Chapter Two: A Mountie's Dilemma
Constable Gabe Kinslow sat at his desk in the part-time Mountie office in Oakville. He looked around the small room that served as an office, noting its lack of embellishment; other than a functional office desk which held the telephone, writing materials and some files, it was almost bare. The only other furniture was several chairs, his and the two for visitors, a wood heater that served as heating and cooking facilities and a rickety, scarred table that functioned as the kitchen. Clothes hooks attached to the wall near the door acted as a coat rack.
A door in the corner of the room opened into the space where the Mountie in charge slept. A single cot was placed against one wall with a side table next to it. The accommodations were simple, suitable for a posting that didn't warrant a full-time Mountie. The Mountie sleeping arrangements were not much better than those in the Jail cell in the far corner of the Office. The Jail cell was a little sparser than the Mountie bedroom; it contained a single bed, a thin pillow and bed coverings. Gabe was pensive as he looked at the Jail cell, thinking about its most recent occupant Miss Quinn Standing, and her recent troubles.
Gabe got up and walked to the stove, pouring himself a cup of strong black coffee from the pot he had made earlier. Coffee in hand, he walked over to the door and stepped out of the Mountie office. Sitting down in the chair, on the Verandah out front. Gabe liked to sit out the front of the Mountie office with a cup of coffee, taking the opportunity to look over Town and make sure all was in order; he did the same thing in Brookfield, where he was usually stationed.
The Trial happening in the Courthouse occupied his thoughts. Thankfully, the Circuit Court Judge was already scheduled to attend Oakville, so Quinn didn't have to wait long for the hearing. The Judge would soon be announcing his verdict on the investigation into the cause of Harold Standing's death. His decision would determine if there were charges to be laid. Quinn Standing would find out shortly if she had to answer the accusation of murdering her father.
Gabe let his mind drift back to the call from Mountie headquarters he received three days ago. Enthralled by the memories of that day, he sat, coffee going cold, allowing himself to remember back to what had happened.
As Gabe hung up from Mountie headquarters, he felt sick; his stomach had dropped the moment he had received orders to arrest Quinn Standing on suspicion of being involved in her father's death.
While he had only been relieving a short while, Oakville was a small town, and it didn't take long for rumours and gossip to spread. Gabe had heard the story started by Mary Fielding. He had not placed any belief in it, but the Fielding's clearly had influence, as the Mountie's had decided to act on the information provided and investigate.
Mary Fielding has inferred Quinn had lied about not being there during the ride, which had killed her father, stating she was involved. During the investigation, Quinn had told Gabe she was late riding out that morning, and, as she tried to catch up with her father, she was met by his horse returning without him, clearly agitated. Quinn swore there had been someone else there that morning. Quinn said she had heard a horse's hoofbeats riding away from her, loud in the quiet of the dawn. Unfortunately, the townspeople believed Mary and Gabe had heard many motives for Quinn's actions. "It was for his money", they whispered, "she wanted her inheritance to leave Town", "she wanted to marry, and her father disapproved"; the list went on and on, each one just as outlandish as the first.
After organising a Wagon, Gabe had approached Sam Madison to accompany him to arrest Quinn. He knew this wasn't strictly in line with the Mountie handbook, but Gabe wanted Sam there to support Quinn where he couldn't. It turns out he was right to have Sam with him; Quinn had been devastated.
Gabe was jolted back to the present, a sound at the Mercantile interrupting his reminiscing. He looked toward the shop but realised it had just been the shop door slamming closed.
Gabe looked over his shoulder at the Jail inside the Mountie office; he remembered Quinn standing there that night. The colour had drained from Quinn's face, leaving her ashen, her lips pinched together tightly as she stood before the Jail cell. She had looked so alone, Gabe had apologised to her, saying, "I am sorry, Quinn, but I need you in the cell." She had nodded silently and walked forward; as the door closed behind her with a metallic clang, she flinched. Gabe had hung his head; he hated his job at that moment, he knew Quinn was innocent, and it felt wrong.
