Granting a Family - Chapter 20: Falling Into You

Bill’s office was filling up Friday morning, as everyone gathered for the court hearing on the property line dispute regarding the building of a pipeline. Lucas had arrived back in town late the night before, and met briefly with Hickam and Fiona before going to Bill’s office. Nathan had to make a last-minute phone call before he went to testify, and arrived shortly after Mr. Curtis and his posse. 

When Bill saw Nathan come in, he banged his gavel and called the court to order. “We are ready to begin this proceeding regarding this land dispute. I have gone over all of the evidence presented to me, and have determined that the county land deed was a forgery. Mr. Hickam presented me with both the forgery from the county and the original documentation which were consistent with the forgeries apprehended with the Pinkertons who have been arrested and found guilty of all charges and currently reside in the penitentiary in Union City. We will hear some testimony from Inspector Nathan Grant who investigated this case, and then I will give my ruling. If there are any objections to my ruling, I will give both sides a chance to respond. However, you should know that this case is basically iron-clad and needs to be resolved today.”

Nathan went to the front, where he read a statement he had prepared just a few minutes before. He described his work investigating the fraud being performed by the Pinkerktons, their arrests, and everything he learned while attending their trial. Then he moved on to the evidence he was able to collect with Hickam regarding the property lines and the new oil rig being built on land adjacent to the factory. He continued, “I just got off the phone with both the county office, who confirmed Wyman Walden owns that land and got permits to drill for oil on that particular plot of land. My second call was to the Union City Penitentiary where the Pinkertons are being held. Mr. Walden is fortunate they are all refusing to implicate him for soliciting their services to forge documents to get the optimal land pass to build a pipeline, so there is nothing we can do to press any further charges at the moment. Mr. Bouchard, Miss Miller, and Mr. Hickam purchased the piece of land that borders the factory land, and as Judge Avery mentioned, it has been proven that the original documents kept by the original owners are the official papers. This means the property lines stand, and after the ruling today they are free to commence with the building of their pipeline.”

Bill ruled in favor of Lucas, Hickam and Fiona and Mr. Curtis did not object to the ruling, knowing he didn’t have any evidence to dispute their claims. Mike and Fiona rushed up to Bill and Nathan, shaking their hands and thanking them profusely. Lucas hung back a little, seeming distracted and a bit sad. Fiona went over and encouraged him to go with her to the Barber Shop for a much needed haircut and beard trim. That left Hickam and Nathan to discuss the end of the trial.

“Lucas was really quiet in here,” Nathan observed. “What’s going on with him anyway? I still don’t understand why he left Elizabeth to finish her book tour and travel home alone.”

“From what I gathered from our brief conversation, I think any chance of a relationship between them is completely over. He claims he came home to work things out with all of his businesses, but something personal happened out there.” Hickam and Nathan sat pondering how they felt about Elizabeth possibly being available again.

Nathan decided he really didn’t want to entertain those thoughts. Instead, he had someone else on his mind that he just had to see to confirm plans with on Saturday afternoon. “If you’ll excuse me Mike, I’ve got some business to attend to right now.”

“Right,” Hickam agreed. “I have to start preparing for our crews to begin the pipeline first thing Monday morning. I need to make sure all of the supplies are ordered on time. Thanks again for all of your help. You saved my life!”

“I’m glad I could help,” Nathan replied. “You let me know if anyone gives you trouble out there when the construction starts.”

“Will do. Hey, you are planning on checking on Elizabeth when she gets home, right? She’ll be back Saturday night very late. Can you please stop in and make sure she’s ok on Sunday?” Hickam looked a little embarrassed showing concern for a woman completely out of his league, but he felt better about Nathan watching over Elizabeth than Lucas.

Nathan wasn’t sure how he felt about Hickam’s request, but knew he couldn’t avoid the talk he knew was coming when Elizabeth got back. “Of course I’ll check in on her and little Jack. She’s a strong woman, and I’m sure she’s handling things just fine. But I see no reason why you can’t check in on her if you are so worried.” he slapped Mike on the back on his way out of Bill’s office, chuckling at what seemed to be a secret crush Hickam had been holding onto for all these years.

Looking around to make sure no one was paying attention to his next move, Nathan began the short walk to the school house to discuss plans with the incomparable Miss Bradshaw. He analyzed how thoughts of her made him feel so much lighter and fulfilled, but thoughts of Elizabeth seemed to always cause confusion and anxious feelings. Determined to be present in the moment, he pushed all thoughts aside and took a deep breath to calm the ever-present butterflies in his stomach when seeing a certain teacher. He used his Mountie sneaking skills to quietly climb the stairs and peek into the classroom. 

Kathryn knew she needed to spend Friday getting the classroom ready for the summer class to start on Monday. She had worked to get the curriculum planned and the projects prepped. There were some signs that needed to be hung up around the classroom, but her short stature made it difficult to reach high enough. She took her chair to one of the spots and stepped up to hang something, when the chair started moving and she felt herself losing balance. Just as she started to fall backwards, two strong arms caught her and scooped her up. She turned her head and came face to face with Nathan Grant. She moved her arms around his neck and they both stared into each other’s eyes, while still breathing hard from the stress of the almost-fall. Nathan slowly put her down, but she kept her arms around his neck even after her feet had been solidly placed on the ground and his hands were still at her waist. Their eyes were dead locked in an intense look of longing and desire. 

When Nathan had peeked into the classroom, he saw Kate on a chair to hang up something and immediately rushed to catch her when he noticed the chair slipping. Now here they were once again so close together and he was losing control of his head that kept fighting his desire to let himself open up completely. Her familiar sweet scent that reminded him of a fruit orchard, filled his senses as he moved one hand up to smooth back the hair that had come loose and fallen in her face. 

Realizing neither of them had said a word, Kathryn tried to vocalize something coherent. “Thanks for catching me. I guess standing on that chair wasn’t the best plan. Where did you come from anyway? Is the court hearing finished?”

Squeals from kids playing just outside the schoolhouse broke Nathan’s focus away from the woman in his arms, and he realized the door was wide open for anyone to look in and catch them together this way. He gently pulled away and stepped back to gather his thoughts.

“Yes, the court hearing is over, and Hickam is getting started on the pipeline as soon as possible. And you should definitely stay off chairs. It’s a good thing I was here to save you, or who knows what would have happened.” Nathan gave her a wink and a blush appeared on her face, as they both remembered him catching her.

“So what are you doing here? I thought we were trying to be discreet and stop any rumors.” 

“I just came to talk to you about plans tomorrow,” he explained. “Allie has a party tomorrow, and won’t be home until right before bedtime. I thought maybe we could make dinner together at my house, if you are up for that.”

“That sounds nice,” Kathryn admitted. “What time should I sneak over, and what do you need me to bring?”

