Chapter 118 – Bill and Jacobs
Wynn took a deep breath, looked at Bill and then looked at Lee.
"What is Rosemary up to now?" Wynn asked. "I know who she is and she is not my favorite person. I know that you are engaged, but that doesn't excuse what she did to Jack."
"No, no." Lee said. "I get that. I don't know all the details, but I have heard enough. I have talked to her about that. She promises me that it is all in the past."
"So what did she say?" Bill asked.
"Well it was about her father." Lee said. "When I pressed her, she wouldn't say anymore. It was the first time that she has mentioned any family. Even as we are planning a wedding, I haven't heard anything about her family."
Wynn and Bill looked at each other. Wynn gave Bill a slight nod that he could speak if he chose, but Wynn wasn't going to say anything.
"I know that her father passed away." Bill said. "I don't remember if her mother is still alive. I also believe that she was an only child. She might have an aunt or something, but I don't remember."
"Does that help?" Wynn asked.
"Yes and no." Lee said. "I wanted to put flowers up front in memory of my parents and brother who have passed. I asked her if she wanted to add any. She got upset when I suggested using poppies. Besides being my mother's favorite, I know that some people use them to honor people who have served in the military or law enforcement. My brother Patrick had always wanted to be a Marine. Remember, I was born in the States and became a Canadian citizen when I was eighteen."
"I see the problem." Wynn said.
Bill and Wynn looked around the room. Jacobs caught what was going on.
"What is said, is not to be repeated." Jacobs said. "Got it."
"Rosemary's father was an ex-Mountie." Bill said. "Who didn't always serve so honorably. She refuses to accept that about her father."
"Got it." Lee said. "What do you suggest that I do?"
"Suggest that you add white flowers for her family." Jacobs said. "When is the wedding?"
"September." Lee said.
"I would suggest camellias or anemones, then." Jacobs said. "You could also go with a dahlia or jasmine. Whatever flowers you have, you tie a small tag on to the stem with the names of the deceased family members."
Every man sitting at the table stared at Jacobs.
"What?" Jacobs said. "Both my mother and grandmother love flowers. Grandmother actually grows many different types. She sells them for weddings and other functions, since she had several hot houses for them to grow year round."
"O-kaay." Bill said. "I am not going to say anything. I am just surprised."
"I am full of surprises." Jacobs said.
"You really think that would work?" Lee asked.
"Absolutely." Jacobs said. "Don't tell her what you know about her father, but suggest that you use white flowers for her and you can use the poppies as they were your mother's favorites. If she knows her mother's favorite, then maybe she can use those. But I would suggest the white ones that I mentioned. They are beautiful for weddings."
"I will." Lee said. "Thank you. I will let you all get back to work. I will talk to Kenneth again to find out exactly what time they want to start and how they are going to do it. I will then let McGinty know."
"Thank you." Bill said.
Lee got up and left. Bill looked at Jacobs, tilting his head back and forth a couple of times. Bill opened his mouth to speak several times, but didn't actually say anything. He tilted his again and then shook it at Jacobs. Wynn and Dee were both working on paperwork, but they could see Bill out of the corner of their eyes.
"Don't look at me like that, William Avery." Jacobs said. "I told you I was full of surprises. I am not going to sit here and tell you everything, that wouldn't be any fun. You will have plenty of time to learn more about me as I am going to be here for longer than we originally planned as I have volunteered for the protection detail. Besides that, I am helping figure out all this Gowen mess."
"It is Bill." Bill said. "No one calls me William."
"I won't as long as you don't look at me like that." Jacobs said. "Besides, I am immune to the scary teacher's face. If you knew my grandfather, you would understand."
Wynn chuckled, he knew Jacobs grandfather and it wasn't that far off. That was probably why Jacobs didn't even flinch with Charlotte or Elizabeth.
"Fine." Bill said.
"Can we get back to work?" Wynn asked.
"Yes, Sir." Jacobs said.
The men went back to their paperwork. Wynn handed the paperwork from Inspector Williams to Jacobs to look through and see if he found anything else. He also gave him the list of questions that he needed answered. Bill worked on writing out copies of the description to be handed out to people around town. Bill was also thinking about what to say to Jack. He knew that Wynn was going to talk to him, but if Bill knew Jack, he would come to him to get what Wynn wasn't telling him. Bill knew that he was going to have to have a conversation with Wynn about what he told Jack so that they were on the same page. The last thing that Bill wanted was to share things that Wynn didn't want shared with Jack. At least Bill understood why Wynn didn't want Jack to know certain things. It was hard enough that Jack lost his father, the details wouldn't help. Bill knew that it might actually make it harder, because Jack would wonder what could have been done differently.
After hanging up her clothes and some of Wynn's, Elizabeth Rose headed to the cafe to talk to Abigail. But before she left her room, she checked her pistol and then put it back in the holster that was attached to her leg under her skirt. She also placed her second pistol in her hand bag. She grabbed her key and left the room. When she got to the top of the steps, she stopped and looked around. The saloon was awfully quiet and for a moment Elizabeth Rose was worried, but then she remembered that there was a dry order in effect until later that afternoon. She took a deep breath and headed down the stairs. When she stepped out on the boardwalk, she saw a lot of people moving around the town, many she didn't recognize. With everything going on, it made her uncomfortable in Hope Valley for the first time. Elizabeth Rose took a deep breath and slowly let it out. This was Hope Valley not Hamilton, she was safe and so was her family. As she walked the short distance to the cafe, she waved to a few people.
