Chapter 3

It was late when they started walking back to the house, but Nathan was surprised that the once quiet evening streets of Hope Valley were still full of people. The overflow from The Little Gem Saloon was out on the boardwalk, most people with drinks in hand as the talk and laughter cut the night air. Nathan realised that prohibition had obviously not come to Hope Valley.

From the other end of the street he could hear music and rowdy singing. He looked at Bill who just shrugged, "There's another saloon down there called The Tipperary. On paper it is owned by an Irishman from Vancouver but it is in fact run by Chinese people. They arrived and just started building on land that Bouchard had bought, shipping everything in and bringing their own men, rather than getting the lumber from Lee and using locals to do the work. That's been a fairly common pattern here I'm afraid."

"Its patrons are mainly the workers at the two large warehouses that were built behind the livery, again on Lucas's land. I've tried to investigate what actual business is run from them but Lucas just assures me that it is a legitimate storage area for goods being shipped to towns up to the north and reminds me that I no longer carry the authority to ask anything more."

Nathan understood Bill's frustration. As an ex-Mountie he knew he would not be satisfied until he uncovered the truth but without the power to act his hands were tied. "It's fine Bill, I am here now and I promise you we will get answers!"

As they walked Bill continued his commentary on more changes to the town. "In fact, Bouchard now owns more property here than anyone else. Or should I say Elizabeth, for it is her money that he has used. With each new business yet another 'acquaintance' of his arrives to carry out the work and run things. Slowly over the past few years the locals have been pushed out from everything that is happening here."

He pointed further down the street. "The café has been taken over. Abigail and I both sold our shares in it to Jesse and Clara, giving them a good purchase plan to pay it off over time. Then suddenly about a year ago supplies were difficult for them to get. The newcomers didn't frequent it often and when they did there were always problems, then as more of the locals found themselves out of work they couldn't afford to go there anymore. It broke them, Nathan. So when Lucas made an offer to buy the business they had no choice but to sell."

It was clear to see how much this had troubled Bill.

"Now Abigail's is called Le Café du Soleil and it is being run by one of his many friends. It came as no surprise that suddenly all the supply problems disappeared." He gave a derisive snort at that, clearly knowing how manipulated it had all been, before continuing.

"Somehow a few people managed to keep going, despite the odds being stacked against them. Rosemary has stood her ground with The Valley Voice, stating that no amount of intimidation will stop her from upholding the freedom of the press. Who would have thought that the crazy young actress who arrived here all those years ago would end up being one of our greatest defenders."

His voice took on an even more sombre tone as he continued "But Lee is worried about what Bouchard's people might do. They have the children now and there is always the danger that they will be used to force her into doing someone else's bidding. We keep a protective eye on them as best we can."

Despite the gravity of what Bill was telling him, Nathan couldn't help but smile again at hearing their news. He knew how much Rosemary and Lee had wanted a child for so long and yet this precious gift had eluded them.

Molly quickly cut in to explain "They adopted young Patrick from the orphanage in Brookfield two years ago. He is a bright engaging little boy, just turned six, and when you see him it is hard to believe he isn't Rosemary's biological child. He shares her same enthusiasm for life!"

She glanced across at Bill as they walked and only when he nodded did she continue.

"As you heard earlier, they are also Little Jack's guardians. For a long time after Elizabeth and Lucas returned he was passed from one person to another to be cared for until finally we all tried to talk to her about him. She did not want to listen, insisting that there was nothing wrong and she was being a good mother making sure her son was always well cared for. This despite the fact that she never spent any time with him!"

Molly looked up at Nathan with full disdain for Elizabeth written across her face.

"Finally, Bill felt he had no option but to contact Elizabeth's father. He and Julie came out here immediately to speak with Elizabeth and Lucas. It was a sad and horrible time for everyone. Even the offer of a full-time nanny was rejected until in the end William Thatcher felt he had no recourse but to get the courts involved".

As she paused for a moment Nathan could see how much just recounting the story was distressing her but then she went on.

