Hanging up the phone, Bill rubbed his hands over his face. As soon as he had heard about Gabriel's injuries, Bill had known Nathan would be staying in Brookfield for an extended time. Part of him couldn't believe it was only yesterday afternoon that Nathan had sent a telegram requesting Carson's presence in Brookfield to examine Brookfield's Mountie. Even the brief information in the message had Bill wincing. He had asked Florence to take the message to Carson while he took care of another matter - namely finding an automobile for Carson to make the drive to Brookfield. It was the quickest way to get the doctor to the little cattle town. The thought of Carson not going, had not even entered Bill's mind. Though he fully expected to have to go to Henry or Lee, Bill had still checked with Lucas first. Bill was pleasantly surprised when the saloon owner agreed to lend Carson his car.
Leaving the Queen of Hearts yesterday, Bill had made his way to the infirmary, planning on telling Carson that he could use Lucas' car to make his trip to Brookfield. Carson and Faith were not the only two in the infirmary. Ivy sat on one of the cots, Faith finishing the process of putting a bandage on the girl's knee. Lee was sitting next to his adopted daughter. Elizabeth and Allie were also there. Bill assumed Ivy had still been at the schoolhouse when she got the injury.
Ivy however, was not the topic of conversation.
"Uncle Gabe would come see me if I was hurt," Allie was saying. "Please, can't I go with Dr. Shepherd. I would be on my best behavior."
There was no missing the pleading in the young girl's voice. He'd had to bite his tongue to keep from jumping into the conversation in support of the girl.
Elizabeth had looked from Allie to him. Bill had simply shrugged his shoulders. Elizabeth was now legally Allie's mother. This was her decision. When Elizabeth had looked toward Carson, the doctor had not taken the staying silent route.
"Someone to talk to on the drive would be welcomed," Carson told her. "I have no doubt Lillian and Grace would help keep an eye on her once we got to Brookfield. However, I may be there a few days if I feel it is necessary."
"Please, Mama," Allie had added.
Elizabeth sighed. "Lee, would you and Rosemary mind watching Jack?" she asked. "I feel like I should go too if I am going to let Allie go."
"Of course," Lee assured her.
Elizabeth had looked at Allie with one of her patented teacher looks then. "Just because we are going to Brookfield, it does not mean that you will definitely be able to see your Uncle Gabriel. We'll have to see exactly what the situation is and then it will be your Dad and Dr. Shepherd to make that determination. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mama."
Bill had spoken then, informing Carson that Lucas had agreed to lend him the car. Carson had thanked him. After volunteering to get some food together for the travelers, Bill had left the infirmary for the café as Faith gave Lee some final instructions for Ivy.
This call from the regional headquarters in Clearwater just made Nathan's delay in returning to Brookfield official. Apparently, with Gabriel on medical leave and other Mounties from Clearwater on other assignments, the Mountie had felt that Nathan's presence was needed more in Brookfield for the next week or two. Either that, or they figured Nathan wasn't going anywhere right away any way. Either way, Bill had been told to call the Mountie office in Benson Hills if something came up that he couldn't handle. It made him feel good that the bank robber had been caught and James seemed to heading further North. The last report he had gotten on that manhunt was that they believed James was heading to Cold Water Lake. The Mountie from Bonnyville had been asked to go to Cold Water Lake to back up Edward after what had happened to Constable Hawthorne in Landsdale.
If all the big stuff would stay away from Hope Valley for a little while, then he could hold down the fort until Nathan or Tyler got back with no problem. Though he continued to check on Rachel and the kids often, the woman had said that unless there was a concern about her exhusband coming to Hope Valley, that she didn't need Bill to stay with them.
The phone he had just hung up rang again. Reaching out he said a gruff "what?" into it.
"Is everything all right, Bill?" Florence asked over the line. Bill could hear the concern in the phone operator's voice.
"Sorry, Florence. It is just one of those days that I wish for the quiet of before Hope Valley got a telephone," Bill told her. "Who is calling now?"
"I have Constable Randall on the phone. He says he only has a few minutes so I thought you would be the easiest to reach as I know you just ended your call with Clearwater."
"Put him through," Bill told her.
Florence acknowledged the command and after a few clicks, Tyler was on the line.
"How is the search going, Tyler?" Bill asked.
"We are definitely on James' trail. We were able to find an eye witness to his presence here Vegreville from the general store owner. Not sure where he got a hold of the money, but he purchased some food items roughly four hours before we talked to the store owner. We are grabbing a few supplies ourselves and going to see if we can find this guy's trail. I just wanted to check in quickly."
"I am sure Rachel will be glad for the update. Go catch that guy so you can come home, Tyler."
