Chapter Ten

Bill was sitting in the empty café, trying to catch up on the books before the dinner rush started. He didn't even glance up when the door opened. "I'll be with you in a minute."

"Take your time."

When Bill looked a moment later, he was surprised to see a Mountie seated and waiting patiently. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly.

"I heard you were a gruff one," the younger man chuckled. "Constable Matthew Simms. I'm here to help out until Constable Grant returns."

"I thought they were sending Kinslow over from Brookfield," Bill grumbled, thoroughly displeased that he hadn't been notified of the change.

"He was their first choice, but he said there were some suspicious things happening in Brookfield lately, and he wasn't comfortable leaving the town unsupervised indefinitely," Constable Simms explained. "He also voiced concern that, given how he and Grant are close friends, any investigation or testimony by him into things concerning Grant's family might not be taken as seriously."

Bill reluctantly accepted the explanation, offering his hand to Constable Simms. "Bill Avery. I'm the judge for this territory and acting sheriff. Can I get you anything?"

"A cup of coffee and anything you've got ready to eat would be great."

"The lunch special was beef stew. It should still be fairly warm. Will that do for you?" When Simms nodded, Bill went back to the kitchen, returning with the coffee pot, a hearty bowl of stew, and a couple of rolls.

"So where are you stationed?" Bill asked after the younger man had finished.

"I am mostly in the main office in Cape Fullerton, but I like to take these temporary small town assignments every once in a while. Keep my field skills polished, lend a hand, and then go home to my family."

When Constable Simms stood, Bill leaned behind the cash register and pulled out a Closed sign, hanging it on the front door before following him out. "I suppose you'd like to see where you'll be working from." He led the way down the street to the jail, unlocking the door and following Simms inside. "There's a small room in the back if you want to sleep here, but there's no kitchen, so you'll have to go to the café or the saloon for food. Constable Grant wrote up a brief report before he left about what he knew of Mr. Thatcher's accident. It's on the desk there. Are you planning to do any investigating while you're here?"

"I figured I would at least ask a few questions," Simms assured him. "Anything I can do to get Constable Grant and Mrs. Thornton home as soon as possible."

Bill nodded. "I'm sure they appreciate it. I need to get back to the café and get dinner started. Let me know if you need anything else." He started to leave, but paused in the doorway, turning back. "Thank you for coming. Nathan and Elizabeth are like family to me. I hate to think that someone might be trying to hurt them."

Constable Simms spent the afternoon familiarizing himself with the jail and the town before heading back to the café for dinner. He had hoped by getting in early he might avoid the dinner crowd, but inevitably the red uniform drew attention.

"Are you our new Mountie?" Opal asked worriedly.

Simms shook his head, smiling. "No, I'm just here to help out until your Constable comes back," he assured her.

"Do you know Constable Grant?"

"Where are you from?"

"Did you know Jack Thornton?"

The questions kept coming from all directions, but Simms took them in stride, subtly turning the tables and asking some questions of his own.

"I understand Mrs. Thornton has been here for several years now. That must mean she's a good teacher."

Opal, now joined by Emily and Anna, nodded enthusiastically. "She's the best."

"And the parents—they all like her, too? No one has had any disagreements with how she teaches or what kinds of field trips she plans?"

"Elizabeth goes above and beyond for all of her students, and anyone else in town who needs help," Florence assured him. "Everyone loves her."

"Well, everyone except Mr. Bouchard," Opal said innocently. "He sure isn't very happy with her and Constable Grant these days."

Now we're getting somewhere. "Who is Mr. Bouchard?"

All of the adults exchanged awkward glances, before Molly explained. "He runs the saloon and the oil company in town. He and Elizabeth were courting for a few weeks, before she finally acknowledged her feelings for Nathan—Constable Grant."

"And how did their relationship end?" Simms asked.

"Not well," Florence said. "He showed up unannounced at her house while Nathan and his daughter were there for dinner, before Elizabeth had a chance to explain. Things got….heated before he left and they've been tense ever since."

"What do you mean by 'heated'?"

