AUTHOR'S NOTE: And we're back! Our apologies for the delay in releasing this chapter. Life and gross disappointment in Season 10 have hampered our writing efforts and ability to get a new chapter out to you, but we have regrouped and hope that updates will become more frequent as we continue this story and bring it to a close. Many of you may be questioning how we will handle the story given the turn of events in Season 10. Truthfully, they made writing this story more difficult to write, creatively, because our views of characters shifted due to what we saw on screen. Nevertheless, we feel that the characters in this story are truer to their canonical (Seasons 1-9) counterparts and will continue on the path we started. In other words, we are not acknowledging the retroactive continuity moves and character shifts which happened on the television program. Rather, the Elizabeth of our story is still the Elizabeth of Season 1-9. Lucas is still Lucas. And Nathan has moved past the triangle and his heart is open for a lifetime love. We will treat our readers and their favorite characters with respect and still promise happy endings for all. With no further ado, we return you to our story.
Widened eyes and gaping mouths appeared through the window of the Queen of Hearts' taxi as it pulled into town. It had been two days since Lucas's surgery, and although Bouchard had sent for Jenny's children and Nan right away, it had taken some convincing for Lydia to agree to go. Only when she received a bag of black licorice, a confection that Jenny knew her foster mother had an affection for, did Nan trust Lucas's driver to take her and her grandchildren to join the Bouchards in Hope Valley.
"The Queen of Hearts," Luke said, taking in the size and scope of the building before him. "Does our uncle really own that whole thing?"
"Yes," Lucas's driver, Stuart, said. "And the gas station, what's left of the oil company, and a couple of properties on the edge of town."
"Wow! Our family must be richer than Rockerfeller!" Bouchard's niece replied.
"Josephine!" Nan corrected. "It's not polite to be talking about how much money people have!"
"Sorry," she responded.
" But aren't we rich, grandmother?" Luke asked. "I'm mean, really rich?"
Lydia looked at her handsome grandson, then rubbed his arm. "In all the ways that money can't buy."
Stuart pulled the cab in front of the hotel, and Jenny immediately rushed out to greet them. Embracing her children for the first time as a woman free from fear, the smile on her face was effervescent, a sight that Lydia had never seen.
"My darlings! Come here and let me hold you!" she exclaimed, kissing both on the cheeks and then hugging them tightly.
Lydia watched in wonderment at what was before her and immediately sensed that everything had changed. Jenny had changed. She had become a new woman, and the haunted expression she had often worn had completely disappeared. She was no longer the little girl Nan had protected all those years but had been reborn.
The elder woman shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling as if she was intruding on someone else's family moment until a petite blonde woman stepped up to the taxi and reached out and touched her arm.
"You must be Lydia Drake," Helen said.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Helen Bouchard," Jenny's mother said. "I would like to thank you for taking care of our daughter for so long when others sought to harm her. Please, come and join us. I'd like you to meet my husband, Martin."
Lydia looked down. "That's okay, ma'am, there's no need…."
Helen took her by the hand. "It's not ma'am. It's Helen. And that's nonsense. We are all family here, and it's time to get acquainted."
Nan looked up humbly at Jenny's mother and nodded with a slight smile. The two ladies walked to Martin's side.
"When can we meet Uncle Lucas?" Jo asked. "I made him a gift."
"A gift?" Jenny asked.
Jo reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief wrapped around an object. Proudly unwrapping it, Jo's expression fell when the creation contained within looked like nothing more than a blob of wax.
Jenny watched as the little girl's lower lip pooched out, and she became tearful. "It melted."
Jenny knelt and stroked her daughter's hair. "What was it?"
Jo sniffled. "A puppy. I carved it out of a block of Nan's candle wax. I thought he might like it because boys like dogs."
"Are we getting a dog, mother?" Luke asked hopefully, walking up with Martin beside him.
Jenny looked at him and smiled. She knew a dog was something that Luke always wanted, but her husband wouldn't allow it due to an unfortunate incident with Solomon when David was a child. Then, after the two men were gone, it was all they could do to make ends meet. Perhaps now things would change.
"We need to figure out where we're living first," she replied. "Your Uncle Lucas is patient, but I don't think he would like a dog running around his hotel."
"Move to Montreal with us, and I'll get you as many dogs as you want," Martin said.
"Really?" Luke said with excitement in his voice.
Jenny stood. "Now, now, father. No sense in putting thoughts in your grandson's head. The city life is not what I want for my children. I'd like them to be able to run and play, ride horses, fish in the cool mountain stream. This area seems just the place."
"I understand," Martin replied. "But I thought I'd ask."
Jenny smiled, then reached her arm around Martin's waist and hugged him. He kissed her head.
Helen and Nan approached the scene. "I'm going to show Lydia up to her room. She wishes to freshen up after her long ride. I trust you and my grandchildren will join us tonight?" She looked at Jenny.
"Of course," her daughter replied.
Nan looked self-conscious. "I'm afraid we don't have anything fancy to wear for a restaurant meal."
