Chapter 12:
"Bill…" Elizabeth sighed as she sat down next to him on the steps outside the office.
Bill had tears in his eyes as he looked at Elizabeth. Little Jack's mother softens.
"Oh Bill…"
"I missed everything with Abigail. Both when we met and now. I tried to redeem myself by investing in her café that HENRY had tried to sell to her. Which HENRY had tried to shut down. And in which HENRY had invested in taking over Abigail's house, before telling her that her café didn't have much chance of working." Bill cupped his face in his hands and then he sighed in annoyance.
"Not once did Henry Gowen do anything good in his life. I have known him for years; he has always worked out of interest. Already when I was married to Nora, he circled around her to harm me. He was the one who framed Abigail's husband. Do you remember Elizabeth? The way she was in before the trial?" Bill was beside himself.
"He did all the worst dirt on her imaginable. And Abigail, always so adorable, she helped him, she allowed him not to end up in prison, to come back after the December holidays with us. »
Bill shut up completely angry. He could not calm down. He could not. Hitting Henry had only eased his annoyance and frustration temporarily.
"Bill..." Elizabeth called softly, putting her hand on the sheriff's arm. "It is clear that Henry has wronged Abigail for years. But he tries to redeem himself, he is protective of her, not once does he take his eyes off her. I saw it. Through events that we organize in the saloon, or during gatherings and mass on Sundays. He is always afraid that something will happen to her. He comes to eat at the café every day. He brought Becky back to her, at the risk of receiving an even heavier prison sentence. He saved Lee's business. He invested for Abigail and for fear of disappointing her he preferred to give her money from his own pocket rather than reveal to her that the company had sunk. When Rye Wyatt opened his canteen, he was the only one who went to Abigail's cafe to eat there. These are not things to put aside." Elizabeth paused, giving Bill a chance to respond. When he did not react, she continued.
"Henry never forced Abigail to help him in anything. Everything she did, she did in her soul and conscience. Because she saw something in Henry."
Bill nodded, calming down a bit at his friend's words.
"I was just as surprised as you. Plus, with Theodore coming to town and the rumors going around, it feels like we don't know Abigail. But that's her private life, Bill. I hadn't seen it before at Abigail's, but it's clear she cares a lot about Henry. It's obvious they're in love, Bill." The sheriff suddenly looked up at hearing Elizabeth's words. "Abigail is our friend; we must support her. You shouldn't have hit Henry."
"I know..." Bill sighed defeated, shaking his head. "I know…"
"Good! All is well for Henry." declared Carson, who appeared in the halfway door with Faith by his side. "You're lucky Bill, Henry doesn't want to press charges against you."
Bill remained unmoved.
"How is he?" asked Elizabeth.
"Good, we stitched up his wound, but he will have to rest for a day or two before returning to work."
"Don't worry, he's in good hands." Faith smiled at Elizabeth.
Bill lowered his head.
"I don't doubt it for a second." Elizabeth smiled back. "Thank you for coming."
"It's normal Elizabeth. See you later." the doctor said as he descended the stairs. As he passed, he patted Bill on the back.
"See you later." Faith smiled following Carson.
Elizabeth watched them head for the infirmary.
"We'd better get back to our business. Abigail is not able to answer our questions. I'll ask her later in the evening for Mr. Preetcher, don't worry."
Bill nodded.
"See you later." and he went to his office.
Elizabeth watched him close the door behind him before sighing and leaving as well. Seeing Henry and Abigail kissing had taken her completely by surprise at first. Not once could she have even imagined such a thing. But ultimately, she should have seen it coming. She needed to have a serious discussion with her closest friend.
"Henry…" Abigail called, kneeling in front of him, while he was still sitting on the couch in his office.
"It's okay Abigail. It's nothing, it's over." Henry reassured her.
Abigail cupped her face in her hands and stroked her hair. Henry rested his head on Abigail's left shoulder and closed his eyes. He let himself be lulled by her gentle caresses.
"It was something." Faith said, hanging her jacket on the coat rack when she returned to the clinic with Carson.
"It's certain. I don't know what surprises me most about this story. Whether Henry and Abigail are completely in love or Bill almost disfigures Henry."
"Personally, I don't find it surprising that Bill hit Henry. He always harbored such hatred towards him. So, to see an ex-criminal turned around a woman like Abigail, who besides is so close to Bill…" Faith stopped. "It must have driven him crazy."
Carson turned to his nurse who had, very recently, become his companion.
"I had seen that Henry was different around Abigail. But I hadn't seen how much. Abigail changed this man. And it was far from over."
Faith laughs. Carson was totally right. She could not even figure out how Abigail had achieved this feat.
Of course, when Abigail returned home that evening, rumors had been circulating in town. Rumors that Bill had punched Henry, that Abigail had helped Henry get home by holding his arm, and that they looked closely. Apparently, he had supported himself by holding her by the hip.
When she opened her door in the evening, she was surprised to find Elizabeth and Clara talking at the table over a cup of tea.
"Elizabeth?"
The teacher stood up and walked over to Abigail.
"How is Henry doing?"
Clara sat watching the discussion between the two women. She had heard about what happened today. She could not believe Bill hit Henry. Especially since no one knew the reason for this altercation between the two men.
