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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love

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Chapter Fifty-nine

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Monday of Wedding Week

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Part I

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Not only did Nathan let Allie sleep in on this Monday morning of his Wedding week, he was also determined to ride Newton before he went into work early.

It was hard to say whether it was the look Newton had given him when they cantered back into Hope Valley or the Chief Inspector just feeling guilty on his own, but either way, he took the time to explain to Newton, about his new office, leaving him in front of it for at least a few of the morning hours, so his horse would feel included in this new endeavor of theirs.

Because in the Mounties, your horse stayed with you, and if you got promoted, so did your horse!

And these two had been such a strong duo for so long, Nathan wasn't about to let anything come between them…

Upstairs in his office, the Chief Inspector was leafing through his tentative schedule for the day when his secure line rang.

"Good morning, Christian. You're in awfully early!"

"Yes, and just as I suspected, so are you, Chief! But wanted to give you a heads up, it's looking like the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner are leaning toward pulling the plug on Hargreaves by end of day tomorrow, as they both will be traveling to your Wedding that evening."

"I really appreciate them and their spouses making all that effort! Have there been any new developments with HG since we spoke Saturday?"

"Apparently, according to our field teams, he's acting rather erratic and panicked over the CS arrests. Basically, we're afraid the longer we leave him out in the field, the more damage he'll cause, and as you noted, we already have more than enough on him."

"Also, whatever Marius gives us regarding him, we can always add as extra charges."

"Good point! Nathan, I hate to ask you because I know you discussed this with Deputy Commissioner Blevins. Still, the truth is, between us, it feels like he might not have picked up on everything, and I wanted to get your perspective one last time just to be sure before I approach him about it."

"Of course, let me pull my notes just to make certain we cover every tiny detail, but the truth is I've gone over and over it because it upset Elizabeth so. Also, because HG wasn't really making sense if you pieced what he said to the DC, Bill, and me vs what he said to Elizabeth. And don't forget Emily was there for much of what he said to her. Though she purposely kept herself in the kitchen for part of it, she still heard it all."

"Did HG really come out and say that the journals were to protect Jack's reputation?"

"Not to us, but yes, he did to Elizabeth, more than once, actually. He was definitely playing 'good cop' with her as Jack's hero. The problem is, little did he realize Elizabeth is much too smart for that! I can tell you he tied it all back to Jack's death and the men he lost, blaming the spouses and parents for pushing this narrative that their sons' deaths were Jack's fault, with them threatening to take it all to court. He then said he wanted to get ahead of it all, as taking it to court would supposedly tie his hands unless he was able to find something in Jack's journals that would absolve him. When you and I both know he really wanted to destroy any incriminating evidence Jack had left against him! And therein lies yet another hole. Any court case brought would be military and not civil."

"Correct. But what are you getting at, Chief?"

"HG, among others, controls the military tribunals. I know, as he has had me at the end of his tribunal gun more than once. So, my question is this: what recourse does a layperson actually have in this matter?"

"It's an excellent question! In the past, they were just told that there was not enough to warrant a tribunal of our military officers who made those decisions. Like you are implying, I have never once known of a military matter being taken successfully to a civilian court. At least not here to date!"

"And therein lies the problem, Christian! Like we knew all along, we have just proven HG is bluffing, but why? What could those journals possibly contain that we aren't seeing? I think HG is trying to find incriminating documentation that Jack had gathered on him, but Bill and I have combed through all of his journals, with each of us doing separate cross-reviews on all of them - multiple times, too, and there's just nothing in there we can use!"

Suddenly, it came to Nathan.

"Christian, I've got to locate my old desk and literally take it apart on the off-chance Jack documented any previous questions about nefarious activity with HG. I've combed my old office thoroughly previously and came up with nothing. But I never thought to take that rickety old desk apart, mostly because it was already falling apart! I've also got to go back through Jack's trunk of belongings again. He didn't keep those four letters in his journals because they weren't secure since the journals themselves weren't found on him, not even the current one he was using at the time of his death. I just know he kept those letters of his, which were his most critical documentation against HG, somewhere on his person. I have combed that trunk time and time again, except for tearing the things inside it apart! Can I get back with you later this morning?"

