Chapter 6

Heading back to their compartment after a walk to stretch her legs Cecilia turned a corner and found herself face to face with the man she had heard so much about, whose words carried a threat in the overheard conversation earlier. Lucas looked at the beautiful woman in front of him and smiled, perhaps this journey was not going to be so bad after all he thought. If she was still on the train then she must be going all the way to Hope Valley.

Cecilia nodded politely and went to move past but an arm shot out blocking her passage. Although the smile on the face was meant to convey charm, she realised it never reached his eyes. There was something sinister in the way he looked at her and she felt herself shiver under his glare. "Excuse me sir, would you please allow me to pass?" She kept her voice low and confident, not wanting to give this man any idea of the revulsion she felt being in his presence.

His smile widened but still his eyes showed no emotion. "I would gladly, but I am not sure that it is safe for a lady as beautiful as yourself to be wandering around here alone. Perhaps you would like me to escort you to your compartment?"

From behind she heard the welcome voice of Corporal Aldritt. "That won't be necessary sir. I am heading the same way as the lady and am more than happy to accompany her along the corridor. If the lady would like that, of course."

Cecilia quickly turned towards the Mountie, the warm and charming smile that suddenly appeared on her face visible to Lucas Bouchard. "The lady would be honoured to be escorted by a man in serge. There is no finer sight in my eyes than you handsome men in red!" With that she stepped back, allowing the now surly looking saloon owner to walk past her. He tipped his head, quietly saying "Ma,am" as he walked away, almost exploding with anger at being made to look a fool.

At the compartment door Corporal Aldritt confirmed that he had left the train briefly when they stopped in Benson Hills so that he could send the telegram as requested. "We had already informed the Superintendent that Mr Bouchard was on board, which I am sure did not come as a surprise to him."

Watching as she took the key from her pocket he noticed the small pistol there. Cecilia saw the expression on his face and smiled at him reassuringly. "I have never had any intention of using this although I am perfectly capable. But my husband insists I carry it with me. For once I think he is right and I certainly feel safer knowing that I have some extra protection for my daughter and myself."

The Mountie just nodded. "I fully understand Mrs Grant. There is only so much we can visibly do to protect you while still maintaining our cover as trainees, so if having this gives you peace of mind then I shall not question it. Rest assured, you are not alone in this carriage.

After seeing her into the compartment and checking that the door was locked, he took a few steps along the corridor and knocked twice on the next door. Bruce Wilson paused from dealing another hand of cards to his colleague Antoine Dupont to give two knocks back, acknowledging to the Mountie outside that everything was fine here.

Their roles in this investigation were to impersonate card sharks, men who toured the country visiting gambling dens with the intention of fleecing unsuspecting players. They had planned to leave the train at Benson Hills, then move on to Hope Valley in a few days. But having spoken with Greg Aldritt earlier it was decided that they stay on board the whole way.

Bruce was an Australian, an orphan boy from the outback who had obtained a scholarship to train as an officer before the war started and then found himself shipping out with his mates to sail across the world to places that few of them had ever heard of. By the end of 1918 he was the only one left, the rest having perished on the bloodied fields of The Western Front in France. Repatriated to the south of England to await a ship home he met Antoine at the camp, a friendship growing between the two soldiers through a shared love of horses and cards and their belief that it was their duty to serve others.

With no-one to go home to in Australia and a pretty Canadian nurse who wanted to marry him, he found himself headed for St John in Newfoundland, the big port of Halifax being restricted after an explosion the year before. When his young wife, Mary, died in childbirth, he travelled west to Regina to make a fresh start, encouraged by Antoine and keen to put his military skills to good use.

After some hesitation the RCMP agreed to let him join. It was only when he had completed his training that he learnt that it was a certain Inspector Grant who had persuaded the recruiting officers to accept the young man. He had seen something special in him, in the way he handled horses and people with ease and confidence. Plus he had seen no Mountie shoot better than the Australian.

