Granting a Family - Chapter 24: Pent Up Emotions

Completing his rounds and heading back to town, Nathan approached the spot by the pond where Elizabeth had ridden away on Sergeant after he confessed his love for her. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he saw Sergeant grazing on weeds near the pond and Elizabeth, wearing her different shades of pink outfit he had seen her in many times, was sitting with her eyes closed on the same log she had waited for him before. Her eyes suddenly opened when she heard him approach on Newton and she seem genuinely surprised to see him.

“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed. “Nathan, I wasn't expecting to see you or anyone out here this early.”

“Hello, Elizabeth. I try to get my out in the open rounds finished early during the summer to avoid the heat later in the day.” Nathan weighed whether or not he should stay. Being in this spot with her was bringing up all of the emotions he experienced that day.

“Would you like to come sit for a few minutes? I've been wanting to talk ever since I got back, but so much has been going on for both of us.” She patted next to her on the log and gave him a pleading look. “I understand if you have work to do.”

Nathan knew she could sense his hesitation, but he decided he had to face her sooner or later. He dismounted Newton and let him join Sergeant grazing. “I have a little time,” he said, sitting down next to her. He felt a little nervous just like he felt before many of their conversations, not being sure what to expect. They sat in silence for a minute, collecting their thoughts.

“I was sitting here thinking about what happened here last year,” Elizabeth began. “Sometimes I'm so full of regret, and just wish I could take it all back.” She looked off into the distance toward Bill's land that Nathan had been so excited about, but ultimately declined buying. “Like Bill's land...I feel responsible for you not settling down there with Allie.”

“We can't focus on the things we regret, Elizabeth. I didn't buy that land because my vision wasn't just about me and Allie, it included you and little Jack.” His admission made him so uncomfortable, he stood up and walked over to Newton where he pulled his canteen out of the saddle bag and took a big drink. He brought the canteen over and offered it over to Elizabeth. “It’s important to stay hydrated on these sunny summer days. Looks like a scorcher headed our way today.”

Reaching out to take the canteen, their hands brushed and Elizabeth felt that familiar energy that has always been there with Nathan. She took a drink of the cool, refreshing water and reflected on how thoughtful he was in little every-day ways. Lucas liked the attention and praise he got for the big, grand gestures and extravagant gifts and dates. Nathan went about giving of himself, thinking of others, and giving gifts that came straight from the heart. How had she been such a fool? Elizabeth took a good look at him in his Inspector uniform. Nathan had always been attractive in his red serge, but the Inspector look with the straight-legged pants and the different hat, really suited him and brought out his handsome features.

Elizabeth handed the canteen back to Nathan, and he returned it to the saddle bag before sitting back down again next to her. He took his hat off and smoothed his hair with his free hand. “Tell me all about the tour. According to Rosemary, you were a big success and your book is flying off the shelves.”

“Of course she would say such things,” Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes and chuckling. “The tour went alright. I loved meeting all the people who had so many questions about life on the frontier and me as a teacher and a mother. While I was out there I began to wonder what I was doing. I wrote the book about my life in Hope Valley, but there I was traveling from city to city and not home living that life. Lucas and his mother are not supportive of my teaching, and minimize my role as a mother. I was just lost, but things became so clear when I was away. I told Lucas the two of us would never work out, and he left. I was never in love with him.”

“I’m sorry things ended that way for you,” Nathan sympathized. “I’m proud of you for all you’ve accomplished, but I’ve always known your true callings were being a mother and a teacher. You were such a good teacher to Allie and so welcoming to us when we came to town. That couldn’t have been easy for you, and you forgave me after you found out about Fort Clay. I want to be there for you and little Jack like you were there for me and Allie. If you need anything, I hope you don’t hesitate to ask.”

Tears slowly moved down Elizabeth’s cheek and regret permeated her entire being. She slowly put her hand over Nathan’s, remembering how large they were compared to hers. He moved his other hand to cover hers and his eyes briefly caught hers. “Nathan, will you please forgive me for how horrible I was to you and Allie? I wish I could take it all back. I was so lost, but it was no excuse for my behavior.”

