Chapter 8

Elizabeth began speaking the minute Nathan closed the door of the kitchen behind him but stopped quickly when she saw the expression on his face. Gone was the tension and in its place was a look of optimism that she hadn't seen on him for quite some time. "I'm glad to see that you have wrapped up a bit warmer now, whatever were you thinking running out into the cold like that?" His raised eyebrow made her realise how silly her question was and so in a gentler tone she finished, "I was just worried to see you outside without your serge". She could see the threat of a smile on his face, that wonderful way he had of lifting up just one side of his mouth, and it was just enough to make her think that maybe there was still hope for them. Wherever they ended up in the future she knew that Lucas was definitely not the man for her. She had left it far too long to tell him that and so if anyone should feel guilty about the event that played out a little earlier it was her.

Nathan took his time, almost relishing this brief moment alone with her. Wanting to pour himself a mug of coffee from the pot on the stove he looked around but could only see teacups set out on the sideboard. As if reading his mind Elizabeth jumped up, the motion making her wince a little as she realised that the cold had gotten into her joints as she knelt in the snow. She tried to mask it but was too late as Nathan rushed across, reaching his hand out to steady her, "Did he hit you harder than you are letting on?" He could see that the redness on her cheek had taken on a darker tone and could feel anger rise in him again. How quickly things can change, he thought, how something that gives you hope can be followed by a darker moment.

He had sent Elizabeth along to the kitchen while he stopped to explain to Lillian and Chloe that it would be a little while before he could come back to continue their chat, ready to apologise for keeping them waiting. What he heard as he walked into the office were giggles from the young girl as she listened to Lillian recount a story of some mischievous deed she had gotten up to in this very house when she was the same age as Chloe was now. Watching for a moment as she took a sip of her chocolate, her eyes alight with the kind of joy all children should feel and for a brief time being temporarily relieved of the burden of guilt she had been carrying, he knew that he and all the others around would do everything possible to give this family the life they deserved.

He thought about Bill, regarded by many as an old curmudgeon, who had once again shown how badly he wore that label when he spoken to him outside. Suggesting that he would gladly offer to be part of any solution they may come up with, his eyes were looking towards the window where Abigail was sitting with some of the children. The thought came to him that perhaps this was why it had taken so long for these two to get together. Maybe God had a bigger plan for them that meant them both being here at this very moment in time. As soon as he was able he would have a quiet world with Abigail, not to interfere, but to see if what he believed had been quashed by each of them for so long may perhaps now have a chance.

Now all that positivity was pushed to the back of his mind as he looked at the woman standing in front of him, feeling her pain. How easy it would be to reach out and draw her into his arms, tell her how much he loved her, had always loved her. He knew he had to say something but the right words wouldn't come. So he stayed still, searching her eyes for a sign of something, anything, that would tell him that she felt the same. Her mouth opened but she too seemed to be lost for words. What seemed like an eternity passed yet neither of them was able to break the connection until Mrs Winters came bustling in from the back hallway, oblivious to what was unfolding before her. "It's getting colder out there", she said to no-one. "I've called the children so I'd best be making that hot chocolate that little Miss Allie requested."

It was only then that she noticed them, Elizabeth having sat down quickly while Nathan moved back towards the door. "I bet you'll be wanting a mug for your coffee Nathan. I can see that you're not a man for fancy teacups, not like that other one. What kind of fellow drinks tea with their little finger sticking up anyway?"

They both laughed before Nathan moved across to take the mug that Mrs Winters had removed from a cupboard in the dresser. "I'll just pour this", he said, lifting the pot off the stove, "then we will get out of your way." Indicating to Elizabeth to follow him he reminded her that there was a small sitting area at the end of the hallway upstairs, "We can talk there, if that is okay with you."

Lucas and Gabe had sat in silence for a while, each in their own thoughts, before the Mountie finally spoke as he suggested once more that it would be best if he would just tell what had happened from the very beginning. "Don't leave anything out, Lucas. Even if you think you are protecting Elizabeth, or yourself, you would not be. Hitting a woman is a serious offence around here so unless there are mitigating circumstances I will have no choice but to arrest you."

There was a low moan from the other man, as the thought of spending time in gaol suddenly became a possibility. "It was just an accident, I didn't mean it." Looking up then he could see that Gabe was not interested in hearing his plea of innocence again. So taking a deep breath he sat up straight, his back rigid in the chair as though he was dragging up all the strength he could muster.

"I did a silly thing and interrupted Nathan when he had asked everyone not to". Seeing the smirk on Gabe's face he quickly added, "It may be funny to you now but that man is formidable when you cross him. I always thought he was a soft touch, especially when it came to Elizabeth, but I can see now that he was just protecting her. That he would never do anything to knowlingly hurt or upset her."

Upstairs Elizabeth had settled herself in the windowseat, while Nathan had pulled a chair across from further down the hallway. Looking out she could see the building at the back where she knew Gabe was probably asking Lucas exactly the same questions as Nathan was about to do with her. She began to speak, thinking it better that she tell the story in one flowing motion, then let him question her about it.