“I have to go into the office for a while tomorrow, but how about you meet me at 4:00 and we can cook together then eat before Allie gets back. I’ll pick up the ingredients from the Mercantile on my way home, so just bring yourself and any cooking skills you have. I need to get back to work and make sure your brother is staying on task.” Nathan chuckled and pointed toward the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Inspector,” Kathryn said, waving to him as he left and started walking back to his office. When he was out of sight, she slid into the chair that she fell off of and took a minute to catch her breath. This moving slow thing wasn’t working out very well, and she tried to suppress thoughts of her having stronger feelings for him than he had for her. The last thing she wanted was to be hurt by another man who didn’t want to fully commit to her. She brushed off her doubts and went back to her work with a smile on her face remembering her hero in red serge catching her and holding her in his arms. Again she tried to clear her mind and get back to work, but she knew it might be a long day after such a romantic encounter that was causing her to daydream about a tall, dark, and handsome Mountie with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. Get it together, Kate, she thought without even realizing she had used his nickname for her. You are in so much trouble.

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Nathan spent Saturday catching up on paperwork after morning rounds, but couldn’t concentrate to save his life. He was frustrated with himself for feeling so conflicted. He was excited at the prospect of making dinner with Kate tonight, but nervous things were moving fast and he would seem uninterested if he kept trying to slow them down. He hated that he couldn’t stop thoughts of Elizabeth coming home tomorrow from creeping in and adding to his confusion. He and Allie had stopped by to see little Jack after work yesterday, and he loved that little boy so much it hurt. When Jack played with the Mountie and horse toys Nathan had built him, his heart ached for himself to be a father, and for that little boy to have one.

He still had a couple hours until he was supposed to be home, but Nathan knew at the rate he was going on reports he should wait until Monday. He picked up his serge and put it on, but didn’t bother buttoning it all the way up because of the heat. He walked over to the Mercantile so he could get supplies for making dinner, but didn’t want to make it too obvious he was cooking a meal for someone special. Luckily, Florence had stepped out and Ned knew better than to ask questions about what people bought. Once the shopping was finished, he headed home to unpack the groceries and prepared for Kate to come over.

Allie was still home when Nathan arrived with his purchases and came in to help him put things away. “So, I guess things are starting to get serious with Miss Bradshaw, huh Dad? Are you planning on sneaking around forever, because it's getting harder to not slip and say something about you two when talking to people.” Allie looked at him with her annoyed teenager face, but also had a sparkle in her eye that told Nathan she wasn't upset with him finding happiness with someone new. But it did make him sad they both felt like they had to be a little guarded to keep from getting hurt again.

“I don't plan on keeping it a secret forever, if we decide to pursue a more serious relationship. We just need time to figure out what we both want. I'm more concerned about protecting you than myself.” Nathan put his arm around her and kissed her head. “So tell me what time you are planning to get home tonight, so I make sure I end my 'secret date' before you get here.”

“I'll probably be home by 8:00, but if you want me to see if I can stay later I will,” Allie smirked. 

“I don't think so, but I appreciate the offer. I hope you have a fun time with your friends. Is everyone excited to start summer school on Monday morning?” He figured out the answer pretty quickly by the look on her face, so he let that go and moved on. “Will there be boys at this party, or is this a girls only thing?”

“Girls only this time, but we have plans to include boys at the next one. Is that a problem?” Sass was coming on very strong in this conversation, and Nathan decided to go clean up and change to step away from the teenage hormones.

“Let me know when you are leaving. I need to get myself ready.” Nathan went to his room and closed the door. Dating itself was never easy, but it was made even more complicated with a teenage daughter who was starting her own journey of romantic relationship discoveries. It was at moments like this he longed for a companion to share these things with, preferably someone who understood teenage girls better than he did. He laid down for a few minutes to rest his eyes, then was startled awake when there was a knock at his bedroom door. He must have fallen asleep and was disoriented, still in his uniform, sans the hot serge jacket. 

“I'm leaving, Dad! It's almost 4:00, and I just let your date in the house.” Nathan bounded out of bed and opened up the door. “Wait, did you fall asleep? You haven't changed or anything. Want me to stay while you change?”

“No, go ahead and go, I'll just come down and explain before changing.” He ran his finger though his disheveled hair and followed Allie down the stairs where he was greeted by a very, put together and gorgeous Kate who looked slightly shocked and amused at his appearance. 

“Have fun,” Allie said with a little too much attitude, as she walked out the door. 

Kathryn smiled in understanding at Nathan, knowing what teenage girls and their attitudes were like. She marveled at how attractive she was finding Nathan in this moment in his Henley and suspenders, and his uniform pants. He looked like he just woke up, and he had pieces of partly-curled hair covering his forehead. When he finally spoke, she realized she had been holding her breath.

“I'm so sorry, Kate,” he apologized. “I tried to lay down for a few minutes before getting washed up and changed, but it seems I fell asleep. Can you give me a few minutes and then we can get started?” Nathan stopped and took a moment to take her in, and admire how stunning she was right now. She was wearing her light, flowy lavender dress with her hair all down across her shoulders and back, accented by the emerald earrings and necklace she often wore to match her eyes. “You look so beautiful,” he remarked, moving closer to her and reaching out to tuck some hair behind her ear. “I'll be back soon, please take a seat and make yourself at home.” 

“Thank you,” she finally voiced, completely out of breath from the intense reaction his touch has caused her.

Nathan quickly headed back up to his bedroom where he actually washed up this time and changed into his light blue shirt that brought out his eyes, light gray pants, and matching suspenders. He brushed his hair back in its normal style and looked at himself in the mirror. He took a deep breath to try and calm his nerves before walking back downstairs to prepare dinner with his lovely date.

Kathryn took the time Nathan was upstairs to look around the main living area of his and Allie’s row house. She loved seeing the bookshelf with a variety of books, making it obvious that both of them had a love for reading. She saw some pictures of Nathan and Allie together, and other pictures that looked to be of his parents and one of Allie as a toddler with, who she assumed, was her mother Colleen, Nathan’s sister. When she heard Nathan coming down the stairs, she caught her breath. He had been handsome before, but his striking good looks were really on display at that moment. 

“You look so handsome, Nathan. Thank you for inviting me over tonight. What do you need me to get started on?” Kathryn moved to the kitchen and put on an apron she saw hanging on a hook. Nathan moved over and helped her tie it in the back. Aware of how close they were threw him off for a minute, but he regained his composure and moved away to get the vegetables to start chopping for the meal they were preparing. 

“Do you mind working on cutting up the carrots and potatoes, while I season the pork chops? Ned told me this was the best meat they had available today, and I had a recipe from my mom that she used to always make when I was growing up and we had enough money to add meat to our meal. I thought we could roast the vegetables while they were cooking.”

“It sounds delightful, and I’m happy to chop vegetables. Is there anything you can’t do? Everything I keep learning about you amazes me even more. How are you still single?” Kathryn was expressing her thoughts out loud, and shocked herself a little by expressing how she felt.

