Chapter 126 – Explaining the Events of the Past Day part 2

Wynn waited a moment while Jack and Elizabeth were lost in each other's eyes. Finally, he cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"So are you two ready to hear about the rest of the day?" Wynn asked.

"I guess." Jack said. "I don't know what you are talking about, but I guess."

"A lot has happened." Wynn said. "Much of it you need to know, just because this is still your station, Jack. Others because well you just need to know."

"That doesn't sound good." Jack said.

"There is some bad stuff that we need to talk about." Wynn said. "But I think it will be easier to just go through the day – good and bad, then deal with questions as they come up."

"Okay." Jack said.

"I want to start." Wynn said. "By reminding everyone in this room that some of the things that we are going to talk about are considered Mountie business and are not to be repeated to anyone outside of this room. Obviously, Jack can talk about things with Jacobs, McGinty and Bill. I am looking at you ladies."

"I know the drill." Charlotte said.

"I do as well." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"I understand." Elizabeth said. "I also know that you are placing a lot of trust in us by sharing things with us here."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "So after we saw William off, Jacobs and I headed back to the office. For the purposes of this discussion and until I leave, when I say the office I mean Abigail's office and not the jail. We have set up there and it is easier since there is more room."

Jack and Elizabeth nodded as they didn't know that Wynn had set up in Abigail's office. Even though Elizabeth had thought that when they had stopped there before going to the jail. Jack realized that it also made more sense to use Abigail's office. Jack thought for a moment why they didn't use the old mining office and then it dawned on him that Andy probably rented it and Wynn was giving him his space.

"So Jacobs and I figured out what is going to happen with the children from Rock Creek." Wynn said.

"How many orphans were there?" Jack asked.

"Three." Dee said. "But there were also six other children that lost their mothers. Four of those men could have returned to work today, but couldn't take their young children. The fifth man would need more time to recover and it turns out that he is headed to be with family in Saskatoon. He left today when the widow from Silverton left with Andy. He got all of them train tickets to where they needed to go. He was taking them to Buxton tonight and then on to Union City in the morning where they will board trains east."

"You said that there were six children." Elizabeth said.

"We have two pairs of siblings." Dee said. "One whose dad will return to work and one that is orphaned."

"Got it." Elizabeth said.

"So what is going to happen?" Jack asked.

"All the children will be staying in Hope Valley for now." Wynn said. "The three orphans will be placed with people who have been given temporary guardianship while we work with the courts to push through the adoptions, if that is what the families want."

"Katie Yost definitely wants to adopt the four year twin girls." Dee said. "Right now, Tom and Ann Grady haven't indicated that they want to adopt the eight year old boy. They have however agreed to take him in and see how it goes. With the way that Jacobs wrote up the guardianship, they will have ninety days to decide."

"What happens if it doesn't work out?" Elizabeth asked.

"We will see if there is another family in town that is willing." Wynn said. "However I have a feeling that it will work out."

"What about the other children?" Elizabeth asked.

"They have all been placed with families." Dee said. "The families have guardianship of the children while the fathers retain their rights. The fathers can at any time terminate their rights, giving the family first chance to adopt the child or children. Also the fathers can at any time terminate the agreement if they feel things aren't working out. In that case the father will be expected to take responsibility for the child and not leave them at the nearest orphanage. Jacobs made it clear to each of them that he would be checking in on them and the children. He also told them that they are expected to help with the expenses related to their child or children."

"Good." Jack said.

"What about the orphans?" Elizabeth asked. "I know that a lot of people are struggling. Even the families that offered to take in children, it could be hard to make ends meet. I am worried that they will not be able to provide for them."

"We thought about that." Wynn said. "We have established a fund to help the children and all the settlers. Mr Yeager put up a large sum to start the fund. We are also encouraging anyone that wants to help to donate to the fund. It will be run by Bill and Pastor Frank. They will see that the children and settlers have what they need."

"Good." Elizabeth said. "I would like to give something toward the fund."

"You don't have to do that." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"You have done more than enough." Charlotte said.

"Did you add to it?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Wynn said.

"Then so can I." Elizabeth said.

"Fine." Wynn said. "The account was set up at the bank. It is called the Children's Fund, even though it will be used to help everyone."

"I am glad that things are worked out so the children can stay here." Charlotte said. "I know that the two older boys were worried about what would happen to them. I know that there are a few that are cousins."

"Well." Elizabeth said. "I know that Hope Valley will do everything they can to make sure that all the children are taken care of. If there is one thing about this town, it doesn't seem to matter who the child belongs to, everyone looks out for them."

"So what is next?" Jack asked.

Wynn looked at the list of things that he wanted to cover with Jack and saw his note from earlier that he had put in the folder so as not to lose it.

