Elizabeth and Rosemary were admiring Faith's ring when a loud bang was heard from outside. The sound caught everyone's attention and a moment of silence followed. In that silence, Elizabeth's first thought was that Abigail and Nathan had left not long ago.
"That sounded like a gunshot," someone commented.
People started heading toward the door. Some grabbed coats on the way by, while others didn't. Elizabeth and Faith both passed by the coats without a thought to grabbing one as they hurried outside. Jesse, Mike and Carson were leading the crowd, which were now making comments as they headed into the street. None of those three men had coats on.
It was not long before the source of the commotion was spotted. Lucas was kneeling on the ground looking to where Nathan had his hands pressed against the chest of a third person. Elizabeth was not sure who the third person was, but she had a feeling that it was that person who had been shot.
"Carson, he's still alive," Nathan said, looking toward the approaching group.
Carson hurried forward. Elizabeth came to a stop even as Faith continued toward the group. Though she was relieved that neither Nathan nor Lucas seemed seriously injured, though Lucas looked to still be in shock, it was not either man who had caught Elizabeth's attention.
What had Elizabeth frozen to her spot was the familiar face in red serge. There, standing next to Nathan, who was still kneeling on the ground though he had moved back to give Carson and Faith room to work, stood Jack. The image of her late husband, put fingers to the brim of his campaign hat and nodded. Elizabeth blinked and then Jack was no longer there. Perhaps he had not been there at all.
"Nathan, are you hurt?" Lee was asking as he untied Nathan's hands.
Elizabeth felt something draped over her shoulders. Looking over her shoulder she saw Rosemary behind her. Her friend had brought her coat out to her.
"It's all his blood," Nathan said, nodding toward the supine body that some other men were helping Carson lift. Faith had her hands pressed against the man's chest. "I might be sore tomorrow, but I am fine."
"What happened?" Mike asked, in an attempt to get control of the situation. Elizabeth thought their mayor looked a little shaken but he was trying to appear in charge.
"Perhaps we should let them get inside before we sort things out," Constable Mackenzie said, having made his way through the crowd. He had taken the gun from Lucas' hands. "I would suggest getting Judge Avery here to decide if any other charges need to be brought up, but I am going to stay with Parks. As long as he is still breathing, he is in custody."
"That sounds like a good plan," Mike said, in agreement.
"Mackenzie, my gun is over by the boardwalk," Nathan said, nodding in the direction Abigail had tossed it, as he got to his feet. "You'll want to keep it for now."
The other Mountie nodded, retrieving the second gun before following the group heading for the infirmary.
"Lucas, Nathan, Abigail could we all go to the Mounted Police office and wait for Judge Avery," Mike instructed, looking around at the three he had named. This was his first crisis as mayor and Elizabeth thought it showed, even if the man was at least not falling apart.
Lee had helped the still dazed Lucas to his feet.
"I need someone to go get Judge Avery," Mike said looking around at the gathered crowd.
"I will go," Elizabeth said, finally getting over her own shock. "I'll stay with Ally until you get back, Nathan."
"Thank-you," Nathan replied, meeting her gaze. Elizabeth could see the relief in his eyes.
"Lee and I will relieve Laura so she can go home. We'll stay with Jack," Rosemary told her.
At the mention of Jack, Elizabeth looked toward where she had seen Jack Sr. Had she really seen him there? Jack had said in his last letter to her that he would be watching over the rest of her days. Little Jack had claimed his Daddy had told him to stay where he was until he was found. Had Jack been watching over their son that day?
"Thank you, Rosemary," Elizabeth said, pushing the questions aside for now. Bill was needed in town and Ally would need reassurance that her Dad was okay.
As Mike dispersed the rest of the crowd, Elizabeth hurried out to the row houses. Parks posed no danger to anyone right now. Elizabeth found herself wondering if the man would even live. There had been a lot of blood on Nathan's hands. She couldn't help but wonder if it would be better for Nathan and Ally if the man didn't live. He had escaped custody once. If he went back to jail he could do so again.
Reaching the Grants' home, Elizabeth knocked on the door. Bill answered the door.
"Elizabeth, is something wrong?" Bill asked, concern etched on his features.
