Chapter 141 – Cadets and Patricia Winters
Bill got up and unlocked the door, letting McGinty in.
"I just wanted to let you know." McGinty said. "The cadets and three other protection members arrived. I have the young woman getting settled at the saloon. The two men are also getting settled at the saloon. The cadets are getting settled in the other tent. Corporal Carlson thought that they could stay in one as well, so they put it up."
"Thank you." Wynn said. "When the young lady is settled, please take her to the cafe. She will be with my wife for now and she is over there. Please have the cadets get something to eat and then some shuteye. They will be on guard overnight tonight. On second thought, bring them over for a moment to make introductions."
"Yes, Sir." McGinty said. "What should I do with the two gentlemen, they asked for you specifically."
"Send them over." Wynn said. "We are almost done here. Anything else from the man in the jail?"
"Just a few French words and some I didn't understand." McGinty said. "Mostly demanding we let him go or that he wanted something to eat."
"Thank you." Wynn said. "Please make sure that we record anything we can that he says. He might give something up without knowing it."
"Yes, Sir." McGinty said. "I will send the gentlemen and cadets over and then take the young lady over to the cafe. I believe that Mrs Thornton is still over there as well."
"Yes, Elizabeth should be there." Jack said. "Have you seen my mother?"
"I believe that she went for a ride about an hour ago." McGinty said. "She had her rifle on her saddle and I also saw that she had a gun belt on."
"Thank you." Jack said. "Please keep an eye out. I know that she can take care of herself, but we had words earlier and she was mad."
"Got it." McGinty said. "I will make sure that she is okay."
Jack smiled at his friend. McGinty nodded before heading out to do his assigned tasks.
"Jack." Wynn said. "I think we need to get you home, so that you can rest. I don't want you to over do it. Especially if you want to have Easter dinner with everyone tomorrow."
"I think a nap sounds good." Jack said.
"I will go get Lee." Bill said. "He can drive you and Elizabeth home, then we will have someone come out and be with you."
"Okay." Jack said.
Bill got up and went to get Lee. Wynn looked over at Jack.
"I will be out in a little while." Wynn said. "After you have a nap. We will talk about what upset Charlotte. I will be honest, I know about the papers."
"I figured that you knew." Jack said. "He told us as much, but I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Understood." Wynn said.
The young woman said that she could find the cafe. After McGinty left her, she walked out of the saloon and looked around the small town. She enjoyed her job providing security for the families of the men who kept the country safe. As she looked around, she saw lots of people coming and going. Several nodded to her in greeting, but continued with what they were doing. She saw a group of girls playing a game on the boardwalk and headed to them. She knew that Mrs Delaney was at the cafe, but wanted to see if the girls would know who she was talking about and tell her anything.
"Afternoon children." The woman said. "I am visiting and looking to surprise a friend of mine that is supposed to be here. I was wondering if you could help me."
"I am Anna." Anna said. "I have Rachel, Roseleen and Jolene with me."
Each of the girls waved as Anna said their names.
"Who are you looking for?" Rachel asked.
"I am looking for Mrs Delaney." The woman said.
"I think she is helping at the cafe." Jolene said. "She makes really good cookies."
"I know that she does." The woman said.
"What is your name?" Roseleen asked.
"My name is Patricia Winters." The woman said. "But you girls can call me Miss Patty."
"That is pretty." Roseleen said. "My daddy's name was Patrick."
"Strong name." Patricia said. "Thank you for your help, girls. I will be seeing you around."
Patricia smiled at the children before walking over to the cafe. When she entered, she looked around and saw several ladies having tea and talking. She decided to take a seat and wait. It wasn't long and a young woman came out to help her.
"I am Clara." She said. "Can I get you something?"
"I wouldn't mind some tea." Patricia said. "Also I am looking for Mrs. Delaney."
Clara looked back at the kitchen for a moment and then turned to the woman.
"I will get your tea." Clara said. "I will let her know that there is someone looking for her. Can I tell her a name?"
"Tell her that Patty is here." Patricia said.
"Okay." Clara said.
Clara turned and headed back to the kitchen. It wasn't long and Elizabeth Rose was coming out into the dinning room.
"Patty." Elizabeth Rose greeted. "What are you doing here?"
Patty shrugged and just accepted the hug from her friend.
"Come join us in the kitchen." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Are you sure?" Patty asked.
"I insist." Elizabeth Rose said.
They walked back to the kitchen and Clara had set the tea on the table there.
"I would like to introduce a friend of mine." Elizabeth Rose said. "This is Patricia Winters. Patricia, this is Ann Grady. Clara Stanton. Abigail Stanton, mayor and owner of the cafe. Finally, we have Elizabeth Thornton, Hope Valley's school teacher."
"Hello, everyone." Patricia said. "Please feel free to call me Pat or Patty."
"Welcome to Hope Valley." Abigail said. "I am going to insist that you join us tomorrow for Easter dinner. Any friend of the Delaneys is welcome here."
"Thank you very much." Patricia said. "I think I will do just that."
"I will let you sit and catch up." Abigail said. "We are almost done here anyway."
