With Autumn back in school, Rachel talked to Abigail about returning to the café for the school day. Even with Gilbert, the house got lonely with Autumn in school and Tyler at work, especially as Tyler was getting more assignments that would take him away from Hope Valley for a few days at a time. The two had discussed Tyler putting in for a more permanent posting than the regional position allowed for, but for now they decided that being able to remain in Hope Valley was more important. At least here, Rachel knew that she had the support of friends and neighbors while Tyler's job took him away from home.
Becky had returned to college, so Abigail welcomed the extra help during the day. She had another waitress who worked evening and Saturday hours. Clara would still pitch in when needed and Bill filled in as cook to give Abigail some time off.
So that Rachel didn't need to find someone to watch Gilbert, Abigail found the cradle she had kept from when her own son was young. The cradle was placed in the parlor area of the café to allow Gilbert to sleep. When he was hungry, Rachel or Abigail would make sure he got fed. If the infant wasn't sleepy and it was busy, there was usually a neighbor in the café happy to hold the little boy. Even Henry would offer to hold the infant if he was in the café and an extra pair of hands were needed.
One sunny afternoon about mid-September, Tyler was returning from helping with an investigation in Benson Hills a little after noon. After settling Icarus in his stall at the livery, the Mountie headed for the café. Not only was he hungry after his quick breakfast before leaving Benson Hills at first light, but he wanted to see his wife and son. He planned to meet Autumn at the school house at the end of the school day.
He had not quite reached the café when he noticed a small figure running toward him out of the corner of his eye. Stopping, he turned his head in that direction to realize it was Autumn running from the schoolhouse. The girl didn't say anything as he rushed toward him and put her arms around him. Tyler realized the girl was crying as he embraced her. Looking toward the schoolhouse, he saw another figure hurrying in their direction. Though it was hard to make out from this distance, Tyler assumed that it would be Elizabeth coming to check on her student. Keeping one arm around the upset child, Tyler tried to wave her off with his other hand. The figure came to a stop, hesitated, and then finally raised her own hand before turning back to the school house.
Loosening Autumn's hold on him, Tyler knelt down so that he could better look into Autumn's eyes. Holding onto one of her hands, he reached up with the other to try wiping tears away.
"Can you tell me what has gotten you so upset, sweetheart?" Tyler asked her gently.
"Timmy and Harper said they heard Judge Avery and Constable Grant talking this morning and that my birth father had escaped jail. They said the Mounties think he is looking for because you arrested him last time. I don't want anything to happen to you, Papa," Autumn told him before pulling her hand out of his grasp and putting her arms around him again.
The fact that the girl had called him just Papa and not Papa Tyler, was not lost on him. Despite the joy he felt at that fact, the other information she had given him had him more concerned. It seemed as if James had escaped. Apparently the news had missed him in Benson Hills.
"Everything is going to be all right, Autumn," Tyler assured her. He held the girl in his arms as he got to his feet. Though he wanted to find Nathan and Bill and get more details than just what two kids had overheard, Tyler knew that getting Autumn to her mother was the first priority. The girl could not go back to school this upset. He also knew that it was possible that Autumn would need to be given more details about Gilbert's death. With her now knowing that he had been the one to arrest her birth father and that Gilbert had been killed, he knew the intuitive girl could start making more connections. Still, that was information that Rachel should be the one to decide to give out or not.
"But they said he is looking for you. What if he comes here?" The fear in the little girl's voice tore at his heart.
"Then Constable Grant and I will arrest him and put him back behind bars where he cannot hurt anyone," Tyler told her confidently. "I am going to take you to your mother and then find Constable Grant or Judge Avery myself. I will get the information right from them, all right?"
"You won't leave town without saying good-bye will you?" Autumn asked, the words muffled against the collar of his serge.
"I will never leave town without saying good-bye to you, Autumn," Tyler promised easily. That was a promise he could at least have control over. Even if he had to disrupt classes, he would make sure this girl knew he loved her whenever he left town on an assignment.
