Chapter 1
October 25, 1921
Lucas boarded the train in Capital City and immediately went to his cabin. He couldn't believe that he was once again on a train because he was forced to leave town due to a woman. He took off his jacket and tie and laid down on the bed in his cabin. He undid the top button of his shirt and put his arms behind his head and looked out of the train window. As he laid there, he pondered how had everything in his life gone so wrong?
Jeanette Aucoin's trial was to begin tomorrow and Edwin thought it was best if he left Capital City so that the press would not hound him to make a statement about her. What had the newspaper said 'The Governors bootlegging gangster girlfriend'. Although the press did not much care about writing the true story but instead just continued on with the narrative that Jeanette and he had a notorious past together. He knew that none of it was true but all he had was his word which these days was apparently not worth much.
The saddest part was that he really didn't have any other place to go. The only place that had ever felt like home was Hope Valley so that is where he was headed. Although Hope Valley was full of pitfalls and pain as well. It was a year ago that he had boarded the train from Hope Valley to Capital City alone. Elizabeth had just abruptly ended their engagement and told him to go win the governorship to save her town. She had ended their engagement and told him she couldn't give him her whole heart.
Although he was devastated that night, he always thought that it was just a temporary parting. That she had a bad case of wedding jitters and would come to her senses. What a fool he had been. She didn't come to her senses though. In actuality she had taken up with Constable Nathan Grant. Lucas had come to learn that Nathan had convinced her to stay in Hope Valley and the two of them had started a relationship while he was fighting for his life in a hospital in Capital City after an assassination attempt.
While Elizabeth had come to Capital City after his shooting to check on his condition, it was obvious she did not want to be there. He had told her there was no need for her to stay with him and she had left. Then of course there was the unfortunate situation involving Jeanette Aucoin. Another thing for Elizabeth and the town to blame him for. Jeanette had told Elizabeth that they were previously engaged which was again not true. They had had a brief dalliance while they were in New Orleans but from his perspective it was not serious and there was no reason to have mentioned it to Elizabeth while they were dating.
Elizabeth had never asked him about any past loves and he had not inquired about her past suitors either. Of course, he had knew about Jack Thornton but she had not mentioned anyone else. Although after their breakup he heard about a man named Charles Kensington and Billy Hamilton. He had never passed judgement on her regarding those relationships but yet she held Jeanette against him. She never really cared to know the truth, although he had told her that he and Jeanette were never engaged. Lucas doubted that she believed him.
Given how quickly she had taken up with Grant after she ended their engagement, he had reason to believe that something was going on before she ended things. Despite her treatment of him, he still loved her and he suspected he always would. She had destroyed his faith in love and his hope of having a family of his own.
Lucas chastised himself for going down this path once again. He needed to stop thinking about Elizabeth Thornton and all that he had lost. He had made the decision that when he got to Hope Valley, he would sell the land he had purchased to build a house for Elizabeth and Jack. It was silly that he had kept it this long. It was probably time to cut these last remaining ties with Hope Valley.
Wearily Lucas got off the bed and decided to have dinner in the dining car. He put on his jacket but didn't bother with his tie. He added a hat hoping not to be noticed by other diners. As he entered the dining car there was one booth left at the end of the car. He slide into the booth and the porter quickly came up to him asking what he would like.
Lucas smiled at the porter, "Do you have any Coq au Vin?" He asked.
"Yes, Governor. Would you like anything to drink?" The porter asked.
"A cup of tea would be nice. Thank you." Lucas told him quickly. He then picked up the paper and started reading.
"Sorry, the porter said this is the only seat left. Do you mind if I join you?" A woman asked. He lowered his newspaper only to find one Edie Martell sitting in front of him.
"Well, well Mrs. Martell what are you doing here?" Lucas asked the woman in front of him.
When he left Capital City, he had thought he was getting away from her but was shocked to find her on the train bound for Hope Valley. Lucas had met Mrs. Martell a few weeks before when she had visited his office in Capital City. She was the lawyer for the Cattlemen's Association who brought yet another problem to him regarding the National Park. She had told him that there was a piece of land, McGinty's Meadow, that was needed by local ranchers in Hope Valley and Benson Hills for extra grazing land. If the surrounding land became a National Park, it would end the ranchers access to the meadow due to territorial law regarding shared use.
They talked a little bit more about the park while they had dinner together but Lucas no longer thought she was a demure straight forward lawyer. Lucas now thought of her as a pool shark posing as a Sunday school teacher. Lucas told her that, although she did not seem to take offense.
