The look on Andrew Booth's face as he peered toward the kitchen of Abigail's sent shivers down Quinn's spine; she sensed malice in his intense stare. She had never been in the presence of someone who projected such hostility. One of the ladies employed to help Minnie approached the man as Quinn covertly observed him, offering more coffee. Quinn was astounded to see his whole demeanour transformed; suddenly, he was smiling and laughing with her.
Quinn stepped backwards away from the curtain, away from him. She realised she was afraid of Andrew Booth; everything about him frightened her, and Quinn wanted nothing to do with him. She didn't believe his story; there was no way he could be so similar in features to Joshua and not be related somehow. He wasn't a cousin; she knew that Joshua was an only child of only children, neither of his parents had siblings.
Quinn needed a plan for dealing with him; it wouldn't be long before he found her, and she had to meet with him and discuss his 'offer' for her father's business. Quinn didn't believe the reasons he had given to Lucas and Nathan; Andrew Booth was lying; she was sure of it even if she didn't know his real intentions.
Nathan stepped up and wrapped an arm around Quinn, feeling her trembling against his chest. 'Quinn, are you okay? Is he truly that much like Joshua Fielding?" He asked her gently. He started to rub his hand gently up and down her arms, trying to comfort her.
"I wish I could show you, Nathan, I wish I had a photo of Joshua so you could compare, but I destroyed them. I didn't want to bring anything of them with me." Quinn explained to Nathan, "Maybe Sam could find one and ..." Quinn trailed off, a faraway look in her eye.
"Quinn, what is it?" Nathan asked shrewdly.
"I know of someone who may have a photo of Joshua Fielding, someone who received a packet of information about me from her sister," Quinn said, one eyebrow raised, her head tilted to one side. "I am sure Elizabeth would be only too happy to share her information with the two of us."
Nathan smiled, his mouth lifting on one side, "I like how you think, Quinn."
"We need to be quick. We need to catch her before she heads to the school." Quinn laughed, running to grab her coat.
Quinn stopped at the steps of Elizabeth's row house, steadying herself with a deep breath. Quinn hated confrontation, and she wasn't sure what to expect from Elizabeth after their last conversation; she hadn't been very nice to her, so a warm welcome was out of the question. Quinn wasn't sure if Nathan being with her would help or hinder her discussion with Elizabeth, but she was about to find out.
Quinn walked to the front door, hand poised to knock, when Nathan called her name. Quinn listened as Nathan offered to speak to Elizabeth on her behalf, and she appreciated his concern for her, but this was something she needed to do herself.
Quinn raised her hand to knock, surprised when the door opened before she could. Elizabeth stood before her, equally surprised to see Quinn on her doorstep. "Oh, Quinn" she exclaimed, surprised to see her on the doorstep; she noticed Nathan. "Has something happened?"
"Yes", Quinn stated sharply, "someone has turned up in Hope Valley looking for me." Adjusting her tone to something softer, she slowed down and continued, "I need to know if you still have the information your sister sent to you, and if you do, can I see it? Please."
Elizabeth nodded quickly, "I kept it, but I decided not to read it." Looking at Nathan once again before returning her gaze to Quinn, she said, "I should never have done what I did, Quinn. I am so sorry that my actions may have caused you harm." Elizabeth's face and neck flushed red as she apologised to Quinn, her eyes dropping as she could not maintain eye contact.
"Thank you, Elizabeth; I do appreciate your apology." Quinn said more graciously than she felt, "Time is of the essence, so I would appreciate it if you could share the information you have with Nathan and me."
"Would you like to come in?" Elizabeth said, stepping back and including both in the invitation.
Without glancing at Quinn, Nathan said, "thank you, but I want to check in on Allie to make sure she is ready for school."
Quinn also declined, "I need the information as quickly as I can. Would it be okay if I took the package with me?" she asked, observing Elizabeth to see her reaction.
Elizabeth stepped back inside her house without another word, grabbed the envelope, and handed it to Quinn. "Here you go, I, I...don't want it back, keep it or destroy it, it's up to you."
Quinn was shocked but took the papers gratefully, clasping them to her chest. "Thank you." She turned away from Elizabeth and walked to Nathan, "I will come with you to see Allie off, and if then you can look through these with me."
Nathan took her hand and, nodding goodbye to Elizabeth, walked with her to his row house.
