Chapter 90 – Confronting Dottie

Dee was up early on Thursday. He hadn't heard his father come in the night before but saw his boots when he got up. Dee made himself some coffee and proceeded to look for something for breakfast. He knew that he would have to stop at the mercantile or at least let Elizabeth know that there wasn't much in the house if they were going to be coming back. Dee ended up making himself some oatmeal. Just as he was sitting down to eat, his father came out of his room.

"Sorry." Dee said. "I was trying to be quiet."

"No problem." Wynn said. "I smelt the coffee. I was up late. I was going over the paperwork at the office. Abigail is right we are missing something. As I was looking for answers last night, I just ended up with more questions."

"Why don't I head in and take a look." Dee said. "Hopefully I will spot something, or at least maybe be able to answer some of the questions."

"You do that." Wynn said. "There is something else."

"What?" Dee asked.

Wynn hesitated for a moment, but then figured that maybe Dee could turn up some more information.

"Bill said something last night." Wynn said. "It has me thinking."

"Now what wild theory does Bill have?" Dee asked.

"It may be wild." Wynn said. "But then again, he may be closer than we think. He was wondering if someone hadn't paid Price and/or Rushman to cause trouble for Jack and Elizabeth. The more that I thought about it, both Price and Rushman knew an awful lot about Jack and Elizabeth. Bill found a possible connection between Price and William Thatcher, but it is flimsy at best. I told him I wanted something better before I opened that can of worms. I also reminded him to be discreet.

The more that I thought about it, I think Bill may be right. The thing is and I didn't share it with Bill, but it might not be just William who is trying to cause trouble for Beth. We know about the clause in the will about the company. What if someone else was trying to influence the future of the company. I don't want to think about it, but we have to consider it. I just don't know what to do. I know that I need proof before I could do anything, but I was wondering if it would cause more trouble than it would be worth. The more that I thought about it, the less I wanted to believe that a Mountie in my command would do such a thing.

I know that I have already stripped Price of his badge, but that didn't come without a little blow back. I didn't tell you, but I got a call from Price's father. He was not happy and tried to cover things up. He didn't want it getting out. I told him that it was out of my hands, what was done was done. He then called the Commissioner himself. The Commissioner sealed the file, but refused to let Price off. Price's father wasn't happy and that was part of the reason that the Commissioner agreed to a year of house arrest instead of six months behind bars. I didn't even tell Jack. The thing is that if Price breaks house arrest, he will be facing up to three years behind bars, so I doubt that he or his father would risk it."

"Good." Dee said. "I will do a little digging myself. Don't worry I will be discreet as well. I have access to things that Bill doesn't even as a former Inspector."

"I am not even going to ask." Wynn said. "I am going to try and lay down for a little bit longer. Don't forget we need to be in town this afternoon just in case William shows up."

"I know." Dee said. "Let me know if there is anything else."

"We have confirmation that he boarded a westbound train yesterday afternoon." Wynn said.

"Are you going to the funeral?" Dee asked.

"Probably." Wynn said. "I don't have my dress uniform, but it is what it is."

"Okay." Dee said. "I was thinking of going as well."

"Please remind any of the Mounties that are going." Wynn said. "Serge is required, and to be on horseback."

"Got it." Dee said. "Rest a bit. You have been working hard. I haven't seen Charlotte this morning, but it is still a little early."

Wynn stood up and got the keys to Abigail's office for Dee.

"I don't know what time Abigail will be in." Wynn said. "But here are the keys."

"Thanks." Dee said. "I will look over things and see if I can fill in the blanks."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I left everything on the table."

Wynn headed back to his room to lay back down. Dee finished his breakfast, banked the fires and headed to town. As he left the house, he could see that Charlotte was gone. He was surprised. The closer to town that Dee got the more that he realized that most of the town was up and about. Dee was glad that people were getting back to a routine and work. He knew that they needed to get through the funeral and get the men off to work, but people were taking steps in the right direction. It helped that there was plenty to do and Lee had resumed work at the sawmill. Dee also knew that the children would be heading back to school on Monday and that would help everyone. As he passed the cafe, he saw that it was busy. He knew that a lot of the lumberjacks ate at the cafe in the morning and evening. He was glad that Abigail's business was doing well. He also knew that she was worried about hiring help. He knew that with his mother arriving the next day that at least she would have some help for a bit. Dee made a note to help where he could at the cafe. He knew that wood was covered for awhile, but he knew that he could still help with dishes when needed. He would just have to talk to his father. But Dee didn't see him having a problem with it.

