Chapter 19

Hope Valley, Alberta Canada

Sunday, February 8, 1925

They had arrived back in Hope Valley earlier in the day. They were all settled in and MaKayla was upstairs with the twins getting them ready for bed. Lucas was looking for the book he had started to read to the twins earlier, then he would join them upstairs. He went into his library and stared at the box on the floor for a good five minutes. Finally, Lucas put the box on top of his desk. It really wasn't that big, what could possibly be in the box that Jeanette had sent to him. Just open it, Lucas thought to himself. He stared at the box for a few more minutes. "Stop procrastinating Bouchard, just open it." Lucas told himself out loud.

I'll open it for you if you want." MaKayla told him, startling him.

Lucas turned around seeing his wife standing in the doorway. "I thought you were upstairs with the children." He said embarrassed.

"And you were supposed to be joining me." She told him with a soft chuckle. "There are two little ones upstairs waiting for their Daddy to read them a story."

"Sorry, I thought I left the book I was reading to them earlier in here and I was just going to get it and be right up. But I saw the box and well…" Lucas said sheepishly.

"Let's tuck our children in, then we will deal with the box." She told him as she took him by the hand and started walking them toward the stairs.

Lucas read the twins a story, then MaKayla read them one. They kissed them goodnight and closed the door. "Do you think they will call for another story?" Lucas asked with a smile.

"Train rides always tire them out. I think they are down for the night. Now let's go downstairs and see what's inside that box." She told him with a smile.

They entered Lucas's office; he picked up the box off his desk. They each took a seat in one of the armchairs as Lucas put the box on his lap.

"Whatever is in here we will deal with it together. But perhaps it is something good." She told him as she squeezed his hand with a hopeful smile.

Lucas took a deep breath and slowly opened the box. The first thing he saw was a baseball that was signed by Ty Cobb, Matthew's favorite baseball player. Lucas smiled as he held the ball. "Matthew and I saw a couple of Detroit Tigers games in 1912. This was the foul ball he caught by Ty Cobb. After the game he insisted that we wait outside the field to ask him to sign it." Lucas told her with a far off look in his eyes.

"When he's older you can give it to our Matthew and tell him the story." MaKayla said gently.

Next Lucas pulled out a deck of cards. "These were his favorite deck of cards, craft beer playing cards. I thought they were silly, but he loved them. You know he loved beer, where I'm more a whiskey, bourbon man." Lucas told her as he put the cards down.

Next, he pulled out a bunch of photographs. A lot were of Lucas and Matthew, some had Andrew in them as well. There was a picture of Lucas with a pretty girl. "Who is this?" MaKayla asked curiously.

Lucas took the picture from MaKayla as he stared at it for a moment, as he began to smile. "Her name is Lucy Davenport; she was interested in Matthew but he was not interested in her. She thought she could make him jealous by being interested in me. It didn't work." He chuckled as MaKayla gave him a side-eye glance.

Lucas continued to go through the box, there were various souvenirs from Matthew's travels. Lucas pulled out some Russian nesting dolls. Lucas had a set of his own. "One of our marks tried to use these to pay his debt. After the game, we both kept a set." He told her with a shrug of his shoulders.

Next came two first edition books, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. "Matthew was a big Jules Verne fan. These were his two favorite stories. He loved adventure tales." He told her. Lucas started leafing through 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He stopped when he found an envelope nestled in the pages. As he picked up the envelope and turned it over, he saw his name written on the front of the envelope.

He then showed it to MaKayla. "That's Matthew's handwriting." He told her. He swallowed hard as he slowly opened the envelope and took out the letter and started to read.

September 19, 1914

Luke-

If you're reading this letter, it means I am more than likely dead. If my death is in anyway suspicious, I want you to know it was probably murder. I've been playing with some big fish and although I have been very careful, they are a tricky bunch.

