Satisfied that the crew that was staying to work on the addition to the orphanage was settled, Lee and Rosemary left Brookfield after lunch the next day. Several local men who needed the work had also been employed to help with the construction. Though as architect, Sophia was in charge, Curt Lawson was staying in Brookfield as foreman to work under her direction. Lee felt confident the project was in good hands. Before he had left, Lee had sat down with Lillian, Gabriel and the children and discussed the dangers the construction would pose. The children were instructed to obey any barriers the crew put up around the construction area, to stay clear of the wagons, materials, or equipment, and were instructed to listen to any instructions given to them by any of the workers. Unbeknownst to Gabriel and Lillian, Lee and Sophia had also talked to the men working on the project about the need to have patience and understanding with the children at the orphanage, given their troubled backgrounds. They were told to look out for and be firm with the children but to try not to yell at them.
During rounds that day, Gabriel got Brian familiar with the territory they were covering - both the terrain and the people. Though most people in the area got along, there were some tensions between certain ranchers and their ranches - like between Tess Stewart and Kevin Newsome. Even then, if another rancher needed help those tensions would be set aside to be picked up at a later date.
"For the most part, cattle rustlers are the biggest issue in the area," Gabriel was saying as he and Brian rode along the road bordering the western edge of the MacEntire property. The soil was rocky in this area, but whether that was the reason Abraham MacEntire had let it go unused, or he simply had no use for it given the size of his operation, Gabriel was not sure. However, the natural vegetation had been allowed to grow unchecked around the creek that flowed along the edge of the property and through the land that MacEntire did pasture his cattle on. "This ranch, belongs to Abraham MacEntire. If the man has any friends in the area, I am not aware of it."
"That type of man, huh," Brian commented.
"Yes," Gabriel said. "Not a pleasant man to work for. Turnover is high. You probably will not find another ranch in the area that does not have at least one man who started out here. The current foreman, Ronald Dower, has been here three years. Longest anyone has stayed at the ranch. He is an older man. Speculation is he is simply trying to put in a few final years before retiring. However, I think he stays to look out for Sarah MacEntire and the son, Randy. Ronald is not afraid to call us out to the ranch if he hears too much yelling coming from the main house."
"The man is abusive."
Gabriel nodded. "The signs are all there but it is nothing I have been able to prove. Neither Sarah nor Randy will ever admit to anything though, and without an eye witness or their admission, any action I take would only serve to anger Abraham more. I do keep an eye on the place though," Gabriel told him. "I also never ignore a call out here. Chances are, it will simply be a waste of time but my hope is knowing that I do show up will maybe check Abraham's actions a little."
"Understood," Brain replied, knowing that like knowing which ranchers had feuds with one another, this was information he planned on remembering during his stay in Brookfield.
Suddenly, a figure came rushing out of the tree line surrounding the creek. Not watching where they were going, the figure ran into Apollo and fell back to the ground. Gabriel took a few moments to calm the startled horse, while Brian undid the snap of his holster unsure of what was going on. However, as the woman on the ground seemed dazed and not a threat, his hand did not go for the gun.
"Are you all right, ma'am?" Brian asked, as his fellow Mountie talked softly to his mount.
The woman didn't reply as she looked from the Mounties, back in the direction she had come from, and back at the Mounties.
Having calmed Apollo, Gabriel handed the reigns to Brian as he dismounted.
"Are you all right, Sarah?" Gabriel asked, as he reached out to the woman on the ground. She had propped herself up on her elbows. Gabriel did not miss the woman's flinch as he held a hand out to her. It was the only thing keeping him from reaching down and helping her to her feet. He did however, leave his hand extended to her.
Sarah MacEntire stared up at him. It was clear she had been crying and her left cheek was redder than the flush in the right cheek.
"I am sorry, Constable," Sarah finally said in a shaky voice. "I was not paying attention to where I was going."
"Where were you going?" Gabriel asked, though he suspected the woman had no destination in mind. He suspected she had simply been running. He had a suspicion of whom she had been running from as well.
"I forget," Sarah replied absently, finally reaching out to take the offered hand.
Gabriel helped the woman to her feet. He chose not to press. He knew from experience it would not get him anywhere. "Are you hurt? Do you want me to escort you to the infirmary?" he asked as he steadied the woman on her feet.
Sarah shook her head quickly. "No. I am sorry to have troubled you," she replied before turning and walking back onto the property she had just left.
Gabriel hoped that she would stay in the secluded area of her ranch for a little while before heading back. He had a feeling the redness on her left cheek had been from being struck. The safest thing for her was to give her husband time to clam down if that was the case.
Watching her until Sarah disappeared among the trees, Gabriel then turned and mounted Apollo.
"I wish her husband would give me a reason to arrest him," Gabriel commented as he took Apollo's reigns from Brian. "That would protect her for a little while at least."
