Chapter 5 – Elizabeth's Reaction
Elizabeth sat there, her mouth agape. She didn't think anyone had seen her come back that morning. She knew she hadn't seen Nathan when Lucas dropped her in front of the saloon, so how could he have known. As she looked closer at the report, she saw that Nathan had been able to confirm that she shared a suite with Lucas and they had a private dinner with dancing. The report went on to question her morality and good judgment, wondering if she was what they wanted as an example for the young people of the town.
"I have a right to be happy." Elizabeth snapped. "Since when is my personal life anyone else's business?"
"Since you chose a profession with a morality clause and rules to follow." Abigail said. "You have repeatedly broken the rules laid out in your teaching contract and Lee and I can no longer satisfy parents who are complaining about you."
"You mean Nathan complaining." Elizabeth said, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Ironically." Abigail said. "Until he filed this report as required by law, Nathan had never once said anything about you to another person. He never complained or reacted to the horrible way you have treated him for the last year or more."
"From my understanding from Corporal Grant." William said. "He would have been well within his rights as a father and member of the Mounties to file several charges for harassment against you for the way that you have barged into his office and berated him. But no, he stood there and took it because he knew you were grieving. He gave you a pass, even when you treated his daughter, one of your own students so cruelly.
You are not the only person to ever suffer a loss of a spouse but from my understanding you have acted horrible to people all over town. You have acted like your grief and your life are the only ones that matter and because you were hurt it gives you a right to lash out at other people. You were taught better than that."
"What about Abigail?" Frank said. "She lost her husband and only child at the same time, but she stood strong and rallied the other widows to take a stand. She bought and fixed up the cafe, turning it into a thriving business. She didn't crumble under her grief or lash out at other people just because she was hurting. She had every right to be angry, but she didn't let that anger consume her and destroy her life as well."
"So back to my question." William said. "Beth, are you engaged to Lucas Bouchard?"
"What does that matter?" Elizabeth countered.
"It matters because he is a gambler." William said.
"Is a businessman." Elizabeth insisted.
"Who owns a saloon." William replied.
"Hotel and restaurant." Elizabeth snapped.
"Spin it any way you want." Abigail said. "It is a saloon and that is how it is listed in the town papers."
"Do you really think that is someone who would be acceptable marriage material?" William asked. "Your mother and I were worried when you alluded to the fact you were possibly courting another Mountie, but we would have accepted it. A gambler and saloon owner, absolutely not! That is not the kind of man I want around my grandson."
Elizabeth huffed.
"You have never even met your grandson." Elizabeth spat. "What do you care about him?"
"I am sorry that your mother and I haven't made more of an effort." William said. "But you have made no effort to come see us and introduce us to your son. So don't lay the blame all at my feet. You share a large part of it as well. You know that I have been busy rebuilding things the last few years after the war, but if you would have come to us, I would have made the time."
"But you can go visit Viola in London." Elizabeth said.
"That was a business trip." William said. "Did we make time to spend with Viola? Yes, because we were there, but ninety percent of that trip was business. So don't start with me. Now I am having to take time out of my busy schedule to come and deal with this (William picked up the stack of papers and waved them at Elizabeth). What do you have to say?"
Elizabeth just sat there tight-lipped glaring at Abigail and her father. There wasn't anything she could say that they would listen to. While they sat there in an uncomfortable silence, William's assistant Thompson came back in. He went right to William and handed him some papers. William looked them over, then looked back to Thompson who nodded.
"Elizabeth." William said. "Do you know where Lucas is right now? Because according to Pastor Frank, he left town shortly after you night out."
"He is in Edmonton on business." Elizabeth said. "He called me yesterday and asked if I could wire him some money, he had found something wonderful he had wanted to get for the wedding. I told him I would try. When I called to access my trust fund, I was told I needed your permission to access it. I have spent most of the day trying to track you down."
"Did he say what he wanted to get?" William asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "He just told me it was a surprise."
