Chapter 7 – Bill Tries to Help
Friday morning, as much as Nathan wanted to stay in his warm bed with his wife, he got up when his alarm went off at six. He rolled over and gave Maggie a kiss before crawling from the bed.
"I will get up." Maggie said, her voice heavy with sleep.
"No stay." Nathan said. "But maybe you could do some baking today, please."
"What do you want?" Maggie asked.
"Banana bread and sugar cookies." Nathan said, with a smile.
"Okay." Maggie said.
Nathan washed up and got ready for the day as his wife watched him. He gave her one more kiss and then left for the morning. Maggie sat up and stretched. She was tired. As much as she loved Nathan, she was used to a much softer bed. She knew it was unreasonable to ask Nathan to get a new one, especially since it was a custom order and probably expensive. She decided that she would just have to adjust. She wasn't working and would rest throughout the day while she got used to things. After sitting there for about five minutes, Maggie reset the alarm and laid back down. She would get up and make sure that Allie got off to school before starting her day.
… … … …
Nathan got downstairs and got some water heating while he sat for a few minutes so he could read his Bible. He prayed and wrote in his journal while he had a scone and coffee. He knew that he would need to stop at the cafe to get something else, but he knew that Maggie was tired. He was hoping that she would lay back down since they had over an hour before Allie had to be up for school.
Once Nathan had finished writing in his journal, he cleaned up his breakfast dishes and left with a thermos full of coffee. He looked at the town waking up as he walked to the office. He nodded to the others that were up early to start their day as well. Nathan also tried to make a plan for what he wanted to do while he walked into the office. He knew that he needed to make some calls and look for more information because he was still missing something. He also knew that he needed to look into what the other group of Pinkertons were up and who they were working for.
Nathan was not surprised when Bill walked in barely ten minutes after he sat down. Nathan had been hoping for some time to go over more of his notes from the night before, especially since he had calls to make and wanted to get those done as close to eight as he could. Nathan however knew that Bill was extremely impatient so he figured he would be there early, but really. Nathan just wanted a half an hour before he had to deal with Bill, but he couldn't say that.
"Morning Bill." Nathan said, flatly.
"Morning." Bill said, gruffly.
Bill grabbed a cup of coffee from Nathan's thermos, sat down and tossed an envelope toward Nathan across his desk.
"What is this?" Nathan asked.
"Proof." Bill said.
"Proof of what?"
"Proof that Bouchard was lying. Proof that he had at least twelve different aliases. The name of his half sister and the various aliases that she has used over the years. She has at least a half a dozen that I can find and tie back to her at the moment. While I don't have proof, I do have word from one of my contacts that says Bouchard is dead. I however believe that both him and his sister have fled back to New Orleans and are living under assumed names, but I doubt they will use previous aliases. Maybe we will get lucky and they will have contact with law enforcement and we will find them. I also think that they might be living as a married couple because one of my contacts said they are closer than siblings, even half siblings, should be."
"Okay." Nathan said.
Nathan opened the envelope and started looking through Bill's notes.
"Any idea why Walden wants the saloon?" Nathan asked as he continued to look at the notes.
"No." Bill said. "But I don't think he is who he says he is. I am trying to confirm some of the information that I received from an informant. I believe that Bouchard had something on Walden and my guess is that he was trying to eliminate Bouchard so his secret doesn't get out. I also think we need to carefully search the saloon. My friend Harold signed a search warrant this morning is having it brought here by a couple of Mounties from Union City this morning. They will be staying here for the weekend. The warrant includes personal quarters where Bouchard lived, the offices and all safes found."
"Okay." Nathan said. "You can have Gabe or James help you. I am going to stay here and go through things. Also please bring over all the files you requested. I want to see them myself."
Bill nodded and tried to ask Nathan some questions, but Nathan wasn't sharing at the moment. When Bill tried to ask about rounds the previous evening. Nathan again brushed him off and said he needed to go through his notes.