"That is the plan," Tyler replied. "Not sure when the next time I will be able to check in will be."
Bill fond himself nodding though Tyler couldn't see the gesture. The further they got away from Edmonton the less chance of finding a town with a phone or telegraph service would be. "I am hoping your next update will be that someone has caught this guy. Be careful."
"I will. Tell Rachel and Autumn that I love them."
"You got it."
Hanging up the phone again, Bill decided to make a quick exit from his office before it rang again. Relaying Tyler's message to Rachel gave him the perfect excuse to do so.
It had been two days since the last update from Tyler. Rachel longed to hear something. Even the briefest of messages would put her mind at ease. Without information her mind was free to make up its own scenarios and sometimes those weren't pleasant.
Unable to sleep, Rachel climbed out of bed to check on both of her children. Grabbing the oil lamp from beside the bed she went checked on Gilbert first. The boy slept peacefully, the infant unaware of the danger his father was in. Keeping her footsteps light, in an attempt to not disturb Judge Avery who slept downstairs, Rachel made her way to her daughter's room. She couldn't explain why, but when Hope Valley's judge had stopped to check in on them this evening, she had asked if he wouldn't mind staying in the house that evening. Yes, she knew reports had her ex-husband heading away from Hope Valley, but for some reason she did not want to be alone with the kids this night. Even with Bill in the house, she couldn't clam her nerves enough to sleep.
Rachel could not shake the feeling that something was going to happen tonight. Whether that was here in Hope Valley or wherever Tyler was, she couldn't say.
As she approached Autumn's room, muffled sobs reached her ears. Quickening her steps, Rachel entered her daughter's room. Placing the lamp she carried on top of the dresser as she entered, Rachel hurried toward the bed.
"What's wrong, Autumn?" Rachel asked her daughter as she perched on the edge of her daughter's bed. The girl was crying into her pillow. Reaching out, Rachel gently stroked the girl's black tresses.
"I was trying not to wake you," Autumn said, the words coming out broken with her emotions as she turned her head.
Rachel gave a sad smile. "I couldn't sleep but even if I had been asleep, you can always come to me whenever you need me," she assured her daughter. "Now, what has you upset?"
"I dreamt that my bad daddy shot Papa Tyler," Autumn told her. "I don't want to lose Papa Tyler like I lost Daddy," the girl said before dissolving into a fresh bout of tears.
Rachel reached down and gathered her daughter in her arms, She rocked them both slightly making soothing sounds to Autumn as she stroked the girls loosely braided hair, praying for the correct words. As much as she wanted to tell Autumn that it was only a dream, she knew that was not the best choice. What if she promised her daughter everything would be all right and something did happen? The truth was, Tyler was in danger. If he was the one that found James, her ex-husband very well could shoot Tyler.
"What you just experienced was a bad dream Autumn," Rachel finally told her daughter in what she hoped was a soothing voice. "As far as we know, Papa Tyler is just fine. Until we hear otherwise, that is the hope we need to hold onto. We need to trust God and his fellow Mounties to keep him safe for us right now."
"Can we say a prayer for Papa and the other Mounties?" Autumn asked, shifting her head to look up at Rachel, her green eyes bright with tears.
"Of course we can," Rachel replied. "Do you want to say it, or should I?"
"I will," Autumn said, moving from her mother's embrace to kneel beside the bed like she did for bedtime prayers. Rachel knelt beside her daughter as the girl began to speak. "Lord, I know my Papa Tyler is away trying to keep Mama and Gilbert and me safe but I would rather you let him come home to us. From what I hear, the dad I never met is a bad man. Pastor Zeke says you deal with the bad people so please keep him from hurting more people. Keep Papa Tyler and the Mounties with him safe and bring him home to us. Mama says Daddy is with you now so can we please keep Papa Tyler with us. Amen"
As she echoed her daughter's "amen" Rachel also added a silent prayer of her own. Yes she prayed for Tyler and his fellow Mounties safety. However, she also prayed for God to bring comfort to this little girl who had been exposed to the evil in the world way too early. In that silent prayer, she asked for guidance on how to answer any questions that Autumn might have and to make the girl understand that just because her birth father was a bad person that it did not affect the type of person that Autumn was. That it was one's choices, which determined whether you were a good or bad person.
"Could I have some warm milk mama?" Autumn asked.
Rachel nodded. "We need to try to be quiet though. Judge Avery is sleeping downstairs, remember."
