Hope Leads the Heart
Chapter 12 Recruits and Mentors
While it had taken a while to decide on a topic, Elizabeth found it easy to put together an outline for her book on the Mounties. She wanted to delve into everything about them from their history, to their recruiting and selection process, to training, operations and assignments, as well as famous criminal cases. Jack had shared some of his work with her, but after the complexities she witnessed during Nathan and Bill's work on the Spurlock-Bouchard case, she discovered that she wanted to know so much more. Her personal connection to one of the key players in that case, made her all the more diligent in collecting information and doing her research.
Elizabeth had been visiting the Mountie office in Hamilton regularly, and was grateful for the welcome she had received from the gentlemen in red serge. She had been given access to historic training and recruitment records, operational documents, and criminal case files. Mountie leadership was more than accommodating in answering her questions, even though they understood her connection to Lucas Bouchard. A few of the Mounties remembered her late husband, Jack Thornton, and were delighted when she brought his son with her on one occasion.
Nathan Grant's outstanding work in bringing Bouchard, Spurlock, and Wyman Walden to justice was well known throughout Western Canada, and his investigative techniques and records were being used to train new recruits. While Elizabeth felt an enormous sense of pride that Nathan was so highly regarded for his work, she also felt renewed embarrassment about her connection to one of the key players in the wrongdoings. To his credit, Nathan had never openly judged her and she hoped that one day she could have a discussion with him to make amends for her behavior toward him and to Allie.
On this particular day in the office, Elizabeth was delving into training curriculum and transcript files. She reverently touched Jack's file, and was pleased to see so many good grades and glowing reports from his superiors. From all indications, Jack had studied hard and mastered the tough courses on territory law, survival techniques, self-defense, and Mountie protocols. He had earned a marksman badge for his work with a rifle, too. Elizabeth quickly reviewed the locations of his Mountie work assignments and stopped to think about the document in front of her, that recorded his assignment to Coal Valley. She remembered their first meeting in the makeshift classroom of the saloon.
"Oh, Jack. How I wish you were here to see your son! He looks so much like you, and loves to salute the Mounties he meets. He loves to listen to stories and to play with his toys, too. The little wooden Mountie Nathan gave him is one of his favorites," said Elizabeth aloud.
She thought of the handsome, slightly awkward Mountie who was so thoughtful and caring towards her son as well as to her. A smile came to her face as she again vividly remembered his blue eyes, smile, and striking stature. Yes, she always loved how wonderful he looked in that Red Serge, but she almost preferred his simple work shirts, work pants, and suspenders! There was no pretense about Nathan and what you saw was what you got- a loyal friend, a devoted father, and a protector of all those in Hope Valley that he served. For a second, she was aware of a disturbing flutter in her stomach.
Making her way through the documents, she came across Robert's file. He, too, had worked hard to achieve good grades and graduate with honors and as she read through all the reports, she felt like a mother hen who had watched one of her little chicks grow up and reach for their dreams! She also remembered the positive influence Nathan had been on Robert. Encouraging him to think carefully about his decision, Nathan answered all Robert's questions and spent a great deal of time with Robert, having him observe the daily work of a Mountie from prisoner transfers, to making rounds, to writing endless reports for headquarters. What Nathan didn't realize, was that he also served as a fine example of a Mountie who also found time to spend with the one most important person in his life- Allie. Robert was indeed fortunate to gain a lot of insight from watching Nathan balance his professional and personal responsibilities, Elizabeth thought. She was sure that he would be a fine Mountie and she regretted that she wasn't around Hope Valley to watch Robert in his first assignment. She was confident that he had learned well and would be another fine example of law enforcement for the community, just as his mentor was before him.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth reached for the last, and thickest file in the stack. It was Nathan's, and she found herself eagerly delving into its' contents. Nathan's transcripts recorded a good student with average to above average grades. He excelled at marksmanship and physical endurance skills required of the brutal training regimen, but struggled somewhat with the mathematics challenges presented to him. Elizabeth smiled at that, as she remembered him to be a parent who eagerly helped his daughter with her advanced mathematics homework. She was both shocked and a little angry to read some of the comments provided by Nathan's mentors and the Superintendent. One of the Superintendent's reports was especially disturbing.
"I question whether Nathan is fully committed to making the personal sacrifices required of a good Mountie," read the Superintendent's report. "He has left twice in the middle of the training period to attend to family matters with his mother and his sister. He followed that by asking for special consideration and a leave of absence in lieu of timely reporting to the location of his first assignment. This particular request caused a staffing crisis and necessitated that another young Mountie be transferred from a favorable assignment that he had earned, to a lesser one that Constable Grant was unable to fulfill at the time. It is the opinion of this Superintendent, that Constable Grant be closely monitored. A Mountie must fulfill his responsibilities to the uniform first, and keep personal challenges from interfering with timely execution of duties. Any further absences should be met with suspension leading to discharge."
As Elizabeth pondered the report, she came across a copy of the assignment letter that was sent to Nathan and gazed at the date in question. Underneath it, was a formal request for a leave of absence that was signed by Nathan. Her eyes opened even wider as awareness swept over her in a heated wave and she frantically reached for another set of documents.