Chapter 24
The sense of relief Lee Coulter felt right now was indescribable as he stood in the doorway at the orphanage watching his family together inside the living room.
As soon as Helen Bouchard was taken away the children had been brought down from the roof space in the cottage, the joy of the two boys at the sight of their parents a delight to see. Now, while Rosie wrapped them both in her arms and smothered them in the kisses that would normally make them protest and pull faces, Lee walked across to Allie as he saw a mix of emotions in her expression. He knew that even now she was trying hard to be strong.
"You know your Dad would be here if he could but there is just so much going on in Hope Valley right now and he didn't want to put your mum in any more danger by sending her either. I don't think he could cope with worrying about both of you being away from him." He could see that she was struggling to control her feelings so putting his arm around her shoulder to pull her close he spoke softly, "But he did ask me to tell you how much they love you and that you are in their thoughts and prayers every second of every day." With that a small smile broke out on the young woman's face and she just nodded, knowing that nothing more needed to be said.
"As for what we think of you Allie Grant. I don't believe any words could ever express how Rosemary and I feel about what you have done for our boys. No matter where life takes you after this I want you to always remember that you have a second family who loves you and of which you will always be a part."
At that moment Lilian came in from the hallway having just finished speaking on the telephone to Gabe. The boys took the opportunity to wriggle from their mother's grasp as everyone's attention turned to her. "After Tess gave some suggestions of areas on the ranch where old building ruins were located they sent men out to investigate. Ronnie Stewart has been found. He's alive but not in a good state. They have taken him to Maggie's infirmary for her to treat him and", turning towards Allie she finished, "if she thinks it is necessary then your dad is going to see if Dr Mathew will come over from Hope Valley or we will transport him to the hospital there."
There was silence in the room. While grateful that he had been found alive there was still the matter of his betrayal that everyone found hard to accept. "Gabe did add that in amongst the rantings of Helen Bouchard that they had to listen to on the walk over she said something about him having failed her by not revealing where the children were. Then she boasted that she was smart enough to work it out herself. I'm glad Ronnie at least showed some conviction in the end."
The mention of that name brought fire back into Rosemary's eyes. "Gabe should let me interrogate her, I guarantee she would have told us everything and more by the time I was finished!" The laughter that echoed around the room finally lifted the gloominess that had been hanging there.
Then Allie spoke up, "I have no doubt you could get anyone to spill the beans Aunt Rosemary. I think even my dad may be a little scared of you at times!"
In the livery Patrick and Walter had spent the morning removing all the boxes from the wagon and they were now carefully going through them, making notes of everything they contained and of the labels, as instructed by the superintendent. At his suggestion they had borrowed the camera from The Valley Voice, the one previously at the Mountie Office having been 'lost' some time ago and not replaced.
It soon became clear that the illicit contents were of an insignificant quantity, a handful of guns and bottles of liquor hidden amongst the sacks of fertilizer. The mobster gangs certainly had no intention of making it pleasant for the Mounties who had to search the shipments. Fortunately here the breeze that carried through from one end of the livery to the other once the doors were opened meant it wasn't quite as unpleasant an experience as it could have been. The incomplete labelling on the crates was almost like a flashing sign that made them stand out amongst others and it was obvious that the intention was for these to be picked out and searched, leading those doing the checks to believe that there were more and so waste time and extra men unloading and examining everything.
Meanwhile in another location contraband was being transported without a problem. This had been something the superintendent had suggested as a possibility before they came to Hope Valley and one that the Mounties had acted upon discreetly, knowing that there were those amongst them who couldn't be trusted. Once again Nathan's ability to see and understand the bigger picture had proven invaluable.
When they were finished here the plan was to join Harold and Ed, when all four of them would accompany the superintendent to the warehouse and the search of that would be undertaken. As they worked they chatted about what they would find there and hoped that more information had been forthcoming from the detainees as to why they were worried about returning. If not, they would have to employ an extremely cautious strategy to allow for the worst possibilities.
Greg Aldritt had woken that morning feeling at least a little refreshed. Although he had only managed a few hours of sleep, it was enough to rest his weary body and clear his mind. Part of the training they received was learning how to go to sleep instantly and to function on only a small amount of rest, an important skill for a Mountie as there would always be times when that was critical to the safety of themselves and others.