Gabe heard the crowd of people exiting the Courthouse before he saw them, the noise rousing him from his reflections. They were highly agitated and quite vocal; from their tone, he could tell the case had gone in Quinn's favour, and he smiled. Gabe placed his coffee cup on the Verandah and stood, walking toward its edge, leaning against one of the support posts using this vantage point to assess the crowd's mood, wondering whether they would escalate. As he watched silently, a lone figure stepped away from the group and, with head down and hands jammed into his coat pockets, strode quickly away and out of sight. Joshua Fielding, thought Gabe, didn't want to be around people too long.
As Gabe watched, the large group started to break up into smaller groups. The conversation continued amongst families heading back to their homes, others back to their place of business. Gabe relaxed his guard and walked back inside the Mountie office. He knew Sam and Quinn were still inside the Courthouse, and he didn't want them to see him watch them leave.
It was probably a good time to call Nathan and update him on the Trial and ask about the unexpected visit to Oakville by Bill Avery. Gabe re-filled his cup with hot coffee before sitting behind the Mountie desk and placing his call. As he waited for the Switchboard Operator to connect them, he thought about his suspicions of why Bill was in Oakville and wondered if Nathan could confirm them. Once verified, he could start planning his trip home and telegraph his Fiancé, Lillian Walsh, to let her know when she could expect him in Brookfield. The thought of seeing Lillian brought a smile to his face for the first time that day.
"Constable Nathan Grant, Royal North-western Mounted Police, Hope Valley". Nathan's voice travelled through the telephone.
"Constable Grant, Constable Gabe Kinslow, temporary Mountie Oakville? he said, smiling, "pleasure to talk to you." "How are you today, keeping up with the Criminals?"
Dropping the formality, Nathan said, a smile in his voice, "You too, Gabe, it's good to talk to you." Nathan said, "To answer your questions, I am good and not much out of the ordinary has happened in the way of Mountie business since I talked to you last." "I have to admit, I don't mind that, especially with Bill away and unable to back me up if I need it."
"That's good to hear, Nathan," said Gabe, "How is everything with Allie?" he asked; Allie was Nathan's niece. Nathan's daughter, he corrected silently; Nathan had adopted her after her mother died, and her father wasn't the right person to look after her. Gabe had met Allie many times and loved the young girl very much. Allie was one of a kind and kept Nathan on his toes. Allie was a Tomboy and loved nothing but being outdoors especially fishing, although she still did very well at her school.
"Allie is doing well; she is in an advanced Math class program now, which is keeping the both of us busy!" Nathan was very proud of how well Allie was doing, and it showed in his voice. "I feel like I need to go back to school, so I understand how to help her, but that's probably not a great idea," he said.
Gabe grimaced. He knew Nathan and Elizabeth Thornton; a Mountie's widow and the School Teacher for Hope Valley had a complicated relationship. Elizabeth's husband, Jack Thornton, was killed in service while training new recruits. As Jack had replaced Nathan during this training exercise and died, Nathan felt responsible and had requested a transfer to Hope Valley to look after his family.
Nathan and Elizabeth struck up a close friendship, especially as Allie was in her class. Elizabeth helped Allie settle in at school and make friends. Due to Elizabeth's support of Nathan, the residents of Hope Valley accepted Nathan as Jack's replacement. Hope Valley became the first true home Nathan and Allie had known.
The relationship between Nathan and Elizabeth was complicated by many things, including Nathans's connection to the mission, which killed Jack. She held fears about the danger of Nathans job, whether she was ready to begin a new relationship, and there was a rival for her affections, Lucas Bouchard. Lucas was a businessman in Hope Valley, running the local saloon and Oil company. Where Nathan was quiet and reserved, sometimes even tongue-tied around Elizabeth, Lucas was the opposite outgoing and charming.
"How is it going between you and Elizabeth? Gabe asked curiously. Gabe was interested to hear Nathan's reply.