Reaching the café, Tyler walked into the kitchen entrance. Abigail looked up from the stove. "What happened?" the café owner asked.
"Apparently some boys overheard some adult talk concerning me and relayed it to, Autumn," Tyler said, not knowing how much Abigail knew about Rachel's pass.
"Let me get Rachel," Abigail said, moving pans off direct heat and going for the other woman.
By the time Rachel came, Tyler was sitting on the settee next to Autumn, holding the still upset girl to his side. As Rachel sat down on the other side and pulled her daughter close, Tyler relayed the information quietly. When he was done, he excused himself to go find Nathan or Bill. "When I know what is going on, I will come fill you in."
Rachel nodded her reply. He could see the worry in her brown eyes. Leaning in, he pressed a reassuring kiss to her temple before leaving the café. Leaving the café, Tyler strode down in the direction of the Mounted Police Office. Newton was now tied to the hitching post out front giving him hope that Nathan was in the office. Picking up his pace a little, he quickly covered the ground to the office and strode inside.
Nathan was just sitting down behind the desk, and looked up as Tyler hurried in. "You've already heard something, haven't you?"
Tyler nodded, relaying the incident with Autumn.
"The boys must have overheard when I told Bill about the wire that came in from Headquarters this morning. I am sorry. I didn't realize they were around."
"We can't worry about that now," Tyler said, knowing he couldn't get upset over that. People, including kids, overheard things they shouldn't have all the time. Curiosity was part of human nature. "What did Headquarters have to say?"
"Well they sent the information here and to Benson Hills. I assume it missed you at Benson Hills," Nathan ventured.
"I left very early this morning."
Nathan nodded. "I have spoken with Super Intendant O'Reilly since this morning so I have more details. During this morning exercise period for the inmates, there was an altercation between some inmates that caused a huge ruckus. It was only after that was settled and they did a head count that they realized they were missing an inmate. Took a few more minutes to determine which one, but James Blanchard, was the missing inmate. Whether he planned the thing or just seized the opportunity when it arose, they are not sure. Apparently, James had made threats while in prison about getting even with the Mountie that put him in jail -you."
"The man's own actions and stupidity put him in jail," Tyler said, disgusted as the memory of the man bragging about what he had done to Rachel surfaced.
"That is true, but headquarters is convinced that now that he is out, you are his target. They were hoping to catch you before leaving Benson Hills, but as they didn't I was told not to let you leave town alone. They don't think James realizes you have been reassigned. They are concentrating their search North East in the direction of Landsdale. They think that is where he is heading."
"And once there he will realize I am no longer posted and come searching elsewhere," Tyler supplied. "If headquarters thinks I am sitting still while a search for this guy is going on then they don't know me."
Despite the situation, Nathan chuckled. "Oh, they know you. I said I was told not to let you leave town alone. Inspector Myers is coming to Hope Valley instead of following the others in the initial search. He knows where that group is headed but O'Reilly said Myers will come here to collect you before following that group. They realize that you will want to help search but they want there to be someone to watch your back as you are most likely a target."
Tyler nodded. He needed some time to gather supplies and let Rachel know what was going on anyway. They would need to figure out how much more to tell Autumn about the situation.
"It is probably the most prudent course of action," Tyler conceded. "I won't deny that part of me wants to go saddle Icarus back up and head out right now though."
"I can understand that but you've got Rachel and Autumn to think about now, too," Nathan reminded them. "Now Bill and I will keep an eye on them. Even if James decides to find them, no one knows where they are at now. You found Rachel through the Mounties and no one is going to give out that information to a wanted man. Did you tell anyone in Landsdale where Rachel had relocated too?"
"No," Tyler replied. "I simply relayed that I had made contact with her and let her neighbors know she was okay. Perhaps the postmistress handling the mail might recall the return address from the letter she sent me before I moved on, but she handles a lot of mail."
