Chapter 4

Breakfast was as expected, the interest in their conversation undeniable as the general hum of the room quietened when they spoke, with both making sure that their voices were clearly heard. Then, having achieved their objective, they headed along the street to the Mountie Office. The door was stiff from lack of recent use as Nathan first tried to open it, all the while Bill muttering that he should have had the place cleaned and organised ready for his arrival.

Laughing as he pushed his shoulder against it until it gave, Nathan just said "What, so that you could claim my side of the desk before I got here. No thank you, I'm happy to sort it all myself! Besides, there is always the chance that some forgotten evidence may have been left behind by the last Mountie before his hurried departure. I heard that he was caught trying to sell some stolen goods in Union City and the pawn shop called it in."

There was a musty smell about the building, the dust on furniture and stove deep enough to write your name in. Nathan turned to Bill with a grimace that said he didn't realise it was going to be this messy.

The cabinet in the corner stood open, files scattered haphazardly on the shelves. Bill tried to explain "We had to go through everything quickly before Lucas stopped us from entering here. As mayor he said that he had official control over the security of this office until a new Mountie was appointed to take over. I challenged it with Mountie headquarters but they told me he was right. Of course, now that you are here he no longer has any of that authority."

At that point, as if on cue, the door was pushed open and a stocky man, almost as broad as he was tall, entered. He took one look at Nathan, dressed in full Mountie uniform, and the cocky air he had carried with him suddenly disappeared.

Raising himself to full height and looking the stranger in the face, Nathan firmly asked "Can I help you sir?"

"Erm, I have a message for you" he replied, before hesitating for a moment. His gravely voice then caught and he continued. "Mr Bouchard is not in town at present but as soon as he returns he will want to see you at The Little Gem so that you may get to know the people you need to deal with and to discuss what he expects from you. He doesn't like to be ignored," He looked at the braid on Nathan's uniform then up at his hat, before hesitantly finishing "…Constable?"

Bill shot in quickly, his hackles risen at the disresepecgt. "You are addressing Superintendent Nathan Grant and I suggest that you pass word back to Mr Bouchard that if he wishes to discuss anything then he may visit him here in the office of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I believe your boss may find things about to change here in Hope Valle and probably not to his liking!"

Nathan was surprised by Bill's outburst, chuckling quietly to himself whilst maintaining a

straight face in front of Bouchard's lackey. He merely nodded in agreement and then turning his back on the man walked across to set upright the chair behind the desk, resisting the temptation to run his hand across the familiar surface.

"Please tell Mr Bouchard that I am happy to speak to him when he returns, my door is open to all the residents of Hope Valley."

With the interruption over both men set about straightening the room until Bill finally said "This is ridiculous Nathan, no-one can expect your men to work here in this state. I shall ask Molly to arrange for someone to come in and give the place a thorough clean. I wouldn't wish the mattresses and blankets in those cells on even the worst criminals."

As much as Nathan wanted to protest he had to agree, it was obvious that this office had been in a bad state even before the last Mountie departed.

Brushing the dust from his sleeve Bill continued. "I suggest we take whatever files and documents we can find across to my office and go through them there. Then we can continue our talk in private. I shall send word to Minnie and Joseph that you would like to see them there as soon as they are free."

Stepping outside Nathan saw Faith talking with a man he didn't know, the familiarity between them making him think that this was her husband.

The other man noticed the direction he was looking and nodded, "Yes, that is Matthew Walters, our second doctor here in Hope Valley and as of last summer Faith's husband. He's a good man, Nathan. A lot like Carson actually, quiet until you get to know him well, but the type you definitely want to have on your side. It took her a while to open her heart again but now, looking at how happy she is, I have no doubt that this was the plan for her all along."

His words reminded Nathan of what Allie so often said, that what had happened to them here was just a part of a bigger plan for them, they just hadn't realised it at the time. As Faith's husband reached up to brush the hair back from the side of her face before whispering into her ear, Nathan knew that was certainly the case for this beautiful lady as well. It gave him joy to see her so happy.

