Lucky to be loving you

Chapter 34

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As Andy led the handcuffed man to the RCMP office, he caught Kevin at the Livery and asked him to get his horse, Dakota, and bring him back to the Livery for him. Once inside, he walked the man straight to a jail cell and sat him down.

"I need you to tell me exactly who you are, why you were running away from me, what you were doing with my horse, and who is the other man," Andy commanded.

The man laughed, "You are green around the gills, aren't you?"

Andy sneered at the man, saying confidently, "There's nothing to laugh about. You are talking to a law enforcement officer. You need to answer me."

Just then, Nathan and Bill arrived and walked inside.

Andy stood to attention and let out a sigh of relief, "It's good to see you both."

Nathan had a question written all over his face, "What have we here, Constable?"

Andrew took a deep breath and explained what just happened. When Nathan heard the part of two men and only one in custody, he asked, "Bill, I'd appreciate it, if you would help Constable Roberts here handle this situation, while I go out and search for this other man."

Bill nodded in agreement, "Go ahead, look while the trail is still hot," Bill turned and focused his attention on Andy and his guest.

Nathan swiftly left the office and got back in his automobile, he and Bill just returned from Headquarters. He drove in all directions behind the town buildings and around the oil rig and school. When he stopped by the edge of town, he looked back one more time before heading for the country and studying the people out and about.

There was a silhouette of a slightly plump man coming out of Billees that he hadn't seen before. It could have been any one of the strangers that had arrived concerning the new development, but this prompted him to turn back. The person saw Nathan and seeing the red serge stepping out of the automobile, caused him to take off dodging between buildings. Without a glance back, the man ran as quickly as he could to get away.

Nathan called out for him to stop. When he didn't, he was hot in pursuit, zigzagging a shortcut in the direction this man was headed, so as expected it didn't take long for him to position himself to be standing waiting for the man to make a turn directly towards Nathan. Nathan tackled him to the ground and handcuffed him. The man spit the dirt out of his mouth and snarled some profanity as he struggled with the cuffs.

By then, there was a small crowd watching, ready to help Nathan if need be, but Nathan was strong and quick, prompting a few cheers from the townsfolk. Pulling the man to his feet, Nathan told him that they were going to the RCMP office, where he would join his friend.

Back at the office, Nathan put the other man in the opposite cell. Both of the arrested men looked at the other in surprise and anger. Neither one was willing to cooperate and answer any questions.

Nathan advised them both that if they wanted to have any leniency granted to them at all, they better start talking. They both were as stubborn as mules and wouldn't budge.

Bill firmly spoke, "I am Judge Avery. If you don't cooperate and answer these questions, I can easily throw the book at you. So, if I were you, if you'd like those handcuffs removed and a tin cup of cool water," he said as he took a slow, long drink from his cup, "I'd suggest you start talking – right about now!" With that, Bill took his empty cup and ran it across the cell bars, making a loud racket as he walked over to Nathan.

Andy watched the two men squirming in their cells.

Nathan spoke up, "Let them sit there and think about it, Judge."

Waving for Andy and Bill to join him at his desk, he poured some more water from the pitcher in each of their cups. "Let's write up a report. Andy, I want you to tell me from the very beginning all that transpired."

As Andy recounted what happened, Bill was intently gazing at the men in the cells. Both of them seemed rough around the edges. It was obvious that they had been on the run for quite some time. He could smell them down the hall in the office.

They looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place them, especially being so disheveled.

Bill heard Nathan giving Andy praise for his quick action and response.

Right away, the man Andy had arrested was yelling, "Hey, I have to take care of business! Now!"

Bill walked over and asked, "Is that how you ask for something?"

The man shook his head, "What do you want me to say? Please?"

"That's a start, but why don't you begin by telling me your name first?" Bill replied.

"Hey man, you don't know me? I'm Carlo. Now can I take care of business?"

Bill lifted his eyebrows when he heard his name, and he thought to himself. That's it, just this morning at Headquarters when they identified a name, Carlo Henry Salerno, Inspector Wilkins showed him and Nathan his wanted photo. Although he was much younger in the photo, Bill was sure it was him.

Bill pointed to a bucket and told Carlo, "Just use the bucket, Carlo, and get used to it."

Nathan and Andy were just winding up, so when Bill joined them, he told them both to step outside.