My purpose in telling you this is not so you will avenge my death. I do not want you to put yourself in harm's way on my account. I mean that. One of us has to live to a ripe old age. But I want to let you know in case this trouble finds its way to your door. I also hope by telling you what I've been up to you can hopefully help Jeanette understand. You and I could never sit back if others needed help. Daniel saw that in us. It was the way we were made.

I found out about this gang that is running guns up to the northern territories in Canada. I got it in my head I could maybe stop or derail them a bit. I guess I missed the spy game more than I thought. I came up with this plan to get close to see what I could learn. I thought I would just pass the information along. As with most plans, they kind of took on a life of their own. You remember all the times we got in deeper than we planned, much to Daniel's exasperation.

Anyway, I decided to lose a lot of money in a poker game to a guy named Amos Dixon. I told him I needed money and quick. He gave me a large loan. I went to him again and told him I needed more money and quickly. Dixon put me in touch with a man named Wyman Walden. Walden was looking for someone to run guns up to Canada. Once I had my first shipment to bring north, I contacted Daniel. Unfortunately, he was on his way to Europe, damn Germans.

Daniel put me in touch with Superintendent Samuel Collins, RCMP in Canada. Collins had my contact be a Mountie by the name of Jack Thornton. Jack and I disabled about half the guns on my first delivery by taking the firing pins out. Jack kept them under surveillance, he waited almost a week as to hopefully not alert the gang that I led the Mounties to their doorstep. Then the Mounties went in guns blazing. It was great. Just like the old days with you and me.

If you have questions talk to Jack Thornton, he can fill you in on what he and I have been up to. I would have loved to have had my old wingman with me but Thornton is a good man. You can trust him.

I just came back from my second delivery and Walden's muscle, a man by the name of Julius Spurlock, has been coming around a lot more. He is making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something about him, I can't quite put my finger on what it is about him. If I'm dead, my money is on him. I haven't told Jack about him yet but I will on my next trip. If Walden is on to me, he might be on to Thornton as well.

Luke, now I'm going to ask a big favor of you. You need to take care of Jeanette for me. I know she seems tough but she really isn't. She is going to be angry as hell when she finds out what I've been up to. Help her get back on her feet and I really do hope she finds love again. Maybe even with you?

Honestly if that happened, I wouldn't be mad, although I really don't think she's your type. You know who I think would be a good match for you, Andrew's sister, MaKayla. I only met her a few times but she's a feisty one, strong but vulnerable. Look at me playing matchmaker from the great beyond. Andrew would kill me, if I wasn't already dead. Gallows humor, sorry I couldn't resist. Remember his rule, hands off his sisters. Maybe he was only referring to me since I'm so irresistible.

Luke, you are the best damn friend and wingman a man could ever hope to have. You're my brother, don't ever forget that. Live a good life, be happy. Name your first-born son after me, that way I will always be in your life.

Mattie

Lucas handed the letter to MaKayla. When she was done reading it, she got up from her chair and went to sit on Lucas's lap. She stared into his eyes, "Lucas, I don't know what to say. He thought we were perfect for each other. I am so touched." She told him as a few tears ran down her cheeks. Lucas reached up and wiped her tears gently away. "I want you to find justice for Matthew and for Jeanette. They were robbed of what we have. That's just not fair." She told him with a touch of anger in her voice.

Lucas had regained his composure. "I'm meeting with Bill, Henry and Nathan tomorrow. Hopefully, we can figure out where this Spurlock character is hiding himself." He told her as she nodded.

MaKayla stared into his eyes, she could see all the pain of what happened that night still blazed bright in his eyes. Her heart once again broke for the man she loved. "Let's go upstairs. I love you, Lucas. I'm forever grateful that we got stuck in the mud together." She told him as she kissed him with the all the love she was feeling.

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Hope Valley, Alberta Canada

Monday, February 9, 1925

At 10:15 a.m. Lucas walked into his office at the saloon and found Bill, Nathan and Henry sitting in his office waiting for him. "Good morning, gentleman. Sorry I'm a little late." Lucas said with a smile.

