Author's note: I would like to thank Chris Taylor who suggested to have people in Hope Valley welcome Grace without first knowing hers and Lucas' connection and then seeing it.
Once Chris gave me that idea, the wheels of my imagination started to spin and this is what I came up with. :)
Also, huge thanks to my fellow Lucas' hearties Avis Minter and Jen Cremona for our brainstorming about my story. They also had some ideas and I will work on them in upcoming chapters and credit the ladies for it. :)
And, of course, thank you all for your lovely reviews! They inspire me so much, so please, keep them coming :)
—--
The train station was full of people coming and going. Steam from the locomotive covered the rainy day in a foggy dew, and Lucas thought that the weather matched his mood like never before.
Because she was leaving today. And he was worried about her. Worried how will Hope Valley citizens behave when they find out about their relationship. He didn't care how they would behave toward him, but he dreaded thinking about some people turning into villains while he was not there to protect her from their sharp tongues.
Even though Grace told him not to worry, even though she told him that she can deal with anything and that Hope Valley gossipers were nothing compared to what she survived in her childhood and youth, Lucas still wished that he could be there for her.
He felt a little bit better knowing that Henry and Bill will be there for her. He even wrote a letter to Minnie and Joseph, asking for their help in case Grace needed it. He gave it to Grace and told her to contact Minnie if she needed support.
They arrived on a train platform and Lucas went to help Bill and Henry with a luggage. Once they finished, Lucas shook hands with his two good friends.
"Thank you for everything", he glanced over at Grace who was saying goodbye to Lillian. Looking back at Henry and Bill he pleaded "Please, look out for her while I'm not there".
Henry patted him on his upper arm.
"Of course we will", he smiled "Don't worry about a thing".
Lucas looked at Bill who rolled his eyes.
"Will you relax, Bouchard?", he smiled "Somebody would think that you don't trust in the most esteemed citizens of Hope Valley", he quipped, winking at Lucas.
Lucas chuckled.
"I am gonna miss you, guys", he said "Your friendship and support these last few months meant more than I can tell you. Whatever you need in life, know that you always have a friend in me".
Henry and Bill both hugged their young friend goodbye and went aboard the train.
A few steps away Lillian hugged Grace, holding her tightly.
"Take care, Gracie", Lillian kissed her sister's cheek "Don't let anyone shake your self-confidence, do you hear me?"
Grace hugged her sister tightly.
"I won't", she replied "Don't worry, I will be fine. You take care of yourself", as the train whistled, they knew it was time to leave.
Lillian smiled softly.
"I will", she took Maggie's and Jimmy's little hands and said "I'm going to put these two on train while you say goodbye to Lucas", looking down, she gently nudged the kids "Come on, munchkins. Time to go", she gently hugged both of them before handing them over to Bill.
Grace took a deep breath in and turned toward Lucas.
He wasted no time. In next moment she was in his embrace, his lips kissing her lovingly, desperately.
"I love you", he whispered.
Grace gave him a wobbly smile, her eyes misted with tears.
"I love you too", she kissed his lips again and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
Lucas kissed away the salty drops on Grace's cheeks and leaned his forehead on hers.
"Please, take care of yourself. Turn to Henry and Bill for whatever you need. Minnie too, if you feel the need", his palm gently cupped her warm cheek "If it becomes too much for you, just come back home. I will manage by myself, don't worry".
The train whistled again. Grace breathed Lucas in and looking into his eyes, she said:
"I will wait for you there. Don't worry", she smiled "Wild horses couldn't keep me away from meeting you there", she gave him one more gentle kiss before whispering "I must go".
Lucas nodded and walked toward the train with Grace, helping her up.
She held his hand as the train started to move.
"I'll see you soon", she said with an exhale and an encouraging smile.
He gently squeezed her palm, smiling back at her.
"I'll see you, ma chèrie" ("my darling"), Lucas said as the train picked up on speed causing him to let go of her hand.
And as the train rolled away, Lucas felt his heart clench painfully.
He missed her already.
—--
Grace fixed the blanket that fell off little Jimmy as he moved in his sleep, mumbling some incomprehensible words. She gently caressed his soft hair as the child sighed contentedly and went back to the Land of Dreams.
Grace leaned in her seat, staring at the darkness through the window. It was close to midnight but her mind wouldn't allow her to rest.
She thought of Lucas and turmoil on his face once he realized that she will be on her own in Hope Valley, facing the lions, like she said.
Grace tried to calm him down because, honestly, she wasn't worried or scared at all.
Because she had a plan.
Smirking to herself, Grace pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders and closed her eyes.
It won't hurt to try and get some sleep.
—--
As the morning came, Grace gently rose Maggie and Jimmy so they could go to the wagon nearby to have some breakfast.
There was a knock at the doors and Grace opened them to find Bill smiling gently.
