The walk out to New Hope Orphanage was a quiet one. The quiet wasn't strained though, as Gabriel walked with Billy on one side of him and Lillian on the other. Billy, wrapped up in Gabriel's coat once again, was enjoying being outside again. Both Gabriel and Lillian were enjoying the last few moments of being together, while hoping that being with them was helping Billy regain his trust in people again.
Eventually, the trio reached the orphanage. Not surprisingly, Ellie could be seen sitting at the window waiting. The yellow rose was in a vase on the window sill next to her. The little girl waved as Gabriel and Lillian stepped into the light of the porch lamp. The two adults waved back.
"I enjoyed this evening, Gabriel," Lillian said, letting go of his arm and turning to face him.
"I did too," Gabriel replied, smiling at Lillian, though making sure he stayed aware of Billy standing beside him. Though he wanted to believe the kid wouldn't run, Gabriel knew they weren't at the point in their relationship that he could count on that.
Gabriel leaned in, and gave Lillian a short but passionate kiss, aware of the young audience both inside and out.
"Will you wait here a moment?" Lillian requested as they broke apart. "I can explain to the other children why you didn't come in again, but I think Ellie needs to be able to see you."
Gabriel nodded. "Of course," he replied.
As Lillian headed inside, Gabriel looked down at Billy. "We'll be heading back shortly. Are you warm enough, Billy?"
Billy nodded as he looked up at Gabriel. "Yes, sir."
A short time late, the front door opened again. Ellie, with her coat on, came hurrying out as Lillian stepped outside again.
"Hi, Ellie," Gabriel said, picking the little girl up. "I see you put your rose in water."
Ellie nodded. "Miss Grace said it could sit in the window with me."
"I think that is the perfect place for it."
"Good night," Ellie told him, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Sweet dreams, Ellie," Gabriel told her, knowing that the wish might have more significance with the little girl than it normally would.
After the hug, Gabriel handed Ellie over to Lillian. With another good night, Lillian went inside to get the little girl tucked in bed. With Billy beside him, Gabriel turned and left the porch. They hadn't gone far from the orphanage when Billy spoke up.
"Was that little girl an orphan?" Billy asked.
"Yes," Gabriel replied. "She was involved in a stage coach accident a few weeks ago. Ellie was the only survivor."
Billy looked over his shoulder at the orphanage. "Will she stay there?" he asked, as he looked forward again.
"We're not sure right now. Other officers are still looking for any other family Ellie might have. If we can locate family, then Ellie might go with them."
Billy was quiet for a few moments.
"It feels awful when family doesn't want ya," Billy said quietly.
Gabriel thought of how much his father's disapproval felt. In his case though, he knew his father loved him. He knew that he was welcome at home any time he wanted to go back. How much harder would it have been if his father had told him not to come back if he chose to be a Mountie?
Stopping, Gabriel knelt down in front of the boy. "Do you have family that didn't want you, Billy?" he asked, not sure if the boy would answer him or not.
Billy nodded, as he looked down at the snow on the ground between him and Gabriel.
"I am sorry, Billy," Gabriel said, sincerely. The boy reached up with his hand, which was covered by the too long coat sleeve, and wiped at his eyes. It was the first emotion other than fear that Gabriel had seen from the boy.
Gabriel held his arms out to the boy, but stopped short of trying to pull the lad into a hug. He knew that Billy had to be the one to take that next step. If the boy didn't want the comfort he offered, Gabriel wanted to at least make sure he didn't lose ground with the boy.
To Gabriel's surprise, Billy stepped forward and put his arms around Gabriel. Slowly and gently, Gabriel embraced that boy, wondering how long it had been since Billy had felt the comfort of someone's arms around him.
Gabriel didn't say anything. Not knowing the kid's past, he didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing. Instead, he just held the boy close until Billy pulled away. When the lad did, Gabriel got to his feet. Not commenting on the tears the boy was wiping away, Gabriel led the boy back into town, a hand resting on Billy's back.
Back at the jail, Billy silently shed the borrowed coat, placing it over the back of the chair before heading toward the jail. The lad laid down on the cot, silently staring up at the ceiling.
