AN: Let me tell you now, still no resolution. However, each chapter brings you closer to that outcome! Appreciate the reviews!
"Are you sure you do not need my help?" Mr. Tradeau asked as he looked down at the map and the assignments given to each pair of the search party. Not only was it for him to be able to keep track of everybody, bu it would also inform the Mounties from Clearwater what areas had already been searched. The last thing they needed to be doing was searching for any of the searchers.
"You will be more of a help here coordinating incoming and outgoing messages," Chuck told him. "Besides, when the Mounties get here, someone needs to explain what has happened and as stressed as my uncle is right now, I don't know how well the Mounties will be able to follow him."
Mr. Tradeau smiled. Ronnie Stewart could be an anxious person.
"Everyone has been assigned an area, they are to come back and check in with you when they complete searching that area. If there is still enough light left in the day, assign them another block."
"Got it," the telegraph operator replied. "Be careful out there."
"We will," Chuck told him. "Make sure that message gets to Constable Grant," he added as he put his hat on.
"Going to send it now," Mr. Tradeau assured him, stepping back from the counter and heading back to the next room with the telegraph.
Chuck left the building. Joe was waiting for him, already astride his horse. He had the reigns for Chuck's horse in his hands.
"Did you find someone to watch the store?" Chuck asked.
Joe nodded. "Yes. Mary is going to watch the store while Henry keeps an eye on the feed store. Given what is going on, I doubt either place will be very busy."
Chuck nodded.
"Pearl came by with some sandwiches. They are in your saddlebags," Joe added.
"I wish things like this never happened, but it is nice to see that everyone works together when they do," Chuck commented as he mounted his horse.
Pearl had not been the only one providing sandwiches for the searchers. Ronnie had gotten the kitchen staff at the hotel to provide some, as did every woman living in town.
"Amen to that," Joe commented.
The two rode out of town toward their search area side by side. Though they were heading in the general direction the robbers had headed off in, Chuck and Joe were careful to stay away from the exact spot they had rode out of town. Though finding Gabriel might be their priority, and important to the Mounties as well, Chuck also knew some of the Mounties resources would be put into tracking the robbers if they could.
"I just hope Gabriel is still alive," Chuck commented, voicing his fear for the first time. "What if those men wanted to make sure he was out of the way permanently."
Joe shook his head. "If they were just going to kill him, why leave the gun behind? Why even go through the trouble of trying to take him while in town? They could have simply shot him while out on rounds with no witnesses."
Chuck nodded. His friend made a good point.
"However, we still need to find him quickly. They may not have outright killed him but if he is hurt he may need help. The weather is also a factor. Both Lillian and Billy need us to find him and soon. Billy had cried himself to sleep when I went in to say goodbye to Maggie."
Chuck nodded, remembering the scene he had witnessed. That boy had already lost so much. He would do whatever he could to make sure he did not lose Gabriel too.
"Elizabeth," Nathan called out as he entered his home. He had already stopped by the Weise's where Ally was playing, to let his daughter know he was going out of town for a while. Now he was home to give Elizabeth the same news and to gather what he needed.
Footsteps on the stairs caused him to look up. Elizabeth was making her way slowly down the steps, one hand on her back and the other on the railing. Figuring that she had probably just put Jack down for a nap, he waited until she came down the stairs before saying anything else.
"You are home early," Elizabeth commented as Nathan met her at the bottom of the steps. "Is something wrong?"
Nathan nodded. "I got a telegram from Brookfield. The hotel was robbed and no one has seen Gabriel since he dropped Billy off at the Mendelson's last night."
Elizabeth gasped in surprise and fear.
"I am heading toward Brookfield to help look for him," Nathan told her.
"Of course you are, but wouldn't it be better if you wait till morning?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan reached out and pulled his pregnant wife as close as he could to him. Elizabeth rested her palms on his chest.
"I hope I get to Brookfield and Gabriel has already been located. However, I am not sitting here and waiting to hear news. I know I will not be able to make it to Brookfield before dark tonight. However, if I leave tonight, I can close that distance. I will find a cabin along the route to spend the night and when I set out in the morning, I can start my own search of the area as I continue."
"Just be careful," Elizabeth told him. If she had any protests to his course of action, she kept them to herself.
"I will," Nathan assured her, leaning in and kissing her passionately. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her when she was getting close to delivering. However, this was Gabriel who was missing. His friend would drop anything to come to his aid and Nathan was not about to let him down.
"I asked Ally to come home tonight instead of spending the night with Opal. I want her here in case you need something. She will be able to go over to the Coulters with any messages. Lee knows I am leaving, as does Bill. Bill will be out to check on you later tonight."
"Nathan, you worry too much," Elizabeth told him, still resting in his arms.
"Maybe so, but I hate leaving you right now."
"We will be fine," Elizabeth assured him, though she was glad he had asked Ally to come home tonight. Having the teen here with her would be a comfort rather than being alone. "You worry about yourself and Gabriel while you are out there."
"I will try," Nathan said, knowing he could not promise to not worry about her and the children at all.
"I will get you some food together while you get the rest of your gear together," Elizabeth said, finally moving from his embrace and waddling toward the kitchen.
Nathan watched her for a few moments. Elizabeth should have a few weeks left. Everything should be fine but what if she went into labor early? What if there was another type of complication?
Yet Nathan knew if he did not go out searching for Gabriel and something happened to his friend, he would not be able to forgive himself. Bill and Lee would look out for Elizabeth and the children while he was away.
