The first hints of Spring were always a welcome sign for the citizens of Hope Valley as chilly winter winds and months of snow which had blanketed their area gave way to the warm sunny rays and refreshing breezes which traveled over the nearby mountain range. It was something to look forward to, and it automatically brightened everyone's mood. But in the early days of Spring 1920, it wasn't a welcome breeze that visited this town of hope, but an evil wind coming from the south, bringing turmoil, revealing long concealed secrets, and changing lives forever.
The morning of March 15th began just like any other morning. Ned and Florence Yost were the first to open their business, Yost's Mercantile, which sat at the center of town and provided its inhabitants with most of their commercial goods. Lee Coulter soon followed, waving to them from across the street as he opened the door to the Coulter building, the home office for his lumber business and the headquarters of the town's newspaper, The Valley Voice.
Stepping into the building, he was stopped by the sound of footsteps on the front porch as he was shutting the door.
"Good morning, Lucas," the businessman said with a smile as he saw who it was.
Lucas Bouchard returned the smile as he reached into his pocket to retrieve a paper. "Good morning, Lee. I was wondering if there was still time to get an announcement into the afternoon edition."
Lee looked at the note that was handed to him. "Spring Bazaar, March 20th at the Jack Thornton School. Proceeds will be used for a field trip to Edmonton at the end of the school year. Edmonton?"
"Yes. Elizabeth is planning on taking the children to the Legislature Building to show them the Provincial government in action, so to speak. She had asked me to pass the message to you two days ago, but regretfully, in preparing for my parents' arrival tomorrow, I forgot. Would it be possible to slip the announcement in?"
Lee shook his head and patted Lucas on the shoulder. "Consider it done," he replied to Lucas's immediate relief.
"Thank you, Lee! That's one less thing I have to worry about."
Lee raised his eyebrows. "You're worried?"
Lucas shook his head and smiled. "Not really worried, more anxious, excited. This will be the first time Father has met Elizabeth, and while I know he will love her as much as Mother does, we so rarely get together that I want everything to be perfect."
Lee nodded. "He hasn't been to Hope Valley, has he?"
"No, this will be the first time I've seen him in seven years. We used to spend holidays together, but it seems our friends in Ottawa have needed his presence more the past several years."
"He works in the government?"
"Yes. He's a representative to the Department of State overseeing various investments the Canadian government has made worldwide. It's his job to audit accounts to ensure the money is going where it is supposed to go."
"And that's why you traveled so much growing up?"
Lucas nodded. "Father joined the civil service when I was nine. We went on many an adventure and saw many different cultures."
"Sounds interesting. I used to travel a lot too. Nothing exotic, just city-to-city, trying to build my business. It wasn't until I reached Hope Valley and met Rosemary that I discovered home."
"I know what you mean, friend. I know what you mean," Lucas smiled.
"I'm sure you do."
Just then, a knock came on the door, and both men looked over just as the town's Mountie, Nathan Grant, entered.
"Sorry to interrupt," Grant said. "Just wanted to let you know that the Mounties at Jonesville called, and the bridge outside Red Deer washed out with all the rain last night. I knew you were waiting on a shipment."
Lee looked toward the floor, shaking his head. "Yeah. I'm waiting on a new edger. Our demand is outpacing the output the old edger can provide," he sighed. "Guess we'll have to make do. I need to call the foreman."
Lucas looked over at him. "Well, I won't hold you up. Thank you for taking care of that."
"My pleasure," Lee replied as he walked toward his desk.
Lucas turned toward the door, motioning for Nathan to exit before he did. The two hadn't always seen eye to eye, mostly due to their mutual interest in Lucas's now fiancée, Elizabeth Thornton. But despite the fact they were two very different men, they had grown closer in the months that followed. They weren't yet what one would call best friends, but they were definitely friendlier than they had been before. Stepping out onto the porch, the two exchanged pleasantries before heading to their respective places of business.
"It's a beautiful morning, Constable," Lucas said, inhaling deeply as he reached the edge of the porch.
"That it is."
"Good time to resume driving lessons?" Bouchard prodded.
