The people coming from the train station indicated that a train had recently arrived. As the wagon, followed closely by Ed on his horse, came quickly by on the way to the pool hall, those people hurried out of their way. Instead of resuming what they were doing, most people paused and watched the activity though Bill and the others didn't notice the curious looks.
Bill jumped down from the wagon before it fully stopped. A chair shattering one of the pool hall windows told him that the fight was still going on. Thankful for Nathan and the others as back up, he strode toward the pool hall.
Pushing open the door, the sound of the ruckus inside reached its full height. It was hard to get and accurate count. Bill came up with either seven or eight men on his first couple of counts and gave up. The only man trying to break it up was the pool hall's manager, Owen Doherty. The Irish man was on the fringes of the crowd of flying fists and shouts making futile orders for the men to stop. The other patrons in the pool hall stood amongst the over turned tables, broken glass, dropped trays and broken chairs cheering on the fighters. Spotting red serge on the ground in the midst of the fighters told Bill how Gabriel's attempt at subduing the fight had not gone well.
Coming in behind Bill, Nathan barely paused before wading into the melee to assist Gabriel. Kevin and Nick, the lumber man Bill had rounded up, stopped behind Bill waiting for instructions. Even as Nathan pulled Gabriel out of harms way, Bill took out his gun. Pointing it toward the floor, where the bullet would go harmlessly into the wood, he fired off one shot. The noise got everyone's attention and they were pausing in their actions even before Bill's shouted "everyone freeze!"
The only two still moving were Nathan and Gabriel as the former got the latter sitting in a chair.
"Maybe I should have just fired a gunshot in the first place," Gabriel commented, the quiet words easy to hear in the now otherwise silent pool hall.
Despite the comment, all other eyes stayed on Bill. The man's angry expression and the fact that he was still holding the gun meant no one wanted to test the judge by moving or saying anything.
"No one is leaving, whether involved in the fight or just using it as entertainment, until I figure out exactly what happened," Bill instructed, his gaze sweeping the room, daring someone to protest. "Kevin, Nick can you find non-broken chairs for those who were actually fighting and get them in a line over there," Bill said, pointing to the back wall, the furthest spot from the exit, "where I can tell if any of them try to move."
Kevin and Nick moved from their spot behind Bill and started getting chairs and lining them up as requested.
"So can I tell the owners you are paying for that hole in the floor, Judge?" Owen asked, as he tried to catch his breath.
Catching the annoyance that was familiar to him, Bill leveled a glare at him. "Take a look around. That hole in the floor is the least of the damages."
Owen did just that, a groan escaping as he really took in the damages for the first time.
Elizabeth had stood on the boardwalk watching until the wagon Nathan was driving was out of sight. Even then, she continued to stand there, staring at the spot she had last seen it. Though no longer wearing the uniform, her husband was still off to do the right thing - lend a hand when needed. She knew he would have wanted to go even if Gabriel had not been the one who needed help. That was just who Nathan was. It hadn't been the uniform that instilled that quality in him.
The fact that it was Gabriel who needed his help only made it personal to her husband.
That thought made her remember she wasn't the only woman whose husband was involved in a dangerous situation. Turning, Elizabeth hurried into the infirmary. Faith's head snapped up at the sound of the hurried footsteps.
"Elizabeth, what's wrong?"
"Bill got called to assist Gabriel with a fight out at the pool hall," Elizabeth told her friend. The words caused Faith's already concerned expression to lose color. "Nathan and two other guys went out to assist."
Faith nodded, having already seemed to have braced herself. "Gabriel knows how to handle himself and he has good backup," she stated. Elizabeth got the feeling her friend was trying to reassure herself of that fact with those words. "However, any fight can result in injuries. One at the pool hall might involve broken glass or other sharp objects. I should make sure things are prepared if they bring any injuries to me. I should also check the supplies in my bag in case I am called out there."
"What can I do to help?" Elizabeth asked. She knew Ally would be fine with Jack for the time being and that having something to do would be better than just sitting and worrying.
Bill glared at men who had been involved in the fight. There were seven of them and they were now all seated in chairs in a straight line across the back of the room. Though several had cuts or abrasions there were no indications that immediate medical assistance was required, unlike Gabriel. Ed had been sent to find Henry or Lee to provide transportation by car for the Mountie who had likely sustained a broken left arm. Nathan had created a makeshift sling from a tablecloth and was applying ice to Gabriel's already puffy cheek.
