Gabriel wasn't sure what woke him up, but he had a feeling that something wasn't right. Sitting up on the side of the bed, he looked around the dimly lit room. When his eyes fell on the empty mattress in the corner of the room, Gabriel got to his feet, his heart beating faster in panic.
Billy was no longer in the bed!
Gabriel grabbed a pair of pants and hurriedly put them on and the hurried out of the bedroom. He wasn't sure when the kid had left or if he would be able to follow him, but Gabriel knew that he had to try. The kid was too young to be out on his own. At least he would have Bill to help him with the search.
Walking into the next room, Gabriel came to a sudden stop. Billy was sitting at the table, paper and color pencils in front of him. A lantern in the middle of the table cast light upon the boy's work. Even from this distance, Gabriel could make out the figure of a Mountie and a woman with red hair. Off to the side, a small pile of other papers sat, the top paper having a vase of yellow roses drawn on it.
Billy glanced up from his work.
"Is everything okay, Mountie Gabe?" Billy asked.
"Yes," Gabriel replied, a feeling a relief washing over him. He was thankful the boy was still inside. Walking over to the table, Gabriel dropped down into the chair across from Billy, not sure his legs would hold him up much longer now that the adrenaline rush was past.
"Are you sure? You look pale," Billy stated, a trace of worry in his own voice. Billy paused a moment, studying the Mountie. "Did you think I had run off?"
Gabriel hesitated, but he knew he couldn't lie to the boy. "I woke up and saw the empty mattress and yes, that was what I thought," he admitted. "I am so glad that you are sitting here and I'm sorry for thinking you had run off, Billy."
"It's okay, Mountie Gabe," Billy told him. "You had reason to think of that given my past actions. Besides, I can see you were worried about me when you assumed I had run off. The fact that me leaving would concern you is kind of flattering. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, Billy. It does," Gabriel assured him. It made even more sense when he took into consideration the fact that his last orphanage hadn't even reported him missing. "What are you drawing?" Gabriel asked, nodding to the paper in front of the boy. He decided he wasn't even going to question what the boy was doing at the table at this time of the morning. It wasn't like the boy had done anything wrong and Gabriel didn't want to take a chance of giving that impression.
Billy looked from Gabriel down to the paper in front of him. "It was supposed to be a drawing of my parents," Billy confessed. "Which is one reason I drew them in a position where both faces are hidden. I have a hard time remembering what either of them look like any more," Billy confessed. "Not that I'm much good at faces anyway," he added with a shrug. He looked back up at Gabriel. "However, I'm starting to realize it could also be you and Miss Walsh," he confessed.
"May I see it?" Gabriel asked.
Billy silently picked up the paper and held it out to Gabriel. Taking it from the boy, Gabriel looked down at the drawing. He could see now that the Mountie and the woman were in a position which suggested they were kissing. The Mountie's hat was in his hand. It was actually well done, considering the age of the artist. It was clear the boy had some artistic talent. He could also see what Billy meant by saying that it could almost be him and Lillian, except that the Mountie's hair was too light. The skirt of the woman's dress was only half colored in.
"Drawing was always a way to stay busy and stay out of the way at the orphanages. The last one even had a couple books about drawing," Billy confessed. "Probably the only good thing about that place."
"This is well done," Gabriel said looking up at the boy. "Did your mother have red hair, Billy?"
Billy nodded. "And dad's hair was a light brown. I remember that much. I also remember the sound of mom singing. Try as I might though, I can't remember what they looked like."
"You were young when you lost them," Gabriel reminded the boy. "It isn't surprising that you can't remember all the details. However, you will always remember something about them, which means that they will always be with you."
Gabriel thought about the photo that Bill had found of Billy and his father. Though he wasn't about to give the boy false hope, Gabriel planned on asking the judge about procuring the picture for Billy. It would at least give the boy a piece of his past. All it was doing in the Force's possession was sitting in a file in some office.
Gabriel handed the paper back across the table to Billy.
