Chapter 1

Capital City, Alberta Canada

Thursday, May 8, 1924

Edwin Mitchell and Henry Gowen were patiently waiting in the governor's office for their 2 p.m. meeting with Lucas. It was now 2:20 p.m. "He does know we had a meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. today?" Edwin asked Henry with annoyance in his voice.

Henry gave Edwin a shrug of his shoulders. "He knows." Henry said succinctly. The truth was since Lucas had become the father of twins sixteen months earlier being on time was now a thing of the past. Henry had to chuckle at how much had changed for Lucas since becoming a full-time parent. Initially Henry had a hard time adjusting to the new way of things but eventually he found ways to work around Lucas's new tardiness, most of the time.

Finally, at 2:20 p.m. Lucas entered his home office with a toddler on his hip. "Sorry gentlemen, but someone did not want to go down for his nap this afternoon." Both men looked at the child in his arms as Lucas sat down at his desk. Matthew at sixteen months looked very much like his father. With his dark hair, thick with curls and those slate blue eyes, he was a charmer.

"I couldn't leave Matthew in the room with Ciara and hope that he would settle down on his own. She was sleeping so soundly I didn't want Matthew waking her up. Mrs. Cleveland is helping her daughter this week and MaKayla is at work so that leaves me in charge." Lucas told his assistants. Lucas took out some blank paper and some crayons hoping Matthew would scribble allowing the men to talk. "So, gentlemen what is so important that we needed to meet today?" Lucas asked questioningly.

"Lucas, a decision needs to made about your running for re-election. The party is calling me 2 and 3 times a day needing an answer." He told him firmly.

"Edwin, you know when I first agreed to run for governor four years ago, I had only one purpose in mind, to save Hope Valley from Balfour plans I have done that; I don't see that I have any reason to continue in this office. As you are well aware I'm not a fan of politicians or politics in general." He told them matter-of-factly.

"Yes, I know. But Lucas as I have told you before; you have a real opportunity here to make some significant changes to the political landscape in Alberta. You have already done so much good." Edwin told him. "Have you discussed this with MaKayla and asked her opinion on running again?" Edwin asked.

Lucas eyed Edwin intently. "No, we have not discussed it. I honestly did not think there was anything to discuss." Lucas told both men. Matthew who had been scribbling happily started wiggling uncontrollably which Lucas knew meant he wanted to be put down. Lucas gently put his son down on the floor, as the toddler gingerly got up on his fat little legs and walked over to Henry.

"Up" the little boy said. Henry smiled at the child.

"You want to come sit on Uncle Henry's lap?" He asked the toddler. Matthew smiled at him. Henry picked up the little boy. Matthew sat on Henry's lap and cuddled in with his head on his chest. Lucas watched this exchange and had a broad smile on his face.

"That boy sure does like you, Henry." Lucas said to his friend. Henry was holding the boy close with a happy grin on his face. Lucas could see that Matthew was finally drifting off to sleep in Henry's arms.

Henry started to speak softer then. "There is something you should know Lucas. Balfour will be getting out of jail next month and he intends to run for Governor. I don't think he has a chance against you. But if you don't run, I'm not sure that the party has anyone in mind who could beat that SOB." He told him honestly. "I'm afraid without you in the race, he will get another opportunity to get his claws into the territory again and who knows what he would do this time around. Not to mention the vendetta he would have against you." Henry said sadly.

Lucas ran his hand down his face. This was disturbing news. "I thought Balfour had a few more years to serve. How is he getting out so soon?" Lucas asked perplexed at the situation.

"Good behavior." Edwin said with an ironic chuckle.

Lucas gazed over at his sleeping son. "Gentlemen, let me put Matthew down in his bed and I will be right back." Lucas got up from his chair and gently lifted his sleeping son out of Henry's arms and walked to the nursery. He needed a moment alone to process the news he just received.

"Do you think this news about Balfour will change his mind?" Edwin asked Henry quizzically.

"I don't know. Lucas had it in his mind, he would be governor for one term and one term only. He is not a politician and despises the games they play. Although in his time in office as governor he has bested them at their own game time and time again." Henry said with pride.

In the nursery, Lucas gently laid his son down and placed a cover over him. "Sleep well little one." He said to his sleeping child. He then went to check on his daughter. Ciara with her blonde curls and green eyes was a real beauty. She was smaller than her brother but just as tough. Matthew knew he was the big brother but Ciara did not let Matthew get away with anything. Lucas gently laughed as he thought that Ciara was certainly her mother's daughter. He gave his sleeping daughter a kiss and left the room.

