"I think I will give Allie her dinner while we wait for Julie; it's getting late."
"Of course, Colleen," Elizabeth exclaimed, rushing to help her sister-in-law in the kitchen. "If you are hungry, you should eat with Allie; we don't know how much longer Julie and Nathan will be and you need to keep your strength up."
Elizabeth was surprised Julie wasn't home yet. After sitting with Patricia while Nathan did rounds that morning, she had requested to be the one to take the evening meal to her, hoping Patricia was close to opening up to her at last.
Nathan had agreed with Julie's suggestion and planned to wait with Robert at the Infirmary while she spoke to her. When Julie was finished, the three would travel to Nathan's home for a debrief over dinner before Robert drove Julie home. Elizabeth knew Nathan was pinning a lot of hope on Julie being able to break through Patricia's barriers.
"Nathan, I'm glad I caught you. I have a Telegram from Constable Kinslow; I thought you would want to see it immediately." Ned Yost stood in the doorway of the Mountie office, staring at Nathan, appearing nervous to venture any further inside. "It's about your prisoner," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Nathan stood and took the Telegram from Ned, thanking him. Nathan had turned to return to his desk when he heard Julie calling his name. Nathan paused in the doorway, holding the door wide for her as she hurried inside with the dinner from Abigail's.
"Good timing, Nathan; I wasn't sure how to knock if the door closed." Julie laughed at herself as she placed the two baskets loaded with food on the desk, carefully placing the thermos of coffee she was juggling beside it. "I hope you are hungry, Patricia; there is lots of yummy food in these bags."
Patricia smiled tentatively at Julie, not wanting to appear happy to see her or eager for the food, at least not in front of Nathan.
Nathan looked at the telegram he held and spoke to Julie, keeping his voice low. "I need to read this Telegram, Julie; if it has anything relevant in it, I will step outside, and I want you to follow me without a word to Patricia." He was pleased when Julie didn't say anything; only nodding and started unloading the food from the basket. Nathan shook his head, wondering at how much food Julie had brought and if the plans had changed and Julie was eating in the Mountie office. Feeling his gaze on her, she shrugged.
"Abigail likes to offer choices, and don't worry; she is happy for us to take home whatever Patricia doesn't select."
Nathan sighed and sunk into his seat; if they treated all their prisoners the way they were, Patricia, criminals would be lining up to be arrested in Coal Valley. Opening the telegram, he eagerly read the words.
'Patricia is Mariah Bower.
Father dead. Killed?
Mariah's Fiancé ? heading to Coal Valley.
Move prisoner now.
I'll arrive Coal Valley ASAP.'
Nathan frowned. It wasn't like Gabe to be dramatic; if anything, he was sensible and would downplay a situation.
"Julie, we're leaving."
Julie stared at him, and he saw her eyes were wide and knew she wanted to ask a hundred questions. "I can't answer your questions now. Find Robert and have him bring the car immediately." As Nathan spoke to Julie, he stood and began re-packing the food into the baskets. Glancing at Patricia, he saw her standing frozen to the spot, her knuckles white as she gripped the cell bars watching him. From her expression, he knew she understood exactly why they were leaving, and she was terrified.
Julie hurried out the door, still not having said a word. Nathan took a step toward Patricia, and for once, she didn't take a step backward.
"If there is anything you want to share with me, Mariah, now is the time."
Patricia, or Mariah, he should say, closed her eyes, and he saw a tear slide from under her lashes, tracking down her cheek. Nathan hesitated. He knew he should force her to speak, to demand she tell him what she was hiding before acting, but his heart and gut were telling him to do everything he could to protect her from whatever danger was coming her way.
"I'm going to unlock your cell, Mariah, and we are leaving here immediately." Nathan inserted the key in the lock on the cell, turning it quickly as she dropped her hands. "Your fiancé is on his way here, and I believe it's him you are running from, that he is the reason you were in hiding and why you stole." Pulling the door open, he stared into her wide, frightened eyes, his face serious. "I am placing my trust in you having a genuine reason for what you have done. Don't make me regret it."
"I won't. You have my word, and I understand that might not mean a lot given what you know of me, but you can trust me."
Nathan was stunned; this was the first time he had heard Mariah utter a complete sentence, and the soft, firm tone surprised him. He stared into her eyes, seeing the truth of her words reflected there and knew his gut had been right; he had to protect this girl.
"Let's go." Nathan stepped away from the cell doorway, turning his back to Mariah. He heard a car engine outside, growing louder as it got closer. He strode to the window, peering out, pleased to see it was Robert and Julie approaching. Reaching for his hat and gloves, he looked over his shoulder at Mariah, perplexed to see her standing inside the jail cell.
"What is it?"
"What if he is out there? What if I can't get away this time?"
"That is not going to happen, Mariah; I won't let it," Nathan assured her. "I will protect you; that's what the Mounties do; that's what this Town does for its own."
