Chapter 194- Changes Ahead

Fun Fact- Other than the Novak children at 'Camp Hope' and of course, Little Jack. All the other children's last names and backgrounds were chosen from a list of real Mounties that lost their lives in the line of duty about the time of this story. While Amy is fictional- her "father's" story is real.

Also- for those of you who are not a fan of Lucas… seems he gets his moment in this chapter. You've been warned.

The week progressed better than Charlotte could have ever dreamed possible. The children's days were filled from sunrise to sunset with fun and activities, even including an overnight camping trip led by Allie and Nathan similar to what they had done together a few years prior. Although this time, no one was left unattended and without supervision.

The children took boats out onto the lake and learned to paddle. They fished and learned what foods the wilderness provided and how to prepare them. Dr. Faith and Carson led first aid courses and taught a couple of health classes. It seemed as though everyone in Hope Valley had made an effort to spend time with the children at Camp Hero, all except one.

Elizabeth.

She said, in passing, it was to make Little Jack feel a part of the group. None of the other children had a parent attending the camp activities, so she didn't feel it was her place. Abigail hinted to Charlotte and Nathan that she believed it could be more than that.

"I think she's clinging to this place as she remembered it with Jack," Abigail said. "While she knows she's made the right decision giving to the Mounties to use for the camp, I don't think she is quite ready to see it not be 'Jack's land' anymore." She sighed and looked into the distance at the children playing. "And I think, these kids and their stories remind her about a part of herself she lost when Jack died."

Lucas, on the other hand, had been a willing volunteer and spent seemingly every free moment at the camp with the kids. While many of the activities were not his strong suit, he did give his best efforts and Charlotte found his attempts quite admirable. And although he gave Lucas plenty of teasing jabs, Nathan too, appreciated Bouchard's ability, along with Jack, to bring Amy Searle out from behind the stone wall she built around herself.

One evening, after the children had gone to bed in their cabins, Lucas filled them in on what he learned of Amy's past from snapshots of past she divulged to him or Jack over the past few days. Between what limited information Amy shared and a conversation with a Mountie who served in Creston with her father, the group was able to piece together more of the puzzle.

A couple years ago, Amy's father, Sergeant Arthur Searle, was serving south of Kootenay Lake near the US border when he heard that there were whiskey runners attempting to cross into the states from Canada. He and two constables in his office left on horseback to intercept. By the time they reached the flats the spring run-off and rising water flooded the road and washed away the approaches to the bridge over the Goat River.

Nevertheless, the group made the decision to take their horses across the flooded river. Searle, being the senior member with over ten years of experience with the Force, took the lead, riding their horses into the water. At one point Searle's horse plunged into a deep spot and panicked, throwing him into the fast current. He surfaced still holding onto the reins of his horse and the edge of a culvert, but the force of the water was too much, and he was swept away before the other members could rescue him.

For three months the family and community prayed that somehow, someway, there was a miracle. No body was found, and Amy's mother held out hope Arthur had been pulled from the waters. But later that summer, her worst nightmare was confirmed when the body of Sergeant Searle was found down river. The realization that her husband was not coming back sent his widow into a deep depression that she never recovered from.

Following both her parent's deaths, Amy was taken in by the local pastor and his wife, a Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. They were kind and caring, but they were hardly young. Both in their seventies. They had great-grandchildren almost Amy's age and were looking forward to retirement- not raising another family.

Over the past couple years, the Mounties and the children's bureau searched for any of Amy's relatives that could possibly take her in and raise her, but each attempt seemed to find a dead end. Both Amy's parents came from across the Atlantic and there was no record of their families in England or France.

What Amy didn't know was that because no guardian had been located, the children's bureau recently began the process of locating an orphanage she could be moved to. Nathan was told from his contact with the Mounties, Amy's change in home would most likely occur soon after her return to Creston from Camp Hero.

Upon hearing this news, Lucas abruptly stood and excused himself from the others. But he did not take his car and return to town. Instead, he gathered up a few supplies, put them into a bag which he put on his back with a bedroll.

The next morning, Elizabeth appeared galloping in on Sergeant. It was the first time she had been on Jack's land since the camp was built, but she didn't look around. Instead, she marched directly up to Nathan and informed him that Lucas had not come home the night before. She was worried about his safety and asked Nathan to go and find him.

Which Nathan did. It wasn't hard. Lucas could be called a lot of things, but subtle was not one of them. He left a trail that Nathan figured even Liam could track at his age.

