Lucas shook his head as he walked out of Judge Bonaparte's office. Though he hadn't been able to talk to the judge today, the man's secretary had said the office had no record of the two lawsuits that he had been served for safety violations pertaining to Gowen Petroleum - the oil company that he had ended up with after Henry had refused to be an equal partner with him. Given the mess the company had been in when he had taken control, Lucas had assumed the lawsuits were related to something that was Gowen's fault and felt it best to travel to Winnipeg to deal with the situation himself. The thought of consulting Bill Avery had briefly crossed his mind. However, it was not secret that Hope Valley's judge did not like or trust him. While Lucas trusted the man not to do anything to jeopardize his career, giving him a run around would be a distinct pleasure for the former Mountie.

Now, Lucas was wishing he had asked Bill to look into the matter. But he hadn't and he was miles away from both of his businesses, relying on a legal office that he knew nothing about. He was beginning to understand the sentiment of better the devil you know than the devil you didn't. Bonaparte's secretary had said they would be in touch with him when the matter was figured out but had been noncommittal about when that might be. His instincts told him that if he didn't keep the matter at the forefront, it would be of low priority to the Judge and his staff. Going back to Hope Valley without the matter settled was just not an option.

Striding down the sidewalk, Lucas tried to put the lawsuits out of his mind. For today, there wasn't much he could do. If he didn't hear from Bonaparte or his secretary by tomorrow afternoon, he would make another visit. For today though, he planned to go back to the hotel, have supper and then retire to his room. Things had not been going his way lately and he was tired. Perhaps a little time away from Hope Valley was just what he needed. It seemed as though despite all his attempts to impress Elizabeth Thornton with his expensive gifts, it was the simple things that had won her heart. He had heard told that money couldn't buy love, and given his childhood he could certainly believe that. Growing up he might have believed that his parents loved each other - but then their relationship was the only reference he'd had. They were certainly cordial with one another. He had no doubt that they had both loved him to the best of their ability. However, he was starting to think that his parents simply did not know what love was - and neither did he.

Perhaps if he remained in Hope Valley despite his losses, the charming little town might finally be able to teach him that lesson.

"Lucas?"

The familiar sound of his mother calling his name brought him from his thoughts. Scanning the people on the sidewalk, he soon spotted his mother amongst the strangers. Her brown hair, once highlighted with streaks of red, now showed hints of grey - not that he would ever mention that to her.

"Hello, Mother," Lucas said, as he approached her. "Are you here on business?"

"I am," Helen Bouchard replied. "There was a client that I thought might benefit with a little personal motivation to get their revised draft finished here in Winnipeg, so I told your father to continue back to Montreal without me while I met with them. It is imperative that the book gets out on time."

Lucas simply nodded not knowing what to say, though he wasn't sure his mother expected an answer in moments like these. "What about you? This is certainly a distance from that drop in the bucket town you decided to hide in. What is it? Hope River?"

"Hope Valley," Lucas replied, surprising himself at the defensive pride in his voice. His mother's response told him that she had heard it too.

"I'm sorry, Hope Valley," Helen corrected. "Though I am surprised by your reaction. I was under the impression that the town's main charm was a certain schoolteacher, who according to your last letter had chosen the Mountie."

"The town has other qualities going for it," Lucas said, though he hoped she didn't ask him to name anything specific because he wasn't prepared to answer that. Hoping to avoid it, he forged on. "I came to Winnipeg to deal with some legal issues that the oil company I took over is facing. Once the matter is settled then I plan on making it a more lucrative endeavor now that I can influence the direction of Gowen Petroleum."

Helen shook her head. "You always have been impulsive."

"You need to seize the opportunity when it is in front of you or it might just pass you by."

"That's your father talking and no one else," Helen chided.

"Father has been successful with his business," Lucas said, feeling the need to stick up for the father who wasn't there though he did hate to be caught in the middle of his parents. "How has he been? It seems like it has been ages since I last saw him."

