Chapter 358 – Troublemakers
Jack leaned on his desk and took several deep breaths. It was not how he had seen the night going and that was upsetting to him. While the dance had been enjoyable, he hadn't gotten to dance with his wife. It had been nice seeing and talking to people, but it was also upsetting with how disconnected he felt from the community. The twins were a month old and he had barely been back at work and now he was going to be gone for a couple of weeks again. As much as he didn't want to go to Hamilton, he knew that he had too.
What Jack really wanted was to get back into a routine where he went on rounds and actually knew the people that were in his community. There had been more faces that he didn't recognize then those that he did at the dance. The more he thought about it wasn't that he didn't recognize them, it was that he couldn't greet them by name. He used to know everyone in Hope Valley and pretty much exactly what each person needed. He knew that with growth that it would happen, but he didn't think it would happen so fast.
As Jack stood there thinking, he was aware that someone had come into his office from the other room. He took a deep breath and tried to school his features as he turned around to see what the person wanted. Jack turned to see Bill there.
"Yes." Jack said.
"There is a father of two of the boys here asking for you." Bill said.
"Who is it?" Jack asked.
"Glen Parker." Bill said. "He is the father of the boy who challenged you back at the saloon and said his father said he could drink and smoke. We also have his fifteen year old brother here."
"Give me a moment and I will be out." Jack said.
"Just letting you know he is not happy." Bill said.
"Well that makes two of us." Jack said, his voice and appearance taking on an icy tone. "I don't appreciate people who think that they are above the law and then whine and complain when they are caught. I especially don't appreciate parents who tell their children that they don't have to listen to us."
"Whoa." Bill said. "I am on your side. I understand your frustrations, but you can't speak to him like that."
"The hell I can't." Jack said. "I am sick of being disrespected around here because there are so many new people and I don't personally know each and everyone of them."
Bill walked over and put his hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Do you want me to handle it?" Bill said. "Technically it is a town issue and I am the Sheriff. I get that the Mounties arrested the boys, but I can say that it was under my orders."
Jack took a deep breath.
"No, but thank you." Jack said. "I will deal with him, but I am not letting his boys off Scot-free because he thinks they can skirt the law because he says so."
"Then take a breath and we can go out together." Bill said.
Jack took another deep breath, but it did little to calm him down. He nodded to Jack and they headed to the main part of the office.
"I am Corporal Thornton and this is my station. How can I help you?"
"I want my boys released right now." The man demanded.
"What is your name and the boys' names?" Jack asked with a calm but icy tone.
"I am Glen Parker and you have my boys Theodore and James. I want them released right now, they did nothing wrong."
Jack took a deep breath and took a step forward. His hands were clasped behind his back so he didn't ball them up into fists ready for a fight.
"That is where you are mistaken." Jack said. "Theodore was arrested for providing tobacco to a minor and James was arrested for being a minor in possession of tobacco. There is a five dollar fine for each boy. You and they have to sign paperwork acknowledging they understand the consequences of their actions and that they will pay the fine within two weeks or they will be arrested and held until double the fine is paid."
"Theodore is seventeen and James will be sixteen by Christmas." Glen said. "They are old enough to work, they are old enough to be treated like men and they have my permission to do so."
"Well, I don't care what you gave them permission to do." Jack said. "The law is clear and I am well within my rights to arrest them. Minors under the age of sixteen are not permitted to have tobacco in public and those caught with it are subject to arrest and fines, as are the people who gave or sold it to them."
"I am not paying any fine and I want my boys released down." Glen said, in a more demanding tone.
"If you refuse to sign the paperwork and/or pay the fine." Jack said. "They boys can sit in the jail until the work off the fine doing work for the town under the direct supervision of the Mounties or Sheriff Avery. And since I am leaving again for two weeks, it could be the end of the month before that happens. No work, no school, nothing until the paperwork is signed and the fine is paid."
"You can't do that." Glen protested.
"I can and will." Jack said. "Don't try me. There are laws around here and they will be followed. Also I am a member of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police and have earned at least a minimum of respect because of the serge I wear. Just because I am not in uniform, doesn't change anything. Your boys have been disrespectful and challenged my authority. That will not be tolerated. And you are not doing yourself any favors right now challenging me. You and your son work at the mine, right?"
"Yes, what does that matter?" Glen said.
