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Chapter Twenty

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Letters

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Nathan awakened to the songs of birds although it was still dark. Grabbing his flashlight he glanced at his alarm clock realizing he need not get up for an hour. Nevertheless, now that he was awake, he turned off the alarm, knowing he might as well rise. 'Maybe I'm supposed to awaken now to work on the letter I promised Lee…'

Quietly, Nathan rose and dressed in his jodhpurs and Henley, slipping his feet into his slippers and silently making his way downstairs. As he turned on a lamp, he began a fire in the potbelly stove wanting to dissipate the morning chill. Heading to get a cardigan from the hook by the door, Nathan saw an envelope on the floor just inside the door.

Shrugging on the sweater, Nathan carried the envelope into the kitchen to prepare coffee. After letting out Prince, he set out the breakfast items and washed his hair in the sink while the coffee percolated. Having towel-dried his hair and combed it while looking in the kitchen mirror, Nathan gathered his coffee and the letter to return to the chair nearest the stove.

"A quick scan of the brief note told him it was from Elizabeth, so putting it aside, he closed his eyes and began his morning prayers. After giving thanks and praying blessings on his family and friends, Nathan asked for God's guidance in reacting to the contents of the letter, and for wisdom in what to write to the school board. 'It was so clear yesterday that Elizabeth is her own worst enemy. God help her because the letters Lee will present to the school board may change the course of her life forever. Your will be done.'

Sipping his coffee, Nathan unfolded the page and read.

'Dear Nathan,
I can't sleep so got up to write a quick note to you. Thank you for rescuing Jack. I deeply regret that I fell asleep and forgot about my own son. There is no excuse for my behavior, yet you didn't seem to judge me when I confessed how I neglected him. Thank you for that.

I never guessed I would be the recipient of your tracking skills, but I am grateful for them and that you are in Hope Valley.
Sincerely, Elizabeth'

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Nathan wondered when Elizabeth must have delivered the note and was concerned for her continued sleeplessness.

'That was what she had told Faith and Lee on the first day of school and this is now a week later. Something is bothering Elizabeth Thornton! I pray she will be able to confide in someone before long. And, Lord? I ask that it be Joseph because I know his wisdom first hand. Also, after the accident, I understand how difficult it is to function without sleep.'

'Now, please guide me as I compose this letter?'

Nathan shook his head and, walking to his desk, sat to lift out his stationery.

'To the Hope Valley School Board,

'I regret that this letter in necessary, but it has come to my attention that there are some disturbing issues at the Jack Thornton School. Mrs. Thornton did not begin the school year as she has in the past, seeming to abdicate her responsibilities to the older students. A new 'program' was announced that matches the youngest children with the older students, naming them' tutors.''

'As was explained to me, the older students should instruct the newcomers and answer any questions they have. There are a few problems with this 'program.' One, the older students are supposed to teach the little ones, who don't yet know how to read and write. Secondly, it appears they are to babysit the youngest children throughout the school day. In addition, the older student's education is being neglected if they spend so much regular time with the children assigned to them and Mrs. Thornton is not teaching the higher level subjects. I am concerned about my daughter's education!'

'Some of the students have aspirations of attending college and venturing into the world with a career! To be prepared for college they must concentrate on their studies to learn as much as possible during these years as an upper classman. These are the years to discover their gifts and interests as they look ahead to graduating into the world and possibly pursuing a higher education.'

'It is my observation that Mrs. Thornton is not as devoted to, or dedicated to, teaching as she has been in the past. When we first moved to Hope Valley, it was Mrs. Thornton's interest in my daughter's welfare that helped my girl out of her protective shell while learning the social skills of making friends that is so essential in a child's early school years. In addition, Mrs. Thornton's teaching ignited a hunger for learning that has made my daughter a student with both high grades and a high interest in her studies.'

'I would like to propose that an additional teacher be added to the Jack Thornton School to enable Mrs. Thornton to concentrate on the younger children while allowing the older students another teacher giving dedicated instruction in the upper level subjects. I know that the creative writing course and chorus taught by Miss Katie Yost was well attended and enjoyed this summer, a time when young people are not keen to spend extra time in school! In addition to my daughter's appreciation for Miss Yost, I know of other students and parents who were very pleased with Miss Yost's engaging methods!'

'I defer to you, as the School Board, if you have another person in mind, but I request that some changes be made as soon as possible. The future of our children depends on our involvement and I am already supplementing my daughter's interest in science and biology with a private tutor who has volunteered to instruct her.'

'Thank you for your attention to these matters and I look forward to your response to my concerns.'

