Elizabeth looked at Nathan and back at Superintendent Hargraves. They had just gone from a happy wedding reception to a flirty kiss to this jarring moment. It all felt like a blur. About Jack? What could there be to say after all these years? Suddenly Elizabeth remembered the disgraced Mr Higgins not so veiled threat to have the school name changed. She summoned her courage to reply as calmly as possible.
"Actually, it's Mrs Grant. Whatever you have to say to me, you can say with my husband there too."
With their idyllic day together now crashing around them, Elizabeth reached for Nathan's hand but discovered she didn't have to reach far for he was already reaching for hers as well.
Superintendent Hargraves turned on his heel and walked with purpose toward Nathan's office. Nathan and Elizabeth followed. She grasped his arm for strength, unaware of the watching eyes of Bill, Rosemary, and Lee. Lee squeezed Rosemary's hand, nodded to Bill, and then returned to the saloon while they moved closer to the Mountie office.
"Mrs Thor…Grant" Hargraves began, barely covering the resentment in his voice. He hadn't been aware Jack Thornton's widow had married Constable Grant. His eyes shifted to Nathan. "Jack's replacement in every way I suppose." He sneered. Elizabeth shivered at the obvious grudge this man carried. How could he think so little of the man Elizabeth loved and trusted with her whole being?
Elizabeth grasped Nathan's hand more firmly and felt his thumb gently brush across her knuckles. Whatever was happening, they were going to face it together.
Superintendent Hargraves began to speak again. "Mrs Grant, it has come to my attention, after much investigation that Jack's actions in Fort Clay, and likely before, were of a nefarious nature. His motive appears to be money. He spoke of a large home he was saving up to build for you. I suppose that would take more than the modest income of a Mountie."
Elizabeth's head was spinning. She opened her mouth but no words came. Nathan beside her struggled to keep a cool head. He hadn't met Jack but he did know Hargraves and he knew not to trust a single word that came out of his mouth.
"What are you getting at?" Nathan asked.
"What I'm saying is Jack requested the transfer for Fort Clay to help the cattle rustlers that you had arrested. He wanted to help get them back in business, evading the law, and getting a cut of their profits." Hargraves finished boldly, apparently feeling quite sure of himself.
"But that's not… but he didn't…" Confusion filled Elizabeth's mind. This couldn't be right. She knew Jack. He was an excellent man, an honorable Mountie. No, this just couldn't be true. But he was anxious to get to Fort Clay, despite their very recent marriage. Doubts crowded her mind. She needed to get out of this stuffy room, this awful conversation but Hargraves was speaking again.
"Obviously, with his untimely death, no charges can be laid but there's still a punishment to be served. Someone has to pay," he continued. "Jack's pension must be paid back. Since his service ended in dishonor, it never should have been paid. And I hear the school is even named after him. Not sure that is very fitting given this new information, now is it?"
Elizabeth felt weak. Nathan seemed to sense it and put his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him. This couldn't be true but he had so many details, so much all worked out. And now Jack's legacy was tarnished. Hargraves had made sure of it. Plus his sizeable pension was now ordered to be repaid. It was too much. She needed to get away, she wanted to crawl into her bed and wish this all away. This can't be happening. This time it was Nathan's voice that brought her back to the present.
"Sir, we're going to need some paperwork, something to see what's going on here." Nathan spoke as calmly as possible but there was fire in his eyes.
"You'll have it. Mrs Grant will be given notice to repay. Such a shame. Jack Thornton always had such a great reputation. And imagine, if you'd never arrested those cattle rustlers, we may never have put it all together." And with that Hargraves walked out the door and across the street to the saloon.
Nathan turned to Elizabeth. She stood stiff and silent with tears on her cheeks. This just couldn't be real life. Jack would never. That wasn't what he said. He told her he had been assigned to lead a training mission at Fort Clay. That it was prestigious, an honour, and safe. But how could she ever prove it and what did it even matter when it seemed the Mounties had already decided his guilt?
Before she could say a word she found herself held tightly in the arms of her husband. Nathan pulled Elizabeth close to his chest and rested his head on hers. They weren't sure exactly how long they stood there when suddenly the door opened.
"Elizabeth! What's wrong? What did that awful Hargraves have to say?" Rosemary was full of questions as always. After the inquiry a few years ago where Hargraves had tried to blame Nathan for the death of another Mountie, many in the town had learned to not trust the Superintendent.
"Nathan, what's going on? I saw Hargraves." Bill spoke sternly. He was only a few steps behind Rosemary and closed the office door behind him.
Nathan kept a protective arm around Elizabeth, "Why don't you both grab a seat?" These were friends they could trust. He grabbed a third chair and helped Elizabeth sit there. Leaning against his desk, Nathan quickly shared the allegations, how Jack's good name was now tarnished, and that Elizabeth was being forced to pay back Jack's pension.