"Then we shall have to remedy that," Helen replied. "After you freshen up, how about we have Stuart drive us to Benson Hills? I know of a lovely clothier that…."
"Mother," Jenny interrupted. "We do not have the money at this time….AND before you say it, I will not take your money for a new wardrobe. We make all of our clothing and have learned to live frugally."
"Are you saying a grandmother can't buy her grandchildren new clothing, or a mother her daughter?" Helen asked.
"I'm not saying that at all," Jenny replied. "I'm saying what we have right now will be fine. Allow us to get settled, and then we'll determine what else we need in the weeks to come. Now, if you accept my apologies, we're going to go see Lucas."
Helen pursed her lips. "No need to apologize, dear. I just hope he is in a better mood with you than he was with us when we stopped by this morning."
"I'm sure he will be," Martin replied. "Jenny and Lucas have much catching up to do, as do we all."
Inside the infirmary, Lucas sat in bed as Dr. Carter gave the final instructions before he was to be released. "You need to follow my directions exactly. Otherwise, you'll be right back in here and probably for a longer duration," Carter said as she finished writing out details of what Lucas could and could not do for the next week. Elizabeth stood nearby, listening. Nathan walked in just as she handed the paper to him. "He isn't allowed to be up and around - off his legs for at least two more days. And I'll warn you, as stubborn as he has been while in here, that may be a challenge."
"I haven't been stubborn," Bouchard protested.
"Lucas!" Elizabeth scolded. Lucas lowered his eyes.
"Yes, you have been," Faith said. "But that just means you're feeling better. Still, I imagine he won't be much better at home, so I'm entrusting him to you, Nathan, to make him behave."
Nathan took the paper from Lucas's hands and nodded as he read it. He then looked at Lucas. "Don't make me use my Mountie training on you to keep you restrained," he said with a slight smile.
Lucas rolled his eyes. "I don't need a babysitter."
"Of course you don't, darling. But it'll be up to you to prove that," Elizabeth said, walking to his other side. "Show us how well you follow Faith's instructions and take this opportunity to rest and heal at Nathan's house. It's only a few days."
Lucas nodded, then held her hand.
"Thank you for everything, Faith. We appreciate everything you've done," Elizabeth said.
"I just want to see Lucas back on his feet again," Carter replied. "Let me know if you need anything. I'll be over daily to check on you."
"Thank you," Lucas said as he placed one arm around Nathan's neck and the other around Elizabeth's, allowing them to pull him up to his feet. Nathan held tightly to Lucas's side, bearing most of the weight on his bad side, and together, the three slowly exited the area.
As they moved toward the infirmary's entrance, the front door opened, and Jenny came in with Luke and Jo following her. "Oh! You're headed home," she said, a surprised look on her face as she glanced at Nathan and then back at her brother. "I wanted to introduce you to your nephew and niece, but we can come over later..."
"Nonsense," Lucas said, looking at both children with affection. "Allow me a moment to get situated," he said, nodding towards the wheelchair he would use for the next couple of days until he was healed enough to begin walking. Nathan and Elizabeth gently lowered him into the seat, his face slightly grimacing. Then his smile quickly returned. "Now, who do we have here?"
Lucas noticed that Luke quickly stepped forward as Jo stood back quietly, her hands nervously rubbing something between them.
"I'm Luke," the boy said as he hesitantly extended his hand, his uncle firmly grasping it.
"Nice to meet you, Luke. I'm your uncle, Lucas Bouchard, but you may call me Lucas. This young lady is my fiancée, Elizabeth Thornton. She will be your aunt soon." Elizabeth reached over and shook Luke's hand as Lucas continued. "And I believe you've met Constable Nathan Grant?"
The boy glanced at Nathan and nodded his head. "Nice to see you again, Constable," he responded. "Mrs. Thornton." "
"You can call me Nathan," Grant replied.
The words brought a bright smile to Luke's face, Lucas noticing the resemblance to himself at a younger age, with the same dark hair and dimples.
"And who do we have over here?" Elizabeth asked, motioning to Jo, who hadn't spoken yet.
"I thought it was my daughter Jo, but she has never been quiet. Perhaps they've replaced her with another little girl?" Jenny joked as she looked down at her daughter.
"No, mama. I'm still Josephine," Jo whispered, loud enough for the others to hear.
Jenny bent down. "Then why don't you go meet your uncle? Do you not want to?"
"I don't want to push her," Lucas said. "I could be quite shy when I was her age."
"Jo's not shy," Luke said. "Come on, sister. He's not going to bite."
Curiosity finally overtook the girl as she stepped forward and looked at Lucas's face, reaching up and touching his beard and looking pleased at his kind eyes. "You're handsome," she said. Lucas looked toward Jenny and winked; then, his gaze returned to Josephine, who was looking down at his injury. "What happened to your leg?" she asked with a childlike boldness.
Lucas was immediately smitten with this new niece of his. "Well, it seems I ran into the wrong end of a spear."
"A spear!" Jo said, looking at him with concern. "How did that happen?"
Lucas paused momentarily, considering what her child's mind could handle and not wanting to hide the truth from her. "Well, I was trying to escape from a very bad man."
