"Good morning, Bouchard family, and thank you, Lucas, for again loaning us your office to hold these sessions in. I trust you all slept well last night?"

Helen pursed her lips, walked past the doctor into Lucas's office, and sat on the settee.

Martin rolled his eyes and followed her, grabbed a chair, and sat across from her rather than sitting next to her.

Lucas stood at the doorway, looking between his parents and then to the doctor. "I slept well."

Bennett smirked, "Well, that's good, Lucas. At least someone is speaking."

Lucas entered his office and stopped, again looking at his parents. He raised his hand to his chin as he contemplated where they were sitting. He and Helen locked eyes, and she raised an eyebrow. Quickly, he moved toward the settee and began to sit as Helen raised her chin. He stopped and stood again, moving to the side of the room where he retrieved another chair. He sat it next to his father, then again began to sit. He was three-quarters of the way down when he stopped again. Standing, he brushed off the seat and, motioning with his hand, offered it to the psychiatrist. Bennett grinned slightly and walked forward.

"Thank you," he said, taking a seat.

Lucas returned to the settee, smoothing his pants and rocking a bit before he settled in.

Bennett removed his pen from his pocket along with his notepad and took down a note. "Tell me, Lucas, why did you hesitate about where to sit, and why did you ultimately decide to sit next to Helen?"

Lucas was quiet for several seconds, considering his own actions. He looked at each of the people in the room. "When we entered, I was at first confused as to why Father wasn't sitting by Mother, and thought that didn't look right, so I thought perhaps I might sit next to her, but then again, I wasn't sure whether or not she really wanted me to – and if I am to be honest, I wasn't sure that I wanted to, so I went to get the other chair; but then, I didn't think it was right that she should sit alone, so I took a risk and sat next to her."

"Interesting," Bennett replied. "And why wouldn't it have been right for her to sit alone? When you left yesterday, you seemed upset with how things were going and were upset with her."

Lucas nodded. "That's true. But the emotions of yesterday do not change my overall feelings toward my mother. They are something I believe we need to work on," he said, now looking at Helen, who was looking at him. "But just because I was angry doesn't mean I don't love her."

Helen smiled softly and reached forward, patting his hand.

Lucas turned toward the doctor. "That isn't wrong, is it?" he asked.

Bennett wrinkled his forehead. "Do you feel it was wrong?"

Lucas considered the question only briefly. "I do not."

Bennett smiled. "Then no, it wasn't wrong. In fact, I would say it is a prime example of someone who has lived through a lot but has come through it a remarkably well-adjusted man. Martin, Helen, despite your difficulties, I commend you and your entire family for surviving what for many would not be survivable and for raising a son you can be proud of."

Helen and Martin both swallowed back emotion, nodding solemnly at a compliment that neither of them felt worthy of accepting at that moment.

"Now, let's put that aside for now, and let's also not address the elephant in the room, which is why Martin and Helen are choosing not to sit together today – unless, of course, you would like to address it.

Helen looked toward Martin. "Address why my husband threatened me with divorce and moved out of our room?"

"After you were planning on running away from dealing with our problems once again," Martin said, looking at his wife.

"Is this true?" Bennett asked. "Were you going to leave, Helen? And have you left your wife, Martin?"

Both parents looked away, and Lucas simply closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"What are you thinking, Lucas?" Bennett asked.

Lucas opened his eyes. "I'm thinking what a mess all of this is. We should be happy, but we're not. I thought we were better than this. Can't we just go back to pretending?"

"Is that what you want to do?" Bennett asked.

Lucas thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No! Living a lie isn't good for anyone. I want to deal with these issues and put them behind us, once and for all."

James turned to Martin and Helen. "And you?"

"That's why we're here, isn't it?" Helen asked.

Bennett looked at Martin, who nodded. "I am willing to try."

"Excellent!" the psychiatrist replied. "I am happy to hear you all say that. And please note I understand that tensions within this family are rather high right now. It is never easy to say or hear things you've tried to avoid for many years. But true progress cannot be made unless you are willing to do so. And so, I again commend you. You are on the right path.

That said, I'd like to do something different today, and that is to set all of our painful feelings aside for now. We will certainly deal with them later. But for today's session, I would like each of you to tell me about one cherished memory that you have toward the person in the family, a memory that doesn't involve Jenny, but a happy memory you have toward the one seated here that you are currently feeling the most animosity toward. For Lucas, I expect that would be your mother. And, for Martin and Helen, I believe that would be each other? Correct?"

Lucas nodded, looking toward his mother, who again squeezed his hand.

"It's okay," she whispered. "I've earned that."

He looked at her earnestly. "No, you haven't," he squeezed her hand back, then turned to the doctor. "May I go first?"

"Certainly," Bennett replied.