"Well, I knew you'd be easy to find," Nathan said, coming into Lucas' version of a camp. "Not much of a fire ya got going there."

"That's why I'm chopping wood," Lucas said, taking another attempt to split a thin log with his hatchet.

"You must have been cold last night, you have your tent opening facing to the west," Nathan walked around Lucas' set up as though a teacher, grading his student's test. "You should have paid more attention this week when I was showing the kids…"

"Did you really just come all the way up here to…"

"To see what's happening with you," Nathan said with more sincerity than he ever thought possible with Bouchard. "The way you left last night after we talked about Amy and what she's facing…" Nathan watched Lucas set down the ax, giving up on the task. "I wanted to make sure you were okay." He scrunched his face in an attempt to lighten the mood that fell upon them. "Plus, I've always considered you more of a poet. Not someone would be roughing it out in the woods like this."

Lucas gave a short chuckle. "Well, do you need anything before you head back to camp?"

"A cup of coffee would be nice."

"Don't drink it." Lucas said, crossing his arms in front of him.

Nathan wrinkled his nose. "Tea then?"

"I'll heat up some water."

Nathan pointed back at the stack of logs Lucas had been working on. "And I'll chop some more wood for you."

The two men set about their new assignments and soon enough were settled back in front of a roaring fire. Seeing a book set to the side, Nathan picked it up out of curiosity. He opened the to one of the pages that was marked and read a line aloud. "I went into the woods because I wish to learn what it had to teach."

Lucas finished a sip of his tea before commenting on the quote's author. "Henry David Thoreau."

Nathan took a moment to study Lucas. "Is that why you came up here?"

"I needed time to think."

Nathan sighed and set down the book. "You think too much. Or too little. I'm not sure what."

"Come on, tell me you never need time to think about where you're going in life. Where you wanna be going."

"Sure. From time to time. Yeah." Nathan looked off into the distance, in the direction of the camp where by now Charlotte, Allie, and Liam would be beginning their morning with the other children. "But I know as long as I have my family beside me, that is where I want to be."

Lucas took another long sip of his tea before speaking. "And what if you don't know where your family wants to be?"

Nathan's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"There is an open seat in the senate since Burlington… Well, you know."

"I do."

"Mr. Thatcher is being considered as his replacement. The prime minister has recommended him, and they are just waiting to receive confirmation of the appointment by the Governor General."

"Really?" Nathan's mind raced with the information. "How does Elizabeth feel about her father possibly becoming a senator?"

"She's happy for him. She knows that it has been something he's considered in the past. And personally, I think Mr. Thatcher would do a fantastic job."

"I'd agree." Nathan had relatively limited interactions with William Thatcher, but he was a smart man who seemed to have a strong sense of ethics. Still there seemed to be something causing Lucas to pause. "Why do I sense though there is a but coming?"

"But… There's a catch to William becoming a Senator." Lucas said. "He wants us to move to Hamilton."

"Why would he need you to help get him into office?"

"It's not becoming a Senator he needs help with, it's if he is appointed…" Lucas stared into the steaming mug in his hands. "He wants me to take over his business."

"Oh…"

"It's not the first time he's offered me a job. Elizabeth's family wanted us to get married in Hamilton, thinking I'd fall in love with the life, accept a job working for Thatcher Enterprises, and move east."

'What made you say no the last time?"

"I'll be honest, I was tempted to say yes." Lucas didn't seem to feel the need to hold anything back from Nathan. Choosing instead to unload everything he was holding inside for a long time. "I've always been a businessman. It was a huge opportunity. And Elizabeth could teach there, she'd have her pick of schools in Hamilton. But she and Jack are happy here."

"Are you happy here?"

Lucas' gaze slowly rose from his now cold tea to look at Nathan. "I thought I could be. I thought this could be home."

"Now you're not sure?"

Lucas took in a shaky breath and released it slowly. "Is it ever really home when there seems to be… ghosts… every time I turn around here?"

"I'm not sure I follow…"

"I guess you probably wouldn't…" Lucas set down his cup. "When I started pursuing Elizabeth, I'll be honest, it was a game for me. A fact that I'm not proud of. She is beautiful and smart, any man would be happy to have her on his arm, but for me part of the allure was in the chase. Especially when I realized that you were also interested."

Nathan wasn't shocked about Lucas' admission. Deep down he had always known what Bouchard was saying was the truth. "And when you won? When you became Elizabeth's choice? Then how did you feel?"