Other than yelling insults at one another, the fighters had not been forthcoming about details about their brawl. Bill had Kevin and Nick getting statements from the observers and letting them leave. Though he knew they had the easier task, he had not expected the fighters to be so uncooperative.
"I heard my driving services were required?" Henry said coming into the building. As Nathan spoke to gain his attention, Bill kept his gaze on the fighters.
"If none of you want to explain how this fight started I will be happy to charge all seven of you with the same thing."
"Like what?" one man asked defiantly.
Bill glanced over his shoulder as Nathan and Henry assisted Gabriel toward the door. "Assault on an officer for starters," Bill told them.
"I didn't hit the Mountie!" the same man exclaimed now defensive.
"Nor did you listen to him when he tried to break up the fight or maybe even help him when he went down," Bill stated, his steely glare back on the guy.
Under Bill's gaze the man suddenly found his shoes very interesting. The judge moved his gaze from that man to the others. One by one, each man looked away.
"I either find out what happened or I charge you all the same. Doesn't much matter to me as someone will be held responsible. At this point, talking is going to be the only way to avoid me using the maximum sentence the law will allow."
At those words most of the men started talking at the same time. "Hold it," Bill said holding up his hand. Though he was smiling at the reaction inside, he kept his outside facial expression hard as the men went quiet at the command. Pointing to the man at the one end of the line Bill said, "we'll start with you."
The man began his version of what had started the fight and his involvement in it. Bill felt like he would finally start getting to the truth about what had taken place here.
Hearing a car stop outside the infirmary, Faith hurried toward the door. Elizabeth was right behind her. When the blonde doctor saw Nathan helping Gabriel from the car a gasp of dismay escaped her, though she quickly schooled her emotions, knowing they would only get in the way of using her skills to help her husband.
"His worst pain is the left arm," Nathan said as he draped Gabriel's right arm across his shoulder so he could help his friend walk into the infirmary. "It didn't appear to be a full break but I thought the sling would be a good precaution."
Faith nodded at the information as she came to Gabriel's other side. As Gabriel seemed to be doing fine with just Nathan's support she fell in step with the two men. "What happened?" she asked, the question directed at her husband.
"Well, I remembered trying to order the men who were fighting to stop. That rarely works well. So, I grabbed one of the guys on the edge of the melee, announcing who I was as I tried pulling him away from the action. With seven of them and one of me, I knew separating them one by one was the only chance I had. I got him away from the group and the man wasn't fighting me though he still looked upset," Gabriel said as he and Nathan walking through the door Elizabeth held open for them. "I turned back to the main group. The second guy wasn't so cooperative. He swung at me. I ducked out of the way of that punch but got caught by another, though whether it was intended for me or someone else I couldn't tell you," he informed them sitting down on the edge of the bed. "At that time, I also lost my footing on the broken glass and liquid on the floor and went down in the midst of the brawl. I am not exactly sure what happened after that."
"Did you lose consciousness?" Faith asked, picking up the oil lamp in one hand while shielding Gabriel's eyes from the rest of the light in the room with her hand. Moving the lamp closer and further away she checked that his pupils were dilating properly.
"I don't think so."
Faith nodded, noting that his eyes were responding properly and that Gabriel was answering questions easily. She heard the door open and close again but didn't look in that direction.
"He was on the floor in the midst of the fighting men when we got there. When I helped him out of the fray, he was conscious and alert," Nathan supplied.
"Good," Faith commented as she gently probed Gabriel's puffy cheek that was starting to bruise. Though he didn't make a verbal noise of displeasure, she didn't miss her husband's wince. "Sorry," she murmured. "The good news is, nothing there seems broken. Let's get the jacket off so I can get a better look at the arm."
"All right," Gabriel said, allowing his wife and Nathan to help him out of his serge. An apology crossed Faith's lips more than once in the process.
"Though it isn't a clear break, there might be a fracture. You need to go to the hospital in Union City where they can do x-rays. I'd like to go with you, but I should stay in case anyone else needs my services."
"I can drive him," Henry spoke from where he stood just inside the infirmary door.
Gabriel reached out with his right hand and took his wife's hand. "I'll be fine, sweetheart. Henry will have me be back before you know it."