"Yes, Chief! Go now if you can, and I'll wait to hear from you. Actually, going through the desk you two shared is a great idea! Anything you can find, even from that long ago prior to Jack leaving on assignment, just further augments our case. But, as you know, locating those four letters of documentation that we believe still exist, especially since they appear to be the object of HG's desire and fruitless search, well, as you know, that's critical!"

"Agreed, Christian. And I refuse to stop until I find those letters! I want Jack's name cleared once and for all!"

"You find those letters, and they'll create a new medal of medals for you, Chief!" teased Christian, though half-seriously.

"This has nothing to do with a medal, Christian, certainly not for me! Except that maybe Jack should be given one posthumously!"

"Not a bad idea! Though, if you pull this off, I assure you, you won't be getting out of one either, plus a bunch of accolades! Technically, a promotion would be in order as well in normal circumstances, given the importance of all this, but not since you are already at the top, Sir! And I must say, we at Headquarters are all thrilled that you are! Hey, the truth is, these letters are our golden ticket, Chief."

"That they are, Christian!"

"With them, we arrest our contemptible Superintendent for the murder of Corporal Jack Thornton and his men who died alongside him…"

Realizing exactly what he had to do, Nathan grabbed his hat and prepared to leave his office when Alex walked in and saluted.

"Good morning, Chief Inspector! Your daily itinerary, Sir!"

"At ease, Special Sergeant! Thank you, but my day just got upended. I have to conduct an emergency search for the DC. Can you instruct the men to pull everything we have on the Union City Burglary cases when they arrive?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"I found new information Saturday, and I want to update them as soon as I return. Meaning as soon as there is time after I return, as I know I'll have to be conferencing with Headquarters regarding the results of this urgent matter, as soon as I have our answer."

"Good luck, Sir!"

"Absolutely! Maintiens le Droit! One other thing, Alex. Jacques might not be able to do this with his twisted ankle, so if not, don't let him push it. But can at least you and Peyton meet the train and oversee the secure transport of files coming in on the 9 AM train from Cape Fullerton and the 10 AM train from Vancouver? Also, please ask the Station Master to call you when any of the other deliveries from throughout Canada arrive. If he can give you a schedule of all arrivals in advance, or even partially for now, that would be all the better. Then you can schedule your work around that." (*131)

"Consider it done, Sir!"

"And Alex, if Staff Sergeant McKenzie arrives for our appointment before I can make it back here to the office, please ask if he can go straight to the Hotel to get lunch, and I'll meet him there as soon as possible to eat with him!"

"Yes, Sir! Can I help you in any way, Chief?"

"Can you see if the Judge is back from rounding?"

"He's not downstairs, so let me call the RCMP Office, Sir!"

Alex used his direct line to Finn, which Bill answered.

"Judge Avery, this is Special Sergeant O'Reilly, your Honor! The Chief needs to speak with you if you have a moment."

"Well, I'll be! I was tryin' to track the man down, myself. Put him on, Alex!"

Alex handed the phone to his Chief.

"Bill, I have an urgent question! Do you know what happened to my desk?"

"What desk?"

"The one you and I have shared over the last 5, almost 6 years, which happens to be the same desk Jack used!"

"Great day! Why didn't we think of that, Son? I mean, I know our documents aren't there, but no tellin' what else we might find!"

"Exactly, Bill! Any idea where the actual desk could be given our recent remodel?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, this a little embarrassin', Son! Especially since you are always accusin' me of tamperin' with government equipment, but Nathan, you and I both know that desk was ready for the fire pile!"

"You know where it is?"

"I do! Just don't yell at me or tell Hal! And I mean it!"

"Alright, I'll cover you, but only because we really need it!"

"I took it to my rowhouse because it was ours, and it was Jack's, and I just couldn't bear to see it thrown away or torched!"

"Bill, I could hug you! Can we go there right now?"

"You betcha, Son!"

"Stay put at the RCMP, and we can ride our horses there together, then head to Elizabeth's and back this way…"

Inside Bill's rowhouse, Bill led Nathan up to his extra bedroom.