"He tells me it's okay… But… I…"
"You worry about him." Elizabeth smiled.
"Yes." Abigail breathed. "I don't understand why Bill did this."
"Are you sure you don't understand?" insisted baby Jack's mother.
"Henry didn't deserve this." Abigail said sadly.
"Of course not."
Abigail sighed again and sat down heavily in the chair closest to her at the table. She put her hands over her face. Elizabeth, faced with her friend's distress, approached her, and stroked her shoulders.
"It will be fine, Abigail."
Abigail nodded.
"I have to talk to Theo…"
"I think, indeed, that it is the moment." Elizabeth agreed.
There was a silent moment before Abigail said:
"I'm going to bed." declared the mayor of the city. "Is Cody in bed?"
"Yes, you can go see him, he is reading a book." Clara replied.
Abigail rose from her chair, kissed Elizabeth, and Clara, and walked up the stairs.
Clara and Elizabeth looked at each other.
"Why did Bill hit Henry? What happened?"
Elizabeth hesitated for a long time as she looked at Clara but decided to tell her what had happened.
The more Elizabeth's story progressed; the more Clara's face fell.
"Abigail with Henry?!" screamed Clara. She rose from her chair near the table. "Are you kidding Elizabeth!"
"It's the truth." the teacher said seriously.
"But that's not possible Elizabeth! Abigail can't do this!"
"Why are you reacting this way, Clara? They love each other! If you had seen them…"
"They love each other ?!" Clara cut in. "Do you hear yourself talking? Henry always ruined Abigail's life! It was against him that we had to fight during the mining scandal a few years ago! He tried to thwart Abigail with the coffee. He embezzled the funds of the city, and he went to prison! He's scamming Jesse with his oil company! What more do you need to realize that this is totally insane! Bill did well to hit Henry."
"You don't think so Clara…" Elizabeth tried to reason with Clara.
"Of course, I think so, Elizabeth. Can't you remember all the times Abigail was devastated because of Gowen?"
"He changed… Abigail changed Henry; you know that very well."
"People can't change that much..."
"And Jesse? You are in the best position to know that people can change."
Clara sighed in realization and defeat at what she, too, had thought noticed between Henry and Abigail. She sat back in her chair.
"I had seen it…" Clara began. "I mean, between Henry and Abigail… But I really thought I was making up my mind and I didn't want to believe it."
Elizabeth sat down next to Clara and took her hands.
"I know Clara… The important thing is that Abigail feels good."
"But right now, Abigail is no longer herself. I don't recognize her. This Theodore Richardson completely confused her and now Henry…"
"I think Abigail will speak with Mr. Richardson. She can't do otherwise." Elizabeth stated firmly.
"May be. But I worry about her. She is my only family."
"I understand."
"How are people going to react to her relationship with Henry? Did you see the way Bill got carried away? And me too?" Clara cupped her face in her hands. "Abigail is going to go through hell."
Elizabeth was pensive. Clara was not entirely wrong. There were only five people aware of Henry and Abigail and two people had reacted very badly. So, what about the others? The inhabitants of this city loved rumors and gossip. It would definitely be a bomb. Abigail was already the center of attention with her friend Richardson. They had heard and seen sides of her that no one had ever glimpsed before. Everyone had a hidden side. But seeing it was something else.
That same evening, Bill came out with a bag from the Sheriff's office. He headed for the stables to fetch his horse. Then, when he approached the barn, he heard two men talking.
"But you are completely oblivious. Do you realize what you did at least?" said one of the two men Bill identified as Theodore Richardson's investor: Michael Vance.
"It's not a big deal, I haven't used it for more than 20 years." whispered the second man Bill recognized as Mr. Richardson himself.
Bill landed in the barn where he saw the two men who turned surprised towards him. They fell silent and looked at the sheriff.
"Are you okay gentlemen?" Bill asked subtly.
"It's all right Mr. Avery." Mr. Vance said.
"Sheriff Avery." Bill cut in.
"Sheriff Avery." Resumed the investor. "We were discussing the progress of Mr. Richardson's exhibition."
"Oh." Bill walked over to the two men. "And you discuss it in the stables?"
Theodore frowned uncomfortably.
"In fact, I was planning to take my horse to go and paint the stars tonight. My investor just followed me to talk to me." Theodore explained. "Besides, I already have a few canvases ready with me. Do you want to see them?" Theodore asked as he began to unbuckle his satchel.
"No. Thank you, but I must go. I wouldn't be back for a while." Bill walked over to his horse and began to groom him. "But I will be happy to see them when I return."
"Where are you going if it's not too indiscreet?" Mr. Vance asked.
"Oh, I happened to be called in to run my first case as a judge in Cape Fullerton." Bill explained as he hooked his pack to his horse and rode it. "Good, gentlemen. I wish you a good evening and I hope you have good next few days in our small town."
"Thank you, Sheriff." Mr. Vance answered Bill.
Bill nodded at the two men and trotted off, frowning. After this little meeting, he no longer had any doubts about the achievement of the mission he had personally assigned to himself.
Michael Vance and Theodore Richardson watched the sheriff leave into the night, doubtful looks on their faces.
Note: Well, well, well! I hope you still love it. How will the townspeople react when they find out about Abigail and Henry's relationship? How will Theo react? Is Bill really going to Cape Fullerton?