Coming down the stairs in the boarding house he could hear Cat Montgomery bustling about in the kitchen. She had been busy over recent days, ensuring that the Mounties who had come to help the people of Hope Valley were not doing it on empty stomachs. Either porridge or soup was always ready on the stove depending on what time of day they managed to find a moment of respite, with a hot meal or sandwiches being delivered on a regular basis to wherever they were on duty.
He appreciated the concern, admiring this woman who carried her Christian faith through every aspect of her life with conviction and grace. In their few conversations she had opened up about her family, expressing surprise at how easy she found it to talk to him. She had lost her husband in the tragedy that devastated what was then Coal Valley, only to have her world shattered again when she later learnt of her husband's weakness for gambling. Not one to give in to self pity, Cat had faced the challenges that life presented to her and brought up her children single handed.
If he was honest, Greg also enjoyed the look of this lady. In his eyes she had an inner beauty that shone through, enhanced by the fact that she didn't realise just how attractive she was. Despite being the oldest of the men in the group somehow he had never found the opportunity to settle down. Perhaps the old saying "If the Mounties wanted you to have a wife they would have issued you with one" had been drilled too heavily into him. That so many did find happiness in family life, his own superintendent being one of them, now made him wish that he had pushed that need a bit more to the forefront of his mind.
He shook his head to clear it of those thoughts. Yes, Cat Montgomery was a woman he was attracted to but right now he had a job to do and such dreams would have to be put on the back burner until their task had been accomplished. After that he didn't know what would happen.
Antoine felt the sharp pain in his side as he tried to move. Opening his eyes slowly, he was unsure at first where he was but then as things came into focus he recognised the interior of the town hospital through the gap in the curtains surrounding him.
Struggling to sit up he gasped and fell back onto the cot, the intense agony shooting through his middle something he had never experienced before. At the sound Faith came around the curtain, her gentle look calming him and making him believe that things weren't as bad as the pain suggested.
"Good afternoon Constable Dupont, I'm glad to see that you are awake but you must remain still. You had everyone worried when you collapsed so suddenly but fortunately your partner is a very skilled medic and he was able to assist you immediately."
He shook his head, trying to recall what had happened. The memory of delicious crepes came into his thoughts and he smiled as he could almost taste them. Then suddenly a shadow came over him as he remembered the scuffle in the hotel kitchen where he and Gustave had fought, before the unexpected flash of a knife appeared in the Frenchman's hand.
"You mustn't struggle or you will do yourself more damage." Faith scolded him, seeing the conflict in his eyes, as she moved around to the other side of the bed and reached for his arm. "I just need to do a few checks and give you something more for the pain and to help you rest, then I can take word across to the Mountie Office that you are conscious".
He lay back, weariness overcoming him and started drifting back to sleep as Faith completed her tasks, finally succumbing to the medication as he heard the sound of the door closing behind her.
In the Mountie Office she was quickly redirected to the room upstairs where Nathan and the other men were working out the details for their search of the warehouses. After a quick knock on the door she pushed it open and sticking her head around was pleased to see that the rest of the Mounties were all gathered there. Nathan stopped mid-sentence, his face set as he waited to hear what could possibly be something they all feared.
"It's good news Nathan. He's awake but I've just given him some more morphine so he will be out again for a few hours" she said. Relief washed over all their faces and then Bruce Wilson slumped down onto his chair, his head in his hands as the emotion of hearing that his partner was going to be alright overcame him.
"How is he?" Nathan asked, moving across to lay his hand on the other man's back.
Faith stepped into the room then, realising just how much these men meant to each other and the stress they must have all been under at the possibility of losing one of their own. "He's in pain but alert. The knife wounds are shallow but still required stitching. He has fractured some ribs so it will be a long recovery from that and fortunately no damage seems to have occurred to his lungs. Undoubtedly thanks to his partner who caught him as he collapsed and then kept him still until we could treat him". At that Bruce looked up at her, thankful to hear that he had done what was needed.
"I want to keep him resting for now but will come to get you once he is able to talk. We have strapped his ribs and will continue to monitor his other injuries but I think he is very lucky not to have suffered more."
With that Faith nodded at them all and turned to leave. "And Gustave?" Nathan asked. "How is he?" Her face told them that the news was not good.