"I planned to refinish the desk but just haven't had the time," explained Bill. "So, it's still up here in my extra room, where it will at least stay dry!"

But suddenly, it dawned on Nathan.

"That bottom drawer on the right-hand side always stuck. Did you ever notice that?"

"Yeah, come to think of it, that thing drove me crazy! Let's start there."

Nathan watched as Bill removed all the other drawers from the desk and stacked them to the side, making their job easier while also prepping the drawers for cleaning.

"Is that bottom right drawer that hard to remove?" asked Nathan.

"Yep, sure can't get it by myself! We might need a crowbar!"

"You have one?"

"Nope."

"Then there's got to be another way. Let me see!"

After inspecting it, Nathan tugged on it in the hopes that the drawer might budge, but there was no movement at all.

"Bill, have you got an extra bar of soap or a white candle close by? Or even some oil from the kitchen?"

"Sure, which is best?"

"Any oil is going to be quickest," he answered, taking off his Serge Jacket as Bill was running down his stairs.

In a few minutes, Bill had some cooking oil and handed it to Nathan with a dishrag to apply it.

"Here you go, Son!"

Nathan slid under the right side of the desk and liberally applied the oil to the metal rails. Then, he jarred the drawer loose from the bottom as much as he could, quickly sliding his shirted torso out from under the desk.

"Let's give it a couple of minutes. Bill, did you look under those drawers you've already taken out?"

"Not yet! Had my mind on our monster drawer, here, Son!"

"Might want to do that while I get this one loose."

Bill turned over the first couple of drawers without success, but underneath the third drawer, there was something.

"Hmph! Looks like a list of dates, and it's in Jack's writin'. But I don't see anythin' to explain what they're for."

Nathan pulled out the bottom right drawer, although he was still having some difficulty.

With one final yank, plus the oil, it came out flying!

Bill whistled as Nathan grinned up at him, holding the prize in his hand.

"A stuffed brown envelope, Bill! No wonder we could never open the thing!"

"What is it, Son?"

Nathan removed the contents and flipped through the many pages.

"Looks like a complete file, and check this out: SAH, for Superintendent Andrew Hargreaves, is marked on every single page, along with a date! Bill, let me see those dates that you just removed from under that other drawer."

Nathan looked at both to quickly correlate.

"They match!"

"But why would Jack keep a separate list of matchin' dates, Nathan?"

"I think the list you found was his original log to jog his memory to document at the end of the day or whenever he got time. That would be my guess because, look, he's checked them all off except the very last one, and there's an entry here for all of them except that last date."

"But what are they sayin'?"

"Every single one of them is something Jack is concerned about, something that's odd, something he's questioning why his Superintendent did whatever it was. He definitely kept a log as far back as before his Northern Territories assignment. And this is clearly that log, Bill! Jack suspected HG way back then of crooked dealings. Look how thick this file is. Each entry will have to be researched to get more detail, but hey, this can't hurt us at all, and it may really help. In fact, my gut says this log will definitely augment what we already know and possibly lead us in a few new directions, as well!"

"It just makes me so doggone angry, Nathan! How has this man gotten by with all his dastardly deeds for so long?"

"Sadly, that's a question that's going to have to be thoroughly investigated and resolved within the Mounties so that this can never happen again with anyone else, Bill! But this one's days are very finitely numbered. I'm at least glad we've got this! But we've got a lot more to do! A more urgent matter."

"What do you mean, Son?"

"Tragically, Jack was killed before he could ever return to Hope Valley to hide any more incriminating evidence in his desk. For Jack, you and I are the two who have to finish this, Bill! We have to find those four letters, and we have to find them today, as Headquarters is getting close to an arrest, like before the end of the day tomorrow."

"But can't they add the charges these documents would incur after?"

"Absolutely, but the charges Jack mentioned regarding his letters are HG's most serious ones to date, and with Jack's explicit documentation, I'd prefer to lead with them as justice for what, in all intents and purposes, are his and his men's murders, since HG decided not to protect his own men when Jack was clearly begging for it."

Solemnly, they turned to retreat down the stairs from Bill's rowhouse.