When the train arrived in Hope Valley the next morning, Lucas hoped he would find a little peace here, if only for a little while. With his hat on, he wanted to avoid anyone recognizing him right away. His visit was not expected so he hoped that would help. He got in the Queen of Hearts taxi that was at the station. One of the many things he had started when he was owner of the saloon. At least Lee hadn't changed that.
"Hello Governor." The taxi driver said. "We weren't expecting you, were we sir?" He asked surprised to see Lucas.
"No, this was an impromptu trip home." Lucas said tiredly.
Lucas sat back in the taxi and recalled his falling out with Lee Coulter. Lee was going to help him with getting the National Park up and running but they had run into some snags and Lee had left to go back to Hope Valley in a huff. Due to their disagreement Lucas was curious what kind of reception he would receive from Lee when he arrived. He thought Lee was wrong and at this point he had no intention of apologizing. He had done enough of that after he had returned to Hope Valley to recover from his shooting and then the mess with Jeanette had happened. Not having Lee in his corner was a blow to him personally and to the prospects of the National Park becoming a reality. Lee was not interested in hearing Lucas out about the lawyer from the Cattlemen's Association. It was the Cattlemen's Association that was causing the newest impediment to the National Park but Lee seemed only interested in blaming Lucas for this new problem.
"Governor, we're here." John told him, bringing him out of his musing.
"Thank You, John." Lucas said as he grabbed his briefcase and satchel.
Lucas entered the saloon and was greeted by a few of the townspeople. He then went up to the bar where Bill Avery and Lee Coulter were standing with Mike Hickam tending bar.
"Governor, welcome back." Any particular reason for your visit?" Mike asked nervously.
"It seemed like a good time to return to check in with the people ready and willing for a frank and open exchange of views." Lucas told him
"Who is watching the office, while you're here?" Bill asked.
"Let me guess. Edwin?" Lee asked rhetorically. "I'm surprised the viper let you out of the snake pit." Lee told him coldly.
Lucas stared at Lee, somewhat surprised at his open hostility then turned his attention back to Mike and Bill. "Gentlemen it's been a long journey, if you will excuse me, I would like to get settled in." Lucas said as he walked towards his office.
Upon entering his office, he found it full of hazelnuts and other storage items. Lucas took a deep breath and walked back out to the bar where Mike Hickam tried to explain to him why his office was now a storage unit. Lee was giving Lucas a very smug expression as Lucas gave him a cold stare and left the saloon without saying another word.
As Lucas stepped out into the bright sunshine, he had the misfortune of seeing Nathan and Elizabeth together. They were laughing together and then shared a few kisses as they entered the jail. Lucas sighed deeply. Lucas was well aware that things were over between him and Elizabeth but still seeing Nathan and Elizabeth together was painful for him. She had not given him any real explanation for the end of their relationship a year ago and he hadn't asked her. After he was shot the same night he won the election, he was not in the emotional head space to ask. He needed all his energy to focus on his recovery. And then everything happened with Jeanette and he never found the courage to bring it up.
Jeanette had painted a picture of them as romantic partners to Elizabeth. He had tried to explain to her that he and Jeanette were not romantic partners at least not of any real consequence. Jeanette was a widow and he was a single man at the time. They had dated for a bit but nothing more as far as he was concerned.
But Jeanette was angry with him and felt the need to have Elizabeth believe that there was something deeper to their relationship. He cared for her and for just a short time he had thought perhaps they could have something together, but he quickly realized they were very different people. He tried to explain but it was obvious that Elizabeth had already made up her mind and believed Jeanette and not him. From that point on he decided it would do him no good to ask her to explain why she had left him for Nathan.
Why Elizabeth did what she did would always haunt Lucas as he had on at least two separate occasions urged her to examine her feelings for Nathan. Yet both times she came to him and told him he was the only man in her heart. Of course, that had proven to be a lie. When he was honest with himself, he knew that the only one who was guilty of betrayal and lying was Elizabeth Thornton.
Most of the time though, he could not bring himself to be outwardly angry with Elizabeth. He still loved her but the love had changed, it was now bitter sweet. He longed for her and still dreamed of her but that was mixed with a lot of anger. Keeping the anger at bay was becoming more difficult and he knew being in Hope Valley would cause it to rise back to the surface. Mostly what he knew now was that his heart was made of stone, it had to be or he didn't think he could otherwise survive her cruel betrayal and the anger that came with it. So, he soldiered on alone as he had always done. He had closed himself off to everyone. Being alone was something he knew well and it was where he knew he operated best.
As he stood outside the saloon, he forced himself to stop thinking of Elizabeth. He had more pressing problems to deal with. Where would he go? This was laughable, he thought, that the Governor of the Province was not welcome here. The town he was working so hard to save. He considered the library but he was hungry after his long train ride and decided to visit the café. Minnie was working and showed him to a table.