The two ex-soldiers became a team, mentored by Nathan to learn as much as possible about every skill they required to become exceptional Mounties. They moved with him to Cape Fullerton and assisted him on investigations. His secret weapons he called them, and now they were on their way to help with something they knew meant a lot to him personally. But for now, the responsibility of protecting their Superintendent's family was their only concern and they were alert for any sign of trouble in the neighbouring compartment.

Allie was sitting by the window when her mother returned, her face a look of concentration as she wrote quickly in her journal. Cecilia loved the fact that her daughter enjoyed writing as much as she had as a teenager. There was something compelling about recording your thoughts and dreams, keeping a record of the happenings of a day so that you could look back on them in years to come to see how far you had gone in your life, how many of those dreams had been realised.

Glancing up without breaking her concentration Allie quickly asked. "Where did you go? I must have dropped off to sleep again and when I woke you weren't here. I was just about to come and look when I heard your voice outside, talking with one of the Mounties."

Cecilia didn't want to frighten her but she had to make sure that Allie knew not to leave the compartment until they arrived in Hope Valley. "I was just ordering some drinks for us." She paused to formulate the next words "You know, Allie, as long as Lucas Bouchard is on this train I think it would be better if we just stayed in here. We will be in Hope Valley before you know it and your dad will be there to deal with any unpleasantness."

Allie nodded, knowing that as so much of the investigation her dad was undertaking revolved around Mr Bouchard it was definitely the sensible thing to do. Besides, she had always found something a bit creepy about the way he was with her, from the day she arrived in Hope Valley and he taught her the card trick that got her into so much trouble.

She laughed at the thought of that. Well, maybe that was fun, but all the other times when he offered advice and stories from his childhood that she knew he was just making up were very strange. Picking up her pen she went back to her journal, this time writing notes of all the things she knew about him. Maybe she would think of something to help with the investigation.

Lucas Bouchard sat in the dining lounge, a contemplative look on his face. He thought about the woman he had spoken to earlier, her disdain for him clear to see. There was something about her that seemed familiar. He was sure he had seen photographs of her recently but for the life of him he couldn't remember where.

He was angry at having to return to Hope Valley. Spending time there was annoying but he knew that he was in far too deep to refuse or do anything that would cause problems. With Nathan Grant back in town and Shue Moy's men now appearing on the train he would have to keep his wits about him.

As for Elizabeth, perhaps it was now time to think of a different plan for her.

Nathan was glad to catch Gabe on the telephone in his office. With so much to do at the orphanage and two young children of his own with Lilian, he wondered how his friend found the time to be a Mountie. But he did, and an excellent one he was.

As much as Nathan could have done with having him here by his side, they agreed that it would make their real objective too obvious as Bouchard would know something was afoot. So instead he stayed in Brookfield, offering advice, gathering information and acting as a sounding board for Nathan and Bill as they put together the puzzle that was unfolding before them.

But today's call was about something different. Gabe was one of the few people Nathan had confided in before he arrived back in Hope Valley about the recovery of Jack Thornton's body. He was also one of the few people within the Mounties who understood Nathan's past relationship with Elizabeth and why this was such a difficult task for his friend to undertake.

"I can only guess from the tone of your voice that things didn't go well" he asked.

Nathan sighed "No, it didn't. I knew that the discovery of Jack's remains was going to be difficult for her to accept, although I thought she would be happy to finally lay him to rest properly. But it was what Jack had written … about doubting that he had done the right thing in getting married, that he had been thinking this all the time he was in the Northern Territories but hoped by marrying quickly his doubts would be dispelled. Then later that he realised as they travelled to Fort Clay that perhaps there was still too much of the Hamilton girl in Elizabeth to be a Mountie's wife. I think that bit was her undoing."

Gabe could hear the sadness in his friend's voice, that once again he had been the bearer of bad news. Although as a Mountie you accepted these tasks as part of your remit, it was particularly hard when it involved a friend or someone you cared about.

"Nathan, you and I know that every Mountie has similar doubts at some point. Sometimes when I look at Lilian and the children I wonder if it was fair to give her a life that could be taken away in an instant. I know it was different for you with Allie, she came to you as a readymade package who you couldn't and wouldn't turn away, but you yourself have told me how you deliberated about asking Cecilia to marry you, even though she was more prepared than most for the role of a Mountie wife. Now that you are to become a father again I am sure you have more moments of doubt."