Quietly, Gabriel retrieved the coat and closed the cell door as he headed back to his apartment. Shedding his own winter garments, Gabriel picked up the Sherlock Homes book he had started reading out loud to Billy the night before. Returning to the front office, Gabriel added fuel to the stove and then settled himself in a chair outside of the cell.
Opening the book to where they had stopped the night before, Gabriel began reading out loud. He had only read about a chapter when he noticed that Billy's breathing had evened out. Closing the book and letting it rest in his lap, Gabriel watched the sleeping boy silent for a few moments, wanting to make sure Billy was truly asleep before leaving.
Gabriel stood patiently at the end of the counter while Joe helped the customers who had already been in the store when he showed up. He could tell Joe was in no hurry to complete the transaction.
However, eventually the goods were paid for. Exchanging a brief hello with Gabriel, the customer headed toward the door. Gabriel waited for the sound of the door closing behind the customer, and then with a quick glance to make sure no one else had entered, Gabriel turned his attention to Joe. The store owner had begun to arrange the shelves behind the cash register, more to look busy than it actually needed done.
"So, did you kiss Maggie good night after walking her home last night?" Gabriel asked, now leaning casually against the counter.
Surprised that Gabriel would be so direct with his question, Joe turned to face him.
"That's the first thing you have to say to me this morning?" Joe asked the grinning Mountie. "No, hi Joe. How are you doing?"
"I can see how you are doing," Gabriel countered. "Why waste time with the question I know the answer to."
Joe crossed his arms across his chest. "And just how am I feeling this morning?"
"You are in one of the best moods I have ever seen you in," Gabriel stated. "You were humming when the customer stepped up to the counter. I have never heard you hum while working before. Come to think of it, I have never heard you hum. Your facial features are relaxed this morning, even now when you are trying hard to show annoyance with me. Also, there is a spring in your step this morning."
"I'm not walking with a spring in my step," Joe stated.
Gabriel smiled. "You are," he said patiently. "So, did last night end with a kiss for you?"
"Ronnie is right. You are like a dog with a bone when you start looking for information," Joe muttered, turning back to his shelf.
"I choose to take that as a compliment," Gabriel replied, amused at the comment.
"I didn't ambush you the first morning after your first date with Lillian," Joe countered.
"No. You waited for the following evening and I know that was only because I was injured and staying at the cottage and you couldn't get away from your store before then."
"There might be some truth to that," Joe admitted, moving something back to the same spot he had just picked it up from.
"As for my second date with Lillian, you were waiting for me when I got back, wanting to know if I had proposed or not."
"I was joking about the proposing," Joe said, turning back to face Gabriel. "I knew it was too soon. Though speaking of that, you are still planning on proposing come Friday, right?"
"I am," Gabriel assured him. "However, we are not talking about me right now."
Joe let out a sigh. He had a feeling Gabriel wasn't going anywhere. Though he was friendly with almost everyone in Brookfield, Gabriel was one of the few people he really spoke to about things. It had been that way since Gabriel had been assigned to Brookfield. Teasing aside, Joe knew that Gabriel was interested in what happened out of friendship and not just for gossip.
"I walked Maggie home last night and we talked about going out again. Just the two of us this time."
"There you go. You did not need me and Lillian after all."
"Yes, I did," Joe told him. "If it weren't for you and Lillian, the conversation would have stalled so many times, so thank-you."
"You're welcome," Gabriel told him. "So, did you kiss her good night?"
"At first no," Joe admitted. "I was conflicted about what to do. Maggie kissed my cheek and we said good night, saying she understood. I think that fact that Maggie has been so understanding when it comes to Lissett, is what gave me the courage to then give Maggie a quick kiss goodnight. Nothing like the kisses you and Lillian share, if the information I received is to be believed."
"Do you have informants at the orphanage, Joe?"
"I do," Joe told him.
Gabriel chuckled even as he set about getting the conversation back on Joe and Maggie. "I have a feeling you and Maggie will get to where Lillian and I are," Gabriel told his friend. "Don't rush it though, Joe. I won't pretend to know what your going through. I've never lost anyone that I loved deeply. Take your time and sort through those feelings but I will say this. You are not dishonoring Lissett in any way by continuing to live and trying to be happy. There is a reason marriage vows are until death, do we part. Lissett would want you to find love again Joe, and I say this because I know that if something happened to me, I'd want Lillian to find love again. Even if that love was with Sam, I would just want her to be happy and cared for."