“I won’t lie and say I wasn’t torn apart, and Allie being hurt was an even bigger concern for me. But Elizabeth, everyone deserves forgiveness and redemption.” Nathan looked deep into her eyes and sincerely assured her, “I forgive you.”

“Thank you, Nathan.” Elizabeth’s heart was beating faster as they sat together in this spot where he had first told her he was in love with her. His stunning blue eyes were full of compassion and forgiveness, but she wasn’t sure if the love was still there. Suddenly feeling vulnerable and insecure she quietly muttered, “I’m just afraid I’m too late…” She let the thought drift off, not ready to vocalize all of her feelings yet. She stood quickly, breaking eye contact and letting go of his hands as she moved to untether Sergeant. “I need to get back to see little Jack before going to the school.”

“Right,” Nathan responded. “I have work to get back to as well.” He put his hat back on and grabbed Newton’s reins. He turned back as she was mounting Sergeant. “Elizabeth, everything is going to work out for you. Sometimes we don’t know where our lives are going to go, but eventually we find what we are looking for.”

“I really do want happiness for you, Nathan. I would like to talk again soon. I just have to get back to let Rosemary get to the newspaper office. She was kind enough to sit with Jack so I could get Sergeant out for a ride.”

“Give that little boy extra hugs from me.” Nathan smiled just thinking about little Jack Thornton. “Allie wants to take him fishing and riding again soon. We had a really fun time with him while you were gone.”

Fearing she would lose all control of her emotions, Elizabeth nodded and prodded Sergeant to hurry home. What a fool she had been to reject Nathan Grant who was such a selfless and giving man and father. They both believed that love was worth fighting for, and she was ready to fight for him...she just wasn’t sure if he wanted her back.

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Friday’s science experiment was learning about leavening agents in baking, and Kathryn helped teach the students how to mix up loaves of bread. They mixed up the dough and let it rise while they worked on other subjects, then they all followed her to the Bradshaw’s row house where they played games as they waited for the bread to bake. Once it was cooled enough to cut, they slathered pieces of bread with homemade strawberry jam and ate their delicious science project. They all agreed that this was the best tasting science ever. Thanking their teacher, the students disbursed for the weekend.

Anne came downstairs after smelling fresh baked bread, and Kathryn cut a big piece for her to enjoy. “This baby says ‘Thanks Aunt Katie’.”

“You’re welcome, sweet baby,” Kathryn babbled, rubbing her sister-in-law’s large, round stomach. “How are you feeling today, Anne?”

“As big as a house,” she complained. “But each week this baby stays inside of me, I’m grateful. Faith says as long as I make it two or three more weeks the baby should be just fine. Bed rest is not easy, but I will do anything to protect this little one.”

Kathryn couldn’t wait to meet her little niece or nephew, but also longed for the time she could bring her own children into the world. Her thoughts immediately went to Nathan and their brief conversation the night before when he got back from Benson Hills. She wanted to find out all the details and have more alone time with him, so she hoped he really did ask her to get together this weekend. Kathryn was also delighted about the bonding time she had gotten with Allie over the past week.

“Where did your mind go?” Anne asked her. “I think I know, but if you want to talk about it, I’m here and very bored.” 

Kathryn laughed and shook her head. “I have no idea what to say. I’m falling for another Mountie, and I think he is still hung up on the other school teacher.” She groaned and put her face in her hands.

“I’ve seen the way Nathan Grant looks at you, and I have no doubt he feels the same as you,” Anne tried to assure her. “As for Mrs. Thornton, from the sound of it, he was devastated when she rejected him. You don’t just get over something like that, especially when you’ve fallen for someone else in the meantime.”

A blush spread across Kathryn’s face and she sighed. “I better go get cleaned up and changed after baking bread with a bunch of teenagers. Do you need anything?”