"At first, elated. Elizabeth and I share a common background and interests and as we courted, my feelings for her, and Little Jack, grew stronger. But… in the process, I think I also became more understanding of where she stood." Lucas raised his gaze to Nathan's. "You're a Mountie. You look at things black and white. Good and bad. Right and wrong. I'm a gambler." He gave a bleak laugh. "I make my living in the shades of grey in between. Another fact I'm not always proud of. Especially when it comes to raising Jack. I realize that now."

Nathan stayed silent. It seemed as though Lucas had kept a lot bottled up over the past few years, simmering away just under the surface.

"Also because of my past, it's made me rather good at reading people, and soon after Elizabeth and I started courting, and I started allowing myself to look at what we had not as a competition, but a relationship, I quickly realized, I wasn't who she wanted. Sure, maybe on the surface I was. Or, maybe more so, I was who she thought was the safe option given our occupations. But I saw what she couldn't. Or at least what she didn't want to see."

The feelings Nathan saw bubbling just under Lucas' surface, were now fully boiling over and out into the open.

"Did Elizabeth ever tell you that I broke things off with her? A year before we were married." Lucas studied Nathan. "Judging by that look, she did not." He gave a bleak laugh. "It was about the same time Jesse Flynn went missing on the mountain. I had just witnessed her discussion with you following Ned and Florence's wedding, saw Newton outside her row house one morning, and from what I saw and what she told me about the talks you two shared…" Lucas swallowed the lump in his throat. "I told her that love is not just an emotion. It's also an act of will. It can't be demanded. It can't be forced. I told her I wanted her to find her true love. And in order to do that, I had to set her free."

"You did that, and she came back. She chose you."

Lucas shook his head in a dejected manner. "You're not mad about this? Any of this?"

"There was a time I was. Sure. But I don't regret it."

"How could you not?" Surprise etched in Lucas' voice.

"Because if I did, I wouldn't have the life I have now. I wouldn't have Charlotte. I wouldn't have Liam. I wouldn't have another child coming at the end of the year. God has always known what He wanted for me. I have that faith because I'm living in and experiencing His grace daily."

"And I think that's why I've never seen you as a threat. At least not since Charlotte came to town. Everyone…" Lucas' voice broke. "Everyone could see that you two, you had… It."

"I'm not a threat to you or your marriage, Lucas. That's a relationship between you and Elizabeth."

"And Jack Senior it would seem." Lucas poured himself another cup of tea. "Please don't take me saying that the wrong way. I'm not trying to speak ill of the dead or sound callus. Especially because I respect what Jack Thornton means to Elizabeth, and their son. I knew marrying Elizabeth that, in a way, Jack would always be a part of her life. But like I said earlier, it seems every time I turn around, there is a ghost. Or at least a memory of one."

"Jack was Elizabeth's husband, Lucas. The father of her child. Of course, there would be some of his memories they'd want to keep alive. To remember him by."

"But would you want to live in the same row house that they shared? Or, have this town constantly compare you to how great Jack Thornton was? It's like living with a constant shadow over your life. I think that's why over the past few years, I've been okay with traveling for long stretches of time. And when Elizabeth and Jack join me on those trips, we're different together. Lighter almost. And I like to believe… We're happy."

The silence lingered between them, while Nathan searched for words and advice to give. "Have you ever told Elizabeth this? Have you told her how you feel?"

"I've tried," Lucas admitted. "But… Well, you know Elizabeth. Can you ever tell her something she doesn't want to hear? And now… How do I tell her that I think leaving Hope Valley and starting a new life together, somewhere else, is the only thing that can save our marriage?"

"It won't be easy." Nathan ran a hand through his hair. "Hope Valley was her support system after Jack passed. It was the community that helped raise her son. You're going to be asking her to remove that crutch. To trust you to be what she needs for not only herself, but for Jack too."

"That's the other thing…" Lucas let out a sigh. "I want to adopt Amy. I think from the moment Charlotte told me about her the other day, I knew I was meant to be her father. And you've seen how Jack and Amy are together. They adore one another and have a shared experience of losing their birth fathers in the line of duty. It's an understanding and support system they could lean on each other for the rest of their lives."

"Whoa, Bouchard. That seems like a lot of life altering decisions you are making Elizabeth make a choice on."

"Now do you see why I had to leave camp last night? Why I needed this time to think?"

"I don't claim to know much when it comes to marriage," Nathan said. "But one thing I know with absolute certainty. Relationships begin with honesty. It's the foundation. Because to be in love means to be able to share everything- your dreams, your faults, your deepest fears. Without these truths, a relationship will collapse."