Once they were settled in the office Nathan took off his Inspector's cap and set it aside on the desk. He missed his campaign hat, it had served a purpose at least, whereas this small thing offered little protection from anything.

Bill picked up the telephone, asking Florence to connect him to Molly at the infirmary but she informed him that the line was busy. Instead of waiting he decided to see if Florence could help to arrange the cleaning of the office for Nathan. He could barely get the words out of his mouth before she stopped him, "Say no more Bill, you know we would have done this before for you had Lucas's men allowed us into the office. I shall rally the troops and it will be ready for him tomorrow morning. Is that soon enough? If not we can…"

Bill interrupted, "That is perfect Florence, I know Nathan will appreciate this, as do I".

Hanging up he was surprised to see Nathan at the window, his finger pulling down one slat of the blind as he focused on something out on the street. His shoulders were down and without turning he said "I can see her, Bill. She looks the same and yet so very different, as though she's drawn the curtains on the world and is in there all alone. I can't stop asking myself why?"

Bill didn't need to look out to know who he was talking about.

Elizabeth kept her eyes focused straight ahead as she moved along the boardwalk from Rosemary's office.

She knew people watched her whenever she came into town, both curiosity about her and delight at what they saw as her downfall were great incentives to stare. With each step she lifted her head a little higher, not wanting to give anything away and reminding herself that she was a Thatcher after all, while inside her heart was sinking further down with the weight of knowing what they all thought.

For one of the few times in nearly four years she had felt a moment of joy this morning, the flash of red she had seen as the door to the café closed having made her heart race.

It wasn't Jack, she knew that. Everyone thought her grief over losing him had driven her mad or, in the words of the judge, "It is my observation Mrs Bouchard that you are not in the right mind to be responsible for a young child", but deep down she was fully aware that her first husband would never be coming back.

Equally, she knew that the other man she had tried so hard not to love, the one who had done everything he could to help her overcome her grief and who patiently gave her the space she needed as she fought against her feelings for him, had been driven away to find happiness elsewhere.

One of the things she had admired most about Nathan Grant was his unwavering devotion to his daughter, a young girl who had loved her and who she had hurt so badly. That he would put Allie's needs above anything else she had no doubt. She knew it was better for them to have left behind the toxicity that surrounded her. How could he be so right and she so wrong.

Elizabeth knew only one person was to blame for what her life had become.

Of course she was aware that Lucas was not the man he had led her to believe with all his fancy words and romantic gestures. For even in her desperation to choose him she had known he had a shady side which she ignored but she thought at first that they could find some measure of happiness together. That loving her was enough to make him leave behind his criminal past and settle down to a life in Hope Valley and that maybe, if she worked at it, she could learn to love him a little in return.

Then Helen Bouchard had spoken to her and everything changed.

It became even more unbearable on their return with the discovery that Nathan and Allie had left. Her despair was something she would never forget, the pain so severe that she thought her heart was being ripped from her body.

She had chosen Lucas so that she would never have to suffer again in the way she did when Jack died and then she had lost Nathan after all, the loss so much greater this time because she knew it was of her own doing.

Why hadn't she sought out the truth from him? Was she scared of how it would make her feel?

Instead she had destroyed any hope she had for herself and she knew she would never again know happiness. She was despised by those around her and so resigned herself to the life she had chosen, with one exception…she wouldn't drag her son down with her.

But now Lucas was gone and no-one knew to where. Perhaps he was with his mistress, Mei Sou. How foolish he was to think she didn't know about their tawdry affair.

Or she wondered if he had done what he so often had in the past and run when things didn't go his way. As he did when he realised that her father had placed a clause within the conditions of her trust that meant the money could be frozen if the trustees deemed it to be used for illegal activities, which they did after realising that was what her disinterest in everything was enabling him to do.

Elizabeth knew that some of the people Lucas did business with were capable of many things if a deal went wrong, had he taken something too far?