'Sincerely,
Constable Nathan Grant
RCMP, Hope Valley, BC'

After re-reading his missive, Nathan folded it and placed it in an envelope. He wanted Faith to read it before he delivered it to Lee. He patted the envelope, praying silently, 'Your will be done, Lord. Amen.'

. .

Knocking on Faith's door while Allie sat in the car, Nathan offered to drive her into town. "I have another reason, well, besides seeing my morning sunshine and getting a sweet kiss!"

Nathan bent to brush her lips with his before continuing. "Mmmm... I would appreciate your approval and/or input on a letter I've composed for Lee to give to the school board. Could you find time to read it this morning?"

"Of course, Honey. Let me get my lunch and satchel and I'll be right back."

"Thank you. I appreciate this." Nathan handed the envelope to Faith and opened the car door for her.

"Good morning, Allie. Did you sleep after all the excitement last evening?" Faith inquired as she settled into the passenger seat.

"I did. I'm not sure if Dad did though. I heard him up really early this morning." A concerned Allie reported to Faith.

"Just lots on my mind, Allie-girl. Nothing to worry about!" Nathan explained.

Her hand on his arm, Faith asked, "Is this a continuation of your insomnia from the concussion, Nathan?"

"Huh? Definitely not! I confess it wasn't just concerns for Allie that kept me from sleeping back then, it was thoughts of you! Ever since you cared for me after the accident, I deliberated the possibility of… you know, if… if you could ever be interested in me. Asking you out to dinner was not a spur of the moment idea you know!"

Blushing, Nathan glanced at Faith. "I haven't had insomnia since I began to court a very sweet, smart and special Doctor friend of mine! She, herself, was my cure!"

"Happy to be of service, Constable," Faith squeezed his arm.

In the back seat, Allie stared out the side window, but listened attentively. Sometimes she wondered if her Dad and Miss Faie forgot she was there when they got lost in their private conversations. She wondered if other parents did the same? Allie knew she would never ask anyone because she loved her Dad too much and she took to heart his conversations. Today, she recognized that Miss Faie had been an answer to her pleading prayers from a few weeks ago. What Allie didn't grasp was that this love, this relationship she was witnessing, was teaching her valuable lessons for her own future…

. .

Elizabeth was shaken. She was grateful that Cat Montgomery had offered to teach today after last night's ordeal however that left Elizabeth seated at her desk in a quiet house, forced to face her thoughts.

. .

Laura had taken Jack into town to go to the library and to visit and thank people who had helped with the search last night. Loving Jack as much as she did, Laura needed to thank everyone herself! On the walk into town, Laura had thought that Mrs. Thornton should be making the rounds to personally thank everyone, but she was afraid that was not going to happen. At least she and Jack could show their appreciation.

After stopping to see the Coulters and Miss Fiona, they continued. Approaching the RCMP office, Laura noticed that Jack was holding back and clinging tightly to her skirt. When Constable Cal opened the door to her knock, Laura was surprised.

"Oh, hello! Excuse me. I came to see Constable Grant… Actually, Jack and I came to see him."

"Of course! Come in. So good to see the young fella this morning." Cal stepped to the side and motioned them to enter. "Nathan? You have a visitor."

"Jack Thornton! It is wonderful to see you today!" Before continuing with Jack, Nathan briefly included Jack's nanny, "You too, Laura."

"So this morning you are playing hide'n'seek with me, eh? I can see your shoes behind Miss Laura's skirt, so I can easily find you. Can you come give me a hug?" Nathan squatted in preparation.

Laura pushed a tearful little boy towards the man in red.

"Now why the tears, Buddy? Aren't you glad to see me again?" Nathan queried, wondering at Jack's unusual behavior. "Do you want to tell me why you are crying?"

With a hiccoughing sob, Jack ran to Nathan. "I took… I took…candy, without asking. I'm sorry… Are you mad at me now?"

"Why would I be mad, Buddy? I thank you for your confession and I forgive you."

Nathan held the boy to himself, letting the shaking sobs still. "You were lost without your Mommy and you were hungry right?"

Nodding his head, Jack whispered, "I guess you don't like me anymore, right?"

"Jack! Doing something wrong doesn't make me not like you. I will always like you, You're my Buddy! Why do you think I won't like you?"

Even as Jack answered Nathan guessed why.

"'Cause Mr. Lucas doesn't like me and always says I did something wrong. He is mad at me all the time."

Nathan looked up to Laura's somber expression and nod. A quick glance at Cal and Nathan returned to look at Jack.

"I don't know the situation, Jack, but Mr. Lucas should never dislike you. Even if you did something wrong, he should talk about it with you and forgive you. If Mommy thinks you need punishment, need to return something you stole, or to fix something that you broke, that happens sometimes. But Mommy, Miss Laura, Constable Cal and me? We all like you very much, no matter what. Oh, look who else just came in!"

