Just like many of the towns in the territory, Benson Hills was experiencing accelerated growth since the industrial revolution had eventually pushed production into the west. Factories were popping up in the once-small frontier towns bringing more economic prosperity, but also unsavory characters and more work for the lawmen. Inspector Carl Jessop was drowning in paperwork from recent disputes between old and new residents. Benson Hills Penitentiary was overflowing with both local and non-local inmates, since they had become overflow for Union City Penitentiary. Carl was surprised to see another man in red serge ride into town Tuesday afternoon, but immediately recognized Inspector Grant as he rode up to the Mountie office.
“Inspector,” Nathan acknowledged as he rode up on Newton. “How’s that wood chopping coming along?”
“Inspector Grant, I think on any other day I probably would have been able to beat you at wood chopping,” Carl assured him confidently. “So, what brings you to my neck of the woods?”
“I have some business at the Penitentiary to take care of, so I’ll be spending the night and going to a hearing there in the morning,” Nathan disclosed. “Do you have any suggestions on a place to stay?”
“We actually have a room above our Mountie office here that you could stay in since it isn’t being used by me or the new Constable. He’s married with one child and wouldn’t fit up there if he wanted to, and I finally bought a house with some land when I got the promotion to Inspector. With land value increasing, I figure that even if I get transferred I could turn a profit on the land.”
“So do you have a wife to go with that land?” Nathan inquired.
“Not yet,” Carl answered cautiously. “Why do you ask?”
“I’ve just recently become an acquaintance of a former scorned love interest of yours,” Nathan explained. “She suggested there was someone you were attached to at the same time you were seeing her last year, and you were on the phone with a woman during training in Union City.”
“Oh yes,” he smirked. “I have heard that Kathryn Bradshaw has joined Thomas and Anne in Hope Valley as the newest school teacher there. So, you now how two school teachers to romance? And Kathryn is a real looker. Is she jealous of your affection for Mrs. Thornton?”
Carl was really starting to get under Nathan’s skin, but he really didn’t want to punch the guy or say something he might regret. He dismounted Newton and walked past Carl into the Mountie office. Paperwork was scattered everywhere and nothing was organized. He turned around as Carl walked into the office and pointed to the mess. “You better hope Superintendent Lewis doesn’t show up for an inspection, or you would be getting a formal reprimand.”
“We’ve just had a lot going on, and I haven’t been able to catch up.” Carl scowled at Nathan and showed him to the back where there was a staircase that led upstairs to the small bedroom above the office. “Stop criticizing me if you want to stay here. You just think you are so much better than everyone after getting all those awards at Inspector training. All I hear about from the superiors is how I should be more like Inspector Grant in Hope Valley. I saw that look when you mentioned Kathryn. I guess you can have my leftovers. She wasn’t that great of a kisser anyway, I’ve had a lot better.”
Nathan had heard enough. He grabbed Carl by his serge and threw him against the wall. “You will not disrespect a woman like Kathryn again, or I will knock you out.” Nathan turned him around and pushed him away with so much force, Carl nearly fell flat on his behind. He angrily retreated out of the office, slamming the door and leaving on his horse who was tethered to the post just outside the office next to Newton.
Nathan took his hat off, ran his fingers through his unruly hair, unbuttoned his serge, and fell onto the bed in the small room above the jail. His heart was still pounding and he seethed at the way Carl had spoken about his dear, sweet Kate. The thought of her kissing Carl made his skin crawl and his stomach turn. He had thought many times about what it might be like to kiss Kate, and they had come very close a few times. There is no way kissing her would be anything but pure bliss, he thought to himself. Carl is an idiot who obviously didn’t know what he had in Kathryn. At the moment he had that thought, he wondered if he knew what he had in her. Maybe he was just as dense as Carl to let a woman like Kate get away without putting up a fight for her.
Lost in his thoughts, Nathan was finally brought out of them by his stomach growling loudly. He realized it had been most of the day since his last meal. He put his serge back on and headed to find the closest eating establishment. Luckily a small restaurant was just a few buildings away, and he had their meatloaf special with mashed potatoes followed by a piece of apple pie.
