Gabriel and Marcus drive the wagon they borrowed from the livery and is loaded with all three trunks and Lexi's bag over to the Infirmary. As they walk into the Infirmary, they hear Lillian insisting that Lexi and Simon stay at the orphanage. While he still had lots to learn about Lillian, Gabriel is glad that he knew Lillian would insist on Lexi staying at the orphanage and he planned ahead by loading all of the trunks and bag that came with Lexi.
As Gabriel escorts Lillian, Lexi, and Simon outside where Marcus is holding the reins of the horse pulling the wagon, he asks Lexi if she is comfortable riding on the wagon. Lillian tries to hide a smile at his question because Maggie filled her into the missteps Constable Drake had made with Lexi earlier and the nickname, he had earned from her.
Lexi answers, "I'm not sure I am stable enough to climb up or get off the wagon. Maybe Simon and I should just see if the Hotel has availability."
"Absolutely not!" exclaims Lillian. "Besides, I need to share some of my 'Chuck' stories since it sounds like he has shared a few about me! Also, I am going to need help getting things ready for Grace and Chuck's return to Brookfield."
"Simon, would you like to ride in the wagon with Miss Walsh and myself, or do you want to walk with Miss Lexi and Constable Drake?" Gabriel asks Simon with a hidden wink to the boy.
"I want to ride in the wagon!" Simon exclaims.
Lexi rolls her eyes realizing people are conspiring against her as Lillian, Simon, and Gabriel drive towards the orphanage leaving her behind with Marcus. Lexi states, "You realize I can easily walk by myself to the orphanage, right? I highly doubt I will be accosted between here and there!"
Marcus chuckles and replies, "But what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't escort a lady to her door?" Marcus holds out his arm for Lexi to take and hoping he can get her to walk slow to stretch out his time with her.
"Gabriel, Maggie was right. You are as bad as Joe with the matchmaking. Forcing Lexi to walk with Marcus could backfire. Maggie told me about him practically saying that she couldn't have possibly have killed the bandits because she is a woman. I would be mad at him, too." Lillian playfully scolds.
Gabriel chuckles and explains, "He explained to me that he thought even a Mountie would have issues in a bouncing conveyance, and he is right. She is an exceptional markswoman, especially since she shot one of them after being shot in the right shoulder. He admitted that he is very attracted, and I think she may return the attraction but like another redhead I know she wants an equal partner not just a protector."
"I don't know who that could be." Lillian giggles and says, "I guess I should extend a dinner invitation to Marcus if you haven't already. We will need to keep the matchmaking less obvious or the other children will pick up on it."
"I like Constable Drake. He reminds me of a picture my mom had of my dad. She said he had brown hair and eyes like me. In the picture she had of him he had on an outfit similar to yours and Constable Drake's, Constable Kinslow." Simon reveals.
"Simon," Gabriel asks, "Was your dad a Mountie?"
"I don't know, Constable Kinslow." Simon confides tearfully, "When my mom died last year, my aunt packed up all of her things, including the pictures of her and my dad. I don't know what happened to her things."
"Well, we will do our best to find out and find the best place for you." Gabriel assures young Simon as they reach the orphanage.
A short distance behind the wagon, Marcus and Lexi are walking towards the orphanage. Because he has had to shorten his stride to accommodate for being over a foot taller than his companion, they are not walking as fast as Lexi would like. While she does find Marcus attractive, she doesn't want to get attached to anyone in case she has to leave to keep well ahead of her cousin, Percy Bowton, the newly-minted sixteenth Earl of Buckley. She admits to herself that it was nice being held and comforted by him this afternoon, but she cannot get used to it because she cannot stay in Brookfield too long and Marcus is here to take over for Gabriel when he gets his promotion.
As they reach the orphanage, they see that one of the trunks and Lexi's bag are already out of the wagon. Marcus quickly approaches the wagon and takes one of the trunks inside and Gabriel follows with the third trunk. As Lexi mounts the stairs to the front porch, she hears Lillian invite Marcus to stay for dinner. Lexi sighs and thinks to herself, "Great, another matchmaker!"