Rosemary was uncharacteristically lost for words. She knew Jack. She had known him most of her life. "No." she said simply but with emotion. "No. That's not true. And we're going to prove it." She glanced at Bill whose jaw was twitching.
"That's right, Rosemary. I need to go find Hargraves." And with that Bill got up and left.
Finding her voice, Rosemary reached for Elizabeth's hand and reassured her, "Elizabeth, we knew Jack. We know who he was. And we know who Hargraves is. I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this. Don't you believe any of this even for a moment. We'll restore his legacy, or my name isn't Rosemary Coulter!" she finished triumphantly. And just like that, she was up and out the door on a mission.
After escorting Elizabeth home and making sure she was alright to be alone, Nathan headed back to the Mountie office. He was still on duty and couldn't stay with her as much as he ached to do just that.
He sat at his desk, replaying the conversation, the awful claims, the snide way Hargraves had presented it all. Nathan had an understandable distrust toward Hargraves. To come up with these charges so many years after a Mounties death, and it just so happened to be the late husband of Nathan's new wife. Was it all coincidence? But then Hargraves had seemed surprised that they were married. He sorted through the details in his mind. Whatever was going on, something about the proud way Hargraves had shared his news today didn't sit right with Nathan. It should have grieved any good Mountie to bring such accusations against a brother but instead it seemed to bring him pleasure.
His jabs at Nathan replayed as well. That he would take advantage of a widow by trying to replace her husband, that he was responsible in some way for not only Jack's death but his dishonour. Nathan had battled many of these fears, these lies for years himself. Only recently he had laid them down and felt peace in his heart. His love for Elizabeth was true and her love was unhindered by the knowledge that Jack had taken his place at Fort Clay. No, he was not about to pick up that heavy burden once again. But he was determined to uncover the truth. Bringing Jack's pension to Elizabeth was the first act of taking care of her that he performed. She wouldn't be paying back a single penny of it if he had anything to do with it. Resolute, he completed his shift and headed home to his wife.
Later that night, Nathan found Elizabeth sitting on the couch, staring across the room blankly. He had watched as she moved through her supper and evening routine numbly, taking care of her family while her mind was so clearly troubled.
He poured two glasses of apple juice, grabbed a couple banana muffins from their basket, and joined her on the couch. He wanted her to feel loved, safe. Maybe he couldn't right this wrong this tonight but he could at least sit with her in the middle of it.
Elizabeth forced a smile and tried to hide her teary eyes. She had held her grief over Jack's death so tightly for so long that her tears today felt like a betrayal to her recent vows. But this was different. They were attacking his memory. Making her question their time together, their love. And here was this kind and patient man, her husband, sitting next to her with compassion and concern in his eyes. She wanted to hide all these feelings away. What if Nathan misunderstood her tears? What would he think if his wife had been married to a scoundrel instead of an honourable Mountie? Her thoughts swirled in every direction and yet stood still at the same time.
Nathan reached out and put his arms around Elizabeth. Try as she might, that simple action made her defences fall and her body shook with tears. She was safe in his arms. Safe to be herself, safe to cry.
Feeling the need to say something Elizabeth spoke, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just…I thought...I don't even… I love you Nathan, please don't doubt it."
"Elizabeth, I know you love me. And I know you love Jack." Nathan's voice was soothing and deep. "I'm not trying to compete with him or erase him. I'm not trying to replace him. He was your first husband, the father of your son. What we share is its own. So you can cry anytime you need, but you cry on my shoulder now."
Elizabeth looked up into the sincere, blue eyes of the man she loved. His words like a balm to her aching heart.
"I know it's not the same," Nathan continued "but I still miss Colleen too. She was my sister. Losing her was hard. But just because my life has moved forward doesn't mean I don't miss her or love her still. This situation with Hargreaves has stirred up a lot of confusion and hurt. That's just what he wanted I'd say. But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. And I won't let Jack's legacy be ruined by that man. I know I never met Jack but I know this isn't true. And I know Hargraves is up to something. Elizabeth, I will make sure the truth comes out. We're in this together."
His hand gently held the side of her face as he talked. She moved closer to her husband and kissed him. A sincere, passionate, tender kiss. It seemed each kiss they shared carried its own feeling and emotion and message. Elizabeth was so grateful to be Nathan's wife. Once again, on this difficult night, he had proven just why he was her great love.
Elizabeth snuggled deeper into Nathan. She took a few deep, cleansing breaths and felt her body relax, leaning heavily against him. This was love. To be fully known and fully loved was an extraordinary thing.
The next morning, Elizabeth woke up to the warm and hopeful rays of sun filling their room with light. She moved closer to a still sleeping Nathan, and rested her head on his chest. Feeling his arm instinctively pull her closer, she smiled and sighed contentedly. The confusion and shock of yesterday's events had worn off. Today she felt peace and hope. And love. Come what may, they would face it all together.