"The bad man?" Jo asked, turning toward her mother with questioning eyes.
"Yes," Jenny replied. "The same man."
"Oh, no!" Jo said, her brow furrowing. "Did you kill him?"
"Josephine!" Jenny responded, embarrassed by her daughter's brazenness.
"It's alright, Jenny," he said softly to his sister. He looked back at his niece. "No, I didn't. I was injured as I was trying to get your mother to safety. Mountie Grant, I believe, took care of him after that."
Suddenly, Jo flung her little arms around Lucas's neck and kissed him on the cheek, carefully avoiding his bad leg. Lucas's eyes misted up as he wrapped an arm around this girl who had already stolen his heart. "Thank you for saving my mother, Uncle Lucas," she said in his ear, squeezing him tightly.
"You are most welcome," he said, hugging her for a moment until finally she took a step back.
She turned toward Nathan. "And thank you, Mountie Grant, for taking care of the bad man. He was scary."
Nathan nodded. "He will never hurt your mother again."
"Good!" she smiled. She then returned to Lucas, who was looking toward the object in her hands. "What is it you have there?" he asked.
"Oh." Her voice quickly dropped, as did her eyes as she tried to hide it, but she was forced to hold it with a dress that had no pockets. Lucas lifted her head with his hand.
"It was just something I made for you, but it melted," she said, disappointed.
"May I see?"
Jo placed the blob of wax into his hand, and he turned it over a few times, examining it. "It was a dog, wasn't it?" he asked, bringing a gasp from Jo as her eyes lit up.
"How did you know?"
"I can just make out his snout, see?" Lucas pointed as Jo looked closely, then smiled. "I tell you what. We will get you some clay, and you can make me one that won't melt with the heat. Deal?"
"Deal!" Josephine excitedly replied, reaching up and hugging him once more.
"Alright, children, you can both get more acquainted with your uncle later, but he needs to get home and rest for now. Lucas, we will come to see you tomorrow."
"I very much look forward to it," Lucas replied.
"Nice to see everyone," Jenny said, looking toward everyone in the room. Jenny's words were meant for Elizabeth and Nathan, but the Mountie is the one who got her last glimpse before turning to leave.
"Bye, Uncle Lucas!" Jo shouted from the walkway outside, warming Lucas's heart. Luke simply raised his hand and smiled, leaving with a nod.
After the door shut, Nathan moved behind Lucas's chair while Elizabeth straightened a blanket she'd placed over his lap.
"I'm an uncle!" Lucas said, his expression showing a measure of awe.
"You certainly are," Elizabeth said, touching his shoulder. "They are precious."
"Alright, Uncle Lucas, are you ready to get out of here?" Nathan asked.
"Absolutely," Lucas replied.
Elizabeth held the door open while Grant pushed him outside.
The evening was spent getting Lucas set up in a bed in Nathan's living room and seeing to it that he was comfortable. It was very late by the time everyone got settled. As a result, Grant was chagrined to feel the morning sun lighting on his face far earlier than he wanted to wake up. But he stumbled down the stairs to get his day started. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he found Lucas wide awake and trying to get himself out of bed.
"For a man who prides himself on patience, you're not a very good patient Lucas. What do you need?" Nathan said, crossing his arms in front of him.
"I'm fine."
"Fine. Yeah. I've heard that song and dance before. You know what the Doc said. You're to stay off your feet the next two days, so I'll repeat, what do you need?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing," Nathan said, looking around the room. "Stubborn, just like she said."
"I'm not stubborn," Lucas scowled.
"Okay. So, you're just trying to disobey Faith's orders for no reason at all."
"Nathan. I'm not a man used to people waiting on me hand and foot. I'm not trying to disobey her orders, but I can't seem to reach my book over there."
Looking where he was pointing, Nathan was surprised to see the novel Lucas had been reading was lying on the floor across the room. "How did it get way over there?" Nathan squinted, walking to retrieve it, then handing it back to his housemate.
Lucas looked down at its cover. "I may have thrown it."
"Huh?"
"I got a little frustrated at being confined and tossed it. I may have been a bit overzealous with the toss."
"Ah. That explains the loud thump I heard in the middle of the night after I went to bed. I thought I dreamt it. I….nevermind."
Watching Bouchard thumb through the volume, avoiding all eye contact, Nathan knew there was no sense in talking to him about what had frustrated him. The man had to be going stir-crazy. So, he decided to change subjects. "Do you need to?" He asked, looking toward Lucas's bedpan.
"NO!" Lucas said, a little too loudly. He then tempered himself. "I'm fine. Thank you."
"Okay. Then, if you're comfortable, I, um…I'm about to make some coffee. Would you like a cup?"
"I don't…."
Nathan finished the sentence. "…don't drink coffee. I forgot."
"I will have some tea if you don't mind," Bouchard said hopefully.
"Not at all," Nathan said, turning on the kettle. Nathan tried to make small talk as he waited, smelling the strong fragrance of coffee beans waking him up a bit. "I think I heard Jenny say she was coming by today."