Henry started to laugh, "No worries, Lucas. I have explained to them that you are now on Matthew and Ciara's time schedule, not the other way around. Although today, you are only fifteen minutes late. Pretty good for you." Henry told him with a chuckle.

"Ok, Lucas what is this all about?" Bill asked in his usual gruff tone.

Lucas smiled at Bill's gruff tone; it was nice to see that one could count on certain things. "Well, I need some help with an old murder case." Lucas told them.

"Who was murdered?" Nathan asked.

"My friend Matthew Aucoin and possibly… Jack Thornton." Lucas said as he watched as shocked expressions were registered by Nathan and Bill.

"I recently came upon some information. I have Jack Thornton's reports from July 1914 until his death in April 1915. I also have reports from Superintendent Sam Collins, and Lt. Hargreaves. I have a letter from my friend Matthew as well. I would like you all to read them and we can meet again on Friday to discuss. I'd really like everyone's opinion. I had my secretary mimeograph off copies for each of you." Lucas told them as he handed individual envelopes to all three men.

"Lucas why don't you just give us the dime store version first." Bill said.

"I've recently learned that the ambush that I thought was set up to target me back in 1914 was actually a hit to murder Matthew Aucoin. Needless to say, we know that they were successful. Turns out that Aucoin was trying to run his own sting operation to stop the influx of guns into the northern territories. Per the reports he was working with Thornton." Lucas told them.

"You've got it all wrong about Jack's death. His was an accident, a mudslide. How do you get murder out of that?" Bill asked crossly.

"Maybe Jack's death was an accident. I honestly don't know. After all, for the past 10 years I thought Matthew's death was a case of mistaken identity. After you read everything maybe you will conclude that someone had a very good reason to also want Jack Thornton dead. Either way I'm going to bring the man responsible for Matthew's death to justice. It's just a question if he will be charged with one or two counts of murder. That is why I want you to read the reports. I didn't know Jack or what he was involved in. Read the information and then we can discuss."

"You haven't told Elizabeth any of this I hope." Bill told him.

"No, I will not say anything to Elizabeth until we have proof and the culprit is behind bars." Lucas told Bill alleviating some of his nervousness.

"Fine, we can meet back here on Friday." Bill told everyone as he and Nathan got up to leave.

Lucas turned to Henry as the other two left the room. "Bill will be a hard sell. I may not have him in my corner. Regardless, I'm going to nail Spurlock for Aucoin's death." Lucas told him." "Any luck on finding where Spurlock was living around here when he worked for you at the coal mine?" Lucas asked.

"I'm still going through the records. I will let you know if I find anything." Henry told him as he got up to leave.

Lucas looked at his watch. It was 12:30, he needed to meet MaKayla for lunch at the café. As he walked into the café, he saw MaKayla at a table with Minnie. He walked over. "Good afternoon, ladies." Lucas said happily as Minnie got up to greet him.

"Lucas, so good to see you. MaKayla was just telling me you both decided you wanted the baby born here in Hope Springs instead of Capital City. I think that is wonderful. Can I bring you anything to drink?" Minnie asked.

"A ice tea would be good. Thank you, Minnie." Lucas said as he leaned over to give his wife a kiss on the cheek.

"Did you meet with Faith?" Lucas asked her.

"Yes." MaKayla smiled. "She has agreed to delivery our baby." She told him

"Good, as long as I don't have to do it this time." He said with a smile.

"How did your meeting go? Are Nathan and Bill willing to help you?" She asked curiously.

"I gave them all the information. We are going to meet again on Friday to discuss everything. I don't think Bill wants to open this can of worms. But as I told him, I'm going to get the person responsible for Matthew's death." He told her. "Now let's enjoy our lunch."

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Hope Valley, Alberta Canada

Friday, February 13, 1925

MaKayla turned over and kissed her husband. "Good morning, my love." MaKayla told him. "I don't think you slept very well last night, I could feel you tossing and turning." She told him.