"I couldn't sleep so I thought I would come out here and draw," Billy said as he took the paper back. "I didn't want to wake you but I'm sorry if it was wrong to do that. I'm trying to be good, Mountie Gabe."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Billy. I don't mind that you came out to the table. Just promise me you'll never go outside without telling me where you are going."
"I promise," Billy replied, reaching out for the dark-brown pencil he had been coloring the skirt of the dress with. He went back to finishing his drawing.
"Do you like drawing, Billy?" Gabriel asked.
The boy nodded, though he didn't look up. "I use to draw with my dad when he wasn't away. Dad was really good. Though he use to sit with me and draw, he also had a sketch book that he did his other drawings in. He just used different shades of black and grey when he worked in the sketchbook. He only used color when he drew with me. I sometimes wish I knew what happened to that sketchbook."
Having finished shading in the skirt, Billy sat up a little straighter and looked down at the drawing. Gabriel got the feeling he was trying to decide if it needed more work or not. Picking up a green pencil, Billy set about drawing grass at the couple's feet.
"I guess I won't be doing much drawing after this unless I draw on the back of the paper and that just doesn't seem right," Billy commented.
Gabriel smiled. "I can get you more paper from the store when it opens," he said, figuring that Billy had worked his way through the paper that Lillian had given him.
Billy looked up again a panicked look on his face. "You don't have to. I wasn't trying to suggest that I expected more paper."
Gabriel's heart ached at the boy's response. A lot of children Billy's age would have no problem asking for things like a pad of paper. "Getting paper for you is not a problem, Billy," he assured the boy. "I want you to have something you enjoy doing and you have a talent that should be encouraged not wasted."
"You think I have talent?" Billy asked, his panic expression taken on a hopeful one.
"From what little I've seen, yes," Gabriel told him. "And like with anything, the more you do it that better you will get at it."
Putting down his pencil again, Billy reached for the stack of completed drawings. Going through them, the boy selected one and held it shyly out toward Gabriel. Reaching for it, Gabriel knew right away that it was supposed to be him. It was a side view of him in uniform, sitting at his desk. Gabriel realized Billy had probably done it during his time in the cell while he had been doing paperwork.
"You can keep it, if you want," Billy said softly and quickly.
Gabriel got the feeling that Billy expected him to decline the offer. "Thank-you, Billy. I appreciate it," he told the boy, planning on finding a place to put it on display. Somehow, he thought that would go further with the boy than anything he could say.
"Well, as there is no sense in trying to go back to bed at this point, I'm going to go get dressed properly and then I will get breakfast started," Gabriel said getting to his feet. "Why don't you go ahead and finish that drawing?" he suggested, nodding to the paper on the table in front of Billy.
Billy simply nodded in reply, picking up the green pencil again as Gabriel headed toward the bedroom. The fact that he was losing some sleep didn't bother him since he knew that Billy was safe. Walking into the room, Gabriel placed the drawing Billy had given him on the bedside table and lit the lamp.
Looking down at the drawing Gabriel knew that he needed to have some serious conversations with both Lillian and Bill. In the short time he had been in Brookfield, Billy had become a part of his life. A part that he didn't really want to give up.
Stepping out of the infirmary, Gabriel wasn't really surprised to find himself face to face with Joe. He had actually been more surprised not to find the man waiting outside the office when he had unlocked the door.
"Good morning, Joe," Gabriel said casually, as if it was like any other morning. "Were you coming to see Maggie?" he asked innocently.
"You know very well I came looking for you, and you know why," Joe told his friend. Knowing that after the hard time he had given Gabriel when he had picked up the ring, the Mountie wasn't going to be volunteering any information, he decided just to ask his question directly. "Did she say yes?"
Gabriel smiled. "Who?"
"Lillian!" Joe said, feeling exasperated. He didn't like being on this side of the teasing.
Deciding not to drag it out further, Gabriel replied, "she did. No, we haven't set a wedding date yet, though knowing Lillian it probably won't be soon. She'll want time to create her lists and make sure everything gets done."
Joe chuckled. "You are probably right. Are you okay with that?"
