Chapter 81 – Departure of Mullins

Dee quickly jogged back to the cafe. He had barely stopped to wipe his boots and then he was heading up the stairs two at a time. He was almost to the top before he called out.

"Elizabeth Grace Thatcher Thornton!" Dee called.

At the sound of her name, Elizabeth jumped. She had been lying quietly with Jack.

"What did you do now?" Jack teased.

"I don't know, but that is Dee." Elizabeth said.

"We need to talk right now." Dee said, appearing in the doorway.

"Why? What is going on?" Elizabeth asked as she sat up.

"You tell me." Dee said.

"Dee what is going on?" Jack asked, trying to get up.

"Elizabeth." Dee said. "Do you know anything about seven large loaded supply wagons and about forty men coming to work?"

"What?" Jack said, going to the window.

"Yes." Dee said. "A large group of men, with loaded supply wagons. Also there are more coming, they were waiting for the train to unload in Union City. Dad knows nothing about it, yet they were told to ask for him and Lee Coulter. Lee doesn't know anything about it either. They have them setting up in the field beyond the schoolhouse. Then it sounds like they are here to work. Now do you know anything about this?"

"No." Elizabeth said. "But I would assume that Uncle Henry is behind it."

"What did you do?" Jack asked, spinning around.

Elizabeth sat down on the bed for a moment. When Jack saw the look on Elizabeth's face, he realized the tone that he had used. He instantly felt bad for the way that he had spoken, he wasn't upset, just surprised. For once, he wasn't thinking about his tone or words that he used, he had just reacted. Jack came back over and sat next to her.

"I am not mad." Jack said. "I am sorry if I upset you. I didn't think about how I sounded, I just reacted. I ask again, what did you do? Obviously, Dee is concerned. We need to figure this out, because if your family didn't do this, then Dee has to look into who did more."

"In my letter." Elizabeth said softly. "Before the slides, when I told Aunt Agatha and Uncle Henry about the disaster plan. I may have expressed concern about what would happen if something happened and everyone came to Hope Valley. I said I was worried about housing for people and didn't think that there was enough space to put people. I also mentioned that I was worried about how the town would deal with the increase in people without housing for them. Then when Dee wired him about getting supplies for apartments, I assume that he sent workers to help with construction. Honestly, I didn't ask for this. I didn't know that he was going to do this."

"Don't cry." Jack said, pulling Elizabeth to him. "I can't stand it when you cry."

"Beth." Dee said. "I am not mad, but you really didn't need to do this. We were figuring things out. It would have been fine. This must be costing a fortune. I feel bad about this."

"I am not worried about the money." Elizabeth said. "I thought something had happened the way that you came up here. I didn't know that Uncle Henry was going to do this, I am sorry."

"It is okay." Jack said, rubbing Elizabeth's back. "Dee, you can tell Wynn and Abigail what Elizabeth has told you, but let's not tell anyone else. The last thing that we need is it getting out that Elizabeth's family is paying for a ton of stuff around here."

"Agreed." Dee said. "And Beth, I am sorry that I stormed up here and scared you. Everyone was just shocked to see this large group of men come into town. McGinty even came back from rounds just to try and give Dad some warning. I am also sure that Abigail is freaking out. She has been struggling with everything and not having enough hours in the day. Dad and I have both told her that there are people that will help, if she would just ask."

"It is okay." Jack said. "Please, go help. Abigail won't ask for help, you will just have to tell Ma and Pastor Frank. They will step in and help. Maybe Ma can get through to Abigail that she doesn't have to do everything. I have Elizabeth. We are going to lay back down."

"Again, I am sorry." Dee said. "I will talk to Charlotte and Frank. I will also tell Dad that we are just going to have to step up and assign things to other people to help Abigail."

"It is okay." Elizabeth said. "I thought something bad had happened again. Thank you. I feel bad about spending all my time with Jack and not helping."

"No, it is okay." Dee said. "People understand. You guys also didn't really get a honeymoon, so spending time together is fine."

Jack got Elizabeth to scoot back against the headboard and he continued to hold her as Dee left them, pulling the door shut as he left. As Dee headed down the stairs, he felt bad about scaring Elizabeth, but he honestly thought that she had something to do with the group. Then he realized that she was right and had barely left Jack so when would she have had time to send word.

Wynn, Bill, Captain Taylor and Andy headed back into the jail. Mullins was up at the bars.

"What is going on?" Mullins asked. "Andy, why are you talking to them?"

"Has he had his charges read to him?" Captain Taylor asked.

"Yes." Wynn said.

"Good." Taylor said.

Taylor walked over to Mullins, then looked him up and down.

"Shut up!" Taylor said. "I am not going to listen to whine for the next few days. Trust me when I say that I will gag you if you keep it up."

"You can't do that." Mullins hissed.

"And who is going to stop me?" Taylor whispered. "You are going to be handcuffed and tied to a horse."

Mullins opened his mouth to say something, but quickly shut it and sat back down. Taylor turned back to the group.