"Mm-hmm."
Nathan rolled his eyes. Seeing his friend was non-conversant, he said no more until the kettle began to whistle. He quietly made a cup of coffee for himself and slipped a tea bag into Lucas's cup, filling it with water and a little milk and sugar, as he knew Bouchard liked. He then carried it to his housemate, who gratefully took it.
Lucas closed his eyes as he felt the comforting elixir run down his throat. Something about the drink always made him feel better. "Thank you, Nathan. I apologize for my demeanor."
Grant nodded. "That's quite alright. I'd probably feel the same way. I…. I'm just going out on the porch to see how the weather is, then I'll come back and make us breakfast."
"Thank you, but I'm not hungry this morning," Lucas replied.
Nathan furrowed his brow, then reached out his hand toward Lucas's face. Lucas leaned away. "What are you doing?"
Grant sighed. "Trying to feel your forehead to see if you have a fever. It's on the list of instructions for things to watch out for."
Lucas shook his head. "I don't have a fever. I'm fine. I'm just not hungry this morning."
Nathan frowned and then stepped back toward the door. "Okay. I'll take your word for it, for now. Call if you need anything."
Grant walked out the front door and leaned down to pick up the morning edition of The Valley Voice. Although he was standing there in just his undershirt and pajama pants, he wasn't the least bit cold. In fact, the weather that morning was nice, with lots of warm sunshine with some fluffy clouds floating by. Almost the perfect day.
He raised the cup of coffee to his lips, inhaling its aroma, and closed his eyes as he took a sip.
"Well, good morning, Constable."
Nathan nearly choked when he opened his eyes and saw Jenny standing a few feet away. She must walk like a cat; he thought as he didn't hear her approach. Immediately, he was transfixed by her dark hair and green eyes momentarily.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, shaking him out of his daze.
"Oh!" he said, clearing his throat. "Um, what?"
"You seem…I don't know. Preoccupied."
"Um, no. Why would you think…?"
"Well, I greeted you, and you just stood there and stared."
"Oh! I did? Oh, well, I thought I'd said good morning. Sorry. I, um….can we do this again?"
Jenny smiled. "Yes. We may. Good morning, Constable."
Grant smiled a crooked smile that caused her heart to skip a beat. "Good morning, Jenny. Nice to see you again, and please…call me Nathan."
Jenny smiled and walked up on the porch steps. "Certainly, Nathan. How's the patient this morning?" she asked, taking in his messy hair and general state of dress.
"He's good…I mean, um…about as well as you would think, all things considered – a little frustrated about being restricted. Maybe you can cheer him up while I'm at work."
"That's the plan. May I?" she asked, nodding toward the door.
"Sure, of course," he responded.
As she walked onto the porch, squeezing past Grant as she made her way to the door, she turned her head over her shoulder and looked him up and down. "Nice guns," she smirked before entering the house to join her brother.
"Guns?" Nathan looked confused and patted his hips where he typically kept his revolver, then tilted his head when he found none. He raised his hand to scratch his head, then glanced toward his exposed bicep. He closed his eyes, chuckled, and then turned crimson red.
"Good morning, big brother," Jenny said, stepping into the room and kissing Lucas on the cheek. She was carrying a basket of goodies she'd picked up at the Mercantile and set it on the nearest table, taking in the sight of Nathan's home as she returned to Lucas's side. Something about it didn't say bachelor to her. It must be Allie's influence. "Tell me, did you rest well? Nathan said you were frustrated."
Grant stepped into the house just as the words left her lips, and an annoyed Bouchard looked over at him. "Nathan talks too much."
Jenny chuckled. "Well, it's not like I wouldn't be able to see it for myself, Mr. Grumpy-grump. Now, you sit right here while I go make you breakfast. I bought all sorts of things from the Mercantile from Mrs. Yost, and I know how you're a syrup hog, so I got an extra bottle of maple syrup for your pancakes…."
"Um, he says he's not hungry," Nathan replied.
Jenny turned toward Lucas with concern. "Not hungry? You're not running a fever, are you?"
"No, I am not running a fever. I'm just not hungry."
Jenny looked toward Nathan and then again at Lucas, then looked toward Nathan's kitchen. "Would you have any saltines? Perhaps he has an upset stomach?" she said, walking toward the cupboards.
"Cabinet on the left, bottom shelf," Grant replied.
"Jenny, I'm not sick. I just don't want anything to eat. I'll be fine."
"Maybe he's a little, you know…clogged up," Nathan said. "He hasn't gone since he's been here."
"Nathan!" Lucas snapped.
"Hey, I know some medicines can do that to you. I'm just trying to help!"
Jenny frowned and tapped her feet, her mind busy. Then she squinted her eyes. "Oh, no! No, you don't!"
Lucas's eyes darted toward hers, and he knew. "Listen, I…."
"Don't listen, me! You are going to eat a healthy breakfast whether you want to or not!"
"But, Jenny!"
"What's going on?" Nathan asked, watching Jenny instinctively walk to where he kept the pots and pans, pulling his skillet out and setting it on the stove.