After Allie left to walk to school with Opal, Nathan looked at Quinn and said, "I would prefer to go through this material here because I know you can't go to the Mountie office, and there isn't anywhere else I can guarantee privacy. Are you comfortable being here alone with me?
"Of course, Nathan," Quinn said and, rolling her eyes asked, "what could happen? People might talk about me?" Shaking her head, she said, "I am not concerned about being here with you, but we both have reputations to consider, Nathan. I could look through this back at the Cafe and let you know what I find if you prefer."
"I want to help you with this, Quinn; I'm not worried if you're not." Nathan took the package off Quinn and placed it on the table, pulling out a chair for her to sit on. Once Quinn sat, he took the chair next to her and opened the package.
Quinn's eyes blurred with unshed tears as she looked through the information Julie Thatcher had found; much of it was newspaper clippings with dramatic headlines, quotes from unnamed sources and incorrect facts. Swallowing back the tears, she told herself to focus; this was not the time for emotions. After reviewing half the articles, they found a packet of photographs, some of which accompanied Newspaper articles and some they were seeing for the first time.
"Look, Nathan, this is a photograph taken outside the courtroom on the final day," Quinn said, holding it out to him to look at with her. "I haven't seen it before, but I can tell from looking at it that's when it was." As they bent over the photo, Quinn was disappointed not to see Joshua; however, a figure was captured in the corner, only visible from the back as they walked away from the crowd, and she was sure it was him.
"Keep looking, Nathan; he isn't in this one," Quinn said urgently, pleased there were some photos and that he might be in another one. Quinn looked at Nathan, laughing dryly, "can you believe I am actually glad they took photographs? This is the first time I haven't been angry at the thought."
Nathan leaned his forehead against hers, acknowledging what she had been through, being there for her. Placing a sweet kiss on her cheek, he returned to looking at photos, trying to find ones that included the crowd in the courtroom. Nathan tried not to focus on the ones of Quinn, sitting in the courtroom or hurrying out With Sam; looking at them made him angry on her behalf and sad that she had to endure it.
"I see what you mean; he is the spitting image of Andrew Booth," Nathan said.
Quinn looked at the photo, noting Nathan's fingers clenched on the corner of the picture of Joshua Fielding sitting in the courtroom. Quinn examined Nathan's face, his jaw clenched as tightly as his hand, and she reached out and placed her hand against his cheek. "Yes, that's him, Nathan. I am glad you found it," she said gently.
Nathan leaned into Quinn's touch, knowing she understood what he was feeling. "Do you think he lied to me, Quinn?" sitting back in his chair, Nathan puffed out a breath. "Is it possible this man doesn't know Joshua Fielding or any of the Fielding's, and it's all some huge coincidence?"
"How could that be possible, Nathan? Surely not!" Quinn thought about Nathans's words; it could be possible, she thought, but based on his demeanour that morning, she doubted it. "Nathan, you didn't see how he changed this morning after you came back into the kitchen; when I looked out his face...it was ruthless and cruel." Quinn swallowed. She grasped Nathan's hand, "promise me we will finish looking into him before confronting him and that you won't meet with him alone."
Nathan shook his head, shocked by how passionate she was about this, "He really upset you, didn't he?" he asked, holding her hand in both of his. "Don't worry about me, Quinn; it's you he's interested in, so you need to take your own advice."
Nodding, Quinn agreed. Gathering the papers Elizabeth had given her, she said, "we need to go; you need to get to work; I have taken you away from your work too many times lately."
"Are you sure you want to work from the Cafe Quinn? I would feel better if I could be with you." Nathan said, frowning his displeasure with the situation clear.
"I am sure, Nathan, I will not let anyone run me out of my home again," Quinn said stubbornly, pleased Nathan realised it wasn't worth arguing with her when he shook his head and helped her gather the papers.
"Can I take the rest of these with me? I want to take another look at the photos and information, but I understand if you would rather I didn't." Nathan asked her.
"No, Nathan, please take them, review them. I have no secrets from you." Quinn assured him. 'I will be happy for whatever you can find out."
Sitting at his desk in the Mountie office, Nathan bent over a photograph studying it closely, not quite sure of what he was seeing. It was a photo of the crowd in the courthouse on the final day of the hearing for Quinn's father. He recognised the day because of Quinn's comments earlier. Joshua Fielding was in the second row of the courtroom; he could be seen clearly; what intrigued Nathan was the person sitting in the corner at the back, almost obscured. He would swear it was Andrew Booth, confirming what Quinn had suspected; he was a liar.