“I think I’m going to stay downstairs where it’s a bit cooler and read a book, while possibly taking a little nap. If you wouldn’t mind grabbing my book off my nightstand?” Anne got comfortable, while Kathryn brought her book down before going up to freshen up and change. She soon discovered flour was in her hair and it seemed every inch of her body, so she decided a full bath was her best option. Soaking in the tub felt heavenly after her first week of summer class with the older children of Hope Valley. She was really enjoying getting to know all of her new students and their different personalities. Many of them were skeptical of her at first because of how much they loved Mrs. Thornton, but she felt good about the relationships of trust she was building with each of them.

After her bath, Kathryn tried on a lovely new off-white dress sent to her by Aunt Edith from her time in Montreal. It was light and flowy and had lace accents at the neckline, waistline, bottom of the sleeves, and near the bottom of the dress. She wondered how Nathan would react to her in something more modern that flattered her figure quite well. Hoping she really would get to see him tonight, she styled her hair with part up and out of her face and the rest down her back in wavy curls. She accented the dress with the emerald jewelry that had been passed down to her from her grandmother and perfectly matched her eyes. 

When Anne saw her come downstairs, she caught her breath. “Oh Kathryn, you look so gorgeous! You have to make sure and see Nathan tonight. Thomas is taking me to the café for one of our final dinner dates before the baby gets here, so you could invite him over here while we are gone.”

“Do you really think I should invite him? I told him to let me know when and where he wanted to meet.” While contemplating this predicament, Thomas came bounding into the house out of breath.

“Wow, Katie, what are you all dressed up for?” he asked, walking over to greet his wife with a kiss.

“I was just trying on this dress that Aunt Edith sent me,” Kathryn replied, self consciously.

“No, she’s getting dressed up for Inspector Grant,” Anne announced, giving her a wink. “Why don’t you go tell Nathan to meet Kathryn here at 7:00 when we go on our date to the café?”

“Great idea,” he agreed. “We’re just finishing up paperwork this afternoon so I will definitely see him. Would you like me to deliver a note?”

“Ok, sure,” Kathryn answered. “Let me go upstairs and write one, and change out of this dress while I cook and clean, then I can change back right before he comes.” She went up to her room and wrote a quick note, then changed into a dress more suitable for chores before heading back down to give the envelope to her brother.

“Thank you, Thomas. I’ll make sure Anne gets plenty of rest so she feels up to your date later,” Kathryn promised him.

“Hey,” Anne protested. “I don’t need anyone to look after me. Faith said things are looking good, and this baby is staying put for a while. If it will make you both feel better I will go take a nap before dinner. But I am going to get dressed up and get out of this house to spend some quality time with my handsome husband.” Ignoring her protests, Thomas picked up his petite wife and carried her up the stairs, with Anne breaking into giggles. He put her on the bed and kissed her dark curls before heading back to work at the Mountie office.

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Mike Hickam had a lot on his mind as he headed to the livery to get his horse so he could ride out to the pipeline construction site. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost ran right into a woman coming out of the livery. “I’m so sorry,” he began, then looked up only to be staring straight into the eyes of Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton. “Oh, um, Elizabeth, hello,” he stammered. “How are you today? Were you out riding Sergeant? How’s little Jack? I hope he hasn’t escaped the house again.” Mike realized he was rambling and speaking way too fast.

“Mike, hello,” Elizabeth uttered. “Yes, I’ve been trying to get Sergeant out as much as possible after being gone. As for little Jack, I had Bill put an extra lock on the doors that Jack can’t reach and escape. You really were such a lifesaver that night. I’m so grateful you found him when you did or he could have been out in the dark all alone.” Elizabeth put her hand on his arm, and as it tensed she felt how muscular Mike Hickam was, underneath the sleeve of his shirt. Feeling a little jolt of something, she quickly removed her hand from his arm and looked away, embarrassed. 