Once dinner was over he took Newton to the livery close to the Mountie office so he could get fed and rested for the long day they had ahead of them. As he walked through town, he noticed that the level of respect he was given had greatly increased while wearing his Inspector uniform compared to when he was a Constable. He tipped his hat and smiled as he walked back to the office. He noticed Carl’s horse outside again, and took a deep breath before heading back inside to face him.
Carl had his head in both hands and looked very frustrated at his desk when Nathan walked in and startled him. Carl glared at Nathan then shifted his attention back to the big stack of papers on his cluttered desk.
“Would you like some help with all of this?” Nathan finally asked. “It takes time to get the hang of all the forms, but Thomas and I have it mostly figured out now and stay caught up.”
Carl wanted to refuse, but knew without Nathan’s help he could be in trouble when the Superintendent decided to surprise him with a visit. “I really do need some help cleaning up this mess,” he admitted. “I guess I should get Constable Jones working on some of this with me so we can keep it up to date.”
“Part of being a good Inspector is delegating some of this to the Constable that you work with,” Nathan asserted. “However, there are some forms that only you can complete.” Nathan spent the next two hours helping Carl get everything organized and teaching him some tips on staying on top of the required paperwork. “Well, I am beat after a long day and I have an early morning hearing so I better hit the sack.” He turned to head to the upstairs room, barely able to stay awake.
“Inspector Grant,” Carl called after him. Nathan turned around. “Thank you for your help. I really was lost and should have paid more attention on how to do all this during training. And I apologize for what I said about Kathryn. Thomas and Anne Bradshaw were good friends to me and I really messed that up with the way I treated his sister. She really is a beautiful and intelligent woman, so if you are interested in her I wouldn’t wait too long to make a move. And I lied about the kissing, I found her to be very…”
Nathan cut him off before he could describe Kate’s kissing abilities, “Look, I appreciate your apology, but for now I really do need to get to bed. Good luck finishing this all up. After my hearing I can come see if you have any other questions or need any help before I head back home.” He really didn’t need Carl to even know anything about his relationship with Kate, but after that discussion she was all he could think about as he prepared for bed and fell asleep.
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Now halfway through the first of two weeks of summer class with her new advanced class, Kathryn was pleased how receptive the students had been to her curriculum. She felt like her relationship with Allie had suddenly changed Monday night when they spent time together waiting on word of Nathan’s whereabouts. She was just glad Allie didn’t know that when he had come back home, Kathryn ran into Nathan’s arms, but only briefly until she had realized people might find out her feelings for their beloved Mountie Inspector. Today he had left for Benson Hills and whatever he had gone for was on Allie’s mind, because there were several times she noticed a far away look on her face followed by a worried expression. Not wanting to overstep, Kathryn just smiled and gave her encouragement in the schoolwork. She knew Thomas also had more information on what was going on, but he didn’t feel it was his place to disclose anything to her.
Elizabeth came to the school in the afternoon again to organize and clean out her teaching supplies so she knew what she needed for the next school year. She was also working on lesson plans that focused on the younger students and didn’t get as advanced as she did when she had all of the students. Things were a bit awkward between the two teachers after that night Nathan and little Jack were missing. Even though she had only known Nathan for two months and only spent two weeks in Hope Valley getting to know him better, Kathryn felt like she had known him for so much longer. She knew he had the potential to break her heart, and it scared her but she refused to give up on him. She was pretty sure Elizabeth wasn’t the type to give up either, but they both kept conversation on the students and their lessons.
As much as they both wanted to keep their distance and not like each other, they had a lot in common and were starting to somewhat enjoy each other’s company. Both had a passion for teaching and making sure their students were given the best possible chance of success in life. Kathryn could see how much Elizabeth really cared for the children and their families in Hope Valley, and Elizabeth was impressed by Kathryn’s advanced knowledge and the way she could engage the older students with her fun projects and interesting lessons. As long as they kept Nathan Grant out of the conversation, they could get along just fine.