"Minnie, my office at the saloon is…" He paused trying to think of how to word what he found in his office. "Otherwise occupied. Do you mind if I stay here and work?" Lucas asked tentatively.
"No problem, Governor." Minnie told him.
"Thank you." Lucas told her and put his head back down to go through the budget reports that decisions had to be made on. Two hours had passed when Minnie came back over to him.
"Governor, it's fine for you to stay but do you mind sharing the table for the dinner rush?" She asked him.
"Of course, Minnie. It's a big table, I can share." Lucas told her with a smile. Lucas told her as he moved some of his papers then went back to looking at his reports.
"Well, hello Governor." Mrs. Martel said to him as Lucas looked up.
"Oh no. Mrs. Martel. We really have to stop meeting like this. Why are you in Hope Valley? I thought your uncle's ranch was closer to Benson Hills?" Lucas asked.
"It is but I was looking to open a practice here in Hope Valley but it seems office space is at a premium. Do you mind sharing?" She asked him innocently.
"It is not a problem; it's a big table." Lucas said with a slight grin.
"Oh, so you do believe in shared used." She told him with a slight grin of her own.
After sharing the table at the café for several hours, Edie left to go back to her ranch. Lucas was still on the fence as what exactly to think about Edie Martel. It was now 8 p.m. and the café was closing for the evening.
"Lucas, we are about to lock up for the night." Minnie told him.
"I'm sorry, Minnie. I didn't realize how late it had gotten. I'm used to working late most evenings. I'll be on my way. Thank you for the use of the café." Lucas told her as he handed her twenty dollars.
"Lucas, you do not need to pay extra for sitting here." Minnie told him
"I appreciate the kindness. I don't get much of that around here." Lucas told her as he put his paperwork in his briefcase and left the café. Minnie watched him leave as she thought of all that the young man had lost in the past year.
Lucas stood out on the porch of the café wondering where he should go. It hit him for the first time he had nowhere to go. He had no home, no office, and no friends here. He looked over at the Queen of Hearts and smiled softly. He missed it, he really did. Since Lee had made his office a storage room, he had no reason to believe that his suite at the hotel was left available to him either. Lee had probably rented it out as well. He decided he would have one last drink then get his horse and see if he could find a hotel room in Benson Hills for the night.
As he entered the saloon it was empty. Mike Hickam was cleaning up. He looked up and noticed Lucas standing there.
"Hmm Lucas, hello. We are closing. We close early on Monday nights." Mike told him uncomfortably.
"I see. Mike, why don't you give me a bottle of whiskey and a glass and I'll lock up for you." Lucas told him. Mike stared at him uncomfortably not sure what to do. "I do know how to lock up." Lucas said with a smirk as he put his money on the bar for the bottle of whiskey.
Mike hesitant but felt bad for how Lee had treated Lucas earlier in the day. Lucas was his friend and had given him a job, not to mention had trusted him to look after the Queen of Hearts when he went to Capital City. He didn't like being caught in the middle of this war of wills that the two men seemed to waging.
"Ok, sure thing Lucas." Mike said as he handed him a bottle of his favorite whiskey and a glass. "Have a good evening, Lucas." Mike said as he left. He thought of calling Lee but decided against it.
Lucas walked around the saloon. The very first place that had ever really felt like home to him. But it wasn't his anymore. He sold it to build a resort that never happened. And now Lee had reneged on his promise to let him continue to use his old office. He sat down at one of the tables and opened the bottle and poured himself a shot.
Lucas knew loneliness but never quite like this. He had allowed himself to care. To care for the people, this place. He thought he had finally found a place to call home. He thought he had found his soulmate in Elizabeth but that was all a lie. He also knew that he had never been betrayed more cruelly than what she had done to him. It wasn't just losing Elizabeth, it was losing Jack as well, his little buddy.
Lucas took another drink. He struggled with knowing that Nathan now had everything he had lost. His fiancée, his buddy. Lee took his home. As long as he took care of the water diversion project of Balfour's that was all the town cared about. What happened to him after that was not of a concern to them. They didn't care or know about the pain he still suffered in his leg from the gunshot wound. Unfortunately, the doctor told him it would probably now be a lifelong pain for him. He needed to accept that, actually he needed to learn to accept what the new reality of his life was.
Lucas had rarely gotten drunk but tonight seemed like a good night for it. He continued to drink and lament all that happened to him during the past year until he passed out at the table. When the darkness came, he finally found relief from his agonizing thoughts.