"It's different," Nathan replied calmly. "You know me, Gabe, I don't like to talk about my feelings". He sighed and said, "but I will say, "I have accepted that she chose Lucas." Nathan continued in the same tone, "Once I did that and put distance between us, it's been a lot easier on Allie and me."
Nathan leaned back in his chair, the creaking sound loud in the quiet room, "I am happy for Elizabeth and Little Jack, and Allie sees Mrs Thornton as just her teacher now, and they have settled into a more appropriate relationship." Nathan explained.
Gabe was happy to hear Nathan was moving on, although it was nothing personal towards Elizabeth. Gabe had heard nothing but good things about her from those who knew her, including Lillian. Lillian had met Elizabeth several years before in Hope Valley when she and her sister Grace had visited there. Despite knowing Elizabeth was a good person, he felt that Nathan needed a relationship without complications. He had discussed it with Lillian, who knew Nathan, and she agreed Nathan was too good a man to put aside his opportunity to find true love out of a sense of responsibility. Lillian wanted to see him find love with someone who would appreciate him and Allie and love them bravely and unconditionally.
Gabe, trying to lighten the mood, said, "so if you have finished discussing your romance, or lack of, can we talk about Bill Avery? His tone clearly teasing. Gabe could imagine Nathan shaking his head as he snorted with laughter.
'Oh, Gabe, I am more than happy to stop discussing my love life, or lack of", Nathan laughed. "Have you managed to catch up with Bill yet?".
"Funny you should ask me that," Gabe said. "I have caught up with Bill, but only briefly this morning. He stopped in at the Mountie office on his way to the Council building." Gabe smiled as he teased, "although I spoke to him, I have to say I am none the wiser about why he is here." "I was hoping you could clear it up for me."
Nathan knew Gabe had good instincts, and he could tell he had an idea of why Bill was in Oakville. Deciding to put Gabe out of his misery quickly, Nathan said, "he is in town because of the trial Sam Madison is running." "Apparently, Sam reached out to him not just about the trial, but also her client Quinn Standing; she wanted to see if he could help her if she was cleared of the charges against her," Nathan admitted to himself he was curious about the case and Miss Standing. A lot of good people were going above and beyond to help her. "What can you tell me about her, Gabe?" he asked.
Gabe thought about how best to describe Quinn; she was energetic and intelligent, funny too, with a quick smile and an infectious laugh. Quinn was the type of person his mother meant when she said, 'they've never met a stranger. Quinn was a part of Oakville, helping where needed without taking over or needing to be the star of the show. Gabe knew many people had benefited from Quinn's assistance, all given from a warm heart and without any fanfare or accolades.
Gabe sighed, wondering how to explain all that in a few words. "She is a good person, Nathan. She is bright, loyal and kind, and I will admit to you, arresting her was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do." "I know she didn't do what she was accused of; she adored her father."
Nathan went to speak. "I know what you are going to say, Nathan; just because she adored him doesn't mean she didn't do it." Gabe interrupted. "You will have to trust me on this one; she didn't do it, and she has just been cleared by Judge Carter," he said firmly, confident of his belief in her. "If I am right about why Bill is here, and she ends up in Hope Valley, I hope you will give her the benefit of the doubt; she will need a friend other than Bill."
Nathan was quiet. He had to admit he was intrigued by Quinn Standing and looking forward to meeting her, so he could make up his own mind about her. Two trusted people saw something in Quinn that inspired their loyalty and brought out their protective instincts. Nathan was sure Bill had already decided Quinn needed to relocate to Hope Valley, and he wondered what Bill would use to entice her to their Town.
"Of course, Gabe. I look forward to meeting her," replied Nathan, hoping his tone didn't convey his doubt to his friend. He was sure Gabe was right in his assessment of her, but it never hurt to be cautious.
The call ended, the two friends in separate Mountie offices continued to think about Quinn Standing, although their thoughts differed significantly.