This was personal like nothing ever before to both of these men.

But at the door downstairs, Nathan stopped him.

"Bill, let's think about this for a minute and review one final time. We knew the letters couldn't possibly be here. That was a given, but we still found new data, and that's always a good thing. Sometimes, in our biggest disappointment of not knowing exactly what we've uncovered lies our greatest clue!"

"What do you mean, Son?"

"I mean, we both are beyond livid that Jack and his men died at HG's hand, but today, from this find, Jack's voice lives again. Jack was great at what he did, and his work is not going to be in vain, not when our brother has paid the ultimate price. But whether all of this pans out as being significant or not, we're closer to Jack's letters. I can feel it. Let's sit a minute and think this through logically because I believe I know where they are."

And with heavy hearts but uplifted hope, the two men did just that.

Then Nathan spoke in a hushed, reverent tone, logically recapping what they knew.

"Jack went into Hargreaves Office that Monday night after he had scoped out the mountain to see if it was safe for his mission, reporting to HG that the mission was indeed not safe. HG, in turn, taunted his Corporal. So Jack left to write four letters explaining the situation: one to Hargreaves, one to his Chief Superintendent, one to the Deputy Commissioner, and one to the Commissioner. But days passed, and Jack got no answer from any of them. So, when he realized nothing was going to be forthcoming, he entered HG's office one night after he left and found out why his letters had not been answered. HG had clearly intercepted all four of the letters and tossed them undistributed on top of a book on his bookshelf. Jack took the four letters he himself had written and removed them from the office, intending to attach them to the back of his journal for safekeeping according to his own words."

"Okay, I think I see where you are going with this."

"Yes, Jack had second thoughts. Bill, there's no way Jack could have entrusted securing his journal on a mission as dangerous as this one. That's why he didn't attach the letters to it, which would have been left either in his office or the quarters where he was staying where anyone could have accessed them. And Jack realized that on second thought. His only option to secure them was to keep the letters on his person."

"But how?"

Nathan thought for a moment, though he felt sure of the direction in which he was proceeding.

"The most secure place on his body."

"Which was?"

"Bill, did you ever play Cowboy and Indians when you grew up?"

"Of course I did! But I don't see what in the world that has to do with anything related to Jack Senior! Little Jack, maybe!"

"Well, humor me. I was always the Cowboy, while my sister always played the part of the beautiful Indian Princess who was actually a warrior in disguise. And she was vicious too in her role, but that's a story for another day!"

Bill nodded, now clearer about what Nathan was implying.

"When I needed to hide something from her, like a secret message or a code that would give her a win, I simply peeled back the inner sole of one of my cowboy boots and slipped whatever the message or code was under it, then resecured my leather sole cover. Now, my sister was really great at finding whatever clues I had, and yes, many times, she made me take off my boots and looked inside them. But she never once peeled that inner sole back to discover what I had successfully hidden. We need Jack's boots, Bill. Though some would say the lining of his Stetson, but the Stetson is too risky as it can fall off, blow away, etc. Jack would have quickly thought of that. But those Mountie boots, they are on to stay through thick and thin. And when the worst happens, those boots remain on our bodies and are returned to our loved ones. They are the sturdiest part of our uniform, Bill and they are there to protect us in more ways than one!"

"Let's go, Son…"

Nathan knocked on the door of Elizabeth's rowhouse.

"Baby! Oh, sorry! Hi, Bill!"

"Elizabeth!" nodded Bill with an approving smile, loving to see his couple in love.

"Hi, Love! We hate to bother you," Nathan explained. But we need your help, Lizbeth!"

"What is it that you need, Love?"

"We need to go through Jack's trunk one last time, specifically his boots."

"His boots? But why? I'm sorry, of course, you shall have his boots, for whatever reason you need them, as well as whatever else you need. Do you need the whole trunk or just the boots?"

"My hunch says just the boots! That should be a much easier place to start. If I'm wrong, we'll need to move to the other items."

"Oh, I just remembered Hargreaves had a super hard time with the lock. Why don't you both come upstairs in case it gets stuck again? But do you mind if Julie and I run? Rosemary insists we meet with her about our wedding, and she's waiting at The Queen of Hearts. Why, I have no clue since everything possibly needed has been done!"