"Bill felt he had to recuse himself as he was too close to the whole situation, so it was a visiting judge who presided. He revoked Elizabeth's parental rights over Little Jack and then at William's request, and with Rosemary and Lee's agreement, appointed the Coulters as his official guardians. They love that boy so much Nathan and we all agreed that at least this way he still has some contact with his mother."

For the second time since he had arrived back in Hope Valley Nathan felt a deep regret at how much the events of recent years had affected this innocent child. Could he have done more, he wondered? Should he have done more?

Once again he knew the answer was not straightforward. How do you measure the happiness of one child against another? No matter how sad he felt for Little Jack, he knew that he would always have others to fight his battles. Allie was family and without him she'd had no-one to stand up for her. It wasn't right that a choice should be made but he knew that he had made the best one he could.

Reaching the house Molly quickly bade Nathan goodnight, explaining that she had an early start at the surgery tomorrow as later in the morning she would begin moving some of their belongings over to the row house. Nathan began to protest but was stopped by a raised eyebrow, an expression he was familiar with from many conversations they had shared in the past. He quietly nodded his thanks and kissed her on the cheek.

Turning to Bill he asked "Would you mind if I used the telephone? I just realised that I haven't called home to say that I have arrived safely."

"Of course" Bill said, ushering him towards the study. "Use the one in here, I'll close the door so that you have privacy."

Nathan quickly made the connection and was happy to hear Allie answer at the other end. "Dad, you're there! I was beginning to wonder if something had happened but then I guessed that you and Uncle Bill had a lot of catching up to do!"

It had been a difficult day and he knew that things were going to get worse before they got better but he tried to keep that from his voice. "I'm fine Allie girl, just got caught up with things and am now feeling a bit tired."

"I understand. I can wait until I get there to hear about everyone." she said, "I'll just say goodnight and pass you over to speak to Mum."

After a night of tossing and turning Nathan rose at what he thought was a respectable time, trying to stay as quiet as possible as he washed and dressed for the day in case the others were not yet awake. Doing up the final buckle on his Sam Brown he straightened his serge and checked himself in the mirror, wishing as always he could find a way to control the rogue lock of hair that fell down across his forehead.

He knew it was important for the people of Hope Valley to see a Mountie in the red serge back on their streets and that Mountie should instil in them confidence that their town was in good hands.

Arriving on the train later today were two of his most trusted colleagues, both men having worked with him on investigations over the past few years, each grateful at times for the backup of their team that prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.

They were bringing with them his horse, Newton, who had become such a part of him that he had found the few days apart difficult. Nathan lost count of the times that his faithful mount had saved him from a hazardous predicament. He knew it sounded strange when people heard him describe Newton as his best friend as only another Mountie would understand that special bond between man and horse.

Over the coming week six more Mounties were due to arrive, four in the uniform of trainees and two under the guise of gamblers, here to raise questions that could lead to information about the nefarious activity at the saloon and by default the other new businesses in the town.

Nathan knew that if they were going to get to the bottom of what was going on then it was important that suspicion was not directed towards any of the inhabitants of Hope Valley and, in particular, those involved with Bouchard's activities. These undercover Mounties would give a cover for the investigation, validating the need for him and his soon to be deputised assistant Bill Avery to ask the questions for which they needed answers.

A further two would arrive at a yet undecided time, their task one of great solemnity that would require Nathan's permission for it to be undertaken. It was not something that he was looking forward to.

Descending the stairs he heard Bill singing in the kitchen, the song unfamiliar to him but making him laugh as he heard the words.

"Oh Molly dear, the spring is here, and birds their mates are calling.

They're nesting now and so should we, for sheltered close we too must be, when dark is falling.

Oh Molly dear, the honey bee, the blushing rose is kissing, then why should you…." (1)

Bill stopped mid verse as he heard Nathan's footsteps on the stairs, clattering a few pans around to cover the embarrassment of being caught.