Nathan knew his friend was right. "I know, Gabe. I just wish that Jack Thornton hadn't written it down. I really did consider tearing out those pages or pretending that the notebook had not been found. It is sad to watch someone who has already reached rock bottom get broken again. Elizabeth may have made some bad choices in her life but she doesn't deserve this."

Gabe knew that he had more to say so he waited for Nathan to collect his thoughts.

"Nothing could ease her pain today. She wouldn't speak to anyone, just rushed out of Rosemary's office and ran home. Faith and Rosemary, even Lee, all tried but she wouldn't open the door. When Joseph and Minnie arrived she did at least answer but told them that she wanted to be left alone. The only people I can think of who she may let in are Abigail and Henry. Do you think they would come? Could Clara and Jesse manage things on their own for a few days?"

That his friend had exhausted all possibilities other than this was obvious, so Gabe promised to go straight down to the hotel to explain the situation. Although Elizabeth had cut these people out of her life along with everyone else, he knew that they would still do anything for their friend.

Elizabeth Bouchard lay on her bed, the mark on the ceiling that she had focused on for the past few hours seemingly the only sure thing in her life right now. She looked at the velvet bag on the bedside table, Jack's wedding ring having no meaning to her anymore.

Would knowing about Little Jack have made any difference to how he felt? He had always fought a battle within himself between his love for her and what he considered to be his calling, he had told her that again on their journey to Fort Clay. So would having a child have helped him choose one path or would it have increased his conflict within?

Not many people would believe it now but she loved her son. That is why she had to let him go, to stop the madness encapsulating him and to keep him away from Lucas's influence, make him one less thing that he could use to manipulate her. After witnessing her breakdown at Nathan's and Allie's departure, it didn't take long for Lucas to understand where her heart truly lay. He knew he had been played, used as an escape from the fear and dilemna she couldn't face.

Suddenly she laughed, as she realised that losing Jack was no longer the worst thing to have happened to her. Nathan had offered to leave the Mounties, to give up the job he loved, so that she didn't have to worry about him. Jack would never have done that. Reading his words confirmed that. She wondered how long he would have stayed in Hope Valley after returning from Fort Clay. There would always have been the need in him to go out and fight the good fight and a wife and child could never compete with that.

So, in the end she had given up the love of the best of men for the memory of one who could not commit to her fully ... and look what she got.

Lucas Bouchard's threat to her family, after he realised how clever her father had been in setting up her trust, was vengeful. His declaration that they and Little Jack would never be safe, that she would spend her whole life looking over her shoulder should she not do as he commanded was made with such hostility that she knew he meant every word. If she was to warn them, someone would pay.

So she had played a role, inspired by the character of Miss Haversham in Great Expectations, to let him and everyone else believe in her descent into solitude and madness. But sometimes now, when the voices came, she wasn't sure she knew what the actual truth was anymore.

Looking above the mirror in her bedroom she recited to herself the words carved there "Always do what you are afraid to do".

She knew when Lucas announced he was dismantling the library that this plaque would be destroyed, his hatred of Nathan meant that nothing of his could be kept. She had snuck in late the following evening to remove it, a reminder to her of how not facing her own fear had changed the lives of all those she held dear. Now seeing Nathan back in Hope Valley she didn't know if she could ever let him go again. She had to figure out what to do to keep him safe. To keep him here.

At the Mountie Office, Nathan poured himself a fresh cup of coffee and took it out onto the boardwalk to drink. Looking up and down the street he noticed that The Little Gem Saloon was busy, a few of the less modestly dressed women lounging on the benches outside, chatting to the men as they walked past. He wondered how Hope Valley had come to this, a place of loose morals and little respect for each other. He knew his duty as a Mountie was to clean up the actions of these people but the bigger purpose of what they were trying to achieve held him back. All in good time, he told himself.