After Joseph had walked with Elizabeth outside the rowhouses she had retired upstairs, Minnie once again offering to sit with her so that her husband could go home for a rest while Charles remained on duty in the living room.
The ring of the telephone brought him away from the book he had picked off the shelves, the same page having been open for some time now as his mind was unable to concentrate. "Hello, this is Charles Kensington," he answered.
"Charles, I'm glad I was able to catch you there. I wanted to speak to you about transferring Elizabeth to Hamilton." Nathan's voice was more brusque than normal, wanting to get this conversation done without any discussion. "I'm not sure whether you have heard what happened at the saloon this morning but I now find myself with a Mountie in the hospital and one in Brookfield, so I don't have anyone available to accompany you. I need to ask you to delay the journey by a few days."
This was not what Charles wanted to do, wishing to get this difficult task over with as quickly as possible, but he understood how stretched for manpower Nathan was so could find no reason not to acquiesce. "If that makes things easier for you then of course we will wait. I can't risk Elizabeth's safety by going so far without an escort. I suppose it will also give the nurses time to become acquainted with her situation before we leave."
As he hung up the men around Nathan were looking at him with confused expressions, until finally Ed spoke. "I thought Gabe Kinslow was sending people over from Brookfield today and that the two mounties escorting Jack Thornton's casket would be here tomorrow?" Nathan smiled, glad that his men remained so observant even when amongst themselves, it was what made a good Mountie. That they were willing to question their superior officer when something didn't make sense made them a good team.
"That is true but there is something about Elizabeth Bouchard's situation that doesn't sit right with me and I am playing for time. I'm not disputing that the woman has mental problems, I just find it difficult to accept that sometimes she is lucid and other times not. I have asked Faith to arrange for me to speak to a specialist, someone who has experience with this condition. Hopefully that will give me a better understanding. I just know that once she is in the safety of her family estate in Hamilton she will become virtually untouchable, not something I am willing to let happen as long as I have doubts."
He could hear the intake of breath from his men, all of them aware of his history with her. "I can assure you that if she has anything to do with what has been happening here, or any connection with Helen Bouchard and the terror to which that woman subjected my daughter and two young boys, then I will find out and the full force of the law will come down on her."
With that he picked up his hat and headed towards the door. "But now it is time for us to find out if the warehouses play any part in this mess other than being a transit point for those shipments. Take nothing for granted, work together as we have planned and stay alert. I don't want to have any more of you occupying a hospital bed."
In the Mercantile Ned Yost was busy packing up the purchases for an older couple when Cecilia walked in. His face lit up when he saw her, still a little bit starstruck at having a renowned author here in Hope Valley but equally just happy to see the woman who had brought so much joy to two people for whom he cared so deeply.
Cecilia gave a little wave as she moved across to the shelves displaying chocolates and sweets, wanting to get some nice things in readiness for Allie coming back. The pride she felt in their daughter was immense, her actions reflecting in every way the courage and values instilled in her by the man Cecilia considered to be one of the most courageous she had ever met. As she perused the shelves snippets of the conversation reached her, the man carefully counting out their money as he discussed with his wife what items they could do without. Their accent was quite familiar to her, the guttural German pronunciation adding a heaviness to the words they spoke. Taking a deep breath she tried to ignore the reaction she could feel welling inside her as memories of her time in France and Belgium came back.
In the recent years the closure of the internment camps meant that those people detained in them had now been released. For the duration of the war, and quite some time after, anyone of Austro-Hungarian or German background was locked away for the safety of Canada. While most were honest people who had settled well here, there were always others who felt a greater patriotism to their home country and who posed a potential risk to the war effort. It was harsh treatment but a reality of living as an alien in another land when your own country was the perpetrator of so much evil.
As that thought went through her mind she stopped, realising that she needed to move on from the memories of what she had experienced. She quickly stepped across to the counter and indicating to Ned she whispered, "Please put whatever they cannot afford onto our account. I hate to see anyone struggle and I am sure it has been a difficult time for these people finding their way back into everyday life." With that she turned and left, not wanting any recognition for what she had done nor to have any time to regret her decision.
The man from Hamilton had been watching from the other side of the road, waiting until she came back out before crossing over. As she reached the bottom of the steps his arm brushed hers, forcing her to jump back and look up. He smiled at her with his mouth but his eyes remained cold. "I beg your pardon, I did not see you there."