"Then absolutely not." William said. "Because according to this paper that Thompson handed me, Lucas has been playing cards and losing in Edmonton. He currently owes over three hundred dollars to a gambling den. This is apparently not the first time he has been in debt and to different gambling dens."
"I don't believe you." Elizabeth said. "Lucas said he gave up gambling."
"Not according to my inquiries." Thompson said. "Apparently last year when he took off and told you he was in New Orleans, he had been in Vancouver gambling and spending time with some saloon girls. It seems he likes to frequent card games and gambling dens across the country. Also according to my inquiries, Mr Bouchard has very little money of his own. He appears to be moving money around just to keep both businesses afloat and has apparently told his investors that he will be coming into a large amount of money shortly. It appears he is counting on your trust fund to solve his money problems."
"Well that is not going to happen." William said.
"You just don't want me to be happy like everyone else." Elizabeth yelled.
… … … …
Nathan and Allie returned to town after being gone for over an hour when they pulled up outside the jailhouse.
"Leave Hero." Nathan said. "I have a feeling Bill will be joining me on rounds later."
"I am going to go see if I can find Opal or Emily." Allie said.
"I will let you know what the plan for supper is." Nathan said. "Don't forget that Mr Thatcher wanted to have supper with us if he was going to be around."
"Does that mean we have to have supper with Mrs Thornton as well?" Allie asked.
"You don't want that?" Nathan asked.
"I would prefer not to." Allie said. "Especially after the way that she acted in the mercantile when I was working today."
"What happened?" Nathan asked.
Allie quickly filled Nathan in on what happened.
"You don't have to eat with Mrs Thornton if you don't want to." Nathan said. "I will still let you know what the plan for supper is and you can decide."
"Thank you." Allie said. "I will let you know where I am going to be."
"I will be here at the office." Nathan said. "I have paperwork and some things to do."
"Have fun." Allie said. "I will talk to you as soon as I have a plan."
Nathan nodded and watched Allie walk away toward the row houses. Nathan stood there for a few minutes until he saw Thompson leave the mayor's office and go to the cafe, then back to the office and quickly leave again heading right toward him. Nathan let out a harsh breath, he wasn't sure what happened, but he wasn't really in the mood to deal with Elizabeth at the moment. He was sure that she wasn't happy with her father's visit and would find a way to blame him.
… … … …
Elizabeth stood up, knocking her chair to the floor and turned to leave.
"Stop!" William snapped standing up as well. "If you walk out that door, you leave me no choice. I will cut you off, report you to the Department of Education to have your teaching certificate revoked and file paperwork to remove Little Jack from your custody for his own safety."
Elizabeth turned and glared at her father. Her face and eyes show an anger many had never seen from Elizabeth. She couldn't believe what her father was saying.
"I mean it." William said. "I have had enough of your attitude. You were raised to act better than you have been. Right now I am ashamed to call you my daughter. I may love you, but your behavior is completely unacceptable."
"Let's all sit down." Frank said. "I am sure that there has to be some kind of compromise that we can come to and everyone will be agreeable to."
Frank motioned for William to sit down, which he did. Frank then turned to Elizabeth. He picked up her chair and motioned for her to sit down, but she stood there in defiance.
"Elizabeth." Frank said. "Are you willing to throw everything away because of your stubborn pride? You know that Jack always told you that your stubbornness would get you into trouble one day."
Elizabeth spun and glared at Frank.
"How dare you speak of Jack." Elizabeth spat at him.
"I can speak of my friend." Frank said, standing toe to toe with Elizabeth. "Jack and I spent a lot of time talking before I left. He was afraid that you never shed the spoiled Hamilton princess complex. He was also afraid that you wouldn't understand his call to serve as a Mountie. As much as he loved you, he was afraid you wouldn't be able to handle life as a Mountie wife. He was also worried about what would happen to you if something happened to him.
He would have proposed a lot sooner to him if you wouldn't have let that Hamilton princess show through every now and again. He was also frustrated beyond belief with your stubbornness. Once you thought you were right, there was no talking to you. You would refuse to listen to reason, like you are now."