"Looks like Andy here found us Carlo Henry Salerno!" Bill declared.

Nathan smiled a broad grin, "Then the other man might very possibly be his brother."

Andy was stunned, he had arrested a wanted man. "Hot dang!"

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Sure enough, Dottie loved the new dress that Elsa created!

"Oh Elsa, this dress is exquisite! The soft floral pastels are perfect for spring or summer time! The ladies will absolutely love this new style!

Debra nodded excitedly, "I think we should display it in our window, don't you think?"

"Yes! Of course!" Dottie agreed.

Elsa too was excited, "Oh my, I was so happy to finally sew my own design, but I worried that others wouldn't like it as much as me."

Dottie patted Elsa's hand, "Don't think twice like that, Elsa! Your own design is new and fresh. We are sure it'll attract many ladies when they see it in the window!"

As Debra was busy displaying it in the window, she laughed and told Elsa, "That's for sure. A few of them stopped for a minute to watch me. They were smiling and talking to each other while pointing to the dress."

Elsa's excitement turned to panic, "I don't know if I could sew many dresses with my twins." Elsa started to pace.

"Elsa dear don't worry about something that hasn't happened yet. If you give us a time period for you to complete a dress, we can take orders letting our customers know before they order," Dottie tried to reassure her.

Debra spoke up, "Perhaps there is someone who can help you sew?"

Dottie thought out loud, "You know, Clara used to work here before she had her babies. She just might be able to sew too."

"Clara, yes! But she will need help with her little ones too," Elsa sighed.

"Ladies, if we put our heads together, we can make this work," Dottie said confidently.

The bell on the door rang, and they all jumped and then laughed when they saw who walked and what she wanted.

Molly rushed in, "I just had to see this beautiful new dress you had in the window! Do you have my size, so I can try it on?"

When Dottie told Molly that Elsa designed and sewed the dress, she was astonished, but really not surprised.

"Of course, Elsa!" she turned to look at her and told her, "Elsa, my dear, what a talent you were gifted with – just like your mother!"

Elsa politely smiled, "Oh, thank you, but my mother was the seamstress in our family, I just was her apprentice."

Molly spoke up, "Don't shortchange yourself. Your mother has years of experience, and you just started. It looks to me that you have a great start to your own career!"

Dottie nodded in agreement, "Yes, most certainly, but right at this time, she has two little ones. So, we are trying to think of a way to help her out."

"Soon school will be out for the summer, so several of the girls will be willing to babysit to earn their childcare badges," Elsa explained.

"Well, you certainly can't wait for school to be out, because I have a feeling you'll be getting orders soon. You'll need a sitter the rest of the time," Debra said.

While they were talking, Debra took the dress out of the window and gave it to Molly to try on.

When Molly came out of the dressing room, the dress really dazzled the ladies. Molly's auburn hair was a stark contrast to the pastels and the fabric was light and breezy.

The only thing disappointing for Molly was that it didn't fit her right.

"Darn, I so hoped this would fit."

"Actually, Brook was my model so this is on the smaller side," Elsa shrugged.

"You know there are small ladies here in Hope Valley," Dottie mentioned. Noticing Molly's shock, she quickly added, "but most of them are the younger ones, like Debra here."

That didn't stop Molly, "Elsa, would you please sew a dress for me? You can measure me now since I'm not dressed yet."

Elsa gulped, "I don't know what the price will be yet. We haven't discussed that."

"Never mind, I love the dress! I don't care, just measure please, dear," Molly said.

Over at the Paul and Darcy Blakely's farm there were spring babies popping out in the pens and barn. Little did Paul know that some of the creatures who he bought at the livestock fair were already pregnant!

"Thank goodness, you noticed in time that our animal family was going to grow!" Darcy told Paul.

"Yeah, I just finished up making the pig pen bigger and adding another stall in the barn. I'm expecting the veterinarian over sometime today. I want to make sure the little calves are nursing well."

"Why, what makes you say that?" Darcy asked her husband.

"Did you see the littlest one born to Hilda? She's not nursing much, and Hilda doesn't seem to care about her calf."

"I hope Hilda's not ill," Darcy said concerned.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Paul shook his head.

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Nathan was very proud of Andy, having caught Carlo Salerno! Now his brother was also in the other cell. These criminals had eluded police for a few months. They were the ones who were responsible for kidnapping Melanie and were on the run from the law.

