After their talk, things started to become easier between Nathan and Allie. They worked on Allie's birdhouse together. Nathan's items that he asked Gertrude to send had finally come. Those included law books.
After being beat up by Lucas's men, Nathan was determined to beat Lucas the only way he knew how; in court. Nathan decided he would file a lawsuit against Lucas on behalf of his clients. This lawsuit would include illegally raising the rent out of vengeance and harassment toward the women. Nathan spent two weeks drafting and redrafting his lawsuit until it was perfect. He also called in every favor owed to him to get any dirt on Lucas.
When Allie got home on Friday, she saw Nathan sitting at the table working on the lawsuit.
"You're still working on that?" Allie asked.
"Yes. I'm almost finished writing it out. Then I just have to type it." Nathan said.
"Can I read it?" Allie asked.
"After I type it out." Nathan said.
Allie nodded.
"My friend Deborah asked if I could sleepover tonight. Can I go sleepover?" Allie asked.
"Is her mother know about this sleepover?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Allie answered.
"Then I don't see why not." Nathan said.
Allie smiled and hugged Nathan quickly around his neck. After a few minutes, she came out with a suitcase and her pillow. Nathan and Allie said their goodbyes and she left to her friend's house.
After a couple of more hours finally perfecting his lawsuit, he ate dinner and with a typewriter in one arm and a brief case in the other, he mounted Newton and went to the town library to begin typing the lawsuit.
When he reached the library, no one was in there. He put his briefcase and typewriter on the table. He sat down, put paper in the typewriter and began to type. After typing five pages, Nathan's hand started to hurt. How did Gertrude do this all the time for him? For the next several hours, Nathan typed out three copies of his lawsuit; one for the Judge, one for himself and one for Lucas.
After finally finishing the last copy, Nathan sat back in his chair. He looked at his watch. It was 2:00 in the morning. As Nathan sat back in his chair, he closed his eyes and suddenly he was asleep.
"Mr. Grant. Mr. Grant, wake up." A voice said shaking him awake.
Nathan opened his eyes. He was staring down at the floor. Somehow his forehead had ended up on the type writer. Nathan looked up and saw Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Thornton, what time is it?" Nathan asked.
"Around 10:00." Elizabeth said.
Nathan groaned and rubbed his eyes. As he was rubbing his eyes, he heard Elizabeth giggling.
"What?" Nathan said.
"You have the letter S imprinted on your forehead from laying on it for so long." Elizabeth said.
Nathan wiped his forehead and could feel the imprint.
"I guess I'll have my own Scarlet Letter now." Nathan said with a smile. Elizabeth laughed.
"How did you know I was in here?" Nathan asked.
"Word around town is that you are filing a lawsuit against Lucas. Someone said they saw you come in here last night but never leave. So, I decided to bring you this." Elizabeth said putting her hand in her basket. She pulled out a muffin.
"It's blueberry." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
"Would you like to split it with me?" Nathan asked.
"Sure." Elizabeth said. Nathan got up and pulled her seat out for her. Elizabeth carefully unwrapped the muffin and carefully split it into two.
"This is good." Nathan said as he ate the muffin.
"Where is Jack?' Nathan asked.
"With Rosemary and Lee Coulter. They wanted their Jack time this morning." Elizabeth said.
Nathan nodded.
Elizabeth stopped eating.
"I found you frustrating Mr. Grant." Elizabeth said.
Nathan laughed.
"I've been told that a lot, but how am I frustrating to you?' Nathan asked.
"I wanted to prove you wrong about my father. The next day, I called him and let him know what you told me. I come to find out that my father is not running the day-to-day operations anymore. My brother-in-law is running the day to day. I told my father what was happening to people and their land. He told me that he knew that my brother-in-law was buying up land but he didn't know he was forcing people off their land. He said that he going to put a stop to it. So, you were right, sort of." Elizabeth said.
"I'm glad that he is going to stop that from happening." Nathan said.
"I told him that if he didn't, he would not get to see his Grandson for Thanksgiving." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"Hitting him where it hurts." Nathan teased.
Elizabeth smiled. Nathan ate the last of his muffin.
"I want to apologize about all those nasty things I said. Not everyone is like their father. I should know that the best." Nathan said.
"Colleen told me about your father." Elizabeth said.
Nathan nodded.
"And I'm sorry that I said Lucas was your friend. Whatever happens between you and Lucas is private." Nathan said.
"Lucas is not my friend. I have told him numerous times that I'm not interested in him but he keeps pursuing me. And if he after my trust fund, joke is on him. I had all that money transferred over to Jack and can't be used until he is 25." Elizabeth said.
"It seems like Lucas is in everyone's business." Nathan said.
"He is. I wish the town would stand up to him. But people either don't care or are afraid of him. But you are standing up to him. You are very brave." Elizabeth said.
Nathan blushed.
"I don't know about brave. Just doing what is right." Nathan said.
"My late husband would have stood up to him too." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
"I better get these to the Judge." Nathan said.
"Right. Would you like me to help carry them?" Elizabeth offered.