Foolishly he thought that she was unaware of everything that was going on and the depth of his illegal activities, but he was wrong. She watched, listened and put it all together, then used it for her own purpose. How low she had sunk, she thought. But it was her insurance, for she knew that if it all came crashing down on him then it would be her only chance of survival.

She shook herself and quickened her pace, not sure why she was thinking about that now. Today was her afternoon to see her son, an arrangement that the judge had left to Rosemary and Lee to decide and to which they had kindly consented.

She had risen early this morning to do her shopping at The Mercantile in plenty of time. Glancing down at her basket she checked once more that she had all the ingredients to make the muffins that both Little Jack and Patrick loved.

One of the conditions of her visits was that she was not to spoil Little Jack with expensive gifts as Rosemary quite rightly knew that could create division between the boys. So Elizabeth concentrated on finding small but meaningful things for them both to share.

Today she was happy because the latest of C.C. Weston's children's books about a Mountie had just come in and judging by how dog-eared the copies of their other books in the series were she was certain they would love this gift.

She knew from Lee that Little Jack still kept the wooden Mountie and horse that Nathan had made for him by his bed, these favourite toys being the last thing he saw before he went to sleep and what he woke up to in the morning. She wondered if it made him think of the father he had never known or of the man who would have gladly loved him as his own son?

Realising that she had been dawdling she quickened her pace, wanting to have time to do her writing today as well. Her dream of being an author had gone, along with everything else good in her life.

The publisher arranged by Lucas had been little more than a back street printer of leaflets who he had used to lure her into their relationship. No longer allowed to teach, writing was the only thing that gave a purpose to her daily life and so she held on to it as a drowning man clings to a lifebuoy…using it to stay afloat.

Ahead of her she could see Molly carrying some suitcases up into her old row house.

Although she knew that Molly despised her as much as everyone in town Elizabeth was secretly glad that Bill's wife had stood her ground against Lucas and refused to be intimidated into selling. It was the only one of the row houses that he had been unable to acquire, making her the sole resident over whom he had no hold. The fact that she still kept the house after moving in with Bill was something that infuriated Lucas. He wasn't accustomed to losing.

She was almost past the house when she heard her name being called. Turning she found herself face to face with Molly, the look of disdain on the other woman's face still hurtful after all this time. "Yes, Molly, did you want something?"

Molly Avery was not a vindictive person normally, but the anguish that Elizabeth had caused so many people through her selfishness, the pain that she continued to see impacting lives because of the actions of her husband while she said and did nothing, was something Molly would never forgive.

"Oh, there's nothing I want from you Elizabeth. I just thought you might like to know that Nathan is back in town" and she watched the expression on the other woman's face turn from happiness to fear before she climbed into her car and drove off.

Elizabeth stood rooted to the spot, unable to breathe, not knowing what to think. She could feel the panic rising within her alongside a forlorn dream of something that she knew would never be.

Minnie and Joseph sat in the chairs across the desk from Nathan, Bill having left them to use his office as he went to confirm all the arrangements for the arrival of the other Mounties.

"I'm sorry this all seems a bit formal" Nathan told them, "but I wanted us to have privacy and this is the only place right now that I am confident we won't be overheard."

Looking down in front of him he smiled, "and with this big slice of cake in front of me I hope that no-one comes in, as chocolate frosting on my lip is hardly the impression a superintendent needs to make." He took a bite "Mmmm, you haven't lost your touch Minnie. Allie is going to keep you busy baking when she arrives!"

"Well, I shall be more than happy to do that Nathan. I can't begin to tell you how excited Angela is at the thought of catching up with her dear friend, she really has missed Allie."

While Nathan finished eating the cake Minnie continued to bring him up to date about what their daughter had been doing, the previous evening not having provided enough opportunity for that with everyone wanting to talk.

"Angela has done really well, catching up with and even outperforming many of the other children in some subjects, which before we came to Hope Valley we never would have dreamed of happening. When Lee contacted Katie Yost about coming back to teach here, she agreed to obtain the accreditation that Mr Landis had wanted Elizabeth to get. It has been a true blessing."

