AN: So despite all the previews for "The Way Home" the new show does not interest me. However, hearing the one line did inspire this idea. Thankyou to Katie for helping me brainstorm how to take my image of Nathan saying the line and making it into a workable scenario. Yes, this one is a bit of a joke drabble, but sometimes those are the most fun. Hope you enjoy! See if you can find the line the drabble was inspired by!
Nathan and Bill stood on the bank of the pond after church as Jack and some of the other kids played nearby. Bill, planning on going to his office to do some prep for a trial the next day, had his ring of keys in one hand as he talked to Nathan about the upcoming trial. The talk was taking place near the pond so that Joseph wouldn't realize they were conducting business on the Sabbath. Bill was quite sure that God understood that the bad guys didn't always allow for men of the law to be able to take Sundays off, but he wasn't sure about the new preacher.
As Bill was going over his proposed schedule with Nathan, who would need to get the prisoner to the judge's office, he was bumped from behind. The jostle caused him to lose the keys he was holding, even as Nathan reached out to keep him from tumbling into the pond. A nearby plunk, made Bill fear the worse about where his keys had ended up.
"Oh, I am sorry, Bill. I didn't see you there," came the smooth voice of Lucas Bouchard.
Bill turned to glare at the man. The cards in Lucas' hand and the two young women, both of whom Bill knew to be single, on either side of the saloon owner told Bill exactly what Lucas had been paying attention to.
"If you would watch where you were going instead of flirting," Bill accused, looking away in disgust as he looked around for his keys. "Did you see where the keys went, Nathan?"
"No, but I heard something drop into the water about that time, though the kids are throwing rocks into the water."
As Lucas tried to slip away, Bill reached out and grabbed the man's arm.
"Oh no, you don't," Bill growled. "If those keys ended up in the water, you are going in for them."
Lucas looked at Nathan. "He's the Mountie. Isn't retrieving lost keys serving the public?"
Nathan crossed his arms and glared at Lucas. The saloon owner looked away from the steel blue eyes.
They looked a few more minutes to know avail. Bill pointed to the pond. "Find those keys, Bouchard."
"But there are weeds and things at the bottom. What if I get tangled in something? As murky as the water is, how would you know if I needed help?" Lucas protested.
"If you don't come up, we'll know," Nathan deadpanned.
The look Lucas gave him, told Nathan his humor had not been appreciated.
"Find those keys, Bouchard," Bill instructed. "There is another cell free. I can have you arrested for assaulting a judge."
Muttering under his breath, Lucas undid his bow tie, and took off his vest, shoes and socks. With only a moment more of hesitation he went into the pond. As Lucas' head disappeared under the surface of the water for a second time, Jack held up something to Nathan.
"Me find," the two-year-old told his father.
Nathan looked down, to find Jack holding up a ring with three keys in it. "Good job, Jack," Nathan praised the boy taking the keys and handing them to Bill.
"My keys. Where did you find them, Jack?" Bill asked the boy.
Jack pointed to a nearby bush. "Und'neath bush," he replied.
"Thank you," Bill said, reaching out to ruffle his god son's hair as Lucas' head broke the surface. "Sorry, Bouchard. The keys didn't go into the water after all," Bill told him, a bit of a gleam to his eyes as he broke the news.
Lucas uttered some words that the children should not have heard as he started toward the bank of the pond. Nathan reached down and picked up Jack. "I think I hear your Mama calling," he told the boy with a grin.
"I need to head into the office," Bill stated. "Thanks for looking, Bouchard," he added as he walked away, leaving the saloon owner to climb from the pond on his own.