A/N I wanted to give a special Shout Out to MELISSA ATWOOD FOR BEING MY BETA AND CO-AUTHOR ON THIS STORY. She has been my encourager behind the scenes, and this story wouldn't be what is without her. Amy Medford has also been a big help too.
AUGUST 25,1918
William was talking to Bill, Lee, and Nathan about what happened earlier, and then the talk turned to a discussion of the school and the new school plans. Seeing that Elizabeth was distracted, he decided to discuss an idea from earlier.
"That reminds me of something that I wanted to talk to you about, Bill. Although, now that I think about it, I need input from the two of you as well." Lowering his voice, he continued, "Elizabeth's birthday is coming up, and I was wondering if we could possibly build a library in honor of her. Her mother and I would fund it and add more books. Maybe we could put it next to the school or close to town. We could enlarge it enough to have an office for a librarian and some space for people to read or work on research projects." William suggested. Then he looked at Nathan and asked, "Constable, could you possibly work with me on a design while I'm here?'
"Mr. Thatcher, I would be honored to work with you. But I insist you call me Nathan," Nathan replied.
"Fair enough, Nathan, but you must call me William," Elizabeth's father replied with a smile.
"When do you want to complete the job, William?" Bill asked.
"I was thinking that we could reveal it when we reveal the school design?" William suggested. "I want it paid in full before she finds out, though," William added with a chuckle.
"Sounds perfect," Bill said, "I think we can handle that, don't you, Lee?"
"I don't see a problem with that at all, William." Lee agreed. "As soon as you and Nathan have settled on the plan, I can give you a price on the cost of it. In fact, Nathan, since I'll be busy supervising the construction of the school, why don't you focus on the construction of the library." Not missing the significance of what Lee was offering, Nathan quickly agreed. It had been a while since he had been able to build anything, and he had sorely missed it. Hearing Allie's belly laughs, he looked over and saw that she was sitting with Elizabeth and Jack. Elizabeth was apparently telling her a funny story, and he smiled at the sight that only a month ago would have seemed impossible.
William noticed that Nathan's eyes had strayed to where Elizabeth, Allie, and Jack were interacting with Jack. He had a soft smile, and his heart was in his eyes as he watched them. William looked over at Bill and noticed that Bill saw the same thing in Nathan's eye as he did. William made a mental note to talk to Nathan before he left. He hadn't missed that same look in his daughter's eyes when she looked at the Grants and Jack together.
When dinner was over, Rosemary and Lee drove Samantha back to their house. Since it was a nice night, Elizabeth and William decided to walk home. They were joined by Nathan and Allie. When Jack saw that Nathan was joining them, he immediately held his arms up, wanting to be carried by his favorite person other than his mama. Elizabeth handed him over gratefully and took her father's arm, and gathering a sleepy Allie towards her.
"I still can't believe that you burned down the teacherage and worked in the coal mine Mrs. Thornton," Allie said with a giggle.
"Believe it because I lost everything I owned in that fire. Well, what wasn't stolen when the stagecoach was robbed." Elizabeth said. "For a week, I had to wear Mrs. Stanton's clothes and shoes."
In fact, the only thing left of the teacherage was the outhouse. For the longest time, it stood in the field where we held a Baseball game once.
"You held a baseball game, Mrs. Thornton?" Allie asked. "Do you like baseball?"
"Jack and I coached opposing teams using my students. It was Jack's suggestion when the original Coal Valley kids had a hard time mixing in with new kids." Elizabeth explained. "I had a great time coaching, and we were supposed to catch a Cubs game on our honeymoon in Chicago. But our plans changed when he got orders to Fort Clay. Judge Avery was our Umpire, and Mrs. Stanton and Jack got in a tussle with him over what they thought was a wrong call."
"Really?" Allie said.
"Oh yeah, they almost got thrown out of the game," Elizabeth said, giggling.