Nathan interrupted "I realised that Elizabeth was no longer teaching, was that her decision or was she forced out?"

Joseph spoke quietly "It was a mutual decision, of sorts. She knew that some of the parents weren't happy with her teaching their children after she married Lucas. Then the town council received complaints, with some people even taking their children out of the school to teach them at home.

Lee tried hard to persuade them that whatever her personal situation Elizabeth was still a good teacher but sadly the reality was that she was no longer giving it the attention required. Lucas insisted that she spend as much time as possible at the saloon with him, the result of which was that Little Jack was not the only child who suffered. It broke our hearts to see her walk away from what she always spoke of as her calling."

Minnie took over the explanation "We all tried, Nathan. At least those of us who she would still allow in her life. One by one she cast aside all the people who loved her, as though she didn't have the strength to deal with anything other than accommodating Lucas's demands. As more and more of his associates took over the town he expected her to be the perfect wife, at least in appearance. I guess he thought it bolstered his standing. There was no time for lesson planning or marking….no time for her son. In the end she said her heart was no longer in teaching but I never really believed that."

Nathan could see the sorrow in Minnie's eyes. He knew that this lady who tried so hard to bring faith and compassion to those who needed it must have felt as though she failed her friend. "From what I am hearing I think no-one could have helped her. I need to understand what made her lose her self worth, how she reached a point where she felt there was no way back. What I am about to tell you will explain why I have to know just how much more she can take."

Joseph shifted in his chair, reaching to take his wife's hand as they watched Nathan struggle with the emotional turmoil they sensed was going on in his head. Silently they waited until he stood, taking a few steps back and forth, composing himself for what he had to say.

"Not many people know this, and certainly not Elizabeth, but Jack Thornton's body was never found after the landslide. The ground was so unstable that it was deemed too dangerous and the risk of further loss of life too high to try to recover him. After further landslides it was impossible to know where to look as the terrain had shifted so much. Therefore, the coffin that arrived here in Hope Valley for burial was filled with earth for weight, as was later the situation all over Canada for many of our brave soldiers lost in the war."

"A few weeks ago, as I was preparing to return here to investigate the problems with Bouchard, I received word of a situation that had arisen at Fort Clay. They had experienced some unusually heavy spring rains and large parts of the surrounding mountainside were washed down into the valley. A local hunter, out shooting rabbits, came across the remains of a person..."

Nathan paused to take a deep breath. "There was still enough scraps of red serge for him to realise that it was a Mountie."

Minnie's hands flew to her mouth as she let out a small cry, realising what Nathan was about to say.

"He was familiar enough with what The Mounties would expect to know not to touch anything, so he just covered the site and made his way straight down to the fort to report his discovery. A small party of men was despatched and once there they were quickly able to ascertain that it was indeed Jack. There were various personal effects still intact to identify him, including his notebook wrapped in oilcloth for protection."

"And you have come to tell Elizabeth." Joseph said, more a statement than a question.

Nathan nodded his head. "I was notified immediately and asked who I thought would be

the right person to inform his widow. I will be honest Joseph and say that in a moment of cowardice both you and Bill came to mind and I seriously contemplated putting your names forward. Then I realised that this was my duty. Selfishly it is something I feel I need to do, like coming full circle and finally finding closure."

Minnie stood, moving around the desk to take Nathan's hands. "You are not a coward Nathan Grant. You never had, nor should you ever have, any reason to feel guilty about what happened to Jack Thornton. My brother was at Fort Clay and so I knew the story of the mudslide and the hero Mountie who died saving his recruits before we moved here and I met Elizabeth and you. He told me that what happened was not your fault. But I know what an honourable man you are and therefore I do understand why you feel the need to do this. So tell us what you want and we will walk the path beside you. You are not alone my friend."

Nathan felt tears sting his eyes. Just knowing that he had the support of people like Joseph and Minnie, along with Bill, Lee and Rosemary and so many others gave him strength.

