CHAPTER 22

Hope Valley, Alberta Canada

Tuesday, May 31, 1921

MaKayla arrived back at Lucas's house and decided to take a bath to help her relax. It had been a crazy 24 hours. Soon she was refreshed, dressed and ready for dinner with Mr. Sterling. She went into Lucas's bedroom. She sat on his bed and held his pillow close to her chest, breathing in his scent. His cologne was intoxicating, she thought as she laughed at herself.

Things were quite a mess right now, she thought, that was for sure. The fallout from the shootings would no doubt have a negative effect on Lucas's governorship. Would he need to resign, she wondered? She would not abandon him whatever the outcome. She got up and went to his bureau and took out a henley shirt and sleep pants so he would be more comfortable when he woke up.

Finally, she went into his library. The room where she really felt Lucas's presence. She walked around the room looking at all his keepsakes and souvenirs from his travels. She saw he had a first edition of his favorite story, 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.' She would bring this to the infirmary so she could read it to him. She then came across a picture of Lucas with a man and woman that appeared to be his parents. Lucas bore a strong resemblance to the man in the photo. He was young, early twenties she guessed. He was not sporting a beard and his hair was longer than it is now. She smiled at the picture, he was always a handsome man, beard or no beard. She thought of his parents and then decided she should call them. She didn't want them to learn of the shooting from the newspaper.

She went through Lucas's desk looking for their phone number, when she found a picture of Elizabeth, Lucas and Jack. She stopped and picked up the picture. As she stared at it in its silver crafted frame, she couldn't help but think of how happy they all looked. The family he had always wanted and had for a little bit of time. She reverently put the picture back into the drawer. Given its location, she was sure that Lucas looked at it often and grieved for all that he had lost this past year. She found the Bouchard's phone number and made the call.

"Mrs. Bouchard, my name is Dr. MaKayla Donovan. I'm a friend of your son's." MaKayla told her.

"Dr. Donovan, why are you calling us and not our son?" She questioned her with immediate concern.

"Unfortunately, Lucas has been injured again. He's doing well but is unable to call himself right now." She said hesitantly, knowing that was not exactly the truth.

"Dr. Donovan, please tell me. What exactly has happened to Lucas this time?" Helen asked worried.

MaKayla sighed and knew she needed to tell her the whole truth. She then explained the events of the past few days.

"Thank goodness, you were there. Martin and I can't thank you enough. Lucas has mentioned your name to us on a few occasions. He told us how important you were in his recovery from that assassination attempt last fall. I will be on the next train to Hope Valley if you think that is needed. Unfortunately, Martin has not been well this past week and I don't think he is up to traveling just yet. Do you think that it would be ok if we waited a week before we traveled to him?" Helen asked her.

"Mrs. Bouchard there really is not much that you can do for Lucas right now anyway. I will have Lucas call you in a few days and you the two of you can decide if you need to come. I promise you if anything changes and I feel you need to get here, I will call you immediately." She told her with sincerity.

"Thank you, Dr. Donovan. I appreciate that. But I must tell you I think there is more to your relationship with our son than doctor and patient. Am I correct?" Helen asked curiously.

MaKayla could feel herself blush. "Hmm, we are growing closer." She hesitant, "can I be honest with you Mrs. Bouchard?" MaKayla asked quietly.

"Of course, dear. I would expect nothing less." She told her sincerely.

"I'm in love with your son." She said, unsure how the woman would take that news.

"And Lucas?" Helen asked quizzically.

"His heart is still broken over his relationship with Elizabeth ending. But I do think he has strong feelings for me as well. Perhaps it's not love on his part just yet." She said nervously.

"I would like nothing better than to give Elizabeth Thornton a piece of my mind." Helen said with an edge to her voice. So perhaps it is best that we don't come to Hope Valley at this time. I'm not sure how much of a lady I could be if Elizabeth and I were to happen across each other." She said with an unamused chuckle.

"But I'm happy to think that he has possibly found love again after all that has happened. Dr. Donovan, as long as you are sure that we don't need to come now, we will wait until we speak to Lucas. Please have him call us as soon as he is able. And Dr. Donovan, thank you for calling. The last time this happened, Lucas kept it from us." Helen told her.

"Do not worry, Mrs. Bouchard, I assure you Lucas is in good hands." She said with a smile.