"Things have a way of catching up to men like Abraham MacEntire," Brian commented, causing Gabriel to look at him. Brian caught the unspoken question in his fellow Mountie's eyes. "My father had a bad temper along with a drinking and a gambling problem. Not a good mix. Even something as simple as dropping a sugar bowl when he was in a bad mood, which usually meant he had been drinking, would bring on a long tirade of yelling. He would throw things, but he never hit any of us. The emotional abuse was bad enough though."
"I am sorry to hear you and your family went through that," Gabriel said, realizing once again just how lucky he had been growing up.
"It is what it is. I don't think I would have been a Mountie if it was not for the man. Seeing how he terrorized people, terrorized me and my mother and sisters, I knew that I wanted to do something to help people, not hurt them. I was never the best at school. I managed to just pass my subjects with the exception of history. I knew trying to become a doctor would have been a struggle but I did not need the book learning to become a Mountie."
"Well, we are lucky to have you," Gabriel told the young.
"Thank you," Brian told him.
With one last glance at the MacEntire ranch, Gabriel and Brian headed toward Brookfield.
The following morning, Mary Louise said a final good-bye to her orphanage family. Having talked to Lucas and Fiona already, Grace asked Mary Louise to be her flower girl. The girl said an enthusiastic yes, as she threw her arms around Grace with such force that Grace probably would have fallen, if Gabriel had not been near by to help steady her.
As the new family climbed into their car, the others gathered in front of the porch. Lillian stood with her hand around Gabriel's waist and a hand on Billy's shoulder who stood in front of them. To her right, Grace stood with Christian and Vincent, the only two orphans still at the orphanage.
"Take care of Virginia for me, Billy," Mary Louise called, her head out the back window of the car as waved to them. Billy had promised to take on milking and feeding the cow along with taking care of the horses.
"Let me know how the chickens like their home we built them," Mary Louise called out next. All four children had contributed to the chicken coop and Gabriel had sent a wire to his mother telling her that the chickens would have a home whenever she was able to send them.
"I'll write to you all about the chickens when they come," Vincent called out.
"Let us know how you like your new home, Mary Louise," Christian added as Lucas pulled the car away from the orphanage.
Lillian lifted her hand from Bill's shoulders to wave as the car carried Mary Louise away from New Hope Orphanage. There was a huge smile on her face, happy that Mary Louise had found a loving couple who saw what a special child she was.
The group waved until the car carrying Mary Louise was out of sight. When it was, it was Grace who spoke.
"Time to get the rest of you to school," Grace said enthusiastically. "Go get your school things," she instructed Christian and Vincent.
With a quiet instruction from Gabriel, Billy followed the other two boys into the house.
"Chocolate cake at eleven, at the bakery?" Gabriel asked, turning to face her as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Lillian placed her hands on his shoulders as her husband held her."Cake before lunch?" she teased gently.
"The cake takes priority over lunch," Gabriel told her. "If we can have lunch as well then fine but you never know when something might come up with my job."
Lillian laughed. Nutrition wise, she questioned Gabriel's priorities, but the sentiment was sweet.
"The bakery at eleven," Lillian agreed, leaning in to press a kiss against Gabriel's lips. It was a sensation that Lillian did not think she would ever get tired of.
"Why do adults like kissing so much?"
The question came from Christian. Breaking the kiss, Lillian turned her head to find all three boys standing at the top of the porch steps.
"Give it a couple of more years and you will figure it out," Gabriel told the boy easily. "Are you three ready?"
"Yes, sir," came three replies.
With that said, Gabriel and Grace headed toward town with the three boys. Lillian noted that Billy was still close to Gabriel's side. She had noticed that the boy had been quiet and stayed close to Gabriel the last few days. She had contributed it to the visitors that had been at the orphanage but if that was it, apparently the departure of the Bouchards was not enough to set Billy at ease quite yet.
"Is it all right if the men start work, Mrs. Kinslow?"
The question came from Curt Lawson, the foreman from the construction crew. The men had tried to be respectful of the fact that people were still living in the home they were working on. They tried to do quieter work during meal times and never started in the morning without checking with someone.
"Yes, it is fine. Thank you, Curt," Lillian replied.
With one final glance at her husband, sister and the children who were getting smaller, Lillian headed into the orphanage. Her plan was to work on the alterations to Grace's wedding dress as the wedding was now less than a month away.
Gabriel and Ben Mendelson carried the arm chair across the road to the apartment behind the Mounted Police office.
"I appreciate you lending us the arm chair, Ben," Gabriel commented. It was not the first words of thanks he had offered. He also did not think it would be the last words of thanks the man would receive.
Brian Peterson's stay in Brookfield had extended a few extra days as Patrick had made the request, having decided to bring his wife on the assignment with him. Giving Anne's arthritis the trip would take longer and require different arrangements than if the Super Intendant had made the trip by himself. It also meant that some changes were needed in the apartment to make it more comfortable for the woman.
"It is no problem. We seldom sit in it anyway," Ben replied. "My question is, how did you get Ronnie to lend you one of the beds from the hotel?"