Cecilia felt a shiver run through her. There was something unsettling, almost familiar, about this man and yet she was certain they had never met. The scar that cut into his right cheek leaving a puckering of the skin under his eye was not something she was likely to forget. Taking a step sideways she simply nodded and hurried off, feeling a sense of unease as she crossed the road, his eyes burning into her back as she knew he continued watching her. She felt frightened, yet she didn't know why. When she finally turned he was nowhere to be seen.
Pacing up and down outside the Brookfield infirmary Tess Stewart was more incensed than she could ever remember being. Maggie had made her wait out here while she examined Ronnie and started whatever treatment she felt he needed. At least she had popped her head out once the initial checks had been done to assure her that he was going to live. Yes he would be sore for a while and not a pretty sight but nothing seemed to be broken other than perhaps his spirit and any pride he may have left. She had yet to speak with Gabe to find out what sort of charges would be brought against her brother-in-law.
Her son Chuck and two others had just departed with Constable Buchanan, having answered Gabe's request for some men to go to help Nathan in Hope Valley. There was an air of despondency about the townspeople, a feeling of failure when they realised that in the end it was a sixteen year old girl who had outwitted Helen Bouchard, with Gabe then playing the winning hand that trapped her. Perhaps the outcome would have been the same had Allie not moved the boys, after all they had caught the men sneaking into the hotel, but they would never know.
Nathan had asked that Rosemary, Lee and the children remain here, possibly for a few more days, until he deemed it safe for them to return home. Tess knew for certain that there wasn't a single person in Brookfield who would not move heaven and earth to keep them safe.
Lucas Bouchard was panicking. Knowing that the options available to him had been drastically reduced he had to work out a plan for his escape, one that gave him the means to start a new life far away from where anyone knew him. He had hoped to have seen the last of Hope Valley but the gut-wrenching realisation that Mei Sou was not who he thought she was, that she had been using him all this time, meant that he had no other choice.
He had been forced to return to Hope Valley. Parking her car in the trees above the warehouses he wondered if Nathan and his men had searched them yet and discovered what they held. He wasn't interested in that, it was not something they could blame him for. Besides, there was no value in it for him as the money had already changed hands. It was what he had concealed in the front warehouse that he had come to get, hidden in a place only he knew. Then he would need to make what would be a tricky visit to recover what he had stashed at The Tipperary. Without the money from Benson Hills this was all he had.
He stayed down, crouching below the level of the bushes as he moved towards the gate, realising as he approached that they were open and there was no sign of the dogs. Perhaps they had been locked in their cages when the last shipment left. He hoped so, as he had always sensed their hostility towards him although other man always assured him they were actually harmless.
Quickly crossing the open space from the gate to the first warehouse he slipped inside. He was glad that he didn't have to enter the other building, the thought of what he could find was quite sickening. Whatever had gone on in there was not his fault, he kept telling himself, the people at The Tipperary having had complete control of its use.
Seeing the empty dog cages made him cautious as he pulled out the gun he had taken from the trunk of the car and stopped to listen for any indication that the dogs were still there. There was silence. He felt hopeful that this was going to be easier than he had anticipated, every step now echoing as he crossed to the other side of the empty building.
Once he reached the far end he cursed himself for not having brought anything to prise the plate off the wall. He looked around for something before realising that it had already been removed, the void in the wall now empty. He bent down, his hands shuffling around inside hoping that something remained but there was nothing. Then as he stood, fingers running through his hair in panic, he heard a movement behind and turned. At the entrance stood a man. The one he most feared. In his hand was the bag he had been searching for, containing the money that was his ticket out of here.
As his eyes darted around the large warehouse in the hope that there was an escape route he had missed, Lucas tried frantically to think of a way to talk himself out of this. There must be something he could do to mitigate this situation, maybe come to an arrangement that would let him disappear if he guaranteed never to divulge all that he knew. The Man from Hamilton spoke first, "It's over Bouchard, there is nothing you can do to save yourself." He moved across the floor to stand a short distance away, the light from the high window accentuating the scarred side of his face, the gun in his hand menacing.