When Elizabeth Rose entered the cafe, it was quite busy, for after lunchtime. Then she realized that with all the extra people in town, that it made sense. As she looked closer it was mostly women who sat and ate or drank tea. It made sense that the women would wait and let the men that were working eat first. Because it was so busy, Elizabeth Rose was hesitant to walk back into the kitchen. She decided to walk to where the curtain was, even though it was partly open, Elizabeth Rose knocked on the door frame. A woman Elizabeth Rose didn't know turned around.
"Can I help you?" Ann asked.
Just then Charlotte came in the back door.
"Elizabeth." Charlotte called. "Come sit."
Elizabeth Rose entered the kitchen and was greeted with a hug by Charlotte.
"Ann." Charlotte said. "This is Elizabeth Delaney. She is Wynn's wife and Dee's mother."
"Nice to meet you." Ann said. "I am Ann Grady. I used to live at the Silverton settlement, but now I am here. Since Abigail has been so busy, I have been helping her in the kitchen."
"Nice to meet you." Elizabeth Rose said. "I will be here for a while as well, so I will probably help as well. I helped Abigail when I was here back around Christmas."
"Wonderful." Ann said. "Charlotte here hasn't wanted Mrs Graves to do too much as she is pregnant and getting pretty big."
Elizabeth Rose nodded.
"Is Abigail around?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"She just went to check on Becky." Ann said. "The girl is resting upstairs. Pastor helped get her up there and settled. She said she was tired after traveling."
"I am glad that she is resting." Elizabeth Rose said. "The doctors said that she will tire as she tries to do more."
"I am just glad that she is back." Charlotte said. "When I took her to Buxton at Christmas, I wasn't sure that she would survive."
"You and I both." Elizabeth Rose said.
Just then Abigail came downstairs.
"You get settled in at the saloon okay?" Abigail asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Let's sit and have some tea." Abigail said. "Are you hungry?"
"I wouldn't mind a little something." Elizabeth Rose said. "Even though we had a large breakfast and some snacks on the trip, it would be nice to eat something."
"I will make some sandwiches." Ann said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth Rose said.
"What have you got planned for this afternoon?" Abigail asked.
"I want to get some cookies and stuff made for this weekend." Ann said.
"I will help." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know that the men are busy with paperwork. I am here to help. As much as I wanted to spend time with my husband and son, I know that work calls."
"Thank you." Abigail said. "I am glad that you came. Wynn talk to you about what is all going on?"
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "I am glad that he is here and able to help."
"Me too." Abigail said.
"I am as well." Charlotte said.
"So about the wheelchair?" Abigail asked.
"The doctors say she has strength in her legs." Elizabeth Rose said. "But she doesn't feel strong. Every time that they have had her up, it was with the support of the nurses. She is afraid to try on her own. She is capable of moving her legs. The doctor thought it might be a mental thing. Like she doesn't want to try or afraid that she is going to fall or something.
"That makes sense." Ann said. "You said she has been in the hospital since Christmas."
"Yes." Abigail said. "I don't understand what you are saying."
"Well." Ann said. "You said that they ran away from an orphanage. Becky went from probably being told she can't do things all the time to needing to look after herself and Cody to then being sick and everyone doing things for her. It was like my sister back in Ireland. She fell and broke her leg. Even after the doctor said she was fine and completely healed, she was afraid to walk on it again. We continued to help her and it got worse. She didn't want to try. By the time that the doctor realized what was going on, she had lost a lot of muscle in her legs and then really needed help. What I am saying is, help Becky, but also push her to help herself."
"I get it." Abigail said.
"Yes, that is what I was trying to get at." Elizabeth Rose said. "The doctor suggested that she have as normal a routine as possible – school, homework, chores. Help her, but don't rearrange everything for her."
"Got it." Abigail said.
"Abigail." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know that you are busy, just know that I am here to try and make things easier for you. I am willing to help with whatever you need."
"How long are you staying?" Abigail asked.
"Not sure yet." Elizabeth Rose said. "I have an open return ticket. I had originally planned to stay until at least a week, but things have changed. So we will have to see."
"Does this have to do with that wire Wynn got?" Abigail asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "I know he is trying to pretend that it doesn't bother him, but I know that it does. We have been through this before, but it doesn't make it any easier. I am just glad that we are here and not back home in Hamilton."
"Is everything okay?" Charlotte asked coming over to sit down.
Abigail looked at Elizabeth Rose and shrugged her shoulders. Elizabeth Rose looked around, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Yes and no." Elizabeth Rose said. "I don't know how much has been said, but Wynn got a message about an escaped prisoner that had made direct threats to his life."
"Protection detail coming in?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes." Abigail said. "Sometime this weekend. Wynn wants to try and keep it quiet, but the extra Mounties in town are going to draw attention. Bill is going to let a few key people know the description of the man to keep an eye out."
"I won't say anything." Charlotte said. "But the extra Mounties will be fine. Usually protection details are not in uniform all the time. It will just depend. I am sure that everything will be fine."
"Thank you." Elizabeth Rose said. "Like I said, we have been through this before."
"But it doesn't get easier." Charlotte said. "I know. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help."
"You being here and helping Jack and Elizabeth is plenty." Abigail said.
The ladies continued to talk. It felt good for Abigail to sit and relax. She hadn't had much time to do that over the last week or more.
