Granting a Family - Chapter 29: New Life

After eating lunch and helping clean up, Nathan and Allie headed to the Mercantile to do some shopping while Kathryn gave Thomas a break by helping Anne through the early stages of labor. She had gotten all of the supplies ready that Faith had suggested, and pulled out the completed baby items she had sewn earlier. Kathryn gave Anne some herbal tea to ease the pain a bit, and she was able to fall asleep for some much needed rest. Kathryn used the break to finish her sewing, but her mind couldn’t help returning to the livery earlier in the day when those three little words she had been thinking for a while escaped her lips unexpectedly. She still wasn’t sure what Nathan’s reaction meant, but everything seemed to be alright during lunch. As she sat pondering, Thomas came back into the house after going for a walk and taking care of some unfinished business at the Mountie office.

“How’s Anne doing, and why aren’t you with her,” he asked nervously.

“I gave her some of that tea suggested by Faith, and she went to sleep right away,” Kathryn explained. “I was just about to check on her, but now that you are back I’ll let you do the honors.”

Thomas walked over and gave his little sister a kiss on the head before climbing the stairs. He found his wife still sleeping, so he laid down beside her and decided it would be best for him to get some rest while he could as well. Kathryn peeked in on them soon after, and smiled to see them able to relax their minds and bodies before the intense and tiring events to come. She determined they had the right idea, as exhaustion from a poor night’s sleep and her morning with Nathan finally washed over her. Thoughts of Nathan and Allie sharing a meal with her, just like a real family would, ran through her mind as she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

At the Mercantile, Allie and Nathan shopped for food and other supplies that had run out before he left town on assignment. Woodworking supplies he ordered a few weeks before had also come in, just in time for him to finish a very important project. He paid Ned and they went home to put things away. When they were just finishing up, a few of Allie’s friends came to see if she could go with them down to the river. Nathan gave his permission, and the girls excitedly went on their way.

Finally alone, Nathan went to his room and uncovered the project he had been working on for several weeks. He took it to the back yard where he finished sanding to smooth the wood, then put on the first coat of stain. As he worked, Kate’s confession replayed in his mind. She had said it so quietly that he almost missed it, but hearing those words from her stunned him. Kate had looked as shocked as he was, but Allie had interrupted before he could absorb it and respond. While working, he smiled to himself thinking of Thomas becoming a father for the first time and wondered how he was faring.

Letting the stain dry, he went inside to wash up and rest before putting on a final coat and going back to check on the Bradshaws. Still feeling some fatigue from a rough week, Nathan decided a quick nap was just what he needed. He climbed the stairs and went into his room where he sank into his bed and passed out in no time. 

Waking up with tears in his eyes, Nathan wondered if this dream ending meant he could finally move on and leave that heartache in the past. He remembered every detail like he was actually there in real life. He closed his eyes and the dream replayed in his mind.

A shot rang out during the prisoner transfer gone wrong, and everything was in slow motion. Nathan moved to the wagon to help the wounded Constable. When he removed the hurt Constable’s hat, the face staring back at him was Constable Jack Thornton. Jack spoke to him about regretting the choice to leave his wife of two weeks to lead the recruits. 

This time the dream had continued on further than it ever had. 

Nathan apologized for being the reason a replacement was needed and the cause of Elizabeth and little Jack being without a husband and father. Jack was getting weak from the loss of blood, but before he succumbed he looked Nathan straight in the eyes and said: “Nathan, you are a good man. My death is not your fault, and neither are the deaths of any of our fallen brothers. Going to Hope Valley to look after Elizabeth and my son is the very definition of what it means to be an honorable Mountie. But they are strong and will be just fine. You have to let go and allow your heart to love again.” Jack closed his eyes and was gone. Nathan was crying, knowing they all had to move forward now.

Opening his eyes, Nathan felt free...and in a weird way...forgiven by Jack and the other fallen officers he hadn’t been able to save. He looked at the time and was surprised how long he had actually slept. He knew he needed to finish staining, then see if Kate needed any help. His heart sped up just thinking of being with her again. Shaking off all the feelings he had been experiencing, Nathan headed downstairs and out back to finish working.

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What’s wrong and why is someone screaming? Kathryn tried to open her eyes, but the afternoon sun was bright coming through the window she had forgotten to cover with the curtains before her nap. Finally reaching consciousness, it hit her that Anne was the one screaming and she needed to go see what was happening. Jumping out of bed, she walked down the hall and knocked on the other bedroom door. Thomas yelled, “Come in!” When she opened the door, Anne was standing hunched over the bed while Thomas rubbed her back.