"Parks showed up in town," Elizabeth told him. "I am not completely sure what happened, but Parks was shot. Nathan, Lucas and Abigail were all involved. Mike wants you to come into town to sort things out, as Constable Mackenzie is staying with Parks while Carson and Faith work on him. I told Nathan I would stay with Ally."
Bill nodded, reaching for his coat. He glanced to Ally who had just fallen asleep on the settee. She had finished her scrapbook but had been tired by the time she was done.
"Ally just drifted off for a nap," Bill told Elizabeth. "She finished her present for Nathan and I was working on cleaning up so he doesn't figure out what she made him."
"I'll finish cleaning up," Elizabeth said, as she stepped into the house.
"Ally made Nathan a scrapbook. It either needs to be wrapped or hidden in her room somewhere."
Elizabeth nodded. "I'll take care of it. Just go sort everything out so Nathan can come home to her," she told Bill.
"I will," Bill assured her. He placed a kiss on the top of Elizabeth's head before leaving through the front door.
Elizabeth closed the door behind him and then turned to face into the room. She had not been in the home in awhile, but not much had changed. At least for now, Ally could remain unaware of what was going on. Perhaps Nathan would even be home before the girl awoke from her nap. Moving quietly through the room, Elizabeth crossed over to the table which still had the remnants of the project scattered across it.
The scrapbook that Bill had mentioned was sitting among on the table. The front said, Merry Christmas Dad and had a picture of Ally and Nathan on it that looked as if it had been taken at Ned and Florence's wedding. Elizabeth looked back at the sleeping girl. She had made this for a gift for her Dad, and despite her own curiosity, Elizabeth decided that she was not going to look through it without permission.
Placing it safely aside, Elizabeth began the process of cleaning up the art supplies, and leftover pieces of fabric and paper.
"I am sorry I got you involved in all this, Abigail," Nathan said as he scrubbed at the blood on his hands at the basin in the Mounted Police office.
Abigail and Lucas were sitting in chairs on one side of Nathan's desk. Mike was pacing the room, nervous but pensive. It was clear that he was at least trying to think through the situation and make his own choices.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Nathan," Abigail replied looking over at him. "None of this is your fault. Though are you sure you are okay. It sounded like you hit the ground fairly hard when that man pulled you off your feet."
"I am fine," Nathan assured her. "Waking up tomorrow might be another story," he admitted.
Despite the situation, Abigail smiled.
Silence returned after that. The only sounds in the office were the splashing water as Nathan tried to get his brother-in-law's blood off his hands and Mike's pacing footsteps.
Nathan was turning from the basin of now red-tinged water, drying his hand when the door to the office burst open. Nathan's eyes met with Bill as the judge stepped into the room.
"Please tell me it wasn't you who shot Parks?" Bill asked, holding Nathan's gaze.
"It was not," Nathan told him.
"I pulled the trigger," Lucas said. It was the first words the man had uttered since the incident, having only been nodding yes or no to questions before this. "Or he did. I really don't know how the gun went off."
"Good," Bill replied, shutting the door behind him.
Lucas looked up at the judge. "Do you really hate me that much, Bill?"
Bill waved a hand dismissively as he walked over to the chair behind the desk. "That is besides the point. Given Nathan's past with Parks, even a claim of self defense is going to be scrutinized. You do not have any history with the man."
Mike had stopped his pacing and was standing against the wall facing Bill. Though he was clearly intent on being involved in the process, Hope Valley's mayor was not about to interfere with Bill's actions at that time. The judge surveyed the trio before him. Other than Nathan, Bill thought it an unlikely group to be involved in an incident with Parks.
"Abigail," Bill said, both his expression and tone of voice going softer as he addressed the woman. "How about you tell me your account of what happened and then you can go home to Cody?" he suggested.
Abigail nodded before starting the story with her and Nathan leaving the Queen of Hearts. Her voice was steady as she told the story of what happened, until she got to the point of being forced to tie Nathan's hands, where she got choked up. Nathan, who had been standing nearby, knelt down next to her chair.
"You did what you had to do, Abigail," Nathan told the woman, reaching out for her trembling hands.
"But if he had shot you after I tied your hands . . ." Abigail said, not finishing the thought.