Nathan nodded. "I will send a wire to the Mountie currently posted in Landsdale and have him speak to the postmistress about the current situation. Meanwhile, talk to Rachel. Bill and I were planning to let you tell her as much or as little about this situation as you felt was right. We didn't count on being overheard by anyone. Let Rachel know that Bill is willing to sleep downstairs in the row house at night if it will make her feel safer. I am going to alert people to be on the lookout for any strangers in town and ask them to report them to me. Hopefully, we will have a poster of James to post soon, and people will know exactly who to watch out for. In the meantime, extra vigilance is important and I will ask the men in the other row houses to keep an extra eye on Rachel and Autumn while you are gone."
"I appreciate that," Tyler said. "I should go speak with Rachel now. I left Autumn with her at the café."
"Go ahead. I'll let you know if I heart anything else or Inspector Myers shows up," Nathan told him.
Tyler turned and headed for the door. As he reached it, Nathan spoke up again.
"And Tyler, make sure you get something to eat after your ride from Benson Hills."
"I will," Tyler assured him, wondering if eating would have slipped his mind if not for Nathan's reminder.
At the café, Abigail made sure both Tyler and Rachel had something to eat, sending them upstairs to talk in private. Abigail found someone to let Elizabeth know that Autumn would not be returning to school that afternoon, and settled her at a table near the kitchen to keep an eye on the girl while her parents were upstairs.
After discussing the situation, Rachel and Tyler decided to be forthright with Autumn about the situation. She already knew her birth father had made a threat against her Papa Tyler. At this point, Rachel felt that her daughter needed to understand why. So, after coming to that decision over lunch, the Randalls took their two children home. Gilbert woke up on the way home, and while Rachel sat with Autumn on the settee to speak to the child about the situation, Tyler got his son a bottle. When it was warmed, he took a seat in the chair near the settee, wanting to be available if he was needed for the conversation.
By the time Inspector Myers showed up in Hope Valley it was supper time. Myers told Tyler that he planned on resting his horse and sleeping in a bed that night. "Who knows how many nights we'll be out looking for this guy," Myers had said. "Spend one more night with your family. We will leave at first light."
Given that Myers outranked him, Tyler could hardly argue with the Inspector. Besides, having made the trip from Union City that day, the horse deserved a restful night just as much as his human partner wanted one.
So, Tyler had dinner with his family that night. Autumn was still full of questions that Rachel and Tyler did their best to answer. When it was bedtime, she insisted that Papa Tyler be the one to read her a story and tuck her in. After the story, Autumn requested that he stay with her until she fell asleep. Giving how worried he knew the girl was and knowing he would be gone for an extended period, Tyler knew he could not refuse the request. By the time the girl had fallen asleep, allowing Tyler to slip from the room, Rachel had breastfed Gilbert and changed into her nightgown. She was sitting on the bench in front of the vanity that Tyler had surprised her with when they moved into the row house, taking pins out of her hair, when Tyler entered the room. Without a word, Tyler moved to stand behind his wife. Reaching out, he picked up her hairbrush as her black hair, now free of the pins, cascaded down around her shoulders and down her back. As he did most nights, Tyler began brushing out her hair. Despite having down in many times since that first time a couple of months ago, both found it just as soothing and intimate as it did that first night.
"How was Autumn?" Rachel asked, watching Tyler in the reflection of the mirror before her.
"She wanted me to stay with her until she fell asleep," Tyler admitted. "Though to be honest, I was surprised she fell asleep as easily as she did. What she learned today would be a lot for anyone to digest, let alone a six-year-old girl."
"I think it just shows how safe she feels with you." Rachel reached left hand up. Tyler immediately took it in his own. "I know exactly how Autumn feels. You have made me feel safe since the day James tried to destroy my world. I am not sure what I would have done in those first hours without your comfort and support. I understand that you need to do this, but you also need to be careful. Autumn, Gilbert and I need you to come home to us."