Her touch had made his heart beat faster, but the way she pulled away made Hickam feel oddly disappointed. Trying not to feel hurt, he tried to change the subject to make things less awkward. “So, Nathan is really good with little Jack. I saw them together while you were away, and he really is such a natural father.”

Elizabeth’s face lit up at the mention of Nathan fathering little Jack, but her expression changed to one of confusion and worry as she wondered where Nathan's heart was and if he still had the same feelings for her that he did last year. “Nathan has been good to us these past few years,” Elizabeth voiced, with a hint of sadness. “We are fortunate to have such a noble and selfless Mountie serving our community.”

“He is so good to everyone,” Hickam agreed. “Our community has also been blessed by having such a dedicated teacher the past nine years. I've watched how you've changed, all the while changing this town for the better. I've always admired you and your passion for Hope Valley and the people here. You are one of the only people I have felt like has noticed me all these years.” Once again feeling uncomfortable for being too personal, Mike cleared his throat and looked away. “I better get my horse ready to go. I hope you have a good day.”

“It was good to see you again, Mike.” Elizabeth smiled warmly at this good man who had been in Hope Valley these many years, and was solid and steady. “Again, I can never repay you for returning my most prized possession to me the other night. Good luck with your pipeline build. Be safe.” Those last words caught her off guard. She had said them to Jack and then to Nathan on occasion, but she wasn't quite sure what prompted her to say them to Mike Hickam just now. Not wanting to analyze her feelings for anyone, she quickly turned and headed for home leaving a bewildered Mike Hickam staring after her.

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Thomas burst into the Mountie office after his quick lunch break and found Nathan sitting at the desk, combing through paperwork. “I have something I think you are really going to like!” he exclaimed. “I have a personal invitation from my sister.” He handed the envelope to Nathan, who felt the color rising to his neck as he took the note. Not wanting to open and read it in front of Thomas, he excused himself and stepped outside. He sat in the chair right outside the door and opened the envelope, unfolding the enclosed paper with care. He couldn't help but smile when he read the note.

My Dearest Nate,

I would be delighted if you would join me for dinner tonight at my house. Thomas and Anne will be dining at the café this evening on a date, so we will have a chance to spend some time alone and talk. 7:00 sharp. I've missed you.

Yours Always,

Kate

Nathan smelled the paper to see if he could get the tiniest hint of her sweet scent. He closed his eyes and smiled at the thought of having another private dinner date with Miss Kathryn Bradshaw. He hoped all the work he had waiting for him would help the afternoon go faster. 

Thomas stuck his head outside with a little smirk on his face. “Hey, can I get a little help here with all these forms? I need you to focus a little so I can get out of here on time. I have a hot date with my gorgeous, but very pregnant and moody wife. She won’t be too happy if I’m late.”

Nathan stood and slapped Thomas on the back. “Let’s get to work so we can both get to our dates on time.” Both Mounties worked and laughed as they anticipated their evening ahead.

When they were almost finished with their work, Allie burst into the office with Anna, Emily, and Opal. “Dad, we are having dinner and playing games at Anna’s house. Is it ok with you if I go? We might sleep over if her mom gives the go ahead once we go talk to her.”

“That sounds great, Allie.” Nathan responded, almost relieved he didn’t have to leave her home alone while he was with Kate. He stood up and gave her a hug. She secretly loved it, but had to save face in front of her friends so she rolled her eyes and pulled away. “Let me know if you are sleeping over. If I’m not home, leave a note. No boys.” All of the girls giggled and promised it was girls only tonight. They left to go inform more parents of their plans, and Nathan went back to work. 

“I see I have some really fun parenting stuff to look forward to in the future,” Thomas observed. “I really do admire how you took on your niece and now she’s become your daughter. But she’s a pretty little thing, and you better have your shotgun ready against all the boys.”

“Or the boy,” Nathan lamented. “I like Robert, I really do. But Allie is way too young to be liking boys. This has been the first age that I really would prefer to have a woman help me understand what is going on in her head and how to handle things with her.”