"When we were children, mother and father would visit Father's uncle Marcus, who lived in the Mountains of Alabama. This was before modern automobiles, so the family would travel in a carriage provided by Father's business. It would take several days, and there would be times where, naturally, um…nature would take over, and we'd need to run to the woodland to find relief. Lucas went into the woods on one of those stops and spotted a rattler."
"He was a big one," Lucas said. "About twenty feet away."
"So, you told us. You were only around five years old, and he came running out of the woods yelling for help, knickers at his knees…."
"You would have run too!" Lucas said.
"Maybe so. But I wouldn't have refused to eat for the next several days, so I wouldn't produce enough to go again!"
Nathan looked at Lucas, impressed. "You figured that out at five?"
"I had been reading father's science books."
"Pretty smart," Nathan replied. "So that's what you're trying to do here? Not eat so you don't have to use the bedpan?"
Lucas was quiet for a moment, then slapped his book down on the bed, crossing his arms. "It's embarrassing! Neither you nor anyone else should have to clean up after me."
Nathan laughed. "You're talking to a man who routinely cleans up after a thirteen-hundred-pound animal. You can't be any worse than that."
Jenny looked toward the ceiling and whistled.
"Jenevieve Anne!" Lucas protested.
Jenny giggled. "Serves you right, you big baby!"
"See how she treats me," Lucas said, looking at Nathan, who was enjoying the sibling banter.
"Hey, I'm on her side!"
"Smart man," Jenny winked. "Now stop your fussing and drink your tea. I'll have breakfast ready for all of us in a jiff. Better get dressed, Nathan, unless you want to patrol the area in your bloomers."
"Bloomers?!" Nathan responded. "They're pajama pants. Tell her, Lucas."
Lucas chuckled, looking at Nathan's pants. "Sorry, friend, I'm on her side."
Nathan shook his head. "Help yourself to whatever you need. I'm going to get dressed while you two work it out."
"So, what would you like to do today?" Jenny asked as she whipped up some pancake batter, sincerely excited to be spending an entire day with her brother."
Lucas leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "I'd like to go to the office where I no doubt have a stack of bills piling up that need to go into my ledger, and then I'd like to run out to the oil company to check on its dismantling. After that, I'd like to take my fiancée and family out to a grand dinner somewhere away from town where we could talk and you could see what makes her so special to me. But instead, I'm going to spend the day alone in bed, overcome by boredom and waiting to be considered a normal adult human again."
Jenny shook her head. "Number one, you're not alone. I'm here with you, and you should be thankful for that."
Lucas nodded. "I am," he said softly. "I'm very thankful. It is a miracle."
The two were quiet for a minute until Lucas finally threw up his hands. "What am I doing? You're absolutely right. I'm lying here, acting like a child when we have everything imaginable to be thankful for. My sister, whom I thought was dead, is alive. I should be dead, but I am not. The man who was responsible for all of this was dead and can't hurt anyone anymore. Our family is together – and larger than I'd imagined! I mean, I'm an uncle! I never imagined being an uncle – and they're so smart! Just like their mother."
"Luke is like his uncle. I see you in him in so many ways, Lucas. He's brilliant, kind, humble, and the best big brother Jo could imagine. He even looks like you."
"I noticed. Poor kid," Lucas joked.
"Nonsense!" Jenny said. "You've grown to be a very handsome man, Lucas Bouchard. I'll bet there's a trail of women before Elizabeth still crying their eyes out that you weren't the one."
Lucas was quiet for a second, then shook his head. "No. Not so many."
"No?"
"No. There were a couple of ladies in Montreal that Mother wanted to match me with, but they never lasted. Then, when I was in San Francisco, I dated a friend of a friend of mine, but there was nothing serious. I thought perhaps a woman in Paris could be the one. I was attracted to her, and she seemed the type of woman I could pursue, but within a week of getting to know her, I knew she was not the one. So, I moved on."
"So, there was really never anyone serious before Elizabeth?"
Lucas looked at her and grinned. "Knowing me, what do you think?"
"I think you waited for her," she replied. "Good for you, Lucas. I wish I had waited. My marriage to David was not what I wanted it to be."
"But you got two beautiful children out of it," he responded.
"That I did," she replied. "God gave me a family when my family was taken away. And then He gave you all back to me again."
"Perhaps He will give you a second chance at love," Lucas said. Jenny looked down and smiled, and he continued, looking toward the upstairs to make sure the home's owner wasn't coming. "Just don't let it be Nathan Grant."
Jenny looked up and laughed. "And, what's wrong with Nathan?"
Lucas shushed her, motioning with his hands to keep it quiet. "There's nothing wrong with Nathan, per se. It's just…well, before Elizabeth and I got together, he was sweet on her as well."
"Really?"
"Yes. They never courted or anything like that. Never even had dinner together. But he had feelings for her, and I think it would be weird to have him courting my sister. I mean, I like him. But if I professed love in someone, I am not sure I could easily dismiss that love as he seems to now, being fine with Elizabeth and I being together. What if he was that way with you? You know, a little fickle."