Nathan never took compliments very well, and usually just tried to shrug them off. But coming from Kate, it made him feel like he could be the man she deserved and the thought made him feel larger than life. Suddenly he remembered the night right after getting home from Union City and he had the vision of Kate in his house doing things like cooking dinner with him. Once again he pondered on the thought that his dreams really could come true. 

They worked together in comfortable silence, until the vegetables were roasting, and the pork chops were pan-seared and also in the oven. “I knew I wouldn’t have time to make dessert, so I picked up this apple pie for dessert at the café yesterday.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she responded. “Why don’t we sit and talk while we’re waiting for the food to be done.” Kathryn took off the apron and hung it back up, then grabbed Nathan’s hand and led him to the couch in the living room. “How are you? I feel like you are a little bit distracted, and I never want to push you to tell me anything. But if you need to talk about anything, I’m always going to be here for you. I...I care about you Nathan Grant.”

Emotion welled up in Nathan at her admission. He knew he felt the same way, but wasn’t sure he could express it...yet. “That means so much to me. I’m sorry if I seem preoccupied or distant. I have so much weighing on me right now, and I know there are things I need to work through before I can totally and completely commit to a relationship. I’m so sorry, Kate. You have been so open with me and the time I’ve spent with you has been unforgettable. I want to move forward with you, I hope you know that. I just still need some time.” He stood up and went to check on the food in the oven, which looked and smelled done. “Do you want to help me set the table for dinner? I hope I’m not scaring you off with all of my emotional baggage.”

Kathryn was feeling bold and brave, so she moved into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Nathan in a strong embrace. His arms slowly came around her and she settled against his chest, speaking quietly to him as they stood there together. “We all have emotional baggage. You are so strong and brave, but even you need someone to be there for you. I know Allie has been a big support, but she’s just a child who needs you just as much. I will be here when you are ready to move forward, but right now I’m starving. Show me where you keep everything and I’ll get the table set if you pull the food out of the oven.” She slowly pulled out of the hug and moved to the task at hand.

Dinner was delicious, and the conversation was lighter with a lot of fun banter between them. They talked about the books they were currently reading, and shared their all-time favorite books from different stages of their lives. Finding out they shared a love for Mark Twain as kids made for a lot of fun debate about their favorite characters and stories. Both of them also claimed to learn about romance from Jane Austen, and couldn’t agree on which hero and heroine were the best match. Neither one of them had laughed so much, or enjoyed a dinner quite so much for a very long time.

“I’m not a huge fan of candles normally,” Kate mentioned. “But this single candle really does add just the right amount of romance. And this candlestick is exquisite, with such amazing detail.”

“I nearly forgot I even had that candlestick, but figured it couldn’t hurt to up my game a little for tonight. It was my grandmother’s that she gave to Colleen and when Allie gets married I will pass it down to her. But I figured there’s no reason I shouldn’t use it every once in a while.” Nathan ran his calloused finger over the intricate work on the candlestick, remembering both his sister and his grandmother, who had died when he was just a young boy. 

“How special to have an heirloom like that to remember them both by. That makes it more beautiful than the chandeliers in great hotels and theatres around the world.” Kathryn’s mind wandered to the traveling she did with her Aunt Edith throughout Europe, the United States, and the big cities in Canada. Though it had been exciting to visit those places, they never felt like home. Here in Nathan Grant’s small row house in Hope Valley, she finally felt at home for the first time since leaving her family’s farm as a young teenager. One day she would share that with him, but she knew he wasn’t quite ready to hear that yet. 

“Why don’t I clear these dishes and you can cut the pie,” Kathryn suggested, standing up and moving the plates to the sink. “Your mother’s pork chop recipe was truly incredible. I never knew you were such a great cook.”

“I wouldn’t call myself great at cooking, but I’ve learned a lot through the years. Allie makes a lot of our meals these days, just because I rarely get home early enough to get dinner started. And we eat at the café more than I like to admit, but I try to keep us fed.” He served up the pie and they sat down to enjoy the dessert.

“Remember having pie together at the boarding house in Union City?” Kathryn reminded him. “That very first time I saw you in that dining room, I just had to get to know you better.”

“When I got home from Union City, I used to have visions of you here in Hope Valley riding horses and in my house doing things like this,” he revealed. “I can’t believe those dreams are coming true.” He smiled at Kate and couldn’t remember a time he felt this content and happy. “I just have one question left for you.”

“Oh yeah?” she curiously challenged. “What’s that?”

“Wash, or rinse and dry?” He asked, handing her a dish cloth.

“Why don’t I wash and you can rinse and dry?” She moved over to the sink and started scrubbing their plates and silverware. 

While doing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen, Allie arrived home and Kathryn excused herself to go home for the night. Nathan decided to walk her home while Allie got ready for bed. Outside, Nathan grabbed Kate’s hand to walk her home. 

“Aren’t you afraid of someone seeing us together?” Kate wondered, looking around at the empty street.

“Maybe, but I wanted to hold your hand, so I did.” Walking in silence, enjoying the beautiful summer evening, Nathan finally unloaded what had been on his mind. “Elizabeth is coming home tomorrow,” he began. “She hurt me, and I should be over her completely by now. I’m just...confused. Helping out with little Jack while she was gone just made it harder. But Kate, I really like you and don’t want to lose you because of this.”

Even though his confession stung a little, Kathryn had no intentions of giving up on this wonderful man. They had arrived at her house and she started going up the porch steps, but suddenly turned around to face him on his level. She put her hands on either side of his face and looked deep into his bright blue eyes to have his full attention, then forcefully asserted, “I am not going anywhere. I will be here when you are ready. I know what I want, and I am confident that very soon you will want the same thing. Thank you for dinner, Nate.” She kissed his cheek and went in the house, leaving him stunned, with a big crooked smile on his face.

Granting a Family - Chapter 19: Crossed Lines

Elizabeth wasn’t exactly trying to eavesdrop on Lucas when he was on the telephone, but he had been spending quite a bit of time on calls during the past week while on the book tour. From what she gathered just by hearing one side of the conversations, there was trouble with the oil business and the new pipeline he was trying to get built with Hickam and Fiona. She could always tell who he was talking to based on his facial expressions and the tone of his voice. When he talked to Hickam, he was rude and demeaning at times. It made Elizabeth’s blood boil to see one of her friends, and a man she respected, treated in such a way by a man that she had thought she loved. On the other hand, when it was Fiona on the other end of the line, Lucas was sweet and charming...almost flirtatious. 

Traveling with someone teaches you a lot about them, Elizabeth was learning. Their relationship had been rocky for a while, but Lucas had been really trying to get them back together the past several weeks. He thought the book tour was their chance to spend plenty of alone time together to work through any issues they had, and go back home as a perfectly happy couple. All this traveling from city to city did for Elizabeth was make her miss her friends, and especially her son. She was starting to once again realize why she left her life of luxury in Hamilton for the simple, more meaningful life she had found in Hope Valley. 