By 5:30 everything was finished and the men were headed home to get cleaned up and ready for their dates. When Nathan approached Elizabeth’s house, he saw her sitting alone on her porch. When she saw him, she waved and began walking down the steps to meet him. 

“Elizabeth,” he greeted her. “Is everything ok?”

Looking nervous, she gave him her most convincing smile and asked, “Can we talk? Rosemary is watching little Jack for me, and I have something to say to you that can’t wait.”

Nathan felt unprepared for this conversation, but knew it was best it happened sooner rather than later, so he nodded and slowly followed Elizabeth into her house.

Granting a Family - Chapter 23: Differences Aside

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.

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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.

Granting a Family - Chapter 22: Lost and Found

It was getting dark and Allie hadn’t seen Nathan all day. He always tried to be home for dinner, and she couldn’t find a note anywhere telling her to expect him to be home late. He wasn’t at the jail after her shift at the switchboard, and Newton was still gone from the livery when she had checked. She tried not to worry, because this had happened a few times in the past when he had gotten stuck somewhere or something had taken more time than he had anticipated. Allie finally decided to go ask someone who might know where her Dad was.

Kathryn spent the afternoon in bed with one of her bad headaches that made her nauseous and sensitive to light. She drank some herbal tea that always seemed to help, and darkened her room so she could sleep it off. Luckily after several hours the pain was mostly gone, but she was left feeling weak and exhausted. After dinner, Thomas had helped Anne upstairs to settle in bed for the night. A light knock at the door surprised Kathryn while she was cleaning up the kitchen. She opened the door to find a visibly upset Allie with tear streaks on her face and red eyes from crying.

“Is Constable Bradshaw home?” Allie whimpered.

“Allie, come in. Yes, Thomas is here. Whatever is the matter?” Kathryn put her arm around Allie and led her into the living room to sit down.

“My Dad hasn’t come home yet, and there wasn’t a note or anything. He usually comes home eventually, but it is rare for him to be out after dark. I just wanted to see if anyone knew where he went.”

“Stay right here, and I’ll go up and get Thomas,” Kathryn instructed. She went up the stairs and knocked on Thomas and Anne’s bedroom door.

Thomas came to the door immediately, but got concerned when he saw the upset look on Kathryn’s face. “Katie, what’s wrong?”

“Allie’s here and Nathan hasn’t come home yet. She came to see if he told you where he went.” She tried to keep her voice quiet so Allie couldn’t hear the conversation, and to mask some of the emotions she was feeling at the news.

“I didn’t see Nathan at all today,” Thomas said thoughtfully. “Let me get back into my uniform, and I’ll go see what I can find out. You stay here and comfort Allie.” He went back into his bedroom to change and Kathryn went back downstairs.

“Thomas isn’t sure where Nathan is, but he’s going to head out and try to figure out where he may have gone. Can I get you some cookies and milk?” Kathryn went to the kitchen and put some of her freshly baked cookies on a plate and poured a glass of milk that she took to Allie. “This always makes me feel better when I’m worried or scared.”

“Thanks Miss Bradshaw. These are pretty good.” Allie managed half a smile, but when she heard Thomas come down the stairs she shot up out of the chair.

“Don’t worry too much, Allie. Your Dad doesn’t often put himself in dangerous situations. I’m just going to look for some clues at the office and check with anyone who may have seen him.” Thomas pulled on his boots and hat, and Kathryn followed him out onto the front porch where she softly closed the door momentarily.

“I may have been the last person to see Nathan,” she admitted. “When I was walking home from the school with my headache, he stopped and talked to me for a minute. He followed me home thinking I didn’t see him, but when I went inside I saw him riding his horse very quickly out of town headed in that direction.” She pointed past the row houses to the road out of town to the north. 

“Thanks sis,” Thomas said, giving her a quick squeeze before heading toward town.