"Sorry, Sir." Taylor said. "I usually don't allow prisoners to continue to whine after they are in custody. I have a thing about whining."

"No problem." Wynn said. "Now, Andy. What were you showing us before we were interrupted?"

"The portfolio." Andy said. "It appears to be a list of names and dates. I don't know what they are. I quickly scanned the names and I don't know them. It is not people that I do business with and the dates don't mean anything to me. Like I said, I have been honest with you and have nothing to hide."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "Please leave his stuff here. You can go over to Lee's. You said you are going to be in town until Friday?"

"Yes." Andy said.

"We will sit and talk again." Wynn said. "Thank you for turning this over. It doesn't change what I said last night, but it will go toward your cooperation."

"I understand." Andy said. "I will talk to you later. Apparently, we are all going to be busy for a few days. I will also wire my friend and see if he sent stuff, but I doubt it."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "We will talk later."

Andy turned and left to go talk to Lee.

"Should I be worried?" Taylor asked.

"No." Wynn said. "I don't feel that he had any part of what was going on. He has been honest with us, but I did let him know that I would be looking into him and his company."

"Okay." Taylor said. "Unless assigned to me, above my pay grade. Now, what is the plan here, with loud mouth?"

"Christopher Mullins." Wynn said. "Has been charged with embezzlement and fraud, assault on a public official and causing a public disturbance. I want him taken to Calgary to stand for his charges."

"Okay." Taylor said. "The circuit judge is going to be in Buxton tomorrow. Do we really need to take him all the way to Calgary?"

"Didn't know that there was a judge that close." Bill said. "Wynn, what do you think?"

"He needs to be held, even after he stands for the charges." Wynn said. "I am waiting to hear from the authorities in the United States. There may be additional charges coming and I also have requested an order seizing all his assets until a full investigation can be done."

"Not telling you how to do your job, Sir." Taylor said. "But I propose that we take him to Buxton, have him stand before the judge and then we can take him to Regina or Hamilton. They can hold him as long as they need to investigate. Also if the authorities from the States want him, it would be easy to transfer him from there, especially Hamilton."

"I agree with Taylor." Bill said.

"I do also." Wynn said. "Take him to Buxton, bring him in front of the judge. Explain what is going on and then have him taken to Hamilton to be held. I was just thinking that with the need to be held, Calgary was going to be the easiest."

"Who is the circuit judge coming?" Bill asked.

"I believe that it is Parker." Taylor said.

Wynn looked over at Bill, then back at Taylor.

"Didn't know Isaac Parker was still on the bench." Wynn said.

"No, his nephew Milton Parker." Taylor said. "Just as tough."

"Good to know." Wynn said. "Here are the charges and what is going on. There is more, but this will be enough for now. I will be sending everything to Hamilton in a few days. I am not sure how long I am going to be here with everything going on."

"Okay." Taylor said. "I will let him know. By the way, when can I get Green back."

"I think I will be able to send him after the funeral tomorrow." Wynn said. "I might also send Carver while you transfer that one."

"I will take him to Union City and they will take him to Hamilton." Taylor said. "They usually have a group at least every other week that they move east. He might be held there for a few days, but otherwise Union City will see to the transfer."

"Okay." Wynn said. "In that case, expect Green back tomorrow night."

"Can I ask who the funeral is for?" Taylor asked.

"Twenty-eight miners and family members killed at Rock Creek mine and settlement." Bill said. "The injured are here, so we agreed to have the funeral here for them."

"Sorry to hear about that." Taylor said. "Now, unless there is something else, I will like to get going. Sounds like you have your hands full here."

"I will help you get him going." Bill said. "Wynn, go deal with Abigail and whatever is going on."

"Thank you Bill." Wynn said. "Please come over when they are off."

"I will." Bill said.

Wynn picked up the stuff Andy had brought to take it with him. Mullins saw him take his bag.

"Hey, he can't take my stuff." Mullins hissed.

"Yes, I can." Wynn said. "It is evidence. You will get it back, eventually. I will have it shipped to Hamilton next week. For now, I am going to secure it at the mayor's office."

With that, Wynn walked out and didn't look back. Bill and Taylor went over and got Mullins ready to go. They handcuffed him and then walked him out. Mullins started to protest when he saw the horses.

"There are two ways we can go about this." Taylor said. "One, you sit in the saddle, shut up and ride or two I hog tie you to the saddle and you shut up and ride. Your choice."

"I would take option one if I were you." MacDonald said. "I have seen him hog tie someone to a saddle before. Not a comfortable way to ride for the next couple of hours."

Mullins looked between the three men and decided to climb up in the saddle. Once he was there, Taylor took a length of rope and tied it to Mullins' hands and then to his own saddle.

"Just to make sure that you don't go too far." Taylor said.

"Mount up." Taylor said.

Taylor and MacDonald both climbed up on their horses and then they were off back to Buxton. Bill was glad to see Mullins ride out of town in custody. He thought that it was appropriate that he would face Parker. Bill remembered him well, as the last time that he had seen him was at the mining trial just about six months ago.