Molly and Florence exchanged nervous looks. "Elizabeth never said anything, but according to Nathan's daughter Allie, Lucas—Mr. Bouchard—put his hands on Elizabeth, supposedly hard enough to leave marks. And he threatened her job."

"Does Mr. Bouchard have any children in her class? What kind of threats did he make?"

"Before he left, he implied he was going to contact the town council and the county board of education. He accused her of immoral behavior."

Simms considered this for a moment before asking, "Do you think he would have done it?"

The adults all shrugged, but Molly was quick to point out, "I think he realized no one here would have believed him. Neither Elizabeth nor Nathan would do anything inappropriate, especially with both of their children present."

"And you said the relationship between Mr. Bouchard and Mrs. Thornton ended rather suddenly. Do you know why?"

Everyone smiled, smirked, or laughed. "She finally accepted what the rest of us had known for ages," Lee explained. "Everyone except Elizabeth knew she was head over heels for Nathan, and that poor Nathan had been in love with her pretty much since he came to town. I think even Lucas knew it, he just thought he could win her over. But the heart wants what the heart wants."

Florence pointed to the ring on the Constable's finger. "How long did it take you to realize you were in love with your wife?"

Simms grinned. "I knew the moment I saw her that I was going to marry her," he explained. "Her parents inherited the farm next to ours and my mom invited them over for dinner. One look at those blond curls and big green eyes and I was done for. I told my mom that night that I was going to marry Penny someday, but she just laughed and tucked me into bed. I had just turned four and Penny was three at the time, so no one believed me, but we were childhood sweethearts and best friends from that day on."

The young girls sighed, enchanted by the story. The adults chuckled, and Jesse asked, "You really never noticed any other girls?" Clara kicked him under the table and glared but he just shrugged.

Simms laughed. "It's crazy, I know, but it's true. I have been kissed by one other girl, and that wasn't my choice. A new girl started at school when I was sixteen, Esther Kirkland. Her dad bought the factory that many of the fathers worked at. She had all the other boys wrapped around her finger in no time, but it bothered her that I didn't pay her any attention. She cornered me after class one day and just planted a kiss on me."

"What did you do?" Anna asked, stunned.

Simms shrugged. "I didn't have to do much. Penny walked right up and punched her in the nose, then took my arm and walked home as if nothing happened." He paused while everyone laughed. "Esther's mother tried to get Penny expelled, but Mr. Kirkland put a stop to it. Everyone in town knew Penny and I were together, and it was widely understood that we would get engaged as soon as she finished school. When Esther came back to school with a black eye…let's just say the boys didn't pay her as much attention anymore." He looked at the children gathered and added seriously, "But it was wrong for Penny to hit her instead of using her words. You should never strike anyone, no matter how mad you are, got it?"

Jesse gave Clara pointed look, and she just glared back and kicked him again, much to the amusement of the other married couples.

"Will your wife be joining you here in Hope Valley?" Lee inquired. "It sounds like she would get along rather well with the women here."

Simms laughed along with everyone else. "Depending on how long I'm here, she and the children may come to visit, but I'm hoping your Constable will be back before too long. On that note, where can I find this Mr. Bouchard?"

The café got quiet as everyone looked around uneasily.

"I'm not going to arrest him," Simms assured them. "I just want to ask a few questions."

"He's usually back at the saloon by supper time," Lee finally said. "If you want a more private conversation, you can find him at the oil company office tomorrow by nine or so."

"Thank you. It's been a pleasure meeting all of you," Constable Simms announced as he got to his feet. Leaving money for his meal on the table, he picked up his hat. "I'll see you all around town."

A chorus of "Goodbye!" and "Good night, Constable!" echoed after him.

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"Mr. Bouchard, can I have a few minutes of your time?"

Lucas looked up and frowned at the red serge uniformed man standing in the doorway. "I'm rather busy," he grumbled. "Can it wait?"

"I'm afraid not," Constable Simms replied as he came in and took the seat opposite Lucas's desk. "I have a few questions about your relationship with Elizabeth Thornton."

Lucas's scowl deepened. "Did Nathan put you up to this? He leaves town and sends one of his friends to harass me?"

