Author's note: I wanna thank each one of you who left reviews for my story so far! It really gives me inspiration to work even more on my writing. To quote our Lucas, or better to say Helen Bouchard: "The best writing comes from a heart". And it makes me so happy to see that you all love this twist in a story and want to see Lucas happy as much as I do!

Here is a brand new chapter for all of you.

Chapter 13

Bill entered the saloon to see it empty of the guests. Waitress and bartender were at the bar, silently cleaning up the dishes.

Gustave was coming back from the cellar, his face serious. He looked at Bill.

"We're closed", he said.

"I know", Bill said emphatically "That's not why I'm here".

Gustave looked at the Hope Valley's judge for a few moments then nodded.

Looking up he said to the staff to lock up for the day and go home. He himself went behind the bar and started to open cabinets, obviously searching for something.

Bill sat at the table, waiting patiently.

As the staff went home, Gustave locked the doors of the saloon and walked back to the bar.

In anger that Bill never saw from the grumpy, but good hearted chef, Gustave threw an apron and his cook hat on the floor, cursing in French.

Taking a deep breath in, he opened another cabinet and sadly smiled.

"Mon frère hid it well", he muttered and in the next moment brought out a bottle of first class whiskey along with two glasses.

He sat down at the table and poured a drink to Bill and himself.

Bill accepted it and taking a sip, he nodded in approval then looked back at Gustave.

"I don't think I ever saw you drinking, let alone this early", Bill commented.

Gustave slowly twirled his glass.

"I rarely drink. Only with my brothers and that includes Lucas. This whiskey was kept for the special occasion, but it would be a shame to throw it away. And I can't take it back to Lucas", he talked slowly and silently, like he was in pain.

Bill watched him carefully as he asked:

"Why not?"

Gustave swallowed another sip and for a moment, a silence prevailed.

And that was when he looked at Bill and said, his voice cold as ice at the bottom of their glasses.

"It was for the wedding", Gustave said bitterly.

Bill leaned in his chair, slowly shaking his head.

"I can't believe Elizabeth did this", he said, causing Gustave to roll his eyes.

"Of course you can't. You all think that she can't do anything wrong. That she is a lady without a flaw", shaking his head, Gustave mumbled "She isn't human enough to say that it is her fault and she makes him carry half of the blame when breaking up was the last thing he wanted to do. She always belittled everything he had done for her. Do you know he recently didn't even dare to accept my proposition of playing 'Happy birthday' to her on my accordion? All the lovely things he did for her she threw back into his face saying that she doesn't need grand gestures", his face darkened "Except the ones she had use from, like Helen reading and editing her manuscripts and connecting her to the publishers".

Bill was stunned into silence as Gustave talked.

"Why did she break up with him?"

Gustave looked at the judge.

"That's not my story to tell. I can only tell you that she told him that she tried but she can't give him all her heart', he added, swallowing another sip of whiskey.

Bill creased his eyebrows.

"What?! But, they were a few weeks to wedding, invitations were sent…", Bill felt sick "And what about little Jack? Him and Lucas were so close".

"Apparently it was all a faux. Madame doesn't care about how her son feels, only how she feels", grumbled Gustave.

Bill felt his heart break as he remembered seeing Elizabeth and Little Jack in the last few days around the town. Whenever they talked, Little Jack mentioned Lucas, asked Bill does he knew that his buddy is now an important man just like Bill was.

One memory in particular pained Bill.

He picked Little Jack for some Godfather - Godson time while Elizabeth went with Rosemary to have some girl time Rosie insisted upon.

Bill took Little Jack riding, showing him the trees and plants and answering many questions the little man had.

"Bill", he looked up from the blanket where they sat, having a snack "Did you know my Daddy?"

Bill swallowed hard, trying to hold back his tears before looking back at Little Jack.

"I did. I knew your Grandpa too", he replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You look just like them", Bill whispered.

Little Jack slowly twirled an apple in his little fingers and after a minute of pondering, he asked:

"Do you think they can see me from Heaven?"

Bill nodded, feeling his heart hurt.

"Of course they can. They watch over you and your Mum everyday", he gave his Godson a soft smile, gently caressing his back.

"And love me?"

"Yes. Very much".

"Good", Little Jack grinned "Buddy told me that my Daddy will always love me from Heaven, and that he will love me here."

Closing his eyes at the memory of little boy's words, Bill felt tears coming behind his eyelids.

Quickly, he gulped down the rest of whiskey and exhaled.

"How is Lucas holding up?", he asked, his voice tinted with deep concern.

Gustave shook his head.

"I only saw my cousin cry three times in my life. First time was when his Mum was sick. Second time was when he thought that I didn't survive a hiking accident. And third time this morning", he glanced painfully at Bill "We need to get to him as soon as possible, judge".

Bill nodded.

"We will leave tomorrow at dawn", he said