Autumn nodded seriously as they got to their feet. Rachel picked up the lamp she had carried from her room as they left the room. The girl then proceeded to try to keep her footsteps light as she and Rachel left the bedroom. Making their way quietly down the hallway with the lamp lighting the way, mother and daughter walked softly down the stairs. Nearing the bottom of the steps, Rachel found that being quiet for Bill's sake was unnecessary. The judge was sitting at the table, a folder open in front of him. He looked up from the paperwork at the sound of their footsteps.
"With doing Nathan's rounds, I am a bit behind on my paperwork," Bill said lightly. "I see I am not the only one unable to sleep."
"I had a bad dream," Autumn replied. "Mama is going to make me some warm milk."
Bill nodded. "Those are no fun," he said, his voice softening as he spoke to the girl. Pushing back his chair he patted his leg. "Would you like to come sit with me while she makes it?"
Autumn nodded. Letting go of her mother's hand, she walked over to Bill who lifted her into his lap.
"What are you reading?" Autumn asked, as Rachel moved to the ice box to get the pitcher of milk.
"A dispute about a cow eating a neighbor's flowers," Bill told her, keeping the facts of the case simple. Frankly, he didn't know why the two neighbors, who lived on a farm outside of Buxton, couldn't just come up with an agreement on their own. However, apparently the man's reaction to the neighbor's wife being upset about flowers was that cows eat plants. It is just a fact of nature, which had prompted the husband to sue for damages.
"Well, if I had a pet that ate the neighbors flowers and I would say I was sorry and offer to replant the flowers. Though I suppose, I would need to ask Mama and Papa Tyler to buy me the flowers to plant as I don't have any money."
"That would be the courteous thing to do," Bill told her. "What do you think? Should I order the owner of the cow to replant the flowers?" he asked.
Autumn nodded. "You should probably tell him to keep the cow away from the new flowers as well."
Bill nodded his head seriously. "You have a very good point. You know Autumn, you would make a very good judge when you grow up," he told the girl.
"Girls are not judges," Autumn said.
"Then perhaps you would be the first one," Bill told her. "Girls use to be told they couldn't be lawyers or doctors as well, but some courageous women have started proving people wrong."
"Like Dr. Carter?"
"Exactly like Dr. Carter," Bill said.
"Do you think someday a girl will become a Mountie?"
"I suppose someday that might happen," Bill replied. "Is that something that interests you?" he asked, even as he glanced over at Rachel. The mother wore a worried look on her face as she stood by the stove.
Autumn shook her head. "I wouldn't want to chase the bad guys. Nor would I want to be forced to shoot someone to protect someone else. I feel bad for the fish that Ally catches." Autumn paused and then looked up at Bill. "Does that make me a coward Judge Avery?"
"Of course not," Bill replied. "A coward is a person who has the means and the skills to help someone but chooses not to because they are scared to put themselves in danger or who picks on someone weaker, who they know can't stand up to them. Like at school, if a bigger kid was picking on Ivy and all you did was stand by her side, no one would call you a coward, even if Ally or Bridget stood up for her. However, that bigger kid picking on a littler kid is a coward in my eyes. Do you see the difference?"
"I think so," Autumn replied.
Bill smiled at her. "You still have plenty of time to learn," he assured her. "However, your Mama and you are brave in your own way because you let your Papa Tyler go off to do the job he has been trained to do."
"I asked God to send him home," Autumn admitted.
"Of course you did," Bill said. "We all want our loves ones back home when they are away because we love them. However, I didn't see you hanging on his leg, begging him to not leave you when he left."
Autumn giggled at the image.
"Leaving those you love behind is hard on a Mountie. Seeing them upset about it, makes it harder. By giving your Papa Tyler a hug and telling him, you love him when he has to leave town and saving the tears for when he is out of sight, that is being brave. Do you think you can always do that for your Papa Tyler?"
Autumn nodded.
"Good girl," Bill told her, squeezing her gently with one arm. "Now, why don't you go get one of your books and I'll read you a story while you drink your milk."
Autumn slipped off his lap. Bill handed her the lamp, told her to walk carefully and sent her upstairs.
At the stove, Rachel inconspicuously wiped tears away at the judge's words to her daughter. As Autumn disappeared from sight, Bill looked over at her.
"Thank you for those words, Bill," Rachel told the older man. "Are you sure you don't have kids of your own?"
Bill smiled. "None that I am aware of," he told her. "The children in Hope Valley however have somehow managed to ignore the gruffness and found their way into my heart though."
"Just like a certain business partner has?" Rachel teased, enjoying watching a bit of pink come into Bill's worn features.
"Perhaps. Assuming of course I don't manage to ruin things once again. You wouldn't know it to look at me, but I am very good at putting my foot in my mouth."
Rachel smiled. "One wouldn't know that from the way you spoke to Autumn," she assured him. "Would you like me to put some coffee on for you?"
