Quick Note: Thank you so much for all the reviews and comments. It honestly, makes my day to see the notifications pop up. I hope you
continue to stick with it and enjoy the ride. This episode is coming to an end, I promise, but there's a lot more to come.
Lucas noticed the frown on Jessie's face as he approached the table she was sitting at. "Is everything okay, Ms. Harrison?" he teased, sitting down across from her.
Jessie had been so focused on editing her story, she hadn't heard him, so he repeated himself, reaching out to gently touch her arm. Startled, Jessie looked up and blushed, "I am sorry, what did you say?" she asked, her cheeks continuing to get brighter.
"You have quite the frown on your face, and I wanted to make sure you were okay." Lucas explained.
Setting her notebook aside, Jessie laughed and said, "I was at the heartbreaking climax of the story, you know when the hero just about gives up but then meets someone special who helps him conquer his fears and everything turns out perfect."
Lucas smiled, loving the gleam in her eye and the smile on her face. He had never been the kind of person who was comfortable teasing or being teased, even when it was knowingly done in good fun, but things were so different with Jessie. He felt such an ease when they were together, like he didn't have to be anything or anyone but Lucas Bouchard, the man. It was refreshing, really.
"Has the ending been finished yet?" He found himself asking.
"Almost." she teased back.
"Well, I might have an idea for it. Care to take a walk?"
"I'd love to, Governor. Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, but I think you will like it."
Standing up, Jessie grabbed her notebook, and said, "Is it possible for me to drop this off at the Valley Voice first?"
"Well, since it's on our way, I guess that will be okay." He said with a wink while offering his elbow, then smiled at the thrill he felt racing towards his heart when she accepted it.
Superintendent Hargraves frowned as he drove into the sleepy town of Hope Valley. It really was the last place he ever wanted to be, and hopefully after today he'd never have to visit again. Pulling up to The Queen of Hearts, he parked his car and made his way into the building. "Welcome." a voice called to him. Looking to the left, he watched as a younger man come towards him, a big smile on his face,
"Welcome to The Queen of Hearts, I'm Mike, the manager. What can I do for you?"
"I am looking for the town mayor, can you tell me where to find him?" Hargreaves asked. He'd forgotten how friendly this town was, and it always unsettled him.
"Sure. His office is at the Valley Voice, right across the street, but he usually comes in around this time to go over the books." Mike explained. "You are welcome to take a seat and wait, if you'd like."
"Thanks, I will. Can I get a coffee while I wait?" Hargraves asked.
"Coming right up." Mike said, before heading to the kitchen.
He was looking around, observing the small crowd, grateful he wasn't in uniform, when he heard the familiar and unwelcome voice of Bill Avery. "Andrew Hargraves, is that you?"
Standing up, Andrew put on a smile and extended a hand to his former mentor. "Judge Avery, how nice to see you. I had heard you were out of town."
"Nope, I stay as close to home as I can these days. It's the quiet life for me." Bill said with a smile.
"Bill, I am not sure that you would know how to live a quiet life."
"That may be true, but if I keep saying it, maybe it will happen." Bill explained. "So what brings you to Hope Valley?"
Hoping Bill would be satisfied with a simple answer, he said, "Well, I've come to talk to Mrs. Thornton and your mayor, in private, and was told Mayor Coulter, I believe is his name, would be in shortly." He paused for a moment before saying, " Funny, I thought you were the mayor but I guess you had to give it up to continue with the easy life, huh Bill?"
"Well what can I say, I like to give others a chance to shine as well, Andrew. Seems like an odd combination of people for you to talk to, what are you here to talk about?" Bill asked.
"That, my old friend, is between them and myself I am afraid. Official business, you know."
Something about this conversation wasn't sitting right with Bill, so he pressed on. "Official Mountie Business?" he asked.
"Yes, official Mountie business. Bill, no matter what you say or do, I am not going to tell you at this time." Andrew said, trying to keep the exasperation out of his voice.
"Aright, then, if that's the way you want it. I'll leave you alone, but it seems strange you being here for Official Mountie Business when our Official Mountie is out of town." Bill watched the man for a reaction, and was rewarded with a brief flash of irritation in Hargraves expression. "Looks like Lee just got here anyway. Mind if I stay and introduce you?"
Gritting his teeth, he reluctantly agreed, he really didn't like his former mentor and wanted him gone, but figured Bill making the introduction would look better.
Once the pleasantries were done, Bill excused himself, claiming he had urgent work that needed his attention, when really he was going to keep an eye on the saloon and make sure Andrew Hargraves didn't cause any more problems.