"I have every intention of coming home," Tyler assured her, giving the hand in his a gentle squeeze. "I am also not going out alone. Inspector Myers will be watching my back, as will my fellow Mounties when we join up with them. It could be that by the time we join up with the others already searching for James that he is back in custody and I will turn right around."
"That is what I will be praying for," Rachel told him. "James has given me enough grief over the years. If it wasn't that he gave me Autumn, I would regret ever getting involved with him and I am sorry that you are in danger because of me."
Tyler shook his head, even as he coaxed Rachel to stand so that he could hold her in his arms. "This is not your fault," he told her, one arm holding him close against him. With his other hand, he tilted her chin gently upwards so that he could look into her eyes. "James is angry with me because I did my job and put him behind bars where he belongs. None of that is your responsibility. He would be angry with me no matter what I arrested him for. At least this way, you and Autumn are safe for a bit as I am his focus, and it gives us an idea of where he is headed."
"Can't you just let the others deal with James?" Rachel asked, a bit of a plea in her tone.
Tyler shook his head. "Not only could that put you, Autumn and Gilbert in danger but I would rather be looking for him rather than sitting still waiting for him to find me."
"I don't want him to take away another man I love," Rachel told him.
It didn't matter how many times he heard her say she loved him, it made his heart skip a beat. "All the more reason for me to join this search. The more men searching for James, the greater chance he will be captured. I have every intention of coming home to you and the children."
Rachel nodded. Tightening her hold on him, she rested her head against him. Tyler held her with one arm, the other hand stroking her silky, black tresses. As much as he hated leaving her, Tyler hated more the possibility that in his search for him, James would find where Rachel and Autumn had fled to as well. James had already proved that he could track her down. It was important to get the man behind bars before his interest switched to his ex-wife and daughter.
When Rachel finally stirred in his arms, Tyler loosened his hold on her. Instead of moving away though, Rachel simply moved back far enough to rest her hands on his chest. As she slid her hands up the material of his serge to the collar, Tyler could feel the sensation of heat her touch elicited even though the material. As her fingers found the first button that was still fastened, they deftly undid it.
"Make love to me, Tyler," Rachel requested, her voice low and sultry as she undid another button of his uniform jacket.
Tyler couldn't remember another time that someone else had undid the buttons of his uniform. Yes, after his run in with the cattle, someone had gotten him out of his uniform but he didn't remember it. Even if he could, he was sure it wouldn't have generated the emotions he was currently feeling. Ever since Rachel had first been able to say she loved him and had gently kissed him, Tyler had thought about this moment. He had tried to imagine what it would feel like to truly be one with this woman. After all she had been through though, Tyler had wanted to wait until Rachel was ready for this next intimate step.
He let his hands run over the curves of her nightgown clad body. The words "are you sure" were on the tip of his tongue but as he gazed into her soulful brown eyes, Tyler found his answer there. There was not a drop of doubt in those eyes, just passion and perhaps a tinge of fear. He had a feeling the fear was more about him going away than what was happening now, as Rachel had continued to unbutton his serge. The heat of her fingertips felt stronger now as she ran her hands over his Henley. Lifting his hands from her body, Tyler let her help him out of the serge and slide the suspenders from his shoulders. Reaching for her again, Tyler lowered his head to capture her lips with his. The kiss they shared went deeper than any other kiss between them previously.
With one arm wrapped around Rachel, Tyler moved them both closer to the door while still kissing her. Reaching out with his free hand, Tyler locked the door so that Autumn would not accidently walk in on them and then guided them both toward the bed. Letting their actions do the talking, Rachel and Tyler finished helping one another undress, before slipping into the bed. Aware of how small Rachel felt against his larger frame, Tyler kept his actions tender but passionate. He wanted to do nothing to harm her but he did intend to give them both a memory to cling to during his time away.