It was Andy who first spotted them on his rounds when they were fishing out in the country. Then later, it was Andy who saw the hunter's cabin on fire while out on his rounds again, and it was Andy whose keen instinct witnessed the two brothers fleeing from one building to another in the back of town, and it was Andy who wound up apprehending Carlo.

Taking Andy over to see the Wanted poster of the Salerno Brothers lying on his desk that he just brought back from headquarters, he told him what he found out when Bill and him were there earlier in the day. Bill and Nathan both praised him for his courageous work. Andy was beaming!

Nathan called Headquarters and spoke with Inspector Wilkins, "You, sir, might not believe this, but we have both Salerno brothers in custody."

Nathan watched Andy and Bill's reactions as he proceeded with the phone call, "Yes, that's right." Nathan continued explaining the circumstances and Andy's involvement with the whole scenario.

Bill patted Andy on the back, "Looks like you are going to be the talk around Headquarters now."

Nathan nodded his head while listening to Wilkins, "Yes, tomorrow? Noon. Of course, we'll be waiting. Thank you. Oh, I will tell him. You're welcome."

As Nathan hung up the telephone, he turned around and informed Andy and Bill that the prison transfer wagon would be in Hope Valley tomorrow at noon.

"Wait a minute here," Bill started, "I don't want this to be like last time. We were ambushed, and our comrade was shot!"

Andy looked at Bill with wide eyes, "What?"

"That's not going to happen," Nathan looked sternly at Bill. Then he told Bill to take Andy outside to fill him in. He didn't want the Salerno brothers to get any ideas.

The men were getting restless in their cells and wanted something to drink and eat, so he stepped outside and told Andy to go with Bill and get them some food from Billees for all of them.

"All of us?" Andy questioned.

"Yes, we can't leave these criminals alone now, can we?" Nathan raised his eyebrows when asking Andy.

Andy thought for a minute, "You surely don't mean by ourselves," he asked.

Bill answered, "Yes sir. You're a hero now, so act like one. C'mon, we've got to get some grub."

Nathan chuckled, watching the younger and the older walking together. Andy is going to do just fine. Yes, just fine.

It happened to be Tuesday and all the available ladies were gathered together at Minnie's for their weekly Bible Study.

Fiona announced that she had to leave early for a mayor's meeting with the other local mayors.

"Is that about the new development?" Flo asked.

"Yes, it is. I don't have any details, but it's in the works, and we are all working together to make plans," Fiona replied.

"So, what is the name of the town? Who will be the mayor? Where will the children go to school? Do they have a mercantile?" Flo asked one question after another.

"Yes! What is going on? Fiona, we need to know!" Rosemary agreed. I have to report this in the Voice!"

Minnie spoke, "Now Ladies, we will find out after she meets with the mayors. Right now, we can pray for this new venture, shall we?"

Silence fell while Minnie prayed.

"Amen!" everyone concluded.

After the study, Minnie invited everyone to enjoy the oatmeal muffins that Emily baked. Emily was happy to see the ladies again. It had been a little while since she had been able to attend. Dee told her to just go and have a good time, but Emily felt badly leaving her with the little ones and Archie too. However, when Bertie Gleixner came by, with her husband, Ted, the ladies left the two men to go to Bible Study. It took a few minutes, but Archie seemed to remember Dee's parents and enjoyed Ted's company.

"Emily, thanks for these delicious muffins!" Dottie complimented her.

"I love to bake, but when it gets too warm, I'm not fond of the heat, so eat up now before summer takes over," she smiled.

"When the children are out of school that will provide some babysitters, so it'll be nice to see the younger mothers again," Marie Landoch mentioned, "Karen told me that lots of Girl Guides are working to earn their caregiving badge."

"How nice!" Brook smiled, "I know Elsa will be looking for help so she can sew."

Dottie agreed, "Ladies if you haven't seen her new design, the dress is in our window. It's just lovely!"

"How exciting!" Violet grinned.

"I told her, I would help babysit a few days a week when I'm not working at the Mercantile," Brook added.

"Wonderful!" Dottie said relieved.

The ladies looked at her inquiringly.

"Let's just say there's a double wedding this summer and two brides will need dresses!" she giggled.