Chapter 24— Something new..
Lucy had started helping out at the café to keep her mind busy, that way she could spend more time with Bill and hopefully not think of a certain cowboy. She was helping him with the books also and the arrangement was working out well for both of them.
As she cleaned a table, she realized that the second part of her plan had failed because her mind was fixed on John almost constantly. A week had passed since she had danced with him and told him she was leaving. Lucy would never forget the look on his face when she said she was getting married. He didn't say anything, just stared at her. She saw the hurt in his eyes before he turned and walked away. But it was the other thing she saw in his eyes that haunted her.
Betrayal.
Lucy felt guilty at how things had turned out. She knew when she came to town that she needed to avoid the bartender that took her breath away when she walked into the saloon. Acting like she thought she was better than him seemed to be the best idea to stay unapproachable.
And yet he had approached her. And touched her heart.
Going out to the ranch was not a good way to keep her emotions intact. And she had ignored the part of her mind that told her not to go on a picnic with him. She loved how charming he was. She even loved that he wasn't afraid to stand up to her when she treated him badly. Lucy had made the mistake of exposing her attraction to him.
And he had read her like a book.
Giving John hope of a relationship that couldn't happen only to crush that hope later was a mistake she shouldn't have made.
No wonder he felt betrayed. She should have told him from the beginning she was basically engaged. So, why didn't she?
Lucy hated the answer to that question.
The truth was that she wanted to spend time with him. From the minute she had walked into the saloon her heart had sped up at the sight of the handsome cowboy. Lucy had never had that happen to her before and wasn't sure how to deal with it, even though she enjoyed the feeling. When he asked Lucy how long she was staying in town, she took the opportunity to be rude to hopefully shut down her own attraction to him as well as push him away. Lucy thought that would be the end of it, but she was wrong.
Boy, was she wrong.
Every time she saw John, Lucy's heart screamed to be with him, but her head said no. Her head always won in the end, and that is how John got hurt. She allowed glimpses of what might be, but knew she had to finally tell him the truth. But it wasn't only John's emotions that were involved. Lucy couldn't deny how mixed up she felt. She had allowed her heart to open up when she had no right to. Lucy cared for John more than she wanted to admit, but to be with him meant she had to give up what was rightfully hers.
And that is why she had to leave soon. Before her heart made a decision that she might regret.
###
Lucas knocked on Elizabeth's door and waited for her answer. She wasn't expecting him, and he hoped she had a few moments to spare.
"Well, this is a nice surprise," Elizabeth said with a smile as she opened the door.
"I was hoping you weren't too busy to take a ride with me," Lucas replied, smiling as he stepped sideways.
Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Lucas, you got a car! How did you manage to do that? You haven't left town…"
"I paid someone to deliver it to me."
"It's beautiful. And a convertible!" she said as she came outside and walked around it.
"Now Jack isn't the only one in the family with a vehicle. Is he here? I can't wait for him to see it," he said.
Elizabeth laughed. "No, actually Laura took him for ice cream. But I have some time for a ride."
"Wonderful," he replied as she shut the door of her house. He opened the passenger side door and waited until she was seated, closing it behind her. He then hurried around and got behind the wheel.
"This is so exciting," Elizabeth said. "Where are we going?"
"Just on a ride through town for now, but I do have another surprise for later."
"Now I love surprises, but not when I can't have them right away. I don't have the patience you do," Elizabeth said.
"You will have to work on that, at least for today," Lucas said winking at her.
They drove through town, Elizabeth waving at the people she knew. She giggled as she saw the looks of shock on people's faces as they pointed at the fancy new car in town. Lucas was honking as they drove through, bringing people out of buildings to see what was happening. When they came out, he would wave at them.
They looked like a one-car parade.
"You're terrible," she said as she swatted at his arm.
"Just showing my beautiful lady off, as well as the car," he said as he turned back towards her house.
He pulled up front and walked around to open her door.
"That was more fun than I want to admit," Elizabeth said laughing as she took his hand and stepped out.
"Now, I will pick you and Jack up before dinner for your second surprise. And then I will take you both to eat."
"I can't wait," Elizabeth said as she stretched up for a kiss.
"I'll see you then," Lucas said as he touched her cheek, smiled, and got back behind the wheel.
###
Nathan walked into the saloon bringing a smile to Fiona's face.
"Well, hello there, Constable. What brings you to this fine establishment today?"
Nathan grinned and walked up to the bar, leaning on it. "I heard there was a beautiful lady tending bar today and I had to come see for myself. Looks like the rumors were correct."
Fiona nodded, her smile turning thoughtful, "Very nice, Constable. Did you come up with that line yourself? Or were you perhaps influenced by the owner of this building?"