Lucas looked at Nathan as though he'd grown two heads.

"Talk to your wife, Lucas. Tell her exactly how you feel. About everything. Including Amy." Nathan stood, readying to leave. "But if all that fails…" Nathan looked back over his shoulder at Bouchard. "I've always been a believer that actions speak louder than words."

By the time Nathan arrived back at the camp, he saw Charlotte at the center of the children instructing them on some sort of activity. What surprised him most about the scene though was the sight of Elizabeth sitting between her son and Amy. All three of them were chatting in French, and to Nathan, looking very much like a family.

Maybe Bouchard won't have that hard of a discussion after all?

Nathan caught Charlotte's gaze as he approached. Her eyes discreetly darting towards Elizabeth, Jack, and Amy, and then back to Nathan. Her nonverbal way of making sure he was seeing what she saw. He gave her a grin in return, getting the feeling that Charlotte was a few steps ahead of him in her matchmaking abilities. Had she already known that Bouchard would find a soft spot for Amy? Or that Elizabeth and the girl would seem to be getting along so well?

Speaking of Elizabeth, now seeing Nathan, she rose from her spot at the table with Jack and Amy and made her way towards him. "You're back. Did you find Lucas?"

"Yes. He's fine. He'll be back soon. He just… Needed some time to think."

Elizabeth raised her brow for a fleeting moment, opening her mouth to begin questioning him further, when Amy and Jack called to her from the table. Asking Elizabeth to come back and help them with their project. "Looks like I'm needed over there," she said. A smile grew as she pointed back over her shoulder at the kids. "But thank you, Nathan. I really appreciate what you did."

That weekend was the last day of 'Camp Hero'. It was bittersweet as all the children had the exact experiences Charlotte and Nathan dreamed of for them. It was life-changing for everyone involved. Including, it appeared, sweet Amy.

While there was still plenty for Elizabeth and Lucas to work out, they both agreed that they didn't feel it was right for Amy to be placed at a random orphanage. They used Mr. Thatcher's new connections and quickly set about getting approval to become her guardians while the Mounties continued to search for any remaining relatives she may have. Jack was excited about the idea of having another child around and willingly gave up his room at the rowhouse. He would set up his own 'camp' in a quiet corner of the living room. Lucas contacted Pastor Kelly in Creston and asked that they ship Amy's few remaining belongings to Hope Valley as they would now take over guardianship of the girl. The Kelly's commented that they had been praying something like this would happen for Amy. They felt responsible for the girl since her parents passed, but they knew, being their age, they could not give her everything she would need as she became a young woman. They were also happy to hear she would be with more children her age and be away from the reminders of her parents' untimely deaths.

As a show of thanks to Elizabeth for donating the use of her late husband's land to the camp, Nathan worked with the children on a special project all week. Since he first discovered it the morning they found Maise missing on Jack's land, Nathan had an idea. He talked it over with Charlotte and together they came up with the design. He also felt the need to discuss the gift with Lucas given the two men's discussion a few days prior. Lucas gave his blessing and the project continued as planned.

When Elizabeth arrived at camp that last afternoon, the children were bubbling with excitement to show her their creation. Jack and Amy took her hands, one on each side, and pulled her to a spot on the hill that looked out over the land down to the lake and the town in the distance. There sat an object under a large canvas tarp. All the children circled it and then on the count of three drew the material off to reveal a beautiful, handcrafted bench made from the log that held the initials Jack Thornton once carved into its wood.

"Do you like it?" Amy asked. Now talking more and more in English as she became comfortable with the others.

"We all helped make it with Mountie Nathan," Andy Novak said. "As a thank you for letting us build a camp here on Mountie Jack's land."

"I think he would be happy knowing that all of you love it here as much as he did," Elizabeth said, tears welling in her eyes as she ran her hand over the initials. "Thank you all…" She looked at each and every one gathered. "For such thoughtfulness. I think Mountie Jack's dream for this place turned out better than even he could have imagined."

A talent show was scheduled to wrap up the children's time in Hope Valley. Some were showcasing their musical talents. Others were in a play directed by Rosemary. Nothing was too formal about the evening, just a beautiful way to say goodbye for a group who came together as strangers and became like family over the course of the camp.

Charlotte went home to rest that afternoon as the lack of sleep during the camp, coupled with the pregnancy, made her quite tired. She initially balked against the idea, but after a few hours of rest, she had to admit, she felt like a new woman now arriving to the festivities.