Nathan went about gathering the stuff he would need for his trip, rolling two blankets together in case an extra was needed. He was securing the things to Newton's saddle when a familiar car pulled up. Newton pawed at the ground at the sound of the vehicle and Nathan rubbed the horse's neck.
Bringing the car to a stop a bit of a distance away from the horse, Lucas got out.
"I was sent up here to tell you not to head to Brookfield on your own," Lucas stated, not wasting time with a greeting.
"I told Bill I wanted him to stay here and look after things."
Lucas nodded. "As far as I know, he is. It is Carson who said he is coming with you. Faith was apparently supposed to head to Brookfield tomorrow, so the residents that needed to or wanted to see a doctor there could see one on Monday. Carson said he will go with you instead and help you search for Gabriel. He'll spend a day in Brookfield afterwards."
Nathan did not reply right away. Part of him wanted to protest. Another part said it made sense. If Gabriel was hurt, a doctor's presence might make all the difference.
"Carson is packing his gear now and Bill and Clara are making sure he has food. He said he would be ready by the time you got into town."
Nathan nodded. "Thank you for bringing the message. I just need to get the food Elizabeth is preparing for me and I am ready to go. Do you want coffee or something before you head back to town?"
Lucas shook his head. "No, I should be getting back to the saloon. Elizabeth and the kids will be looked after while you are away, Nathan. In fact, tell her I will be up to take them to church tomorrow morning."
Nathan nodded. "I appreciate it, Lucas," he said, holding out his hand, relieved that Elizabeth would not have to attempt to make the walk. The only thing that would keep her from church would have been a snow storm.
As Lucas returned to his car, Nathan finished his task and headed back inside. Slipping upstairs, he peeked into Jack's room. His son was sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to chance waking him up, knowing that Elizabeth could use the quiet time while he napped to rest herself, Nathan stayed in the doorway. He watched the young boy sleep for a few moments before blowing the little boy a kiss. Jack may be unaware of it, but it made Nathan feel as if he was giving the boy some kind of good-bye.
Heading back downstairs, he met Elizabeth waiting for him at the front door, her arms full with the food she had prepared for him.
"You could have woken Jack up and said good-bye," Elizabeth told him, as Nathan took the packages from her.
"He needs his sleep," Nathan replied. "And his mama needs whatever down time she can manage as well," he added, leaning in and giving Elizabeth another kiss. "I hate leaving you right now. I should be here helping out with things, especially Jack."
Elizabeth reached out and placed her hand against his cheek. "I will be fine for a few days," she assured him. "Ally will be a big help in the mornings and the evenings and she can be a kid during the days."
"And when Jack decides to cry at four in the morning?" Nathan asked. It did not happen every night, but sometimes their little boy still did not sleep through the night. As climbing out of bed took more effort for Elizabeth these days, Nathan had been going to him.
"Then me and his younger brother will go comfort him," Elizabeth said, rubbing her belly with her other hand. "Go. With any luck Gabriel will have turned up by the time you get to Brookfield tomorrow and you can check on him and come home to us. The children and I will miss you but we will be fine."
"I will be back as soon as I can," Nathan promised her.
"I know you will," Elizabeth said. "Can I help you with anything outside?"
Nathan shook his head. "You stay inside where it is warm," he told her. "Lucas said he will come get you and the kids for church in the morning."
"That was kind of him," Elizabeth said.
"You might also be relieved to know that I will not be making the trip alone. Carson is going with me. I will meet him in town before heading to Brookfield."
"That does make me feel better. Still, be safe."
"I will," Nathan assured her.
Elizabeth opened the door for him. Nathan headed outside to Newton. He was aware of Elizabeth standing in the doorway despite the cold. He did not bother saying anything to her. He knew that watching him for as long as possible brought his wife some kind of comfort.
Nathan stored the food in the saddle bags and then mounted Newton. He turned the horse toward the road, glancing toward the house as he did so. Elizabeth waved from the doorway. Nathan touched two fingers to the brim of his hat with a nod as he started on his way.
As the Mountie giving him the report left the Mounted Police Office in Brookfield, Staff Sergeant Oakley closed his eyes as he leaned back in the chair. Today was one of those days that made him wish his retirement was already here. Given the account of the robbery they had been able to piece together, it sounded like the work of a gang that had been hitting towns randomly all over the country. This was as far west as this particular gang had hit so far. However, like all the other times they had pulled off a robbery they had managed to foil any attempt to follow them. His men had followed the trail left by the robbers leaving town, but eventually had come to a spot that was just a jumble of hoof prints and wagon wheel ruts. There was no telling which trail was theirs. As there was no indication of three riders going off together, they had either split up or were carefully following one another.
Oakley had put word out about the robbery and the description of the men. People would be on the look out but so far these three robbers had remained elusive. As if the robbery was not bad enough, he had a missing Mountie, another trade mark of this particular gang. They always made sure local law enforcement was out of the way before they hit. The only reassuring thing about this whole mess was that all the kidnaped officers had been found alive, though the last one was still in the hospital recovering from the head injury.
If Oakley had anything to say about it, Constable Kinslow wouldn't be the first to not survive this ordeal. Granted, the search parties had turned up nothing today. Constable Anderson was across the street in the hotel making sure things were in order for the search teams to go out again at first light. They would move further out from Brookfield in their search.