"I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind. I just want to get on with this. Henry's information as to places that Spurlock could have been hiding out have turned out to be useless. So, I'm kind of at a dead end at the moment." He told her as she snuggled closer.

"You meet with Nathan and Bill today, right?" She asked him.

"Yes, but I don't think Bill really wants to get involved. He doesn't want me to possibly find anything that might tarnish Jack's memory so I think he is hesitant to help me." Lucas told her.

"This would hardly tarnish Jack's memory. If someone was responsible for taking him away from his wife and young son, I would think Bill would want to know that. You would never do anything to lessen Jack Sr. in his son's eyes. Bill must know that." She told him.

"I don't know what Bill thinks and to be honest, I truly don't care. For me this is about bringing Matthew's killer to justice. Enough about this. In a few more weeks we will have a new little one. How are you feeling?" He asked her.

She smiled up at him. "I am doing fine. So is the baby. Although I feel as big as a house." She told him.

"You look beautiful." He told her as he held her tight, grateful to have her on his side as always.

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Lucas walked into his office at the saloon, actually early for a change. Henry would be quite shocked; he chuckled to himself. He was reading over Matthew's letter again when Henry came in.

"Good morning." Henry said. "Bill and Nathan should be here shortly."

"Before they get here, what are your thoughts?" Lucas asked.

"What I know of Spurlock, I don't doubt for a minute that he was involved in Aucoin's death. I don't know about Jack's. But regardless, we have no way of knowing where he is. I have checked with everyone that I know of who knew him previously. Those sources have led us nowhere. Bill and Nathan, I would assume know less than me about where Spurlock could be. Lucas, I don't know how you are going to find him to make him pay for what he did to your friend." Henry told him forlornly.

"Henry, failure is not an option. I may not get Spurlock as quickly as I would like but I assure you, I will get him." Lucas told Henry firmly as Bill and Nathan walked into the office.

"Gentlemen, have a seat. Let's get right to it. What are your thoughts?" Lucas asked anxiously.

"I agree that Spurlock was definitely involved with your friend's death. I just don't see how he could have orchestrated Jack's death in a landslide though. Doesn't mean he may not have wanted him dead, after all Jack did send him to prison the first time but I think Jack's death was as it appeared, an accident. End of case." Bill told him definitively.

"Nathan, your thoughts?" Lucas asked not expecting a better result.

"I did think at the time it was weird that Hargreaves was giving me a rip for that earlier incident. But then again he has never been a fan of mine. Like Bill said I think Jack's death was an accident. You're probably right that Spurlock was involved or the actual shooter in your friend's death. The RCMP can put out a communication to have him on their radar but other than that not sure what else we can do." Nathan said. "I'm sorry Lucas, but there is really not a lot we can do to help."

"Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate your input. I will get Spurlock even if it means I have to do it all on my own. I appreciate your time." Lucas stood up signaling the end of the meeting. The three men looked at Lucas seeing a fire in his eyes knowing that nothing good was probably going to come of this.

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Hope Valley, Alberta Canada

Monday, February 23, 1925

MaKayla had just put the twins down for their nap. Surprisingly she was not tired. She decided she would read a book. She went into Lucas's library to see what she could find to read. As she entered the library she saw Matthew's first editions on the side table. She had always wanted to read Around the World in 80 Days, it was supposed to be adventure filled. She picked it up and started reading.

Eventually her eyes grew heavy and she dropped the book. It startled her awake. As she went to pick up the book she noticed that an envelope had fallen out of the book. As she went to pick up the book and envelope, she gasped.

Lucas had been becoming increasingly despondent since his meeting with Bill and Nathan ten days before. He once again felt like no one was in his corner and that he was no closer to finding and arresting Spurlock. MaKayla smiled to herself. But perhaps there was someone unexpected in his corner after all. The letter was from Jack Thornton.