Chapter 109 – Decision Time
As soon as Elizabeth was out the door and before McGinty had even shut it, Bill turned to Wynn and looked at him. Bill wasn't sure what the next move was going to be, but he was going to back whatever Wynn and Jacobs decided. Bill used to have respect for William Thatcher, but as of late, that was gone. Bill still couldn't believe the way that William Thatcher was acting and to say what he did, well to Bill that was crossing a line that can't be undone. Bill knew that he didn't have any biological children of his own, but that didn't mean he didn't know what it was to love a child. Bill thought about Martin and how he would have done anything for that boy. Bill also thought of Jack and how he decided that Jack was like a son to him. Bill couldn't believe that Thatcher was acting the way he was just because he didn't agree with the choices his daughter made. Bill knew that there were worse things than marrying someone that one's parents didn't approve of, but to behave the way that Thatcher was, there had to be more to the story. Then Bill thought about what Jacobs had said. Maybe it really was all about the money.
Wynn tapped Bill on the arm to break him from his thoughts. Jacobs walked over and Belanger went to the cell to try and speak with William and Charles. Dee also got up and came around the desk as the four Mounties stood there looking at each other. No one spoke, as they wanted to hear if Belanger said anything to the two in the cell. At least Monclair had sat down and remained quiet through the exchange. They could hear Belanger whispering, but they couldn't make out what was being said. As a group they all took a step back closer to the cells. They didn't want Monclair to see and alert the others. Dee handed a piece of paper to his father and then took another step closer to the cells and away from the group. Wynn looked at the paper and saw that it was a translation of what William and Elizabeth had said in Irish. Wynn smiled as he realized that he had been right about what had been said. He was glad that his Irish wasn't as rusty as he thought. Wynn handed the paper Bill so that he and Jacobs could see. Jacobs read the paper and nodded to Bill that he understood. Bill then handed the paper back to Wynn. Dee stepped back to the group and shook his head that he didn't hear anything else. Wynn nodded and they all stepped back. Wynn then cleared his throat.
"We have other things to do." Wynn said. "And the transport is waiting. We need to get moving. Time for you to leave Belanger."
"I want to hear this deal." Belanger said.
"That has expired." Jacobs said.
"Then I demand to know what you are charging all my clients with." Belanger said.
Jacobs stepped forward. While Bill, Wynn and Jacobs were handling the charges, Dee went to get the other Mounties.
"Edward George Monclair." Jacobs said. "You are being charged with conspiracy to commit a kidnapping, insubordination, disobeying direct orders and conduct unbecoming of a Mountie, public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a minor. Do you have anything to say?"
"You will never get away with this." Monclair snarled. "I am sure that Father has already called the Commissioner."
Jacobs didn't say anything, but just shook his head. He then turned to the other cell. William and Charles were whispering back and forth, looking at Belanger and Jacobs. Dee stepped back in after he had gathered the men. It had been easy as they were all headed to the jail when he came out. He invited Captain Anderson to join them in the jail before they moved the prisoners. Since it looked like there was a standoff, Dee didn't want to interrupt. Dee went up and tapped Bill on the shoulder. Bill looked at Dee and then back at Captain Anderson.
"Sir." Bill said. "Looks like transport is ready. They need to get going. They have hours to ride."
"I agree." Wynn said.
Wynn turned to Captain Anderson.
"Captain." Wynn said. "Please get Monclair moving. I want him thoroughly searched before he is secured. We aren't quite ready with the other two, but won't be long."
"I will help." Bill said, grabbing the keys.
Bill and Anderson moved over to Monclair's cell. Dee let them in and then secured the cell while going to get the leg irons. While Dee did that, Bill and Anderson searched Monclair again. They wanted to make sure that he wasn't hiding a key anywhere.
"He is clean." Anderson said.
Dee opened the cell and handed the leg irons to Bill along with a set of handcuffs that could be secured to a chain around the waist. Seeing the leg irons and the handcuffs, William changed his tune.