Lucas ended the call with Hickam and immediately changed his demeanor as he approached Elizabeth with a dazzling smile. “My darling, I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go to dinner?”

Elizabeth winced at his use of his affectionate pet name for her, and flinched when he grabbed her arm to lead her to the restaurant at the hotel. “I think I would rather have dinner brought up to my room,” she responded, pulling away from his touch. “What is going on with the pipeline? I’m assuming that you were talking to Hickam on the phone?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry yourself about,” he tried to assure her. “How did you even know I was talking to Hickam?”

“I know, because you are always talking down to him, and I feel like you tend to disrespect him when you are upset about something. Mike is a hard worker and you need to show him a little gratitude for all he is doing for your business.” Elizabeth felt her face burning, and she wasn’t sure how much of it was anger or how much was embarrassment from speaking to Lucas that way in the lobby of a nice hotel. Feelings had been bubbling up for quite a while now, and they just seemed to have spilled out in the worst way and place possible. “Excuse me,” she muttered as she rushed up the stairs to her room.

Safely inside her suite, Elizabeth plopped down on an oversized chair in tears. All she wanted was to be back in her little row house in Hope Valley, snuggling her son and visiting with her friends. She already felt like she was being replaced with the new teacher that arrived in town right after she left on her tour. Bill had been keeping her informed of all the latest news, and something he had said about Nathan when they last talked had her concerned. She couldn’t believe what a fool she had been to reject him last year, because she now knew the truth: she was in love with him and not Lucas. Thinking about the pain she had caused both Nathan and Allie brought on a fresh flood of tears, which made her also think of little Jack and how he needed a daddy that Jack would approve of...and that wasn’t Lucas. Her reasons for choosing him were selfish and based on fear. A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. She wiped away her tears and composed herself before going to open the door.

Lucas had wide eyes and worried expression on his face when he saw Elizabeth had been crying. “Elizabeth, I’m not really sure what I did to upset you. My business dealings really aren’t any of your concern, and I’m sorry if you think Mike is not respected enough. I just thought he could handle things while I was gone, but it doesn’t seem like that has happened.”

“And Fiona?” Elizabeth questioned.

“What about Fiona?” Lucas asked curiously. 

“It seems that you have more interest in her than just as business partners. Your face lights up when she calls.” Elizabeth searched his face for his reaction, and got what she was looking for when color rose to his cheeks and he looked down, unable to refute her claims. For a poker player who was very difficult to read, she was surprised to see such a strong reaction from him. He had never responded that way to her in the many months they had been in a relationship.

When he realized his reaction, Lucas tried to fix it by saying, “I’m only interested in you, Elizabeth. Please, come down to dinner and let’s talk about this.”

“Lucas, I think we both need to just admit that this is never going to work out. We don’t want the same things in life. This book tour has shown me just how different we are, and how much our priorities don’t fit. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner, or at least didn’t admit it to myself. You aren’t ready to be a father, and all I’ve heard from you regarding my son is how nice it is for me to be away from my responsibilities as a mother. Not to mention, both you and your mother want me to quit my life’s calling as a teacher to write full time. You want to travel the world and live the life I left back in Hamilton. Maybe someday you will settle down and want to make Hope Valley your home for the right reasons. But for now, I need to focus on being the best mother to my son and teacher to my students. Love can’t be forced, and I hope that both of us are able to find our lifetimes one day. You deserve to find the person who is the perfect fit for you. It’s not me.” Elizabeth tried to grab his hand to comfort him, but Lucas took a step back and looked more angry than hurt.

“You still have three more days on this tour, and I have a lot on my mind regarding my businesses. I’ll have dinner sent up to you tonight and make plans to return home early. My mother can stay with you for the rest of your book signings, then I’ll make arrangements for your travel home from Union City alone, which is your last stop on Saturday.” He turned and left to go order dinner for both of them to eat alone in their rooms.

Elizabeth felt bad she had hurt Lucas by ending their dating relationship for good, but after the past week, she knew it was the right thing to do. Things had been tense for a long time, and especially after finding out he had been involved with the Pinkertons and his company Frontier Estates, which had tried to buy up properties before values went up due to growth from the new factory. Her land from Jack was almost taken from her by a forgery operation being run by the Pinkertons, headed by Julius Spurlock, who was trying to avenge his brother Charles Spurlock’s arrest for trying to kill her. She thought about Bill saving the day with Jack’s file, then thought about it a little longer. She thought, How would Bill have found that file? If it was in the Mountie office, I bet Nathan actually found it and saved the day. 

Thoughts of Nathan flooded her mind and feelings and emotions washed over her, both happy and sad. Bill told her about Nathan and Allie taking little Jack fishing, riding, and on picnics during her time away. He was such a wonderful father to Allie and she knew how much he loved her precious boy. She worried that she was too late and had hurt him too deeply to ever convince him to be with her. Regardless of what happened with Nathan, she felt peace at letting Lucas go once and for all. In four more days she would be home where she belonged, and she would never again take for granted her wonderful, supportive community.

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Preparing to leave the office and go home after a long day, Nathan was about to leave when Mike Hickam burst in a little out of breath. “Mike, is everything alright?” he asked.

“Nathan, I’m glad I caught you. I just got off the phone with Lucas, and he is not happy about this delay. If we don’t get this taken care of and start construction by next week, it is possible we will lose all of our investment we’ve put into this pipeline.” Hickam took a minute to breathe, before holding up some documents and continuing, “I just got the property document I requested from the county, and that’s why I’m here. Something is off and I think I’m going to need your help.” He handed the county document to Nathan for him to inspect.

Looking over the land documents from the county, Nathan tilted his head to the side in confusion. “This is not the same as the document I looked at before.”

“Exactly,” Mike confirmed. “That’s why I came to you. Do you think this was a forgery the Pinkertons did, just like with Elizabeth’s land? When you caught them, how many documents weren’t recovered? I just need your help figuring out who was behind this, and why they would want to change our property line and destroy our business.”

“First, I need Bill to verify the forgery,” Nathan explained. “Do you have the original that shows the discrepancy?”

“Yes, right here. I just got back from Lucas’ office where he told me it was hidden.” Hickam handed that document over to Nathan and sat down across from him at his desk. “I really have to take care of this before Lucas gets back. Do you have time to help me investigate this tomorrow?”

“Of course I do. I will take these documents to Bill right now so he can have the forgery confirmed by tomorrow. Let’s ride out together in the morning to see what we can find at the property, and maybe even talk to some people at the factory. We really need to figure out what is going on, and who is involved. Meet me at the livery at 8:00 sharp.”

“Thanks Nathan, I knew I could count on you,” Hickam said, relieved. “To be honest, I know I work for and with Lucas and all, but I still have a hard time figuring out what Elizabeth sees in him. I mean, I know what she sees in you. I don’t know why she chose to be with him this past year. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about this right now.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Nathan assured him. “I’ve moved on. You sure do seem to be interested in what is going on with Elizabeth though.”