Nathan stood and put his hand to his chest in mock offense. "That one hurt. Do you think I have no romance in my blood at all? That I get all my lines from Lucas?"
Fiona laughed. "Alright, I'll give you that one. Forgive me, kind sir." Fiona bowed dramatically as if needing absolution making Nathan laugh.
"Speaking of Lucas," Fiona began, "did you see he bought a new car? It's a fancy little riding machine, or should I say rather large riding machine."
"I believe I saw- and heard- it a bit ago. I'll have to take a closer look later. Are we still on for dinner tonight?"
"Wild horses couldn't keep me away," Fiona responded.
"I'll see you later then," Nathan replied, lifting her hand to kiss it, then smiling as he turned to leave.
###
John pounded a post into the ground. He hadn't stopped working since coming back to the ranch a week ago. He was exhausted but worked sunrise to sundown trying to get the princess out of his mind. At least he was getting a lot done.
He guessed that was looking at the bright side, but his ranch hands were steering clear of him lately. John knew he was grumpy and was taking his frustration out on the ones around him, and he knew why.
He raked his arm across his sweaty brow and took a long drink of water as he sat down for a short rest. He hadn't allowed himself time to think of 'that night' since he got home, forgetting it just seemed easier. But perhaps he should think it through a bit.
He saw how Lucy had looked at him when they were dancing. He might not be an expert on love and romance, but he thought he was smart enough to tell when someone cared about him.
And Lucy cared about him. There was just one little obstacle.
Apparently, she was getting married.
When she uttered those words, it felt as if his world had stopped. Suddenly, her driving him away made sense. There was only one problem that he saw with the whole thing. The words she spoke just before telling him she was engaged.
I can't care about you, John.
He heard those words before he fell asleep every night but hadn't allowed himself to put thought into them.
Until now.
Lucy said it didn't matter how she felt about him. Then she said she can't care about him, not that she didn't.
As John sat there and thought, he realized that Lucy had feelings for him but wasn't willing to explore them. Did that mean she cared more for her fiancé than for John? Or that she felt she had to marry the man for some other reason than love?
It made John's head hurt thinking it all through.
The wedding was in two weeks and he had decided not to go back to town before then. Maybe she would already be gone, and he wouldn't see her. That would certainly make all of this easier.
Or maybe it wouldn't.
###
Bill got off the phone aggravated. After finding out the name of the attorney Lucy's parents had used, he decided to give the man a call and find out what he could about the will and inheritance. He thought perhaps he could use his position as judge to make things happen for his newfound daughter, but it all came to naught.
He had talked not only to the attorney, but to a judge in the area as well. The will was legal and binding, he was told. Not one to stop before using up all of his possibilities, he decided to make a call to one Arthur Benson, Lucy's intended. That was the call that had just ended. He thought perhaps he could convince the man to give Lucy what should have been rightly hers, but he found he was up against a brick wall. From the conversation, Bill gathered that the money was only a means to have Lucy for his wife. If that was the case, who knew whether he would hold to his agreement to let her buy a ranch with it?
And that angered Bill.
He didn't know Mr. Benson, but he highly doubted that he was as nice of a man as Lucy had said. And he hoped she would change her mind about leaving. She told him she would take the stage the day after the wedding and that only gave him two weeks to try to get her to stay. He was certain she cared about John Davis.
The question was, how much?
###
Nathan walked up just as Lucas parked his new car in front of the saloon.
"I had heard you were moving up in the world, but I wanted to see it for myself. Nice way to make an entrance and attract attention with your horn earlier."
Lucas opened the door and stepped out laughing. "Elizabeth enjoyed it. I figured since I was about to be a family man, I needed a vehicle."
Nathan looked it over. "It's big enough for a family of more than three," he teased.
Lucas shut the door, "Hopefully, that's the plan. How is everything going with Fiona?"
Nathan looked around nervously before speaking. "It's going well. But now every time I have anything sweet to say she tries to give you credit." He paused for a moment. "Thanks again for the help."
"I think you always had it in you, you just needed a little push," Lucas replied.
Nathan nodded and looked at the car again as if inspecting it.
"How hard is it to learn how to drive one of these things?"
###
Lucy joined Bill in the kitchen after the lunch crowd.
"Well, that was a busy mealtime," she said as she began cleaning the dishes.
"It's usually pretty busy, but having you here certainly helps," Bill replied. "Thank you again for pitching in."
Lucy smiled, "Well this way I get to spend more time with you before I leave." Bill noticed the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Can we sit for a minute?" Bill asked. "This stuff can wait."
"Of course," Lucy answered, taking a seat.