Within a few minutes of each other Ed and Jim rode up the main street and after tying their horses to the rail outside the Mountie Office they came to join their boss. Nathan could see Bill approaching from the direction of his office, having observed their return from there. He knew they had to be patient, wait until they could gain some further information about Bouchard's operations here before formulating a plan to close it all down and put the saloon owner and his associates in jail for a long time.

This afternoon they were preparing the space above the Mountie Office as a Training Room, Bill having organised tables and chairs for them to use. It was important that they maintained the pretence of the training programme while using the time together to assess the information gathered and then decide on their strategy.

The arrival of Shue Moy's people on the train today was an additional concern, something they had not known about before, another thing that Gabe was looking into for him. The mobster's involvement with Bouchard's little empire took everything to a different level.

That his family and the rest of the team were on the same train, along with Lucas, put him on edge. He trusted the Mounties on board to be alert to any possible trouble as they reached Hope Valley. Bill would greet these men, waiting for the all clear from Nathan before accompanying them and their horses to the livery and then on to Cat Montgomery's boarding house.

Ed and Jim were to go out as if on rounds, circling back on their routes to bring them to a position on either side of the station as backup when the train arrived. Lee was driving his car as well, ready to get Cecilia and Allie out of there quickly should any trouble arise.

For Nathan there was one priority only, to ensure that his wife and daughter were kept safe and away from Lucas Bouchard.

The conductor's knock on the door alerted them to their imminent arrival in Hope Valley. Allie had already packed up the few items they had used on their journey, telling her mother to rest and enjoy her cup of coffee as it would no doubt be a bit chaotic when they disembarked. Cecilia was relieved that this trip was nearly over. She had questioned a few times along the way the wisdom of them coming out to join Nathan but deep down she knew it was the right thing to do. Her husband needed their support and his girls needed to be able to feel his arms around them each night and know he was safe.

Corporal Aldritt had informed her earlier, as he escorted her back to the compartment, that he and the other Mounties would be getting off at the other end of the train to collect their horses from a rear car. However, he reassured her that she and Allie would still have protection until they were in the presence of the Superintendent. Now as the train was starting to slow on its approach to the station, she wondered again what she would think of this town.

Nathan and Allie had so many wonderful memories of the good people here, how they welcomed the two of them into their community and became the family they so desperately needed at that time. Would they feel that way about her or treat her as a stranger? She spent so much time being the focus of attention when she visited places it was going to be nice to just be Mrs Nathan Grant.

The slightest of flutters made her press a hand to her stomach, the joy of knowing that a new life was growing within her was more than she could have ever imagined. Looking across at Allie she once again marvelled at how truly blessed she was to have a husband she adored, the most wonderful daughter and now a baby to complete their happiness. Giving a silent prayer of thanks she rose, ready to show the strength and resilience that had taken her to the other side of the world as a war correspondent. Nothing she faced here could possibly be worse than that because they would all be together.

Sitting in a compartment further along Lucas Bouchard was anxious to get off the train, confinement for this amount of time always difficult for him to handle. He would have preferred to drive but the time factor and the state of the roads meant that this was the best option for a speedy return.

Of course, the timing of all of this could not be worse. There were some important things happening over the next few days and he guessed that perhaps they were the reason why Shue Moy had sent men to watch over him. Finding yet another way to put him under pressure to do his bidding.

His source within Mountie Headquarters had assured him that Nathan Grant was in Hope Valley to set up a training exercise, nothing more, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was too much of a coincidence for it to be happening right now.

At the thought of the Mountie he felt a seething anger within. From the moment the Constable had first arrived in town his strategy for Elizabeth Thornton had been thrown sideways. He could see the attraction between them immediately and had to use all of his guile and charm to try to woo the woman.

The hug that he had witnessed between Elizabeth and Nathan was a big thing to overcome, but it was not insurmountable. His time away was not in New Orleans as he told her but in the gambling halls of Vancouver, where he sought out opportunities and took time to rethink his actions. Reinvigorated, he fabricated his story of how he was helping friends to build an orphanage to boost the image of the man he knew she would want him to be, the type of man she would choose to marry.

He thought he had won but then Nathan left and he watched as Elizabeth collapsed into herself and everything he had planned fell apart along with her.