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MaKayla made a quick stop at the infirmary to drop off the items she had brought from Lucas's house. Faith told her there was still no change in Lucas's condition. She went to his bedside, and sat for just a moment. "I'm having dinner with a friend of yours. I will tell you all about it when I get back." She kissed him gently on the cheek and stood to leave.

She then made her way to the saloon to have dinner with Daniel. As she entered the saloon it was very busy. Several people came up to ask her how the governor was doing. She saw Daniel sitting at a table in the back corner. As she approached, he stood to greet her.

"Dr. Donovan, how good to see you again. How is Lucas doing this evening?" He asked hopeful.

"He is still unconscious, but honestly that is to be expected with the blood loss he suffered. My hope is he will regain consciousness very soon." She told him with a confidence she wasn't feeling.

"Happy to hear that. So did Dr. Carter tell you of my conversation in Judge Avery's office earlier today?" He inquired.

"No, she told me that I should wait and hear it all from you myself." She told him honestly.

Daniel explained to her what had happened with Matthew Aucoin and Lucas's work with the CSIS.

"I knew Matthew although not well. I was sorry to hear of his passing. It breaks my heart that Lucas feels he is responsible for what happened to him. Lucas is a man who feels things deeply but doesn't let those emotions show very often to others." She told him.

"Did you have any idea that Lucas was once an agent for the CSIS?" He asked her next.

"No, but it doesn't surprise me. He does love adventure and intrigue. And I think he is always looking for ways to make the world a better place. But I also understand his desire to settle down, to have a family." She told him

"You understand him well, Dr. Donovan." Daniel smiled at her.

"Please call me MaKayla." She told him.

"Of course, if you will call me Daniel?" He smiled at her again. She nodded in agreement.

"MaKayla, your work with Endwell Hospital is very impressive as well. I'm very familiar with Drs. Anderson and Murray. I know many men who are alive and well today because of their work. And you, young lady, you were a part of that. Both you and Lucas have a need to help others. I believe in this area the two of you are quite well suited for each other." He told her sincerely. "Together you make quite a couple. You don't scare easily and you don't run from trouble. Much like him, you tend to run towards it." He said with a knowing smile.

"You mentioned that Lucas had spoken about me to you. Do you care to share any of that?" She said with a interested smile.

"I will just say, that Lucas has told me that he believes he has met his match in you. You challenge him in ways that Mrs. Thornton never did. I certainly don't know Elizabeth Thornton but her treatment of him has me seeing red since their broken engagement." He said honestly.

"I believe Lucas will make a wonderful governor with time." He told her with conviction. He needs to understand that transparency in government is vital. Something he has no previous experience with I'm afraid. But once he understands that, I believe he will do great things for Alberta. I hope with you by his side." MaKayla blushed at those words and lowered her gaze.

She smiled at Daniel and held his gaze once again. "Lucas's happiness is all that I want. If it is with me that he finds the home and family he craves, I would welcome it. And I certainly hope that with time, his governorship can feed his need to help others." She told him. Daniel hoped that for his friend's sake that this would be the case.

"I know you were opposed to his running for governor; do you think it would be Ok for him to continue as governor? She asked concerned. "Assuming the people do not clamor for his resignation once the papers get a hold of what happened." She said with apprehension.

"I would have preferred he never ran for governor in the first place. I have made no secret of that. There will always be the possibility that someone from his past could come out from the shadows. Just as Kingston had done. But he was the one I was most worried about. Thankfully that threat has been eliminated. His name is out there now unfortunately. But he understands what to watch for, so yes if he chooses, he can and should continue as governor. And I assure you MaKayla, the choice will indeed be Lucas's and no one else." He told her with sincerity.

"I will stop by and see Lucas tomorrow before I leave. Do you think he will be conscious by then? Daniel asked hopefully.

"I'm certainly counting on that to be the case. Thank you for a lovely dinner this evening and the insight into Lucas's past. It certainly has put so many things into perspective for me. See you tomorrow, Daniel." She turned to leave, anxious to get back to the infirmary to see Lucas.

Daniel watched her leave; he had a broad smile on his face. He liked MaKayla Donovan very much. Lucas, he thought, had found a woman who would challenge and delight him for a lifetime.

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Faith bid MaKayla goodnight as she and Lilly headed home. MaKayla then went to sit by Lucas's bedside. "Good evening governor. Your friend Daniel Sterling is in town. That is who I had dinner with tonight. And he told me all your secrets. That's right, all of them." She said with a laugh. How she wished he would open his eyes and asked her what secrets he told her. She slowly took his hand in hers, "Lucas, if you can hear me squeeze my hand." She said gently but still no response.