"Of course, Babe!"

"Sure thing, Elizabeth! You go on, we can handle this," agreed Bill, shooing her out, as Nathan simply nodded, not at all sure he wanted to see the bedroom his fiancée had shared with her first husband."

"Bye, Love! I hope you two find what you need," Elizabeth said, reaching up to kiss her fiancé.

"Thanks, Lizbeth, for letting us barge in," he winked after having kissed her back.

"With you two, it's never barging! This is your home, too, Love! Julie, I'm ready if you are!"

"Just rinsing my coffee cup. Be right there, Sis!"

Of course, Nathan had caught glimpses of Elizabeth's and Jack Senior's master bedroom before when taking Jack to bed or tucking him in. Yet, intentionally, he had never really focused on it. Sure, part of him was maybe a little curious, but out of respect, he felt it was too personal and, perhaps for him, too painful to see.

But now, he was focused on their task at hand, and it was a very important one.

"You, alright, Son?" asked Bill at the top of the steps.

Nathan nodded but not very convincingly.

"Absolutely no guilt, Nathan, you hear me?"

Nathan nodded once more.

This wasn't about guilt. Or was it? Was there always going to be a guilt component that he was here and Jack wasn't?

No! Logically, Nathan knew he had no control over what had happened. That there was no justified reason for any guilt because of a choice he made about arresting cattle rustlers, which had been the right choice, the only thing a good Mountie could have done given the circumstances! He knew deep down the real answer to the question of whether he would have died instead of Jack was an unknown, especially since who was to say what he would have done given the same circumstances had he been able to take that assignment, which had originally been his?

He knew he had not caused Jack to go in his place. However, he had guilted himself over that very thing all this time. No, that was an administrative decision he had completely and vociferously disagreed with, and even so, it had always been completely out of his hands. He now also knew the tragic set of circumstances wouldn't have probably existed at all had he been the first to come to Hope Valley – no, the blame was on the Mounties, and more and more they realized it lay at one Superintendent's feet.

Yet the whole dual situations that seemed to overlap had set off a vicious cascade of events that had tragically impacted so many.

But in reality, had Nathan ever had the power to change any of it? No, not once. Not a single time.

Deep down, he knew from what Bill had told him Jack would have done the exact same thing and captured those Cattle Rustlers just like he had done, suspension or no suspension, which took everything back to that second beginning.

And now given that he should have been the one to have gone to Coal Valley, there appeared to be an earlier first beginning as well, going all the way back to when Colleen had passed. He had not caused nor wanted Colleen to die and instead would have gladly taken her place – as losing her had been the most devastating loss of his life. Had his beloved sister not died, did that mean he most likely would have, or very well could have died himself, given this incongruous hand fate had so similarly dealt on two very diverse episodes, but both involving death?

How complicated and convoluted it had all become, but as difficult as all that was, wasn't that life?

Could fate even be debated?

It most certainly couldn't be changed at this late date.

And most of it couldn't be changed period, not in these cases.

He shook his head, trying to shake himself out of this remembering, this reviewing all over again – the melancholia it seemed to always bring for everyone, but particularly him.

He went straight to the closet where Elizabeth kept the trunk.

Surprisingly he opened the trunk without a problem, and there were Jack's boots inside.

"We desperately need these letters, God!" he prayed aloud.

"Please, God," Bill added, then motioned for Nathan to unlace the worn brown boots. "Help us help Jack!"

Nathan checked the first gusset behind the laces of Jack's boot, though he doubted they would be there, as that gusset was required for mobility, and letters deposited there would greatly impair that capability.

He checked the smaller side gusset, though he was even more sure it would likely not fit there.

And then he ran his big hand down the calf of the boot, feeling the inner leather sole.

Normally, it was glued to the bottom of the boot, but what if it wasn't?

Sure enough, he felt the inner sole slide ever so slightly, causing his heart to speed up.

He jiggled the leather piece back and forth, being careful not to damage anything.

And then he knew.

It wasn't from the heel.