Nathan smirked and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, I've decided to go another route."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Faith and I….that is, Dr. Carter, we've decided to take a course in driving from a retired Mountie I know outside of Benson Hills. He's starting up a new business."
"Dr. Carter and you?"
"We're just friends. Two friends learning how to drive."
Lucas bit his lip. "I didn't suggest otherwise."
"Right."
"But, since you mentioned it, Elizabeth and I couldn't help but notice that you and your friend have been spending a lot of time together lately, and….well, if you are ever interested in, say, taking your friend for a night on the town outside of Hope Valley, I know the theater master in Union City, and I'm sure he would…."
"Probably not have anything I'd be interested in, though I appreciate it," Nathan said. "Plays and book readings aren't really my thing, and I'm not sure they'd be Faith's either."
"You might be surprised."
Nathan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I recall when Carson was in town, he had plans to take Faith to Union City to see an operetta showing there at the time."
"I see. But can you honestly see me going to an opera?"
Lucas grinned and began walking away. "It's amazing what a man will do when he's in love."
Nathan stood there dumbfounded for a moment, then looked back toward Bouchard. "Hey! I said we were friends! Got it?!"
"Yes, that's what I heard. Let me know if you need tickets," Lucas said before entering the saloon.
Nathan frowned, then grumbled to himself. "I said we were friends. I don't get where he gets off offering…." He looked up and noticed Florence standing on the porch of the Mercantile looking his way. He stared back for a moment and then smiled a stilted smile and nodded.
Florence smiled knowingly and nodded back.
"Oh boy," Nathan thought as he turned toward his office.
"Good morning, Bill! Good morning, Mike!" Lucas said, walking past Bill Avery and Mike Hickam as he sorted through some mail on the way to his office. Judge Avery and Mike were regulars on Monday mornings at the Queen of Hearts due to Abigail's Café not opening until noon, allowing the café owners, Pastor Joseph Canfield and his wife Minnie, a short respite following busy Sunday Services. Bill would order thick Canadian Bacon and Eggs over easy with two cups of strong black coffee, and Mike would order a variety of items from the menu which almost always included a hot plateful of chef Gustave Pepin's confectionary sugar-covered beignets.
"Good morning, Lucas," Mike said, a dusting of powdered sugar on his chin. "Say, that new wardrobe you ordered for your parent's arrival came this morning. I asked Joseph to help me move it upstairs."
"Thank you, Mike," Lucas said, brushing his own chin with his hand to alert Mike as to the situation.
Avery, who had been trying to read a newspaper, looked over and smirked, amused at how Bouchard was trying to be polite and discrete, and at how Hickam just wasn't getting it. Finally, he folded the paper. "Hey, Santa, you've got some white stuff on your chin."
"Oh!" Mike said, reaching for his napkin. "Why didn't you say something?"
"Well…." Lucas felt slightly awkward, not wanting to tell the man that it was how he was raised, but not really knowing what else to say. Thankfully, Bill answered.
"He didn't want to embarrass you."
"Ah. Well, thank you," Mike replied before spotting an article on the newspaper cover that captured his interest.
Lucas turned toward Pete, the bartender, who was restocking beer mugs in the cabinet from the night before. "Were you able to get the special Chardonnay for my parent's arrival?"
"Exactly what you asked for," Pete replied, reaching under the counter and pulling out a bottle.
"Excellent," Bouchard replied with excitement, taking it from him. "Now, if Gustave needs any help with the dinner, just…."
"Hey! Bartender! Are you working or not?!"
Lucas and Pete glanced toward the end of the bar spotting an older man who appeared to be in his seventies. Pete looked at Lucas, who nodded understandingly as the bartender went to wait on the man. Meanwhile, Lucas began reading the label on the bottle.
"How can I help you, sir?" Pete asked.
"How can you help me? You're a bartender, aren't you?"
"Uh…yes, sir."
"Then why don't you tend bar? I'll have some whiskey."
Lucas frowned and looked over toward Bill, who was listening, then returned his gaze toward the man. It wasn't even ten o'clock in the morning yet. Nobody should be drinking that early.
"Hey friend, tone it down over there," Bill said, not getting up.