Fear made Lucas's legs fold beneath him as he crumpled to the ground, panic overwhelming him. It wasn't supposed to end like this, on the floor of a warehouse in this town he had grown to hate. So many plans that didn't work, so many people turned against him. He knew who was to blame, the one who had foiled him at every turn. What he wouldn't give for just one last chance to exact some revenge on Nathan Grant.
The other man looked at him with disdain. "You might as well know that your mother has been detained by the Mounties." His heavily accented voice rose as he took pleasure in delivering this news to the pitiful figure in front of him. "Don't worry, we have someone on their way to deal with her so it looks like this is the end of the Bouchard family and your efforts to play with the big boys. Don't you realise we were controlling you all the time?"
Lucas felt a sudden need to defend his mother as he quickly snapped back, "She won't say anything, she is stronger than any of you realise."
At that the other man laughed again. "Do you think Rocco Perri has gotten to where he is by believing that people won't talk? They all eventually give in if you have the right incentive, even if these Mounties are too spaventati to use the same methods as us they will find a way! But we will make sure that she does not get the chance. You don't know what that life is like. Some of us fought the fascists in southern Italy, there is nothing we haven't faced or done."
At this the man touched his scarred face. "No matter that others may have collaborated there were those of us who never did. That is why we came here, that is why we have the power and will always prevail!"
By this time Lucas could feel the fear building inside, his voice breaking as he shuffled around on his knees to face the man who held his life in his hands. "Please," he implored, "I will go away. Far away to France! I just need a little money to get me started and you will never hear from me again." The man smirked at him, enjoying watching this pathetic creature visibly shaking as he begged for his life. Perhaps he could have a little fun here before he finished the coward off once and for all.
Having been given the extra time to catch up on some sleep and now a quieter morning manning the Mountie office Greg Aldritt was seated out on one of the wicker chairs by the door, coffee cup in hand as he observed the comings and goings along Main Street. The Superintendent seemed to have an inate sense of when his men needed a break and he was certainly glad of it.
The Tipperary Bar was unusually busy. Many of the people who had come to live in Hope Valley under Lucas Bouchard's control were frequent customers there and now they could be seen calling in for a short time before leaving with anxious looks on their faces. He sensed trouble brewing but at present could do nothing more than just watch. What part the people there played in all that was happening had taken a back seat to the events elsewhere for now.
At the other end of town The Little Gem Saloon was quiet, most of the guests having left and regular customers wisely staying away. The girls had locked themselves in their rooms, too afraid to venture out. Bruce Wilson had been there for the past few hours, trying to get some more information about what had happened. He had immediately identified the weapon used in the stabbing as a French trench dagger, called Le Vengeur, known to the two undercover Mounties from their time in France during the war.
Gustave had kept it concealed in a special holder under the kitchen worktop. Antoine was too good a Mountie to not have scoured the room for potential weapons but this would have been impossible to see. It would seem, however, that he had not dismissed the probability that such a weapon may be hidden within the chef's reach and had been prepared for an attack when his questioning became more direct.
Over at the hospital Greg saw Dr Faith Carter step out onto the boardwalk, rubbing her back and stretching as she moved down the steps. He rose to greet her as she crossed the road, hoping that she brought good news. "Dr Carter, how is Constable Dupont?"
Faith lowered herself gently onto the other chair before answering. "He is doing well. I gave him some more pain relief a while ago so I expect him to be out for a little bit longer. Molly Avery is keeping an eye out in there. Rest is the best thing for him right now."
Greg nodded, relieved that his colleague's condition was not too serious, although for a Mountie to be out of action for any extended period of time would be a difficult thing. Then he chuckled to himself as he knew that the superintendent would not let Antoine sit idle, he would find a way to utilise the many skills he possessed.
He looked across at the doctor and asked, "And the Frenchman? Any change in his condition?"
Faith eyes dropped down as she tried to find the best way to phrase her response. "He is weak having lost a lot of blood. Had it not been for your colleague I have no doubt he would be in the morgue right now. We operated on his arm but there was a lot of damage so we will just have to wait to see if he recovers the use of it. Not a good thing for a chef, I guess."
Whether Gustav Pepin was able to work in a kitchen again was of no interest to Greg, the man had attacked a Mountie and that would mean a long prison sentence. Then again, perhaps the best punishment would be for him to spend the rest of his days in a prison kitchen having to cook the gruel-like fare they served there.