The center of camp was being decorated for the evening. Laura Campbell stood to string the last of the banners onto the branch of a tree. Constable O'Reilly situated at the base of her ladder holding it steady. They had fallen into an easy rhythm with one another over the past week of the camp and Nathan and Charlotte on more than one occasion caught the couple's stolen glances and 'zing' of something more if ever their hands touched in passing.

Charlotte determined it was beautiful watching young love blossom like this. Two magnets that clicked together when the universe brought them closer. She wondered what it felt like falling in love in that way. Two people without any sort of past love or loss to cloud their feelings. No scuff marks, or tarnishes, or guarded hearts, just everything new, unblemished, and exciting.

Still, she wouldn't trade the journey that she'd gone through with Nathan to get to where they were. Their love wasn't necessarily better than other love, it was simply different. It was made all the sweeter for the adversity they'd overcome. Charlotte couldn't imagine feeling closer or more connected to a person. Sure, they had their disagreements, but there was no one else on this earth she wanted to face life with other than Nathan Grant.

As though reading her mind and sensing she was near, Nathan's gaze found her across the camp clearing where he was playing with Liam and Allie. That night, Charlotte decided on wearing nothing fancy. Instead picking a dress that was a soft lilac color and fell over her curves. It was light and airy in the late summer breeze. Perfect in its simplicity. Still, when Nathan saw her dressed for the evening, he looked at her with admiration and love, causing Charlotte to flush under his gaze.

"You both look wonderful tonight," he said, placing his hand on the baby while he kissed Charlotte's cheek.

"You don't look too bad yourself." Charlotte's fingers played with the edge of Nathan's shirt collar. "Especially with a few of these unbuttoned."

A half-smile joined the brazen lift of Nathan's eyebrow. "Ya like that, huh?"

"I do."

A deep, clearing of someone's throat behind them made the couple dart apart like two children caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

"I beg your pardon," Chief Superintendent Collins said, his mustache twitching with his grin. "But I was hoping to talk to you before tonight's activities began."

"I'll leave you two to the Mountie talk," Charlotte said, beginning to pull away from Nathan's side to join the others.

"Actually, I think you should stay. I wanted to deliver the good news in person."

"What good news is that?" Nathan asked, his hand circling around Charlotte's back to draw her closer. It was his comfort reflex.

"An inspector position has come open down south by the border in Waterton Lake National Park and I'm pleased to inform you that the job is yours. That is, assuming you are still interested in an inspector position. I know a few years ago you applied and was later offered a position in Union City."

"Nathan," Charlotte squeezed his arm. "That's wonderful."

But is it? Nathan thought. Waterton Lake wasn't Hope Valley. What about their home here?

"Well, I'm honored. But I already have a job." Nathan said. "Less than two weeks ago, I was told I was to serve here with Constable O'Reilly. To teach him everything I knew."

"Yes, of course. We aren't taking that position away," Collins explained. "Hope Valley does need two Mounties stationed here and I know both Superintendent and Constable O'Reilly were looking forward to that arrangement, but Grant, what I'm offering you is a prestigious position. It's a reward for all the commendable work you've been doing. Taking down Beck McEntire. Bringing Aitchison to justice. And organizing the evidence and mission to round up the Schnieder Gang. None of it went unnoticed."

"Honestly sir, I was just doing my job."

"No, it's more than that. You show exemplary leadership qualities. That's not something you can learn. That's something you're born with. You've more than earned this position, Nathan."

"I agree," Charlotte said from his side. "This is something you've wanted for a long time, and you've worked hard for it. I'm so incredibly happy for you."

Nathan glanced down at her, studying Charlotte's features. She looked at him with pride, but her smile did little to mask the way the muscle in her jaw twitched ever so slightly. She too was wondering what this meant for their family.

"Sir," Nathan said, turning his attention back to Collins. "I appreciate the Force's offer, but I'm going to need a few days to talk this over with Charlotte and our children. This isn't just about me. It's about what's best for my family. And tonight, I just want to enjoy the last few hours we have with this special group of kids."

"I can respect that. Just promise me you'll think about it." said the Chief Superintendent. "But don't take too long to decide, Grant. We're looking for proven leaders and I know you could make a real difference. I'm offering you a division of your own, son. 'Ol Mounties like myself or Bill Avery would be the first to tell you, an opportunity like this doesn't come along every day."