Nathan was conflicted, he needed to tell Quinn what he had found, but he knew he had to go on his rounds. An idea came to him and grabbing his hat he headed out of the Mountie office heading to the café.
"This was a great idea, Nathan," said Quinn smiling at him. "I can't believe neither of us thought of it.
Grinning back at her Nathan agreed, "Andrew Booth can't find you in town, if you aren't in town and this way, I get to spend my rounds with you, best of both worlds."
When Nathan had arrived at the café and suggested she go on rounds with him Quinn had immediately agreed. Anytime she got to spend with Nathan was a bonus and being able to avoid Andrew Booth was something they both wanted. Nathan had shown her the photo, acknowledging she had been right, Andrew Booth had lied about knowing Joshua Fielding.
What they didn't know was if Joshua was aware of Andrew Booth.
They spent the day together, doing Nathan's rounds more slowly than he normally would, arriving back in town to meet Allie after school. Quinn decided to spend the afternoon with the Grants, instead of heading back to the Café, she was sure Andrew Booth wouldn't come looking for her there.
That evening, instead of dining at the café with Rosemary and Lee, they decided to collect food and eat it at home with them. Lee had offered to go and collect the food, promising Allie he wouldn't forget to collect enough of Minnie's chocolate cake for all of them. Lee also collected the overnight bag Quinn had packed earlier, making sure to collect it from the kitchen and not going via the café.
They spent a pleasant evening together, Rosemary spending most of the evening telling stories of her glory days or talking about how Lee would be the perfect Mayor for Hope Valley. Quinn didn't have the heart to tell them she was intending to vote for Bill.
As the night closed in and it grew late Nathan and Allie got ready to go home. It was a school day the next day and as far as Quinn was concerned, the weekend couldn't get there quick enough. Every day she managed to avoid Andrew Booth took them one day closer to her feeling safe.
Quinn walked out onto the Verandah with Nathan when it was time for them to leave, Quinn smiled at Lee and Rosemary who occupied Allie with packaging chocolate cake to take home, allowing the two of them to say goodbye.
"I had a great day today, Nathan, I got to spend time with you and Misty Dawn, two of my favourite things to do, if only Allie had been able to come with us it would have been perfect," Quinn said.
"And if we weren't trying to avoid someone looking for you," Nathan said, "that would have also helped make it perfect. I agree though Quinn, anytime I get to spend with you is one of my favourite things too."
Nathan stepped toward her and took her in his arms, "I think today went so well we should do it again tomorrow, what do you think?"
"That sounds like heaven," she said looking up into his smiling face, thinking as always, how handsome he was, and that she was so lucky that what was on the inside of the man was even better than the outside.
"So same time tomorrow, I will pick you up at the café, straight after I wake Allie. We can head out of town after breakfast and spend most of the day doing rounds, we can take the time and head out to some of the further settlements out on the Northern road" Nathan said.
"I will pack some food for lunch and snacks, and I will be ready to go first thing tomorrow," Quinn promised.
Nathan leaned down and placed a quick kiss on her lips, careful that Allie could come outside any moment, being quick didn't make it any less sweet.
After saying goodnight to Nathan and Allie, Quinn and the Coulters went back inside. Lee excused himself saying he had an early meeting leaving the two women to continue talking.
Quinn told Rosemary about Oakville, her life growing up with her father, and their relationship with the Fieldings, mainly Joshua, and his mother. Quinn talked about the day of her father's death, his horse returning without him, knowing she had heard another horse, and then the accusations made against her.
Rosemary was a good listener, barely interrupting her story, and if she did it was only to ask for clarification, to understand. Quinn felt lighter after talking to Rosemary, being able to share her story made her feel closer to her. Quinn wondered if she should also tell her story to Faith and Fiona before they had a chance to find out from someone else. She would talk it through with Nathan the next day and see what he thought, she was sure he would agree with her, it was time. Quinn knew would support whatever she decided to do.
The next few days followed a pattern, Nathan would collect Quinn after breakfast and they would spend the day together, out of town, doing Nathan's rounds. Quinn enjoyed the time they spent together, exploring the area around Hope Valley, exploring more about each other, building on the feelings they had for each other, by having conversations about the small things, along with more serious things too. Nathan told Quinn about losing his sister and raising Allie alone and explained more of the challenges he had overcome as not only a single man raising a daughter but a Mountie raising a daughter.
