In the days that followed, Elizabeth was thankful to Rosemary for insisting that she stayed with her and Lee. Physically, Elizabeth was tired and sore for a couple of days. As Dr. Simmons had told her to expect that, she did not let it worry her. She was however thankful for the help with Little Jack that she received from Rosemary, Lee and even Laura. Even Nathan stopped by one afternoon and asked to take Jack fishing with him. Remembering Jack's joy that afternoon by the river, Elizabeth let her son go. She knew that Jack would be safe with Nathan. As she watched Jack walk away from the Coulter's house, one hand holding onto Nathan's hand and the other in Ally's hand, Elizabeth felt a pang of regret and guilt. She had chosen so wrong when it came to what was best for Jack. She should have considered her son more and what she had wanted a little less. Perhaps if she had not been so focused on looking for the familiar and safe, she would have seen through the facade that Lucas had been presenting.

On the day she was expecting Lucas home from his business trip, Elizabeth asked Lee to drive her and Little Jack home. Lee graciously obliged, taking some time to make sure Elizabeth was settled before leaving her.

By the time her husband arrived home, Elizabeth had cooked dinner and set the table. She was determined not to bring up anything that had happened before Lucas had left town. She knew from experience that it would be best just to go on as if nothing had happened.

Hearing the front door open, Elizabeth left the kitchen and headed to greet her husband. Entering the hallway, she saw that Lucas was already hanging up his coat.

"How was your business trip?" Elizabeth asked, forcing herself to sound upbeat and interested even though she wished he was still out of town.

"Things went my way this time, which given the situation, is the best I can ask for right now," Lucas told her. "I have a feeling the situation is not settled quite yet."

"Does that mean you will have to go out of town on another business trip soon?" Elizabeth asked, trying to make the question sound like casual conversation. She hoped that her husband couldn't hear the excitement that she felt at the prospect.

"It is a possibility," Lucas replied. "Is dinner ready?" he asked, giving Elizabeth a quick peck on the cheek as he headed toward the dining room.

"It is," Elizabeth replied. "I just need to bring it to the table."

"Good," Lucas said. "I have not eaten since breakfast."

Elizabeth stepped into the sitting room to tell Jack to wash up for dinner. Her son obeyed the command, leaving his half-built cabin on the floor. As Jack went to wash his hands before dinner, Elizabeth went to the kitchen. She quietly went about getting the food into serving dishes and out on the dining room table where Lucas waited. By the time the food was on the table, Jack had climbed up into a chair as far away from Lucas as he could manage to get. Elizabeth meanwhile took the first chair to Lucas' left as her husband sat at the head of the table. Grace was said and then the meal began. Elizabeth first made a plate for her son and then put a little food on a plate for herself.

Though her appetite had returned over the past day, Elizabeth did not feel very hungry tonight. Already, she was worried about what would happen later that night. Would Lucas expect her to provide her wifely duties tonight after he had been out of town for the last few days or not? She already knew that it didn't matter what she wanted. Even if she did tell him about the miscarriage, it wouldn't matter. If he wanted her, then Lucas would have his way with her. Any protest on her part would just make him upset and more forceful.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Elizabeth found she missed her son's chatter which had been present during their stay with Lee and Rosemary. But now, Jack ate quietly, his eyes focused on the plate before him.

Later that night, Elizabeth tucked Jack into bed and then proceeded to read him a story. Her little boy cuddled close to her as she read. She cherished this time together. During this time, it was just her and Jack. Her husband never intruded.

Elizabeth finished reading when her son had fallen asleep. Closing the book, she set it aside and then tucked her son under the blankets. Still, she lingered there for a time afterwards, afraid of what would be waiting for her when she left his room.

Finally, not wanting Lucas to come looking for her, Elizabeth got to her feet. She walked to the room she shared with Lucas. Stepping through the doorway, she paused. Her husband had opened most of the drawers and had clearly searched them. Several pieces of jewelry lay strewn across the top of the dresser.

"The locket is not here," Elizabeth said, gaining Lucas' attention.

Lucas closed the dresser drawer he had been searching with a bit of force. The resulting noise sounding unnaturally loud to Elizabeth, who jumped. Her husband's actions made her relieved that she had asked Rosemary to hold onto it for her. Even though he had left it with her when he had left, Elizabeth had a feeling that Lucas would not let the subject of the locket go.

"I guess that is a step in the right direction," Lucas said closing the distance between them.

Standing before her, Lucas pulled her toward him with one arm. Elizabeth forced herself to move toward him willingly. For better or worse, he was her husband now. Perhaps the charming man she had fallen in love with, was still within him somewhere. She rested her hands on his shoulders as Lucas pushed the door shut behind her and then locked the door. As the lock clicked shut, Elizabeth couldn't help but think of the lock of a cell door clicking shut.

"Why are you so threatened about the past?" Elizabeth asked quietly, wanting to understand her husband better. Part of her wanted to hope that things might still get better. "I chose you."

"You may have chosen me, but there is still a part of you that is not mine. I may be generous with my money but I want my wife to belong to me and me only," Lucas told her. With the hand not wrapped around her waist, he placed a few fingers under her chin and captured her lips with his.

Elizabeth tried to return the kiss. To give her husband what he wanted but in her heart she knew that it was impossible. She had loved Jack. He was a part of her and a piece of her heart would always be Jack's.

As Lucas moved her to their bed and pushed her roughly down on it with one hand, his other hand undoing his pants, Elizabeth couldn't help but remember the tenderness that Nathan had shown her at the schoolhouse and while he had brought her home. Was it too much to ask for a little of that tenderness from her own husband?