"Beth, please join us." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I think I will." Elizabeth said. "I suspect that Jack should be back soon. He still needs to rest and I don't want him to push it. If he isn't back here soon, I think I will go get him. I also need to get home and get something on for supper."
"Nonsense." Abigail said. "We have plenty of food here. I can always send something home."
"Don't forget." Elizabeth said. "I have at least four extra people at the house right now."
"Still." Abigail said. "Just let us know."
"I have a roast in the ice box." Elizabeth said. "It shouldn't take long to cook."
Elizabeth joined her aunt and friend for some tea. Abigail went over to Ann and whispered something to her before heading to the dining room. Elizabeth looked at Abigail and shook her head. She knew that the woman was up to something, but she wasn't going to argue. She knew that it wouldn't do any good anyway.
It wasn't long that both Bill and McGinty were back along with another Mountie, five cadets and another gentleman that was dressed in jeans and button up.
"Lee is at the cafe and will wait for you, Jack." Bill said.
"Thank you." Jack said. "Welcome gentleman."
Jack stood and went to greet the men before he walked across the road.
"Before I leave." Jack said. "I am Corporal Jack Thornton and this is my town. I am technically still on medical leave after being injured while rescuing a child from a flash flood. I just want you to know who I am. I also want to make it clear that if anything happens to my town I will hold you responsible. I care about these people. They are special. Take some time to talk to them. They have been through a lot, but they have a spirit that isn't easily broken."
The cadets immediately snapped to a salute that was returned by Jack.
"Please introduce yourselves." Jack said. "Then I need to leave to get some rest."
"I am Captain Edward Wilson." The casually dressed man said. "You can call me Eddie. I will be eyes and ears in the background. I will not be in uniform and I will be spending time among the people of the town, gathering information. If anyone asks, I am doing research for my boss for potential investments. So it will be a good thing if I don't talk to you in anything other than a social setting."
"Good to meet you." Jack said. "We won't keep you. Feel free to come visit me at my house. I have been in town almost a year and know most everyone."
"I just might have to do that." Eddie said. "Now I will go so as not to blow my cover."
Eddie turned and left after shaking Jack's hand. Jack then turned to the Mountie in uniform.
"I am Captain Lawrence Campbell." The Mountie said. "I am here to deal with your prisoner and relay information."
The men exchanged salutes.
"Welcome." Jack said. "Please have a seat."
Captain Campbell took a seat and Jack looked at Wynn before turning to the cadets. Wynn saw the look on Jack's face and stepped forward.
"For those of you that don't know." Wynn said. "I am Deputy Commissioner Wynn Delaney."
The cadets immediately snapped to another salute. Wynn returned the salute and then nodded for them to introduce themselves.
"Cadet Leader Ryan Edwards."
"Cadet George Harvey."
"Cadet Christopher Kane."
"Cadet Evan Peters."
"Cadet Jake Townson."
"We weren't told anything other than to report to Hope Valley to help." Cadet Edwards said.
"Very well." Wynn said. "Here is what you need to know. You will be guarding Corporal Thornton and his wife. You will be there overnights and anytime Mrs Thornton leaves the house, including going to school, starting Monday. You may also be used in other ways, but for now guarding Corporal Thornton and his wife will be your main assignment. Let me make this clear, your future as Mounties is dependent on you keeping Corporal Thornton and his wife safe. You fail to do that and you won't graduate in a month. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Sir." The cadets answered.
"Good." Wynn said. "Then I suggest that you care for your horses, get some food and figure out a schedule. We might be getting other cadets, so keep the schedule flexible. There will be two of you at the house overnights. I want you to work in six hour shifts starting at seven tonight. Also you will be reporting to Sergeant Jacobs or Sheriff Avery."
"Yes, Sir." Cadet Edwards said.
Bill and Jacobs walked over. The cadets snapped to a salute which was returned by both Bill and Jacobs.
"I am Sergeant Jeremiah Jacobs." Jacobs said. "I am currently staying at the saloon. You don't do anything without my permission or that of Sheriff Avery. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Sir." The cadets said.
"Good." Jacobs said.
"I am Sheriff Bill Avery." Bill said. "I am also a former Inspector with the Mounties. I stay in the back room of the jail. Don't cross me because I would sooner make you muck out stalls and haul wood and water for the widows if you can't follow directions."
"Yes, Sir." The cadets said.
"Dismissed." Wynn said.
McGinty turned with the cadets and led them out of the office. Jack waited a moment and then turned to Wynn.
"You won't really fail them if something happens to me?" Jack asked. "Will you?"
"That depends." Wynn said. "They need to know that this is serious and for now, their future depends on how well they do their job."
Jack just nodded, but didn't say anything else. Jack also knew that Bill was serious about what he said.
"Thank you for updating me." Jack said. "I will leave you gentleman to talk. Jacobs, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join us for supper if you want. If not tonight, then sometime this week."
"I am not sure about tonight." Jacobs said. "But I promise that I will this week."
"Good enough." Jack said.
He then turned and headed out of the office and across the street. Jack knew that he needed to talk to Elizabeth about the cadets and security, but he didn't want to frighten her. Jack wasn't sure what he was going to say to Elizabeth, but he knew that he was going to have to tell her some of what was going on.
