Granting a Family - Chapter 6: New Year's Revelations

New Year’s came and went, and Hope Valley was in the dreaded long months of winter. Nathan entered the mercantile with a long list of supplies he needed to replenish. Allie was subbing at the switchboard after school this week while Florence was spending time with her daughter.

“Hello Nathan,” greeted Ned Yost as Nathan walked in the mercantile.

“Hi Ned,” Nathan responded. “I thought Allie was supposed to be at the switchboard?” He looked around confused.

“Oh, she just ran some mail to the Coulters with Robert. It was about time she stretched her legs,” Ned answered.

“I see. I’m just here to grab some supplies,” Nathan continued to say as he walked around gathering items to purchase. After a few minutes, Allie came running back in, followed closely by Robert. Nathan rolled his eyes and didn’t know how he was going to handle parenting a teenager with a crush. Maybe he needed to encourage Robert to join the Mounties and head off for training sooner, rather than later.

“I think that’s everything Ned. Put it on my tab and I’ll pay you next week.” Then he turned and said, “See you at home for dinner, Allie girl.”

“Daaaad!” Allie complained, “Can you please not call me that in public?”

Robert laughed until Nathan gave him his Serious Mountie Look. Then Nathan shook his head and laughed. “My job is to embarrass you. Should I tell some Dad jokes too?”

“No thank you!” Allie giggled. “Be gone with you.”

Nathan left to drop his purchases at home, then he planned to go back to the office and work until he picked up Allie from her shift.

While he was walking home, Rosemary came rushing out of her house and stopped Nathan with a panicked look on her face. “I’m so glad I caught you! Elizabeth came over crying after getting a notice that Jack’s land deed was being contested and someone may have bought it right out from under her. Do you think this has something to do with Frontier Estates?” Rosemary barely remembered to catch a breath as she let out all the information.

“Slow down, Rosemary. Someone is trying to take Jack’s land from Elizabeth?” Nathan felt panic and anger all at once. “We have to figure this thing out. Have you had any luck on your end?”

“No one is willing to talk about Frontier Estates or Wyman Walden,” Rosemary sighed. “I can’t let Elizabeth lose this land, it is one of the only things Jack left her.”

Nathan nodded in silent agreement. Even though he would never be with Elizabeth, he still felt responsible to protect her and Jack’s legacy. “I don’t want her to know I’m involved in this, so promise me you will keep me out of any conversation you have with Elizabeth.”

Rosemary gave him a look of understanding. “I will have Elizabeth take the documents to Bill for him to go over, then you can meet with him so she won’t know who all is involved in the investigation.”

“Thanks for the heads up Rosemary. After I drop these packages off at my house, I’m heading back to the office to do more investigating.” Nathan turned to go, but added, “Just make sure Elizabeth is ok. I’m sure this is a terrible blow to her.” With that, he hurried home.

Back at the office, Nathan poured a cup of coffee to stay warm and awake while he went through the evidence he had gathered so far with the help of Bill and Rosemary. He wondered if Frontier Estates was responsible for trying to take over Elizabeth’s land, and he still needed to find out if Lucas had any connection to the company that was buying out businesses and land all over the county. And what documents were being burned by the Pinkertons? The situation with Elizabeth didn’t feel the same as other land acquisitions. Who would want to hurt Elizabeth and take her land? This just felt...personal.

Just then, Bill rushed in holding up a pile of papers. “Can you believe this? Jack’s land. Why would anyone take that from Elizabeth?”

“I see you got the paperwork from her,” Nathan acknowledged pointing to the papers in Bill’s hand. “What did you find out?”

“It seems to be a question of the deed. A mistake on the filing has come to the attention of the county by someone who is now disputing the ownership and trying to take it over by taking it to court and paying the outstanding taxes.” Bill paced back and forth and mumbled, “I can’t let this happen.”

“Do we know if it has to do with Frontier Estates?” Nathan asked. 

“My contact at the county said it was an individual, not a company, that filed to contest the deed and overtake ownership of the land,” Bill suddenly stopped what he was saying and something seemed to click. “I just remembered that when I talked to the county last month, they mentioned some Pinkertons demanding to see some original deeds. Could they have switched them out for forgeries? I’ve heard of that happening, but never around here.”

“It could be why they were burning documents so far out of town,” Nathan blurted out. “Ok, so how do we prove anything if they burned all the evidence?”

“I need to find a way to get more out of Spurlock. Didn’t you say that name was familiar?” Nathan asked.

Bill gasped, “Wait, the other Agent Spurlock that worked for Henry eight years ago, tried to frame Cat Montgomery for burning down the church and tried to kill Elizabeth. Jack saved her and sent him to prison. Could this man be related and out for revenge?”

“How do I not know about this?” Nathan asked. “I keep hearing more stories of Elizabeth putting herself in danger. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this Agent Spurlock came here. If we can find some evidence against him, maybe he will give up information on who owns Frontier Estates, and we can save all the people who have been taken advantage of in these land acquisitions.” Just then the door opened and Allie came in. “Oh shoot,” Nathan exclaimed. “I lost track of the time. Your shift is over already?”

“Dad, it’s getting late and we need to get some dinner. My shift finished a while ago, but I was talking with Robert,” Allie blushed and smiled a little more than Nathan would have liked.

“Come over to the café and grab some dinner,” Bill offered. “We can discuss strategy on this tomorrow.”