"What I need now is to work out how to tell Elizabeth that we are bringing Jack home to her. That he shall finally be laid to rest surrounded by the people who knew and loved him. How do I determine if she is strong enough to deal with that and what is written in his notebook? What will Bouchard do about it? Then, of course, there is Little Jack….what do we tell him?"

Joseph walked around to his wife and friend, his hands joining theirs. "She is stronger than people think, Nathan. Elizabeth didn't just fall into the wilderness she now inhabits, for reasons known only to herself she made a conscious decision to move there herself. I wonder if maybe, just maybe, this could be the catalyst to bring her back to us all. Perhaps God has decided it is time to bring this lost sheep back into the flock?"

Chapter 5

After Minnie and Joseph left, Nathan took advantage of a moment of quiet to reflect. Had it really been just over twenty four hours since he arrived back in Hope Valley? He felt as though an eternity had passed as he tried to put together a picture of events from the pieces of what he had been told.

Suddenly he felt weary. From all the travel he had undertaken in recent weeks, from what had already been a long period of intense planning and from the weight of expectation he now felt to make this right for everyone. He knew this was about more than Hope Valley or Elizabeth, it was just that those issues were personal to him.

Picking up the telephone he gave Florence a number and waited to be connected. Finally the call was answered and immediately he felt a calm within.

"Hello? Nathan? Hello, can you hear me?"

He savoured the sound of her voice for a moment before quietly replying "Yes, my darling. I miss you."

Sitting at her writing desk at their home in Cape Fullerton, Cecilia Grant smiled. "I miss you more!"

The familiar greeting was their little ritual from so many times apart, an affirmation that no matter what was happening in their daily lives, no matter where they were, they were never far from each other's thoughts and hearts.

"Is it as bad as you thought?, she asked. "Allie and I were talking about everything last night and she amazed me with her understanding and empathy for the people there. After all she went through in Hope Valley for her to still have so much love for the town is amazing. She is anxious to get there to see everyone…and you of course."

Nathan laughed as he imagined Allie saying exactly that. He felt his heart skip when his wife added, "As for me? I am just longing to see you!"

He tried to keep his voice calm and unemotional as he replied "I knew it was going to be hard coming back here but I wasn't prepared to see so many of my friends, people who I loved and respected, struggling through each day wondering what trouble was going to befall one of them next. With few exceptions Bouchard has his hand in everything here, or has positioned one of his underlings to control what is happening. People are scared and I can understand why. I can't help wondering what would have happened if I had stayed."

Cecilia knew how deeply he felt about having left Hope Valley and, while his reason was without question, he carried with him a guilt for abandoning his friends. If it was anyone else she would wonder just how much he could take before his heart gave in to the despair. But he was the strongest man she knew and at the same time the most caring and compassionate. He would give his all for anyone who mattered to him.

"What would have happened Nathan Grant is that you and I would not have met and my life would have been hollow and empty without you. I would have been a spinster on the shelf, never knowing how much joy having a family could bring!"

He laughed as the idea of this beautiful, intelligent, loving woman being left on the shelf was inconceivable. "Somehow I think there would have been another Mountie waiting around the corner to sweep you off your feet!"

"Ah yes, but it wouldn't have been you, my love. He wouldn't have been the missing part that has made me complete. Only you can do that!"

He thanked God every day for bringing this wonderful person into his life. She had embraced motherhood, filling his and Allie's world with love and happiness. They blended perfectly, this little family of his. He wanted to protect them, keep them safely tucked away in Cape Fullerton, but he was outnumbered and outmanoeuvred by these smart women who insisted that they were stronger together.

"Are you girls all packed, ready to leave?"

"We certainly are, although I had to convince Allie that she didn't need to take everything she owned with her as whatever happens with this posting we will always have the house here to return to, even if it is just for visits. I'm afraid that only reduced her packing a little, so I hope we can fit everything in the car and that Bill's house is big enough for a teenage girl!"

Nathan looked out to see Bill crossing the street and realised it was nearly time to meet the first of his Mountie arrivals.