"Because." Bill said, stepping forward. "I have spoken to the owner of the mine and he personally asked Corporal Thornton and myself to report to him if we had any problems with his employees. He doesn't want people working for him that cause us problems or create problems in Hope Valley. Mr Yeager understands that this community can only function well if people respect each other and work together. Right now you and the boys behind us are not showing they understand that. People who think they are above the law don't last long. As a former Mountie Sr Inspector, I have arrested many men with your attitude. The law always catches up to you."
Rune stepped up to the other side of Jack, but Jack put his hand on the boy's arm, so Rune didn't speak, but just glared down at the man.
"So what is it going to be?" Jack asked.
"I will sign the paperwork." Glen said. "But this isn't over, I am reporting you to your superiors. I know people."
"If you want to report us." Rune said, lowering his voice even more than normal. "You can speak to the Deputy Commissioner tomorrow at church. Not that it will do you any good, he was there when your boys were arrested."
"Where is he?" Glen demanded. "I said I want to speak to the man in charge."
"Even if he was here." Dee said. "You would still need to speak to Corporal Thornton. This is his station and the Deputy Commissioner is not going to over step by pulling rank unless it is absolutely necessary. Now if you want to file a complaint, you can go to Union City and speak to Superintendent Upton. But he is going to tell you the same thing. We were well within our rights to enforce the laws of this land and if you have a problem with it, then you can move somewhere else."
"Here is the paperwork." Bill said. "Read it carefully and sign both copies for each boy."
Glen snatched the paperwork from Bill and barely glanced over it before scrawling his name at the bottom of each copy. Rune brought the two boys to the desk. Bill handed them each their paperwork.
"Sign both copies." Bill said.
"You understand what is going to happen if you don't pay or get caught again." Jack asked.
"Yeah, whatever." Theodore said.
"Yes." James said.
"Who do we pay?" Glen said.
"You need to come into the office and pay the fine within two weeks." Bill said.
Glen didn't say anything, but just turned and stormed out of the office. His boys quickly followed him. Once the door had slammed shut, Bill looked at Jack.
"They are going to be trouble."
"Pretty much count on it." Jack said.
"James has been one of the boys causing trouble at the schoolhouse." Rune said.
"Not surprised." Bill said.
"Jack, Dee." Joe said. "Why don't you two go? We can handle the rest. You both have had a long day and also have tomorrow."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I will see you all at church."
"We will be there." Joe said. "Now go."
Jack and Dee left, heading to the saloon first to make sure everything was alright before going to the livery to get their horses. They saw that Wynn had already left since Balder wasn't there. Jack was glad that Wynn had left and not waited for them. While it wasn't super late, it was getting there. Jack felt that since Wynn was technically on vacation he deserved to get some rest.
The two men were half way home when Dee reached over and stopped Jack for a moment.
"Are you really okay?" Dee asked.
"Just frustrated." Jack said. "I feel so disconnected from everyone. I noticed the last week or so catching up on paperwork, but it was very evident tonight at the dance. There were more people who I really didn't know then I did know. I have noticed it at church the last couple weeks as well, but for some reason it really hit home tonight. When Carson rushed to help, I didn't even know the little girl or her parents. It hit me how much I have missed."
"It will get better." Dee said. "Once you are back from Hamilton and back into the routine of working most days. You will start to get to know the people who have arrived. At least Carson was there to save the girl."
"Yes." Jack said. "But I still feel bad. It feels like I haven't worked for so much of the year. I feel like I have been out more than I have been in the office. I feel bad that it seems like Joe is always here covering for me. I feel like he can't do his job and connect with his own community since he is here so much. I wonder if I am hurting his career more than helping it. I know that your dad won't play favorites, but I can't help thinking that being associated with me is holding not only Joe, but Doug back. I think that is why Doug is considering the assignment up North."
"First." Dee said. "Joe loves it here. The kids love him and from the reports I have seen, he is doing just fine in Benson Hills. Second, you are not holding either of those two back. You can't say anything, but I know for a fact that Doug is in line for a promotion next year. The official paperwork hasn't cleared Dad's desk, but I do know that he was on a list of potential promotions."
"Why Doug and not Joe?" Jack asked. "Joe and I graduated together, whereas Doug was a year behind."
"Despite his commanding officer." Dee said. "Doug did a lot down in the Lethbridge area. When it was looked into more, several arrests that were credited to his superior were actually Doug's. Including two bank robbers and an escaped prisoner. In addition to his willingness to stand up against what he felt was wrongful treatment of him and others, Captain Taylor felt he deserved a promotion."
"Oh." Jack said.