"Dear Jack! What a welcome sight to see you this morning! May I have a big hug?" Faith bent over as Jack came to her open arms.

"Good morning, my boy!" she pressed Jack's damp face to her heart.

"Do you still like me too? Even after I ran away and I took candy?" Jack whimpered.

"Of course! Even then, I still like you, dear boy." Faith straightened, patting Jack's head and giving Nathan a quizzical look.

Standing, Nathan offered Faith his seat.

"Hi Laura. Hi Cal! Thank you, Nathan, but I must get back to work," Faith explained. "I read this and it is wonderfully stated." She handed the envelope back to Nathan, saying, "I wouldn't change a thing… except for the situations that precipitated the letter. You all enjoy the rest of your day and, Nathan, I will see you at half-past five. Enjoy your conversations now."

"Excuse me, Dr. Faith? Jack and I have something to tell you." Laura nodded at Jack as she spoke.

"Thank you for helping me last night." Jack offered. "I'm sorry I ran away and got lost."

"I thank you as well, Doctor Faith." Laura interjected.

"You are very welcome, my dears." Smiling, Faith waved at everyone and departed.

"Constable Nathan, we actually came to thank you for finding Jack, for organizing the search too. I am so grateful and, Jack… Do you have something to say?"

Nodding seriously, Jack spoke, "Thank you, Mountie Daddy."

Gasping, Nathan recalled Jack had addressed him that way last night as well. Quickly recovering his composure, Nathan quietly addressed the little boy.

"Jack? I am a Mountie and I am Allie's Daddy, but I am not your Daddy. Your daddy died and you have photographs of him at your house, right? How about you call me Mountie Nathan? And that man over there is Mountie Calvin. Okay? Mountie Nathan and Mountie Calvin. Can you say that?"

"Mountie Nathan? Is there any candy left?"

. .

Back in the row house, Elizabeth swallowed her now cold coffee, then sat unmoving. For a long time, she pondered the previous twenty-four hours and the man who seemed to be missing. 'He didn't come to the doctor's office, or to check-in here after Jack was found, and he hasn't stopped over this morning. I went through a trauma. Shouldn't he be concerned for my welfare and for Jack as well?'

Elizabeth uncapped her pen preparing to write when she was interrupted by a knock. Standing and capping it again, she wondered if it was him and, if not, who even knew she was here at home. She stepped to the door anyway.

"Oh! Bill! Nathan!"

"Good morning, Elizabeth." Bill explained. "We've come to check-up on you. May we come in for a moment?"

"Of course," She stepped aside. "Do you want to sit down?"

Nathan spoke kindly, "No thank you. We cannot stay. Something just happened at the office and we thought it best to tell you before Jack came home."

Nathan fidgeted with his Stetson. "Elizabeth, Jack called me Mountie Daddy. He…"

Gasping, Elizabeth grabbed the edge of her desk and steadied herself.

"He said the same thing when I found him last evening, so I corrected him, suggesting he call me Mountie Nathan. I explained I was a Mountie and I was Allie's Daddy, but not his. I thought you had better know so you can reinforce the correct title if he ever mentions me again."

"Oh!" Elizabeth was ready to say that Jack talked about Nathan all the time, but decided against it. "Well… thank you…"

"There is something else which is actually more serious." With a serious expression, Nathan held her gaze. "Jack confessed he had taken the candy and was afraid I was mad and didn't like him now. When I quizzed him, he explained that Lucas didn't like him and was always mad at him."

Nathan watched Elizabeth pale, then redden. Was it embarrassment or anger at the truth? He continued.

"It is an odd thing for a five-year-old to share, Elizabeth, and raises concern to both Bill and me. Has Lucas ever hit or threatened Jack?"

"Hit him? Of course not. I wouldn't allow that. I…" Elizabeth stopped and cast her gaze to the floor.

Bill spoke up now, "Elizabeth, has Lucas ever threatened Jack? Or you, for that matter? Has he ever raised a hand to either of you?"

Remaining silent, Elizabeth tried to control the flood of angry tears threatening to escape.

"Elizabeth?" Bill reached out his hand to gently touch her arm and Elizabeth flinched.

Finally able to protest, Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked up with fire in her eyes.

"Of course not! Why would you even ask that? Adults get angry at children sometimes, but Jack shouldn't have said that."

"Jack said that in the context of being concerned about what my reaction might be after last evening. We are just asking because…" Nathan took a deep breath himself before continuing. "When Faith examined Jack last night, she documented that Jack had a yellowing bruise around his forearm."

"Oh, that? You know little boys and their bumps and bruises. Nothing to worry about."