"So you want to have a ceremony to honor Jack, and present a plaque to display in the Mountie office in recognition of him?" Lee asked, once the Superintendent had finished explaining why he was in town.
"Yes, the Mounties feel like this is long overdue, for him. Jack was actually a very good friend of mine, and it always bothered me he didn't get the recognition he deserved, especially after everything he did for the Mounties, he truly was one of the best."
"I think that's a great idea, Superintendent Hargraves. Jack was a very close friend of mine as well, and I like this idea of honoring him. When would you like to have the ceremony? I am sure we can get something put together for this coming weekend." Lee offered.
"Actually, Mayor Coulter, I have engagements the rest of the week in various other towns, do you think something could be put together for this afternoon? I know it's short notice, but I'm afraid I am not able to get out of my other obligations"
Lee thought for a moment and then smiled. He liked the idea of a presentation honoring Jack, and keeping his memory alive was exciting to him. "Of course, I understand. Let me see what I can do." Rubbing his hands together, he made his way outside and headed to the Valley Voice. Rosemary had said she was meeting Jessie there to go over her story, and hopefully she was still there.
Jessie walked into the saloon, having left Lucas outside talking to Henry. Their walk had been cut short, when Henry flagged them down with an urgent issue he needed to discuss with the Governor. Seeing the man in red serge sitting at a table stopped her in her tracks. "What on earth is he doing here?" she thought to herself. Andrew Hargraves was an old friend of the family with a very shady past. In fact, she had tried to expose his corruption many times before but her articles were always pulled at the last minute for reasons no one would tell her.
Having seen her walk in, Hargraves fought to keep the panic from showing on his face. What was Jessica Harrison doing here, of all places? The last he heard, she was in Capital City being watched over by her editor. Her being here could only mean two things. Either she'd agreed to do the story her editor wanted, which was unlikely, knowing her as he did. Or she is here for a different kind of story. Either way, it wasn't good news for him. She was the one person, in the world, who had the evidence to expose him. He should have taken her father's advice and married her all those years ago. That would have kept her quiet and out of his way.
"Superintendent Hargraves, what brings you to Hope Valley?" Jessie asked, as she reached his table.
"Ms. Harrison, I could ask the same of you." he answered. Pretending to respect her by standing up, but the look in his eyes told her all she needed to know.
"I am here on assignment, actually. I take it you are as well?"
"Yes, I am here to present a plaque, posthumously obviously, to the prior Mountie of Hope Valley who tragically lost his life for no reason, Constable Jack Thornton."
"Excuse me." she said, quickly heading towards the stairs, trying to get away from him as quickly as possible.
Lucas had been watching the exchange from the doorway and was about to follow her when Bill pulled him aside.
"Mama, I am bored. Can we go visit Sergeant and Pal? I don't want them to be lonely without me." Jack asked from the table where he was coloring pictures for Mountie Nathan.
"Sure, Honey Bear. Why don't you get some carrots, and we will give them a yummy treat." Elizabeth told him. Jack took the carrots from the counter and placed them in her basket, before pulling it off the table and heading towards the door. Opening the door, Elizabeth was surprised to see a man in red serge standing on her porch, his arm raised as if to know. Fighting every emotion that was threatening to overcome her, she waited for the man to say something. "Mrs. Thornton," he finally began, taking off his hat, "I am Superintendent Hargravevs and I have some information for you about your husband. May I come in so we can talk?"
Rosemary had been hanging up the laundry when she saw someone in red walk past her house. Curious, she walked towards the front of the house to see who it was. Seeing the man standing on Elizabeth's porch, hat in hand, she rushed over to help, grateful Goldie had gone to daycare that day.
"What's going on?" she asked as she made her way to the stairs.
"Like I told Mrs. Thornton, I am Superintendent Hargraves and have information for her about her husband."
"Um, it's been almost six years, and you are just bringing this now?" Rosemary questioned.
"Yes, some details have come to light, and I wanted to make sure Mrs. Thornton was kept in the loop. It's nothing bad, I assure you." Hargreaves said with a fake smile.
Finally able to use her voice, Elizabeth asked, "Superintendent Hargraves?" she managed. His face seemed so familiar, and the name triggered a memory, but she couldn't place where it came from. Seeing the man nod, she stepped back from the door, "Please come in and have a seat."
Suddenly she remembered who he was, "You're the one that opened that inquiry into whether or not Nathan was responsible for the shooting during that prisoner transport a few years ago, aren't you, from Fort Clay ?"
"Yes ma'am" he answered, "And may I say how sorry I am about what happened to your husband. It was unforgivable what happened, and I, for one, tried to prevent it, since Jack was such a good friend of mine." Hoping to divert the conversation from Nathan and keep it on Jack, for now.