"Elizabeth, if I go with Gabriel, will you and the kids be all right?"
"You don't need to, Nathan," Gabriel protested though Elizabeth's answer disregarded the protest.
"We'll be fine," Elizabeth assured him.
"Let me just put a splint on the arm along with the sling and you three can be on your way," Faith said. "I feel better with you accompanying him, Nathan. Thank you."
"It is no problem," Nathan assured her.
"Not that anyone seems to care what I have to say right now, but thank you," Gabriel said, looking at Nathan. His friend nodded his acknowledgment even as Faith placed a kiss on his cheek.
"It's not that we don't care what you have to say but we all know you'll try to be independent about everything. As your wife, I refuse to let you try doing everything alone. As your doctor, I want to make sure you get the proper care. I trust Henry to get you to the hospital without any problems but he won't be able to keep a close eye on you, in case of shock or there is an injury we are not aware of yet. Nathan can."
"Yes, dear," Gabriel replied with an impish grin.
"I'll go see if Clara can make up some sandwiches for us to take in case any of us get hungry, while you get him ready to travel, doctor," Henry said.
"Thank you," Faith said already going about collecting the supplies she would need for the splint and sling.
"Bill you know this wasn't necessary, don't you?" Elizabeth asked as Bill drove the Grant's wagon toward her home. "I could have driven home myself."
Using the wagon, Bill had transported four of the seven men involved in the brawl from the pool hall to the RCMP office. As putting all seven of the men in the two cells would have been pushing the capacity limits, and probably result in more fights, Bill was only arresting three of the seven men. He had warned the rest that if he didn't see them appear in his office the next day he would be out to arrest them. Those four had been involved in the fight, but he had no other reason to detain them. However, one of the men had a cut on his arm that had not quite stopped bleeding. Bill hoped Faith was still in town or the man was going to have to live with his rusty sewing abilities. Of the three he had arrested, one of them was the man who had started the fight, the second had been the one who had punched Kinslow, and the third man had been arrested for fighting before.
After locking the three men in the cells, and leaving Kevin there as acting deputy, Bill escorted the fourth man to the infirmary. He found Faith and Elizabeth still there. While Faith tended to her new patient, she updated the judge on Gabriel's condition. Afterwards, Bill told Elizabeth he had her wagon and would drive her home. With a last warning to the man Faith was tending to that he had to be in his office by noon the next day, Bill had escorted Elizabeth from the infirmary.
"I know you could have, but with Nathan away, I wanted to make sure you got home safely," Bill said. "Besides, this gives me an excuse to delay dealing with all the paperwork I've got to deal with, seeing as Gabriel is at the hospital."
Elizabeth let herself smile at that admission.
"Well, I do appreciate it, Bill," Elizabeth replied.
They rode in silence for a bit.
"Kid should've waited for backup in the first place with seven men involved in that fight," Bill muttered under his breath.
"Maybe he feels that as the lone law officer assigned to town that he was expected to handle it on his own," Elizabeth replied. "Jack wouldn't have waited for you and you were still sheriff at the time."
Bill grunted. "You're right," he admitted. "I probably would not have waited myself," he admitted. "This town is too big now. We need more than one Mountie assigned here."
"Don't you dare try to talk Nathan out of retirement," Elizabeth told him. "I don't begrudge him helping his friend out when needed, but I don't want him back in uniform!"
Bill chuckled and looked over at her. "I wouldn't even consider that. Perhaps if it seemed like Nathan missed being a Mountie I would, but he seems happy, if not happier, with his new career. Not to mention, you seem happier than you have been since Jack left for Fort Clay, my dear."
Elizabeth beamed. "I am," she admitted.
"Still, I may need to say something to someone about having a second Constable here in Hope Valley. I just hope they don't send Riggins back as punishment."
"Punishment for who?" Elizabeth asked. "He never seemed any happier to be here than we were to have him."
Bill nodded and shrugged. "You are right about that." He paused for a moment. "Still, I guess the most immediate issue is dealing with these guys. You two said it was the left arm Gabriel hurt."
"Yes. Why?"
"Because that means, broken arm or not, he can still do his own paperwork when he gets back."
"Bill!" Elizabeth tried to scold. However, she soon started laughing. Yes, not doing extra paperwork would appeal to the sheriff turned judge.
Bill merely shrugged, offering up no apology for the statement as they continued on their way.