Gabriel paused thinking it over. "I am. I don't want Lillian to stress over the wedding any more than necessary. If her lists and plans help to alleviate that, then I can wait. Between you and me though, I'd happily borrow a car, drag Judge Avery to my parent's ranch, and marry Lillian as soon as we got there and the only reason I'd wait that long is because my mother would want to be there."
Joe laughed. "I don't see Lillian going along with that plan."
"No. Neither do I," Gabriel admitted. "So, I will be patient and let Lillian pick a date and try to wait patiently."
"Good man," Joe replied. "I should probably get to the store."
"I actually need some drawing paper for Billy, so I'll walk with you," Gabriel said.
The two men started across the street toward the general store. "We did take advantage of Chuck and Grace being there last night to discuss living arrangements after the weddings," Gabriel continued.
Joe glanced toward the big house that sat alone on the edge of the town. "That house Mr. Walsh built for his wife always seemed like it was big enough that it would never seem filled. Folks say they planned on having a big family, but then they didn't seem to be able to have children. I'm sure that house seemed empty even after they adopted Lillian. I would imagine they are both happy to have it filled with children now. However, it doesn't seem to be quite big enough to hold two families and the orphanage."
Gabriel smiled. "You make a valid point. One that we all shared," he told Joe as they walked into the general store. "Which is why, Chuck is going to build a small house near the main house for him and Grace. Chuck wants to have a small office for his vet practice attached to the house. He and I had already discussed buying the land adjacent to the Walsh property to expand on. We'll follow through on those plans now. As its not fair to expect Eleanor to be the only adult in the house with the children at night, Lillian and I are going to expand the main building to add an apartment. We'll have a separate kitchen and living room and a few bedrooms. It'll give us a little privacy while staying close to the children."
"And you're okay with that?" Joe asked. They had reached the store and Joe headed for the spot where the drawing tablets were.
Gabriel nodded. "I love children," Gabriel told him. "I'm looking forward to living in a home that is full of life after the years of solitude I've had with joining the Mounties, not that I regret my career choice, mind you."
"I wasn't even thinking that," Joe replied. "I am glad you are finally getting the rest of what you wanted from life though. You and Lillian will make each other happy."
"Thank-you," Gabriel replied.
Joe picked a tablet off the shelf and held it out to Gabriel. "Will this do?"
"Yes," Gabriel said, taking the tablet. "Thank-you. How much do I owe you?"
Joe told him the price as they made their way over to the cash register where Gabriel paid him while they continued to talk.
"I guess there is going to be a lot of construction going on out at the orphanage when the spring comes."
Gabriel nodded. "There will be. In the meantime, we're going to start making plans with Lee Coulter for getting the lumber and some men to get the structures built. I want to get an actual architect on board for adding to the existing house to make sure its done right. I'm hoping Lee might be able to recommend someone."
"Chuck and Grace are getting married at the beginning of May, right?"
"Yes."
"Could be cutting it close with getting Chuck and Grace's new house built before the wedding if the weather doesn't cooperate?" Joe commented. His intent was to make sure his friends had covered all their bases and not try to discourage them.
Gabriel nodded. "Chuck and I are going to help them sort through the stuff stored in the cottage. Cleared out and properly cleaned up, it would be quite liveable for two people for a spell. Barring another snowstorm, all four of us are going to start that project next Saturday."
"Would you like another pair of hands?" Joe asked.
"What about the store?" Gabriel asked.
"I'll put a sign in the window telling customers I plan to be closed next Saturday so they can plan their shopping accordingly. Closing one day won't hurt the bottom line."
"Then we would appreciate another pair of hands out there. Quite a bit of stuff ended up getting stored out there over the years."
"I do recall that from visiting you last fall," Joe replied, as the door opened and a couple of customers came in.
"I should probably drop this off and go out on rounds," Gabriel said. "I need to pick Billy up early so you and Maggie can go out to dinner," he commented, a teasing smile on his face.
Joe nodded. He was quiet for a moment and then asked Gabriel. "Do you think it's too early to give her a box of chocolates?"
"In my opinion, it's never too early in a relationship to give a lady flowers or chocolates," Gabriel told him, reaching out and clapping Joe on the shoulder before heading for the door.