Chapter 116 – Becky and Aunt Elizabeth Arrive (long)

As the men were walking toward the cafe, they heard the hoof beats of several horses. When they turned to look, they saw seven large supply wagons coming into town.

"I believe that the things for the apartments and row houses have arrived." Dee said. "I should go let Lee know."

"I think he knows." Jacobs said pointing.

Sure enough, Lee and Hickum were coming down the stairs of their office. Lee waved that he had the wagons. As Lee directed the wagons, they saw the stagecoach that had been following the wagons. The men quickly headed to the stagecoach stop. Abigail came out with Cody, just as the stagecoach was pulling up. Jacobs was the first to step up and open the door. He saw a young girl and another woman. He smiled as he realized who was sitting there.

"You must be Becky." Jacobs said.

The young girl nodded.

"I need my wheelchair." Becky said.

"I will get it and then get you down." Jacobs said. "How about I get your traveling companion out first. By the way, I am Sergeant Jeremiah Jacobs. I have been helping here in town for the last couple of days."

Jacobs stepped back and helped Mrs Delaney down. When Wynn saw her, he was speechless. She immediately went to hug him. Dee was smiling to himself. Cody was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he saw Becky and couldn't wait to hug her. Both Cody and Abigail were a little concerned when they saw the wheelchair. Abigail made a mental note to talk to Elizabeth Rose. She was sure that the woman had talked to the doctors and would tell her what was going on, but she was concerned as they hadn't said anything in the messages about Becky being in a wheelchair.

"What are you doing here?" Wynn finally asked.

"I missed you." Elizabeth Rose said. "I have things for you from Hamilton."

Wynn released his wife and she went to hug her son. While she did that, Jacobs had gotten the wheelchair and helped Becky down. She was being greeted by Abigail and Cody. Jacobs was helping the driver get the trunks down as there were at least five.

"I have mail for the mercantile." The driver said. "I also have passengers heading back, but I need to water the horse and let them rest for a little bit."

"No problem." Jacobs said. "I can take the mail. Do you know where to water the horses?"

"Thank you and yes." The driver said.

When they had everything unloaded, Jacobs turned to Wynn.

"Sir." Jacobs said. "I am going to take the mail to the mercantile for the driver, then I am going to head back to the office and wait for more information. I will go back to the paperwork. Take you time coming back, I am sure that you want some time with your wife. I am also going to grab Bill and get things going on that other stuff."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "We have a lot going on, so I won't be long."

"Mom, Dad." Dee said. "I got you a room at the saloon. I will stay at the jail or with Jack and Beth."

"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "Let's get this stuff over there. I have clothes for both of you and stuff for Beth. I also have papers from headquarters for you, Wynn. I understand if you have a lot going on. Please deal with business, we will have time. At least I am here."

"Elizabeth." Abigail said. "Please join us at the cafe as soon as you want. Jack and Elizabeth are both resting, so let's let them be for a while. She was making a roast for supper for you guys. I also have questions for you."

"Then I will see them later." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know that we need to talk. Don't worry about the wheelchair, the doctors say it is temporary, but we will talk more about that."

About that time, about five or six men wandered over.

"Do you need help with the trunks, Sir?" One of the men asked.

"Yes, please." Wynn said. "They are going to the saloon, we can sort things out there."

"You are in room five." Dee said, handing a key to his father.

"Let's go men." Wynn said. "We will be right behind you."

"Mom." Dee said. "I will talk to you later. We have a situation that we are dealing with and I need to head back to the office."

"Be safe." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Dee." Wynn said. "I forgot, there was a wire for Jack. Please check it and see if it is something that we can deal with."

"On it." Dee said.

Dee gave his mother a quick kiss and then headed to Abigail's office. Abigail helped Becky into the cafe and Cody grabbed her bag. The men picked up the trunks and carried them to the saloon for Wynn and Elizabeth.

"What is going on?" Elizabeth Rose asked. "Should I be worried?"