"And he most likely would have shot us both if you had not," Nathan told her. "You did exactly what you needed to do and both you and I are safe because of that."
"Nathan is right, Abigail. Cooperating at that point was your only option," Bill said reassuringly. "What happened then?"
"Parks told me to walk away, in a direction away from the saloon. He told me if I called for help or turned back he would shoot Nathan. I did not turn around until I heard the gun go off."
Bill nodded. He looked up at Mike. "Could you walk Abigail home, Mike? I think she has been through enough tonight."
"Of course, Bill," Mike said, retrieving Abigail's coat from the hook it currently hung on. If the man was put off by the request he did not show it. Abigail was after all one of the citizens that he served.
When the door closed behind Abigail and Mike, Bill turned to Nathan. "When Abigail walked away, what happened?"
"Dylan was watching Abigail so I thought perhaps if I could get my hands free I could overpower him. I was still struggling with the bonds when someone else rushed by me and tackled Dylan. It turned out to be Lucas. They went down to the ground, wrestling for control of the gun. I was trying to get my hands free when the gun went off. Dylan went still on the ground. Lucas straightened up, the gun in his hand. I went forward and pressed my hands on the wound in Dylan's chest and people started coming outside. I did not remove my hands until Carson instructed me to do so."
"And you agree with Abigail's account up to that point?"
"I do," Nathan told him.
Bill turned to Lucas. "So how did you get yourself involved in all of this, Bouchard?"
"Well, I had thought I had seen someone at the window several times that night. Every time I checked though, I did not see anything. I thought perhaps I was just seeing things. However, shortly after Nathan and Abigail left, I saw a shadow go cross the side windows toward the front of the building. I decided to check it out. At first, I only saw Abigail and Nathan when I stepped outside. Then I noticed a person trying to hide in the shadows. I saw the person use the lasso to pull Nathan off his feet. I also saw that he had a gun so I found a hiding place. When the man was watching Abigail walk away, I saw an opportunity to take him by surprise. I rushed forward, trying to get a hold of the gun."
"We struggled for the gun. I was on top of the other man at this point. This is going to sound strange and maybe it is just because of the shock of everything, but I swear I saw a figure in red serge trying for the gun as well just before it went off. I can't explain it because Nathan is not in uniform and Mackenzie arrived afterwards but I saw red. Then the gun went off. I cannot tell you who pulled that trigger. It may have been me. It may have been the other guy. I froze for a bit, thinking at first I might have been the one shot but then the man was lying on the ground in front of me and the gun was in my hands."
Nathan glanced across the desk at Bill. He had his own thoughts about whom it had been in serge that Lucas had seen. Something in the older man's eyes, told Nathan that he had not been the only one to see the image of Jack Thornton Sr. lately.
"I've never shot a man before," Lucas said, his voice shaky.
Nathan reached out a hand to rest on the saloon owner's shoulder. Lucas might not be his favorite person, but he knew what the man was feeling. He remembered how it felt the first time that he had shot another man. It had been necessary, but it still did not make it easy.
"Do not feel too bad about it. I doubt Parks would feel any remorse if you were the one who got shot," Bill told Lucas as the office door opened again.
Constable Mackenzie stepped into the office.
"Parks is dead," the Mountie stated. "The doctors were not able to save him."
Lucas looked at the Mountie who had brought the news and then across the desk at Bill.
"Am I going to jail for murder?" Lucas asked.
Nathan gave Lucas' shoulder a reassuring squeeze as Bill answered.
"No," Bill replied. "Not only was Parks an escaped prisoner, but he was the aggressor in all of this. The gun went off while you were trying to get it away from Parks. By your own admission, you are not sure who pulled the trigger. Even if it was you, it was a clear case of defense, both of two others and you." Bill looked over at Constable Mackenzie. "No charges are going to be filed against anyone else involved. Dylan Parks death was an accident created by actions that Parks chose to take of his own free will."
Mackenzie nodded. Walking forward, he took Nathan's gun from where he had secured it in his belt and held it out to the other Mountie. "I can return your gun to you now, Constable."
"Thank you," Nathan replied, taking the gun and putting it in his holster.
