear put in them! And if you want to get technical poaching is kidnapping and could easily be murder in this instance! We still don't have those creatures in the ground yet! And who knows if they'll make it through the winter or not? So there still could be associated murder charges for all we know!"
Nathan rolled his eyes and opened the door to the Judge's office, who was cackling at his desk...
"What?" asked Nathan, impatiently.
"Gabe was brilliant!" managed Bill between his cackles. "Best 'bad cop' I've ever seen!"
"Don't encourage him, Bill! Anyway, what are you talking about?"
"Florence and I were supposed to drop off this testing packet to Mrs. Nelson that required two signatures, but instead we heard every single word standing on the stoop! Bravo! Loved the kidnapping and murder part!" declared the Judge, inadvertently making it clear how the whole town knew of this morning's bust because if Florence knew, everyone knew.
"That was all me!" bragged Gabe proudly.
"Great! Now the whole town knows," moaned Nathan. "You two are terrible! At least we're getting the frogs and toads back in the ground where they belong! And Judge, will you not encourage your temporary Constable to go around threatening his citizens on trumped-up charges?"
"You're just mad because you didn't think of it!" taunted Gabe.
"Think of it? I'm the one who expressly told you to not mention kidnapping or murder! I knew you'd do that!"
"You two cut it out! Did you save the frogs and toads?" asked the Judge.
"Yes, Sir" eeked both Nathan and Gabe in unison, like two little boys being scolded.
"Then the case of the Missing Frogs & Toads of Hope Valley has been solved, and is officially closed," and Bill hit his gavel on his table.
"Now get to work," he growled.
But as the men scattered to their own desks, one in the same building, the other across the street to the Mountie Office, the Judge just kept on cackling.
"Can't wait to see how my boys write this one up…"
Hours later after a long morning's work at the Judge's Office, Bill decided it was time for a break!
"Hey, Nathan, lunchtime! Want to grab a bite at the Café?"
"Bill, I'm knee-deep in this case out of Toronto. I've got my team at headquarters working on some of the pieces too, but this part has to be done by me! Do you mind bringing me something when you finish?"
"Nah! I'll just bring both our lunches back, and we can sit here together and catch up!"
"Sure, Bill!"
That wasn't exactly the 'privacy' Nathan had hoped for, but he would make it work.
'Maybe I can get a lot done before Bill comes back. Because I sure won't when he returns!'
But the Judge had no more than left the building when Nathan's phone rang.
"Chief Inspector Grant here."
"Thank goodness! Mas…I mean Nathan?"
"Essie! Is that you? Is everything all right?"
"It is, and I shouldn't even be calling! I just hate to bother you!"
"Essie, you're never a bother. Wait! Is Millicent okay?"
Nathan shot up from his chair in alarm, bringing the whole phone with him.
His heart was pounding and he felt like he was going to jump out of his own skin!
"Yes, she's okay! But there is a problem!"
"Essie, what problem? What's wrong? Please, just tell me Millicent's really okay!"
"She is, Nathan, and Miss Millicent will be very upset that I called. Miss Victoria has already tried to help. Even Miss Luciana, yet none of it has worked. I don't know what else to do! I'm so worried about my Girl! And I think you're the only one she'll listen to!"
"Essie, you're scaring me! Tell me: is Millicent truly safe?"
"Yes, of course, she's safe! She's just not eating!"
"Not eating?"
"Miss Millicent's lost every bit of half a stone (7lb), if not a full stone, since she left you in Hope Valley, if not more!"
"A half-stone? Even hat's impossible!"
"I know it is, but she has! I'm worried sick, Nathan! I can't get her to eat anything. She just pushes her fork around for a couple of minutes and announces she's finished!"
"Essie, Millicent doesn't have a half-stone to lose. She's much too slender! She doesn't have anything to lose!"
"I know that! And that's true, but still, she has lost even more, and she looks like a ghost! None of her clothes fit. And she looks as pale as an I don't know what! Whatever's paler than a ghost! You're going to have to talk with her, Nathan! Make her eat, Son!"
"Essie, how am I supposed to do that while I'm here in Hope Valley?"
"Nathan, you're her world! You'll just have to think of a way! She won't listen to any of us. And she's working night and day! At this rate, she'll never make it through the Wedding standing up!"
"Estella, you're alarming me!"
"I'm sorry, Nathan! You know that I am, and I don't mean to alarm you, but the truth is this situation is serious. You've just got to think of something and make her eat again! I have to go now before her assistant hears me!"