Before heading to Abigail's office, Dee went to the jail. He wanted to see if there was anything that Jack had in his files. He ended up pulling a number of Jack's files and taking them back to the office to work. He wanted to go through them and see if there was anything to help with the mess that they found themselves in. He also picked up the notes that Bill and McGinty had made about the people that they had already talked to from the Silverton settlement. After he stopped at the jail, Dee headed to Abigail's office to start on the paperwork. He saw his father's notes and started there. Dee wanted to get through as much as possible before his father came since he knew that they had to talk to people and that would happen after he arrived.

After breakfast, Jack and Elizabeth went back up to the room that they were staying in. Jack sat on the bed up against the headboard. Elizabeth sat down right next to him. She wanted to be there for Jack, but she wasn't sure she knew how. All she knew was that she needed to be near him. She leaned into him, holding his hand.

"Your mother was right, you know." Elizabeth said.

"What?" Jack asked.

"She was right." Elizabeth said. "You did everything that you could. They had no warning about the flashflood. You planned as best as you could and because of that, there are many people alive today."

"But …." Jack said.

"No buts." Elizabeth said. "You can't prevent everything and you can't control Mother Nature. The quicker that you learn that, the better."

Jack took a deep breath and opened the paper his mother had given him. He started reading the names. He didn't even try to stop the tears that sprang to his eyes. He just let them fall. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Jack and let him cry as he had let her so many times. Jack thought of the faces of the children that he had met and how he would never see them again. He cried for the orphaned little girls he had met who were so sweet. He cried for the children that had lost their mother or father. Jack just cried while Elizabeth held him. She shed her own tears, but they were more for the heartbreak that she saw on her husband's face. Slowly Jack's sobs quieted.

"I am tired." Jack said. "I think I want to rest before we go to the house."

"Okay." Elizabeth as she moved to get up.

"Please stay." Jack said.

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I told you I will be there for you, if that is what you want, I will stay."

"Please." Jack said. "I need you close."

Together they laid down. Jack wrapped his arms around Elizabeth as she snuggled into his side. Jack immediately put his hand on her stomach protectively as he had been the last few days since they learned they were expecting. Elizabeth loved how Jack already was so protective of their child. She knew that he would make a great father and couldn't wait to see him holding their little one. They had talked a little bit more about how Jack wanted to be with her while she was in labor and they had agreed that if he wanted to be there, that was where he would be. Elizabeth marveled at her husband and how involved he wanted to be. Jack had said that he wanted to be at her appointments and with her every step of the way. From what Elizabeth understood that was very unusual as fathers were generally not there during those times. Before long, Elizabeth felt Jack's breathing even out and she knew that he was sleeping. She closed her eyes and followed suit.

It was mid-morning when Wynn headed to town. His first stop was the cafe. He headed right to the back to see if Abigail was there and he could get something to eat.

"Morning, Sir." Ann greeted him.

"I was wondering if I could get something to eat." Wynn said. "I slept in and there wasn't much left in the house this morning."

"Hot or cold?" Ann asked.

"Hot please." Wynn said. "If it isn't too much trouble."

"No problem." Wynn said. "I am sorry, I don't think I caught your name."

"Ann Grady." She said. "My husband Tom worked at Silverton and we lived at the settlement with my mother."

"Wynn Delaney, Sr." He said. "Good to meet you. Do you mind talking while you work?"

"No problem." Ann said. "What would you like to know?"

"First." Wynn said. "Your husband is okay?"

"Yes." Ann said. "He was lucky. Him and another man flipped a coal cart and hid underneath. When the noise stopped, they came out. As they dug from the inside, they got a few scrapes. Both men will be returning to work tomorrow."

"Good, good." Wynn said. "So how long has your husband worked at Silverton?"

"Little over a year." Ann said. "I think we arrived in Buxton about May last year, I was waiting for my mother to arrive. Tom came out in March."

"When did you move to the settlement?" Wynn asked.