"Will explain later." Wynn said softly. "But please tell me you have your sidearm?"

"Always." Elizabeth Rose whispered.

"Good." Wynn whispered. "Then please keep it on you until I say otherwise."

"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said.

She looked at her husband and realized that he wasn't going to say anything in public, but she was starting to get worried. They got to their room and the men stacked the trunks along the wall. When Wynn went to tip the men, they refused. He thanked them and they left. Wynn shut and locked the door, he then pulled his wife into another hug. After a moment, Elizabeth pulled back.

"What is going on?" Elizabeth Rose asked.

"Was Dee able to get in touch with you?" Wynn asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "I had a couple wires from him while I was in Union City. He said something about William causing trouble."

"That he did." Wynn said.

Wynn quickly filled his wife in on what had happened, including arresting William, Charles and Monclair. He told her about sending Charles and Monclair off with the transport wagon and striking a deal with William. He then told her about the wire that he had received just before she arrived.

"I will keep my eyes open." Elizabeth Rose said. "I am going to sort through these trunks and then head to the cafe. We will get through this. We have had protection details before. I know the drill. At least we are here and not in Hamilton. I think it will be easier to keep us safe here. Have you let Sophie know?"

Wynn nodded.

"Good." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Okay." Wynn said. "We are working out of Abigail's mayor office."

"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said.

"What papers do you have?" Wynn asked.

"I don't know." Elizabeth Rose said.

She opened her travel bag, took a large envelope tied with string and sealed with the Mountie seal. She handed the whole thing to Wynn.

"Inspector William sent them." Elizabeth Rose said. "When I stopped at headquarters and let them know that I was headed here to see you. He asked if I wanted an escort. As much as I insisted that I was fine, he ordered a young Mountie to accompany me to Union City. He wanted me to have an escort all the way here. But when I left Union City with Becky yesterday, I was informed that they had their hands full with a couple of transfers. I told them that I would be fine. When we left Buxton, we caught up with the supply wagons heading here, so I felt a little better."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I know that he was just looking out for you."

"I know." Elizabeth Rose said. "Now, go deal with things so we can have part of our Easter weekend together."

"How long are you staying?" Wynn asked.

"Haven't decided yet." Elizabeth Rose said. "At least until next weekend, but this security detail could change things. I would rather be here with you with this protection detail. I don't mind spending time with Jack and Beth or helping Abigail. I have an open return ticket."

"Very well." Wynn said.

He gave his wife a kiss and left her at the saloon. He waited until he heard her lock the door. After Wynn left Elizabeth, he went and picked up the other key for the room before heading back to the office to figure out what to do.

Abigail, Becky and Cody got into the cafe. Becky looked around, there were a lot of people that she didn't know. Abigail didn't say anything, but waved to a few people and ushered Becky and Cody into the back room.

"Ann." Abigail said. "This is Cody's sister, Becky. Becky, I want you to meet Mrs Ann Grady. She has been helping around here. She is from the Silverton settlement, but lives here now."

"Mrs Delaney told me about the slides." Becky said. "I am glad that you are helping, Mrs Grady."

"Oh please call me Ann." Ann said. "I bet you are hungry after your trip."

"Actually." Becky said. "I am a little hungry. Mrs Delaney had snacks for us and we had a really nice breakfast before we left the hotel this morning."

Clara came in and stopped when she saw Becky.

"Becky." Abigail said. "You remember my daughter-in-law, Clara."

"Sort of." Becky said.

"Nice to see you again." Clara said.

"Mom." Cody said. "Can I go play with the boys for a little bit?"

"As long as you have your homework done." Abigail said.

"I checked it this morning." Ann said. "It is all done and ready for Monday."

"Then you need to be back for supper." Abigail said. "I will get Becky settled."

"Come give me a hug." Becky said. "I understand that you want to play with your friends, but we need to talk later."

"Yes, Becky." Cody said.

"Be careful." Abigail said. "Don't bother the men that are working."