Nathan and William just listened to Allie and Elizabeth talk, and each filed the information away to ponder later. But Nathan was learning more and more about this new Elizabeth every day, it seemed. He knew that he loved her before but getting to know her this way, completely open and without secrets between them, was wreaking havoc on his heart.
As Elizabeth walked with Allie cuddled next to her, she felt Allie's arm come around her waist hesitantly at first but quickly tightened. The more that they talked, the more relaxed the young girl became with Elizabeth. It had taken some deep, difficult discussions with Allie, but it appeared that her relationship with Allie had turned a corner. She glanced over to Nathan and saw him cuddling a sleeping Jack. They all chuckled as Jack began to snore softly.
They reached the row houses, and Nathan directed Allie to start getting ready for bed. He was going to carry Jack home and would be right back.
When Elizabeth went to take him, Nathan simply said, "He may wake up, and then you'll have a hard time getting him back to sleep."
Elizabeth smiled and thanked him for his kindness and help. Allie opened the door, but before going in, she came back and gave Elizabeth an impulsive hug, said goodnight to William, and then ran in and closed the door.
"That's a very remarkable girl you have there, Nathan," William said. "Your Allie reminds me of Elizabeth when she was the same age." Elizabeth smiled over at Nathan, and he just winked at her knowing how significant that hug was.
As they approached, Elizabeth saw that Nathan was reluctant to let Jack go, so she asked, "Nathan would you be willing to carry him up and put him on his bed? I can get him changed, but probably not without waking him up as you said,"
Nathan smiled and said, "I would be glad to do that for you, Elizabeth," as he cuddled Jack a little closer to his chest. Jack rewarded him by putting his face into his neck. Nathan let out a sigh as his heart overflowed with love for his little buddy.
As they walked into Jack's room, Elizabeth walked over to the dresser to get Jack's pajamas while Nathan laid him down. She had been expecting that he would leave but just smiled as she turned. Instead of leaving, Nathan had taken his shoes off and begun lovingly removing his clothing. Realizing that Elizabeth was giving him an amused look, Nathan gave her a sheepish look and explained, "I guess you caught me. I really didn't want to give him up yet."
Elizabeth laughed and said, "It's all right, Nathan. I get that way sometimes about Allie after school. I had a feeling that was the case. Here why don't you finish?" Elizabeth said, handing over his pajamas. She went to step away and as she recalled his promise not to use Jack to further their relationship. "I'll meet you downstairs when you are finished.
"Oh, Elizabeth, you don't have to go," Nathan protested.
Elizabeth interrupted and said, "It's fine, Nathan. I always come in before I go to bed for the night. Besides, I don't think he'll wake up. Why don't you finish putting him to bed, and I'll see you downstairs."
As Elizabeth left the room, Nathan recalled the words that he had spoken to her when they had their discussion. He realized at that moment that she was actually fulfilling her promises that she would never use Jack to further things between her and Nathan. But was just recognizing the bond that Nathan felt with her son. It flooded his heart with warmth as, once again, Elizabeth was proving that she truly wanted to repair their relationship. As a result, his trust in her began to grow just a little more. With a final smile, he finished tucking Jack in and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Then after wishing a good night to William and Elizabeth, he headed home.
Over the next week, there were some huge developments in regard to the mine reopening. The first was the attempt by Jerome Smith to use a report by the man Henry said was paid to certify the safety of the mine. Using his report, Jerome attempted to get the judge to vacate this day. However, knowing that it would be attempted, Elizabeth and Henry arranged for the expert Sam new to issue his own report that stated under no circumstances could the mine be open safely due to continued rising levels of methane and overall instability of the mine shafts. Even if a proper ventilation system could be installed, it was also his recommendation that measures be taken to set off a detonation within the mine that could safely shut it down permanently.