"Last fall." Ann said. "September, maybe. We were one of the first people there."

"And who did you rent from?" Wynn asked.

"Henry Gowen." Ann said. "He worked for Pacific Northwest. Tom was supposed to work in Coal Valley, but it was changed at the last moment. When he was switched to Silverton, he looked for some land closer to Silverton instead of being in Coal Valley. Mr Gowen offered him a small plot of land at a discount since the change in employment was last minute."

"Okay." Wynn said. "Thank you."

Ann set a plate of eggs, ham and toast in front of Wynn.

"Anything else?" Ann asked.

"Is Abigail at the office?" Wynn asked.

"Yes." Ann said. "Also you just missed Jack and Elizabeth. They ate and went back upstairs. Jack was upset. Charlotte had given him a list of dead from Rock Creek."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "One more thing. If anyone comes in looking for either of them, please direct them to myself or one of the other Mounties that you have seen in town."

"Yes, Sir." Ann said. "They said something about heading back to their house later."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "Still don't tell anyone where they are and direct all people to a Mountie, preferably myself or Dee. If we are not around, Sheriff Bill Avery or Abigail."

"Of course." Ann said. "Is there something wrong?"

"Not sure." Wynn said. "Besides I want them both to rest, they need it."

"You're right there." Ann said.

Wynn ate as Ann went about the kitchen. It wasn't long and Clara came back downstairs. Wynn finished up eating, picked up his dishes and put them in the sink.

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I will be working over at the mayor's office if anyone needs me."

"Yes, Sir." Ann said.

Wynn walked out of the cafe front door and looked around for a moment. He took in people going in and out of shops and children playing. He could hear the sounds of construction. Wynn smiled. As hard as that afternoon was going to be, he was glad that people were getting back to normal. He waved to a few of the children as he headed to the mayor's office. When he got there, he found Dee hard at work and Abigail going over paperwork as well. He looked around and didn't see Bill.

"He is at the jail." Dee said without looking up.

"What?" Wynn asked.

"Bill is at the jail." Dee said. "McGinty is overseeing making sure that the bodies are taken to the cemetery. Carver and Green are cleaning the mining office and making sure everything is ready to move over to the storage shed. McGinty already moved his stuff to the jail, he will stay there while he is here."

"Okay." Wynn said.

Abigail just looked at the two of them and shook her head. She went back to the paperwork that she was working on. Wynn sat down and Dee looked up. He handed his father a stack of papers, as well as two notes. Dee then went back to the papers in front of him. Wynn started looking through the papers and saw that Dee had been able to fill in some of the questions that he had posed the night before. Wynn was pleased with all that Dee had been able to get through. There were still things that they needed, but at least Wynn was feeling more confident about things. He figured that sleep had helped as well. It wasn't long and there was a knock at the door. Abigail looked up and saw that it was Dottie. She waved her in.

"I was told you wanted to talk to me." Dottie said.

"Yes." Wynn said. "Please have a seat."

Dottie looked around nervously. Just as she sat down, Bill knocked and entered the office. He didn't say anything, but nodded to Wynn and took a seat at the table where the men had been working. Wynn was glad that Bill was there, he saw Dottie more and might have other questions based on the answers provided. Wynn was also glad that Abigail stayed in the office, but chose to stay at her desk. Wynn wanted her there since she had known Dottie for years.

"Mrs Ramsey." Dee said. "I know that my father and Bill, Sheriff Avery, talked to you at Christmas, but we have more questions."

"I don't know how I can help you." Dottie said. "I told you everything that I know."

"We think you know more than you told us." Bill said.

Dottie looked between the three men in front of her and shook her head. Wynn looked at Bill and got a small nod. Both knew that it would have more impact if things came from Wynn.

"Mrs Ramsey." Wynn said. "This is your last chance. We know that your husband was working with or covering for Henry Gowen, possibly for years. We know both were involved in corruption. You worked for Mr Gowen after your husband left town, very suddenly after resigning as mayor, only to name Gowen as his replacement. Now tell us what you know or I will be forced to open an investigation into you and your late husband's finances and actions. While the investigation is happening, I would have to freeze all of your assets pending the outcome."

Dottie looked at Wynn and her eyes got a little bigger, but she still didn't say anything. She thought he was bluffing.