"That doesn't sound like fickle to me, Lucas. It sounds like he fell in love with the wrong woman. Or maybe….just maybe, what he thought was love wasn't love at all – and he has yet to experience what true love is."
Lucas looked at her skeptically. "Perhaps."
Jenny walked to her brother's side and handed him a plate of freshly made hotcakes slathered in butter with a full container of maple syrup at their side. "Don't worry, big brother. We're just getting to know each other right now. Nobody's jumping into any relationship. And I promise, I'll take it slow and be sure if something ever does develop between us."
Lucas looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "You are a grown woman, and I don't have the right to tell you who to see."
"No," she replied. "You really don't."
"Just be careful," he responded. "You've been through enough pain. I don't want to see you hurt again."
Jenny smiled and ran her hand across the top of Lucas's head. "Always my protector."
"Always."
She shook her head. "Eat your food before it gets cold."
After enjoying a hearty breakfast with the two siblings, Nathan walked into town and went directly to the stables to prepare Newton for his morning ride. When he arrived, he was surprised to see the horse was already out of his stall, standing in the center of the room, already brushed and saddled for his rounds. Looking confused, Grant called out to the back of the stable when he heard a noise.
"Charlie? Is that you?"
Seconds later, a face appeared that Nathan hadn't seen in a few years.
"Kevin?! Kevin Townsend?" he said with a smile.
"Nathan!" Kevin said, walking in from a room in the back with a smile on his face. "Good to see you, man!"
"Good to see you! I thought you moved to Wyoming."
"I did."
"Didn't like it?"
"No. It was fine. But I missed being home. My brother got married, which left my mom alone, so I thought I'd come back to Hope Valley."
"Back to the Blacksmith shop?"
"Yeah. John let me buy into our partnership again, and I started yesterday. I had just come over here to deliver some horseshoes to Charlie that he'd ordered last week."
"I see," Nathan said, again looking toward the back. "Is he back there?"
"No," Kevin said. "He's out. I was back there talking to his new stable boy."
"Stable boy?"
"Yeah, Luke," Kevin replied. "He's out back gathering some metal scraps from old shoes and such for us to melt down. Should be back any second."
A couple of minutes later, Luke entered the stable, pushing a wheelbarrow full of discarded horseshoes. Upon seeing Nathan, he smiled a bright smile.
"Good morning, Constable Grant!"
Nathan smiled at the young boy who set down the cart in front of Kevin.
"This was all I could find, Mr. Townsend. When Mr. Burdette returns, I'll ask him if he has any more."
Kevin pulled out a few bills from his wallet and handed them to Luke. "This is just what I needed, Luke. Thanks for gathering it for me. And it's nice to meet you."
"It's very nice to meet you as well," he responded as Kevin left the barn. He then turned toward Nathan. "How may I help you, Constable Grant?"
The Mountie looked at him curiously for a second. "You work here now?"
Luke stood a little straighter and raised his chin. "Yes, sir. I got a job here last night when I went to check on my mother's horse. Grandmother says if we're going to live around here, we have to earn our keep. I believe she is going to help in the kitchen at the Café, and I'll be working here every morning before school starts, and then I should pick up more hours in the Summer.
"Very industrious! You're enrolling in school?"
"Yes, sir. I attended school a while back when we lived near Jameson, but my mother has been teaching us since. I'm looking forward to getting back into a classroom. Education is important."
"Yes, it is. And Mrs. Thornton is an excellent teacher. Allie loves her."
"Your daughter?"
"Yes. Adopted."
"Mother mentioned her."
"She did?"
"Yes. She didn't have any details, just that you have a daughter."
"I see," Nathan said. He then looked at Newton. "Did you…?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Burdette asked me to feed him, and I knew you would be stopping by this morning to get him, so I thought I'd save you some trouble."
"That was very nice of you," Nathan responded. "How much do I owe you?"
Luke shook his head. "Oh, you don't owe me anything. You didn't ask me to do it, nor did Mr. Burdette. I just think he's a fine horse, you know, being a Mountie horse and all. I enjoy taking care of him," he said, rubbing Newton's face.
Newton nuzzled up to Luke's face, causing Drake to grin.
"Looks like he likes you. I really should pay you. Maybe I'll have you ride him some time," Nathan said. "I can borrow Sergeant from Elizabeth and let you take Newt and go exploring over the ridge."
"Really?!" Luke replied. "I'd like that. Thank you, Constable Grant!" he said, taking Newton's lead off a hook and handing it to the Mountie.
"It's Nathan, remember?"
Luke looked down with a shyness that Nathan had occasionally seen out of his uncle. "Mother and Grandmother have always taught us to address adults in a formal manner. It feels strange calling you by your first name."
Nathan nodded. "Well, I wouldn't want to get on your mother's bad side. How about Mountie Nathan? Most of the kids call me that. It's sort of a compromise."
Luke shook his head and smiled. "I like that."
Nathan patted him on the shoulder and began walking toward the barn entrance with Luke at his side.