Nathan saw Mariah's lips press together as she tried to hold back her emotions. He watched a they flitted across her face as she processed his words. Once she had accepted that he meant what he said that she could trust him, her paralysis lifted, and she rushed to his side, ready to leave when he told her to.
"Wait here while I make sure it is safe." Nathan waited until Mariah stepped back and leaned against his desk before opening the door of the Mountie office. He looked at Julie and Robert, who remained in the car, raising an eyebrow, questioning if all was clear, acknowledging their nods with his own. He studied Coal Valley's main street, looking for anything or anyone out of place, but all he saw was the townspeople hurrying about their business, keen to get home before dark. He stepped off the Verandah and opened the car door before returning to the office. He waved Mariah forward, indicating it was safe, and she hurried toward him, picking up the basket of food as she came. Without needing to be told, Mariah hurried to the car and slid inside, sitting down in the seat as far as she could so as not to be seen.
"Where are we going, Nathan? I assume we aren't heading to your home," Robert asked.
Nathan was pleased with the matter-of-fact way Robert asked, with no sense of panic in his tone, from his experience in dealing with emergencies he guessed. "We are going to Henry's." Nathan hadn't been able to think of another place safer than Henry's home. Henry rarely interacted with the community, and his home was far enough out of town that people didn't just pass by. Few people would be aware of where Mariah had been moved to.
Without a word, Robert Pearce put the car into gear and drove from the Mountie office. The four travelled silently for a few minutes before Julie turned to the back seat and asked, "Please tell us what is going on, Nathan."
Nathan quickly explained the telegram he had received from Gabe, and that he thought it best, given the contents, to get Mariah away from the Mountie office.
"Are you sure Henry won't mind us just turning up? It's very unexpected."
"I don't believe he will mind, Julie."
"I agree, Julie. I don't know Henry as well as Nathan, but I sense Henry will want to do the right thing."
When Robert left the town limits, he accelerated, pushing the car faster than usual. No one said anything about the increase in speed, but Julie reached out to brace herself against the dashboard. Nathan glanced at Patricia...Mariah, where she sat, and was pleased to see that she appeared calm despite her awkward position.
"When we get to Henry's, we need to talk," Nathan said. His tone left no doubt that the conversation would happen; he wasn't giving Mariah a choice.
As they drove toward Henry's, the evening light faded, so when they arrived, it was dark enough for Nathan to see the light spilling from the windows at the back of the home. Nathan was pleased Henry was home; he didn't want to find somewhere else for Mariah to stay. He was also happy to know Gabe was on his way; he was glad to have his friend's help and support.
"Wait here, everyone; let me talk to Henry alone," Nathan instructed as he opened his car door. He strode up the Verandah stairs, not surprised when the door was flung open, and Henry stood silhouetted in the doorway.
"Constable? What's wrong?"
"I need your help," Nathan began. "Can we step inside, please?"
Henry didn't hesitate, and Nathan followed him inside. Nathan hurriedly explained what he had learned from Gabe's telegram and his request that their prisoner be moved.
"Until I can talk to Gabe and find out his concerns regarding her Fiancé, I am doing what he advised. He wouldn't have asked without good reason."
"Of course, my housekeeper and her husband have been staying in the cabin out the back; they lost their place. Mrs Hagarty won't need to return tonight, but she will be back early in the morning to prepare breakfast. Unfortunately, the young lady will have to stay hidden if you don't want them to know about her. Are you planning to stay here too?
"I will stay as a precaution. We can think of a reason to explain my presence to them." Nathan glanced through the open door to the car, where he saw Julie and Robert staring at the house. Mariah remained hidden in the backseat. "I don't think she will mind hiding away; she's terrified of being found by her fiancé."
"But you don't know who he is or why?"
"Not yet. Are you sure about this?"
"Without a doubt."
Nathan hurried to the doorway and waved to Robert and Julie, pausing to wait for them. Once everyone was inside, Nathan introduced Mariah, and they followed Henry to the formal sitting area. When they were all seated, Nathan looked at Mariah, and he knew there was no time to wait; he needed answers, and the audience didn't matter.
"Mariah. We are out of time. You need to tell me everything."
Nathan saw her eyes flick toward the others before she swallowed and inhaled deeply, steadying herself before she began.
"My name is Mariah Bower; I come from a small town near Brookfield. I lived with my parents on a small farm there. My mother died when I was three years old, and my father raised me. My father..." As tears filled Mariah's eyes, Nathan watched as she bit her lips to stop the quivering, her emotions overwhelming her for the moment. "My father had been ill, and I was caring for him. Our neighbour, Mr Armstrong, had offered to help with some of the chores, and my father was happy for him to help."
Nathan remained silent when Mariah stopped speaking, not wanting to interrupt her flow of words. Whatever came next was the critical part, the reason they were here. He could see Mariah was reluctant to continue, as she curled in on herself, wrapping her arms around her knees as she drew them up to her chest.
"Mr Armstrong came over more often, staying later and later. I tried to avoid him and stay in the room with my father, but I couldn't always evade him. As my father's condition worsened, Mr Armstrong grew bolder."
