Chapter 2: The Walls Have Ears

It wasn't the night that Nathan had planned, but it turned into something better than he could have asked for. Rather than trying to talk over the noise of the cafe, he sat instead on a blanket in the grass off the road a bit from the row houses. Allie had fetched their lantern, and Elizabeth had quickly stepped inside for her own.

Nathan had spread the food out on Elizabeth's large blanket, and the Grant and Thornton families were able to comfortably dine together in the simple sweetness of what looked like a family picnic as the sky changed from blue to vivid pinks and oranges.

After supper, the plates were collected and placed back into the basket. The kids laid back and looked at the clouds, whose pink shades resembled more the sugary fairy-floss confection from the World's Fair than merely dust and water. Each cloud took on a different shape, and Jack squealed with delight whenever he could see what Allie saw.

Elizabeth and Nathan relaxed a bit too, each sitting back and watching their children enjoy each other. Something about the moment felt so….right. It was no surprise when Elizabeth shifted her reclined position and brushed Nathan's hand. His first instinct was to pull back, thinking it an accident. When she didn't withdraw her hand and instead met his gaze, he gently turned his hand over and she threaded her fingers through his.

He could scarcely believe what he was experiencing. The tender warmth of her hand in his spread like a wildfire up his arm and into his rapidly beating heart. Was this happening? Her soft smile and look up at him through her lashes indicated that it was. He could hardly breathe, but without thinking, he reached up and brushed a stray hair from her face.

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Her skin was so soft, and he couldn't resist grazing his thumb across her cheekbone.

"Mama! Mama! My bunnies!" Jack stood quickly, yanking Allie's hand. They ran across the field to where they saw the rabbits earlier that day.

"One. Twooo. Free? Four?! Mama! De daddy's back and got anuver baby!"

Nathan winked at Elizabeth with a laugh. Parenting called. Moments to themselves were short. Maybe it would always be this way. Deep down, Nathan found that he hoped so.

Hand-in-hand they followed their children across the field. Sure enough, a darker rabbit joined the mama and baby pair with a young rabbit that matched his coloring.

"See, Mama? Dey family!"

Elizabeth squeezed Nathan's hand, "They sure are Jack."

"I knew he'd come," Jack whispered.

—

Hugo closed his office door softly and locked it. The saloon was filled with patrons during the dinner hour happily savoring Gustave's special: roast duck with orange sauce. Rather than walk among the tables greeting guests tonight, Hugo found himself needing the reassurance of his office.

He made a beeline for his desk where he carefully unlocked the drawers and started thumbing feverishly through his files: Alberta, British Columbia, Chicago, Denmark, Easter Island, France, Italy, Ontario, New Orleans, San Francisco. Grabbing the last file, he turned through the pages therein: John Montrose, Herbert St. Clair, Louis Vandergrift—fellow known distributors, but who was she visiting? A personal visit from Janette was cause for concern. Most business was conducted through telegram or phone call. It wasn't often Janette would appear herself.

A knock at the door made Hugo jump. "Lucas, Dear. Can you join me for supper? Your door is locked. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Mother. Just a moment. Just finishing some paperwork." He called back hiding the nerves in his voice. He quickly stuffed the papers back into their files, and the files back into place. He locked the drawer and scrambled towards the door, unlocking it to find Janette smiling suspiciously—her head tilted slightly.

"I trust everything is in order?" She spoke low—though her face remained delighted to any passerby. It was a poker face Hugo knew intimately.

He merely nodded and took her arm, closing the door behind him. "I hear the canard á l'orange is delightful tonight. Gustave's special."

She studied his stoic face as he led them into the dining room, seating them at his private table. Their waters were almost immediately filled, and their orders taken. When the waitress left, Janette spoke low in French, "I have an asset and proceeds that I need you to make disappear."

Hugo's eyebrow twitched, but he maintained an affectionate gaze. He answered back in French, "How much?"

"Enough that I swung by Alberta on my way to San Francisco from Grand Isle." Her eyebrow arched, and she leaned forward slightly.

Hugo swallowed and barely nodded.

"I understand you recently visited Grand Isle yourself?" She reached out her hand and gave his a squeeze. Her eyes hardened even as her smile remained.

"Oui."

"Darling, we've talked about this before. When you build an alibi, make sure that it is believable. No one in their right mind thinks you can rebuild a school. We cannot afford for you to be sloppy…even if you're trying to impress the local school teacher. Stick to your skill set. That big mouth of yours still gets you into trouble."

A shade of red crept just above his beard, and he looked down at his hand in hers.