Elizabeth huffed at Frank, but he didn't back down. He knew that it was beyond time that Elizabeth heard some hard truths. He wasn't afraid of her and since she was apparently not willing to listen to anyone else, he was going to have his say, come what may.
"Like I said." Frank said. "I have no doubt that Jack loved you deeply or I would never have agreed to marry the two of you. But Jack had several hesitations when it came to you and you are turning out exactly like he feared. I know about that last letter that Jack left you about finding love again. I helped him write that. He had gone through several drafts of what he wanted to say. I encouraged him to speak to your heart from his.
So let me ask you this. Can you honestly say that you love Lucas Bouchard? I mean love him like you loved Jack. I am not asking you to compare the two, but can you say that you love Lucas like you had loved Jack – with everything that you are? Does Lucas love you? How about, how is Lucas with Little Jack? Does he care about him and spend time with him? Because I can tell you there is a man in this town that spends time with Little Jack and loves him to no end and he doesn't need to, but he does.
The last question I have for you to think about is – would Jack approve of Lucas as someone to raise his son? Because I can tell you without a doubt that he wouldn't have let Lucas within a thousand yards of his young son. Lucas is the opposite of everything that Jack stood for and would have wanted instilled in his child."
Elizabeth took a step back and slapped Frank.
"How dare you?" Elizabeth yelled.
"Elizabeth Grace!" William bellowed. "Sit down right now."
Elizabeth looked over at her father and saw the look in his eye, so she sat down, but crossed her arms over her chest.
"Thompson." William said. "Please go get Judge Avery and Chief Superintendent Collins."
"One you way back." Abigail said. "Please stop at the cafe and get some ice for Frank's face."
Thompson nodded and took off. He first went to the cafe and got some ice bringing it back for Frank. He then went to get Bill and Sam. After Thompson left for the second time, everyone sat down, but the tension in the air was thick. Elizabeth sat stone faced. Abigail had moved over and was quietly checking on Frank. William was making notes on some papers he had pulled from a second briefcase.
It didn't take more than ten minutes and Thompson was back with not only Bill and Sam Collins, but with Nathan as well. The two Mounties stood there and took in the scene. Bill was also trying to figure out what happened. He closed his eyes and shook his head because he knew that it couldn't be good. Nathan looked over at Chief Superintendent Collins and got the nod to take the lead. Since Frank was the one with the ice, he decided to start there.
"Frank." Nathan said. "What happened?"
"Elizabeth slapped me." Frank said. "I might have pushed her a bit, but still."
"Okay." Nathan said. "Can I see?"
Frank moved the towel with the ice and everyone saw a clear handprint on Frank's face. Nathan indicated if he could touch it and Frank nodded. Nathan felt along the check bone, and even though Frank winced, he didn't pull back. Frank knew that Nathan was only doing his job. There was a part of Frank that didn't want to have to explain things to Carson so he just hoped Nathan didn't find anything.
"I don't think anything is broken." Nathan said. "But you are going to have a black eye. It is already turning."
"I will keep some ice on it." Frank said. "Not the first time I have been slapped, but it has been awhile since it was a woman who did it."
Bill and Nathan both bite back a smile.
"Pastor." Collins said. "Since you do have an injury, do you want to press charges?"
"Let's see if we can work things out without going that far." Frank said. "I have a feeling that Elizabeth is going to be in enough trouble with her father."
"Okay." Collins said. "But if you change your mind, please let Grant know."
"I will." Frank said.
"Do you want us to stay?" Collins asked.
"Yes." William said. "Not so much as I need your input, but more for safety. I don't want Elizabeth to lash out again. Right now, I don't trust her to sit and listen."
"Fine." Collins said.
Bill, Sam and Nathan all took a seat, so that they were between Elizabeth and the door. Frank and Abigail moved to the other side of the table. Elizabeth and William were still on opposite sides.