CHAPTER 70

That same day in Hamilton...

Bill, an excellent investigator, got in touch with his friend Collins as soon as he arrived in Hamilton, he was the commander of the mountie; when they shared information, they agreed to work together; Collins had worked with Wynn at the time of his children's birth and he knew a young man who had worked at the Thatcher home at the time.

They went to a ranch called the flower ranch, where Collins introduced Bill to Mr. Ruan, who had been working in the stables and with the horses on the ranch for fifteen years. According to him, when he was sacked by the Thatchers, he couldn't get a job anywhere, because Willian Thatcher, angry at what he had discovered and tried to stop, started interfering with his job vacancies, interviews, wiped out his CV, and it was at great cost that he got this job and a new chance at a professional life.

- Why were you fired? Bill asked.

The man looked down, he didn't know whether or not to speak, this subject had caused him a lot of trouble in his life.

Collins interrupted his thoughts and explained:

- He's like me. A policeman... We just want to know the truth and do justice.

- Collins, there is no justice for a man like William Thatcher.

- I promise you there will be; as a judge, I can't allow injustice and as Elizabeth's adoptive father and guardian, I need to know everything and fight for her.

- Elizabeth Thatcher? How is she? My little girl, I miss that little girl.

- She's not little anymore. Did you have contact with her in that house?

- Yes. Ever since she became afraid of William or when she was going to be punished by Grace, who always defended Julia and Viola and blamed the poor girl. That child would run to the stable where she would hide for hours.

- Afraid of Willian? Was he aggressive with her? Collins asked.

- Grace was aggressive. That little girl took a lot of belt licks from her mother; she left Willian's belt ready and whenever something upset her, she took it out on Elizabeth; her little legs were always scarred and red.

As for Willian... she was very frightened of him; he shouted at her a lot; I know that when he and Grace fought, because they were always slapping each other in that house, it ended up being the little girl. She was locked in her room for days, with restricted food, and fed on her reading.

- What? Bill and Collins spoke at the same time.

- Just before I was fired, I noticed that she always ran to stay in the stable, and this always happened when William was at home. It was until one day I saw and understood. She was almost twelve, a beautiful girl, and Willian started hitting on her...

- Wait, you don't mean? Bill choked, his face red.

- Yes, he began his advances on her; he wanted to hold her and touch her. He started rubbing his hands all over her body, and I caught him after he surrounded her in the stall. That girl was a vision of terror, I've never seen anyone more terrified than her. It was nothing but confusion when I threw him away, grabbed his collar and pulled him away from the girl; the voices started to change, he was shouting that he had his rights over the girl; Elizabeth was in the corner all disheveled and tears were rolling down her face. Grace rushed over and upon hearing everything, slapped the girl across the face, leaving a huge mark and calling her a slut. Next to Grace was Meriy, a strange woman who had been working years ago, she had been there on the day of Elizabeth's birth. The woman had a huge scar on her face and said that her late husband had branded her so that another man wouldn't want her. Meriy obeyed by taking the child into the bedroom where she was grounded, and right there Wilian and Grace broke each other's backs. They verbally and physically assaulted each other. This was nothing new, I remember that days before Elizabeth was born he beat Grace up. And on the day of her birth, according to rumors from a pantry worker, the same thing happened, and it was just before she was born, from aggression to sexual intercourse. They were like that. First the aggression until it hurt and bled and then they made up in bed. But I had nothing to do with it, but I wouldn't let them hurt a child. And when I threatened to call the police, I was sent away and then imprisoned for two years, without a trial and without the right to a lawyer, and I only won my freedom because I met the lawyer who owns this farm, it was he who fought for me and my rights.

Bill couldn't have been more terrified... What that man did to Elizabeth; he was a monster, he had to warn Wynn.

- Can you tell me about the day Elizabeth gave birth?

- Unfortunately, I can't tell you much about it, because I was outside the whole time. I liked Mr. Wynn and his wife very much, they were very polite to all of us. I can only say that it rained a lot, Willian called the midwife, but she never arrived. Meriy took over everything. One of the maids who also helped, and I never heard from Jane again, told me that Grace didn't want to accept this scarred woman delivering her baby, she wanted someone who was a doctor or an experienced midwife, because it was the only way for the child to survive, that's what Jane heard. But William, even though he saw that she was in labor, assaulted her and then climbed on top of her and had sex, without caring, saying that it would calm her down. Meriy and Jane witnessed everything in that room. I know that soon afterwards they sent Jane to stay with Wynn Delany's wife, while Grace's child was born. But no one was allowed to see Grace's child or go and help her after the birth.

- So she didn't see Elizabeth born?

- No.… nobody did. It was only after the three children arrived that they were allowed to see them, and unfortunately one of them had died.

Collins and Bill looked at each other...

"It wasn't possible that Willian Thatcher was capable of swapping children."

- Ruan, how do we find this scullery maid Jane? Bill asked.

- I don't know. But I think you can look for her mother in the city of Regina, as I understand that's where she moved to.

Bill liked that. The city of Regina was close to him.

Bill decided to talk about some of the problems Elizabeth was facing, and Ruan told him that he would be there to help fight for her, and that if he needed to, he would travel to Hope Valle.

Bill and Collins made their way to the mountie's command. The silence between them was awkward.

Bill's face was all red, and he was still stunned by everything they had discovered.

- I can't accept this? Bill eventually spoke without being able to hold it in.

- Bill, I don't know this young woman, but I'm outraged at the way her story has turned out. Doesn't this Willian have any love for the child he's looked after all his life?

- Collins... I don't know him personally, but he's dangerous. I won't allow him anywhere near my daughter.

- I agree with you, Bill, and I think Wynn needs to know about it too. But how can you tell him something like this by telegram?

- I'll send him the basics. And I'll call him tomorrow. While I'm away, they need to be on standby to protect her.

That same evening, Bill sent a telegram to Hope Valle.

"Wynn, urgent...

Willian Thatcher, danger to Elizabeth. Do not allow contact. Bill."