"Don't stop, I have always thought you have a good voice my friend" Nathan assured him with a grin on his face. He knew that underneath the gruff exterior the judge presented to the world there was a man who felt and loved deeply. It was obvious that his marriage to Molly was bringing a joy that he had long ago convinced himself would never come to him. No matter how many bad things were happening around them, it was a relief to know that these good people were still finding happiness somewhere in their lives.

Over coffee the two men kept the conversation light as they discussed the logistics of accommodating the Mounties arriving that day. Bill had already booked three horses into the livery, without giving any information as to who would be accompanying them. It had become normal for a steady flow of people to pass through Hope Valley and, while many arrived in motor cars, modern life hadn't completely reached this area so horses were still a common means of transport.

Of the various boarding houses that had sprung up there was only one that he considered respectable enough, Cat Montgomery's. She had always been a good Christian woman and this was reflected in the way she ran her establishment. No-one who frequented the saloons was allowed to stay and if you dared to mention the word gambling then the door would be closed firmly in your face.

Cat had lost her husband in the mine disaster that killed many of the men of Hope Valley, the investigation into it being what first brought Bill to the town. The courage and stoicism of the widows and children left behind had humbled him. Never had he seen a community come together in support of each other as he had witnessed then.

For Cat, the aftermath was even worse than for others as she tried to keep the truth about her husband's gambling habit from their children. He was a good man, a wonderful father, but he had this one weakness and Cat nearly paid a high price to hide his secret. When accused of burning down the church she had steadfastly refused to defend herself, knowing that by doing so she would have to disclose that one dark part of her husband's character.

Jack Thornton had believed in her innocence and once she had confided in him he set about to clear her name. Unwittingly Elizabeth had been the one who discovered the real culprit, putting her life in danger at the time until Jack came to her rescue. Bill often wondered if that had been the moment when those two young people realised the feelings they had for each other.

As Bill moved to the stove ready to refill their cups, Nathan stood and quickly said "Let's go to the café for breakfast Bill".

The older man turned to him with a guarded look in his eyes "Do you think that is wise? It will be full of Lucas's acquaintances and workers, we will not be able to have a private conversation in front of them. I need to explain more to you about what has been going on here."

"Exactly!" Nathan replied "We can talk about the reason I am here, at least what we want the public to believe, the training exercises and how we will accommodate the other Mounties. Let us start in a seemingly upfront manner about what we are doing, get the word out that I have arrived and see how long it takes to get back to Bouchard. We can continue our true discussion once we get to the Mountie Office."

Bill stopped him there "I see what you are trying to do but there is one problem with that. We don't know where Lucas is. He hasn't been seen in Hope Valley for a little over two weeks now. It is customary for him to be away for a number of days at a time when he goes to the gambling halls in Benson Hills. There are rumours that he has a lover there too, a Chinese woman who goes by the name of Mei Sou. But this time he has been gone much longer, which makes me wonder if trouble has finally caught up with him."

Nathan was taken aback by Bill's revelation, but it confirmed what he had always believed. When he and Bouchard had vied for Elizabeth's affections he was convinced that his rival did not have the same true feelings for her that he did, that it was always a game to him. His whole manner had been akin to that of the Vicomte de Valmont, a character in what Nathan had learnt was Lucas's favourite book, Dangerous Liaisons.

After leaving Hope Valley he had taken it upon himself to read the book in the hope that he would find something redeeming in the character that Lucas seemingly aspired to be like. At the end Valmont did at least try to make some amends for his sins, but it was too little too late as the damage to others had already been done. He hoped that was not going to be the case here. Although redemption for Bouchard and his associates may not be possible, his aim was to bring back to Hope Valley the loving and safe community that he remembered.

He knew that Elizabeth could end up being a casualty of this fight they were about to embark upon and he wondered how he would deal with it should that happen. Then he thought about who and what he had in the life he had made for himself, what loving someone and receiving love in return was truly like. How finding his soulmate had changed him.

In his heart he knew that Elizabeth alone had made the decision to take the path she was on, no-one else. If she had troubles then she could have turned to so many people to help her but she didn't. So whatever it may cost her, she could no longer be his priority in this. His duty was to do what was needed to make things right for the good people here and to keep his own family safe.