"A happy memory I have of my mother is when she would come to my room at night, and I'd sit on her lap in the rocking chair and rest my head on her shoulder, and she'd read to me. She'd read Hawthorne and Kipling, sometimes Twain, but it wasn't the stories themselves that I cherished; rather, it was the fact we had that time together. Both of my parents were often busy, and with two children, Mother's attention was often on my sister. But I knew every night I could count on her to come to my room, and we'd have that special time together, just the two of us. I remember she used to wear her hair down before she would retire, and her hair smelled like roses."

"I would wash it in rosewater," Helen said. "You remember that?"

"Yes, and to this day, I think about those times whenever walking through a rose garden or flower shop. They are very precious to me. It feels like home," he smiled.

"Lovely memory," the doctor replied. "Helen, would you like to go next?"

Helen nodded with a half-smile, then looked toward Martin. "My husband used to take me riding on horseback."

"Really?" Lucas said, surprised.

Martin chuckled. "Don't look so surprised. I was an expert equestrian in my day."

"He was," Helen said. "I would ride on the front of the horse, and he would wrap his arms around me, and we'd fly through the air. In those days, it wasn't considered appropriate for a young lady who wasn't engaged to a man to be alone with him."

"Or even to hold his hand," Martin proffered.

Lucas made a face. "Elizabeth and I would have never survived."

"Oh, we had our ways of getting around the rules," Helen said with an impish smile.

Lucas grinned, tilting his head. "Grandmother's rules?"

Helen widened her eyes. "What your grandmother didn't know certainly didn't hurt her! No, your father would take me on rides in the country, and we even had a completely different set of clothing for me to wear so that I wouldn't get my skirts dirty."

"I always returned her home in one piece," Martin replied.

"Yes, he did. And he was always a gentleman. I never felt unsafe around him. I don't, to this day."

The two parents looked at one another, this time a knowing smile coming through their eyes.

"I promised I would take care of you," Martin said softly.

"And you've kept that word," Helen said. "Even when I made things difficult."

Martin looked toward the floor and then smiled. "Such wasn't always the case from the other end."

Helen furrowed her brow. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Remember when I was challenged to a duel over you?"

Helen's eyes widened. "That was not my fault. I did not encourage him in the least!"

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "A duel? As in, with pistols?"

"Indeed," Martin replied. "After we were engaged, after our five-year courtship, I brought Helen to New Orleans and introduced her to all of the family and friends. Of course, Claude had heard much about my lovely fiancée through the years and had seen her photograph, and he was one of the chief encouragers that I should bring her to New Orleans."

"Claude?" Lucas asked.

"Fontaine. He was your father's best friend from preparatory school," Helen said. "He was handsome and debonaire, intelligent, charming – "

"And a snake!" Martin replied. "He knew that Helen and I were involved and went after her anyway."

"Martin, there was nothing between us," Helen replied.

"That doesn't change the facts, Helen," Martin said. "We were engaged, and that man tried to lure you away."

"What happened?" Lucas asked.

Helen sighed. "Martin was busy running an errand for your Grand-Père and had asked Claude to wait with me until he returned, and the man made advances toward me. He tried to kiss me."

Lucas frowned. "Well, I don't know that I would have engaged in a duel with him, but we certainly would have had words, likely actions as well."

"Oh, you took care of him years later," Martin laughed.

"I did?" Lucas asked.

Helen pursed her lips. "You bit him on the ankle."

Lucas covered his mouth. "THAT man?!"

She shook her head with a grin. "That was the man. We were at a party, and he asked me to meet him alone. You were four years old."

"I didn't like him," Lucas said.

"Discerning child," Martin replied, at which point the three looked at one another.

"So, what happened with the duel?" Lucas asked.

"He never showed," Martin replied. "He later sent a letter expressing his regrets, but the friendship was over. The only reason we saw him at the party is that it was being thrown by the Mayor of New Orleans, with whom he is well connected."

"You should have understood that I wouldn't have gone with him," Helen replied. "After all we had been through."

Martin smirked, "I don't understand you now, woman."

Helen chuckled. "That's fair. I don't understand myself sometimes."

The Bouchards all looked toward the doctor for direction as to what would come next.

"I want you all to observe the moments you chose for this assignment. None of the memories involved traveling to exotic places or purchasing extravagant things. Rather each of them involves spending some quiet time together where you can foster that connection and love that you have for one another. I suspect it's been a long time since you've undertaken to do that?"

"It's been a very long time," Helen responded quietly.

"Then, before our next session, I suggest you each make time to spend with the others individually and try to reconnect. Lay aside any ill feelings you may have at the present. Again, we will deal with those at some point. But I want you to look past what Lucas referred to as 'the emotions of yesterday' and consider your love for each other and as a family. Excellent session! Until next time?"