Joe nodded, taking in Gabriel's words. Coming from Gabriel, Joe knew the words weren't simply platitudes. He figured Mounties probably contemplated their own mortality more than the average person did. They faced dangers that most people simply tried to avoid. As for Gabriel, his friend had probably come as close to death as one could and still live to tell about it. Despite the lack of a permanent replacement for Gabriel, no one in Brookfield had really expected the Mountie back. It had been a surprise, and with much relief, that Joe had welcomed his friend back to Brookfield. Joe figured that alone would have given Gabriel more than enough credibility in his words of what he would want for Lillian should something happen to him, however Gabriel had also been seriously injured trying to protect Lillian and Grace. Joe couldn't imagine what must have gone through Gabriel's mind after the fugitive had left him beaten and tied up and though he had offered to listen if Gabriel wanted to talk, he hadn't asked questions.
Maggie had told him that Lissett wouldn't want him to be in pain as punishment for the accident. Now Gabriel was telling him that she would want him to be happy and to find love again. Joe had no reason to believe that either of them was wrong.
"I will give your comments consideration as I sort through everything," Joe told his friend.
"That's all I ask," Gabriel assured him. "And maybe next time keep your lips pressed against Maggie's for at least two seconds," he teased.
Joe felt his cheeks grow warm at the teasing, though giving some of the ribbing he had given Gabriel over Lillian he knew he couldn't be mad. "Don't you have some work to do?" he asked the Mountie instead.
"Actually, I do. I have a breakfast meeting with Judge Avery," Gabriel told him. Pushing off of the counter, he put his hat on his head. "Have a good day, Joe," he told his friend as he headed for the door.
"Bye Gabe," Joe replied as he moved from the counter. Reaching for the broom, Joe began sweeping the store more for something to do than it really had to be done at that point.
With his breakfast not even half eaten, Billy set the tray aside. He couldn't bring himself to eat any more he was too worried about what the arrival of the judge would mean for him. As he had spent most of his time in this little town in a jail cell, one would think he wouldn't mind leaving. However, Billy didn't want to leave Brookfield. Something about the place felt right.
Billy knew he shouldn't have expected it to last.
Lying down on the cot, Billy wondered what the judge would do to him. Had the man figured out where he had run from? Would he send him back? Would he send him to another orphanage?
One thing Billy knew, he wouldn't stay if the judge sent him to another orphanage. He would start planning his escape the moment he saw the place.
Though the little girl last night hadn't seemed to upset about being at Miss Walsh's orphanage. Yes, she had seemed sad but he supposed that couldn't be helped. Billy remembered how sad he had been after losing his parents. Sad or not though, Ellie had seemed comfortable at the place. Miss Walsh had clearly cared enough about the child to let her see Constable Kinslow to say goodnight. The girl's happiness at seeing Constable Kinslow had been very clear to him.
Billy couldn't blame the girl. Something about Constable Kinslow made him feel safe. Billy hadn't felt that in a long time.
Another though entered his mind. What if the judge knew of some of the other times he had stolen? Yes, all he had ever stolen was food, but Billy knew that was still stealing. It was still wrong. Others might not have been as forgiven as Mr. Moody had been. For all he knew, people might be looking for him for those crimes, minor as they were. If he were officially arrested, Billy doubted he would stay in this little jail. He would be taken elsewhere, with other criminals.
Billy couldn't help but wonder if he would be any safer there than he had been at the past two orphanages.
Reaching into his pocket, Billy took out his father's compass. The compass and the canteen had been in the bundle of belongings that the other Mountie had brought with him when he had brought news that his father wasn't returning. They were the last connections he had to that life. The life where he had known love and security.
Not for the first time, Billy wondered what he had done to deserve having all of that taken away from him. No, he wasn't an angel. He had done things wrong and neither of his parents had ever shied away from telling him when he did those wrongs but he had never been hit until he had been sent to the orphanage. He had been given lectures, told to stand in the corner for a time and had been given extra chores, but never hit. Those punishments had been enough to make him think about what he had done wrong.
Billy hadn't thought about running away since the first day he had found himself in this cell. He thought about it now though. The arrival of this judge could change everything.
Yes, Billy thought, I should have known things were going too well to last.