"Fine." Bill said. "Let me know if I can help."
"You can help by sending over a basket of Abigail's scones." Nathan said. "Then the files and letting me sort the information so it is easier."
Bill huffed but agreed. He left and Nathan went back to trying to make sense of things. ht wasn't long and Bill was back with the three boxes of files and then a basket of scones and some ham from Abigail. After Bill had left, Nathan started going through the files and found what Bill was talking about and more. The only two things that Nathan couldn't figure out were why Bill thought that Bouchard was dead or in New Orleans. He had read through the notes from the informant several times, but they didn't make sense and only said what Bill wanted them to say. The other thing that Nathan couldn't confirm was that Jeanette was Bouchard's half sister. He found her aliases and that she seemed to be where Bouchard was a lot of the time, but the found no other connection. Nathan also didn't find anything else about Walden. Nathan wondered Bill pulled his wild theories this time. He wished he could talk to Bill's informant, but doubted that the man would give that name up.
About ten thirty, Nathan was interrupted by William Thatcher. Nathan said he would come down. Nathan locked his office and headed down. James excused himself saying he was going for a walk. He also let Nathan know that Gabe was helping Bill.
"Sorry about that." Nathan said. "What would you like to speak about?"
"First." William said. "I feel like I need to apologize for Elizabeth's behavior."
"It is not your fault." Nathan said. "I fully understand that grief can be hard."
Nathan stopped because he wasn't sure he should say more. William looked at Nathan, and raised his eyebrow.
"You look like you wanted to say something else." William said.
"Yes, but I don't know if I should." Nathan said.
"If there is something you know." William said. "Please tell me. I truly just want to help Beth."
Nathan let out a harsh breath. He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. He knew he might be hugely overstepping, but if William wanted to hear his thoughts he was going to share.
"Elizabeth had said it in one way or another more than once." Nathan said. "She said that because she was a Thatcher, things shouldn't be hard and things should be the way she wants."
"Oh." William said.
"I didn't mean to upset you." Nathan said.
"You didn't." William said. "I am afraid that both my wife and I spoiled our girls. I honestly thought Beth grew out of it as she hasn't acted spoiled and entitled since she was younger then Allie. I have always expected that type of behavior from her sisters, but not Beth. But maybe I shouldn't be surprised."
"Sir." Nathan said. "We can all agree that Elizabeth needs help, but you are going to have to be careful about making things too easy for her. You are also going to have to be careful about not spoiling Little Jack. Especially, if you expect or even want both of them to come back to Hope Valley to live."
"I see what you are saying." William said. "I was going to ask you about taking Little Jack from here. Would it do more damage?"
"I can't answer that." Nathan said.
Nathan leaned back and rubbed his chin.
"It is going to be hard on him either way." Nathan said. "Having dealt with a traumatized toddler before, I will tell you that you need to keep things as normal as possible for him. So for Little Jack that is going to mean playing outside in the grass and dirt. Being able to see the horses and pet them. Don't be surprised if there is some regression and tantrums. It will happen because he won't be able to express what he is feeling. When it happens, you will need to reassure him that he is safe and loved and that you are doing everything to get him back home. Don't overwhelm him with new people and new things. That includes toys and clothes. Let him have as much control. If that means you give him two choices of what to wear or books to read, then that is what it will need to be. He might become clingy and will most likely choose a person he feels safe with. The worst thing that you could do is to try and get between Little Jack and that person. It will make things worse."
"Let me write these down." William said.
Nathan gave William some paper and repeated what he had said as needed.
"Was there anything else?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." William said. "What should I do about Beth's horse?"
"Make sure his stable fees are paid." Nathan said. "I will make sure he is cared for while she is gone."
"So don't take him with us?" William said.
"Do you have other horses?" Nathan asked.
"Several." William said.