"I won't." Cody said.

"If you see Pastor Frank." Abigail said. "Please have him come talk to me. I need his help with something."

"Okay, Miss Abigail." Cody said.

With that Cody was out the door. Abigail looked at Becky.

"So Elizabeth Rose told you what was going on in town?" Abigail said.

"Sort of." Becky said. "She told me that her husband and son were in town because Mountie Jack got hurt trying to rescue a little girl. She also told me that there had been slides at both Silverton and Rock Creek mines."

"Yes." Abigail said. "Both settlements were also impacted by flash floods. The Silverton settlement fared much better and we didn't lose anyone from there. There were only a few children and a woman found alive at Rock Creek. We also have a lot of men in town working to help build new housing and things. The mine here in Hope Valley will also be opening up again, so there will be more changes ahead in the coming months."

"So you are going to be busy." Becky said.

"Not too busy for you and Cody." Abigail said. "I know that the worker at the hospital talked to you and suggested that you and Cody go somewhere else to live, but I don't want that. I was going to talk to you about all of this later, but we can talk about things now if you want."

Ann put some cookies and a sandwich in front of Becky.

"What would you like to drink?" Ann asked.

"Milk if you have it." Becky said.

"Coming right up." Ann said.

"The worker at the hospital didn't think that you would have time for Cody and I." Becky said. "He wants me to convince you to send us back to the orphanage."

"Is that what you want?" Abigail asked.

"No." Becky said. "From everything that I have seen and read in Cody's letters, he is happy here and I want that also."

"Then it is settled." Abigail said. "You are staying."

"The worker said he would never approve of you adopting us." Becky said. "He said that because you aren't married you can't support us."

"Well." Ann said. "He is wrong. Abigail is great and she has a whole community here to help her."

"That is right." Abigail said. "Besides, Mr and Mrs Delaney said that they would help me. They wrote a letter to the judge to urge him to let you stay if that was what you wanted. Mrs Delaney's son-in-law, who is a lawyer in Ottawa, has even drawn up papers and is sending them here next week for us to file with a local judge."

"If Cody wants to stay." Becky said. "Then that is what I want as well."

"Then we will all talk later." Abigail said. "So tell me a little more about the wheelchair."

"The doctor says my legs are getting stronger." Becky said. "But they don't feel like it."

"We will do everything we can to help you." Abigail said.

"Thank you for the food." Becky said. "I am getting tired. I was wondering if I can lay down until supper?"

"Sure." Abigail said. "I can get someone to help you upstairs, or I can set up something for you in the small room off the back of the cafe here."

"I would like to go upstairs if possible." Becky said. "That might change, but for now I think it will be quieter."

"Then give me a moment." Abigail said.

"I can help." Pastor Frank said.

"Frank." Abigail said. "When did you get back?"

"A few minutes ago." Frank said. "Sorry I wasn't here to greet you Becky. But welcome back. Now let's get you upstairs."

"Thank you." Becky said.

Frank walked over and scooped Becky up into his arms. He carried her upstairs and Abigail followed with Becky's bag.

"Put her in the room that Jack and Elizabeth were in." Abigail said.

"Okay." Frank said.

Once they got Becky settled, Abigail and Frank headed back downstairs. Before they went down the stairs, Frank pulled Abigail into a hug.

"How are you doing?" Frank asked.

"Busy." Abigail said. "We also have a situation with Wynn, but I will let Bill talk to you. They also need to talk to you about the children. They are working at my office."

"I will head over there then." Frank said. "Don't worry. I will be here to help as much as you need. And before you say no, I will argue that you can't lift her by yourself, so let me help."

"I wasn't going to argue." Abigail said. "I was shocked to see the wheelchair and instantly realized that I am going to need help. I need to talk to you later tonight, but for now, please go talk to Bill and Wynn."

"I will." Frank said.

Frank and Abigail walked down the stairs. Frank left to go talk to Wynn and Bill. Abigail poured herself a cup of tea.