Here and There…This and That…Now and Then
Chapter 1
Capital City, Alberta Canada
October 1,1920
The train rolled through the countryside taking him further and further away from Hope Valley and her. He sat there wondering how things had gone so wrong. He was supposed to be getting married in a few weeks' time and now instead of planning his wedding to his soulmate he would be running for the territory governor of Alberta Canada. Lucas Bouchard had stood up to the incumbent Bixby Balfour when he came to Hope Valley on a campaign stop. It was discovered that Balfour along with a business associate Bernhardt Montague was behind a project to divert water from the valley communities to Union City to help with the potential growth the city was expecting.
When Howard Cunningham, who was running against Balfour dropped out of the race, things looked dire for the valley. If Balfour ran unopposed the injunction that Judge Bill Avery was able to obtain to stop the diversion would be vetoed by the governor once he won his reelection bid. At that point there would be nothing and no one to stop him from continuing with his plan. But, thanks to the radio address that Lucas had made calling out Balfour along with Rosemary Coulters' article that explained Lucas's role in exposing the plan, the party had found a new candidate to run against Balfour. That was, as long as Lucas would agree to run.
Lucas sat on the cold dark train, remembering his conversation with his fiancée Elizabeth Thorton after Cunningham's people had contacted him.
"The party wants me to run, but I keep thinking there has to be someone else. I'm not a politician. He had said to Elizabeth
"Is there?" she replied, "You are our best chance to defeat Balfour."
"So, if I were to run, he had asked her, "you would be OK with it?"
"If it's what you want then yes." She had told him with a wan smile.
"I don't want to run; I have to run, otherwise Balfour wins without a fight. He told her. So, he had thrown his hat into the ring.
The night before he was to leave for Capital City, he sat in Elizabeth's rowhouse, trying to write his acceptance speech for the nomination. He felt the weight of the entire valley on his shoulders, knowing that he needed to win to keep the town that he and Elizabeth loved viable and together. But yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that Elizabeth was not all in with this decision, despite having made it together.
Lucas remarked, "This feels so surreal. I can't believe this is happening. I haven't even packed yet. Looking at Elizabeth with fear in his eyes, "Elizabeth after our conversation yesterday I'm just not sure how you're feeling and I don't know if this is what you want."
"I want to make it work," she assured him. "I want to be there with you when you win."
"And if I do win, we can all move into the governor's mansion after we are married. He had told her trying to affirm that she was Ok with everything.
"Lucas let's just take it one step at a time." She had said. Lucas had apologized for getting ahead of himself yet again, but he had always been a planner.
"Thank you, Elizabeth, I suddenly feel much lighter, I'm really, really happy you'll be by my side." He gently kissed her, He left her house that night feeling relieved, he would not be alone in this fight, he would have his soulmate by his side.
Lucas was jolted from his reverie when he heard the conductor announce that they would be pulling into Capital City in fifteen minutes. Lucas sighed loudly, he was exhausted mentally and physically but there would be no time to rest as he was supposed to go directly to the convention floor and accept the nomination. What had he gotten himself into, he wondered?
One more memory quickly flashed across Lucas's mind. He had received a call from Daniel Sterling right before he and Elizabeth left for the train station. Daniel had heard about Lucas's plan to run for governor and his old mentor was calling to try to dissuade him from going through with this crazy plan. Lucas tried to explain to Daniel why he needed to do this, but Daniel believed that Lucas was putting himself in grave danger by doing this.
Lucas sincerely doubted anyone from his past would make an attempt to physically hurt him, but if they did decide to avenge old wounds, his enemies knew the best way to hurt him was to go after Elizabeth and Jack. That was something he would never let happen. After he accepted the nomination his first order of business would be to get a bodyguard for Elizabeth. He would call Daniel to arrange everything.
Lucas stepped off the train into the bright sunshine, he took a deep breath and looked around. So many people, he had almost forgot what being in a big city was like. Just then, Edwin Mitchell, came up to him.
"Lucas, my man, great to see you. Are you ready for this?" Edwin said while shaking Lucas's hand. Lucas offered him a slight chuckle. He was far from ready for any of this. "Let's get you to the convention, Edwin said, "we need to hit the ground running."
They made their way to the convention hall, and Lucas gave a good but lackluster speech accepting the nomination. He was then to meet with a handful of advisors to go over campaign strategy. Lucas had a splitting headache and all he really wanted to do was lie down. Unfortunately, there was much to do.