“Ok, good. Allie, let’s go get you fed so we can get home and go to bed. I’m beat.” Nathan grabbed his gloves and hat then they headed to eat at the café.

When they got inside, Nathan and Allie saw Elizabeth having dinner with Lucas and little Jack at the café. He felt a dull ache from the memory of how close they had gotten to a family date, all four of them. Allie looked at Nathan and asked, “Do we have to eat here tonight?”

“Bill, can we get ours to go?” Nathan gestured to show Bill why they didn’t want to stay, and he understood.

“Sure thing Nathan, come on back and I’ll get it packed up for you.” They tried to sneak back unnoticed, but little Jack saw Nathan and suddenly got up from his chair and ran over to him with arms above his head wanting to be picked up.

“Oh, hey there Jack,” Nathan laughed, picking the boy up in his arms. Lucas looked annoyed and his mouth twitched. Elizabeth stood up, eyes wide, staring at the scene before her.

“I’m so sorry Nathan. Jack, come here and let’s finish your dinner, little man.” She put her arms out, but the toddler refused to go back to Elizabeth. He was playing with the buttons on Nathan’s serge and suddenly said: “‘ountie, Daddy.” Elizabeth gasped and Nathan looked a little stunned, but he calmly talked to Jack by saying “Yes, your Daddy was a Mountie. A very brave one with your same name, and you will be just like him. Mind your mother and eat your dinner.” 

Nathan handed little Jack to Elizabeth, waved goodbye, and headed with Allie to get their dinner to go from Bill. His heart ached as he heard Jack keep calling “Daddy, ‘ountie” as they walked out the back door and onto Main Street.

“Some days I still get sad about not getting to have Mrs. Thornton be my mom and Jack be my little brother,” Allie softly said as they walked through town. 

“I know,” Nathan whispered, trying to hold back tears. “But I have a feeling things are going to work out for us, Allie girl. We just have to move forward with faith, and good things will eventually come to us.”

Allie slipped her hand into Nathan’s and suddenly felt much better. She had the best Dad in Hope Valley, and that was enough, for now.

Back at the café, Bill offered to take his godson for a walk to calm him down and to give time for Elizabeth to finish eating. While they were gone, Lucas took Elizabeth’s hand and said, “Finally, we have some time alone. Now we can talk about what had you so upset earlier.” 

Elizabeth was slightly annoyed at the implication that Lucas didn’t want little Jack around, but brushed it off and finally told him what happened. “Someone is trying to take Jack’s land from me, because of a problem with the deed. Bill is looking into it for me.”

Lucas looked confused, then very upset. “Elizabeth, I apologize but I need to go.” He put some money on the table to pay for the meal, then hurried out the door. Outside, Bill was just returning with little Jack, and he observed Lucas rush across the street to the Saloon. Elizabeth walked toward Bill when she saw him return, took little Jack’s hand, thanked Bill for dinner and rushed out the door to head home. Since they were the last customers, Bill left Clara to clean up and went to investigate what was happening at the Saloon.

Bill had mostly stayed away from the “new” Saloon, since it had become a much different atmosphere under the new management. As he walked in, he surveyed the room and was met with more scowls than the smiles he had been used to in Hope Valley. Looking around, he didn’t see Lucas, so he headed back outside. He heard voices  around the side of the building, so he moved in close to overhear their conversation. It was Lucas and Spurlock having a heated discussion. Bill couldn’t make out everything, but they were definitely talking about land acquisitions, Elizabeth’s land deed, and wait, Frontier Estates! Lucas did have something to do with the company buying up businesses and land all over Hope Valley. Did he hire the Pinkertons, and was he working with Wyman Walden? The last thing Bill heard was Spurlock warning Lucas to leave it alone, and he hurried away before they had a chance to see him.

Bill headed straight to Nathan’s house and knocked on the door. Allie opened the door, followed by a surprised Nathan. “We need to talk,” he said and motioned him outside. Nathan grabbed his coat and joined him on the porch. “Lucas left the café in a hurry tonight and I overheard him talking to Spurlock outside the Saloon.”

“Wait, you were eavesdropping on them?” Nathan questioned.

“Of course I was. Lucas definitely has ties to Frontier Estates and I’m pretty sure Spurlock was the one asking about land deed documents, but he warned Lucas to leave it alone.” Bill was pacing back and forth while Nathan ran his fingers through his hair deep in thought.

“Look, I need to finish dinner and get Allie to bed. Let’s sleep on it, and get together tomorrow with Rosemary to make a plan. Can you check on Elizabeth and make sure she’s ok? I would, but I think I need to keep a little distance right now.”

“Sure thing,” Bill said walking down the steps. “You are a good man, Nathan Grant. See you tomorrow.”

Elizabeth opened up her door slowly after wiping more tears away. She hadn’t cried this much in a while, and she felt like everything in her life was imploding. “Come in, Bill,” she invited. 

“I can’t stay. I just wanted to make sure you are alright. I just want you to know I’m working on the land issue, and I give you my word that I will do whatever it takes to save Jack’s land for you.” Bill took her hand and inquired, “Is everything ok with you and Lucas?”

“I’m not sure,” Elizabeth answered, frowning. “Thank you for checking on me, but I need to put Jack to bed. Can I come by to talk more tomorrow?” 

“Come by my office after school," he instructed. "Goodnight.” Bill walked home and hoped they could get to the bottom of everything soon.