"I don't have a clue as to what, but I give you my word, I'll do my best! But Essie, where is Millicent right now?"
"At the Office! I'd better run. We'll talk soon!"
"Talk later, Essie. Thanks for letting me know!"
As Nathan hung up the phone and set it back on his desk, he couldn't believe the conversation he had just had.
Why hadn't Millicent told him she wasn't able to eat?
Of course! He knew why she hadn't - because she didn't want him to worry!
But worried he was, as he started to pace around the room!
After completing at least three circles, Nathan realized pacing was doing him nor Millicent any good at all.
Yet, he had no idea what to do, and he was worried sick!
"How could I have let this happen?"
Not able to think of anything, he knelt down at his chair and prayed.
"Dear Father, I don't know what to do! Please help me to know how to help Millicent all these miles away. Please cover the distance between us and help her to eat again, to be healthy again! To be happy again."
He rose from his knees feeling renewed, knowing his prayer had been heard but realizing how very difficult all this had to be on his fiancee.
"She is turning her life upside down, for me and for Allie," he spoke aloud into the empty room.
Nathan picked up the phone and gave the operator Millicent's private office number, still not knowing what he was going to do or say.
He was blindly trusting God to lead him.
It ripped his heart to think of Millicent not even being able to eat.
He had tried hard not to interrupt her while at work. Perhaps he had been wrong to do so. Maybe she had needed that daily contact.
He knew he sure had.
But he hadn't wanted to bother her, since her plate was already overflowing!
And so, he had sacrificed his own wants and needs for hers.
But now, it looked like he had really misjudged the entire situation, and messed up the whole thing!
The truth was, Nathan Gant still found it hard to believe he could be the center of someone else's world unless, of course, it was Allie.
Yet as much as Millicent was now the center of his world too, he needed to start believing and acting like he was worthy to be the center of hers.
Because there was no doubt that he was, and deep down he knew it, with his entire being.
Millicent had made the fact that he was the center of her universe crystal clear, in the many ways she loved him.
'How could I have been so ridiculous?'
'Why have I held back from calling the love of my life during the day because I thought she was too busy?'
She would never in a million years consider him a bother, not even as an interruption!
The operator kept coming back on the line to explain that the Office switchboard was full, but she'd keep trying.
That made no sense, till Nathan remembered the time difference.
He was calling midafternoon her time, not at her lunchtime!
No wonder her office was busy!
After five minutes, the operator came back on to say the call was being sent through directly to a private line, then she excused herself as she made the connection.
Oh no, he remembered now!
Millicent had given him her private line, so he wouldn't have to go through her secretary. How could he have been so stupid?
She had meant for him to call her, but he had forgotten to give her his new work number. And without it, to reach him, she would have to go through Bill. Who would tease them both endlessly!
Thereby cutting off all communication between them during the day, unless he initiated it!
'How in the world did I miss that?'
She had wanted him, perhaps needed him, to call. It wasn't a bother. He wasn't a bother!
Never had been…
In Montreal, as Millicent stood by one of her large office windows, pausing to glance out over the park, trying to clear her mind to solve a problem with her senior staff, the phone on her desk rang in front of the people gathered round about it.
Millicent turned back to her desk to answer her private phone.
Even though on this particular day, she would have preferred not to have answered at all.
"Millicent Bradford. May I help you?"
It had to be a family member. She had only given this number to her family and to Nathan. And Nathan had chosen not to use it.
She understood.
She hadn't even minded, not really, just assuming her fiance was very busy at work!
But that still hadn't kept her from longing for him to call every single day, especially earlier, when all her staff went out to lunch together in pairs or larger groups.
Lunchtime was the loneliest hour of her day.
She was left in her office, grateful to have no one fussing over her, but still very much alone.
Since their Engagement, there had been no other choice, especially as the days grew closer to their Wedding, which now was the talk of the entire town!
Only her Security Team stayed behind to watch over her during that hour, but thankfully the building had been designed so they could even do that less obtrusively, remaining in an alcove, just outside her door, as well as being stationed throughout the building as the situation demanded it
Yet that one hour more than any other hour in the day made being separated from Nathan and Allie almost more than she could bear.
She had so hoped she and Nathan could use that time to catch up on each other's day, in order to free their evening calls just for the three of them.
But that hadn't happened, and instead, she ended up grieving their absence.
Once she made it through that dismal hour, she would go back to her work with a vengeance, which allowed her to dismiss her sad thoughts and relegate them to the back of her mind.
This was where she was now, back fully in work mode, in the middle of a senior staff meeting!
