Chapter 7

Lillian glanced at the big clock in the room, growing more and more concerned per minute.

22.51.

Where was she?

It's been more than three hours since Grace left to wire that lawyer and finish tasks that remained for the day. She should have been home by now, even if it was crowded in the telegraph office.

Lillian put away the last of the clean dishes in the closet, tidied up the silverware and huffing in worry, she threw away the tablecloth and started to take off her apron, deciding to go and look for Grace.

And it was right in that moment that she heard the keys unlocking their home from outside.

She threw her apron on the chair and hurried toward the doors, her concern getting better of her.

"For Heaven's sake, Grace, where have you…", she drifted silent at the scene in front of her.

There was her sister, her hand in a sling, drenched from the rain, hair plastered around her face, dress unrecognizable from all the mud, with a gray man's jacket across her shoulders and back.

Grace smiled sheepishly at her sister as she came inside ... only to be followed by a young man who was in a similar state as she was - minus the mud and sling.

But, as Lillian looked sharply at his face, her breath got caught in her throat as she recognized the newly elected governor!

Seeing Lillian's shocked facial expression Grace fidgeted nervously as she put on a small smile.

"Sorry, I know that you were worried. Please, don't freak out, I'm fine", she quickly added as Lillian rushed toward her sister and awkwardly hugged her, careful not to hurt her more. Lillian's eyes filled with tears that pent up in her for the past few hours.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?", Lillian silently asked, trying to reason with a fact that the newly elected governor brought her sister home?!

It was at that moment that Lucas decided to speak up.

"Quite the contrary. It is me who would be in a whole lot of trouble if it wasn't for Grace", he said with a gentle smile and added "Lucas Bouchard, at your service".

Lillian glanced at him, surprise evident on her face.

"Lillian Bennet. Pleased to meet you", she shook his hand and creasing her eyebrows, added "I'm sorry, I don't understand".

"Pleasure is all mine", Lucas tilted his head to the left and glancing warmly in Grace's direction he added "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your sister, Miss Bennet. Grace saved my life."

Lillian's eyes widened as she quickly looked back at Grace.

"What?!", she gasped.

It was in that moment that Grace sneezed two times, her body shivering.

Both Lillian and Lucas looked at her with concern.

"Grace, you should change from those wet clothes or you'll catch your death", Lillian fussed lovingly over her little sister "I will put the kettle on for both of you".

Grace shook her head turning to look up at Lucas who stood on her left, but he was having none of it.

"Grace, Lillian is right. I will talk with her while you are gone", he assured her and she gazed at his warm eyes for a moment longer. His lips gently curled up and in the next moment, she nodded and rushed toward the stairs.

Lillian watched fascinated as this moment of wordless communication unraveled before her eyes.

As she heard Grace going upstairs, Lillian turned back to their unexpected guest.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Bouchard… I mean, governor", Lillian grabbed the kettle and filled it with water before putting it on the stove.

"Please, it's Lucas", Lucas replied with a small smile.

Lillian glanced at him and nodded.

"Alright", she took out a few selections of tea and asked "Any preferences?"

Lucas looked at the tea bags and nodded.

"Thyme. My favorite. Thank you", he took a seat at the table.

Lillian poured boiling water in cups and brought them to the table. She turned back toward the stove and opened the closet nearby.

"I hope you like blueberry biscuits. They are fresh, Grace baked them this afternoon", she smiled nervously and went to sit down, only to stand back up "Oh, dear, how could I forget! Forgive me!", she rushed to the room next door and came back with a blanket and a towel.

Lucas looked a bit surprised to see the items, but couldn't deny that he was grateful.

"Thank you, Miss Bennet", he said, accepting both things. As he dried his hair with a towel Lillian smiled.

"It's Lillian", she exhaled and finally sitting down she asked "Now…can you tell me what happened?"

Lucas took a deep breath in and slightly shook his head, still trying to gather his mind (and heart) around everything that happened that evening.