"That would be helpful." Nathan said. Nathan handed her the papers and he took the typewriter. They walked over to the Judge's office. At the bottom of the stairs, Elizabeth handed him his papers.
"Good luck, Mr. Grant." Elizabeth said.
"Nathan. You can call me Nathan." Nathan said.
"Okay Nathan, you can call me Elizabeth." Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth. Thank you for your help today." Nathan said.
"You're welcome." Elizabeth said. She walked away and Nathan smiled.
Nathan went to see Judge Avery and handed him the lawsuit. Judge Avery set up a hearing to address the lawsuit for Monday. Nathan then went to the Constable to have him serve Lucas with the lawsuit. After seeing the Constable, Nathan mounted Newton and went home.
When he got home, he saw Allie in the garden. Nathan put Newton back in the stable and went over to Allie.
"What are you doing over here?" Nathan asked.
"Just picking berries to make jam." Allie said.
Nathan smiled.
"Can you show me?" Nathan asked.
Allie smiled.
"Sure." Allie said. Allie and Nathan picked strawberries and went back inside. Allie showed Nathan how her mother would make the jam. After making the jam, they let it cool.
"You are smart, just like your mother." Nathan said as he cleaned up the kitchen.
Allie smiled. After the jam had finally cooled down, Nathan made them both peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
"This jam is good." Nathan said.
"My mother knew how to make the best. This is her secret recipe." Allie said.
Nathan smiled.
"I wish I could have told her that." Allie said.
"She knew." Nathan said.
"How do you know?" Allie asked.
"Because I just know." Nathan said.
"For a lawyer, that wasn't a good argument." Allie said.
Nathan and Allie laughed at that together.
On Monday, Nathan put on his suit for court. Nathan had not worn a suit in a few weeks. The clothes that people donated to him were more comfortable. Nathan thought he would never be uncomfortable in a suit until he wore a flannel and suspenders.
Nathan went out to the kitchen where Allie was sitting having breakfast.
"How do I look?" Nathan asked.
"Like a lawyer." Allie said.
"That's what I was going for." Nathan said. Allie rolled her eyes. Nathan ate a quick breakfast. He kissed the top of Allie's head and told her to be good at school.
Nathan walked into town instead of riding Newton because he didn't feel like smelling like a horse. Once he made it to Judge Avery' office, Lucas was sitting in a chair in front of Judge Avery's desk. Judge Avery was sipping his coffee and reading his newspaper.
"Good morning." Nathan said.
"Mr. Grant. You are ten minutes late." Judge Avery said.
"I apologize your honor. I walked here." Nathan said.
"You should find better transportation next time. I do not tolerate tardiness in my court." Judge Avery said.
"Noted, your honor." Nathan said.
"Let's get this started. I read over the lawsuit and the law seems correct." Judge Avery said.
"It's all lies, your honor. Especially the harassment of women" Lucas said.
"Mr. Bouchard, this is just a status hearing to set another hearing. I am not considering facts today. Mr. Grant, do you have evidence of this harassment?" Judge Avery asked.
"Yes, your honor. I have witnesses that I tend to put on the stand to corroborate this." Nathan said.
"Alright. Let's set another status hearing for six months from now. Mr. Bouchard, that should give you enough time to find counsel." Judge Avery said.
"Your honor, I was hoping you could address the amount that Mr. Grant is requesting as Judgement. I do not have that kind of money." Lucas said.
"What says you, Mr. Grant?" Judge Avery asked.
"Your honor, I have subpoenaed Mr. Bouchard's bank records." Nathan said pulling out a sheet of paper.
"This is just a preliminary finding. I will have more for trial but as you can see, Mr. Bouchard has plenty of money if the court finds in my client's favor." Nathan said.
"Mr. Bouchard?' Judge Avery said.
"That money is tied up in businesses." Lucas said stumbling his words.
"I see. For now, I'm not going to dismiss the amount. Is there anything else?" Judge Avery said.
"Yes, your honor. I would like you to order Mr. Bouchard not to raise the rent anymore as retribution for my clients filing this lawsuit. And that all rent should be given to a third party and then given to Mr. Bouchard." Nathan said.
"Mr. Bouchard? Any objections?" Judge Avery asked.
"No, your honor." Lucas said.
"I order the rent stay as is until judgement is rendered. And have your clients bring the rent to the Constable and he will give the rent to Mr. Bouchard. I will see you folks in six months." Judge Avery said.
"Thank you, your honor." Nathan said.
Lucas walked out first while Nathan gathered his paperwork. After gathering his paperwork, he went outside.
"Grant!" Bouchard shouted at him.
"How can I help you, Mr. Bouchard?" Nathan said walking down the stairs.
"How did you get my bank records?" Lucas asked.
"People owe me a lot of favors. I just used them to my advantage." Nathan said with a smirk.
"You messed with the wrong person." Lucas said and walked away.
"You have a good day too." Nathan shouted to him. Nathan smiled and untied his tie a little. He couldn't wait to get out of this suit.