“I’m sorry I yelled,” Anne apologized. “It just got really painful for a minute.” 

“Silly, you don’t have to be sorry. Just let me know how I can help.” Kathryn went to the basin of water to get a cool rag and patted the sweat from her sister-in-law’s forehead. Just then a knock came at the door. She quickly went to see if it happened to be Faith. To her great surprise, Nathan was on the other side of the door, and she suddenly realized she must have been a sight to behold.

When Kate flung the Bradshaw’s door open, Nathan was startled and blown away by her natural beauty. As he looked her over more closely, he noticed she was still wearing the same dress from earlier, but it was a bit wrinkled and she was completely barefoot. Her hair was messy with strands going in every direction, and she wore a concerned expression on her face. “What’s wrong, Kate? Is everything ok with Anne?”

“I...I’m not sure. I think we need to get Faith,” she declared. “I just woke up, and I’m sure I look a fright. I didn’t sleep well last night, so while Thomas and Anne were sleeping I tried to take a short nap that went longer than expected.”

“In my eyes you look beautiful no matter what,” he said, stepping forward and running his fingers through her unruly hair. He looked down at her uncovered toes, then back up into her worried eyes and gave her a reassuring crooked smile. “I’ll go get Faith while you freshen up.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek then left for the Infirmary, leaving a very flustered Kate behind.

Upstairs, Kathryn looked in the mirror and groaned. If Nathan wants to stick around after today, he’s a better man than I realized, she thought. She pulled all the pins out of her hair and brushed it, then did a French braid to keep it out of her face, but less messy. She changed into an old casual blue dress that she knew might get messy dealing with the birth of a baby, then covered her bare feet with stockings and plain house shoes before informing the mother and father-to-be that the doctor should be on her way.

However, before she made it out of her own bedroom, she heard a knock at the door downstairs and was surprised when she discovered Nathan back with Faith so quickly. “That was fast,” she remarked.

“Nathan found me already on my way here to check on Anne,” Faith divulged. A painful outcry from upstairs reminded them all of why they had sent for a doctor in the first place. Faith gave them a little smile and nod and hurried up to see her patient.

“It looks like you were able to get all put back together. I don’t think I've ever seen your hair like this before.” Nathan delicately touched the golden braid that went down her back and looked intently into her deep green eyes. “Kate, about earlier,” he began nervously, his heart starting to race as he remembered her declaration of love that morning. But before he could continue, Thomas came downstairs barking out orders of boiling water and preparing linens. 

“I’m sorry, Nathan. I want to talk, but Thomas needs me right now.” Kathryn squeezed his hand and forced a smile, even though she was highly disappointed they had been interrupted in the middle of Nathan’s first attempt to respond to her earlier admission.

“Kate, let me go get dinner at the café for everyone, if that would help. Allie is eating with friends tonight, and I know everyone here is hungry. You help Thomas, and I’ll be back within the hour.” Nathan moved toward the door and Kate followed him, still holding his hand. She went as far as the front porch and closed the door so they could have a semi-private moment. 

“You are too good to me,” she insisted. “Thank you.”

Nathan leaned in for a quick kiss, and Kate was happy to oblige. “Go take care of your family,” he insisted, as he reluctantly pulled away and headed down the porch steps toward the street. With a little wave he was off to the café and she went back inside.

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Dinner had been eaten and cleared up for a while, and Nathan had gone home to get Allie to bed. He promised Kate he would come check on things after Allie was sound asleep. Labor was slow in its progress, but Faith assured them all that it was normal for a first child. Everyone was feeling the effects of a long, stressful day and Anne complained she couldn’t keep going. Her headaches were returning with a vengeance which deeply concerned Faith, but she kept it to herself so she wouldn’t scare the Bradshaws.

It was almost 11:00 when Nathan finally appeared back at the house. Always good in a crisis, he began helping where he was needed away from where the delivery would actually be happening. The wait was almost over to greet the newest member of the Bradshaw family just after midnight. Thomas had helped Anne during much of her labor, but Faith sent him down to be with Nathan when it was time for delivery. Kathryn was right there to assist, and marveled at the process she would have to go through one day to bear her own children. 

“I am concerned about her elevated blood pressure,” Faith admitted quietly to Kathryn, once Thomas was gone and they were out of earshot from Anne. “We need to try and keep her as calm as we can, and make sure she is breathing correctly through the contractions and pushing.”