"I wanted you to know that I made a few phone calls. I don't want any secrets between us so that's why I am telling you about it. I even called Arthur Benson, hoping he would be kind enough to turn over your inheritance to you. But I wasn't able to change anything. I'm sorry."
Lucy nodded as she stared at the table. "I know you tried, and I thank you for that. My parents left me no choice."
Bill reached over and took her hand. "You always have a choice, Lucy. You could stay and work with me. I could even make you the manager here. I've watched you and you have a good head for business. It won't make you rich, but I think you could be happy in Hope Valley. You've already made friends here."
"Perhaps. But I would have to give up everything I ever wanted. I'm not ready to do that."
"Even if you lose a happily ever after?" Bill asked.
"I know what you are implying. Who said I would have a fairy tale ending if I stayed?"
"From everything you have told me, you are not going to be happy with Arthur. You are only marrying him in the hopes that he keeps his word. What if he doesn't? What if you marry him and he decides not to let you buy your ranch? Then you are stuck in a loveless marriage and miserable."
Lucy looked past Bill as she thought about what he said. "There is always a chance that that will occur."
"Or you could stay here and see what happens."
"With John Davis," she replied, finishing his thought.
"Lucy, listen to me. I was in a marriage without affection. We were both unhappy. I don't recommend it."
Lucy smiled, "Well, you did get a daughter out of it. Maybe a little late…" she teased.
"And I'm grateful for that. I just want more for you than what I have had in my life. I want you to marry for love and be happy. I think that is what most parents want for their children."
"My parents loved each other, I guess. They didn't fight, but they weren't affectionate either. I have always dreamed of meeting the man of my dreams and having a passionate love story with him. A happily ever after, as you put it. Just doesn't seem to be in the cards for me, I guess."
"Maybe you need some new cards…"
"What I need is to get these dishes washed," Lucy said as she stood, ending the conversation.
###
Lucas honked his horn as he pulled up and turned off the car. Elizabeth opened the door just as he was getting out.
"I will never get tired of that," he said laughing.
Elizabeth turned and called to Jack, "Jack, come see what Daddy Lucas brought us."
Jack ran to the door, his eyes growing wide. "Car! Daddy Lucas has car! Ride, Daddy Lucas, Jack ride!" he said excitedly as he clapped his hands and ran out to touch the car door.
"Yes Jack. Daddy Lucas bought us a car," Lucas replied as he reached down and picked the boy up, tickling his belly.
"No tickle," Jack said as he laughed and tried to pushed Lucas' hand away. "Ride car." Jack pointed at the shiny black vehicle.
"Okay. Let's see if Mama is ready to go," Lucas said carrying Jack to the porch.
"I'm more than ready for my second surprise of the day. Let's go," she said as she closed the door and walked with them to the car.
Lucas opened the door for Elizabeth and handed Jack to her as she sat down. Lucas got in and once again drove through town, this time without the horn.
As they moved past the buildings, Lucas drove a few minutes more and began slowing down. Elizabeth was curious as to where they were going.
He stopped the car and came around to let her out. She looked at the grassy area with a small pond and a few trees. "Why are we here?" she said as she put Jack on the ground.
Lucas took her hand in his and looked around with a smile. "It's very close to town, but quiet." He turned to face her. "How would you like to build our house here?"
Lucas had caught her by surprise. "Our…house?"
"I put a down payment on this property. It's 6 acres. We can put a house over there, any size you want, a small barn for the horses over there with a corral. You can have chickens, or not. A garden…We can do whatever you like."
Elizabeth heard the enthusiasm in his voice. She looked around as he spoke, seeing the dream he had for the property, and keeping her eye on Jack. She had passed this land many times in the years she had lived here, but now she saw it with new eyes. Lucas' eyes.
"If you don't like it, my money is refundable," he said quickly, concerned that she hadn't spoken. Elizabeth turned to him choked up.
"Lucas, it's…perfect. Just like you are. Close to town and yet private. Yes. Let's build our home here. You are amazing." She hugged him tightly and he ran his hand down her soft hair.
"I only want to make you happy," he said quietly as he kissed the top of her head.
Elizabeth stepped back and took his hands in hers. "We could live in a shack and I would be happy as long as I have you and Little Jack with me. But…I was thinking at least three large bedrooms…" she suggested watching for his reaction.
Lucas smiled brightly at her implication. "Three bedrooms sound wonderful. I love you Elizabeth Thornton."
"And I love you Mr. Bouchard. Thank you for always putting me and my son first. I can't wait to be your wife."
They briefly kissed, then got back in the car with Jack sitting between them. "Any more surprises today?" Elizabeth asked as she looked over at him.
"I guess two is enough for one day," Lucas teased with a smile, then started up the car to take her and Jack to dinner.