"He's fine, I suppose. Wrapped up in his work," Helen replied, though her son didn't miss the perplexed look on her face. "But your father said he was coming to see you three months ago. Said you two caught up in Union City."

Lucas shook his head. "I didn't see him. Perhaps his plans changed last minute."

"Perhaps," Helen replied, not sounding at all convinced.

"Enough talk about your father. We're both in the city. Do you have time to get supper with me?" Lucas asked. "I'm staying at the Winnipeg Oasis and the food is excellent."

Helen smiled, reaching out to pat her son's cheek. "I would love too. You tend to wander from place to place, I never know where to reach you, but I would love to catch up with my favorite son."

Lucas offered her his arm. "Aren't I your only son?"

There was a brief look of sadness in Helen's eyes as she replied. "You're still my favorite."

As Lucas escorted his mother toward the Winnipeg Oasis, Helen brought up another topic. "When are you heading home to Hope Valley? Perhaps I can see this little town that has caught your interest and check in with Elizabeth about her edits - assuming of course that you still want me to get her book published now that she has chosen the Mountie?"

"I will admit, asking you to get her book published was intended to help win favor, though she let me know I went about that the wrong way," Lucas replied, remembering how angry Elizabeth had been when he had first told her about sending her chapters to his mother. Though he had meant well, he could understand her position. He was thankful that Elizabeth had the grace to forgive him. Would she though if she thought her mother's only interest in her work was because he had asked her to help get it published? "However, I really enjoyed her writing, raw as it was. She deserves to be published."

Helen nodded. "I agree with you. Granted, the manuscript needs more polishing than what I usually commit to, but if she is open to learning and making changes, I do believe we can have a bestseller on our hands. I just wanted to be sure you hadn't changed your position."

"My time as a gambler has taught me when to fold and walk away. Elizabeth's heart chose the other man, but that doesn't mean I don't want happiness for her. She is as passionate about writing as she is being a mother and teacher."

Reaching over with her other arm, Helen patted her son's arm. "Perhaps your father's 'business is the only thing that matters' teachings haven't ruined you completely. I think you are finally letting your heart have equal say which makes me want to see this town and meet its people even more."

"I am not sure how long I will need to stay to get the matter I came for settled, but I would love for you to come home with me so I can show the place off. Perhaps introducing my mother will help people change how they see me."

"Didn't get off on the right foot there?" Helen asked, a hint of scolding in her voice.

Lucas shrugged. "First impressions aren't always my strong suit," he said, the image of first Elizabeth and then Nathan striding in his saloon following the card trick incident coming to mind. He had only thought to teach Allie the trick to impress her friends. Never had he dreamed the girl would use it to win stuff from her classmates. That idea had been all the clever girl's idea, though he had known better than to try to argue that to either the teacher or the angry parent.

Helen snorted. "That's for sure."

Deciding that he wanted to get the conversation away from him, Lucas asked his mother about her work.

Placing the earpiece back in its cradle, Bill stared at the phone. He still wasn't sure he liked the contraption but some of the conversations it allowed him to have turned out to be enlightening - or confusing.

Like this one with Judge Bonaparte in Winnipeg. The man had called asking what he knew about Lucas Bouchard, Gowen Petroleum, and two lawsuits which seemed to have no official record. It seemed as though Bouchard had legal issues, which didn't surprise Bill. What had been a shock was the Winnipeg judge's claim that Lucas Bouchard was in Winnipeg. Though the secretary's description had sounded like the Queen of Hearts owner, and the proper documentation had been presented, it didn't change what Bill had seen with his own eyes - namely one Lucas Bouchard leaning against a post in front of the saloon sipping from a mug. As the saloon owner tended to lurk on the balcony with a teacup, it had seemed unusual but nothing criminal.

Now, Bill wasn't so sure.

Yes, he had reports of Bouchard being sighted in a nearby town without anyone realizing he had left Hope Valley, but nothing could be proved. However, it was physically impossible to be in both Winnipeg and Hope Valley at the same time. If Bouchard was in Winnipeg, then who was here? Or vice versa.