Kathryn kept a cool rag on Anne’s forehead and talked her through the breathing and pushing. After a long and painful labor, little baby Bradshaw was born at 12:32 a.m. on Sunday morning. While Faith tended to the new mother, Kathryn cleaned the baby with a cloth and some warm water. She wrapped the little one in a blanket she had sewn, and let Anne hold her while she went downstairs to inform the new father.

Both men needed some fresh air, so they had moved to the porch where Nathan tried to calm down Thomas who was scared and excited about becoming a father. “You are going to do great, Thomas. Plus, you have an amazing wife to be by your side. Raising a child alone is much more difficult, but still the joy of my life. I don’t know what I would do without Allie.”

“She’s a great kid,” Thomas agreed. “I know Anne will be a wonderful mother, but I have very little experience with babies.” 

“You’ll learn,” Nathan encouraged. Suddenly the door swung open and Kate burst outside. 

“You have a baby girl!” she exclaimed. “A beautiful daughter with dark hair, and she’s just so sweet. Go up and see your girls.” When he started to go up the stairs, Faith came out looking frantic.

“I need someone to go get Carson,” she yelled. “I can’t stop Anne’s bleeding. He was sleeping at the Infirmary tonight in case we needed to call on him for help. Thomas, come up and kiss your wife, then take the baby downstairs until things are under control.”

“I’ll go get Carson,” Nathan volunteered, quickly leaving the house and running all the way to the Infirmary. “Carson!” he screamed when he walked inside. “Faith needs you to help with Anne. She can’t get the bleeding to stop.”

Springing to his feet, Carson quickly pulled on his shoes and grabbed his bag. They sprinted back to the Bradshaw’s house and Carson ran up to the bedroom. He supported Faith through the complication with the placenta, but let her do everything herself so she felt confident the next time a similar problem arose. After several minutes, they were able to get the bleeding under control and Anne stabilized. Her blood pressure, which had been high for the last weeks of the pregnancy and had been rising throughout labor, then dropped too low after experiencing blood loss. But once things were more settled, Faith checked her blood pressure and it was back in the normal range again. Anne was weak, but insisted on getting her husband and baby back up to her.

“I’ll get them on my way out,” Carson promised. He took Faith out and into the hallway where he commended her on a job well done. “Faith, you did great and didn’t really need my help. I want you to always believe in yourself, because I do. I’ve missed us working side by side together and hope when I finish my fellowship in a year we can find a way to be together. Now finish up and go get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Carson kissed Faith’s forehead and beamed with pride for the way she had handled a very intense situation. He knew that more than anything, she just needed support and someone to talk things through with. He wondered if she had considered getting a nurse to assist her during times like these, and made a mental note to discuss it with her in the morning.

Thomas had mixed emotions as he held his daughter for the first time. She was very tiny, being a few weeks early, but was very strong and healthy. He couldn’t believe she was finally here and he was a father. Tears formed in his eyes as he held her, feeling a kind of love he had never experienced before. But not knowing how his wife was doing and the thought of losing the love of his life, terrified him. He couldn’t raise this child alone, nor did he want to even try. 

Kathryn hugged Nathan tight when he came in from getting Carson. They both looked at the baby as Thomas held her, then went on the porch to give him some alone time with his daughter. Neither spoke as they sat worrying about Anne’s safety, but they held hands, listened to the nighttime sounds, and enjoyed the cool night air. Nathan knew he should get home soon, but wanted to make sure all was well before leaving the Bradshaws for the night. Emotionally and physically drained, Kathryn laid her head on Nathan’s shoulder and started drifting off the moment she closed her eyes. He enjoyed feeling her lean against him, and listened to her steady breathing as he closed his eyes and struggled to stay awake himself. A few minutes later, Carson came outside on his way back to the Infirmary. 

“We were able to stop the bleeding and get her blood pressure under control. Faith is just finishing up, then she is planning to sleep here tonight so she’s close by if they need her,” he reported. “I sent Thomas up to be with Anne and the baby. It looks like you both could use some shut-eye.” Carson shook Nathan’s hand, then wearily walked back to town.

Kathryn woke up when she heard the door shut, and took in Carson’s update with a sigh of relief. Nathan helped her up and walked her inside the house. “I need to get some sheets and blankets to make a bed for Faith down here.” When she had gathered them up, Nathan helped her fix up a place for Faith to sleep just as she walked down the stairs.

“I was just going to ask you about doing this,” she said. “Thank you for having it ready. I’m going to sleep in short increments and then check on everyone for the rest of the night, just to be sure we don’t have any more complications. You two better get some sleep as well.”

“Goodnight, ladies.” Nathan kissed Kate’s hand and left to go home, while she went upstairs to try and rest up for more busy days ahead with her new little niece.