"I know that this is off topic." Wynn said. "But I wanted to talk to Jack about Will Walker. You said that when he got in trouble the last time, you had him in a jail cell for the afternoon."

Charlotte looked at Jack with a disapproving scowl.

"Ma." Jack said. "Before you start, please let me explain."

"Then talk." Charlotte said.

"When Will took Opal's bear, Brownie." Jack said. "He wouldn't give it back. When I told him that he wasn't allowed to take things that didn't belong to him, he stood up and challenged me saying that he didn't have to listen to me as I wasn't his Pa. This was in front of several other boys. Boys that I had worked hard to gain their trust and show them that I was different from the Pinkertons. If I could have turned that boy over my knee right there, I would have.

Instead, I took a deep breath, grabbed the back of his shirt, escorted him into the jail and put him in a cell. I told him that if he wanted to act all tough and take things that didn't belong to him, then that was where people who did those things would end up. I did it to try and get him to think about his actions. I was also trying to control my temper because when I was escorting him into the jail, he spit on me. Ma, you know how I feel about people who challenge my authority. I couldn't let what he did go unpunished, especially not in front of the other boys.

When I went to talk to the boy, I had no intention of putting him in a cell. It was his actions and behavior that led to him sitting in the cell for a few hours. I had hoped that it would show him what his life could be like if he continued to behave the way he did. As I also said, I was trying to control my temper. At that moment, he was safer behind bars than sitting at the desk and continuing to challenge me."

Charlotte nodded.

"As soon as I saw Jack take Will inside." Elizabeth said. "I called the other children together and sent them back to the classroom. I then sent the older sister to get her parents. After quickly speaking to Jack, I went back to the classroom and had a serious discussion about respecting authority. We also had a discussion about what was proper behavior and what wasn't acceptable."

"Alright." Wynn said. "You handled the situation the best that you felt at the time. Just please don't make it a habit of putting children in a cell. I understand your need to get across the seriousness of what he did. I also understand that neither of you had been in town long and were both working to still establish your place and earn respect."

"Thank you." Jack said. "I didn't make that decision lightly. I will say that it was very effective though. I have heard several of the boys remind each other that if they keep it up, I might just lock them up in the cell for the afternoon and then they will have to miss recess for a week. I think that they associate Will getting locked up and having to spend the next week inside at recess together and not as separate punishments from each of us."

"It is like Abigail said." Dee said.

"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth said.

"When dealing with Monclair and potential other Mounties who have started to copy his behavior." Dee said.

"What did she say?" Aunt Elizabeth asked.

"She said make an example of one." Wynn said. "And then like children, they will see that you are serious about consequences and fall in line."

"She isn't wrong." Charlotte said.

"Moving on." Wynn said. "We were able to get a description of the man that had been out at Silverton collecting rent after Gowen was gone."

"That is a good thing right?" Jack asked.

"Yes and no." Dee said. "No one actually knew his name. I have worked up a sketch based on what the ladies said. I also talked to the boys from the settlement and they helped with a few more details. I want to show the sketch to the women before I send it out in search of information."

Dee pulled out his sketchbook and flipped to the page to show Jack. Elizabeth looked over, then took the book from Jack. She looked at it a little closer.

"Do you know who that is?" Wynn asked.

"I think I have seen him." Elizabeth said. "Actually, I know that I have seen him. Give me a minute. I am trying to remember when and where."

Elizabeth continued to look at the sketch. She also read what Dee had written about a bowler hat and French accent. Elizabeth closed her eyes, like she was trying to recall something. Everyone gave her a moment to think.

"I know that I have seen this man in town." Elizabeth said. "But that wasn't the first time I saw him. I know I have seen him somewhere else, but I can't remember."

"Okay." Wynn said. "What do you remember about the man when you saw him here in town?"

"It was at the cafe." Elizabeth said. "I noticed him because he was dressed like someone from Hamilton would dress. I remember Abigail asking if I knew who it was. I told her that he looked familiar, but couldn't place him. She asked him who he was and she told me that he said he was just passing through, but didn't offer a name. He paid in cash and left a nice tip."

"When was this?" Dee asked. "Maybe he stayed at the saloon."

"The first time was after Jack got hurt taking down the Garrisons." Elizabeth said.

"Wait." Wynn said. "You said that was the first time."

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I know that I saw him here in Hope Valley at least twice. The other was when Jack was gone to Rock Creek."

"Okay." Dee said. "So we have a time line. Jack, when were you in Rock Creek?"

"First part of March." Jack said. "I was gone for a few days. I was out with the injury from the Garrisons at the end of January and the first part of February."

"It fits then that this would be the lawyer collecting rent." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"I agree." Wynn said. "Beth, if you think of anything else, please let us know. We really need to figure out who he is. I think that he may hold a piece of the puzzle that we can't seem to get the whole picture of."

"I will." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth handed the sketch book back to Dee.