“You know, I’ve been watching what she’s been going through for many years. I just care about everyone in this town. Little Jack deserves a dad, and Elizabeth needs a guy who appreciates her beauty, kindness, and talent. I know you appreciated that, and she’s been really nice to me. I can’t always say the same for Lucas.”

“You’re a good man, Hickam,” Nathan said, slapping him on the back as he moved to grab his hat off the peg on the wall. “I better go pick up Allie from the Mercantile and get her home for dinner. I’ll stop and fill in Thomas on what’s going on so he can watch things here in town while we are out investigating. I’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”

“I appreciate your help on this Nathan. See you in the morning.” Both men walked out of the office and went their separate ways.

At the Mercantile, Allie was just finishing her shift at the switchboard. Robert had finished delivering the mail for Ned and decided to stick around to visit. Nathan cleared his throat, startling the two teenagers who then nervously giggled as he gave them “the look”.

“Uh, I better get going. See you later Allie. Inspector Grant.” Robert gave a little salute to Nathan and hurried out of the Mercantile.

“Do you have to give him such a hard time, Dad?” Allie rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag. 

“You know that’s my job.” Nathan looked at her with a serious expression, then couldn’t help but chuckle. “Let’s get home and eat, I’m starving! Plus, I want to hear all about your day...minus your feelings for a certain mail delivery boy, and soon-to-be Mountie.”

Florence and Ned were both at the front counter getting ready to close up for the evening. “Goodbye Yosts. Thanks for keeping an eye on Allie for me today.” Nathan tipped his hat as he and Allie were walking toward the door to leave.

“She is always such a big help around here,” Florence said, coming around the counter and walking up to Nathan. She began to speak in a low voice, “Have you heard that Lucas is coming home early, and Elizabeth will return alone this weekend? Something must have happened between them, and maybe they are over for good this time.”

Nathan tried to show no emotion at this revelation and instead replied, “I do know he is having some issues with his businesses, so maybe he’s coming home early to take care of that.”

“Oh, I had no idea. Well then, you may be right. I hope you both have a wonderful evening. See you tomorrow afternoon, Allie.”

“Bye Mrs. Yost. I’ll be here at noon.” Allie and Nathan left the Mercantile and walked toward home, talking and laughing together. 

When they reached the Bradshaw’s house, Nathan turned and explained, “I need to talk to Constable Bradshaw for a few minutes. You can come with me, or head home without me. I shouldn’t be long.”

“Nice excuse, Dad. If you want to see Miss Bradshaw, just go ahead. I’m going to head home and start making you some dinner.” Before he could explain that it really was Thomas he was going to see, Allie skipped ahead and disappeared into their house. He knocked on the door, trying not to care who opened the door, but secretly hoping to see Kate, as they hadn’t been together since their morning ride the day before.

To his surprise it was Anne who opened the door, looking very pregnant and tired. “Nathan! How nice to see you.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to be up. How are you feeling? I hope your husband is home taking care of you.” Nathan looked past Anne, but didn’t see anyone else in the room.

“Thomas is just getting dinner from the café tonight, and should be back any minute. Were you here to see Kathryn?” Anne gave him a knowing smile, but he shook his head.

“I’m actually here to discuss work with Thomas, but I can write him a note and leave it on the desk tomorrow morning giving him instructions. You should go take it easy.” A movement inside caught his eye, and he realized it was Kate coming down the stairs. Their eyes met as she moved toward the door, and had to remind himself to start breathing again.

“Anne! I’m so sorry you had to get the door, I was just freshening up after a long, hot day at the school house. Why don’t you go back up and rest until Thomas is here with dinner.” She lovingly put her arm around her sister-in-law.

“I think I will. Thank you, Kathryn. See you later Nathan. I’ll let Thomas know you stopped by, and to expect that note on his desk tomorrow.” She moved slowly up the stairs and to her room.

When they heard Anne close the door to her bedroom, Kathryn grabbed Nathan’s hand to pull him inside then closed the front door. “I’ve missed you,” she uttered. “I wasn’t sure when I would see you again, with how busy we’ve both been.”

“Unfortunately, the next couple days I will be working on a case and probably won’t be around. I know you are also busy getting ready for your summer class to begin. Can you spare some time Saturday afternoon? I’ll have to let you know where and when to meet me once I get some things worked out.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her hand he was still holding and looked adoringly into her sparkling green eyes.

Kathryn easily got lost again in his sky-blue eyes and almost didn’t realize he expected an answer to his question. “Oh um, Saturday afternoon sounds great,” she murmured, wanting to touch his hair again, but remembering he wanted to take things slow. “What will I do with myself for two whole days without you?”

“Hopefully you’ll finish all of your work, so when we are together your focus is completely on me.” Nathan flashed her his best crooked smile and raised her hand up to his lips and kissed it while still holding her gaze.

Kathryn felt weak in the knees from just a simple kiss on her hand, and had to steady herself by grabbing onto Nathan’s other arm. “I’ll be counting down the hours until Saturday.”

Nathan’s head and heart were having a major battle at that moment. All he wanted to do was pull Kate into his arms and hold her close, but his mind told him to keep some distance and not move too quickly so he and Allie wouldn’t get hurt again. He shook himself out of his thoughts and opened the door. “Good evening, sweet Kathryn. See you soon.” He released her hand and walked home, before his heart convinced him to show this amazingly beautiful woman how he really felt about her. He hoped one day soon he would overcome the fear of loving completely without holding back, because he felt himself falling deeply for Hope Valley’s new school teacher.

Thursday morning, Nathan left early to write his note of instructions for Thomas in the office. He then headed to the livery to meet Mike Hickam so they could saddle up the horses and ride out to investigate the mysterious property line dispute that threatened the oil pipeline. Mike was already saddling up his horse when Nathan arrived to get Newton ready.

“Mike, I’m glad you made it. I didn’t wear my uniform for this initial investigation, because I don’t want my red serge to tip anyone off. If I need to do anything official or make any arrests, I’ll have to either get Thomas to come out and do it, or I’ll have to go back and change.” He worked quickly while talking.

“Nathan, I appreciate you taking the time to help me. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Lucas will be back late tonight. I’m really hoping to get this squared away today if at all possible.” Hickam looked nervous, and Nathan hoped he could help Mike prove himself to Lucas by solving this case.

“I did hear Lucas is coming home early, but not the exact reason. Is it all about the pipeline? Didn’t you tell him it was being handled and should be worked out before the book tour is finished? I’m surprised he would just let Elizabeth travel home alone.” As much as he tried to not care, he worried about Elizabeth’s safety. It just kind of came second nature to him after so many years of protecting her and little Jack.