Staring at the phone was getting him nowhere. Getting to his feet, Bill headed for the door of his office. As he stepped outside, he found Jed Dryer, one of the farmers surrounding Hope Valley, and remembered the appointment he had. This was more important though.

"I'm sorry, Jed. Something had come up. We'll need to reschedule."

"Those cows have been in my garden again, Judge. Something needs to be done and I can't keep taking time to come into town."

"I will come out to your farm for our next meeting," Bill said quickly.

"When?"

"This evening," Bill replied. "Though it may be on the later side."

"Fine," Jed said as he turned and stomped down the steps. Bill heard the man mutter something about all talk and no action. He couldn't blame the guy. He had often thought that about the law and the court system himself.

Making a silent vow to make it up to Jed, Bill started toward the Queen of Hearts. His long purposeful strides covered the distance quickly. Walking into the establishment, Bill scanned the room. He didn't see Lucas anywhere. Walking toward the bar, he asked the bartender where his boss was. The man pointed to the office before turning to a customer. Taking that as an invitation to go back, Bill strode to the office. Finding the door locked, he knocked.

"One moment," came a quick reply. Bill heard a hint of panic in the voice and drawers shutting quickly. Soon though, the door was opening and the office's occupant stood in the doorway. He had removed his vest, his shirt was untucked, the cravat hung loose around his neck. Only the man's hair was still perfectly in place. "Judge Avery, good afternoon."

Bill nodded at the greeting but didn't reply. "Misplace something?" he asked, looking past the man to the room that clearly looked as though someone had been searching it.

"Yes, but I am sure it will turn up," Lucas replied with a smile. "Was there something I can do for you?"

"I just thought I would check to make sure your mother was settling in alright?" Bill said, the excuse sliding easily off of his tongue.

"She is," Lucas replied quickly. "Thank you for asking."

Bill nodded, a fake smile on his face. "Glad to hear it. Where was it you told me you were from when you first came here?"

"Why Montreal, of course," Lucas replied.

Bill nodded.

"If there is nothing else, I really should put this office back together," the saloon owner said, pointing over his shoulder into the room behind him.

"Of course," Bill replied. "Have a good day," he added before turning to leave.

Without looking back, Bill strode down the hallway to the entrance of the saloon. He ignored the look his abrupt departure garnered and darted across the street without watching for traffic. Only Lee's quick reflexes kept him from hitting the judge, who didn't notice as he headed for the Mounted Police office.

"I don't know who is over in that saloon right now, but it is not the Bouchard who came to town in the first place," Bill said as the door shut behind him. He strode to the desk Nathan was sitting at and stood in front of it.

"Well hello, Bill" Nathan said, calmly looking up from the report he had been reading. "Care to explain?"

Bill looked over at the other person in the room, who was reading another report as he leaned against the wall. He recalled the dusty-haired man as having arrived on the train when Helen Bouchard had arrived.

"Bill Avery, meet Corporal Ryan 'James' Fitzpatrick. He was investigating thefts on the train, but I have a feeling a bigger case is developing here in Hope Valley, so I have him staying around for a while."

"I would say something is going on," Bill said, giving the other Mountie a quick nod before focusing on Nathan. "I don't know who is in the saloon right now, but it is not the same man who arrived in town."

"Why do you say that?"

"He was drinking from a mug this morning, and not lurking on the balcony."

"People's habits can change," Nathan said diplomatically as Elizabeth came into the office.

"Yes, that is why I brushed it off at first. But then I got a call from a judge in Winnipeg. Apparently, Lucas Bouchard is there inquiring about lawsuits that were filed against Gowen Petroleum. So, I went to talk to Lucas. He is in his office, but he actually gave me a straight answer when I asked where he said he grew up when he first came to town. Lucas Bouchard has never given me a straight answer since he stepped foot in Hope Valley. He told me he came from 'here and there' and did 'this and that' when he first arrived."