"Wynn." William yelled. "I want to talk to you."
Wynn and Jacobs both stepped forward and looked at William.
"I am listening." Wynn said. "But you don't need to convince me, you need to convince Jacobs, he is the arresting officer and running this show."
"I want to know what this deal is." William said. "I am sure that there is something that we can work out."
Wynn looked at Jacobs.
"Your show, Jacobs." Wynn said. "Your call."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "I will tell you what. I will tell you the deal, but there are now a couple extra stipulations."
"What are they?" Belanger asked.
"I am not speaking to you." Jacobs said. "William Connor Thatcher you are facing attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit a kidnapping, assault, creating a public disturbance and assault on a Mountie. If you agree to the stipulations put forward, follow them and stay out of trouble until the statute of limitations runs out in three years then we might have a deal."
"Fine." William said.
"You should listen to the stipulations first." Belanger said.
"I don't care." William said. "I want to keep this quiet."
Belanger started to argue, but William shot him a stern look.
"Fine then." Jacobs said. "We will do the paperwork and you will be free to go with your lawyer, but know that if you violate any of the stipulations, I will know and I will not hold back on making sure that you face the maximum amount of time if this goes before a judge."
"I understand." William said. "I just want it to stay out of the papers."
"I won't say anything." Jacobs said. "So if something is printed, it didn't come from me or the Mounties. Unfortunately, I can't stop people from talking, however, I can tell you that this town loves Corporal and Mrs Thornton and wouldn't do anything to upset them. Part of that love is letting them have their privacy."
"William sit down and we will deal with you when we are done with Monclair and Charles." Wynn said.
"Charles Edward Kensington III.'' Jacobs said. "You are facing attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit a kidnapping, assault, creating a public disturbance and assault on a Mountie. Do you also want to agree to the deal that would allow you to go?"
"I want to hear the conditions." Charles said.
"No." Jacobs said. "I gave you a chance to listen earlier and neither of you wanted to listen then, so you take the deal or go with the Mounties. You have thirty seconds and then I make the choice for you."
Jacobs pulled out his watch and stood there while Charles just looked at him.
"You aren't going to get away with this." Charles snarled. "My father will see to that."
"Twenty seconds." Jacobs said.
"Charles." William hissed.
"No!" Charles bellowed. "YOU PROMISED ME ELIZABETH! I am not leaving without her, she is mine!"
"Time is up." Jacobs said.
Captain Anderson and Bill stepped forward with leg irons, handcuffs and chains.
"Mr Thatcher." Jacobs said. "I am going to ask you to sit on the bed and not move while we remove Mr Kensington. If you try anything, you will be in trouble and face new charges. It will also negate the deal we just made."
"Okay." William said defeated.
William went to sit as far from the door as he could possibly get. Dee unlocked the door and Jacobs, Bill and Captain Anderson stepped in. They searched Charles and secured him, while he yelled at them the entire time. Charles tried to pull away once and Bill pinned his arm behind his back. Bill was not gentle in his movements, causing Charles to yelp in pain. Anderson told him that if he quit fighting it wouldn't hurt. Once he was secure, Captain Anderson and Bill walked Charles out. Jacobs backed out of the cell.
"We will get them on their way." Jacobs said. "Then we will deal with you."
"Fine." William said.
Jacobs and Wynn went to do the paperwork with Captain Anderson who had come back in. Dee quickly searched Monclair's bag and then gave it to one of the other Mounties to hold on to for transport. He went and put Elizabeth's things in the back room. He knew that he could give them to her later. When they were done, they tied Monclair's horse to the back of the transport wagon and loaded everything else in the front with the driver.
"Captain." Wynn said.
"Yes, Sir." Anderson said.
"If he continues to yell like that." Wynn said. "You may gag him. Mr Kensington is to stand before a magistrate in Union City and Mr Monclair is to be held to be moved back to Hamilton. No one other than their lawyers are allowed to talk to either until then. Please keep a careful watch on Monclair. You know he was searched, but I don't trust him."