"And just who are you?" the man asked, turning to see. Bill noticed a broad scar running down the man's face, over his brow and cheekbone, and tried to recollect where he'd seen him before.
"Judge Bill Avery. You?"
The man stiffened. "Just a stranger passing through. Hurry it up, mister. I don't have all day."
Pete set a glass down in front of the man and held a bottle of whiskey over it, waiting for the man to pay. The man grunted and produced a silver dollar which he threw on the counter. He quickly downed the hot liquid, then tapped his glass for more. Pete looked to Lucas, whose jaw tightened but who nodded to go ahead. On the third shot, he wasn't so amenable.
"What are you doing? I said I wanted some more!" the angry man growled.
Lucas looked at Bill to make sure it was okay to approach the man, and Avery nodded, letting Bouchard know he would cover him if there was any trouble. He then stepped forward.
"The bar is closed. Move along," Bouchard said, stretching his hand out over the man's glass.
"Hey! That's mine!" The man slammed his palm flat over Lucas's hand, causing pain to shoot through his palm. Lucas looked down, and that's when his heart sped up. A tattoo of a dragon was engraved on his skin. Bouchard had seen it before. A flurry of images and sounds flashed before his eyes.
Bill stood to his feet, ready to spring to action, but he paused when he witnessed a look of rage appear on Bouchard's face. Before he could take a step, Lucas had tackled the man, slamming him to the floor and beating him with every amount of strength he had within him.
"Oh, my word! Lucas, Stop! No! Lucas! Somebody, help!" Mike yelled, jumping up from his seat only to be knocked back by his friend. It took three men to pull Bouchard away and to hold him by his arms while Bill checked to see if the man was alright.
One glance and it was clear, he was anything but. The man's eyes were open, but he wasn't moving. Bill checked for a pulse and watched his chest for breath. Neither were present. An astonished Avery turned his eyes toward Bouchard who was panting as the men held him still. He furrowed his brow.
"He's dead! You've killed him," he said.
Lucas twitched as the spoken words brought him into the present. He looked at his throbbing hand. This same hand that had patted his soon-to-be son's back as he said goodbye that morning and had held his darling's as he walked her to school, had just taken a human life.
"Somebody, call Nathan," Mike said, releasing Lucas's arm from his grip when he saw he was no longer struggling.
Men's voices became muted as a flurry of activity began to take place. Seconds later, Nathan entered the building, looking confused. He was followed by Lee.
"What on earth happened?" Grant said, looking at the body and then at Bouchard.
Bill shook his head. "I have no idea. He was just standing there and then….I've never seen anything like it."
"He just went crazy," Pete said.
Mike added, "That sure wasn't Lucas."
Nathan knelt down to where Bouchard was sitting and placed his hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Lucas? Do you want to tell me what is going on?"
Bouchard didn't respond. His haunted expression told the tale, as he sat on the ground with his knees to his chest, gently rocking.
"It's him. It's him," he mumbled, staring toward the body on the floor.
Nathan asked who it was that Lucas spoke of, but it was as if he didn't hear. His eyes were open, but he could not perceive the world around him.
Nathan looked over at Bill who shook his head.
"I think you need to take him to the infirmary," Avery said. "Something's clearly gone wrong."
Grant nodded, then looked back toward Bouchard. "Lucas? Do you think you can come with me?"
Bouchard didn't budge. "I tried to stop him."
"Well, you stopped him alright….um, do you….do you think you can come with me?
"I tried," Lucas said, tears whelming in his eyes as he continuing to rock.
Mike knelt beside Nathan. "I'll go tell Dr. Carter and see if we can get a stretcher or a wheelchair or something."
Nathan looked at the door, imagining the commotion that would inevitably ensue. He needed a little time and space to clear the crime scene. "Yeah, but see if you can come in the back way. I need to have this area sealed off. After that, come back here. I'm going to need to take a statement."
"Sure thing," Mike replied. "Is he going to be okay?"
Nathan looked at the man before him and shook his head. "I….I don't know. Go get Dr. Carter."
"I'll go tell Elizabeth," Lee said. "Maybe see if Minnie can fill on for her at the school."
Grant shook his head. That was a good idea. If anyone would reach him, it would be her. And he sincerely hoped that she could.