"Besides the fact that we've never met, Constable Grant is probably still on a train and has no idea I'm even in his town, so he couldn't have sent me," Simms said calmly. "I'm in Hope Valley at the behest of the Northwest Mounted Police. I'm here in your office because I understand there has been some tension between you and Mrs. Thornton. Care to explain?"

Lucas sighed heavily, gathering the papers on his desk into a tidy pile before facing the Mountie. "Elizabeth and I courted briefly. It ended quite abruptly. I said some things in anger that I would never have followed through on, and accidentally left a few bruises on her arms. We have since talked and can manage to be civil if we meet in public. My mother is editing her book, so they are still in regular communication, but Elizabeth and I do not intentionally meet socially. Are we through?"

Constable Simms nodded and stood. "We're done, for now anyway. I'll see myself out." He heard the door lock as he stepped away, and glanced back to see Lucas glaring after him.

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"Constable Matthew Simms, temporarily of Hope Valley, calling about the William Thatcher investigation." He waited to be connected to headquarters in Hamilton.

"This is Superintendent Godfrey."

"Good evening, sir. I'm calling with my initial report, as requested. Things are certainly quieter here than in Cape Fullerton."

"You've settled in and gotten to know the town already?"

"Yes, nearly everyone has been quite welcoming, including Judge Avery." Simms paused, chuckling. "He is a bit surly, but he definitely cares about this town and its people. Constable Grant and Mrs. Thornton seem to be especially dear to him, so I'm hoping we can get this case solved quickly so they can come home."

"Did anyone mention any issues with Mrs. Thornton?"

"Everyone here seems to love Elizabeth Thornton, with the exception of a scorned suitor, Lucas Bouchard."

Superintendent Godfrey started. "Bouchard, you say? Any relation to Vincent Bouchard?"

Simms sat up a little straighter, curious. "No idea, sir. He wasn't very open to speaking with me earlier, so we didn't get around to discussing family and friends." He heard papers being shuffled about before the Superintendent came back on the line.

"Here it is. Vincent Bouchard. Wife Helen, in publishing, here in Hamilton. Son Lucas, various businesses, currently in….Hope Valley. And you say he was rebuffed by Mrs. Thornton?"

"Yes, sir," Simms confirmed. "By his description, they courted briefly and it ended rather suddenly. She began seeing Constable Grant instead."

"Hmmm….it says here Vincent Bouchard had a business deal with William Thatcher that went bad. Bouchard threatened a lawsuit but was convinced by his attorney to withdraw it due to lack of evidence. He was publicly smearing Thatcher for weeks before he left town." Superintendent Godfrey paused. "Well isn't this interesting. It looks like Vincent Bouchard and his wife left on an extended trip to South America two days before William Thatcher's accident."

Constable Simms scanned over his own notes and the report left by Constable Grant. "When did that business deal fall through, sir?"

"About two months ago, why?"

Simms stared at the dates in front of him, his mind whirling. "Vincent Bouchard lost what I imagine was a very lucrative business deal with William Thatcher shortly after his son's romantic relationship with William's daughter ended. I would call that motive, sir."

"I agree, Constable. Bring Lucas back in for questioning," Superintendent Godfrey instructed. "I'll ask around about Vincent's feud with William Thatcher. You may have given us our first break here."

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Lucas glared across the desk at Constable Simms. "I haven't spoken to my father in months," he said furiously. "When we do talk, it's rarely about business. He doesn't approve of mine, and I have no idea who he is or isn't working with. I didn't even know he and my mother were traveling until you told me a moment ago. This accusation is ridiculous!"

Simms waited for Lucas to run out of steam. "No one is accusing you of anything, Mr. Bouchard, at least not at this time, but the timing is quite coincidental. I would be remiss if I didn't ask more questions. We are still examining other avenues. If you and your father have nothing to hide, I'm sure the investigation will continue in those other directions, but until then, I suggest you don't leave town."

"What do you mean, 'don't leave town'?" Lucas exclaimed. "I am a business man. I have meetings with clients and vendors in neighboring towns all the time! How am I supposed to maintain my businesses if I can't attend those meetings?"