"Good morning, Grace. Need a help with those two?", he asked, pulling a silly face at little Maggie and Jimmy, making them giggle in delight.
Grace smiled at kids' reaction to Bill's antics.
"Good morning, Bill", she knelt down to be children's eye level "What do you say, munchkins? Wanna go with Mr. Avery to get some yummy food while I talk to Mr. Gowen?"
The kids looked at Bill, not quite sure about this arrangement.
"I hear there are sugar cookies there", Bill winked.
"Yeah!", Maggie and Jimmy squealed and happily went outside their compartment to join Bill.
Grace got up and smiled.
"Thank you. I need to talk to both you and Henry. I'll be right there", she said.
Bill nodded, picking the little ones in his arms.
"Take your time. I am much easier to talk to when my stomach is full", he quipped, making Grace chuckle.
She watched them go before knocking at the doors of Henry's compartment.
The doors opened and Henry's smile greeted her.
"Good morning, Grace".
She smiled back.
"Good morning, Henry. Do you have a minute? I really need to talk to you", Grace nervously wrung her hands.
Putting on his suit jacket, Henry grew serious.
"Sure", he stepped aside to let her in the compartment "Come in".
She stepped inside and sat down.
Henry sat across from her, concern visible on his face.
"What is it, Grace?", he asked.
Grace took a deep breath in.
Here goes nothing.
"I need your help, Henry. I have developed a plan for my days in Hope Valley. I didn't even tell Lucas about it because I don't want him to worry more than he already does", she looked at Henry "I want to find out what people really think about Lucas there. And in order to do that, they can't know about Lucas and me. In fact", she smirked, a bit smugly "They can't even know that we know each other.
Henry's lips lazily spreaded into a grin and he nodded with respect.
"My mouth are sealed", he grinned.
Grace beamed, exhaling in relief.
"Thank you, Henry", she smiled.
Henry nodded and in the next moment, he took Grace's palms in his and started to talk.
"You know, Grace… Lucas has been a good friend to me ever since he came to Hope Valley. We had our ups and downs, for sure, but at the end of the day you know who is really there for you. If it wasn't for Lucas I may have never reconnected with my son again", Henry gently squeezed Grace's fingers before continuing "What Elizabeth did to Lucas really knocked him off the tracks. She wronged him badly and still does by letting people think that he also carries the blame for their breakup. I know Lucas didn't want to end things for sure. I tried to be there for him as much as I could and I called him every week to see how is he doing".
Grace nodded with a sad smile on her lips.
"I know, Henry. And I know how much Lucas values your friendship. I really need to find out about whom can Lucas trust there ", she inhaled deeply "Gustave told me how he lost his composure with Elizabeth at the Main Street when she wanted to go with Bill to Capitol City after the first attack. I just want to know what are people thinking now because I want him to feel as comfortable as he can while he is there".
Henry nodded.
With Fatherly warmth, he brushed her knuckles and spoke:
'You can count on me. Whatever you need, I will be there".
Grace smiled.
"Thank you so much, Henry", she said.
Henry smiled back.
"My pleasure", he gently squeezed her fingers before adding warmly "Lucas is very lucky to have you in his life. Thank you for loving him so honestly", he let out a sigh "Now, shall we get some breakfast before Avery devours everything in the train restaurant?"
Grace chuckled, moved beyond the words by Henry's care. She got up and they left the compartment and headed toward the restaurant.
—--
After breakfast Henry offered to read to kids while Grace talked to Bill. Maggie and Jimmy went back to their compartment with Henry while Grace and Bill stayed in the restaurant.
Grace told Bill everything she told Henry. The judge listened carefully, his face unreadable. Only when Grace has finished Bill crossed his arms and she thought that she saw his lips twitching a bit.
"You know, I always thought that Bouchard was one of the smartest men I ever met. I didn't always understand his tactics when he tried to to close a deal or expose the fraudster, but the man seems to have a nose for being the sneakiest undercover player", with those words Bill's lips curled up in a smile "It looks like he has found his match", he offered his hand to Grace "I'd be happy to help".
Grace smiled, accepting Bill's hand and shaking it.
"There's actually one more thing I wanted to ask from you", she spoke hesitantly. At Bill's nod, Grace took a breath in and said nervously "I'm worried that Rosemary will try to drag me around and talk nonsense when I… I'm really not in the mood to spend time with Elizabeth's best friend", Grace all but spat the words out "She might insist that the three of us hang out together and I really don't think that I could endure that without exploding", she took a deep breath in "So, would you consider saying that you are working on some adoption papers as a judge or a lawyer, or helping me to check some suspicious couple who want to adopt, by doing your job as a forensic inspector?"
Bill playfully nodded.
"Technically, I have to lie about my duties", he quipped.
Grace wrung her palms.
"Just for a few days", she grinned innocently "Think of it as a way of helping the Government's High Official".