“I don’t know what happened on the book tour. He didn’t talk to me or Fiona, just left a message with Florence. We better start heading out there. Is Bill working on the forensics of the documents?” Both men mounted their horses and began riding out of town toward the property.

“Bill should be done by the time we get back. Are you ready to ride?” Nathan nudged Newton into a gallop and Hickam’s horse naturally followed his lead.

When they got out to the property next to the factory, they were surprised to see surveying equipment and materials to build a pipeline. 

“This is not ours, so who is trying to build their own pipeline on our land?” Mike wondered. “When Fiona and I first came up with the pipeline idea, after surveying the area, we determined that this pass is the only viable way through the Valley without having to dynamite a path...and we all know how well our last dynamite experiment went. Anyway, Lucas used his connections to buy this property before others, including his company Frontier Estates, started buying all of the land surrounding the factory.”

“Whoever paid off the Pinkertons to make a forgery of the land deed, changing the property lines to give optimal access for a pipeline, is most likely the person responsible for trying to build their own. Someone has to be producing oil somewhere close if they need a way to transport it. Let’s go look around for clues. Just blend in and don’t draw attention to yourself.” 

They found a place to tie off their horses and decided to walk onto the factory land to look around. Staying out of sight as much as possible they watched the comings and goings of the workers. After watching for fifteen minutes, they spotted Mr. Curtis walking out and shaking hands with a well-dressed man whose back turned to them at first. As he turned around, Nathan gasped and both he and Hickam looked at each other in shock. Wyman Walden! Lucas had told them he had left to secure land in other places in the territory, but for some reason he was back.

“Let’s go follow him,” Nathan whispered to Hickam. They ran to grab their horses and followed Wyman’s car to a plot of land a little further to the southeast. It looked like around a dozen workers had been up and building for a while.

“They are putting up another oil rig,” Hickam concluded. “They need our land to build the most cost-effective pipeline, so they must have had the Pinkertons change the county documents to try and take away the critical pass of land from us. They won’t get away with that, will they?”

“Not a chance, and not on my watch,” Nathan asserted. “Once Bill proves the forgery, there is nothing they can do but accept defeat. We will set up a court date for tomorrow, then I’ll deliver a summons to Mr. Curtis and Wyman Walden to appear and end this charade once and for all.”

“I don’t know how I can repay you for saving my bacon, Nathan. I hope you realize what an asset you are to the entire Hope Valley community. I know some people might not give you the appreciation you deserve, but you’ve always been a hero to me.” Hickam held out his hand to shake Nathan’s and they both turned their horses toward town and rode off, happy to finally have some answers.

Granting a Family - Chapter 18: More Than Friends

Monday morning, Nathan rode out to make sure the construction on the pipeline had not been started yet, and to check on things at the factory in hopes that no one was stirring up trouble. He wasn’t on official business and didn’t want to tip anyone off, so he wore civilian clothes and kept his distance. He also had a meeting later in the morning with the new school teacher to discuss signing Allie up for the summer session that would be starting the following week. A smile spread across his face just thinking about Miss Bradshaw and the time they had spent together the past week, yet he felt like he could never get enough of being with her and it both excited and scared him. They didn’t want to start any gossip, and the only people who knew about their interest in each other were Thomas, Anne, and Allie so far. 

At church services the day before, Nathan and Allie had sat in the back since Nathan was in serge and on duty. Thomas and Kathryn had sat up front together, but Anne had stayed home in bed to make sure the baby didn’t try to make an early appearance. As they were leaving, Nathan tipped his hat to her but they weren’t able to talk. At church, she had the parents of students enrolling in the advanced summer class sign up to visit her at the school either Monday or Tuesday morning, so she could get to know them and let them know what to expect from her.

Sunday afternoon when Nathan was off duty, he and Allie had taken little Jack fishing so Lee and Rosemary could have another break and go on a picnic together. Kathryn had seen the three of them with fishing rods laughing and heading to the pond, as she walked home from the school house. She still had questions about Nathan’s relationship with Elizabeth’s son, but couldn’t get over how adorable he was with kids. She felt a familiar flutter in her stomach thinking about Nathan as a dad, and anticipating her meeting with Allie’s dad Monday morning.

As Nathan rode to and from the factory, he noticed all the flowers in bloom. He decided to collect a small bouquet for Kate as a welcome gift for Allie’s new teacher. When he got back into town, he headed straight to the school house and saw Anna’s parents leaving, which meant it was his turn. He noticed Kate waving goodbye to the other parents as he approached the steps of the school. Every time he saw her, she seemed to become even more beautiful and his ability to breathe normally always seemed to be compromised in her presence. Today she looked like an official teacher, with a more business-like light-blue dress and her hair pinned up.

“Good morning Miss Bradshaw,” Nathan greeted. 

Kathryn turned around a bit startled and smiled. “Inspector Grant, it seems you are right on time for your appointment regarding Allie. Please, come in.” She wasn’t sure how convincing their formal greetings were to anyone who might be viewing this exchange, because she felt the color rising up her neck and settling on her cheeks. Nathan looked just as handsome in his casual clothes as he did in his uniform. They walked together into the classroom, and he pulled a bouquet of the most gorgeous flowers from behind his back.

“I was out on a ride this morning and saw these,” he said. “I believe in doing something special for Allie’s teacher, so I brought these to welcome you.”

“Nathan,” she murmured as they brushed hands while exchanging the flowers. “They are gorgeous!”

“I’m just trying to be a good parent and make sure Allie’s teacher knows of our appreciation.” Nathan gave her a crooked smile as they sat across from each other at her desk. 

“As you know, our summer class is starting next Monday,” Kathryn began. “We will be meeting from nine until noon Monday through Friday for the next two weeks. My plan right now is to have lots of hands-on experiences as we dive into some more advanced lessons, primarily in math and science. I expect the students to take it seriously by being punctual and ready to learn each day, but I also hope they enjoy learning the concepts as much as I love teaching. I’ve heard so many good things about Allie and her abilities, and I look forward to helping guide her in her learning endeavors.”

Nathan was enjoying his glimpse into the teacher side of Kate, and was impressed by how articulate and professional she was. “That sounds great, Miss Bradshaw. Allie needs a challenge, and something to keep her mind engaged this summer.”

“I’m hoping all of the students get something good out of this brief summer session.” Kathryn was having a hard time staying in formal teacher mode with Nathan looking so adorable. They still had ten minutes before other parents were set to arrive, so she went and looked out the door to make sure no one was around and closed it so they had more privacy.

Nathan stood up and they met in the middle of the room. “When do I get to see you again, in an unofficial capacity? Saturday morning was perfect, except that it had to end.”

“I agree, it ended way too soon,” Kathryn admitted. “Did you have something in mind for another way to spend some time together?”

“How do you feel about riding horses?” Nathan inquired, remembering her mention of loving to ride and all of the times he pictured her on a horse with her hair blowing in the wind. He cleared his throat to try and pull himself out of that memory and continued, “If anyone says anything, we can just tell them I’m showing you around the area...one public servant to another. How early do your meetings with parents start tomorrow?”