Quinn shared her experience of being raised by a single father, what she had cherished about their relationship, and how she had felt so lucky to be close to her father, some of the children she had grown up around hadn't been. Quinn talked again of the betrayal she had felt from Mary Fielding who had been a substitute for her mother, how it hurt so badly she had turned on Quinn with not one word of explanation.
Laughing to try and lighten the mood, she also explained some of the challenges Nathan would likely face as Allie grew, assuring him the teenage girls could be hard to deal with, even for a Mountie.
Nathan sat at his desk in the Mountie office, checking on some paperwork before he collected Quinn for their daily ride. They continued to avoid Andrew Booth but Nathan worried, that they were running out of time, that their luck would eventually run out and they would have to deal with him. Maybe he was feeling edgy because they were leaving later today and there was a chance Andrew would catch Quinn before they could head out. Quinn had insisted he spend the morning catching up on paperwork he had been neglecting because of his extended rounds with her.
Part of Nathan wanted to confront Booth, find out what he was really doing in Hope Valley and ensure he stayed away from Quinn. The other part remembered that he had promised not to approach Andrew Booth without back up and Bill was the only one he had to help with that, and he would have to wait for him to return.
Frustrated with inaction, Nathan decided, he would find Andrew and confront him, he would do it where others were close, but where he could maintain Quinn's privacy. He would explain it to Quinn afterwards.
As he stood to head out of the office, the telephone rang. Nathan pressed his lips together in irritation, the call was an unwelcome delay, but he couldn't ignore it.
Nathan was relieved it was Gabe on the other end of the phone, he would understand Nathan's need to call him back. When Gabe started talking, Nathan sat back down in his chair, listening intently, all thoughts of cutting his friend short forgotten. Nathan was glad Gabe offered to fill Bill in on what he had learned from Joshua Fielding, he didn't want to waste any more time.
After finishing the call with Gabe, Nathan's thoughts were racing, he needed to see Quinn and tell her what Gabe had found out. He hurried out of the Mountie office towards Abigail's to catch her. Nathan was in a hurry so entered the café through the main doors, glancing around the room to see if Andrew Booth was seated anywhere. The café seemed busier than usual, there were people at almost every table which was unusual, the crowd was more often evenly split between the saloon and Abigails, but not today it would seem.
Nathan walked into the kitchen expecting to see Minnie, surprised she wasn't out there cooking up a storm. Catching the eye of one of the workers, Sarah, who helped from time to time he asked, "is Minnie around?"
"Minnie had to stay home today, apparently Cooper wasn't feeling well." Sarah replied, "she didn't want to because we are so busy, but we told her she had to."
"It does seem very busy in here so early, is there a reason for that?" Nathan asked looking around the kitchen but finding no sign of Quinn.
"There was a problem in the kitchen at the Saloon and they were unable to cook lunch, everyone decided to come here," Sarah responded shrugging. "I am surprised to see you here Nathan, I thought Quinn packed breakfast and lunch for you today, so you could get an early start?" she asked him as she put the finishing touches on the meal, she was getting ready to serve.
"Sorry, what do you mean Sarah? Has Quinn left to go somewhere?" Nathan's panic settled in the pit of his stomach.
"Quinn got your message saying you wanted to meet her at the livery early, which is why she packed breakfast as well as lunch," Sarah advised him, her face showing her confusion.
"How long ago did she get that message, and how was it delivered?" Nathan asked urgently.
"Several hours, the message was with the paper Robert left on the step first thing this morning, Quinn assumed you had to be somewhere early and wanted to make sure she was at the livery as fast as possible. Is there something wrong Nathan? Did she misunderstand the message?" Sarah asked, her own panic rising as she sensed the uneasiness in Nathan.
"The message wasn't from me, if Quinn does return, please ask her to wait here for me, not to leave until she talks to me." He demanded, waiting for her acknowledgement before rushing back to the Mountie office and grabbing the telephone.
Waiting impatiently to be put through to Gabe in Brookfield Nathan paced, as much as he was able to while still holding the phone. When the call finally connected Nathan burst out "Gabe I think he has her!"
Gabe's heart dropped at that statement, "tell me what you know Nathan," he said. Gabe stared at Joshua Fielding, realising the information he had brought may have come too late.