She sighed with disappointment. "I brought some things from your house." She told him. She took out his sleeping pants and shirt. "Here are your sleeping clothes. I thought you would be more comfortable in these. I was going to wait for you to wake up, so you could put them on yourself, but since you're taking your own sweet time about things governor. I guess I will just have to help you into them by myself." She laughed, thinking if he heard that it might rouse him awake. She had discovered him to be a modest man during his last hospital stay.

"Don't worry, I have done this for lots of soldiers at the hospital, I'm quite efficient and strong." She chuckled again and went to work getting his sleeping pants on. "We will wait on your shirt until you're awake, believe it or not that is a harder article of clothing to get on an unconscious man with just one person." Still no response despite all the movement she had created with getting his pants on.

She started to read him the story of Robin Hood for a while, which also didn't evoke any awareness from Lucas. She was starting to worry. He should have regained consciousness by now, she thought. She sat on the floor and laid her head on the bed. "Please Lucas, come back to me." MaKayla lay there for a long while as her heart was breaking and she couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

She finally got up and decided to go outside for a little bit to let the night spring air refresh her. "Lucas, I'm just going to go outside for a little bit," she said as her voiced cracked with deep emotion. She was not a crier by nature but as she stared at this man, the man that had captured her heart in ways she never expected, the tears came easily. To have him taken from her so soon was something she didn't think she could bear.

Once outside she stared up at the stars, and made a wish on the brightest star in the sky. As she closed her eyes, she also sent up a quiet prayer, "Lord, if your listening, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'm asking for a miracle tonight. I know its selfish to ask because it's really not for Lucas, but for myself. I don't want Lucas to leave me. I love him. And I want a life with him, children, a home. If you could see your way clear to grant me more time with him, well I would really appreciate it." She opened her eyes and stared at the starlit night. She thought maybe just for a moment that the brightest star in the sky twinkled back at her. She touched her heart feeling that her prayer had been heard as a soft glow warmed her spirit.

She walked back inside and again took a long look at the man he held her heart. She sat down on the floor beside his bed and reached for his hand. "I spoke to your mother today and told her you were going to be ok. Please don't make a liar of me. Do you really want to leave me to deal with Helen Bouchard on my own?" She laughed softly.

She placed his palm against her cheek and closed her eyes. "The first time I met you, I thought you were special. I just felt this instant connection, my thought at the time was that you and I were kindred spirits. Of course, I know now that you were broken hearted and were not thinking any such thing. I just know I don't want to imagine a life without you in it. I love you, Lucas Bouchard." Her tears flowed in earnest once again.

"Please don't cry because of me." He said very quietly. She wasn't sure if those words were in her head or Lucas said them.

MaKayla's eyes shot open, "Lucas?"

He opened his eyes slowly, as he wiped the tears from her cheek. She smiled over at him.

MaKayla got up from the floor and sat on the bed. "Your finally awake. You had me so worried. "How do you feel?" She asked.

"From the pain in my gut," he said hoarsely. "I'm assuming Kingston's bullet hit its mark?" He said sardonically.

"As did yours. Kingston is dead." She said solemnly.

"I never want to take a life, but I'm glad that he will never hurt anyone else again." He said quietly.

"None of that matters now, the important thing is for you to get better." She told him as she wiped the rest of the tears from her cheeks.

"My gut feels like it's on fire. Did you remove the bullet?" He asked.

"Yes, and I also had to remove your spleen. And you required another blood transfusion from yours truly." She smiled at him.

"Do I need a spleen?" He asked nervously.

"Well, it is helpful, but you can live without it just fine. You will make a full recovery. I promise." She said with a bright smile.

"Could I have a drink of water?" He asked. MaKayla brought a glass to his lips.

"Just small sips." She cautioned him as he slowly sipped the liquid.

"Rosemary and Elizabeth are they safe? And Jeanette?" He asked as MaKayla put the glass back on the table by the bed.

"Everyone is fine. Jeanette is on her way to Union City. I understand she made a full confession. You don't have to worry about her or Kingston again." She told him

"I'm sure Rosemary can't wait to write a story about this. I assume everyone is calling for my resignation with this mess." He said gloomily.

"I don't think so governor. A friend of yours is in town." She told him with a wry smile.

"A friend? Who?" He asked curiously.

