Chapter Forty-Three

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering

can the soul be strengthened,

ambition inspired,

and success achieved."

~Helen Keller

The jailhouse door opened and Constable Lissing led Allen through it, closely followed by Constables Cummins and Wagner. As Lissing and Allen descended the stairs toward the street, Mary Alice Calhoun approached them.

"Eddie?" she called to Allen.

Lissing regarded Mary Alice with a guarded expression as he pressed Allen down the stairs and into the street.

When Allen saw Mary Alice, his eyes widened with anxious surprise for a moment before he slid back into the cool, cocky persona he'd had when he first arrived in Coal Valley. "Well, Mary Alice!" he exclaimed as he folded his hands and shifted his handcuffed hands to side. "How are you doing?" He pushed back against Lissing, forcing them to slow their walk.

Mary Alice looked astonished. "How am I doing?" she asked, incredulous. She shook her head and repeated, in a lower voice, "How am I doing..."

Jack had followed the other constables out of the jailhouse. When he spotted Mary Alice. "Miss Calhoun, can I help you?" he asked.

Mary Alice looked up at Jack. Her eyes revealed her trepidation. "I want to say my peace to this scallywag," she answered, a slight quiver in her voice. "That alright with you, Mountie Jack?"

"Scallywag?!" Allen interjected, indignation in his voice.

"My granny's word for someone like you!" she fired back.

Jack considered her request for a moment before turning to Lissing. "Can you give her a moment?"

Lissing looked between the girl and Jack before nodding. "But just a moment. We have a long ride ahead of us." He turned to Mary Alice. "And you'll have to speak with him right here, with us present. Can't offer you privacy."

Mary Alice nodded. "That's perfectly fine. I don't wish to ever be alone with him again." She turned to Allen and hesitated momentarily before addressing him, her eyes narrowing. When she finally spoke, it was slow and deliberate, as though she'd rehearsed it many times. "I waited with that horse of yours all afternoon for you to come back! Finally, when I got worried something had happened to you, I came out and heard people talking about someone causing trouble at the school. I couldn't believe it when they told me it was you!" She took a deep breath before continuing. "You held my little brothers hostage in the school while I was waiting for you! Thinking that you and I..." her voice caught.

Jack watched the exchange, impressed with Mary Alice's strength. She'd always appeared very timid and quiet. He couldn't remember ever hearing the young woman say more than a few words before.

"Mary Alice, darlin'," Allen soothed as she stopped to clear her throat.

She raised her hand to stop him. "You held them at gunpoint!" She was talking faster now, her voice rising. "You scared them half to death! You hurt people in this town! My friends! And I hear you beat up your commander before you deserted your unit. You were a Mountie!" She shook her head, her lower lip quivering and tears welling in her eyes. "I trusted you! I thought you were an honorable man and that you cared for me." The tears were now rolling down her cheeks.

"Mary Alice," Allen replied, his voice exuding charm. "I never meant to hurt you. I told you I wanted you to come with me to America and I meant it. I still do."

Mary Alice's eyes narrowed. "What do mean you still do?" she asked, her voice rising.

Allen nodded. "Of course I still do," he assured her cloyingly. He stared at her for a moment before adding," "Will you wait for me?"

Her face contorted into a horrified expression. "Wait for you?" she asked. He voice was shrill and became more strident when she repeated, "Wait for you?!"

"Yeah," Allen said with a wide smile. "Wait for me. As soon as I get out of this, I'll come back for you and we can head to America, just like we planned."

Mary Alice's eyes flashed with fury as her breathing quickened. Suddenly, she lunged for Allen and began slamming her fists into his chest while she yelled, "How dare you! How dare you! You! You scallywag!"

Mary Alice's rash move to attack Allen surprised all of the constables. Lissing tried to grab her arms, but she proved stronger and quicker than he'd imagined, while Jack rushed from the porch, pushing past Cummins and Wagner as he scrambled down the stairs. However, Bo Grady surprised them all when he appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Mary Alice around her waist. He pulled her away from Allen, her arms still flailing when he set her down and turned her around to face him. Her hand grazed Bo's chin, which didn't faze him but startled her out of her frenzy. He gently wrapped his hands over hers and told her, "It's okay! It's okay!"

Startled to see Bo, Mary Alice stopped and stared at him. After a moment, her arms dropped to her sides and her gaze fell to the ground, though she was still breathing rapidly. Tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

"Why don't we have some tea at Abigail's?" Bo suggested. She looked up and his eyes met hers. "And maybe... maybe we could talk?"

Mary Alice wiped her cheeks as she considered his offer. Bo gave her a smile and her face brightened a bit. She nodded her acceptance and he offered her his arm. She wrapped her arm around his and they walked away, toward Abigail's Cafe.

Jack and the other constables stood in the street, watching Mary Alice and Bo walk away, stunned at the turn of events.

"Where the heck are you going?" Allen angrily called after Mary Alice and Bo. "And who's that? Your old beau? What's he got that I ain't got?" he called, taunting.

Bo reassuringly placed his hand over Mary'Alice's and they continued toward the cafe, ignoring Allen.

"Honesty, integrity," Jack answered as Lissing pushed Allen toward his horse.

"Not to mention he's free and you're not," Lissing added as he nodded for Allen to get on his horse.

Allen exhaled a disgusted scoff and mumbled, "Women...," before he climbed up onto his horse.

Cummins and Wagner climbed astride their horses as Lissing walked back to Jack. "Thank you for the report and for the coffee," he said to Jack as he saluted.

"You're welcome," Jack replied as he returned the salute. "Anything to have justice served to that deserter. I hope you have a safe ride back to Depot."

Lissing nodded. "Thanks," he responded before turning to get on his horse.

Jack looked past Lissing and spotted Bill approaching them. Bill called to Jack. "Our prisoner is leaving us, eh?"

Jack nodded and answered, "Yes." Bill stopped next to Jack and watched the constables start down the street, Allen riding in the middle of their formation. Jack added, "And, better yet, he's being escorted to Depot by his old unit."

Bill's eyes widened with surprise. "Really?"

Jack's face widened with a wry smile and he nodded.

"Well, that's perfect," Bill replied as he and Jack watched the four men ride down Main Street and out of Coal Valley.

Author's Note: Mary Alice had to have her say to dastardly Allen, of course. And I just love the Bo Grady character so much. Had to make him the knight in shining armor rescuing the fair Mary Alice! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it! If you have a minute, please send a review. More to come soon...