For the next two days, the Bouchards did just that. They set aside time to be together and made a concerted effort to show one another that they cared. Martin even took Helen out for a carriage ride, reasoning that this mode of transportation would be much kinder on their aging bones than the jostling gallop of a speeding horse. They talked and reminisced and truly laughed for the first time in years. And it began to make a difference.

Martin hadn't moved back in with Helen yet, but he no longer seemed as angry or hopeless about their situation. And Elizabeth noticed a change in Lucas. He was more exuberant and seemed more at peace than at any time since even she had known him. It was a blessing to see him so happy.

Friday morning arrived, and Nathan Grant had already finished his rounds and was getting ready for the soon arrival of Captain Thomas Martyn. He'd spoken to Martyn the day before and had confirmed his travel itinerary, and Martyn had indicated that his superior would be following him to Hope Valley the next day. Nathan wasn't sure why the simple request into a decade-old case had garnered so much attention but knew it was the only way they would gain access to the records, so he didn't challenge it.

Through his own investigation, he saw no connection with any female associated with Solomon Drake's crimes in Canada, so he believed that Jenny had been kept out of it. For that, he was thankful. The family had enough to deal with. Now, to find her.

A knock on his door revealed Bill Avery, who had come to join Grant in greeting Martyn, given he was the one who had initially talked to the man.

"Everything ready for the day?" he asked the Mountie.

Nathan nodded. "I think so. I've gone through those records you sent over and have seen nothing noteworthy in terms of Jenny committing any crimes. I do see that Drake seemed to frequent the same areas, almost like he had set up his own domain," he said, pointing to a map he'd created showing nearby towns where Drake had committed repeat crimes.

"Interesting," Bill said after review. "Do you think he had his own gang of hoodlums?"

Nathan shook his head. "Maybe at the beginning. But over the past decade, he seemed to have worked alone. More petty crime, perhaps just enough to keep him fed."

"Maybe his brother's death spooked him?"

"Maybe. I hope to learn more from our visitor once he gets settled."

"What time is he supposed to be here?" Bill asked.

"About half an hour. Was just getting ready to head to the Taxi office to wait for his arrival."

Jenny Bouchard-Drake slowed her horse as she arrived on the outskirts of town, cautiously looking around at the landscape before her. She then took a deep breath before riding down the main street of Hope Valley. Her heart raced a mile a minute as she apprehensively searched out the nearest mercantile.

Hope Valley wasn't far from where the family had stayed, but Jenny had never been there before. Gazing around at the few people milling around and the storefronts, Jenny felt her heart slow a bit as it seemed like a friendly place to be. It felt like home. The word came to her mind as she finally spotted the store and dismounted, wrapping her reins around a post outside. She regarded her surroundings for a short moment and went inside. Yes, this was a town that could be the home she hadn't had since she was very young. There was just something about it she couldn't put her finger on, but there was a comfort there.

Walking into the building, she saw a man and a woman helping other customers and decided to look around for a moment. Soon, the dark-haired woman walked over to her with a smile. "I'm sorry for the wait. May I help you?"

"Y...yes. I have a short list of supplies that I need. Also, I am on horseback, so if you could pack accordingly?" Jenny said, finishing with a friendly smile as she handed the woman her list.

Florence looked it over quickly. "Flour, salt..." she said, silently mouthing the other items before looking up with a smile of her own. "It will only take a few moments."

"Thank you," Jenny replied. "I'll just browse while you are getting it ready. And could you add a couple of peppermint sticks?"

"Of course," the woman responded. Jenny watched as she went to work, then began strolling through the short aisles, picking up items and examining them before replacing them on the shelves. The door opened and closed. Jenny heard the ding of a bell as it did so.

"Well, hello, Constable Grant. How can I help you today?" The man's words immediately grabbed Jenny's attention, and she hid herself from view, peeking through the open shelves. A tall man in a red serge stood there at the counter.

"I came in to pick up a new barrette for Allie. It seems hers was accidentally stepped on and broken by yours truly." Jenny heard him laugh as his head turned in her direction. She was immediately captured by his eyes, eyes as blue as sapphires, full of kindness and courage. Apparently, he didn't see her because he then turned back to the counter where the store owner was now showing him some merchandise.

"This is all we have right now, Nathan. Seems they are quite popular with the young ladies, but I do have some on order. Do you think she would like any of these?"

Perusing the items, Nathan chose one. "I think this one. But I'll come back in a few days to see what has come in if she isn't happy with it."

"Very good," Ned answered as Nathan handed over a few coins and turned to leave.

"Oh, Ned," he said, returning to the counter. "I'm just about to meet an inspector coming in from New Orleans."