"Daniel Sterling. I had dinner with him tonight. He is a very interesting man and certainly had a lot to say about you." She said with an amused smile.

Lucas looked at her confused. "Daniel is here? Why?" He asked.

He found out that Kingston was working with Jeanette and with the telephone and telegraph wires down he could not get word to you. So, he drove here to warn you. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived all the mayhem had already taken place." She told him sadly. "Let's have no more talk about Kingston, bad press and all the rest." She told him gently.

Lucas gazed at the beautiful woman in front him and his heart filled with love as he reached for her hand again. "MaKayla, thank you for saving my life for the second time. For coming to Hope Valley. For being by my side through all of this. I don't know if I just said this in my head or I said it out loud but I want you to know…" he trailed off as MaKayla looked at him anxiously.

"I was waiting for the perfect time to tell you but I think this might qualify." He paused as he gazed into her intense green hazel eyes. What he saw was a reflection of what was in his own heart. He was never more certain that this was the perfect time. "MaKayla Donovan, I love you." He said with deep emotion.

MaKayla gave him the most radiant smile. "Oh Lucas, I love you too, so very much. I know you're still hurting over Elizabeth. We can take things slow. I just want to be with you." She said with exuberance.

"I feel that love. It has been the one thing that I've been holding on to this whole time. I don't deserve your love or loyalty but I am so very grateful to have it." She leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.

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The next morning when Faith walked into the infirmary she heard voices.

"Ouch, that hurts. Do you really have to do that?" Came a male voice who was not too happy. Faith smiled; Lucas was awake.

"Yes, the wound has to be cleaned with this solution every six hours. You aren't getting an infection on my watch, governor." MaKayla said with authority. "There, all done, so you can stop complaining." She scrunched her nose at him and chuckled. "I'll see about getting you something light to eat for breakfast." I will be back shortly." She smiled seductively as she leaned down to give him a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"Is that all I get in the way of a kiss," he asked with a dimpled grin.

"My mother always told me, to leave a man wanting more." She gave him a cocky grin and left.

As MaKayla stepped outside the curtain, she saw Faith. "Good morning," Faith said cheerfully, "sounds like our patient has joined the land of the living once again."

MaKayla laughed, "Yes, very early this morning. And he's also a very ornery patient at that." Just then Daniel Sterling came into the infirmary. "Good morning, Daniel" MaKayla said happily. "Our patient is awake if you would like to see him."

"Excellent news." Daniel said relieved.

"I should warn you; he is a bit on the ornery side this morning." MaKayla laughed

"He doesn't scare me," Daniel chuckled and walked behind the curtain. "Good morning, Lucas. I'm extremely happy to see you awake but not so pleased to find that you have taken yet another bullet. The entire time you worked for me you were never shot. Interesting how being governor has proven much more dangerous than being an agent." He gave a hearty laugh as he took a seat next to the bed as Lucas extended his hand to Daniel.

"Daniel it is good to see you. MaKayla told me why you came. Thank you. As for being governor, once news of this mess gets out, I'm sure everyone will be calling for my resignation." He said defeated.

"Not so fast son." He said as he handed him a copy of the Valley Voice. Lucas looked at the headline with incredulity. "Governor Saves the Valley from Gangsters"

Lucas looked up at him in shock. "How did you get Rosemary Coulter to write a positive article about what happened?" He asked in surprise. "I know you must have had a hand in what she has written." He said to him with a wry smile.

"Let's just say that Mrs. Coulter and I have come to an understanding. Similar articles have been written by all the major newspapers. You're a hero. No one should be calling for your resignation." He told firmly.

"Daniel, I don't know what to say." Lucas said virtually speechless.

"Nothing of what happened was your fault. We finally got Kingston; he was one of our most wanted. We are all grateful to you, Lucas. Stopping him will put an end to a lot of criminal activities here and in England. Not to mention Jeanette told us who they had in their pocket with the RCMP. None other than Commander Wilson Harkness. The duplicity ran high." Lucas's face registered his surprise at who they had working with them. "The only thing you need to worry about now is getting well." He told him honestly.

"If Dr. Donovan has anything to say about it, I will be up and around before you know it." He said with a cocky smile.

"I should also let you know I spoke with a few of the townspeople which included Mrs. Thornton." Lucas looked at him warily. "They are aware of your past with CSIS and what happened to Matthew." Daniel watched as Lucas closed his eyes as if in pain. "No need to worry Lucas, they have all been sworn to secrecy, but more importantly, perhaps now they will stop judging you so harshly." He told him.