As they walked towards the café Bill explained more to Nathan, aware that his earlier disclosure had been difficult for his friend to comprehend.

"My relationship with Elizabeth hadn't been good for a while, she knew what I thought of her being with Bouchard" he said. "but it became worse not long after they returned. She came rushing into my office, in such a frantic state that I thought something had happened to Little Jack."

Bill stopped walking and turned to look up at Nathan. "It was because of you. She had just discovered that you and Allie had left Hope Valley and she was distraught, pacing up and down and demanding that I tell her where you had gone. It was like watching a crazy woman and nothing I could say would calm her down. In fact, it was impossible for me to even get a word in she was so worked up, shouting and screaming at me."

Nathan felt ashamed, distressed to know that his friend had to deal with the fallout of his departure. "I'm so sorry Bill, I didn't think about how she would react and who she would take it out on. I thought once she had chosen Bouchard what I did no longer mattered to her."

"You have nothing to apologise for Nathan, this was not your fault. Eventually I calmed her enough to step out for a moment and send word for Rosemary to come over. Between us we tried to explain that you had made the decision for Allie, that the poor girl had been so upset at having her hopes crushed and then to still see Elizabeth every day at school was affecting her wellbeing."

Nathan was about to protest when Bill continued. "I know that Allie was stronger than that, but we felt if we could make Elizabeth understand a reason then she would accept you having left. Sadly, that was not the case and she became even more hysterical, shouting out how first she had lost Jack, now you and Allie. That everyone she had loved was gone. That someone should take Little Jack away from her before she hurt him too. It was the saddest thing to witness and my heart broke to see her in this state but nothing we said could ease her pain. In the end we had to get Lucas to come from the saloon, reluctantly I might add, and make him take her home."

They had reached the start of the boardwalk and Bill once again hesitated, not wanting anyone to overhear this conversation. "Soon after Lucas decided that he needed to stay at the saloon at night, rather than Elizabeth's row house, and he wanted her to be there with him. We all tried to persuade him that it was no place for a young child and it was at that point that she started asking other people to look after Little Jack a few nights each week to appease her husband."

To Nathan this was unthinkable. As a young Mountie he had taken on responsibility of his four year old niece and from that moment on she became his number one priority. Nothing could have ever changed that. What kind of man puts his own needs, his own greed, over the welfare of a child? Or a wife who clearly needed help?

They walked on, both deep in thought as the scene Bill had just described filled their minds. For Nathan it was another guilt he knew he would carry, albeit an unjustified one, while Bill still wondered if there was anything different any of them could have done to help Elizabeth.

Reaching the café Nathan looked in the window, noting how much it had changed from the welcoming place where he had spent so many enjoyable times with Allie and others. Gone were the lace cloths and candles, the flowers that had brought a fresh fragrance to the room, and the counter full of cakes and pies whose aroma enticed you in through the door. There were no families gathered for breakfast before work and school, no-one rushing in to buy a pie to take home for lunch.

Instead, the mood was quite sombre, the plain tables occupied by workmen fuelling up for the day ahead without really caring what they were eating. Looking at a plate in front of a customer by the door he wondered at the wisdom of eating here. The expression on Bill's face told him that he thought the same. "Come on Bill, we have a job to do and this is a small price to pay to achieve it!"

As the door closed behind them a smartly dressed woman turned onto the main street, her attention drawn to a glimpse of red that disappeared into the café.

Elizabeth Bouchard shook her head to clear the image that had suddenly appeared as she told herself it could never be what she hoped. If only, she thought. What would she give to be able to go back and do things differently.

Her hands tightened around the handle of her basket as she made her way to The Mercantile, as in the distance she could hear the chatter of children heading towards the school that once was a central part of her life. The school her late husband had built and to where their son would now be walking. A single tear fell from her eye, a silent sorrow for what she had lost.

(1) Molly, lyrics by Rida Johnson Young and music by Victor Herbert. 1919