Chapter 17:

Note: I remind you that this is a Mr. Enjoy fiction!

"They found an arrangement in court. Theodore got a much lighter prison sentence than James. I intercepted on his behalf, as you requested, Abigail." Bill informed his dearest friend as they both sat at a table in the cafe outside in the sunshine. "Richardson will take 20 years for fraud, theft, and breach of trust in more than a dozen cities over 25 years. And Smith will take life in prison for the same charges, as well as conspiracies and manipulation on Theodore."

Abigail sighed, closing her eyes. She tilted her head back a little to feel the sun caress her face. She took her steaming cup of tea in her hands and lifted it to her lips.

"I feel a little sorry for Theo, despite what he has done." she declared softly.

"I get it, he was your close friend after all." Bill nodded. "I haven't had a chance to apologize, Abigail."

The town mayor opened her eyes to Bill, confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"From the punch I put on Henry." Bill hesitated. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't know how to apologize."

Abigail smiled sweetly at her friend.

"Thank you, Bill. After what you've done for our town by exposing Theo and James, I can't blame you." Abigail began. "But what I would like is for you to apologize to Henry, above all. You owe him an apology."

Abigail saw the town sheriff wince. She already knew in advance that it was going to be hard for him. He had never been a fan of Henry, and now he had to apologize to him.

"I will do it."

Abigail smiled, closing her eyes again to enjoy the calm and sunshine of the morning.

Henry was at his desk. He intended to head to the saloon for dinner soon. He was trying to work but he could not. He was not advancing. He just had a smile on his face. He thought of Abigail. He only thought of her. What happened to him was exceptional. He was afraid it was all just a dream. He constantly felt like something bad was about to happen. Maybe Abigail was going to tell him she was wrong? With everything that had happened with Theodore Richardson—his scam—he did not really know how Abigail felt, though they'd chatted a bit since then.

But when he looked up to see her showing up in his office: he knew. He knew that was not what Abigail was going to tell him. Henry quickly got up from his seat and walked over to her. Abigail looked him in the eyes for a moment before speaking.

"Theo got 20 years in prison."

"Oh… Aren't you too sad?" Henry asked cautiously.

Abigail shook her head from side to side.

"No." She put her right hand on Henry's left cheek. "I think he fully deserved this sentence. And... I'm in love with you, Henry. So, I'm extremely happy right now."

Henry froze. He had not expected her to tell him that. Hearing this, he pulled Abigail closer, pulling her by the hips and crushing his mouth against hers. Abigail responded with equal fervor and adoration. Henry backed up to the couch which was in a secluded spot in the office. He sat down on it, still pressed against Abigail's lips, and pulled her into his lap. She settled there comfortably while continuing to kiss her lover with passion.

Henry held Abigail close to him. His hands caressed her back. He wanted her. It was undeniable. He wanted her more than anything. However, he would never take the first step. The last thing he wanted was to rush her, hurt her or anything.

Henry was still kissing Abigail when he felt her start to fidget. He felt her move on top of him. She rubbed back and forth on Henry. The latter felt his cock waking up. He was feeling a lot right now. He let Abigail pleasure herself. He saw her in a new light. He was discovering a side of her that he never even thought one day. He was happy because he knew Abigail acted like this because she felt completely confident with him. She always gave to others without expecting anything in return. It did not surprise Henry that it was the same with her husband or with Theo. Abigail always had to think about the people she loved. He knew it was the first time she had dared to do such a thing.

Henry began to kiss Abigail's neck tenderly as she continued to rub against him more and more jerkily. Henry felt his member more aroused than ever but totally ignored it. It was for Abigail. His attention was entirely focused on his lover. She emitted small moans which made her totally sexy. She had slightly rosy cheeks which Henry found even more attractive. He caressed her face continuing to kiss her wherever he could. Then, when he felt Abigail come to her breaking point, he kissed her passionately on the lips. Abigail jerked and moaned into Henry's mouth. She gripped his hair and back tighter until she released the pressure gently. She calmed down little by little by laying her head on the shoulder of her lover. Henry hugged her until she looked up a few minutes later. Her cheeks were rosy with embarrassment this time and looked away from Henry.

The latter met her gaze with determination and smiled tenderly, stroking her cheek.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me. I had never done this before…"

"It was exceptional. You were so gorgeous. You can't apologize for that."

For good measure, Henry once again kissed the one he loved more than anything.

"Do I owe you…?"

Henry immediately understood that Abigail thought she owed him something. She thought she had to return the favor.