Gabriel grinned. "I may have asked what he was doing whispering with someone behind his hotel the other day. Ronnie told me it was just about a supply order, and it probably was, but Ronnie's got enough of a guilty conscious that he was willing to grant me any request to keep me from keeping an eye on him."
Ben laughed as they maneuvered the chair through the side entrance. As they put the chair down near the stove, Brian and Chuck came out of the bedroom.
"The bed is all set up. It looks nice with the bedding that Lillian sent out for it," Brian commented.
"Great," Gabriel replied. A flowered, table cloth from Pearl covered the table and brightened the room. Some extra dishes had been lent by Ruth at the telegraph office. "I am hopeful that Anne will be comfortable during her stay."
"I will just grab my stuff and see if there is room free at the hotel for the night," Brian commented.
"Nonsense," Gabriel told him. He had assumed Brian would know he could stay with them for his last night in Brookfield but realized that the arrangement had never actually been spoken. "You are staying out with us tonight. Billy is going to spend the night with Christian and Vincent so you can have his bed. We figured it would be easier than you trying to sleep in one of the bunk beds in the empty room."
"Thank you," Brian replied.
"You are welcome. I appreciate you putting off your leave to be here this past week, especially as nothing has happened to warrant you being here."
"Better to be safe than sorry," Brian said, repeating the sentiment that instructors had drilled into them during training.
"That it is," Gabriel said.
Ben shook hands with the men and took his leave. Chuck left to get ready for a date with Grace. He was borrowing his uncle's car and driving them to Clearwater for dinner. Chuck had gotten two rooms at the hotel in Clearwater so that they did not have to drive home late. That left Gabriel and Brian to meet the stage coach.
The stage coach soon came into view, lead by Super Intendant O'Reilly on his horse. Letting Brian greet their superior, Gabriel approached the stage coach. Opening the back door, he let the business man riding, exit the coach before greeting Anne O'Reilly. The woman's face was pale but the smile on her face was genuine. She gratefully accepted Gabriel's help descending from the coach, her movement slow and stiff from the arthritis. Even once both feet were on the ground, Gabriel kept a supporting arm around his training officer's wife.
"I can escort you to your living quarters if would like to rest after the long ride," Gabriel told her.
"Honestly, I would really like to take a short walk if you don't mind me leaning on you, Gabriel. The movement will do me good after sitting still and all the jarring."
"I would be more than willing to escort you. Just let me know when you need to rest," Gabriel told her.
"I will," Anne assured him.
"While you two do that I will take care of our luggage, Anne," Patrick told his wife. He looked at Brian. "Do you mind helping me, Constable Peterson?"
"Not at all, sir," Brian replied.
Slowly, Gabriel and Anne slowly made their way down the street.
"I am surprised you made the trip, Anne," Gabriel said as they walked. "I know traveling is hard on you."
"It is," Anne admitted. "Being away from Patrick is harder though."
Gabriel opened his mouth to apologize but his friend's wife continued.
"I know you need him though, Gabriel. I am okay with him being here. I also do not want either of you trying to rush this process because either one of you is worried about me. This way, I still get Patrick in the evenings and at night and you are getting the support you need," Anne told him. "I was actually also hoping to get some one on one advice with your nurse Parsons. The tea she suggested is helping and I am curious to see if she has any other suggestions."
"I am sure Maggie would be more than happy to consult with you during your stay," Gabriel assured her as they made their way slowly down the street.
An hour later, Gabriel and Brian rode out to the orphanage. Brian planned to leave for Hope Valley first thing in the morning from the orphanage. In deference to Anne's condition, Gabriel had arranged for dinner to be delivered for Patrick and Anne from the Royal Brookfield. He had also invited Patrick and Anne to join them out at the orphanage the following night for dinner if Anne was feeling up to it.
Reaching the orphanage, the two Mounties got the horses settled in the barn. They were walking from the barn to the house when the three boys came rushing out to meet them. All three boys were excited and talking about the chickens. Gabriel figured the chickens his mother was sending had arrived.
Gabriel was about to respond to the excited boys when Billy and Christian reached out for his hands. He felt both boys hands in his momentarily, even as his chest started to tighten. He recognized the signs of a panic attack coming on but felt powerless to stop it. Suddenly, he was no longer in the yard of the orphanage but in the apartment the night he had been abducted. His arms were being held and Charlie stood in front of him. Breathing was a struggle. He started to feel lightheaded even as he struggled to breathe.
Gabriel saw Christian and Billy's scared expressions. He even noticed Christian's lips moving but the only voice he heard was Charlie's voice telling him that he was outnumbered. Both of the boys had let go of his hands by now but it did nothing to get rid of the invisible hands that gripped his arms.
Closing his eyes, Gabriel tried to center himself. He tried to focus on the present instead of the past but as the nightmare continued its hold on him, the past seemed so much more real to him right now.