"Edwin, I need to talk with you about something, it's important." He said with a serious expression. Edwin looked at the young man's-tired face and could see despair behind his hazel brown eyes and immediately softened his attitude.
"Sure, Lucas, let's go out into the hallway. Gentlemen, we will be right back." They walked into the hallway, where surprisingly there was no one around. The quiet felt so good to Lucas's aching head and heart.
"Edwin, I need you know that Elizabeth Thorton will not be joining my campaign. She and I…she and I have ended our engagement." He lowered his gaze not wanting the other man to see the tears forming in his eyes. Edwin stood there in stunned silenced.
Edwin finally found his voice, "Lucas, I do not know what to say. You and Elizabeth, well you seemed so in love; your wedding was just weeks away?"
"Yes, well, Elizabeth's life is in Hope Valley, and she does not have any desire to be a politician's wife. I am on my own." Edwin felt sorry for the young man before him, the campaign had not even started and he had already lost so much. "Edwin, since most people were aware of our engagement I will leave it to you to make some kind of formal announcement that Elizabeth and I have parted. Now, I need to make a private phone call, can you please direct me as to where I can do that."
Edwin showed Lucas where he could make his call, "join us when you are through with your phone call." Edwin said solemnly to him., then he returned to the strategy room to inform the others of what Lucas had just shared with him.
Lucas sat down in the quiet corner of the hotel lobby where the telephone was located. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and asked the operator to connect him to the number written on the paper. The phone rang and was answered by Daniel Sterling. "Good afternoon, Daniel. It's Lucas."
"Lucas, are you calling to tell me you have come to your senses." The older man asked hopefully.
Lucas gave a soft chuckle that held no mirth, "No Daniel, I called to tell you that I accepted the nomination and I'm now actively running for territory Governor of Alberta. I do however need a favor from you."
"I'm listening," said Daniel in a somber tone.
"Although I don't think I have anything to worry about in regards to enemies I may have acquired during my time in service, I do want to be very cautious where Elizabeth Thorton and her son Jack are concerned. Elizabeth and I ended our engagement last night before I left for Capital City. A formal announcement will be made to the press shortly. Despite our break-up, should any of my enemies decide to attempt anything they know the best way to get to me is through Elizabeth. I hope that you will help me and provide Elizabeth with undercover agents as protection at least for now. I will pay their salaries of course."
"Lucas I am very sorry to hear that; I know how much you loved Mrs. Thorton and cherished your life in Hope Valley with her. I can only assume this was not your idea, to end the engagement?
Lucas was silent for a long moment, "No, it wasn't. I will admit I don't think the reality of the situation has truly sunk in yet. But none the less, I need to know she is protected until I am sure there is no danger. I don't want Elizabeth to know any of this, so they need to be very discreet. Will you help me? He asked desperately.
Daniel could feel Lucas's pain. He had known Lucas for 10 years now, he was one of the finest men he had ever had the pleasure of recruiting. A tumbleweed Lucas had called himself, always looking for that place that he would finally fit in. Daniel had thought that Hope Valley was that place and for a while it seemed that he found what he had so greatly desired, a place to call home and a woman that loved him. Daniel was well aware that running for governor was not something Lucas wanted for himself but was selflessly doing it for the town he loved with no regard to his own happiness or safety and it appeared that it had already cost him greatly.
"Yes, I will take care of it." Daniel told him. Lucas breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Daniel, one less thing I have to worry about. I need to get to a strategy meeting. I really appreciate your help."
"Lucas, please don't let your guard down and if you need anything please make sure to call." He told him in no uncertain terms.
"I will." Lucas hung up the phone, and closed his eyes. Elizabeth and Jack were safe and that was truly all that he cared about.
Capital City, Alberta Canada
Friday, October 15, 1920
Lucas sat in his hotel room at the Mount Royal Hotel in Capital City, having a rare night off from a rally or meetings. He stared out the window as he gazed at the city beyond. He had left Hope Valley two weeks before to pursue the governorship to save his town. According to his team, he was gaining on Balfour and they were very encouraged. He had not heard from anyone in Hope Valley, more precisely he had not heard from Elizabeth, which made his heart ache more than he ever thought possible.