"When you're done, just bring him back, and I'll get him settled," Luke said.
"I'll probably be getting in late," Nathan replied. "Besides, I think you'll need to get cleaned up after working all day. You're apparently coming to my house for dinner."
"I am?" Luke asked quizzically.
"Yeah. Your mom is making Lucas one of his favorite meals from New Orleans tonight, and we get to be the beneficiaries."
Luke nodded. "If it's what I think it is, we're in for a treat."
"Really? Your mom is a good cook?"
"The best, aside from Grandmother. They're both very good."
Nathan stopped and considered his words for a moment, then nodded. "Good to know."
Later that evening, Nathan walked into a house that was bustling with people. Jenny and Elizabeth were busy in the kitchen while Luke, Jo, and Jack were setting the table, and Nan was standing at the counter making some Creole iced tea, a variety of tea she made back home that also included cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves. In spite of those aromatics lingering in the air, the first thing the Mountie noticed when he entered his house was the warm and savory smell of Jenny's own gumbo. A mildly spicy variety of something she recalled the Bouchard's cook, Auguste LaRue, making when she was a child, she'd been able to nearly duplicate and improve upon the dish and couldn't wait for Lucas to try.
Regarding Bouchard, he was blissfully unaware of all of the hustle around him, sleeping soundly with his book on his chest. Nathan figured that he and Jenny had a lot of catching up to do, and since he still wasn't well, all of the activity had finally caught up. He was, therefore, very careful as he entered the house to make as little noise as possible.
"Hi, Mountie Nathan!" Luke said, waving from a spot at the table.
Jo immediately walked over to him and hugged him around the leg. "Welcome home, Mountie Nathan. Mama said supper will be ready soon, so go get cleaned up."
Before he knew it, the little girl had taken his Mountie hat from his hand and walked it over to the coat rack, hanging it on a lower hook.
Nathan grinned at her action, then looked across the room toward her mother, who was stifling a laugh as well. He then focused on Nan, whose look was not so welcoming. "I'll, uh, I'll just go wash up. Be back in a few minutes."
Once the table was set and Nathan had returned, Elizabeth leaned over and woke Lucas up with a kiss on the forehead. Bouchard smiled, then brushed his finger across her cheek before sitting himself up and reaching out for Nathan and Elizabeth's help in getting him out of bed and into the wheelchair.
"You're getting stronger," Nathan said. "You'll be walking in no time."
Lucas nodded. "I feel fine. Just need to be careful."
"You just need to obey Faith's orders," Elizabeth scolded. "And stop trying to get out of bed."
"Did he do it again?" Nathan asked.
Jack answered. "Buddy was a bad boy!"
"Jack…." Elizabeth warned.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I caught him this morning trying to get up to get a book he'd lobbed across the room."
"You threw a book?" Elizabeth asked.
"I wasn't trying to get up. I was just trying to reach," Lucas said, deflecting further inquiry.
"But that wasn't what you were doing tonight," Jenny said. "We caught him standing up trying to move that chair over there," pointing to a chair that sat between his bed and the kitchen.
"You two were in there working, and I just wanted to see what you were making," Lucas replied.
"Then you ask Luke or Jo to move the chair if it was blocking your way," Jenny said.
"They were busy."
"Then you should have asked Jack. Always excuses," Jenny said. "You'll never change. Terrible patient."
Elizabeth twisted her jaw and raised an eyebrow. "So, he does have a flaw, does he?"
"Oh, brother," Nathan said, rolling his eyes.
"He's a man, isn't he?" Jenny asked, at which point Nathan threw her a look. Jenny blushed.
"My sister is sassy as ever," Lucas replied. "And stubborn."
"I'm stubborn?" she asked, dishing out a bowl of gumbo and setting it before him.
The children began to giggle.
"Is someone going to say grace?" Nan asked.
Everyone looked at each other, and then Nathan volunteered.
Bowing his head, Nathan suddenly felt a smaller hand reach for his left hand and grasp it and then another to his right. Looking up, he saw Luke on his left and Nan on his right, with heads already bowed. Luke had reached across and held his mother's hand, whose eyes were closed, holding Jo's hand, who held onto Lucas's. At Bouchard's right hand was Elizabeth, who, after smiling at her fiancé, likewise bowed her head.
"Heavenly Father, we come to you this evening to say thank you for this meal and for bringing us together in peace and safety. Use it to strengthen us and bring healing and bless our time together. Thank you for those gathered here together, and bless each one of us by your mercy. It's in Christ's name I pray, Amen."
After grace, everyone began enjoying Jenny's gumbo and each other's company. When the subject of Luke's new job came up, Jenny noted that she always felt it was important that her children learn to ride as early as possible since she herself had taken a nasty fall when she was thirteen years old.
"Really?" Nathan asked. "So did I."
"You did?" Jenny replied. "Were you hurt badly?"
"Yeah. Had my first concussion out of it," he said.