"Abigail, no." Henry stated firmly. "You don't owe me anything. You will never owe me anything Abigail, don't get me wrong."

Abigail smiled and nodded gently. She rested her head on her lover's shoulder and was transported into a world between consciousness and unconsciousness, full of Henry's dream highlighted by his intoxicating scent.

Henry smiled broadly, he lay down on the sofa with Abigail still in his arms and fell asleep momentarily, totally happy.

Rosemary, Lee, and Elizabeth, carrying a happy baby Jack in her arms, walked side by side down the wide, almost entirely dark alley of Hope Valley. Winter was about to set in, and night was falling faster and faster.

The friends had just come out of the saloon where the three of them had dinner with baby Jack.

"It was a wonderful evening! Thank you for inviting the Coulters." laughed Elizabeth still holding baby Jack in her arms.

"It is always a pleasure to spend time with you Elizabeth." Lee exclaimed.

Rosemary, in response to the teacher's comment, smiled and took her arm.

They walked a few more moments in silence, enjoying the coolness of early winter when Rosemary noticed something abnormal.

"Henry's office light is on…"

The three friends stopped not far from Gowen's Petroleum looking in that direction.

"I don't see Henry." Elizabeth said.

"I'd better go check it out." Lee said suddenly. "Henry is having stress-related health issues with his company now. Maybe something happened to him. It's not normal that he's still here at this hour."

"We are coming too." Rosemary said firmly, dragging Elizabeth and baby Jack with her.

The three friends slowly opened the door to Henry's office. Lee entered first. At first, he could not see Henry anywhere, then he froze on the spot totally stunned by the sight that was held before his eyes. Rosemary came in and gasped in surprise as she looked in the direction her husband was staring at.

Henry was lying on the couch with Abigail held tightly in his arms. They were huddled together, presumably asleep.

Elizabeth spotted the couple in turn and mentally slapped her forehead for not thinking of this possibility before entering Henry's office. Why would he be in his office at this hour, other than to see a woman he was madly in love with?

Despite the situation, Elizabeth smiled at the sight before her eyes.

Henry heard a commotion around him and woke up with a start. It took him a moment to adjust his eyes to the light in his office. Then he saw Lee, Rosemary and Elizabeth holding baby Jack in her arms, watching him. He was totally disoriented. Why were they all there? And why was he sleeping on the couch in his office? Then he felt a weight on his chest and steady breathing in his neck. Everything suddenly came back to him. Abigail. He turned his gaze to her to make sure she was still sleeping peacefully. Then he waved to his three friends to ask them not to make noise so as not to wake Abigail.

Rosemary smiled broadly. She had expected anything but this. She had sensed something was going on between Abigail and Henry, but she had not been able to put her finger on it. But now she felt completely stupid and ashamed. She, Rosemary Leveaux Coulter, a great romantic journalist had not been able to realize the nascent story between two beings that everything had opposed from the start. Who would have thought that such a thing could have happened?

The three friends slowly backed towards the door and reentered the cold of the night.

"I'm… in shock…" Lee said on the way back to their house.

"I must admit that I do too. I had detected something, but I didn't know what it was." Rosemary said slowly. "But they are both really beautiful."

"It's true. I'm happy for Henry. This is exactly what he needed in his life." smiled Lee. "But I worry about the reaction of others."

"Well." Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and the Coulter couple did the same. "To be honest. Now that you know about Henry and Abigail… I'll let you guess why Bill hit Henry the other day…" the young teacher hesitated.

Rosemary opened her mouth in shock.

"You mean, not only did you know from the start. But is that also why Bill hit Henry?" exclaimed Rosemary.

"I was not aware from the beginning either." laughed Elizabeth under the falsely vexed gaze of her great friend.

"And do other people know?" Lee asked.

"There's Carson and Faith who know about it but took it very well. And there is also Clara who had a lot of trouble accepting this situation, let's say…"

"I can't imagine when Florence and Molly will find out…" Rosemary said sadly.

"Yes...and I'm counting on you to keep it a secret. It's up to them to decide what they want to do." Elizabeth insisted, looking straight into her friend Rosemary's eyes.

"What! Why are you looking at me, Elizabeth?" exclaimed the former actress in incomprehension.

Lee burst out laughing. "Go Rosy. It's time to go home."

Notes: Hello! I'm back. I'm sorry for the wait. Basically, last week I was in exam week, so I had no time to write.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. The noose begins to tighten around Henrigail's relationship. It's getting harder and harder to hide it. Plus, it seems to be getting pretty hot between them haha!