Jack had somehow lifted it from the toe of the boot, instead lifting from the front to the back while leaving the heel of the boot firmly in place.

"Bill, this is so smart. He lifted the toe of the boot's inner sole so no one could tell from the heel, which is more visible."

"But is there something there?"

"I believe so! I'm not going to cut anything, but I need to slide my knife under the inner flap of leather and follow the path he has already made in order to re-loosen it. It's been a long time, and it's stuck back together somewhat."

Nathan carefully maneuvered the loosened portion of the flap by feel only, unable to see what he was doing.

Suddenly, the flap loosened further, and he felt the edge of paper under it with his index finger!

"Bill, it's here! This has to be it. I have to peel the leather back with a shimmy of my fingers because I don't want to damage these boots in any way. They are way too important to both Elizabeth and Jack and me, too, if I'm being completely honest!"

It took some maneuvering, but Nathan finally had two sheets of paper between his thumb and index finger.

As he pulled them out, he could clearly see they were Jack's letters to Hargreaves and the Chief Superintendent. They had been folded into thirds and had pretty much run the length of Jack's boot.

"I can't believe this! We've got two down and two to go, Son! But do you mind doin' the second one, too, since you know how better than me?" asked Bill.

"Sure! Maybe this one will be looser."

He started the same way, but for some reason, the leather was more worn and removed much more easily.

"Jack's walk – his left foot was heavier than his right."

"How do you know that?" asked Bill. "Because you're exactly spot on!"

"This left leather insole is much more worn than with the right boot. I can tell it even by feel."

Nathan didn't have to work as hard for this one.

"And here are the other two letters – to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. Thanks to Jack, we have our evidence, Bill! All of it!"

"Yes, thanks to Jack, who wrote, reacquired, and saved the evidence, but those letters could have stayed there forever and would have had it not been for you! Thanks to your genius, Son, Jack's evidence is now discovered and uncovered, and because of you doin' that, it is you who are bringin' his killer and his men's killer to justice. It doesn't get better than this, Nathan. And it doesn't get more right than this! The two of you together, Nathan, solved this case across the Great Divide, and for some strange reason, that was meant to be."

Bill paused, completely choked up.

"But now, you are gonna listen to me, and you are gonna listen to me good, Nathan Grant. I have loved you both and love you both still, like my own flesh and blood, my own two sons. And this mornin', I am speakin' from my first son to my second son. Both of you know unequivocally that there is no guilt here to be had, never was, and never will be. Both of you love Elizabeth with all your heart and all your bein', and both of you are fathers to Little Jack, pure and simple. And as bizarre as that is, for some strange reason, that's exactly as it's supposed to be. And we aren't leavin' this room till you get that, and I mean really get that. Understood, Son?"

Bill directed Nathan to sit on the edge of Elizabeth's bed, where he bowed his head, placing his elbows on his knees, while running his hands through his hair, needing a few quiet moments with this man who had been a father to both him and Jack.

"You have two choices here, Son. You believe the truth which I'm tellin' you, and you fill the magnificent destiny that you are supposed to be fillin' with happiness and love for all these people who love and depend on you, all of whom you love like life itself. Or…you refuse to believe the absolute truth and let the devil create his own version of the truth, and you buy into that lie, hook, line, and sinker and keep on bein' miserable over this the rest of your life! Which, by the way, you had and have zero control over, and in doin' so, you hurt all the people you love most in this world, includin' me. Believe me, Nathan, this manufactured guilt damages not only you but Elizabeth, Allie, and Jack, too. Not to mention Jack Senior or yourself! We're stayin' in here till you are clear on your choice, and then whatever it is, we walk out this door together, united!"

Bill stopped talking and sat down by Nathan, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.

They sat that way for about five minutes until, finally, the last of the weight lifted, and Nathan raised his head.

"I'm ready, Bill, and I'm choosing to accept the truth just as you outlined it, from this moment till the day I die and beyond. Let's go get justice for Jack and for all of us!"

"That's my boy…"

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131. "Maintiens le Droit," The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Motto, first advocated in 1873 and adopted two years later; translated from French to English to say 'maintain the right,' or 'uphold the right.' Public Domain Information.