As he returned to the office, Henry and Edwin stared at him. They appeared to want some kind of answer from him. He sat back down and folded his hands on the desk. "I will admit that Balfour getting out jail and possibly running again for this office does give me some pause." Lucas told them.

"Pause enough to run again?" Edwin asked hopefully.

"I will discuss things with MaKayla and let you know. When is it that the party would like my answer by?" He asked, yet already knowing the answer.

"Monday morning at the latest." Henry told him.

"Thank you both. I will let you know by then." He told them. The men nodded and left him alone. Lucas put his head in his hands. This situation did not make him happy. He wanted to be done with all these political shenanigans. He wanted once again to be a private citizen. He and MaKayla had never discussed it as he honestly didn't think a second term was in his future.

MaKayla walked into the house around 5:30 p.m. that night and went to the library where she heard the sweet sound of laughter. She found her husband on the floor with their two children. Ciara and Lucas were piling blocks on top of each other and then Matthew would knock them all down. This elicited great laughter from the twins. Lucas looked up and saw his wife.

"Look whose home." Lucas told the children. Both children turned around and then went running over to MaKayla. She squatted down to their level, smothering them in kisses.

"Did you have fun with Daddy today?" She asked them. They both said at once "Dada" and pointed at Lucas.

"Yes, we had lots of fun. Although Matthew did give me a hard time about taking a nap today." Lucas said while eyeing his young son. "But he eventually did take one with a little help from Henry." Lucas said with a smile. "How was your day?" He asked.

"I missed all of you, and I thought of all the fun you were having today." She said as she leaned in to kiss her husband. This caused the twins to lean in too and started kissing Lucas as well. Lucas fell back on the floor with the whole family on top of him showering him with kisses.

After dinner and little more play time, MaKayla and Lucas got the twins bathed and ready for bed. Storytime was Mother Goose nursery rhythms which both children liked. Finally, they were down for the night at least that was the hope. Lucas and MaKayla made their way to the library for a little quiet time together.

They sat down on the couch together with MaKayla cuddled in Lucas's embrace. "MaKayla, I do have something to discuss with you. Are you up for a serious discussion?" He asked her nervously.

MaKayla raised her head and turned to looked at him "Yes, please tell me what's on your mind." She asked with trepidation. She did not like the look in her husband's eyes.

"Well, it seems the party wants me to run for re-election." Lucas told her. "How do you feel about that?" He asked her quietly.

"Lucas I think it's more important how you feel about that. I was always under the impression that you only ever planned to serve one term as governor." She told him.

"I never wanted to be in politics, you know that. To be honest you are right I never planned to run for re-election. I thought we would pack up in the fall and move to Hope Valley and live in our beautiful home there. But today Henry and Edwin told me some news that has me reconsidering that decision. Balfour is getting out of jail next month and plans to run for governor again. And the party has no one else that they think can beat him. I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place." He told her sadly.

"Lucas, whatever you want to do, or think you have to do, I will support you. I promise you are not alone, no matter what decision you make." MaKayla told him as she kissed him sweetly.

"I don't want to let Balfour destroy everything I have worked so hard for these last few years. Everything I suffered at the start of this journey would have been for nothing. I just don't know if I can let him win without a fight. Can you accept me being governor for another four years if the people were to re-elect me?" He asked her with apprehension.

MaKayla gently touched his cheek. "The only thing that is important to me is that we are all together as a family, where ever that is. The more important question is can you accept being governor for four more years? Let's think on it over the weekend and we can discuss it again on Sunday night. Deal?" She asked him with a sweet smile.

"Deal, Mrs. Bouchard." He told her and brought her in for a sensuously deep kiss.

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Mother's Day

Sunday, May 11, 1924

"Shh, we need to be quiet," Lucas said to the twins. "You two have the present and I have the breakfast tray. Are you ready to surprise Mommy?" He asked quietly. The twins both nodded their heads. They really had no idea what Mother's Day was about but they enjoyed the surprise aspect of their morning adventure. "Ok, when we go in, I want you to say Happy Mother's Day." Lucas told them. They looked at each other than nodded again.

MaKayla was on the other side of the door, listening to their plan. She was trying very hard to suppress her laughter and just lay there quietly so they would think they had surprised her.

Lucas opened the door. "Surprise! Happy Mother's Day." He said as the twins looked at him quizzically. Lucas just laughed. "Ok, you two. Go give Mommy her present and a great big hug." He told them.