He heard the final whistle as they approached the station and stepping out into the corridor he could see the woman from his earlier encounter standing further down with her back to him, speaking to someone in the compartment as a small valise was handed out to her. The last thing he wanted was for anyone waiting at the station to see her look at him as she had before. Although fascinated by her and wanting to know more, he was willing to bide his time and wait until he had dealt with his immediate business here before he made another approach. Quickly he turned away, heading to the doors at the other end of the carriage.

As the two cars pulled up at the entrance to the station, Bill was dismounting further down where the stock carriage would stop. Climbing out, Lee looked across at Nathan, noting the worried expression on his face. "Shall I stay here and keep the engine running? You know…just in case?"

Nathan appreciated the forethought of his friend, knowing that should it come to that then Lee was putting himself in danger as well. Was he overreacting, he wondered? No, his experience in these situations where so many different and unpredictable elements were coming together was that it was better to be prepared for everything. "That would be good Lee. Remember, should the worst happen you are to take them straight to Bill's house and stay there until I arrive."

With that he turned and walked into the station building, nodding to the few people waiting there as he heard the whistle of the train approaching.

There was a flurry of activity as the locomotive came to a halt. A few porters stepped forward but mainly it was local people meeting friends and family. Nathan approached the carriage that he knew his wife and daughter were travelling on, his eyes constantly moving to spot any unusual happenings or people who seemed out of place.

When the doors opened the first passengers stepped down, their luggage handed after them by the train staff. Then he saw them, the way Cecilia glided as she walked unmistakeable as she passed by each window. Allie's voice cut the air before he heard a rap on a window, her face with a beaming smile just visible below the blind.

He reached the bottom of the steps just in time for her to launch herself into his arms. Was this girl really sixteen? He felt the same emotional uplift he always did as he wrapped her in his arms. "Dad, I'm so glad to be here, to see you!"

"Just me, Allie girl? I'm glad I made it on your list!" he answered with a grin.

Looking up he saw Cecilia standing in the open doorway, her blonde hair pinned up but with a few curls falling loosely onto her shoulders. How was it possible for her to have grown more beautiful in the few days they were apart? She was radiant with that unique glow expectant women have. Her eyes, green like emeralds, shone brightly as she looked down at her husband.

Then she smiled and for a moment the rest of the world ceased to exist for Nathan. His heart was beating fast as he reached up to place his hands on her waist and lift her down, her laughter light and melodious as she landed elegantly in front of him. "Tu m'as manqué" she said softly in his ear. "Tu m'as manqué encore plus!" he whispered back. His lips found the softness of hers, his passion and fear combining into one kiss. "Later, my love" he murmured.

At the other end of the carriage Lucas Bouchard looked up from instructing the porter to take his luggage to the waiting car, the familiar sound of Allie Grant's voice getting his attention as he watched her launch herself towards a figure in red serge. There he was, the man who had caused him so much angst over the years. "Not this time, Nathan Grant", he muttered. "This is my town now and you will regret ever coming back."

As he was about to walk away he saw the Mountie turn and reach up to someone. The mystery woman. As he watched them embrace with a passion he had never experienced he realised there was now something else he wanted to do before he left Hope Valley for good.

Hidden behind an old carriage on the other side of the railroad tracks, Ed Harter could see the new Mounties leading their horses away from the train, ready to be saddled for the ride into town. But it was the two Chinese men who had quietly slipped from one of the carriages at the rear of the train who held his attention, as they made their way along the tracks to a clearing on the edge of the depot and into the woods.

Then he noticed Jim Buchanan crouching down as he navigated a route through the trees, following them quietly from a short distance.

Taking a path around the front of the carriage, Ed crossed over, heading in the same direction as his colleague as he tried to find an entry onto the same path. He could sense the movement ahead stop and a sudden murmur of voices, too distant for him to know what was being said.

He was sure that Jim was around to the side and just as he was about to follow a shot rang out, the deep cover of the trees smothering the sound and making it difficult to know from which direction it had come.

What seemed like just a minute later the sound of a car could be heard accelerating away.