At the mention of her hometown, Jenny's hair rose on end.

"An inspector?" Ned asked.

"Yes. He's a little late in arriving, and I needed to go across the street to speak to Lee for a moment. I just wanted to make you aware in case I happen to miss him so you could direct him my way if he came in here." Nathan walked back toward the door. "He's coming to talk about the Solomon Drake case," he said as he exited. The words struck fear into Jenny's heart. She had to leave.

When she was sure he was gone, Jenny quickly approached the counter. "How much do I owe you?" she said, voice shaking. The woman told her the amount she counted out and placed it in her hand.

"Thank you. And here is your package, all ready for you," Florence replied as she handed it over the counter. "I hope you will come and see us again, Miss...?"

"Thank you. Have a nice day," Jenny quickly said before rushing to the door, glancing out, and heading for her horse, leaving Florence and Ned looking at each other curiously at her behavior.

Grabbing the reins, she mounted up, not realizing that she'd dropped something on the ground in her haste. Jenny situated her purchase speedily before turning the horse back in the direction from which she came. She'd only traveled a few paces when she heard a man's voice. "Excuse me, Miss?" She turned her head and saw the Mountie from the mercantile walking toward where she'd just been. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and Nathan's narrowed.

"Jenny?"

"Hiya!" she hollered as she kicked her horse into a full run.

"Wait!" he called from behind her, but she refused to slow, hoping to avoid the pursuit she knew was coming.

Nathan couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the woman from Lucas's photo in Hope Valley. Jenny is here? He thought as he watched her ride away, and he quickly pocketed the item she had dropped and headed for Newton. She was already out of sight before he was seated; in his excitement, he had missed the stirrup the first time, spooking the horse. When he was in the saddle, he patted the side of Newton's head and finally kicked him into a gallop.

Once out of town, Nathan stopped and looked around, unable to tell which direction they had traveled. He had lost sight of Jenny before he was mounted and considered that she could have gone a couple of ways. Picking one, he again tapped Newton's sides, and they began running, hopefully in the right direction.

Jenny's heart was beating so hard she thought it would fly out of her chest. She repeatedly looked behind her to see if she was being followed, but after several minutes, she realized she had lost her pursuer. She was almost at the house, so she slowed the horse down. The last thing she wanted was to come barreling into the yard and scare her children.

As she rode up, Lydia met her outside, taking the package from her as she dismounted. "Did you have any trouble in town?" the older woman asked.

"No. No trouble at all," Jenny smoothly lied, certain that Lydia could hear her heart pounding as she replied. "Where are the kids?"

"They went to the creek to do some fishing. You look a little pale, honey. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm just a little tired. I haven't slept well since we arrived here, with Jo nestled into my side. Since they're out fishing, maybe I'll take advantage and lie down for a few minutes. I brought them some candy," she said, entering the front door and heading to her room.

"Let me know if you need anything," Lydia said before returning to what she was doing.

Once the door was shut behind her, Jenny sank to the floor, and tears began flowing. She was so nervous her body was quaking all over as she sat there crying. After a few moments, she wiped her eyes and stood to walk over to a chair, sitting down to think.

Who was that Mountie? How did he know her name- her real name? Why was he looking for her? And the biggest question- why did she lie to Nan?

As she pondered, she knew why she had lied. The truth was, she was tired of running. Tired of hiding. Tired of pretending. And tired of not being called by her real name. Yes, she was spooked when the constable spoke to her, but it wasn't in fear that she would be arrested, as she hadn't broken the law. No, her fear was of him, the man she assumed was still out there, knowing she might be able to identify him. Did this Mountie know him? Was he working for him?

Fear-filled thoughts kept rolling through her mind, yet Jenny somehow knew he wasn't one of them. Something in his eyes and the slight crooked smile told her he could be trusted. And yet, she had run. She had been trained to fear those she didn't know, and running was the result of that training.

Holding her head in her hands, Jenny felt a sense of desperation and confusion and knew she needed help. She knew she couldn't speak to Lydia, so she turned to the One who had always been there to help her in time of need. "God, I need you," she prayed. "I need some direction, Father. I don't know what to do."

Jenny's faith had helped her to carry on throughout the course of her life. It was the one enduring element of her life at home that her parents had instilled in her from birth. And even though she was only six when she left them, it was something she treasured more than anything. As she sat there praying, a breeze blew through the window, turning the pages of her open Bible on the shabby desk in the room.

Standing, she walked over, scanning down the page in curiosity until her eyes landed on one verse in Psalm 46. Be still and know that I am God, she read silently, then aloud.

Be still. Be still. She knew in an instant that God had answered her prayer. He would help her, as he always had.

Looking up to the ceiling, she spoke. "Okay, Lord. I will wait to see what you have in mind."