"There is something else you should know. Dr. Shepherd said that before Parks passed he had a message for you, Constable Grant. Parks said, 'tell Nathan that he was right about Colleen?' Does that mean anything to you?"
Nathan let his hand fall from Lucas' shoulder as the meaning of Dylan's last words sunk in. Despite his suspicions, hearing his brother-in-law make that admission made it even more real.
"Nathan?" Bill asked, concern clear in the judge's usually gruff voice.
The one word gave Nathan something to focus on. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly even as he looked across the desk at Bill.
"My sister died from injuries sustained by falling down the steps in her home. Dylan had hit Colleen in the past, and I always suspected that he had somehow contributed to that fall, despite my sister's claim that she simply fell. She had protected Dylan in the past, especially to me. She claimed that I just didn't understand Dylan and that Dylan did not mean the things he did. I had the police look around, but no concrete evidence could be found to prove or disprove either claim. However, Dylan left the day after Colleen passed. That was proof enough for me, though I know it would not have meant anything in court."
"Now, the man makes a death bed confession," Bill commented.
"Little good it does anyone now," Nathan said. He looked around at the three men in the office with him. "No one tell Ally what was said. She thinks her mother's fall was simply an accident. I want it to stay that way. She has enough bad memories of her biological father. She does not need anymore, especially not when I have to explain to her about tonight."
Lucas, Bill and Mackenzie all nodded.
"I will go tell Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Carter that what Dylan said tonight is to be kept between the six of us," Mackenzie said.
"Thank you," Nathan replied.
Mackenzie left leaving Lucas, Bill and Nathan alone again. It was Bill who broke the silence.
"You know Lucas, I would question your character even more than I already do if you did not feel some remorse over what happened tonight," Bill told him. "However, try not to lose too much sleep over it because if your positions were reversed, I guarantee you Dylan Parks would be losing no sleep over your death."
"You very well could have saved mine and Ally's life tonight, Lucas," Nathan added. "Thank you."
Lucas nodded, though he still looked a bit dazed. However, he glanced over at Nathan as he spoke. "I did what I did tonight because of Ally. She has been through enough lately. I did not want her losing you if there was something I could do about it."
Nathan smiled. "I am just fine with that, Lucas," he told him.
"You may already know this, Nathan, but Elizabeth and I are no longer seeing one another."
"I have had my suspicions of that fact," Nathan admitted.
"We were not right for one another, however, I do still want to see her happy. Even if what makes her happy is being with you."
Nathan nodded. "Right now, my focus needs to be on Ally."
"Ally, is getting better," Bill reminded him. "Things will find a new normal soon enough," he added.
Nathan nodded, grateful that Bill had not said back to normal. Carson might be telling Ally that there was still a chance of her regaining feelings in her legs, and perhaps there was, but Nathan was bracing himself for helping Ally to learn to live with a disability.
"Speaking of Ally," Bill continued. "I would say we are through here. Are you going to be okay, Bouchard?"
"Yes," Lucas replied. "May I go now?"
"You may," Bill told him.
Lucas got up and headed for the door.
"And Lucas," Bill called out as Lucas reached for the door knob. He waited for the man to look back at him before continuing. "If you need to talk, my door is open. I know some of how you are feeling right now. So does Nathan. We have been there before."
"I will keep that in mind," Lucas replied before leaving the office.
As the door shut behind Lucas, Bill looked to Nathan. "Let us get you home to Ally," Bill said.
Nathan had a feeling arguing that he could walk home alone was not going to go anywhere with the older man. Truth be told, Nathan did not feel like walking home alone. However, there was something he needed to do before heading home.
"I need to go over to the infirmary first, Bill," Nathan said.
It was not that he did not trust the report Mackenzie had brought. However, he needed to see for himself that Dylan was gone. Then, tomorrow morning, he would try to call the man's parents himself. He knew the force would take care of notification of death if he wanted, but Nathan felt an obligation to make that call himself. His sister's in-laws had been good people and he knew their son's actions had pained them. He also knew that despite all that Dylan had done, their only son held a spot in their hearts. They deserved to hear from someone who could answer any questions they might have.
Bill simply nodded in acknowledgment and Nathan was grateful that he had not asked for an explanation. Nathan was not ready to put most of what he was feeling into words.