“My first appointment is at ten, since I am seeing most of the parents today. But I haven’t ridden a horse in years,” she warned him. “I’m not sure my riding is up to your standards.”

“You will do great,” he encouraged. “It isn’t like you forget how to ride. We better go early though. How is 7:00? I can go to the livery to get the horses ready, then bring them and meet you at the end of the row houses leaving town?”

“It sounds nice.” Kathryn moved in closer and looked up at him. He’s so tall and dark and handsome, she thought as she stared into those beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. She couldn’t help but put her hands in his, intermingling their fingers and feeling the fire burning between them as they touched. “Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. It was very thoughtful.”

Nathan’s mind was struggling to process anything coherent as they stood there holding hands. “Yeah, the flowers,” he muttered. “They are all flowers that symbolize different aspects of friendship. I read a book once that talked about how sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and iris have all been given to others to signify a blossoming friendship.” Nathan instantly knew that was probably the last thing he should have said in that moment, because of the confused expression on Kathryn’s face as she slowly pulled her hands away from his. He tried to say something else to fix it, but before he could say anything they heard someone opening the door.

“Thank you again for coming.” Kathryn shook Nathan’s hand formally and went to greet the next set of parents.

Nathan walked out of the school kicking himself at how ridiculous he sounded, basically saying he just wanted to be friends when that was far from the truth. That was even worse than my “the founders must be proud” comment, he thought. I think I’m starting to realize why I’m still alone. He shook his head and hoped she would forgive him for his nerves and the way her touch got the better of him and made him sound like a fool. He headed home to change into his serge to get back to work and to get his mind off Miss Bradshaw and their meeting at the school.

Mike and Fiona were waiting for Nathan when he entered the Mountie office 30 minutes later to talk about the Pipeline. “Lucas wants this started before he gets back,” Fiona blurted out in a panic. “Can’t we just have Bill give a ruling on this? We are losing money every day this gets delayed.”

“I rode out there today,” Nathan informed them. “Things seem to be calm out there at the factory, but we don’t want to rile things up again. I don’t think any legal action should take place until Lucas gets back. How about we talk to Bill and get a mediation meeting set up with Mr. Curtis next week just as soon as he is home? I really think this is the best course of action. Hickam, what are your thoughts?”

“I agree that we don’t want to do anything that might cause conflict,” he agreed. “Also, Lucas really does need to be here for this. Sorry, Fiona, I’m going to have to side with Nathan on this one.” 

“You are both probably right,” she conceded. “This is just the first real big investment of my own that I’ve tried, and I really don’t want it to fail. Let’s head over to Bill’s office and see when he can fit us in next week.” All three of them walked over to Bill’s office, where they found him at his desk actually working.

“Hey Bill, what’s your schedule looking like next week?” Nathan asked, sitting in one of the chairs in front of Bill’s desk.

“Hello to you too,” Bill grumbled. “I assume this is about the pipeline? I’ve looked over everything, and I really don’t know why the factory owners are worried. Let me set something up for Tuesday morning to sort this all out. Elizabeth told me she and Lucas would be back Monday evening. We should have this squared away, and construction could begin Wednesday.” Mike and Fiona thanked Bill and left to go meet together in their office to further discuss things. Nathan stayed behind to catch up with Bill, who he hadn’t seen in a while.

“So you’ve talked to Elizabeth then? I hope the book tour is going well. I’m sure she’s missing little Jack.” Nathan thought about the time he had been spending with Jack while his mom was away, and knew they were both missing each other. A familiar sadness swept over him, and he pushed it aside.

“From what I’ve gathered, the response to her book has been good but things with Lucas are quickly deteriorating.” Bill eyed Nathan carefully before continuing, “She was asking a lot of questions about you, and talked like something was going on between you two before she left. And the way you’ve been treating little Jack...what exactly is going on there?”

Nathan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair like he did much of the time when he was frustrated. “Bill, I don’t know what to think about Elizabeth. You know how much she hurt me, but now she acts like I can just forget everything and go back to what I wanted before. I will always love Elizabeth and Jack, but that doesn’t mean being a family is possible anymore. Especially since…” he let the thought trail off and thought about his growing feelings for Kate.

“It was unfair the way she treated you,” Bill admitted. “I feel like there’s more to this story, but to be honest, I really don’t need to know right now. You are a smart guy, Nathan, and I know you will make the right decision for you.”

“If Elizabeth had acted towards me last year, the way she has been acting the past few months, we would probably be married right now. Why are women so confusing and aggravating?” Nathan stood up and paced the floor in frustration.

“How are things working out with the new school teacher?” Bill asked.

“Huh?” Nathan sounded shocked, but realized he was probably not asking about the two of them together, and just about Kathryn in general. “I mean, Miss Bradshaw seems to be settling in and getting ready to teach her summer class. I met with her this morning to get Allie all set up to start on Monday.”

Bill squinted with a suspicious look at Nathan’s reaction when he asked about the new advanced teacher. He decided to also let that go, since he really didn’t need to know details about Nathan’s personal relationships right now. “And how is Mrs. Bradshaw? I heard she had a little scare with the baby. How is Thomas handling that?”

“Faith thinks Anne was just trying to overdo it, and hopes bed rest will keep the baby from coming too early,” Nathan explained. “Thomas has been really worried about her, but luckily Kathryn is there to help and that gives him a lot more peace of mind.”

“You seem to have gotten close to the Bradshaw family,” Bill observed. “They seem to be really fitting in here, and people have been accepting of him as the new constable.”

“They are a great family, and I’m glad he was welcomed in the community easier than I was. His wife and sister will add a lot to this town as well.” Nathan didn’t want to elaborate any further because he knew Bill was way too perceptive to not notice his feelings for Kate. “I better get back to work. Let me know if you need me to help you with this pipeline issue. I will go talk to Mr. Curtis tomorrow and inform him of the meeting, then make sure I’m free on Tuesday to help you moderate.”

“As always, you have thought of everything. I want you to know I think you are doing a great job as Inspector. You deserved that promotion, and I’m proud of the way you are handling your new responsibilities.” Bill stood up and shook Nathan’s hand and patted his shoulder. “Now why don’t you get back to that job, so I can get back to mine.”

Nathan chuckled and responded, “Thanks for your kind words, Bill. I appreciate your help whenever I need it, and you really have been a great friend and mentor to me. I’ll check in with you again soon. Bye.” He left and walked across the street to his own office to finish the reports that had been piling up on his desk.

A few hours later, Allie dropped by to visit him on her way to Anna’s house where some of the girls planned to make some food for the Bradshaws to help Anne stay off her feet. After they finished with the cooking and baking, the girls had planned to have a sleepover which worked out great for Nathan since he planned on going riding with Kate in the morning. He hugged Allie and finished up his reports just in time to grab some dinner at the café before heading home for the night.