It was just that during her previous lunch hour she had felt so terribly alone, more so than ever.
To be perfectly frank, she had been hoping Nathan would call, at least occasionally, during her workday.
She hadn't even cared when; she just needed to hear his voice to get through her long days.
Though she had assumed he would call during his lunchtime, as that was usually his only free time during the day.
Yet day after day went by with no call.
Evidently, the connection right now was iffy, so she spoke again, a bit louder.
"Millicent Bradford. May I help you?"
"Yes, my Darling! You most certainly may!"
"Nathan! It's you! Oh, how I love hearing your voice. What an unexpected surprise this is!"
She motioned for her senior colleagues to give her privacy, and as they quickly filed out one by one to her waiting area, she turned her attention back to her Love!
"I'm all yours, Darling!"
"Mil, it just dawned on me, I've been such a toad!"
"What do you mean? That can't possibly be true!"
"Yes, it is true, and I'm hoping I can make it up to you!"
"There's nothing to make up for," she insisted.
"Mil?"
"Yes?"
"Have lunch with me!"
"Lunch, have you lost your mind my Darling? We are miles and miles apart!"
"That's no reason we can't have lunch together! Today, this very day!"
"Nathan, are you okay?"
"More than okay! Have lunch with me Millicent every day till we are together again!"
"But, there's a difference in time zones!"
"I know, but I'll just bump up my lunch by an hour or so, and you bump yours back. And we'll meet in the middle. We can make this work! I promise we can! And Love, I need you!"
He could hear her sigh over the line. Was it a sigh of relief, a happy sigh? He certainly hoped so.
"We're eating here in just a bit, but I know you've already had lunch," at least he was hoping so.
"Actually, I didn't eat anything. In fact, my lunch is still sitting on my credenza!"
"Then why don't we have our lunch together, as soon as mine gets here? Can you be free?"
"Yes, I'm just dealing with a few senior staff issues. It's nothing that can't wait!"
"Great, Miss Bradford, the presence of your company is requested for lunch, every single day we're apart!"
"How did you know that's when I needed you most?"
"Forgive me, Mil! Like a dunce of a toad, I forgot to give you my new work number, plus I hesitated to call you, knowing how terribly busy you are! I'm so very sorry. You'll have to forgive me, it's just that I'm not used to this being cherished thing!"
"You'd better get used to it, Love! Because you are cherished! Abundantly so!"
"I promise, I am, Mil! I also promise I'll never take any of this for granted either! Never again!"
"Nathan, you haven't taken me for granted. You were just being considerate of me, and I was being considerate of you. Or at least we thought we were being. Let's just be more direct next time, so we don't misunderstand each other. We just need to tell each other more clearly what we need. Perhaps I didn't realize I needed to talk with you mid-day so terribly! So, this is my fault as much as yours! And by the way, you are not at all a toad, my handsome fiance! You are my Prince Charming! Well, maybe a frog then, so I can prove it by kissing you!"
Nathan chuckled.
"You know better than anyone, Mil, that our lives haven't always been the easiest, and it's like our new life together is so full of love and joy, so perfect, filled with all the other things that were missing before, that sometimes my head can't comprehend this is our new reality!"
"Nathan, no one is more deserving of love than you! Don't you know that?"
"I do, Mil, now, and it's all because of you. You've taught me that. It's like suddenly being given everything easy and wonderful when you're used to getting everything difficult and even painful!"
"Nate, I'm so very, very sorry. All that's in the past, my Darling. Don't you see? You and I together will create positive things in our futures! So much so, that's all you will expect! A reprogramming of sorts!"
"I'm beginning to see the extreme disconnect in my mind. But most of that past is positively beautiful, Love, because it comes with you! It's you who is helping me get rid of that painful part!"
"I just adore you, you know, Nathan?"
"I do know, and the feeling is exactly the same, Millicent! You know that it is!"
"I do!"
"I just want everything to be perfect for you! And sitting here thinking of you is not enough. Not nearly enough. Bill's going to be bringing my lunch anytime now! Is yours still edible?"
"I don't know! I haven't even seen what it is. Let me look!"
She turned and lifted the silver dome from her platter of food to find tiny Sandwiches along with a Chilled Fruit Salad and Iced Tea with melted ice.
"It all looks edible!"
"Then let's talk, till my lunch gets here. Then we'll eat together!"
"I have a confession, too, Nathan!"
"I'm all yours."
"The truth is, I'm sort of a prisoner in my office during lunch, these days. Well, no 'sort of' about it!"
"Mil, that's terrible! But why?"