"Well, I was finishing up for the day and opened the doors of the house where my team was working. Stepped out and the man came out from the car, drawing up a gun. Next thing I know, Grace showed up out of nowhere, jumped on his side and tried to take a gun away from his hand. I tried to interfere but he yanked her arm before I could reach them", Lucas' eyes were filled with guilt "I am so sorry", he said to Lillian who sat leaning with one arm on the table and listened, rubbing her forehead as if she tried to send pain away.

He continued "I rushed to help her, but she moved like lightning and managed to free herself. That's when I grabbed him and punched him two or three times".

Lillian slightly shook her head.

"But, how did she free herself?", she asked.

But, before Lucas could reply, Grace's voice was heard.

"I bit him", she said, coming toward thd table.

"You did what?!", Lillian gasped, staring at Grace like she just sported two more heads.

"Ssssshhh, the kids could hear you!", she whispered in a slight panic.

Lucas couldn't help but smile.

"Grace…", Lillian raised her eyebrows in warning.

At that moment, a little girl's voice was heard.

"Gwacie?"

Grace walked as fast as she could toward the stairs from where a little girl, not older than three years rubbed her eye with her palm. The other hand carried a little stuffed teddy bear.

"Hey, Anna. What are you doing up?, Grace gently whispered as she reached the little girl and knelt down to be her size.

Anna looked at the sling.

"Gwacie huwt?", she asked.

Grace gently moved one blond lock behind Anna's ear and nodded.

"Just a bit. I'll be fine, don't worry", she smiled at the little girl.

"I kiss it bettew?", Anna whispered, warming the hearts of all three grown ups.

Lucas watched mesmerized as Grace nodded and in the next moment little Anna placed a gentle kiss on Grace's arm saying "You awways kiss me bettew and I feew bettew".

Grace gently kissed Anna's soft rounded cheek causing the little girl to smile.

"You know what will make me feel much better?, at Anna's curious glance Grace smiled "That you help other kids with spreading butter and jam on their bread for breakfast. Think you can do that for me until my hand feels better?"

Anna nodded eagerly and carefully went in for a last minute cuddle with Grace.

"I hewp you and Wiwian tomowow" she smiled and walking toward the table she looked up at Lucas "You a fwiend?", she asked shyly.

Lucas warmly smiled and nodded, sliding down from his chair to kneel so he could be approximately the same height as little Anna.

Anna nodded, offering a smile "I will spwead buttew and jam for you too".

"Thank you", Lucas said in a gentle and warm tone of voice "Can I help too? I could cut bread and you can put butter and jam on it. Okay?"

Lillian glanced surprisingly at Grace, but quickly realized that her sister didn't acknowledge her at all.

She was too busy watching the interaction before her eyes.

"And Wiwian can pouw miwk", nodded Anna, a small yawn escaping her.

"You must be sleepy, little one", Lucas whispered, gently caressing Anna's soft blond hair. She nodded sleepily and rubbing her eye, she shyly smiled at him.

Lillian came and picked her up in her arms.

"Lets get you to the bed. Say good night, sweetie", said Lillian with a soft smile.

"Good night, Gwacie. Good night…", her voice drifted away as she looked curiously at Lucas.

He softly smiled at her saying "Lucas".

Anna nodded.

"Good night, Wucas", she mumbled silently, her little head already nestling on Lillian's shoulder.

Lillian gently smiled and started to walk away, saying "I'll be right back".

Lucas stood up, folding a blanket.

"I should go, it's really late. Thank you both, for everything", his attention moved completely to Grace and he warmly said "I'll be here first thing in the morning", as Grace started to object Lucas shook his head with a small smile.

Grace's lips curled up a bit and she nodded.

"Good night, Grace".

"Good night, Lucas".

I Have a Dream, a song to sing To help me cope with anything.

If you see the wonder, of a fairy tale

You can take the future, even if you fail.

I believe in angels, Something good in everything I see I believe in angels, When I know the time is right for me I'll cross the stream, I Have a Dream

I Have a Dream, a fantasy To help me through reality.

And my destination, makes it worth the while Pushin' through the darkness, still another mile.

I believe in angels, Something good in everything I see I believe in angels, When I know the time is right for me I'll cross the stream, I Have a Dream I'll cross the stream, I Have a Dream.

(ABBA - I have a dream)