"I built a shelf here in the library," he answered, looking up semi-confidently.

Janette fought a smile, "And?"

"It didn't exactly hold books."

"Ah yes, the library for the teacher. You were not placed here for philanthropy. You're showing too much of your hand….What is your fascination with her anyway? You know the importance of staying detached."

"Harriethe," Hugo whispered.*

Janette's face softened, and she squeezed his hand affectionately. "You two against the world…or against your father at least."

"I want to help her the way no one could help us. I like who I am around her."

Janette pressed her lips into a line. "You've always had a soft spot for widows." Her lips upturned in a genuine smile, and her eyes rounded in affection. "You are not your father. You've already proved that."

The waitress returned with two of the chef's specials. "Can I get you anything else?"

"Chardonnay for me please." Janette requested, speaking in English once again. She looked to Hugo for his order.

"A pint of the house beer is fine. Thank you."

The waitress turned to leave and stopped at a nearby table to clear the empty dishes. The man was a dark-haired and olive-skinned patron who quietly thanked her and took another slow sip of his beer.

——

The last sliver of sun disappeared under the horizon, and the pinks and oranges of before transformed into deep reds and purples lighting the skyline like a wildfire. Jack remained delighted with the four rabbits before him—sitting quietly on his haunches watching them hop about.

Allie glanced up at her uncle and teacher and seemed to notice for the first time their clasped hands. "Mrs. Thornton? If you trust me, I can stay here with Jack if you and Uncle Nathan want to…uh…talk and stuff."

Nathan fought a smile at his niece's welcomed matchmaking. He playfully narrowed his eyes at her, and she batted her eyelashes innocently back at him in response.

Elizabeth squeezed Nathan's hand, "Of course, Allie, I trust you. Just keep him on this side of the road, please." She looked at her son, "Jack? Listen to Allie and stay out of the road. Ok?"

Jack nodded diligently and returned his attention to the rabbit family. Nathan watched Elizabeth smile at her son before she turned back to him and tugged his hand towards the outstretched blanket.

As they walked back, Elizabeth asked, "So you never told me about your last mission. Did everything go ok?"

Nathan glanced over his shoulder as they put more distance between themselves and the children. He spoke low at first, "It went as well as I could have hoped for."

"You might want to start hoping higher. You looked like you'd been through a lot." Elizabeth said with a smile, squeezing Nathan's hand.

"Oh, yeah. I did get beaten up and lost my horse, but other than that…"

"Nathan!" Elizabeth's eyes rounded, and she turned to assess his invisible injuries.

"Are you hurt? I had no idea."

"Mostly my pride…and a little bit my ribs. I'm ok. Nothing I haven't endured before."

"You sound like Jack…" no sooner had it left her lips than she held her hand to her mouth apologetically.

Rather than finding annoyance, she saw only tenderness and understanding in Nathan's eyes. He waved her concern away with his free hand, then placed it gently on her shoulder, drawing her full attention.

"I will never be offended when you remember Jack. I'm honored to sound like him…even if it's maybe in stubbornness." His eyes twinkled, and she couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you. You're both different you know. You may share the same career, but you're not the same man…but…that's a good thing too."

Nathan smiled at her sincerity, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Thank you. I look forward to hearing more about him."

He held out his hand to help her across the blanket and then released her—where she reclaimed her spot to recline. He lit both lanterns before he resumed his previous spot as well. Choosing to be forthcoming, Nathan answered her earlier question. "I captured Allie's father. He's behind bars at last. He's the one who kicked me in the ribs and left me without a horse."

"Oh, Nathan. Does she know?" Elizabeth asked, looking over at the teen.

Nathan shook his head, "Not yet. And I'm not sure how or when to tell her that I threw her father in jail."

Elizabeth pressed her lips together. "That's a hard one. It seems like with kids, the right time eventually comes up."

Nathan dropped his head, "I hope so. I'm not necessarily the best at recognizing that moment."

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked leaning back on her hands.

Nathan looked up at her with pained eyes and swallowed. "I…" he dropped his head again, summoning his courage.

Elizabeth scooted closer to him, offering him support with a hand on his back.

Nathan exhaled, "I never met Jack."

Elizabeth looked at him puzzled, "Yes. I know. You've told me. What's the matter, Nathan?"

"I never met him, but Jack replaced me on the Ft. Clay assignment. I was disciplined for catching some cattle rustlers at the border instead of just monitoring them. I'm…I'm sorry, Elizabeth. Jack was pulled from your honeymoon to replace me."