He took a sip of his brandy and then picked up the picture of Elizabeth, Jack and himself taken at the last Hope Valley Days Festival. He gently traced their figures with his finger. They were so happy or at least he thought they were. Was it all a lie, everything between them? He just wished he understood why things had turned out as they had. Her haunting words at the train station played on repeat in his mind all the time, "I wish I could give you my whole heart, but I just can't. And you deserve to be with someone who can." What did those words really mean, was her heart still with Jack Sr. or someone else, Nathan perhaps?
There was a knock at the door, Lucas opened the door to Edwin standing on the other side. "Sorry to bother you on your evening off, but there has been a change in plans for tomorrow. May I come in."
"Of course," Lucas told him. "Would you like a sniffer of brandy?"
"No thank you, this won't take long. We received a request from St. Mary's Church in Cooper Springs they would like you to come and speak to the congregation tomorrow morning. They hold a large potluck breakfast on Saturday mornings. They are a very large parish about 15 miles outside of Capital City. The fact that they are requesting you to come is a good sign. John and I will go ahead to Ashford Hills as previously planned and get everything ready for the rally later that afternoon. Joshua will stay back and go to St. Mary's with you. When you finish at St. Mary' the two of you can drive out to Ashford Hills. Any questions? Edwin asked jovially.
"So, I just have to give my standard speech at this potluck breakfast? Lucas asked wearily.
"Yes, but after the speech they would like you to open it up to some questions. It really shouldn't take more than hour and the food should be good. You look like someone who could use a good meal." Edwin said teasingly.
Ignoring Edwin's dig, Lucas said, "that sounds fine. Anything else?" Lucas asked hoping his answer would be no.
"No, that's it." Edwin then caught sight of the picture of Lucas with Elizabeth and Jack, knowing that he had been sitting there brooding over the loss of his little family. "Lucas, are you alright? He asked haltingly, "I mean do you feel OK? You don't look so good right now?"
Lucas chuckled, "Thanks a lot. No need to worry Edwin, I'm fine. I just need to get a good night's sleep. I will see you tomorrow in Ashford Hills. With that, Lucas walked Edwin to the door so he could once again be alone with his memories.
Lucas awoke the next morning but did not feel rested. He had dreamed of Elizabeth but the dreams were of the night at the train station when she had broken their engagement. How he wished he could talk to her, ask her more questions. There was so much he didn't understand. He had told her that he thought something was wrong but he could not put a finger on what it was exactly. He initially thought it was just wedding jitters, but obviously it was more than that. He had made the decision not to reach out to her, maybe with some distance between them she would have the time she needed to sort out what was bothering her. He really needed to give all his attention to the campaign right now, if he didn't win there was a good chance that Hope Valley and the surrounding communities would not survive a second Balfour victory.
Lucas headed down to the hotel lobby where he was to meet Joshua and they would drive to St. Mary's then to Ashford Hills. Lucas saw Joshua sitting in a chair waiting for him. "Good morning, Joshua, all set to go." Lucas asked the young man.
"Yes sir," he answered tiredly. Lucas looked at him suspiciously.
"Joshua, are you alright, you don't look well." Lucas eyed the man who was trying to be upbeat but was failing miserably.
"I'm fine sir, it's just that my stomach seems a bit off this morning, must have been something I ate last night."
"Joshua, I think you should stay back today. I will be fine by myself. You need to go back to bed." Lucas told him
"Sir, Edwin will have my head if I don't go with you." He said sincerely.
Lucas laughed, "Don't worry about Edwin, I will talk to him. You just go back to bed. We have a long week, I would rather you be out for just one day, if you push it, it could turn into something worse."
"Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it." The young man looked relieved and headed back up to his room at the hotel.
Lucas was able to find the church without much difficulty despite the rain that was falling relentlessly. His speech was well received and the questions had been encouraging. Over all he was very happy with this stop, plus the breakfast was delicious just as Edwin had promised. It felt good to sit with the people and just talk of simple things has he used to do in Hope Valley. It almost felt like he was back there and a peace that he hadn't felt in weeks came over him. He stayed much longer than he should have, but it was a temporary balm to his soul that he desperately needed.
As Lucas left the church, the rain was still falling although much lighter. He knew with all the rain the roads to Ashford Hills would be a mess and his drive would take longer than expected. He set out hoping he would not encounter too many problems.