Julie moved to sit beside Mariah on the settee and put her arm around the girl, comforting her as she struggled to tell her story. Nathan wished he could tell her to wait, take some time, and dry her tears, but he couldn't. He needed the information to keep her safe. Sick to his stomach, he asked her to continue her story.
"What did he do, Mariah?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"He touched me," she said, her voice thick with tears. She bowed her head as she broke down completely, her sobs the only sound in the silent room.
"Nathan, Henry. Maybe I could ask some questions in private, as a Doctor," Robert said. "If the answers are relevant to your investigation, I will fill you in, but if it isn't appropriate, it will save Patr...Mariah from sharing things she may not need to."
"Of course," Nathan said, standing and following Henry out of the room. He trusted Robert Pearce and Julie, and Mariah trusted them. He didn't want to embarrass Mariah if it wasn't necessary. He could ask her questions if the information they found was relevant. As long as Robert could get a description of Mr Armstrong, he could determine if he and the 'fiancé' Gabe had met were the same person. Nathan knew he needed to get a message to Elizabeth, too; she would be worrying about why they weren't home.
"Nathan, can I take a message to your family?" Henry asked. "I don't need to be here, and I can speak to Constable Kinslow when he arrives in town without attracting the wrong kind of attention."
Nathan instantly saw the merit of Henry's suggestion and quickly agreed. Henry left immediately to get his car, and Nathan looked around for something to do while he waited for Robert. His eyes landed on the basket of food from Abigails, and he began to unpack it. Nathan shook his head at the variety of food available but was pleased much of it could be eaten cold. He really needed to speak to Abigail about the food she was supplying to the prisoners and work out how he could avoid eating most of it himself.
Once Nathan had the food laid out, he ran out of things to occupy himself. He started to pace the small foyer of Henry's home, not wanting to invade his privacy by entering any rooms when he wasn't home. He also didn't want to risk being seen by Mrs Hagarty, especially when she and her husband had no doubt heard Henry's car leaving.
Nathan was pleased when the door opened, and Robert slipped out.
"Mariah needs a moment, Nathan; she is okay, just a little emotional after recounting her story. I can fill you in while she collects herself."
Nathan stood listening intently as Robert described the interactions between Mariah and Mr Armstrong. It seemed the man was older, closer to her father's age than hers. He was a widow, his wife passing under suspicious circumstances when she failed to produce an heir for him. With her father incapacitated, he had begun taking liberties with Mariah, touching her inappropriately. Mariah objected and eventually told her father of his unwanted advances. Her father had demanded Mr Armstrong leave and not return, promising to report him to the Mounties if he did so.
The evening Mariah's father threw out Mr Armstrong was the night he died. Mariah had found him half in and half out of his bed, the bedding twisted and rumpled around him. There was blood on the floor, and the Doctor had presumed he had fallen attempting to get out of bed and hit his head. Mariah hadn't believed that was what happened. The window in her father's bedroom had been open, and he never slept with it open, and she knew she had closed it the previous evening.
Mr Armstrong had come to the home in the guise of a mourner, mingling with the neighbours who were there to offer sympathy and support. He lingered, waiting for everyone to leave, and once they were alone, he grabbed her forearms, holding her tight while he attempted to kiss her. Mariah fought him and ran from the room. When he cornered her in the kitchen, she had lifted the cast-iron skillet from the bench top and swung it at his head, knocking him unconscious."
Nathan knew enough of her story to understand what happened next. "Do you have a detailed description of Armstrong? Enough that I could share it with Gabe and Bill and the others who might be able to help us find him?"
As Robert recounted the description Mariah provided, Nathan listened for anything distinctive that he could use, something that would identify him quickly and efficiently. The one thing that Robert mentioned that would help identify Mr Armstrong was his height. Mariah had described him as tall, much taller than most people, taller than Nathan, the tallest man she had met in Coal Valley.
"That's great, Robert, and should help us recognise him when we see him." Nathan hesitated, then asked, "Are you sure he didn't do any more to her? Something she may not want to admit?"
"I am quite sure. She trusts Julie and me, she would have told us. Mariah ran because she was worried about what would happen when Armstrong didn't wake, or if he did what he would do to her; she believed he killed her father and would have no qualms doing the same to her if she refused him again."
"Thanks, Robert. I will do everything I can to keep her safe and ensure Armstrong comes nowhere near her or anyone else." When the door opened again, Nathan stopped talking, and Julie stood there with Mariah.
"Thank you, Constable Grant. I appreciate all you are doing for me, especially after what I have done."
"We'll deal with that later; for now, why don't we sit and try and eat something? We don't know how long we will be here, and I would hate for Abigail's food to go to waste."
As they finished eating, the sound of a car approaching had Nathan leaping to his feet. He instructed the others to stay where he was and walked to the window, peering out, not relaxing until he recognised Henry's car, he had returned more quickly than Nathan anticipated, and he hoped that didn't mean something had gone wrong with his plan. They waited at the table for Henry to park and come inside, eagerly anticipating his news.