Hearing him say Jack's name triggered another memory. It was a letter she had received from Jack while he was in the Northern Territories. Something about how he questioned the loyalty of his Commanding Officer after he led them right into the camp of some gunrunners. And how he had seen that same commander leaving the tent of the gunrunners later that night, while he was on patrol that evening. Jack's letters were normally very vague about what was happening up there, he preferred to write about the future and their plans for when he was home. But that particular letter had shocked Elizabeth with how upset Jack had been at what happened. She trusted Jack's opinions, especially when it came to the Mounties, but was curious about what this man had to say about Jack.
"A good friend?" Elizabeth questioned, "I don't remember him ever talking about you, sir."
"He talked about you so much, it felt like you were part of the group." Andrew answered confidently. Hoping to "The reason I am here, Mrs. Thornton, is, the Mounties want to honor Jack and his legacy both at Fort Clay, and here in Hope Valley. We named one of the training classrooms at Fort Clay after him, and had a wonderful ceremony to go along with it. We also have a plaque we'd like to present to the town in his honor, that will be displayed in the RCMP office for all to see and remember. I also wanted to make sure, Mrs. Thornton, that you know the full story about what happened and why it happened. Some new details have recently come to light and I felt it was my place to let you know."
"Did you know it was because of Constable Grant that your husband was assigned to that mission?" he asked.
"I don't know that I would put it that way. Constable Grant explained what happened, but he is in no way responsible for what happened to Jack. It could have easily happened to anyone."
"While that might be true, did you know it wasn't Grant's first offense of disobeying orders that ended up with someone getting killed?"
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"Nathan and I were tasked with tracking a group of jewel thieves, but we were having no luck. The closer we got to them, the further they seemed to get away from us. Finally, one night, we found their camp. As I was the commanding officer, I told Nathan to stand down and observe only while I went for backup. By the time the reinforcements and I returned, the group had disappeared and left Nathan unconscious and tied up. His testimony was he'd been ambushed from behind, where they knocked him out and tied him to a tree. But really what happened was he attempted to arrest them, but failed to account for the other members of the group that had been hiding in the tree line. Because he decided to disobey orders, we were never able to catch that group. Which is a shame because they are still out there. The Mounties reviewed the reports, but since there were no other witnesses, he was given a warning that if he disobeyed orders again it would result in an immediate suspension.
There was also the time when he was told to observe an interrogation with a high profile criminal, but instead he took over the interview and nearly ruined our chances for prosecution.
Then there was Fort Clay, which I guess you already know about, but in case he didn't tell you everything I'd like to tell you the official story. He was tasked with tracking some cattle thieves, and again had orders to observe, and not apprehend until backup came. Knowing his history, I'm sure you can guess what happened. He took it upon himself to arrest the thieves, on his own, and brought them back to the fort all smiles and looking for praise, telling everyone how he'd done it on his own. Because he disobeyed orders, again, he was immediately suspended, without pay, pending the investigation, but that meant he couldn't lead the training mission the following month. Which is why Jack was given the assignment so soon after his, excuse me, your wedding which as you know, led to his untimely death.
The loss of Constable Thornton was felt, not just by us at Fort Clay, but for all the Mounties. He had such a bright future ahead of him, and it was taken, all because Nathan Grant didn't obey orders. I consider Jack a dear friend of mine, and his death hit me especially hard, because I was the first Constable he was assigned to right out of the Academy. Even then, I could see the potential in him and was looking forward to watching him make his way up the ranks of the RCMP."
Andrew sat back, pleased with the looks on the two women's faces. He had been prepared for tears and crying and denials, but instead it was quiet. Until the door burst open and Allie came inside, tears streaming down her angry face.
"You cannot believe this man, Mrs. Thornton, Mrs. Coulter. My Dad told me all about what happened, and it was nothing like that. He said you weren't able to get that man to confess, so they had my Dad come in, and he was able to get the confession. He said you tipped off the group of jewel thieves and helped them get away, and everyone at Fort Clay said he did the right thing arresting those cattle thieves, since they were stealing a lot more than cattle. I don't know why you keep trying to get my Dad in trouble, but you have to stop. My dad is an impeccable Mountie and has done so many good things."
Andrew smiled at the girl, and coldly said, "You may think you know your dad, but I know the true Constable Grant, and he is not the good guy you think he is. In fact, I've recently found out that he was working with the jewel thieves, and for helping them get across the border he got a pretty decent cut of their profits. He is as dirty as they come, and I, for one, will feel so much better once he is behind bars, paying for his disloyalty to the RCMP."