Chapter 127 – Late Night Conversations

"What else?" Jack asked. "Also have there been any messages or mail for me."

Dee looked at his father.

"Actually." Dee said. "There was a message for you and I have mail. I would have forgotten. Thanks for reminding me."

Dee opened his messenger bag and pulled out a large envelope, two smaller ones and an envelope for a wire message. Before Dee had a chance to hand them over, Wynn spoke.

"Jack." Wynn said. "Before you get upset, I had Dee open the wire message. It came in, addressed to Constable Thornton. I wanted to double check that it wasn't an official business that one of us could handle while you recover."

"Okay." Jack said. "I take it, it isn't official business."

"Yes and no." Wynn said. "See for yourself."

Jack grabbed the bundle and set everything down, then grabbed the wire message. Jack opened it and read it through before handing it to his mother.

"Should I be worried?" Jack asked.

"No." Dee said. "I know Shaw, if there was a problem he would have said."

"Okay." Jack said. "I will leave it be for now. I will just file this and save it."

"Sounds good." Wynn said. "If Dee says that Shaw would tell you, I would believe him."

"I still don't like that he was in a fight." Charlotte said. "But I will defer to you guys. At least it sounds like he was defending himself and not starting trouble."

"I agree." Dee said. "When Tom left for Port McNeil, I wired Shaw and then sent a letter. I explained the situation a little and told him that Tom was heading out there to start over after some trouble back east and asked if would keep an eye on him. He wired back and let me know that Tom had arrived and that he would keep an eye on Tom, letting us know if there was a problem. I trusted him when he said that Tom was defending himself."

"Thank you." Charlotte said. "I am glad that Tom is taking this opportunity. I know that he hasn't always had it easy. I know that for the longest time, he felt he was living in Jack's shadow as well as that of his father.."

Jack let out a harsh breath and looked at his mother.

"Ma." Jack said. "I never knew that Tom felt that way."

"It is what it is." Charlotte said.

"Not uncommon." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Especially with a younger sibling. I am sure he saw how well you did things and felt that he could never live up to the bar that you had set."

"I never expected him to follow me." Jack said. "I always tried to remind him to be his own person."

"I know that you did." Charlotte said. "But it doesn't change the way that he felt. There was nothing that you could do. As close as you were to your father, Tom was as distant. Even though Tom is much more like his father than you. You are more like me than I care to admit."

"Well which is it?" Jack asked. "I always felt I was more like you Ma, but Wynn says I am more like my father. Even Bill says I am like my father at times."

"You may have the same sense of duty as your father." Wynn said. "But you have your mother's personality and you definitely get your stubborn streak from her. Granted, I see several traits that I know that you got from your father. I would say that you are a good mix of both, but more like your mother."

"I agree." Charlotte said.

Jack just looked at the other adults at the table and shook his head. He had spent his entire adult life trying to live like his father would have, only to realize that he was more like his mother than he ever thought. Jack had thought he was like his mother, but then spending time with Wynn and him talking about his father, Jack started to think that he was more like his father. Jack knew that Wynn was right that Jack got his stubborn streak from his mother. Jack knew that as stubborn as he was, that his mother was worse. Jack even knew that Elizabeth was as stubborn as his mother. He had said it himself before, that he was surrounded by strong stubborn women. He would include Elizabeth Rose, Abigail and Rosemary in that group as well. Hell if Jack was being honest, most of the women who called Hope Valley home were strong and stubborn, some more than others.

Jack shook his head to clear his thoughts as he knew that there was more, but he was reaching his limit. He also knew that he wanted to talk to Dee about something with only Elizabeth present. Jack knew that he had a little more energy, but he wanted to use it to talk to Dee.

"What else do we need to deal with?" Jack said. "I am getting tired."

"There is just one more thing." Wynn said. "We can talk more about it later, but you need to know. We got a wire about an escaped prisoner. This prisoner has made threats on my life, so there will be a protection detail coming in at some point this weekend. One is already in place for Sophie, not that I think that she is in danger, but I didn't want to take any chances. Other than the people here, the only other non Mounties that know are Lee and Abigail. Bill was going to give the description to Ned, Sam, Kevin and the ladies at the cafe. I have ordered all the Mounties to be armed even if not in uniform. Lee and Chris will also be armed. So even if you are not on duty, if you leave the house or yard, please have your sidearm. I would also have it handy in the house here. I saw that your gun belt was hanging by the door."

"Okay." Jack said. "I also have a pistol upstairs, as well as a rifle in the wardrobe. What are you going to tell people when they ask about the extra Mounties?"

"We are going to tell them that we are staging out of Hope Valley because Dad is here." Dee said. "We will say that we are looking for a criminal and it is only one of several staging areas across the country. There is another out of Regina and a third out near Stony Mountain where the man escaped from."

"Okay." Jack said. "I have several questions, but they can wait. I need some sleep."

"We will talk tomorrow." Wynn said.

"Dee." Elizabeth said. "What was that message that came before you headed into town?"

"I don't know." Dee said. "With Bill needing help, I never opened it."

Dee reached into his pocket and pulled the message out. He opened it and read it. He made no comment, but handed it to his father. He then closed his eyes and shook his head. Everyone else at the table could tell that it wasn't good news. Wynn looked at the message in his hand.