Elizabeth stared at him blankly for a moment. The wheels were clearly turning in her mind as she pieced together the information. After what felt like an eternity, she blinked and looked up at Nathan with tears in her eyes.

"Nathan, Jack died in a landslide. One that you didn't cause. He chose to take that assignment. He wasn't ordered. He was honored to take it." She glanced down at the rings on her left hand. "I was hurt then that he took it, and honestly…I'm still hurt now."

She glanced over to the children laughing and watching the rabbits. "But…if Jack didn't take that assignment, Allie might not have you today, and I can't bear that thought. You've both already been through so much."

"Because of how I acted, a good man died," Nathan muttered.

"Because you did your job, you gave Jack the last honor of his career. You had no way of knowing."

"How can you be so kind to me after what I did?"

"You did not kill Jack, Nathan. A landslide did. Jack wouldn't blame you. I don't blame you either."

"But how do you know he wouldn't?"

"Because of Doug. Jack declined an assignment to stay in Hope Valley with me. His friend Doug took that assignment in the Northern Territories, and he died leading the troops Jack would have. He felt such guilt for living when his replacement died."

Nathan nodded his head solemnly. "It's an awful feeling. How did Jack cope?"

"Honestly, he went to Doug's funeral and took the assignment to go North."

Nathan nodded again. Elizabeth studied his face. "Is that why you're here? Did you volunteer for this assignment?"

Nathan looked up at her with pain in his eyes. "I couldn't bring him back, but I could take his post and look out for his widow. When I heard that you were pregnant and that the position hadn't been filled, I felt it was my duty to come here and protect the family that Jack left behind. Lizbeth, I never planned on…"

Elizabeth took hold of his hand. "It was an honorable thing that you did. Something that I know Jack would have done if he were in the same position. Something he did in his own way for Doug." She bit her lip and continued, "Nathan, I don't know where all of this is going, but I want to find out. I'm just not sure how fast I can move."

"I'm not pressuring you for anything. I don't even know what I'm doing, honestly. It's not like I've really gone on dates before. Does this even count?"

Elizabeth's eyes softened further. "Yes, Nathan. I couldn't have asked for a better first date. Thank you for being so flexible. It means more than you know."

The sound of running footsteps caught their attention as Jack and Allie returned to the blanket. "Pie time?"

"I think that's a good idea, Jack." Nathan smiled at the young boy and dished out pieces of chocolate pie as the lanterns burned brighter, and the first stars started to shine.

———

"Please give your chef my compliments. The duck was delicious." Janette mentioned in English.

"I'll do that. Can I get you anything else? I should really make the rounds around the restaurant tonight."

"You mean…the saloon?" Janette retorted with a grin.

"The Queen of Hearts is an upscale restaurant and hotel these days."

Janette snorted, sipping her Chardonnay. "Right."

Hugo glared at her assessment, but she patted his hand with an amused smile. "There is one thing. I need to make a phone call and check in with your father. May I use your office?"

He swallowed, "Of course. It's unlocked. Take your time."

"Thank you, Dear. I'll see you tomorrow?" Janette dropped her voice and switched back to French, "I'd like to check in with your teacher if she's to believe I'm really her editor."

Hugo responded quietly in French, "I'll arrange for her to meet with you tomorrow morning."

"Bon soir ma lumière." She stood, pushed in her chair, and rounded the table to cradle Hugo's cheek. She dropped her hand gently and headed off in the direction of the office.

Hugo readjusted his tie and wiped the beading sweat from his brow. He turned in his chair to nervously watch Janette cross the dining room while he mentally reassessed what was locked and what was accessible in his office.

He stood and quickly walked to the bar, plastering on a confident smile as he started to circle the room with an air of hospitality. It was at that moment that the olive-toned patron coincidentally finished his beer, paid his tab, and slipped out the side door into the twilight.

A/N:

Thanks for the patience! I've been sick with strep throat and then pneumonia the last three weeks. I'm finally starting to come out of it and write again.

Fairy-floss = cotton candy. Created in 1904 at the World's Fair.

Plenty of Easter Eggs this chapter for future chapters. Happy guessing!

Forgive my continued pokes at The Queen of Hearts being a saloon. I'm tired of TL waxing-poetic about it being a reputable establishment on Twitter. I also got sick of hearing that Nathan killed Jack—so I decided to make that perfectly clear this chapter. Hope you don't mind! It turned into kind of a TN mic drop. ;)

Harriethe is a nod to a cool piece of history I found that will tie into Lucas's back story in the coming chapters.

Thanks Katie & Maggie for the beta help!