However, tenderness was no longer the forte of her husband as he slipped off his pants and then turned to her. No longer was removing their clothing a part of the experience but instead Lucas flipped her skirt and petticoats up. He didn't seem to care to take in her form. There was only one interest for him as he removed her bloomers.

Elizabeth remembered the pain she had experienced these last few days because of the miscarriage. That pain had finally faded but was her body ready for sexual intercourse. She had not bothered asking the doctor. Not that it mattered.

Still, perhaps tonight would be the night Lucas actually heard her.

"Please, not tonight, Lucas," Elizabeth said. She could hear the pleading in her own voice.

"I have been gone for a few days. One would think a wife would be anxious to give herself to her husband on his return," Lucas told her, even as his fingers roughly tried to prepare her to accept him.

Elizabeth grimaced at the rough touch.

"Unless of course you used my absence to meet up with someone else," Lucas told her.

"I am not one of your saloon girls," Elizabeth told him indignantly despite the pain she was feeling.

"You sure act like one in bed," Lucas told her.

Angered by the insinuation, Elizabeth slapped Lucas across the cheek.

Her husband seemed surprise but then a grin spread across his feature. "There is still some spirit left in you after all," he said a leer on his face. Reaching out with his free hand, Lucas captured her wrists in his and pinned them to the bed over her head.

Elizabeth felt fear creep into her. Lucas had been rough on other occasions. Never before had she slapped him before the act. She had a feeling he would make her pay for the action. She struggled underneath him feeling a sudden urge to get free.

"I don't want to do this Lucas," Elizabeth told him, as she struggled against his hold on her.

Lucas laughed at the response. "This is a part of marriage, Elizabeth. You should know that," he said, positioning himself to better pin her to the bed even as he continued to exact his pleasure on her.

Elizabeth felt the tears fill her eyes as a sob escaped her. She ceased her struggles, now simply wishing for it all to be over.

Nathan walked through town. Though this was not the Hope Valley that he had first come to, its long time citizens were trying to keep the spirit of their town alive. The fact that the factory and new school had been built out by the railroad station meant that little had changed in this area. The buildings were the same. New faces were sprinkled in with the familiar ones, but at least here, Hope Valley still looked the same.

Henry Gowen tipped his hat to him as he came out of Lee's office. Nathan had been surprised when Gowen had gone back to working for Lee, turning down Lucas' offer to be a part of the petroleum business he had started. Questioned about it, Henry would say he was working on the demons he already had and did not need help creating new ones. Perhaps like his father, Henry had finally made the choice to be respectable in the eyes of those who cared about you and let go of the dream to be seen as important by the society they lived in.

Nathan returned the gesture as he continued his stroll down to his office. Raised voice caught his attention as he approached the Queen of Hearts.

"I do not know how you did it, Bouchard but I am not letting this go."

Spurlock's voice sounded angry as it drifted down the alley between the two buildings. Reaching the opening just before the saloon, Nathan glanced down the alleyway. He was not the only one whose interest had been drawn.

"I do not mind going to Union City again," Lucas said, his voice lower and calmer, as he faced Spurlock just outside one of the side doors of the saloon. "I enjoy making you look like a fool."

Nathan noticed Spurlock's fist clench. While a part of him would not mind seeing someone punch Bouchard, especially given his suspicions about Elizabeth, Nathan knew that it was time to step in. At least come August he would not be duty bound to keep Lucas out of trouble in situations like this.

"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" Nathan asked as he made his way down the alley as Spurlock lifted his fist.

Both Lucas and Spurlock looked up at his question. Spurlock lowered his hand though his fingers remained clenched in a fist. They both glanced in his direction.

"No," Lucas replied, putting on his polished, easy-going demeanor. "No, problem at all. Julius here was just leaving."

"I will make you pay, Bouchard," Julius told him before turning and heading up the alley. "Constable," Julius said casually with a nod as he past Nathan.

Nathan nodded politely though his eyes remained on Lucas. The man looked completely unflustered despite the threat that had just been sent his way.

"Is there something you would like to tell me, Lucas?" Nathan asked.

"Just a minor disagreement between business partners. Nothing you need to concern yourself with Constable."

Nathan sighed. His gut told him more was going on. However, he had nothing concrete and without that, he could not force Lucas to talk.

"You know where my office is if you need my help," Nathan replied. "Try not to drag Elizabeth into your problems like you did with Dixon," he added.

"You do not need to concern yourself with my wife, Constable. Good day," Lucas said, before turning and stepping toward the nearby door.

Nathan watched him go inside, vowing to talk to Bill. He might not be able to do anything where Elizabeth was concerned but perhaps Bill could feel things out better. He had a feeling even Bill could put aside his dislike for Bouchard if it would benefit Elizabeth and Jack.

Julius Spurlock scolded himself as he walked away from Lucas and the Mountie. Confronting Bouchard in such a public area in the light of day had been stupid. Their business should have been handled with a bit more finesse.

He wasn't done with Bouchard though.

Looking back over his shoulder, he looked at the two men. Though the Mountie's back was to him, Spurlock had no trouble seeing Bouchard's face as he exchanged words with Constable Grant. The dislike for the Mountie was clear on his face.

Spurlock continued on his way, greeting the other gathered townsfolk benignly as he headed away from the Queen of Hearts. A plan was forming in his mind. One that would let him get his way and make Bouchard pay, just like he had promised.