Showing Dream Castles 1913 (Princes of the North) by Cindy Bouchard

In‭ ‬1913,‭ ‬the eastern end of‭ ‬rail‭ ‬construction has finally reached the town of Tete Jaune Cache, the head of navigation on the Upper Fraser.‭ ‬Fort George has now come into its own as it enjoys the most prosperous year of its history.‭ ‬On the western end,‭ ‬the rails are progressing through the final stretch towards Fort Fraser where it will,‭ ‬at last,‭ ‬meet the eastern end and the last spike will be driven in the‭ ‬April of‭ ‬1914.
But the coming of the train is no longer the main topic in the West.‭ ‬Now,‭ ‬people are beginning to speak of war and discuss European alliances.‭ ‬The whispers have become louder and more factual.‭ ‬The world is watching apprehensively as Kaiser William builds his massive army and waits for a reason to march to war against France.‭
The question‭ ‬on everyone’s mind is no longer‭; ‬will there be war,‭ ‬but when‭?
All that stands between France and the Kaiser’s Army and Air Force is the tiny country of Belgium,‭ ‬which,‭ ‬even if they choose resistance,‭ ‬cannot hope to stand for long against a prolonged and vicious attack.‭
No one knows whether England will fulfill her Entente with France,‭ ‬or whether she will choose neutrality,‭ ‬but she will not tolerate an invasion of‭ ‬neutral‭ ‬Belgium.‭ ‬Therefore‭ ‬the‭ ‬eyes of the world are now fixed on the borders of King Albert’s Belgium,‭ ‬for that is where the answer to the question of England’s allegiance lies.
There is no question of Canada’s loyalty.‭ ‬She‭ ‬is the young lioness‭ ‬standing steadfast by her mother’s side,‭ ‬and she will fight to the death for England.‭

‬“Carry the word to my sisters---
To the Queens of the East and the South.
I have proven faith in the Heritage
‭By more than the word of the mouth.
‭They that are wise may follow
‭Ere the world’s war-trumpet blows,
But I---I am first to the battle.‭
Said our Lady of the Snows.
‭Rudyard Kipling‭ ‬1897‭

‭ Lily and Jeff Hamilton have now married and are running their dream hotel together.‭ ‬But the success of the Timberland is dependant on the prosperity of New Hazelton,‭ ‬a town struggling to survive in the face of the railroad’s spiteful indifference.‭
Missing her family dearly,‭ ‬Lily convinces Jeff to accompany her to Oregon and the family farm of her youth.‭ ‬She does not know what awaits her there,‭ ‬grief or redemption,‭ ‬but even if her hopes are fulfilled,‭ ‬she still has one more secret from her past to reveal.‭
Jonathan is also living his dream:‭ ‬attending a flight school in Vancouver while Natalie sells real estate.‭ ‬Their joy is in their children,‭ ‬Daniel and Diana,‭ ‬who are the reason why Jonathan has finally reconciled with his estranged father,‭ ‬Danford.‭ ‬But an accident at the flight school puts an end to Jonathan’s dreams and he is left wondering what to do next.
Dustin Sinclair,‭ ‬left in charge of the Timberland,‭ ‬struggles with the day to day issues of running a hotel,‭ ‬while Heather waits to give birth to their second child.‭ ‬Their life is idyllic in the small,‭ ‬peaceful,‭ ‬frontier town of Hazelton,‭ ‬but in the fall of‭ ‬1913,‭ ‬Hazelton’s peace will be shattered as the first of two vicious crimes occur there that will earn Hazelton its own chapter in the annals of Canadian history.
Jessica Sterling Wheeler listens with trepidation as her father and father in-law discuss Germany’s war policies and what role England will play should there be a war.‭ ‬She is desperately unhappy in her marriage,‭ ‬but unwilling to leave her five year old daughter,‭ ‬Sarah.‭
Billy Hamilton waits in Fort George for the day when Jessica,‭ ‬his fairy tale princess,‭ ‬comes to realize that her‭ ‘‬happily ever after‭’ ‬lies with him.‭ ‬In the meantime,‭ ‬he finds little joy in the town and work he loves,‭ ‬even as South Fort George enjoys its most successful year ever.‭
However,‭ ‬they will all soon be drawn back to Hazelton and must sorrowfully cope with a devastating loss that none of them saw coming and that none of them understand.