However, Samantha had done her due diligence and picked the perfect judge because he refused to make a quick motion on what happened. This further infuriated Lucas, Jerome, and Arthur Gilcrest. It resulted in Sam and the attorney being hired by Jerome Smith to appear before the judge, who said he would have to take it all under advisement. A few days afterward, the attorneys were called back to appear in front of him, and the order was given that the mine was deemed dangerous and appropriate measures were to be taken that would ensure it could not be opened. He would also be issuing an order in such a way that would close any loopholes or leave any loophole that would allow such an action to be brought up again. It also paved the way for the contracts that had been signed regarding the investments and sale of the Oil company and the Queen of Hearts to be canceled.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1918
Just a week after they were notified about the mine, William's contacts found that Jerome Smith was wanted on charges of fraud and racketeering charges and falsifying official documents. Nathan and Bill were able to apprehend him quickly without an incident. The look on Lucas's face when they went to arrest Jerome was priceless. The third investor, whom no one had yet talked to, happened to be in town meeting with them at the time.
As expected, he did not know anything that had gone on before. And upon talking to him, they realized that he had been duped, and Samantha and Bill helped him get out of the deal. With two of the three investors unable or unwilling to fill the contract terms, the deal quickly fell apart. Two days later, Lucas Bouchard left town, and William got word from his contact that the saloon and the oil business were up for sale.
William looked up at the clock and knew that Elizabeth would be returning from her lunch date with the ladies in town. He had just gotten off the phone with his agent, who was negotiating with Bouchard. Their first offer was accepted, and the documents were signed. The other man had been so desperate for money that he didn't even appear to care about whom the buyer was, never thinking that it would have been someone from Hope Valley.
Elizabeth walked in with a smile. "Hello, Father. Thank you for watching Jack for me. Is he still napping?"
"Yes," William smiled. "He went down shortly after you left and should be getting up soon. I am really enjoying spending time with him."
"Well, the both of us are enjoying you being here too. I don't know what I would have done over these past months without your counsel and even more your support during the reopening of the mine fiasco." Elizabeth said, going over to hug him.
"I need to talk to you about something, Elizabeth," William said as she pulled back and went to put the kettle on.
"What's that, Father?" she asked as she came and sat down.
"Do you remember I told you what I suspected would happen when the deal fell apart?" William asked.
Elizabeth went on full alert and said, "Yes, I do. Have you heard back from the agent?"
"I did. The saloon and the oil company are both up for sale. I authorized the agent to go ahead and make him an initial offer of a low sum." William said, naming an amount.
"What was the response?" Elizabeth said.
"He took it because he is desperate for money. I assured him that we would wire the money without delay. I don't want to take any chances that someone else would step in." William said. "Do you have enough to pay for the sale?"
"More than enough, actually, with plenty left over. I've been thinking of establishing an improvement fund for here in town. I know the money is from a book I wrote, but I don't want to use it for personal use. Maybe I could use it to reach out to the community and do good with it instead?" Elizabeth said. "I was going to talk to the others before I did anything."
"Well, there is a school being built already, so maybe you could buy more supplies with it," William suggested.
"I'm actually thinking that I would maybe build a bigger library," Elizabeth said. "Then, of course, I know that Faith needs better equipment and maybe build a bigger infirmary."
William smiled as he thought of the plans for the library that Nathan had designed. William had been able to get ideas from Elizabeth without her knowing. Before William could say anything, Jack came downstairs looking for his mama.
After giving him a quick snack, she suggested they walk into town to take care of the bank transfer. They felt that the sooner they nailed it down, the better they would be. As they got to town, Nathan was getting back from rounds, and Jack immediately called out for him and Newton.
"Walking over to the Jail to say hello, she told Nathan they were on their way to the bank. After explaining about the purchase, Nathan offered to watch Jack in case something came along that kept Elizabeth and William longer than expected. An hour later, the agent called William and said they were now the proud owners of the Saloon and Oil company. A few days later, William Thatcher was on his way home with a new appreciation of his daughter and a new outlook on life. Before leaving town, he talked with Nathan and left the Constable with no doubt that he would fully support a match between him and Elizabeth should they ever decide to court.