"Since our Engagement and now particularly that the Wedding is drawing closer, everywhere I go, there are Photographers and Reporters! It's just too difficult to grab lunch, Love, especially with a client. It overwhelms them so, and of course, removes their privacy! So, instead, lunch is ordered in for propriety's sake, as that's really all we can do! Then Security leaves me all alone to eat it."
What she didn't say, but he somehow now realized, she never seemed to touch it, using the time to reflect on missing him and Allie, instead.
Now he understood.
No wonder she was losing weight!
'Thank you, God! For making me see!'
"I'm so very sorry, Millie! I had no idea it had gotten that bad! Why didn't you tell me, Love?"
"I didn't want you to worry! I'm strong. I can make it through."
"Mil, I know you are strong and I know you can make it through, but you shouldn't have to all alone. And no longer will you! I'm here, Darling, every single day I possibly can be! Till we're together again!"
"Oh, Nathan, that means everything! I've just been missing you and Allie so terribly," and suddenly all that tension from missing them broke. "I want our evenings to be free to just talk with each other, without the clutter of the day!"
And at the same time, all the pent-up tension from missing her lessened in Nathan.
"Our evening calls will definitely now be clutter-free, my Darling!"
They both could feel the release in each other.
She still missed him and Allie terribly, just as he missed her, but now, the two of them were going to have a few private moments every day, working through necessary details together right in the middle of their workday, when they both needed each other the most! Leaving their evening call free, fun, open, stress-free, and totally about them!
"I love you, Millicent Bradford. I love you more than the sky, the sun, and the moon!"
"I love you, Nathan Grant! You are my whole world…"
Still on the phone with Millicent, Nathan glanced up as he heard the main door slam.
Before long, Bill came bustling into Nathan's Office with his loud booming voice preceding him, almost loud enough to be heard throughout the entire building!
"Nathan! Here's lunch! Ready to eat?"
Nathan used his free hand to shoo Bill away, as Millicent giggled on the other end.
"Bill, please," Nathan begged.
But without taking the plea and devoid of any mercy whatsoever, Bill, instead, plopped down and made himself comfortable, spreading out the lunch food across Nathan's desk, to his young colleague's utmost dismay!
"Is that Millicent? Let me talk to my Girl!"
"Millicent, Bill wants to speak to you!"
Nathan rolled his eyes, as Bill grabbed the phone!
"Millicent, my Girl, how are things in Montreal?"
"With this call, and this lunch, Bill, things just got a whole lot better! How is Nathan really doing?"
"You want the truth?"
"Bill," cried out Nathan in anguish, fearful of what was coming next. "Don't scare her to death!"
Nathan just shook his head as Bill totally ignored him!
"He's like a pitiful lost puppy without you, Millicent! Speaking of which, is it alright if I get Allie a puppy for Christmas?"
Millicent laughed.
And Nathan could hear the lyrical sound of it through the line Bill was commandeering, making him long for her all the more!
"I'm all for it, if the man of the house agrees, that is!"
"Hmph! Like he matters!"
"Bill! Ask Nathan! He most certainly does matter, and I'm serious!"
"Bill Avery! What are you up to?" growled Nathan, till he finally gave up and just decided to go with the flow.
"Talking to Millicent! Can you please be quiet?"
"Excuse me, who am I to want to speak to my own fiancee?"
Nathan ran his fingers through his hair, a sign he was greatly dismayed, and at his nerves' end.
There was no way to control Bill whatsoever!
He had just commandeered Nathan's call.
So why even try?
At least, Millicent seemed to be enjoying their crazy first long-distance lunch together, including their grievous and uninvited interloper!
And so, the conversation continued over a three-way lunch, and somehow as crazy as it was, it was exactly what Millicent needed.
Nathan wasn't sure, but he believed he could even hear Millicent actually eating bites of her food between their words.
And that was more precious to him than the wealth of the world!
The most important Mission of his day now accomplished.
He had distracted her and loved her, and she had relaxed because of it!
Plus, lunch was going to be something to look forward to now, from here on out, each and every day.
For both him, and for Millicent!
Now, if he could only figure out a way to get rid of Bill!
He'd have to work on that one.
And Nathan intended to do just that, giving it his total concentration, along with all the people skills the Mounties had taught him…
(*65) Information from Various Resources, Private Domain
(*66) O Canada, Canadian National Anthem, Originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day Ceremony; Composer Calixa Lavallee, Lyrics by the Poet and Judge Sir. Adolphe-Basile Routhier, Public Domain