"Some men go years and are never promoted." Dee said. "I have been a Constable longer than you and you outrank me. It is mainly because I have spent the majority of my time working for Dad. I am fine with it. Would I like to move up and maybe be an inspector one day? Yes, but that is not what Dad needs right now."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I promise I won't say anything. Now, we should get home. I am sure they are wondering where we are."
Dee nodded and the two men rode the rest of the way home in silence. Jack was thinking and there was so much more that he wanted to ask Dee, but chose not to at the moment.
… … … …
When Jack and Dee got into the house, Elizabeth and Wynn were feeding the twins in the living room.
"Where are Annie and Mom?" Dee asked.
"Annie went to sleep early." Elizabeth said. "She said she was tired and Carson had told her to get plenty of rest. Your mother just went upstairs. We were just finishing up feeding the twins again."
"Again?" Jack said.
"I fed them when I got home." Elizabeth said. "But both were hungry again, so we made up the bottles for them."
"Got it." Jack said.
"The load of diapers are done and drying." Wynn said. "I was going to finish feeding Amber and head to be myself."
"I can feed her if you want to head up." Jack said.
"It is okay." Wynn said. "Go wash up. She is almost done."
"Thank you." Jack said. "See you in the morning."
Jack headed to his room.
"I guess I am going to head up as well." Dee said.
"Goodnight." Elizabeth said.
Dee nodded to his father and cousin before heading up. Wynn and Elizabeth finished feeding the twins. As Elizabeth took the twins to her room, Wynn rinsed the bottles and made sure the house was closed up.
… … … …
Carson lead Issac into see his wife and child. This was part of the job that Carson loved. He loved bringing new life into the world and while he was a very gifted surgeon, it was the children that he loved. He had considered going into women's health, but his father and grandfather told him he was a surgeon and that was that. Carson realized that he was really going to love Hope Valley if he could treat mother's and help bring their children into the world. He had to admit that he missed surgery, but at the same time he loved what he was doing.
Issac froze when he saw his wife and son laying in the bed.
"You can go sit with her." Carson said. "I would suggest that you let them rest, but some bonding time is fine."
"Thank you." Issac said. "My wife lost two after Jessica. She thinks I don't know, but I do. So to have that little one here is amazing."
"Does he have a name?" Carson asked. "She hasn't said anything."
"I don't know." Issac said. "We never talked about a boy's name. She was convinced it was another girl."
"Go talk with your wife." Carson said. "Hold your son. You can let us know. There is no rush. We will be around."
Issac went to sit next to his wife. He smiled at her and gently picked up his son. Carson smiled and went back to making notes in the chart. Faith and Robin were cleaning everything up. Carson was glad that things had worked out, but he also knew that it was going to be an ongoing issue of people not coming in because either they couldn't pay or they didn't trust the medical professional. He knew that he had work to do.
After a few moments, Carson turned and saw Robin sitting having a quick cup of tea.
"Join me." Carson said.
Robin came over and joined Carson.
"So before you said it was money that held you back?" Carson said.
"Yes." Robin said. "My husband is not a good man and neither is his brother. It is why Carol and I took the children and fled. Emmett saw what his brothers were doing and Bridget convinced him to flee as well. Emmett and Robin took all the children and fled first. Carol and I said that they had taken the children to see the grandparents. Three days later, Carol and I fled in the middle of the night. A week later we met up with Emmett, Bridget and the children. We made our way across the country, working where we could and keeping our heads down."
"Why did you stay here?" Carson asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
"We were running low on money and supplies." Robin said. "It was the first small town that we came to that looked like it had work. We were lucky. Emmett the boys were able to get odd jobs until they were hired on at the mine. We have two houses between the three families and it is fine. Bridget and her daughter Erin are also working as well. My youngest and Carol's are all in school. We have enough to make ends meet now and would like to stay here, but are also fearful of my husband and brother."
"I understand." Carson said. "You said money was a factor."
Robin took a sip of her ginger tea and took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Carson clearly smelled the ginger and his mind started to question all kinds of things.
"Yes." Robin said. "Every time I saved up enough money to get the official license I needed, my husband would find the money and take it. He would drink and gamble it away."
"Sorry." Carson said. "Can I ask a few more questions?"
Robin nodded.
"Where did you come from and when did you leave?" Carson asked. "Mostly for my own curiosity, but also maybe I could help."
"We arrive here toward the end of May." Robin said. "So we fled St John's sometime in February. Why all the questions? I doubt that there is much you can do to help."
"Don't take this the wrong way." Carson said. "But if you haven't been with your husband since the beginning of the year, how are you in the family way?"
Robin's eyes got huge, she took a deep breath and ducked her head.