Kathryn walked home from the school later than she had planned, and as she approached her house she saw Allie sitting on the porch of her and Nathan’s house. Knowing he was out of town, Kathryn went to see why she was home alone. “Allie, what are you doing at home? I thought Nath...your Dad was out of town until tomorrow? He told me you were staying at Opal’s house when he stopped by and told me he had to leave.”
“I came home to get my things before going back to Opal’s house,” Allie uttered. “I’m just worried about my Dad and why he went to Benson Hills. He told me a bunch of stuff before he left that I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it all.”
“If you want to talk about it, I’m here,” Kate offered. “But you don’t have to share anything with me that makes you uncomfortable.”
“Actually, I think it would be nice to talk to someone. Especially since you met us after I was already adopted by my Uncle Nathan. I don’t really remember much about my father, Dylan Parks, except that he was mean to my Mom before she died. I just found out that he threatened us last year so that is why Uncle Nathan finally adopted me, and he made sure my father went to prison for trying to buy him off and attacking him and stealing the payoff money.”
“Oh, wow!” Kathryn exclaimed. “Your Uncle Nathan, now Dad sounds very brave to take him on like that and make sure you and everyone in this town were safe from Dylan Parks.”
“I just don’t understand why Dad didn’t tell me about him coming to town last year,” she wondered. “Was he worried I would want to see him? Because there is no way I want to see that man who would get drunk and be mean to my mom, and he abandoned me.”
“It sounds like Nathan felt like was protecting everyone from him, and he wanted to make sure you were adopted. It sounds like he trusted you enough to tell you now though. Is that why he left town?” Kathryn didn’t want to push, but really wanted to know more about where Nathan had gone and why.
“Dylan is in the Benson Hills Penitentiary, but wants to be sent to Granville Penitentiary so he can be closer to us, most likely to cause problems,” Allie stated. “Dad tried to fix the problem by going to Granville, which is where he was when he didn’t get home on time the other day. Then yesterday he spent a lot of time on the phone talking to the people at the Benson Hills Penitentiary, but they told him they couldn’t do anything until the hearing, which is tomorrow morning.”
Upon hearing he went to Benson Hills, Kathryn’s first thought was that Nathan would most likely have to face Carl at some point in his trip. She shook that thought out of her head and focused on the troubled teen girl in front of her. She put her arm around Allie and suggested, “Why don’t you come have some cookies and milk before you head back to Opal’s house with your things.”
“Cookies before dinner? You are way more fun than most grownups I know.” Allie grabbed her bag and walked with Kathryn to the Bradshaw’s house. Kathryn poured two glasses of milk and set out cookies she had baked last night for them both.
“I wouldn’t normally let you have dessert before dinner,” Kate admitted. “But sometimes cookies are essential medicine when someone is having a hard day. Allie, I haven’t known your Dad for that long, but I’ve known him long enough to recognize that everything he does is what he feels is best for you, those he cares about, and everyone he has sworn to serve and protect.”
“I know. Thank you for listening, Miss Bradshaw. Please don’t tell my Dad about this conversation. He’s pretty worried about me getting too close to you like I did with Mrs. Thornton. He doesn’t want me to get hurt again, but I really want him to find someone to love who loves him back. I can tell he really likes you, and you like him. I am going to stay out of it as much as possible, but I promise he’s worth it if you don’t give up on him.”
Kathryn felt tears welling up in her eyes hearing Allie talk about Nathan that way. Hurting him was the very last thing she wanted to do, and she was more concerned of being hurt by him. “I promise I would never intentionally hurt either one of you, Allie. I enjoy you as a student and seeing your bright mind hard at work, but I also see what a wonderful young lady you are outside of the classroom as well. I can tell that Nathan has been a wonderful father to you, but that doesn’t mean that sometimes you don’t need a woman’s perspective. I’m here when you need me, and I promise to not cross any lines between teacher and friend. If your Dad and I decide to have a romantic relationship, we will figure out how to navigate that when the time comes. You just have to promise that you will always communicate how you are feeling with us.”