"That would hit the spot if you don't mind making it," Bill replied.
"You are being kind and spending the night here instead of in your own bed because of me being uneasy. Coffee is the least I can do," Rachel said, checking on the milk she had warming on the stove.
Before Bill could reply, Autumn's footsteps could be heard on the steps. Getting to his feet, Bill moved to the settee so that Autumn could join him there for her story. As Autumn settled next to Bill on the settee, Rachel brought her daughter a mug of warm milk with a little honey mixed in.
"I'll bring you a mug of coffee as soon as it is ready," Rachel told Bill, already knowing her one boss preferred his coffee black.
Bill thanked her as he opened the book that Autumn had selected and began reading.
Further north, bright moonlight softened the darkness as a group of five Mounties dismounted their horses in the woods still south west of the Cold Water Lake settlement. They had been about to set up camp for the night when wood smoke from a nearby fire had caught their attention. Given the indications that they were close on their fugitive's trail, the Mounties knew they had to see whose fire the smoke was from.
"Hampton and I will go get a closer look," Inspector Morefield said quietly as he and Corporal Hampton tied their horses' reigns to nearby branches. "The three of you be ready to give chase, if whoever this is chooses to flee."
Tyler swallowed the protest he wanted to make, instead simply nodding his head in acknowledgment to the order. He and Constable Berl were the low men in the group. While their opinions and observations had not been discounted by the three higher-ranking Mounties, Tyler knew that in this case, he was expected to simply follow orders.
An owl hooted in the distance as Hampton and Morefield crept quietly in the direction of the smoke. Even their footsteps were soon lost to the quiet of the woods as they made their way stealthily in search of the source.
Tyler, Myers and Berl stood, their bodies tensed for action, as they listened closely to the sounds around them. Each man looked in a different direction, no intention of being snuck up on by whoever else was out here. Time seemed to have stopped for Tyler but eventually Morefield's voice rung out in the night.
"Mounted Police! James Blanchard, don't move!"
There was no verbal reply to the command but several shots split the night. Though their instincts were to rush forward to discover what was going on, Tyler, Myers and Berl instead listened fro shouted instructions from their fellow Mounties.
"He's fleeing by horseback to the southeast," Corporal Hampton shouted as the echoes of the gunshots faded away.
Tyler quickly mounted Icarus, not waiting to see what his fellow Mounties were doing. He was the closest to the direction James had fled, and he was soon in pursuit. His ears soon caught the sound of a galloping horse ahead of him. Still not able to see the person he was pursuing, Tyler relied on his ears to tell him what direction to head. The bright moonlight was the only thing lighting up the obstacles the woods put in his path, which was the only thing keeping Tyler from pushing Icarus any faster.
Coming out of the woods and onto a road, Tyler spotted a man on horseback not far ahead. With clearer ground now, Tyler urged Icarus into a faster pace, pursing the running fugitive. Sounds behind him told him his fellow Mounties were still behind him.
Tyler called out directions to those following him, which caught the attention of the man ahead of him. As the man looked back over his shoulder, Tyler still couldn't make out the features but that action did slow the man some, allowing Icarus to gain ground on the other horse. Seeing a flash of moonlight reflect off metal, Tyler instinctually put his head down low over his mount's neck as a shot rung out. Glancing up, Tyler could see he was still too far away to make an accurate shot himself. Right now the best he could do was not let the man out of his sight.
However, as the fleeing man was paying more attention to the Mountie behind him than where he was going, the man did not see the low tree branch stretching out into his path. With a sickening thud that echoed in the woods, Tyler watched the man he was pursing fall from the saddle. There was no attempt by the man to break his fall as his horse continued on without him.
Tyler reigned in Icarus a bit, slowing his approach. With the reigns in his left hand, he reached with his right to pull out his hand gun as he approached his target. There was no movement from the man on the ground. Still, like Morefield had, Tyler announced his presence as Icarus came to a stop. Dismounting, he kept his gun trained on the man lying on his back on the ground. The glint of metal off on the side of the road indicated where his gun had fallen. As Tyler approached though, the man still, made no move. Now close enough to make out the man's features in the moonlight, the vacant eyes of James Blanchard stared up at Tyler. The dark stain forming in the dirt beside him came from the wound on the side of James' head formed when it had stuck the tree branch.
Tyler let his gun fall to his side as the others slowed their mounts to a stop. "He's gone," Tyler announced, relieved that it had ended this way. James could never hurt Rachel or anyone else again. The man who had killed Gilbert had finally met the ultimate justice.
"I'll go try to catch the horse," Corporal Hampton said, galloping off in pursuit of James' horse.