"Actually it is, Elizabeth." Bill corrected her. "The bruise encircles his arm as if grabbed and forcefully yanked or squeezed. The color indicates it happened some days ago, but by someone strong."

The fire gone now Elizabeth slumped back against her desk, yet remained silent.

"We will let you get back to whatever you were doing, Elizabeth, but we will be watching and believe you should be very careful of Jack around Lucas. If Jack cries and is inconsolable, there may be an abuse you must address."

At the mention of crying, Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders as if uncomfortable and both men saw it.

Bill continued, "We will help you if you tell us what is going on, but are powerless unless we catch Lucas in the act of harming Jack or you. If he is doing that, he needs to be arrested."

Hanging her head, Elizabeth decided to end this conversation. When she lifted her head she couldn't make eye contact with either Bill or Nathan and just said. "I appreciate you checking up on me this morning."

"Okay. You have a beautiful and tender-hearted little boy, Elizabeth," Wanting to give appreciation where it was due, Nathan added, "And a nanny that loves him dearly and who is training him very well."

"You know where to find us, Elizabeth. Good day." Bill nodded his head and with a tip of the hat from Nathan, the men departed and climbed into Nathan's vehicle.

. .

"Thank you for handling that with me, Bill. You know I have to be so careful around her." Nathan commented as he turned the car onto the lane.

"I know." Bill was quiet until they pulled up in front of his office. "I am afraid Lucas has threatened and, even worse, treated Jack very roughly."

"I agree. I just hope Elizabeth took the warning seriously." Nathan sighed then waved as Bill exited the car. "See ya…"\

. .

Deciding to take lunch together at the Saloon, Nathan and Cal took a table in the back which would allow them a private conversation while observing the patrons and the Saloon owner.

When a rather disgruntled Gustave came to take their order, Nathan asked, "You seem upset, Gustave. Is everything all right?"

"All right? Non! He knows Beef Bourguignon is on the menu and he doesn't order the mushrooms? Whoever heard of not having mushrooms in Beef Bourguignon? And if he is not kissing all over the place, he disappears to who knows where and for how long. I cannot cook and run this place alone…"

"I'm sorry to hear this, Gustave. Is Lucas out-of-town now?"

"I guess so? This morning his car is gone and he is not around. I am ready to quit, like the others have. I could be famous in a big city you know. All his promises? Nothing! Non, nothing at all!" Gustave sighed deeply. "What do you want?"

"If you made the Beef Bourguignon, I'll take it even without mushrooms," Cal offered, feeling sorry for the man.

"It doesn't deserve the title, so one Beef Stew coming up. Constable?"

"Make that two, Gustave. I am sure it will be good." Nathan responded. "Plus two ginger ales. please?"

With a loud "Hmmph," Gustave disappeared into the kitchen.

Looking around, Cal questioned, "Seems slow. Is this common for a lunch hour?"

"Most locals frequent the Café except those desiring a drink and a card game, or a win at night. At least the town has regulated that no liquor can be served until six o'clock, allowing some men to avoid the temptation to lose their paycheck on the way home, and to keep the place relatively quiet during the day. Hotel guests and out-of-towners congregate here, so Gustave serves food any time of the day, mostly for them."

"You look worried."

"Do I? Maybe because I am? I'm concerned about what takes Lucas Bouchard out-of-town so frequently and I have a niggling suspicion it is not legit business dealings. Plus, there's Jack's bruise…"

Cal was quiet as Nathan ruminated.

"Early on I told Lucas he didn't fit here in Hope Valley and should move on. I knew he was trouble, but he has managed to stay just clean enough to not get caught. He almost cost Jack his mother you know?" Nathan explained the hostage situation with Amos Dixon, how Elizabeth was held at gunpoint and how much money was involved. "Lucas is not flashing as much cash around lately and if employees have quit, I wonder if his business is struggling? That can make a man angry, but could also result in some criminals following him here again to collect on their debts…" Nathan sighed heavily. "God protect us all."

"And yet Elizabeth Thornton is engaged to marry this gambler?" Cal shook his head in disbelief.

"Shows how low we can go when we run in fear and only think of ourselves. Plenty of widows in town avoided bitterness and found joy after the mine collapse. They served and invested in others. By blessing others they were blessed and that made all the difference. That is why the town name was changed from Coal Valley to Hope Valley."

. .

Although the Beef Stew was good, Nathan remained burdened by his concerns and was grateful for the afternoon's distraction discussing the plan for Cal to use the back room. Together they decided to paint all the walls an off-white color to brighten the space and Nathan decided he needed to order a rug as well as the paint.

What to do about the upstairs was a decision for another day since they didn't know what the RCMP's intentions were, but Nathan decided to at least order the paint…

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