Bill's eyes sparkled as he chuckled.
"Like I said - Bouchard has found his match", he nodded, getting up "Good plan, Grace. I wouldn't think of a better one either", he smiled and added "You can count on me".
Grace smiled happily.
"Thank you so much", she followed him as they left the restaurant.
"Oh, and Grace", Bill called over his shoulder.
"Yes?"
"If you ever decide to work as an undercover agent, let me know", quipped Bill, making Grace laugh.
—--
Bill and Henry got off the train in Hope Valley while Grace and the children continued to travel to Union City.
Two days later she was once again on the train, heading bound to Hope Valley.
She held tightly on her suitcase as she looked around for a stagecoach when something caught her attention.
Queen of Hearts.
A smile crept on her face as she came closer to the beautiful white coach wagon.
It felt like he was there to help her.
She looked up at the driver.
"Excuse me, sir. I am supposed to stay at the hotel 'Queen of Hearts' in Hope Valley", she said with an innocent smile.
The driver nodded.
"Hop right on, Miss. We'll just wait a bit to see will there be anybody else heading that way", he stepped down, taking her suitcase "Here, allow me", he helped her get into a coach and secured her suitcase.
Grace smiled.
"Thank you, sir", she said as she let out a breath and leaned into her velvet seat, admiring the beauty of the white coach.
It was so beautiful.
So elegant.
Her smile turned dreamy.
So Lucas - like.
Grace let out a breath.
She was ready to face the lions.
—--
"And then Lee said that he would go over to see what was happening, but he bumped into Hickham on his way out and they almost tripped over one another, and oh, Elizabeth, it was hilarious! They were waving their limbs, trying not to fall!", Rosemary cackled as she rambled on, holding her friend for the crook of her arm.
In that moment the Queen of Hearts coach rolled into town with only one passenger and Rosemary and Elizabeth watched as it stopped in front of the saloon.
"I wonder who that might be", said Elizabeth.
"Well, lets go and find out", said Rosemary and they started to cross the street just as a woman in the coach stepped down and turned around to get her suitcase.
A loud shriek from Rosemary pierced the air.
"GRACE BENNETT!"
Grace grimaced to herself.
Here we go.
She put on a big smile, turned around and squealed:
"Rosemary!", she inwardly cringed as Rosemary almost squeezed the breath out of her as she hugged her, but remained smiling especially when she saw who stood by Rosemary.
Elizabeth Thornton.
Rosemary pulled away and grabbed Elizabeth's hand and grinning like a Cheshire cat she asked:
"Grace, you remember Elizabeth?"
Grace's smile never wavered as she sweetly replied:
"How could I forget her? Although, I must admit that I barely recognized you, Elizabeth with your new haircut", she said, slightly shaking Elizabeth's hand.
Before Elizabeth could even open her mouth Rosemary jumped in.
"Every woman should change her hair after break up so she can swim freely in the waters of new love!", Rosemary recited dramatically.
Elizabeth gasped loudly and Grace's eyebrows rose just a tiny bit.
"Rosemary!", hissed Elizabeth, but Rosemary was unstoppable.
"It's a brand new trend, what with the 20th century knocking at our doors. Why not be daring ourselves? In fact, I was the one who talked her into doing it!", Rosemary clapped her hands excitedly.
If circumstances were different Grace would almost feel sorry for Elizabeth.
Almost.
"Well, it's quite a change", needed Grace, still smiling sweetly.
"Yes, well, I needed a change", said Elizabeth.
Grace held more tightly on the handle of her suitcase.
"I'm sure you did", the words were out before Grace even realized that she said them.
Elizabeth offered her a stiff smile.
Rosemary looked back at Grace.
"What are you doing here?", she asked.
Grace let out a breath and smiled.
"I traveled with two kids to Union City to bring them to their new family", she said, a gentle smile on her lips as she thought of little Maggie and Jimmy and their newfound happiness.
"Oh! So you are still in the orphanage business?", Elizabeth's voice was heard.
Orphanage business?
Grace blinked, feeling that she will make herself sick if she keeps that sweet smile on her face for a moment longer.
"The most important thing in poker is that you never show your opponent that he hit you in the weak spot".
Lucas' words echoed in her mind and she inhaled, keepin her smile on as she replied:
"I am. And are you still in teaching business?", she sweetly asked.
To her satisfaction Elizabeth bristled.
"Being a teacher is more than a business. It's a commitment", she said haughtily.
Grace smirked.
"And an orphanage is more than an institution. It's an act of love, a place where every kid gets a chance", and with those words she nodded politely, turned around and walked toward the saloon.
Leaving Rosemary and Elizabeth standing with their mouths gaping open.
Elizabeth looked at Rosemary and huffed:
"That was so rude", she said.
Grace was about to close the doors when she heard Elizabeth's comment and smiled smugly to herself.
1:0.
And I only just arrived.