“That sounds fair,” Allie sighed. “Thanks for the cookies and milk, but I better get back to Opal’s house before they start to worry. It is almost time for dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow at school!” Allie gathered up her belongings and seemed lighter as she left the house. Kathryn watched her leave, and said a little prayer for the Grant Family that she had grown so fond of these past few weeks.
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Nathan was up with the sun, nervous about the hearing he had come to Benson Hills for this morning. He tidied up the little room he had stayed in above the Mountie office, then buttoned up his serge and pulled on his boots before heading to the livery to saddle up Newton. He left most of his bags at the Mountie office to pick up before heading back to Hope Valley, but had pulled out a file to take with him, and a very important letter he sacredly placed in the file before tucking it into Newton’s saddle bag. Riding outside of town to the Penitentiary gave Nathan time to think about his decision to raise Allie and all he had done to try and keep her safe from anyone who would harm her or bring her pain, especially Dylan Parks. He had very little patience for people like him.
He arrived shortly before the hearing was set to begin, and took a seat near the back of the room. Officers brought Dylan in and sat him at the front table, and the hearing began. When asked why he wanted the transfer, Dylan had excuses about prison guards not being fair or cell mates that didn’t like him but nothing that would warrant a transfer. They called Nathan to be a witness, and Dylan looked back in complete shock to see his former brother-in-law.
Nathan had prepared a statement he gave about his relationship with Dylan and all that had transpired when he tried to get paid off for Nathan to adopt Allie. He let them know how transferring Dylan to be close to Hope Valley could affect both him and Allie and those they loved there in town. “I ask that if Dylan needs a transfer, you consider sending him far away from us, not closer. My last request is that you read this letter from my daughter Allie Grant.”
Handing the letter to the judge, Nathan gave Dylan a look of warning. The judge read through the letter and decided to read it out loud and have it put into the official court records.
To whom it may concern,
My name is Allison Mayes Grant, but I go by Allie Grant. When I was four years old, my Mom Colleen Grant Parks died. My father Dylan Parks left shortly after that and my Grandma was too sick at the time to take care of me, so my Uncle Nathan decided to be my legal guardian even though he was single and a Mountie who moved around a lot.
My Dad, Nathan Grant, is the best father anyone could have. When he told me he was going to officially adopt me last year, it was a dream come true. Someday I hope he finds a nice woman to marry so I can have a real family with not only a Dad, but also a Mom again and hopefully a brother or sister (or both)! My Dad reads to me every night he is home, takes me fishing, keeps me safe, and makes sure I have everything I need. He loves me and the day we found out I was his legal daughter was the best day of my entire life so far.
I hope you will listen to Inspector Nathan Grant, my Dad, when he asks you to not let Dylan Parks anywhere near us: The Grant Family. For the first time we are settled in a place that feels like home. We have friends who feel more like family in Hope Valley, and we don’t want anyone put in danger. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Allison Mayes Grant
Bill and Thomas had signed to witness that she had written the letter, and signed the seal that wasn’t broken until the judge opened it in the hearing.
Nathan wiped tears from his eyes, having never heard the words Allie had written about him. He felt deep gratitude for the opportunity to raise such a special girl as his own daughter. Dylan even seemed slightly touched by the letter, but quickly regained his composure and put a scowl back on his face. Once all of the evidence was presented, the judge went out to review everything before making a final decision.
Once back in the room, the judge asked Dylan to rise and read his recommendation. “After reviewing all of the evidence that has been presented, my recommendation is to send Dylan Parks back to the Union City Penitentiary for the remainder of his sentence.”
Nathan let out a huge sigh of relief, and Dylan hung his head in defeat. When they took Dylan out and back to his cell, Nathan went and shook the judge’s hand and he nodded in understanding. Stepping outside of the Penitentiary, Nathan felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He rode Newton back into town to grab his things and head home to tell Allie the good news in person.
Both Inspector Carl Jessop and Constable Jones were in the Mountie office when Nathan walked in and headed to the upstairs room to get his small bag of belongings. “Inspector, Constable,” he greeted. “Did you get all of those forms figured out and caught up?”