"Understood, Sir." Anderson said. "We have a train heading back to Hamilton with two other prisoners on Monday, he will go with them."
"Very well." Wynn said. "You have all the paperwork."
Anderson patted his chest pocket and then held up a satchel.
"Then best be moving." Wynn said.
"Mount up!" Anderson called.
After all the Mounties were mounted up, they saluted Wynn before turning and getting into formation. Anderson raised his arm and then dropped it signaling that they were moving out. Wynn, Dee, Bill and Jacobs stood and watched the group disappear. Once the wagon was out of sight, they all took a deep breath before turning and heading in to deal with William Thatcher.
As they stood on the boardwalk, McGinty came up to Elizabeth and touched her elbow.
"Are you okay?" McGinty asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I need to check for mail before we head back."
"Okay." McGinty said. "Anything else?"
"No." Elizabeth said. "I got everything else yesterday."
"I have a question." McGinty said.
Elizabeth looked at him as they went down the steps.
"My father and I spoke Irish to each other." Elizabeth said.
"How did you know what I was going to ask?" McGinty said.
"I saw the confusion on your face." Elizabeth said. "Most people don't know that I speak several languages. Irish is one of three that my father speaks well."
"Good to know." McGinty said. "Let's get you back home. I know that Jack will be anxious to hear what happened."
The two walked to the mercantile, but there was no mail. Ned did promise to have anything delivered out to the house or given to Dee. Elizabeth thanked him and then turned to leave with McGinty. Elizabeth stopped at the top of the stairs and looked around the little town that she loved. She heard the sounds of construction and saw people going in and out of shops.
"Everything okay?" McGinty asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Just amazed at how much has changed from just a week ago."
"Understandable." McGinty said. "There is still a lot of change that is going to happen, but let's get you home. I am sure that Jack is worried. I promise to let you know what happens as soon as I can."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I just hope that we were able to get through to my father. I really don't want to see him go to jail, but I also know that Jacobs and Wynn have been more than fair with him. I am just worried about my mother."
"I understand that." McGinty said. "But he also needs to understand that you are an adult and can make your own choices."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
They headed down the stairs and walked the rest of the way to the row house in silence only greeting people who they saw. Neither needed to talk, both knew that there was a lot going on and emotions were running high. When they got back to the row house, they didn't find anyone downstairs, but there was a note from Charlotte saying that she would be back later to check on them and that Jack was upstairs resting.
"I better get back into town." McGinty said.
"Thank you for everything." Elizabeth said.
After McGinty left, Elizabeth checked the fires before heading up to lay down with Jack.
When Wynn, Dee, Bill and Jacobs stepped back into the jail, they saw Belanger talking with William.
"I will go." Bill said. "I have things that I need to check."
Wynn nodded.
"Want me to go as well?" Dee asked.
"Please." Wynn said. "Go back to the office and continue to work, we won't be long."
"Okay." Dee said. "If I see McGinty, what do you want him to do?"
"See what still needs to be done." Wynn said.
"Yes, Sir." Dee said.
Dee left and headed back to the office, on the way he saw McGinty talking to Bill so he left them alone. Dee headed to Abigail's office to work on things over there. Before he got there, he changed his course, went to the mercantile to check and see if there were any messages for him or his dad. When he saw that there was a couple for his dad, he got them and then headed over to the office. Normally he knew what his dad's messages said, so Dee debated reading them to see if there were things that he could help with. But then he realized that he hadn't sent out any messages for his father so he didn't know what to expect. When Dee got to the office, he checked his father's notes and saw that he had sent several wires. Dee then looked at the messages in his hands and opened the first one to see if there was anything that he needed to prepare for his father. He found that all three messages contained answers to the wires he had sent and to let him know that the information that he was seeking was being gathered and sent to him in Hope Valley. Dee breathed a sigh of relief that they would have answers soon to the questions that had been posed.