"When I was speaking with his mother, she said she was glad that I sent my manuscript in, but I didn't send it. Lucas did, without my permission. I thought maybe it was just an oversight, but with what Bill said, maybe not."

"You said he is reported being in Winnipeg?" Nathan asked.

"Yes."

"I can have someone I trust verify that. Gabe is supposed to be on leave. He went with Lillian to escort two orphans to New Hope Orphanage. He won't be happy his leave has been cancelled, but I need someone to follow up on this quickly."

"He must be a good friend to do favors for you on his leave," Bill commented.

The judge watched Nathan exchange a look with Fitzpatrick.

"It's your call, sir," the Mountie replied.

Bill looked between the two Mounties. "What is going on?" he finally asked, leveling his gaze at Nathan.

"Elizabeth, can you lock the door please, and then I think you both need to have a seat."

Bill felt like the other shoe was going to drop as Elizabeth moved to lock the office door. As she came toward the desk, he pulled one of the chairs away from the desk for her. After she was seated, Bill sat down in the chair next to her.

"Out with it, Grant," Bill demanded.

Nathan nodded and leaned back in his chair. "I was a Sergeant Major when I was stationed at Fort Clay. After the review board acquitted me of Hargraves charges, I was transferred to Fort Simpson briefly before being promoted to Superintendent. Hope Valley was one of the posts under my supervision and given Mayor Stanton's request that Sgt. Thornton's post not be filled right away, I chose to honor that. However, we had been keeping tabs on criminal activity that we believed Bouchard and that lady that arrived in town on the train were involved with, but we couldn't find any evidence linking them directly. The reports of Bouchard being in two places at the same time that seemed improbable caused more confusion. When we heard he bought the saloon in Hope Valley, I knew we couldn't leave the posting empty any longer, but I also knew it would not be an easy place for any Mountie to serve."

"So you came yourself," Elizabeth supplied.

Nathan nodded. "As Sergeant Thornton lost his life doing an assignment that should have been mine, I felt it was the least I owed him and I had the pension check to give to you," he told Elizabeth. "I never expected to fall in love with the town or you."

Elizabeth blushed at the admission.

"Can we get back to Bouchard?" Bill asked, reminding the two lovebirds that they weren't alone.

"Yes," Nathan said, tearing his eyes from Elizabeth and ignoring the smirk on Fitzpatrick's face. "With Bouchard in Hope Valley it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally get the information we were missing, except other than a misguided attempt that led to some gambling in the school, nothing Lucas did was illegal. He seemed to quickly get around places but again, nothing could be linked to the criminal activity we believed he was behind."

"Which was?"

"Swindling widows out of their inheritance," Fitzpatrick supplied. "We've got a long list of victims but no way to link Bouchard or his mother, or whoever she actually is, to the actual taking of the money."

Elizabeth gasped before looking toward Nathan. "That is why you were so cynical about his attempts to spend time with me."

"Yes. Though if we have one man claiming to be Lucas Bouchard here and another in Winnipeg, then perhaps you were right about the man we know as Lucas, Elizabeth."

"How are we going to make that determination?"

"Like Bill, I can think of a few questions that an imposter might not know," Nathan said. "I'll have Gabriel approach the man in Winnipeg to make that determination and once we have that information then we can make further plans."

"Shall I go back to the saloon to keep an eye on things?" Fitzpatrick asked, closing the folder he was reading from.

"Yes. If our saloon owner isn't exactly who he claims to be I want to know where to find him," Nathan said. "I'll be in touch with further instructions when we determine our next move."

"Yes, sir," Fitzpatrick said, offering a salute now that his commanding officer's identity was revealed to those in the room.

Nathan stood and returned the salute. As Fitzpatrick left the office, Nathan felt Bill's eyes on him. Turning to the judge, he returned the gaze. "What?"

"I am glad I retired before you got here or throwing a Superintendent in jail would have ended my career for sure," Bill countered. Beside him, Elizabeth burst out laughing but Bill couldn't even bother trying to be upset with her. As far as the mistakes he had made in his life, that was probably one of his biggest ones but not quite the worst.