Constable Jones was the one to speak up. “We worked all morning and got a lot finished, but we’ll probably be here late into the night to be caught up. I have a few questions if you wouldn’t mind answering them before you leave.”
“Sure,” Nathan answered. “Let me go grab my bag and I would be happy to answer them for you before heading home.”
Carl may have looked annoyed, but he was secretly glad to get help finishing up before the Superintendent arrived for an inspection sometime in the next few weeks. Nathan came back down with his belongings and worked with the other two Mounties for almost an hour, before leaving to grab lunch and ride Newton home before dark.
__________________________________________________________
It was twilight when Nathan arrived back in Hope Valley. After getting Newton settled in at the livery, he headed to get Allie from Opal’s house. She was excited to see him when he knocked at the door, and quickly said goodbye so they could go home and talk. She excitedly talked about what they had done in school the past two days, and the fun she had with her friends.
At their house, they both went to their rooms to put their things away. Nathan was the first one down to the kitchen so he could find something to eat. Before he could even start looking for food, he heard a knock at the door. Who could that be? Nathan thought to himself. He wasn’t expecting to see Kate holding a plate of warm food on the other side of the door.
“I have a confession,” Kathryn conceded. “I watched for you to get home, and have been keeping this food warm for you because I knew you would be hungry.”
Nathan smiled, warmed by the gesture. “Kate, thank you so much. I was just trying to find something to stop this growling stomach.” He looked her over and took in her beauty. She had on a casual light blue dress that he had never seen her wear before, and her golden curls flowed down her back just the way he liked. A rush of emotion swept over him and he felt a little weak, partly because of the long day with very little nourishment and also because this woman had that effect on him. “Do you want to come in and visit while I eat?”
“Yes,” she almost whispered. “But I shouldn’t. You need to spend this time with Allie. Did everything in Benson Hills go the way you were hoping?” It took all the self control she could muster not to throw herself into his arms again and hold him tight.
“It was a very interesting trip,” he reported. “But yes, it all went very well. I want to tell you more about it later. Can I see you this weekend so we can talk?”
Smiling so big her dimple was showing, Kathryn grabbed Nathan’s free hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Let me know when and where. I have so much I want to tell you. I feel like we haven’t been together for ages.” Allie came down the stairs and Kathryn quickly moved toward the door. “Enjoy your dinner, Nathan. Both of you have a wonderful night,” she finished, waving to Allie before walking out the door and heading home.
“What was she doing here?” Allie razzed her dad. “You know, I had a nice chat with Miss Bradshaw yesterday. I just want you to know that I have no problem with you pursuing her. But right now I want you to tell me what happened at the hearing. Did we win?”
“We will talk about Miss Bradshaw later, but first of all I want to thank you for the beautiful letter you wrote. I think everyone was touched by what you had to say. You know I am the luckiest guy in the whole world to have you as my daughter, right Allie girl?”
Allie put her hand on Nathan’s arm and said, “I meant every word I wrote, Dad. But seriously, what happened?”
Nathan rolled his eyes at the teenage snark and continued, “The judge determined that Dylan Parks should be sent back to the Union City Penitentiary and should finish out his sentence there. He doesn't want him anywhere near us.”
Allie jumped out of her chair and hugged Nathan with a squeal. “What a relief! Hey, why don’t you finish that dinner and I’ll get dressed for bed so you can read to me before I fall asleep. I didn’t get much sleep at Opal’s and I need to be rested for school tomorrow. We are learning about chemistry, and Miss Bradshaw is teaching us how it applies to baking. Her class is so much fun, and we’ve learned so much already.”
“That sounds great,” he replied. After he ate his dinner from Kate, Nathan read to Allie who fell asleep before he was even able to finish a single chapter. He felt exhaustion creeping up on him, so he changed and slid into bed after saying a prayer of gratitude for all he had been blessed with in his life, especially these past few weeks. Nathan Grant felt positive changes happening in his life, and he was excited about what the future would soon bring.
Wonderful!
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