Simms stared back, unsympathetic. "I noticed you have a telephone in your office. Perhaps you can use that. Send someone else to the meetings. Or arrange for them to meet you here." He looked Lucas in the eye as he explained. "You aren't under arrest, so I can't stop you from going anywhere, but leaving town during an active investigation in which you are a person of interest would reflect very badly on you."

Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him, and Simms watched as he hurried across the street to the saloon. He glanced up as Judge Avery entered the jail.

"I take it Bouchard didn't like your line of questioning?"

Simms shook his head and shrugged. "Has he always been that bitter, or only since Mrs. Thornton broke his heart?"

Bill scoffed. "Bouchard's heart was never in jeopardy. It's his ego that's still bruised, and it looks like you just put another dent in it. Would it be unprofessional of me to congratulate you?"

The next day, Constable Simms sought out Rosemary Coulter. He was hoping she could offer insight into the relationship between Elizabeth Thornton and Lucas Bouchard. He'd talked to many people in town, and from their descriptions of the beloved schoolteacher, it seemed unfathomable.

After exchanging pleasantries, Simms got right to the point. "The whole town is very accepting of Mrs. Thornton's relationship with Constable Grant, but no one seems to have encouraged her courtship with Mr. Bouchard. Can you tell me why?"

"Elizabeth was only with Lucas because she was afraid to be with Nathan," Rosemary rationalized. "When she lost her husband, it nearly broke her, so she dedicated herself to being a mother. She was flattered by Lucas and Nathan's attentions, but had no intention of letting anyone into her heart again."

"So what changed?"

Rosemary sighed. "She finally accepted that Jack wouldn't want that kind of life for her. He would want her to be happy."

"And she thought Mr. Bouchard would make her happy?" Even asking the question made Constable Simms want to cringe.

Rosemary rolled her eyes. "She and Lucas were friends and have a lot of superficial things in common—privileged childhoods, fine dining, travel, and her then novel. He was the safe choice. Companionship and affection, without the risk of devastation. Can you imagine spending the rest of your life that way?"

Simms shook his head. "And Constable Grant?"

"He's a Mountie," she shrugged. "He puts himself at risk every time he puts on that uniform. Elizabeth already lost one husband; she couldn't bring herself to face that again. Even when everything inside her pulled her back to Nathan time and again, her fear kept getting in the way."

"What made her change her mind? From what Mr. Bouchard said, it was quite sudden."

Now she was a bit smug. "Actually, it was her son, Jack."

"Her son?" he asked, amused. "He'd be what, about three? He told her who to choose?"

Rosemary smirked. "Can you picture a single mother, a teacher, settling down with a man who doesn't care for children? Here was Lucas, who would spend any amount of money to spoil and pamper Elizabeth, but never attempted to bond with her child. Nor did he want to have children of his own. Then comes Nathan who, no matter his heartbreak over Elizabeth or if he was in uniform and on duty, always took the time to get down on Jack's level to talk to him, play for a few minutes, even hold him. And Nathan is a single parent himself, so he knows what she's going through, trying to be both mother and father to a child who deserves two parents." Rosemary looked at him confidently. "If you ask me, and you did, it was only a matter of time before she came to her senses."

"Mr. Bouchard was clearly unhappy about the change in their relationship." Constable Simms watched Mrs. Coulter closely as he continued his questions. "Do you think he was heartbroken enough to seek revenge on Mrs. Thornton?"

Rosemary's laughter filled the room before she looked him straight in the eye to answer. "He was never heartbroken. Lucas Bouchard is a man accustomed to getting what he wants, a gambler who is used to winning. Elizabeth may have wounded his pride, but his heart was never part of the game."

Simms was quiet as he collected his things and stood, pausing in the doorway. "I've seen pride be a motive for a lot of terrible things. Do you think he's that kind of man?"

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to get this out. Life just kind of sucks these days, and I didn't have the energy to get the words out of my head and onto the screen. Ok, and I got sucked back into some other amazing fanfics and got distracted (I can't keep my own story going when I am obsessing over so many others.) Anyway, I promise we're headed back to Hamilton shortly. I can't focus on Lucas for long without wanting to be sick.