His biggest mistake and greatest regret were messing things up with Abigail. If she ever moved back to Hope Valley perhaps, he would try one more time to make things right.

Hanging up the phone in the hotel manager's office, Gabriel headed to the suite he was sharing with his wife and the brother and sister they were escorting back to New Hope Orphanage. The four-year-old boy, Craig, had been deemed unmanageable by two big orphanages. So far, all Gabriel had seen was high-energy and curiosity that were the perfect recipe for mayhem. His eight-year-old sister, Colleen, insisted her brother was a good kid. Gabriel was inclined to believe her, and he knew Lillian was too.

Things at New Hope Orphanage were probably not going to be dull in the days to come.

Reaching the room, Gabriel stepped inside the room, as Lillian stepped from the room the kids were sharing.

"Craig is napping and Colleen is reading," Lillian told him softly. "What did Nathan want?"

"He wants me to check into a situation here in Winnipeg," Gabriel told her regretfully. "It is time sensitive, so I need to follow through with it right now."

Lillian nodded as she closed the distance between them. "The kids and I will be fine here," she assured him. "If returning to Brookfield needs to be delayed, it'll be fine. I'll keep the kids in the hotel. I can find things to entertain them."

Reaching out, Gabriel placed his hands on Lillian's waist as he pulled her close to him. "I love how strong and flexible you are," he told his wife. "I hope it won't cause too much delay but even if Nathan wasn't my best friend, he is also my superior officer. I kind of have to do this."

"Just be careful," Lillian told him.

"I will be," Gabriel replied, before pressing his lips against her softer ones. He took a few minutes to savor the touch and taste of her lips against his as Lillian ran fingers through his hair as she returned his kiss.

Too soon he pulled back. "I should get going," Gabriel told her. "I'm hoping to catch up with the person I need to question at his hotel, the Winnipeg Oasis. I'll try not to be late."

"We'll be waiting right here," Lillian assured him.

Making sure his revolver was in its concealed holster and his badge in his pocket, Gabriel left the room. Outside, he got a carriage to take him to the other hotel. Arriving at the Winnipeg Oasis, Gabriel inquired about Lucas Bouchard at the desk, showing the man there his badge.

"I believe Mr. Bouchard is still in the dining room. If not, his room is 216. Please use discretion, sir."

Gabriel smiled at the man. "I will do my best."

Walking toward the dining room, Gabriel scanned the area. He spotted a man meeting Bouchard's description in a far corner, apparently sharing a cup of tea with an older woman. Weaving his way through the tables and people, Gabriel approached the table. He had the man's attention even before he stopped beside the table.

"Lucas Bouchard?" Gabriel asked.

"Who's asking?"

Gabriel discreetly showed his badge. "Corporal Gabriel Kinslow, North West Mounted Police."

"Have a seat," the man said, nodding to the empty chair in front of Gabriel. "I am Lucas Bouchard. May I ask what this is about?"

"I have a few questions for you," Gabriel said, sitting down. "I am asking them on behalf of Nathan Grant. I hear you know him from Hope Valley. He told me about how you tried to show him up in front of his niece at the carnival but that he beat you at the strength test. He believes you later tried to hit him with a dart at a bachelor party."

"The dart landed in his drink and Elizabeth threw it, not me!" Lucas said defensively. "And yes, I did try to show him up at the Founder's Day carnival but neither one of us was successful. Dr. Shepherd came along and showed us both up."

Gabriel smiled. "That is the information I needed you to correct to verify you are who you claim to be."

"Who I claim to be?" Lucas said, attempting to keep his voice down though the indignation was clear in his voice. "Just what is this about."

Gabriel leaned back in his chair. "It seems as though there is someone in Hope Valley claiming to be you and who happens to be a dead ringer for you. A woman joined him recently, who is claiming to be your mother."

"My mother is sitting right across from me. This is ridiculous."

