Author's Note: Happy Thursday to all my fellow LucaBeth fans. I hope you had a great week. I want to say 'thank you' to all of you who were kind enough to leave a review of this story. I really appreciate the feedback and knowing that my story has helped to soothe the sting of S10. I hope you enjoy my next installment. I'll be working some story lines from S10 into my story, but only the good ones (e.g., I like Henry's redemption arc and the idea of the hot springs), but No LucaBeth aghast allowed! See you again next week!

Chapter 6: Handwriting on the Wall

Lucas looked across the bar at Mike Hickam and Fiona Miller, a feeling of dread filling him at what the pair had just told him.

"So let me make sure I understand what you're saying." Lucas desperately hoped that he had heard his former employees' words incorrectly. "The main oil well has only produced 60% of its normal output in the past week?"

Mike rested his hands on the top of the bar and leaned forward, his expression solemn. "According to the records, it hasn't produced so much as a drop more than that in almost three weeks."

Lucas frowned, the weight of the discovery pressing down on him. "What about the other wells?"

Mike looked at Fiona who shook her head sadly and Lucas closed his eyes as she confirmed, "They're not even producing half of what they used to."

"Have you informed Smith?" Lucas asked looking at Fiona anxiously.

Fiona shook her head again. "Not yet. I'm supposed to send him monthly reports. He'll be expecting them next week." She let out a deep sigh. "I keep hoping that the wells will start producing like normal and I can assure him it was a glitch of some type, but it isn't looking good."

"No, no it isn't," Lucas agreed dismally. "Especially since his purchase of the company is so recent."

Fiona visibly deflated against the bar. "He'll think that we deliberately fudged the numbers to hide any decrease in output before the sale. That won't sit well with him."

"No, it won't," Lucas agreed solemnly.

Mike took in a long, slow breath before admitting, "My biggest concern is what this will mean for the town. So many men work for the oil company now. What happens if the wells dry up completely and the oil company shuts down?"

"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Lucas told him seriously. "Maybe production will bounce back with time." Then looking from Mike to Fiona he asked, "Have you told Henry about this?"

Fiona shook her head. "No, I wasn't sure if I should or not. After all, he's in…he's been…"

"Yes, Henry's been arrested," Lucas stated matter-of-factly, "But he did what he did to save the town. If you ask me, he should be getting a medal. I wish I had had the guts to do what he did."

"Then you would be the one sitting in jail awaiting trial," Mike said pragmatically. "I don't know how Elizabeth would feel about that."

Lucas couldn't help but smile as he remembered Elizabeth's promise to visit him in jail everyday and twice on Sunday if Nathan hadn't accepted the plea deal that his assailant had requested, and Lucas had had to go to jail because of the false charges that Wyman Walden had made against him. He was so grateful for her unfailing love and support of him. She hadn't doubted his innocence, doing everything she could to help him. She truly was a treasure. One he would be deeply grateful for for the rest of his life.

"She'd probably be just as grateful as everyone else is that someone saved Hope Valley from having the mines reopen," Fiona remarked solemnly. "Even if it was her sweetheart."

Lucas smiled again at Fiona's choice of word to describe his relationship to Elizabeth before commenting, "I think if it were up to Nathan and Bill, they would completely exonerate Henry and turn him lose. As it is Nathan let's him come and go from the jail as he pleases."

"I saw him in the café this morning having breakfast and reading the paper," Mike commented with a slight shake of his head. "Only in Hope Valley."

Lucas smirked slightly. "Yes, Hope Valley is definitely a special place."

We look after our own. Abigail Stanton's words from when he had first come to town came back to him. How right she had been.

Looking at Fiona he encouraged eagerly, "If you get a chance, I'd let Henry know what's going on. Perhaps he'll have some ideas of what could be done."

"Thanks, Lucas," Fiona acknowledged. "I'll do that."

"Show him the reports you'll be sending to Smith," Lucas suggested. "Show him anything he needs to see that may help solve this problem and keep Smith off our backs."

Fiona nodded, a grateful smile on her face. "Will do. I appreciate the help."

"My pleasure," Lucas assured her.

Mike then turned and looked across the room. Lucas' eyes followed and his gaze landed on the charred walls. The old stove, burnt furniture, and other debris had been removed, but no repairs to the walls or floor had been started yet.

Turning back to Lucas Mike asked, a tad uncertainly, "You are planning on fixing things up again, aren't you? You're not planning on closing or selling out, are you?"

Lucas was surprised by the concern he saw in the other man's expression. "What would make you think I was?"

Mike hesitated for a moment before admitting, "Given how much you've moved and traveled before you came to Hope Valley, I wasn't sure if you'd decide this might be a good time to move on again." He paused again before adding, "Even your mother seemed surprised when she came to visit last year that you had stayed in one place as long as you had."

Lucas nodded, understanding the reason behind Mike's concern. He quickly assured the other man that he had no intention of closing or selling out. "In fact, I'm planning on doing some upgrades and renovations. I think it's time the saloon had a new look; maybe some new amenities."

A broad grin nearly split Fiona's face as she said excitedly, "I like the sound of that! Any idea what you are going to do?"

"I have a few ideas," Lucas confirmed. When Mike and Fiona looked at him expectantly, he smiled and said, "I'm hoping to surprise everyone."

"Are you going to have another open house like before?" Mike asked eagerly referring to the open house that Lucas had invited the entire town to when he'd first bought the saloon.

Lucas chuckled and asked, "Do you think an open house would be well received?"

"Sure," the pair confirmed without hesitation.