"After we left you, Nathan, I told Lucas that we needed to talk and suggested we take a walk outside. I thought it might make what I had to say easier if no-one was around and give me a good reason for it not to be dragged out more than necessary. I never thought it would turn into quite the kerfuffle that it became."

"It was Elizabeth's idea that we walk across to the big oak tree at the far side of the yard. I tried to take her arm as the ground was a bit icy underfoot but she was having none of that. I think that was when I knew things were not going to end well. Perhaps I'd known for a while, which is why I offered to bring Allie here, but I just didn't want to admit it to myself."

"Lucas coming here was the final confirmation I needed that there was nothing between us." Looking up at Nathan to gauge his reaction she was surprised to see nothing. His face remained blank and she reminded herself that he was in Mountie mode now, this was what he had to be like when questioning a victim or suspect. "I have been horrible to him, letting him think he stood a chance with me when in reality I have been using him all this time. Needing someone to help me get over losing Jack." Still there was no reaction and in her mind she silently added the words, "and stop me from loving you".

"I apologised to her for what I did and promised that I would be more respectful of other people's wishes next time. We had reached the tree by then and I remember watching her shuffle her feet around a bit in the snow, as though building up the courage to speak. It was obvious what she was going to say but I wanted to hear it from her. I guess in a way I wanted to see her squirm and show some remorse for the way she had treated me." Pausing for a moment he gave Gabe a strange look, almost one of regret. Then he quietly said, "But I realised I wasn't one to talk as I had treated Nathan even worse at times but I wasn't going to admit that to Elizabeth."

"Before I could say anything he told me that he knew what it was I had to say. I thought he was remarkably calm but then something shifted in his manner. I was not prepared for the sneering look that he directed towards me then and the bitterness in his voice. It was frightening in one way but then I reminded myself that this was Lucas, a man with the backbone of an invertebrate." Nathan had to stifle a laugh then, amazed to hear Elizabeth now describing the man in the same way so many others had before. "He was quite upset, undoubtedly his ego was dented and the nastiness in his voice took me by surprise."

"I'm not proud of how I acted then. Even though I knew that this was coming it still wasn't nice to hear it put into words. So I reacted in a bad way and told her that I always knew there was something going on between her and Nathan. That the whole town knew but wouldn't say anything because they didn't want to hurt me." Gabe could tell by looking at him now that Lucas didn't actually believe that and once he'd had time to rationalise what had happened he began to feel embarrassed by the way he had acted.

"He said he felt he had to stand on the balcony watching to make sure that we didn't get up to anything. That we didn't disappear off in secret. That is why he often drove past the row houses or came out at times when I wouldn't be expecting him." She started to smile then, a little laugh escaping her lips. "Then he confessed that he didn't really like tea but it gave him something to do when he was standing up there. Coffee would have been quick to drink whereas it took time to sip a cup of tea." Nathan knew that he should have said something in their defence, offered some protest about her reputation being besmirched in such a way, but he needed Elizabeth to keep going without breaking the flow of what she was saying.

"That was when she reacted. She raised her voice and vehemently denied that anything had happened between them. But I could tell that it wasn't because she didn't want it to. That fired me up even more and I said more things that I shouldn't have." Lucas dropped his head into his hands again then and Gabe had to give him a gentle prod to keep going. "I need to know what else you said Lucas."

"I said that I would write to Mr Landis and tell him what the Hope Valley school teacher had been getting up to. And then I would telephone her parents and say that they needed to come and take Little Jack as she was no longer a fit mother."

"He threatened me then." Realising from the look on Nathan's face how that sounded she quickly added, "Not in a physical way but by basically saying that he would ruin me. I knew that he was just hitting out from disappointment and hurt so I moved closer to comfort him. To assure him that I would always be there for him as a friend. I must have moved my hand up as though I was about to slap him because the next thing I felt the sting on my cheek where his palm had connected."

"I really thought she was going to hit me, and probably would have deserved it. I moved my hand up to block her arm and push it out of the way but it wasn't there. I was too late to pull back and that's when I caught the side of her cheek." The dejected look on his face and the contrition that could be heard in his voice was real and Gabe knew that whatever other faults Lucas Bouchard may have he wasn't a woman beater. Now he had to compare what he had heard with the story Elizabeth had told Nathan, then between them they would discuss if there was any action to be taken. In his mind the man had been penalised enough but it wasn't his final decision to make.

"Lucas may be many things, Nathan, but he is not a violent man. He will be mortified by what has happened and full of regret. I don't want him to suffer any more than he already has. I need to be able to tell him how sorry I am and that I forgive him for this incident and hope that he can forgive me for how I have treated him." She looked straight into Nathan's eyes then before saying more, "Then I have to be honest with other people and hope that they can find it in their hearts to forgive me. Pray that I am not too late"