Gabriel turned to the woman at the table. "Sorry to meet you under these circumstances, ma'am."

"Likewise Corporal."

"Sorry, to ask this, but did you ever have another son?"

"Are you implying that I have a twin that my parents have kept from me? I have no siblings and people being suspicious of me I am used to, especially Bill Avery and Nathan Grant. However, I will not tolerate my mother being questioned like she did something wrong!"

"I am not accusing anyone of anything at this point," Gabriel replied calmly, even as Helen reached across the table to lay a calming hand on her son's forearm.

"Relax, Lucas," Helen said calmly. Turning toward Gabriel, she replied. "The truth is corporal, I did give birth to another son. He was born shortly before Lucas but did not do well from birth. I never even heard him cry but with a second child coming and other complications, I am afraid I don't remember much more. When I woke up the next morning, my husband told me that the first baby had died but that we still had a son."

"I was supposed to be a twin?" Lucas said in a tone that told Gabriel that the information truly was new to him.

"Yes. I grieved your brother's loss but I still had you, so I focused on that. I didn't see a reason to bring up the past."

"Are you sure the other baby passed?" Gabriel asked.

"I didn't ask to see a body, if that is what you are asking," Helen told him. "My husband told me our son passed and I believed him. He didn't want to put a marker at a grave. He didn't want to be reminded of the loss and I didn't fight him on it."

Gabriel nodded.

"Do you think the baby survived? That the man in Hope Valley pretending to be Lucas is my other son?"

"Right now, we do not know for sure, ma'am. What we do know, is that the Lucas the people of Hope Valley have known is here at the same time that someone who looks enough like him not to raise questions is miles away pretending to be Lucas Bouchard."

"If he looks so much like me then why were you asked to check in on me here."

"Well, Bill Avery apparently noticed idiosyncrasies in your behavior and then Judge Bonaparte called to ask about your appearance in his courtroom about lawsuits he has no record of. Afterwards, he asked the Lucas there where he had said he was from when he first arrived in town."

Lucas smiled. "Here and there was not the answer Bill Avery wanted," he said remembering how infuriated the then sheriff had looked that day. "So the lawsuits are phony?"

"It would seem so. We think whoever is in Hope Valley wanted to make sure you were out of town for a while."

"So he could do what?"

"That we are not sure of."

"Well, I can find out by going back."

"I need to ask you not to do that. There has been an ongoing investigation involving you for the last few years. We now think it is this look alike who we've been after and not you. For now, we need to let things play out as the imposter wants. As for you, you have two choices. You can accompany me to Brookfield, where you will remain for the duration of the investigation as a guest at the Royal Brookfield on the Force's tab, or I arrest you on the charge of interfering with an investigation."

"As I do not plan on giving Bill Avery or Nathan Grant the satisfaction of seeing me behind bars, I believe I will take you up on the first option," Lucas replied, with a resigned sigh.

"Good," Gabriel said. "I will arrange for fare for you on the train my wife and I are taking home tomorrow morning. If you disappear between then, I will put out a warrant for your arrest."

"Understood. You will have my full cooperation."

Gabriel looked to Helen Bouchard. "Shall I arrange for two extra tickets, ma'am?"

"Please," Helen replied. "My husband has always kept secrets from me. The information you have given me has cast doubts on what he told me that day in the hospital. If he's been lying to me all these years, then being with him is the last place I want to be right now."

"Understood," Gabriel told her. "If you feel you need protection from your husband, we will provide it."

The Mountie stood up. "I will go make travel arrangements. I will be by to pick you up at eight a.m. tomorrow. Be ready."

"We will be, Corporal," Lucas replied, his expression troubled.

Gabriel had a feeling that everything he had just heard and learned had the man questioning a lot of things. He knew he would be in his place. With a final farewell, he left son and mother alone to offer comfort to one another. He had two train fares to arrange and then a call to Nathan to relay the new information.

AN: Just want to thank FnficJunkie for the idea of Nathan being undercover and having a secretly high rank. I had fun writing that part!