Clara greeted Nathan and told him to sit while she prepared a plate of fried chicken and mashed potatoes for him. While waiting for his food, he updated himself on the local news by reading the current edition of the Valley Voice. The first article he read was about Elizabeth’s book tour, then the next was about Kathryn being the new school teacher. He rolled his eyes, folded the newspaper, and shoved it across the table to try and get both women out of his mind. Luckily, Clara brought out his plate and he enjoyed his dinner while observing others eating at the café. He went to pay for his food and asked for some dessert to go. 

Walking home, he noticed Allie and her friends dropping off dinner to the Bradshaws. They all waved to Nathan, including Thomas at the door, so he felt obligated to stop and say hello. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see Kate right now because of the whole flower debacle, and hoped she still planned on the horse ride in the morning. 

“These girls are so thoughtful!” Thomas exclaimed as Nathan came over. “I was worried my wife and sister would have to endure my cooking tonight, but Allie and her friends might have literally saved their lives.”

Everyone laughed, then the girls told Thomas to enjoy dinner and tell Anne they were thinking of her before heading back to Anna’s house. Allie gave Nathan a quick hug and said, “Bye, Dad! See you tomorrow afternoon.”

“Be good, Allie girl.”

“Daaaaad! You know you aren’t supposed to call me that in public!” Allie groaned, running to catch up with her friends.

“So I guess that is what I have to look forward to in 13 years,” Thomas predicted. “But they are good girls and we really appreciate the food. Do you want to come in and eat?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I just finished eating at the café and I am taking my desert home tonight.” Nathan held up the wrapped piece of pie. “I better get going. Tell your wife to be good and stay down as much as possible.” As he turned to leave, he heard footsteps on the stairs. He looked back and saw Kathryn emerge. She had taken the pins out of her hair, and it was flowing down her back. 

“Nathan, hi. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.” Kathryn moved closer to the door, but still kept her distance.

“I’m going to take a plate up to Anne, so you two feel free to visit for a bit inside if you don’t want anyone to see you.” Thomas winked at them, grabbed a plate of dinner, and headed up to see his wife.

Nathan stepped inside and closed the door. “I won’t stay long. I just wanted to make sure you are still planning on coming in the morning.”

“Of course,” she replied. “Friends can go riding together, can’t they?” That impish grin was back on her face and she burst into a fit of giggles.

Nathan let out the breath he had been holding in and shook his head. “I have been worried about the “friendship flowers” comment all day. He moved closer and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I do think friendship is a good foundation for any relationship, but just know that I desire much more than just being friends with you.”

Kathryn shivered from his closeness and his breath on her neck and ear as he spoke of his desire to be more than friends. Their heads were only inches apart and as she looked into his eyes, she did something she had been fantasizing about for a while. She ran her fingers through his silky, smooth hair then let her hands settle on the back of his neck. He in turn reached out and smoothed her hair and his large hands settled on her tiny waist. They were in their own little world for several seconds that felt more like minutes.

Thomas bounded down the stairs, and they broke apart suddenly. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” he apologized. “I forgot to get a drink for Anne, let me just grab that and I’ll get out of your way.” 

“I’ll let you all eat your dinner,” said Nathan, walking toward the door. “Have a good night. I’ll see you bright and early, Kate.” Once outside, he ran his hand through his hair and touched his neck where her hands had been. So much for moving slowly, he thought. When he got home he tried to distract himself with his pie and a book, but all he could think about was every word and every touch he had shared with the beautiful new school teacher. He decided to get ready for bed and turn in early so he wouldn’t be too tired to be up early for their morning ride.

Nathan didn’t have to worry about sleeping in the next morning. He was anxious and excited about seeing Kate on a horse. However, he was nervous about how quickly things were progressing and told himself he needed to slow it down...he told himself that every day. But when they were together, they couldn’t seem to slow down. He thought about Allie and knew he couldn’t rush into anything and get them both hurt again.

Both Newton and Buddy were excited to get saddled and ready for a morning ride. He saw Sergeant in his stall, looking at him like he wanted someone to ride him too. Nathan talked to him and rubbed his neck. “I’m sure Elizabeth is missing your rides together, just like you. She’ll be home soon, buddy. I’ll bring Jack by to see you later.” He mounted Newton and led Buddy to the end of the row houses where he planned to meet Kate. 

Kathryn was up and ready long before 7:00 when they were supposed to meet. She hadn’t slept well, after the intense moments she had with Nathan yesterday. The “friendship flowers” he brought to her at their parent/teacher meeting sat on her nightstand. She giggled again, thinking about how flustered he was explaining their meaning. Looking out the window, she saw him headed down the street and caught her breath watching him on his majestic Mountie horse. She gave him a few minutes to get ahead before sneaking out to meet him down the road just outside of town.

Nathan saw her come around the bend, looking lovely in a light pink blouse and loose fitting tan skirt that looked made for riding. Her hair was pinned out of her face, but flowed down her back and he couldn’t wait to watch it blow in the wind as she rode. “Wow, you look incredible,” he declared. “Are you ready for this?”

Kathryn marveled not only at how handsome Nathan looked in the familiar button down shirt, unbuttoned several inches, and suspenders...but also the sheer size of his horse. She walked over next to him and stroked Newton’s neck. “He is such a magnificent horse, Nathan. And this other guy, Buddy, looks like a sweetheart.” She scratched his head and neck and knew she was going to love riding him beside Nathan and Newton.

“Do you need any help mounting up?” Nathan asked. “I know we don’t have too much time, so I want to take you by some beautiful spots where Allie and I like to ride.”

Before he could help her, Kathryn was up on Buddy and looked over at Nathan with a satisfied look. She smiled so big her dimple prominently showed up on her cheek, and her emerald eyes sparkled just like he had imagined. Nathan mounted Newton and they headed toward the pond and rode through the meadow, then they pushed both horses to a gallop across a clearing. When they reached the river where Nathan and Allie loved to fish, they let the horses stop to have a drink.

“Clearly you are a better rider than you let on,” Nathan noticed. “A brisk morning ride always helps me clear my head and be ready to take on the day.”

“Mmmmmhmmmmm...” Kathryn had her eyes closed and was taking deep breaths of the fresh air, enjoying the moment. “I used to go riding every day, but it has been way too long. Thank you so much for this.” She reached over and grabbed his hand.

“I hope you know how much I look forward to the time we spend together. I just don’t want to rush into anything, but it’s not easy to go slow when I’m with you.” He squeezed her hand and she smiled.

“We’ll go at whatever pace you are comfortable with,” she assured him. “I know you and Allie need time. You can take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere. Well, except for back to town. Try to catch me!” She turned Buddy around and he darted away in a flash. Nathan laughed and pushed Newton to chase them down. He watched her hair bouncing in the wind, and realized that maybe his dreams might come true after all.