DC Delaney, Hope Valley, Alberta

Hamilton Headquarters RNWMP

RE: C. Younger

Confirmed that escaped prisoner is a member of the Romero family by marriage. Take caution. Reinforcements have been sent. Country wide alert sent out. Unsure of the last location of the Romero family as they have gone underground. Working contacts will inform you when we have information.

Sr Deputy Commissioner Connor

"Damn it." Wynn hissed.

"How bad?" Jack asked.

Wynn closed his eyes and counted to ten so he had a better control of his emotions before he spoke. He knew that he had to choose his words carefully.

"Bad." Wynn said. "What I am going to say is not to be repeated. The other Mounties will know, but we don't need to create a panic."

"Okay." Jack said.

"The escaped prisoner." Wynn said. "We just learned that he is a confirmed member of the Romero family. Apparently, he has married into the family. Sr Deputy Commissioner Connor has issued a nationwide alert."

"Oh this is bad." Charlotte said. "I have seen the wanted posters. That is not a family that you want to mess with. Whether by blood or marriage, family is family with them."

"I know." Wynn said. "Please don't say anything to other people, but Charlotte please keep your sidearm handy."

"I have said I will." Charlotte said. "I also know that Jacobs doesn't like it. He said I was a bit of a hot head and he was afraid that I was going to shoot someone one day. I told him that he shouldn't worry about it, if I shot someone, they had it coming. Besides that, I am a much better shot than most of your men. I have my rifle in my tent as well. I also have a second sidearm in my saddlebag. I have only been carrying my derringer and the knife since Jacobs temporarily took my other one. Grant I have it back, but I wasn't going to push the issue with him."

Wynn just shook his head because he knew that Charlotte was right. Wynn knew that Charlotte was a much better shot then most of the men that he worked with.

"I will have both of mine as well." Aunt Elizabeth said. "One strapped to my leg and my derringer in my purse."

Elizabeth looked at her aunt.

"Don't look at me like that Beth." Aunt Elizabeth said. "It would do you good to learn how to handle one. Wynn taught me and I am sure that Jack and/or Charlotte would be willing to teach you. Especially with you living way out here."

"I will think about it." Elizabeth said.

"I think that it is a good idea." Jack said. "Especially since when we are in the new house, you will be a little further away and there are no neighbors right next door."

"I said I will think about it." Elizabeth said with a cold tone.

"Okay." Jack said, picking up on the tone Elizabeth used.

"Dee, please stay here tonight." Wynn said. "Especially with the jail full."

"I will." Dee said. "I will stay down here."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I think that the rest of us should head out. Jack and Beth both need their rest. We will talk more tomorrow."

"Charlotte." Dee said. "Please consider staying inside."

"I will be fine." Charlotte said. "I know that there is room, but I don't mind. If that changes I will let you know. Anyone who comes in that tent will have a rude awakening and probably won't live to tell about it."

"Fine, just be safe." Wynn said. "Good night Jack and Beth. We will talk more tomorrow. Dee, early please."

"Yes, Sir." Dee said.

"Have a good night, Charlotte." Wynn said.

"Want me to walk you back?" Dee asked.

"No." Wynn said. "We will be fine."

Elizabeth stood and hugged her aunt and uncle before seeing them out. When Elizabeth turned, she saw Jack and Charlotte talking quietly at the table and Dee getting the cot out.

"Dee." Elizabeth said. "You can take the bed that your Dad had been sleeping in. You don't have to sleep on the cot."

"I already stripped the bed." Dee said.

"So I have more sheets." Elizabeth said.

"Honestly." Dee said. "I don't mind the cot."

"But you are a guest in this house and you are more than welcome to take the bed." Elizabeth said. "Actually I am going to insist upon it."

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and looked at Dee, with not quite a full on scary teacher face. Dee put his hands up in surrender. He knew that there was no point in arguing with Elizabeth about certain things, especially when she started using the tone that she had been using.

"Fine I won't argue." Dee said.

"I will run up and get the sheets." Charlotte said, jumping up.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

Jack waited a moment and then turned to Dee.

"Dee." Jack said. "You were going to say something about Viola earlier, but your mother shut you down. What was it?"

Dee looked at Jack for a moment before sitting and motioning for Elizabeth to sit as well.

"I talked to Andrew in Ottawa." Dee said. "We both did a little research into Sir Lionel."

"Who is Andrew again?" Jack asked.

"My brother-in-law." Dee said.

"That is right." Jack said. "I knew that. Until I have met people, I sometimes have trouble remembering who they are."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked. "Why do research? Why involve Andrew?"

"Because apparently." Dee said. "Sir Lionel comes from a very well known aristocratic British family. He could have easily married into any one of the European royal families. We were wondering why a high society lady from Canada instead. It didn't make sense to either of us, especially as Sir Lionel had/has no intention of remaining in Canada long term."

"Now you have my attention." Elizabeth said.

Dee didn't respond right away as he saw Charlotte coming down the stairs. She sensed that they were talking about something that was none of her business, so she was going to leave them be."

"I will just leave this here." Charlotte said, setting down the fresh sheets. "You all have a good night and I will see you in the morning."

"Night, Ma." Jack said.

"Night, Charlotte." Elizabeth said.

"Night." Dee said. "I will leave the back door unlocked for you."

"Thank you." Charlotte said.

Charlotte gave Jack a kiss on the head and then went out the back door to her tent.