"I have to go, my love. You have no idea how much I needed to speak to you. Promise me you will be careful and do everything your escort says. You girls are my world!"

"You know I will. We will see you tomorrow. Now go and do what you do best and remember how much we love you."

Reuniting with Newton was the other thing that Nathan needed to lift his spirits. Bill had driven him to the station to meet the train and after greeting his two colleagues they collected their bags and proceeded to the animal car where his partner happily greeted him.

Nathan quickly introduced the two Mounties, Edward Harter and James Buchanan, to Bill before they loaded the luggage into the car for him to deliver to Cat Montgomery's.

Then the three Mounties, resplendent in their full uniforms, made a show of riding slowly down the main street to their office. There were gasps from many of the residents, applause from others and a quick scurrying off from a few as they raced to spread the word that there was a new Royal Canadian Mounted Police presence in town.

This was exactly what Nathan wanted the good people of Hope Valley to see, that they had not been forgotten by those who were there to serve and protect them. And for those who had something to fear, to understand that law and order was back.

Inside the Mountie Office everything was clean and orderly. Nathan made a mental note to thank Florence later. She and whoever else she commandeered to assist her had done an incredible job. Even the mattresses had new covers, with clean blankets folded at the bottom of each cot. Another bed was made up in the back room so that accommodation was available to them should they be needed to guard any detainees.

Two wicker chairs had been placed on the boardwalk, one either side of the door as in the old days, and Nathan was determined that the colour red would always be prominent out there. It was important to reiterate that there was now a new authority in town, one that the residents could feel safe in coming to with their troubles, and for that it was necessary to be seen. He also wanted intimidation to work the other way, for the people who had succumbed to Bouchard's influence to worry what would happen to them now.

With the door closed Nathan greeted his colleagues warmly, the formal front they had presented as they rode through town now gone.

"I am so glad to have you both here, I think we really have no time to waste with this investigation. What we currently have is much as we discussed in our last meeting, although I have a feeling that the criminal activities may be even more diverse than we first thought. Our plan to have the two undercover officers posing as gamblers has its dangers but I still believe that this is our best way to garner information."

The other two men nodded in agreement before Nathan continued. "To be honest I have not learned very much new since my arrival yesterday, although I have realised that there may be another way, someone else from whom we can gain details of the extent of the operations, although it would be a very delicate process should we decide to pursue that route. She is the widow of a Mountie and is now married to Lucas Bouchard."

He paused at the thought of Elizabeth, wondering just what he would feel when he saw her again. Then shaking his head to clear the picture of her from his mind he went on with his explanation.

"I have a suspicion which, if right, could have a big impact on the bootlegging operations across the St Lawrence river. Bouchard's connections in New Orleans and the suspicion of illegal gambling operations have diverted a lot of resources into investigating that, which I believe they may be using to cover other activities. We need to gain access to the storage facilities that have been built here. My guess is that they are a red herring, designed to draw us away from the real crimes being perpetrated. The main location of their business being away from here would explain Bouchard's absences, his visits to the gambling dens in Benson Hills a good cover for meetings without arousing suspicion. This is big, gentlemen, and we need to tread carefully or we could alert them to what we think and ruin everything."

At that moment there was a knock on the door and as it slowly opened Bill's face appeared. "Am I interrupting something I am not a part of?" Nathan pulled the door open wide. "Of course not, come in and let me introduce you all properly".

"But first, there is something I need to do with these Mounties as witnesses. Bill Avery, I wish to deputise you as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It will be your duty to uphold the law of this nation, to treat all people fairly and equally, and through your actions honour every Mountie that came before you. Are you willing to do that?"

Bill's shoulders squared, his head raised and pride shone on his face, before he cheekily asked "Do I get a uniform?"

The laughter was heard by one of Lucas Bouchard's men as he walked past the office, a worried look on his face as he wondered just what these Mounties found so amusing. What did they know? It will be good to have the boss back, he thought. He will know how to deal with this problem.