Lucas opened his eyes again. "Thank you, Daniel. What about the agents protecting Elizabeth?" He asked.

"I explained to her that she was never in any danger. She seemed satisfied with that answer. I spoke to the prime minister this morning and we are both in agreement that you require extra protection as governor. Especially given your past exploits with the CSIS. He was more than happy to oblige. Kennedy and Murphy are now assigned to you. Of which both are very pleased about. He observed the distressed expression on Lucas's face. "I'm just sorry it had to come to all this."

"I also spoke with Dr. Donovan, she is wonderful. She wasn't scared off by your past in the least. If you wish to continue as governor, I believe that she is someone who would be more than willing to be by your side in this venture." Daniel's face soften at the young man who meant a great deal to him. "Lucas, don't wallow in what didn't work out. Remember it's lessons but embrace the gifts you have been given now." He said earnestly.

"You are a wise man, Daniel. I can't thank you enough for everything." Lucas said with sincerity.

Daniel shook his hand, "Good luck Lucas. I'm proud of you. Get well soon, son. And Lucas the next time we see each other it had better not be with you in a hospital bed." He gave his friend a mischievous grin and walked to front of the infirmary.

As Daniel stood in the entry of the infirmary, he turned to the two doctors that had saved Lucas's life. "Dr. Donovan it was a pleasure. Just so you are aware, Lucas can have a tendency to brood, try to keep him from doing that. He cannot change anything that has happened. Nor is any of this his fault." He told her. "Dr. Carter it was a pleasure as well." With that Daniel left the infirmary.

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Later that evening, Lucas and MaKayla were alone in the infirmary. "MaKayla, can you do me a favor?" Lucas asked.

"If I can." She told him.

"Can you bring me to my house? I'd like to recover there if possible. The infirmary is very busy and noisy all day." He asked her with pleading eyes. "I would have my own private physician taking care of me. I don't need to stay here to do that. Plus, wouldn't you be more comfortable at my house. It can't be comfortable sleeping on the floor and sitting in these hard chairs all day." He said with a sly grin.

"Oh, I see, you want to do this for my benefit. How kind of you governor." She laughed. MaKayla didn't disagree with him, the infirmary was not set up conveniently for patients to have to spend extend periods of time here. Not to mention, her back was hurting. "Ok," she smiled. "Let me get some medical supplies together and go get your car. I will pull it up to the front of the infirmary. Don't move till I get back."

"Yes, Doc." He said happily.

When MaKayla returned, she left a note for Faith on the desk. She helped Lucas put on his socks and shoes. Then they walked very gingerly to his car together. "That was much faster than the first time you walked to my office at the hospital." She said as he painfully slipped into the passenger seat. Then she turned serious. "This is probably going to be quite painful but luckily, it's a short ride. "Just grit your teeth." She told him.

Once at his house, they made their way inside and walked down the hall to his bedroom. She finally had Lucas settled comfortably in his bed. "Let me check your wound, to make sure no further damage was done with all this movement." She told him. Luckily, everything looked fine.

"Thank you MaKayla. I feel better already." He smiled tiredly at her.

"Let me give you a shot of morphine so you can get some sleep." She told him.

"Normally I would say no, but I have to admit I am in a quite a bit of pain. Can you sit with me for a while until I fall asleep?" He asked hopefully.

She gave him a soft caring smile. "Of course, I wouldn't be anywhere else." She kissed him and then went to get her medical bag.

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The next morning, Elizabeth showed up at the infirmary. When she walked in, the clinic was totally empty. Elizabeth started to panic. Where was Lucas? She wondered. She started to fear the worst. Then Faith came through the door on the other side of the infirmary.

"Faith, where is Lucas? Please tell me he is alright? She said pleadingly.

"He's fine," Faith said. "MaKayla moved him to his house to recover. The infirmary is not very quiet during the day and is really not set up for long term patients. He is better off at home in his own bed with MaKayla taking care of him." She told her.

"Oh, I see. Thank you. Elizabeth hesitated. "Faith, do you know where Lucas's house is?" She asked ashamed that she never bothered to find out where he lived the entire time they were courting. Elizabeth hoped that Faith knew. "I don't but I will find out from MaKayla and let you know." She told her.

"Thank you, Faith, I need to have a conversation with Lucas that is long overdue." Elizabeth said as she walked out of the door.