"Hope Valley is always up for a party," Fiona told him eagerly.

"Well, I'll see what I can do," Lucas told them with obvious amusement. Then in a more serious tone he looked at the man standing across the bar from him and said, "And just to put your mind at ease, Mike, Hope Valley is my home. I have no intention of leaving. In fact, my plan is to put down roots here."

Mike studied Lucas closely for a moment before inquiring, "Are you planning on asking Elizabeth to marry you?"

A broad smile broke over Lucas' face as he admitted, "I already have."

"And?" Both Mike and Fiona pressed when Lucas didn't say anything else.

"And what?" Lucas asked with an innocent look on his face.

"And what?" Fiona cried in frustration. "What did Elizabeth say?"

The grin returned to Lucas' face as he replied happily, "She said yes."

"Lucas, that is wonderful!" Fiona exclaimed clapping her hands together in obvious delight.

Mike extended his hand to Lucas as he said eagerly, "Congratulations to both of you. You must be ecstatic."

"I am," Lucas confirmed, joy filling him as he shook Mike's hand. "I am very excited and very happy."

"Have you set a date?" Fiona asked curiously.

"We don't have a specific date yet," Lucas replied. "But we're aiming for around the middle of June."

"A June wedding," Fiona said with a smile. "Sounds like a great time to get married…and to go away on a honeymoon."

Lucas grinned his agreement as Mike leaned his arms on the bar and after looking at Lucas for a moment said in a solemn tone, "I don't know if anyone has ever said this to you or not, Lucas, but I feel it should be said. The inhabitants of Hope Valley are very lucky that you came here. You have done so much for this town and everyone in it since you arrived. You've given us a library, a warm and welcoming place to gather here at the saloon, and you kept the oil company going when it was floundering due to mismanagement."

"You have definitely become one of Hope Valley's leading citizens," Fiona chimed in earnestly.

"Maybe you should have run for Mayor," Mike remarked humbly. "I'm sure you would have done a better job than I did. You're certainly better qualified."

A lump formed in Lucas' throat at Mike's sincere words of commendation. He had never had anyone say such nice things about him to his face. Clearing his throat, he acknowledged, his tone husky with emotion, "Thank you, Mike. I really appreciate the vote of confidence, but don't sell yourself short. I think you did some great things while you were mayor. I'll always be grateful for the fire wagon you had the town acquire. Without it the saloon would have been completely destroyed."

"See, I told you that you were a great mayor," Fiona remarked as she reached over and gave Mike a light jab in the shoulder. "You need to have more confidence in yourself and your abilities."

"Fiona is right, Mike," Lucas echoed. "You have a great head for business, and you are hardworking and loyal. I know I would be proud to have you work for me again."

Mike shifted a bit uncomfortably at the praise but gave Lucas a genuine smile. Then turning to Fiona, he suggested, "I think we should go and see if we can find Henry and see what he has to say about the production levels of the wells. Perhaps we're being paranoid and there isn't anything to worry about."

"I think that sounds like a good idea," Fiona agreed. "After all, he's been with the company since the beginning. He would have a better idea of how these things go."

The pair bid Lucas goodbye and then turned to leave the saloon.

As the door shut behind them, Lucas noticed that Gustave had appeared from the direction of the kitchen.

"Dey're right, you know," the French man said solemnly. "Hope Valley is very fortunate to have you here. You have done a lot for dis town."

"Thank you, Gustave," Lucas acknowledged with a grateful smile. "They're fortunate to have you too. You've been able to help expand their palate."

Gustave scoffed slightly. "Dey still prefer deir beef stews and roast chicken dinners to genuine culinary dishes."

"There have been more people ordering the duck a l'orange lately," Lucas pointed out. "And your crepes and croissants are always a big hit for breakfast."

His cousin rolled his eyes slightly before asking, "So, have you and de beautiful Mrs. Thornton set a wedding date yet?"

Lucas smiled and shook his head. "No, not yet." When Gustave tisked him he defended, "We've only been engaged for a day."

"Dere is no time to waste," the other man told him eagerly. "Dere are many different things dat need to be arranged for a wedding."

"Yes, I know," Lucas acknowledged with a deep sigh. "Elizabeth gave me a run down of the list last night."

"Do you at least know when you might like to get married?" The French chef pressed.

"We're probably going to set a date somewhere in June," Lucas told him. "Probably around the middle of the month."

"June?" The other man repeated thoughtfully. "Dat's about 8 months. We'll have to discuss a menu, how many guests, and dere's also the cake."

"We'll get to that," Lucas said, once again starting to feel overwhelmed by the thought of how many things are involved in planning a wedding. "I promise. Once we get a date set and figure out the guest list, we'll let you know what to expect. D'accord?"

"D'accord," Gustave reluctantly agreed.

"Great," Lucas nodded. "Now, if you will please excuse me, I have to go see Lee about some lumber for the renovations."

"You know, now would be a good time to expand the kitchen," Gustave suggested eagerly. "I don't know how you expect me to work in such small spaces. De conditions are atrocious. I would never be expected to work in such conditions in Montreal or Paris."

"Then why do you stay?" Lucas challenged in mild exasperation, giving the other man a piercing look. "Why stay if you are so miserable? Why not go to Montreal or Paris if it's so much better there?"

There was a long pause before Gustave shocked him by admitting, "Because you are not dere, cousin." Then turning on his heels Gustave went back to the kitchen.

When Lucas had finally recovered his wits he turned and headed for the front door, his mind reviewing the saloon's blueprints he'd been studying earlier in the day trying to figure out how he could expand the kitchen at least a little.