The twins ran over to the bed, at the same time saying "Mama, Mama"

MaKayla opened her eyes, "Oh what a surprise." She told them as the twins giggled and tried to climb onto the bed. Lucas put the tray down on the night table as he lifted Matthew up to put him on the bed and MaKayla lifted up Ciara.

MaKayla fluffed her pillows and sat back as Lucas put the breakfast tray on her lap. "We made you pancakes and bacon for Mother's Day." He told her.

"Yummy" said MaKayla as she ate the delicious breakfast made by her husband. The one meal he could actually cook, she thought with a smile. She finished her breakfast and Lucas took the tray away.

"Now, you can give Mommy her present." He told Matthew who was still holding the gift-wrapped package in his tiny hands. Matthew handed the box to MaKayla.

"Mama." He said with pride. Then both twins clapped their hands in glee.

MaKayla slowly unwrapped the gift. As she took the gift out of the box, her eyes welled up with tears. "Oh Lucas, this is beautiful." She said as she leaned over to give him a kiss. "Come here you two and give Mommy a big kiss. Did you help Daddy make this?" She asked the toddlers who nodded in agreement. "Lucas where did you get the idea of having a plaster of paris mold made of their hand and footprints. It is so precious." She told him as the twins tried to put their feet on the mold. "I absolutely love it. Thank you." She told him with love.

"Edwin gave me the name of an artist he knew who did this kind of thing. It was quite the adventure. Your children did not exactly make it easy but we eventually got it done." He told her with a laugh.

"Ahh, so they're my children when they are not behaving. I see your game mister." She said with a giggle.

The family went to the park in the afternoon for a picnic and to ride the carousel. They also flew some kites, which the twins really enjoyed. "Thank you for the best Mother's Day, Lucas. I couldn't ask for more." She told him as she gave him a kiss on the cheek since they were out in public.

Later that night while in bed Lucas turned to his wife. "What do I tell Henry and Edwin tomorrow? Are we in?" He asked with trepidation.

"Lucas you are not a man who walks away from a challenge. I know this is not what you truly want to do but I also know if Balfour regains power, you will never forgive yourself if you just handed it over to him. I do believe there is a lot of good you can still do as governor. I support your decision to run for re-election." She told him.

"You're right, this would not be my first choice but Balfour and his cronies can't win. You're absolutely sure?" He asked her one more time. "I just don't want to do something to ease my conscious if you don't want this. I will walk away and let the chips fall where they may." He told her.

"Lucas we are a team. Let's make sure that Balfour doesn't get a second chance at ruining Alberta. Now, governor, how about showing the mother of your children just how special she is to you." She said with an alluring smile.

"Why Mrs. Bouchard I would be delighted." He told her as he rolled her on to her back and kissed her passionately as he slowly removed her skimpy nightgown.

The next morning Lucas informed Henry and Edwin of his decision to run for re-election. "Lucas I know this was a tough decision for you, but I really feel like it was the right one." Henry told him.

"I will inform the party head immediately and they will get a press release out." Edwin told him. Lucas nodded his agreement.

As the men left his office, Lucas sank back into his chair. "Damn you Balfour."

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Union City, Alberta Canada

Friday June 6, 1924

Bixby Balfour sat in the Gideon Hotel lobby having a drink. Enjoying his freedom once again. "So, Bix does it feel good to be a free man again?" His pal Johnny Barker asked him as he sat down next to him.

"It sure does. Although I'm not happy to hear that Bouchard has decided to run for governor again as well. I was so sure he would do his one term and then high-tail it back to that backwoods town he loves so much. I figured all that business with Shaw and Kingston was enough to keep him from throwing his hat into the ring again. I do see where he has made quite a name for himself since I have been in prison. What are the chances of my actually defeating him in the election?" He asked Johnny.

"I'll be honest Bix, not that good. The people love him and his adorable little family. He has support throughout the entire province. I think your only way around the governor is to eliminate him before the election. Although unlike last time, he is not as easy to get to. He has a lot more security now. I don't think we can get close enough to him like Shaw did four years ago." Johnny told him frankly.

"Then what do you purpose? This man has set us back enough already. We need him out of the way before the election when the party will not be able to get someone to oppose me. I have no problem eliminating him but I want to make it clear you leave his wife and children alone. I don't go in for hurting women and children. Besides if anything happened to them, Bouchard would come for us with a vengeance the likes that you have never seen. And I know we would never see it coming. Understood?" He asked his pal.

"I hear you. No worries, Bix. I don't know how yet, but I promise you, Bouchard will never make it to election day." Johnny told Balfour with a murderous laugh.