"Me too!" she responded. And with that, the next thirty-five minutes were spent focusing on Jenny and Nathan's stories of growing up as kids on the Canadian Frontier. They both lived in humble surroundings and worked outside to help their families make ends meet. Both had the common experience of the man in the household being in trouble with the law, though Solomon usually managed to stay a step ahead of the law while Archie didn't. Because of this commonality, both were adamant about raising children with the right standards from the start.
"It starts with the family," Nathan said. "Grandpa Ernie was never a good influence on Dad, and Dad followed in his footsteps."
"But you broke that mold," Jenny replied.
"Deliberately. Due to mom, mostly," he replied. "What he put her through..."
"…Is a lot of what Solomon put Nan through," Jenny replied.
"And what David put you through," Nan added. "I tried. I really did. But if your husband doesn't support you..."
"It wasn't your fault, Nan. You saved my life," Jenny replied.
Nan reached over and took Jenny's hand. "I'm not blaming myself for Solomon and David's actions. I'm just stating how important it is that the man and woman agree. It often doesn't work that way, but it's good when it does," she said, looking at Nathan and Jenny and back at Nathan with a nod.
Elizabeth noted at that moment her fiancé's jaw clenched, so she reached her hand under the table and took his. "Like us," she whispered, immediately calming him down. The change was to be short-lived, however, for by the time dinner was over and Nan returned from making a phone call, he was more than anxious to take advantage of the moment to get his sister away from the Mountie.
"Get your coats, children. Stuart will be here in about ten minutes to pick us up," Nan said.
"Are you sure you can't stay?" Nathan replied.
Lucas answered. "Nathan. As nice as it is having them here, Luke has to work in the morning."
"That doesn't mean Mother has to go back to the hotel, too," Luke said. "I'm not a little kid, after all."
"No, you're not," Nathan replied with a smile. "What do you say? Stay a bit?"
Jenny blushed. "I suppose I could. The dishes still need cleaning."
"Aren't you tired?" Lucas asked. "You've been here all day."
Jenny looked at Lucas and then at Nathan. "No, I feel rather refreshed. I wash, and you dry?"
A horn sounded outside the door, and Luke and Jo came over and hugged Lucas goodnight.
"Love you, Uncle Lucas," little Jo said, warming his heart.
Lucas smiled and kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Jo. See you tomorrow?"
"You bet!" she replied.
Lucas returned his gaze toward Nathan and Jenny, and Elizabeth knelt beside his wheelchair, Jack's hand in her own.
"I'm going to have to leave as well. I have a sleepy little boy," she said.
Lucas broke his gaze for a moment, then leaned over and hugged Jack, being careful about his leg. "It was so nice to see you tonight, buddy."
"You too, buddy. I liked Jo and Luke. They're fun to play with."
"I'm glad," Lucas replied. "It will be good having them around."
Elizabeth leaned down and kissed him, then caressed his cheek. "I love you. Get some good sleep."
"I love you too," he replied, returning his eyes toward the kitchen.
Elizabeth looked at Nathan and Jenny and then her fiancé. She pursed her lips. "Lucas?"
"Hmm?" he said, not looking away.
"Lucas!" she said, tapping him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. This time, he looked up. "No."
He furrowed his brow. "No?"
"Leave them be. They're both adults."
Lucas opened his mouth in protest. "But…"
She folded her arms, giving him her scary teacher face, at which he slumped down in his chair. She chuckled. "Give me another kiss."
Lucas complied, and seconds later, she was gone.
With the dishes finished, Nathan and Jenny helped Lucas up from his chair and once again placed him into the bed in Nathan's living room, then went outside to wait for Stuart to return to the house to take Jenny back to the Queen of Hearts. As he sat in bed, he could hear the low rumble of them talking but couldn't understand what was being said. Next, he heard laughter. And then, things became very quiet. Too quiet to where he didn't hear anything at all.
Outside, Nathan and Jenny were sitting on the porch, watching the sky and enjoying the fresh air. A cool breeze blew through, and Jenny shivered, causing Nathan to take off his jacket and place it over Jenny's bare arms.
"Now you'll be cold," she whispered.
"No. I'm fine," he said, looking down at her. She looked up at him and smiled, then scooted closer to him. The warmth next to her caused her to moan.
Lucas's eyes widened as he looked between his bed and the door. What were they doing?
The silence following that sound was more than he could bear. He had to find out. Sitting up, he leaned forward to try to reach for his wheelchair, being very careful to avoid his leg. Unable to reach it, he looked around for something to help, and then he heard a soft giggle.
He narrowed his eyes and tightened his jaw. Injury or not, he had to know. He pushed himself up to his feet.
At the sound of the crash, Jenny and Nathan sprang up from the porch, opening the front door and finding Bouchard lying on the floor.
"Lucas, are you okay?!" Jenny said, rushing to his side. "Where does it hurt?"
Nathan knelt beside her, reaching for his arm.
Bouchard yelled and then grimaced. "Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"
"Alright…" Nathan said, drawing his hands back. "What do you need?"
Lucas paused. Pain etched on his face as he held his upper chest. "Call Faith!"
Nathan leaped to his feet. "What should I tell her?"
"Tell her…tell her I'm dying!"