"Then no." Nathan said. "Taking a horse like Sergeant and putting him with essentially a different herd could be traumatic. He will be well cared for here and with horses he knows."
"Okay." William said. "Again, I am sorry about everything."
"It is okay." Nathan said. "I truly hope that Elizabeth can get some help, then come back here and live her life. It won't change anything between us romantically, but maybe we can rebuild a friendship if she wants. When are you leaving?"
"Thank you." William said. "I hope so as well. We are looking at leaving probably by Wednesday. I am having another private care and two nurses brought from Calgary. I have already been in contact with a highly recommended doctor back home."
"I will keep you all in my prayers." Nathan said. "While I don't encourage having Elizabeth write to me directly as I don't want to create a false hope for her. Please consider keeping Bill and/or Abigail up to date and let them know what they can pass along to others."
"I will do that." William said.
William stood and offered Nathan his hand. Nathan shook the man's hand as he knew that he was just a father trying to make the best of a bad situation. It was something that Nathan understood.
"One last thing." Nathan said. "Little Jack is obsessed with Mounties. He had several wooden Mounties and horses that were made for him. He will also run to us anytime he sees us, especially if no one is holding his hand. So please be careful in the city."
William nodded.
"Can I assume these Mounties look like you and Jack Sr?" William asked.
Nathan nodded.
"He actually had three, actually four pairs." Nathan said. "Jack and Sergeant. Bill and Hero. Me and Newton. He also has another of each Mountie and horse that are not exactly paired and unnamed. I also think that he had a soft Mountie from Rosemary that he sleeps with."
"Understood." William said. "Thank you for all of your help. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help you. I wish you and Maggie the best."
"There is something that you can do." Nathan said. "Do you think that you could put me in touch with an investigator in New Orleans and/or San Francisco?"
"Here." William said. "Please call my investigator in Toronto. Tell him what you need and to bill me."
"Are you sure?" Nathan said.
"Absolutely." William said. "I assume this is because you are still sorting out the whole Bouchard mess."
Nathan nodded.
"Then I am more sure than ever." William said. "I don't want him to try and screw with my family again. Nor do I want him to try with a different family."
"Thank you." Nathan said.
William left and Nathan looked at the name William had scrawled out and handed him. He knew the firm the guy worked for and they were one of the best. Nathan gathered a few other files and headed back to his office. He went back to his paperwork until there was a knock at his door. Nathan quickly answered to find Maggie standing there.
"I thought that you might want some lunch." Maggie said, holding up the basket.
Nathan smiled and invited Maggie to step inside. He took the basket, set it on the table and pulled Maggie close. He then kissed her soundly, causing her knees to go weak.
"Missed you." Nathan whispered when he pulled back.
"Missed you too." Maggie said. "We are expected at the Coulters at six thirty for supper and a meeting with Pastor Frank."
"Okay." Nathan said. "And Allie?"
"She is invited as well." Maggie said. "The girls moved the sleepover to Saturday because of homework."
"Okay." Nathan said. "Plans for the afternoon?"
"I am going to help Rosemary with some baking for tonight and Sunday." Maggie said. "They are having a reception at the cafe after services for both boys."
"Okay." Nathan said. "I will set an alarm and be home to change. Thank you for lunch."
"Anytime." Maggie said. "I am glad I can do it for you."
Nathan kissed her one more time before he let go and stepped back.
"See you later." Maggie said before leaving.
"Definitely needs to be an early night." Nathan muttered to himself.
After a couple of deep breaths, Nathan enjoyed his lunch while going through more paperwork. By the time that Nathan left the office close to six, he had made good progress on the case. He still had a lot more to do and by then he had gotten through most of the files that Bill had requested. He made several calls to verify information. He had also placed a very long phone call with the investigator that William Thatcher had recommended. The man agreed to do what he could and be in contact with counterparts in the other cities. Once Nathan had secured the files, he packed his messenger bag so he could have an enjoyable evening with friends.