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Sunday morning, Nathan woke up much earlier than he expected after such a late night and busy day. He heard Allie downstairs making breakfast, and hurried to get cleaned up and dressed so he could check on the Bradshaw family as soon as possible. He smiled remembering how proud Thomas looked of his little girl, but his heart hurt for the pain he saw on his face as he worried about his wife. He moved to the corner where the gift he had been making was covered with a sheet. After breakfast, he would deliver it to the people who had become like family to him over the past few months. Coming from a very broken and troubled home, he struggled to trust others and get close to them. But even before he started courting Kate, Thomas had started becoming like a brother and Anne really had taken to him and Allie very quickly. 

Allie was brimming with anticipation when she saw Nathan coming down for breakfast. “Dad! Was the baby born? Boy or girl? Do we get to go see the Bradshaws after we eat?” 

“Slow down,” Nathan chuckled. “First of all, I appreciate you making breakfast this morning.”

“You’re welcome, but can you please tell me about the BABY?!” she asked, sternly.

“Oh, right,” he teased. “A tiny baby girl was born just after midnight. Anne had a little trouble after the birth, but when I left they had things under control. We can stop by to check on them, but we probably can’t stay long and we have church in a few hours.”

They both ate breakfast and washed the dishes with unusual speed and enthusiasm. Nathan went up to get the gift and Allie couldn’t stop praising him for his woodworking skills as they walked the short distance to the Bradshaw’s house.

While finishing eating breakfast, Kathryn smiled when she heard a familiar knock on the front door. She was pleasantly surprised to see Allie with Nathan, and when she saw his gift she marveled at the skill it took to build something so exquisite. “Come in you two. It’s about time for Anne to take a nap after she finishes feeding the baby, and I will be able to take care of her so you can get a peek.”

A few minutes later, Thomas came bringing down their empty food tray. “Nathan, Allie! So good to see you this morning.”

Nathan stood and shook his hand. “I have something for you,” he said, pointing to the present he made.

“Wow, that is very generous of you,” he said, examining the fine craftsmanship. “Please, bring it upstairs, and you can see Anne before she goes to sleep. You are family, so I want you there when we announce her name. We just decided.”

“Finally!” Kathryn exclaimed. “Now I will know what to call that precious little one.”

All four of them moved upstairs to the bedroom, where Anne was sitting up in bed burping a tiny dark-haired infant. “Sweetheart, I hope you were ok with everyone coming up to say hi before you sleep. Look at what Nathan made for us.”

Anne gasped as Nathan brought a beautiful wooden cradle and set it down next to the bed. It was beautifully hand carved and crafted to perfection. “Nathan, it’s so magnificent! You are so talented and you’ve done so much for us already, but I absolutely love it!” Anne reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze in gratitude. “Allie, thank you for coming. When I’m back on my feet, we are going to have a big celebration. We’re family, no matter what.”

“Are you all ready for the big name reveal?” Thomas asked. Everyone nodded excitedly. The proud daddy took his daughter in his arms and announced, “Welcome Elsie Mae Bradshaw into our family.”

Tears immediately sprang into Kathryn’s eyes when she heard the announcement. “You named her after Mom,” she uttered, her voice heavy with emotion. “And your Mom, Anne. Mae will be so excited to meet her first grandchild.” Kathryn hugged her brother then moved to the bed where she gently embraced her sister-in-law, who felt more like a real sister than any of the others. “Let me take Elsie Mae and you both can get some rest.”

“Congratulations,” Nathan and Allie said in unison. They left the tired couple to try and take a nap while Kate cared for the baby. Downstairs, Allie begged to hold Elsie. As she did, Nathan’s heart was completely full at the sight of what felt like a very real family moment. His greatest desire was to see Allie become a big sister, and watching her dote over this brand new baby made him even more resolved to give her a real family sooner than later. Kate was giving Allie tips on properly caring for an infant, making sure the head and neck were properly supported. A peaceful feeling that often surrounded birth enveloped the room.

“Do you want to hold her, Dad?” Allie offered. 

Unsure of his abilities with a newborn this tiny, but knowing he was a Mountie and could handle anything, Nathan gently scooped up the baby into his large hands and held her close. Just the smell coming from the top of her head was intoxicating, and his desire for his own child was stronger than it had ever been. He looked at Kate who was staring at him with a look he had never seen from her before. They stared at one another then back at Elsie in unison and their eyes met again. Allie caught a hint of a romantic moment she didn’t quite feel comfortable being around yet, so she excused herself to go home and get ready for church.