Gabriel wasn't sure what time it was. In truth, he didn't really care. All he wanted was to be released from the hospital and able to go home. Nathan had said Henry had been trying to sleep in the waiting room so he would be awake enough to drive them all back to Hope Valley when Gabriel was released. He appreciated that, though for a few moments the Mountie was worried the doctor wouldn't release him. Seemed along with the bruised cheek the doctor had found a couple lumps on his head. Giving the melee he had gone down in, Gabriel supposed he shouldn't be surprised. However, the doctor was concerned that other concussion symptoms might surface and wanted to keep him under observation for the next twenty-four hours or so. Before Gabriel could open his mouth to protest, Nathan had calmly spoken up. He assured the doctor that Faith, who was also a doctor, would be keeping a close eye on her husband and there would be plenty of others to make sure Gabriel got his rest. The doctor relented, saying a nurse would be back with his discharge papers soon.
Soon seemed like an awful long time ago.
"You know, you should probably lay down on the bed so they might think you may actually follow the doctor's orders to rest for the next couple of days," Nathan commented from the chair he sat in. His friend didn't even bother looking up from the newspaper he was looking through.
Before Gabriel could reply, he heard approaching footsteps. Hoping it was the nurse, he was disappointed to see Superintendent Patrick O'Reilly enter the room. Sitting up straighter, Gabriel raised his right hand in salute as Nathan scrambled to his feet himself.
O'Reilly returned Gabriel's salute and then glanced over at Nathan, an amused look on his face. "Old habits are hard to overcome, huh Grant."
Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose so," he admitted his hand raise in mid-motion to salute despite him being a civilian now. Though he lowered his hand, Nathan made no move to sit yet.
"As you were," O'Reilly told him. Nathan sat back down as O'Reilly turned his attention back to Gabriel. "As your training officer, I thought I taught you to duck, Kinslow."
Gabriel smiled sheepishly at him. "I'd like to say you should see the other guys, but I think they all look better than me."
"From the information Judge Avery telegraphed to headquarters that appears to be the case. He apparently has the guy who started the fight, the one that hit you, and another with prior charges in the Hope Valley jail. The other four were released with dates to see him for sentencing after he collected statements."
"Well, seven men in those two cells at Hope Valley would have been a crowd," Gabriel commented.
O'Reilly nodded. "Headquarters has already been contacted by your doctor that you are to be on medical leave for the next two days. Your official reports can wait until then. However, if you are up to it, can you give me a preliminary report now?"
Gabriel complied. The report was interrupted briefly by the nurse with the discharge papers. She went over them with Gabriel, had him sign, and told them they could finish their conversation without any rush.
"Not that it does any good for this incident, but I have been trying to get approval for a second Mountie to be posted in Hope Valley. There seemed to be more than enough for you and Grant to do during the short time you were both assigned there. I think this incident will strengthen my argument that it is too much for one man to handle. I would like to think that if you knew you had back-up nearby, you may have handled the situation differently."
"That many men involved in a fight probably wasn't a good situation for me to handle on my own," Gabriel admitted. "I am lucky Bill and Nathan happened to both be in town still."
O'Reilly nodded. "I am sending one of the regional Mounties in to cover the assignment temporarily with you out for a few days and then on limited duty until that arm heals. I am hopeful you will have a permanent second man posted with you in the next few weeks if I get my way."
"I have to say that I will welcome having someone to work with. I had a lot of ground to cover with Brookfield but there were more cattle than people there. That isn't the case with Hope Valley."
"It certainly has grown from the little mining town I was very shortly posted at," O'Reilly commented. "Are you two staying overnight or heading back?"
"Henry's been sleeping in the waiting room so that he would be awake enough to drive us back tonight."
"Then I won't keep you here any longer," O'Reilly said. "I will call and check in with you in a couple of days, Gabriel. Make sure you follow doctor's orders."
"I will," Gabriel said. "Especially as my doctor is also my wife."
O'Reilly laughed. "That is a good point. I guess I won't have to worry about you trying to do something you are not supposed to be doing."
The three men left the room together, stopping by the waiting room to collect Henry. Outside, O'Reilly said good-bye to the other three as he headed back to headquarters to finish up before heading home himself. With Nathan and Gabriel in the backseat, Henry started the drive back to Hope Valley. Gabriel had fallen asleep before they had gotten past the city limits.