Once they were alone with the baby, Nathan handed her back to Kate and sat close to her. Both of them were feeling things about this experience that they weren’t quite prepared to discuss. But they did have other unfinished business that Nathan couldn’t let go unresolved any longer.

“Kate,” he began. “I have so much I need to say to you. First of all, the night of the dance I never told you how stunning you looked. That dress...I saw you wear that in Union City at The Tempest when I took Allie. You took my breath away then, and at the dance. I’m very sorry that was a lost opportunity for me to dance the night away with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” He grabbed her free hand and she laid the baby gently next to her so she could turn and hold both of his hands while they talked.

“Thank you, Nathan. I didn’t get to tell you how handsome you looked that night either. But I’m glad it happened the way it did,” she confessed. “I think it was good for us to have that first real fight and improve our communication. I’m so glad I had you to lean on during the whole ordeal yesterday. All I could think about when we weren’t sure if Anne would be alright, was how my mother’s complications from having me eventually took her life. When they told me they were naming the baby Elsie, it was like it came full circle. I finally realized that I can’t hold on to that fear and guilt anymore. My mother continues to live on through her children and grandchildren. I feel more at peace than I ever have when it comes to my mother.” Tears were streaming down her face and Nathan wiped them away, but they were happy ones this time.

He took a deep breath to continue with what he needed to tell her. “You know the dream I told you about, the one with Jack Thornton?” Kate nodded and squeezed his hands in support. “I think the dream is finally complete now, and I can officially move on. Details aren’t really important right now, but I finally feel more free than I have in a very long time.” Nathan was looking deep into Kate’s eyes, his heart pounding so hard he felt it might burst from his chest. “That being said, I still haven’t responded to what you said to me yesterday at the livery.”

“You don’t have to…” Kathryn started to say, but he put his finger on her lips to silence her protest.

“I do have to. But I first want to hear you say it again, this time a little louder than a whisper...but not much, since there are people sleeping here.” Nathan smiled and Kate’s face was turning red, but her smile was so large that the dimple in her cheek was very prominent.

“I love you, Nathan Grant,” Kathryn murmured.

Nathan cleared his throat, trying to contain the feelings she brought out in him. “I love you too, Kathryn Bradshaw,” he finally professed, his voice cracking. “I’ve been wanting to tell you that for a while now, but it terrified me after facing so much rejection in my life. When you said those words to me, my dear Kate, I knew I could be brave enough to completely open my heart to love again.” He explored her face with his hand for a moment, brushing his thumb over her soft lips. She moved her body closer to his and her hands slid up his muscular arms to his neck and into his hair. His large hands pulled her face to his and their lips met with sweet anticipation and pure love. Letting themselves get lost in a kiss that felt deeper and more emotional than ever before, the world disappeared around them. Finally pulling apart to catch their breath, they looked into each other’s eyes and knew a long courtship was probably not in the cards for them. 

Elsie’s tiny whimpering brought them out of their trance, and Kate quickly picked her up and lightly bounced her back to sleep. “I hope you don’t mind that I was the first to say those very important words,” she teased.

“Oh, Kate. I may not have said them out loud first, but I definitely told you first.” Nathan moved across the room and picked up the three red roses he had picked for her the day before. “The meaning of three roses is ‘I love you’, so even though I wasn’t brave enough to say it with words, the flowers did it for me.”

Kathryn giggled, trying hard not to wake up the baby. “Just like those other flowers meant you wanted to be friends?”

It was Nathan’s turn to laugh and admit she had a point. “Well, we are friends...the very best kind. Do you think Thomas and Anne spare you for an hour so you can go to church with me and Allie?”

“I’m sure they can,” she agreed. “Faith is coming back to check on Anne and Elsie right before she goes to church, and they could use a little family bonding time alone. We could come back and make lunch together for everyone after the service if you would like.”

“It’s a perfect plan. I better go get ready, and I’ll let you do the same. Try out that cradle if you need to put the baby down.” He started walking toward the door, and Kate stood with the baby to join him. He leaned down and kissed the soft skin on Elsie’s head, then gave Kate a quick kiss on the lips and said, “I love you. See you in a bit.”

“I love you, too. I’ll be ready and waiting.” Kathryn closed the door and noticed Elsie Mae gazing up at her. “Hello there, sweetheart. Your Aunt Katie is in love. With Nathan Grant, and now with the sweetest niece in the world. Shall we go check on Mommy and Daddy?” She kissed Elsie’s forehead right where Nathan had and worked her way up the stairs, marveling at the precious gift of new life.