Kathryn went inside and got her chess set out to challenge Allie to a few games. After losing several times to her student, she went to check on Anne, who was snoring softly. She went into her room and grabbed her current library book she was going to recommend to her students. 

“I thought you might enjoy this book I was going to recommend tomorrow.” Kathryn gave book recommendations each day in her summer class, to try and help her students stay motivated to read through the summer. Today her pick was The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. Angela Canfield had been extremely excited about a person and book that had inspired her for years. She handed the next day’s pick to Allie.

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!” Allie exclaimed. “Would you mind reading it out loud to me? My Dad reads to me every night, and this is one we have read before, but it has been quite a while. He always does the voices when he reads to me, and sometimes we giggle so much it’s hard to make it very far.”

Learning that little tidbit about Nathan Grant put a smile on Kathryn’s face. “I can’t promise to do the voices that well, but I’ll give it my best.” Allie had finished her cookies and milk, washed her plate and cup, then settled in on the chair to listen to her teacher read.

Thomas stopped in the livery to verify that Newton was still gone before heading over to the Mountie office. He looked through some papers on the desk, and discovered something that might explain Nathan’s quick departure this afternoon. With the clue in hand, he went to the person he knew would have more information. 

Clara was clearing the last of the tables when he walked in the café. “Hey, Clara,” Thomas greeted. “Do you know where Bill is by chance?”

“Hi Constable Bradshaw,” Clara answered. “Bill has been helping me clean up tonight, but he just went to dump some trash outside. He should be right back in.”

“Thank you, I’ll actually go find him. Have a good night.” Thomas walked out the back door and almost ran right into Bill who was about to go back inside.

“Thomas, what are you doing here so late? You know we are closed, right?” Bill looked annoyed that he would have to clean up more dishes.

“I’m not here to eat,” Thomas explained. “Nathan hasn’t made it back home tonight and Allie came over to my house worried about him. I went to the office to see if there might be any information that would lead me to where he headed off to in a hurry this afternoon and I found this. The name didn’t sound familiar to me, but I figured maybe you would know something about this inmate.” Thomas handed him the paper he had found on the desk in the jail.

“Dylan Parks has requested a transfer to Granville Penitentiary just north of Hope Valley from Benson Hills where he has been the past six months after transferring from Union City’s Penitentiary several months after he was given at least ten years for his crimes.” Bill kept reading all the legal documentation, but Thomas was still confused.

“Who is Dylan Parks?” he asked. “Why would he care what prisoner is in which Penitentiary?”

“Dylan is Allie’s father, and Nathan’s former brother-in-law,” Bill revealed. “Closer proximity to Hope Valley gives him better access to hurt people close to Nathan, who got him thrown in prison to protect Allie.” 

“So do we think he rode to Granville Penitentiary to try and stop the transfer from happening? It isn’t like Nathan to not let anyone know where he was going. Maybe we should call up there and see if he was there and when he left?”

“Good idea. I’ll go grab Florence to put a call through for us. In fact, I think she may still be at the Mercantile organizing the shipment that just came in a few hours ago. Let’s walk over and see.” Bill apologized to Clara for not being able to help her finish cleaning up, then the two men walked over to the Mercantile.

Ned and Florence were almost finished organizing the shipment when they arrived. “What can we help you with gentlemen?” Ned asked.

“We need Florence to patch a call through to Granville Penitentiary for us to see if Nathan was there earlier,” Bill explained.

“He hasn’t come home yet?” Florence asked, concerned. “I’ll ring that up for you right away.” She moved to the switchboard as the men moved to the telephone.

Thomas took the ear piece and listened for it to connect. When Granville was on the line he began, “Yes, this is Constable Thomas Bradshaw from Hope Valley. I’m wondering if our Inspector Nathan Grant was there this afternoon and if you could tell me what time he left.” Bill watched Thomas closely as he listened to the person on the other end. He couldn’t quite figure out his facial expressions and sounds of acknowledgement. “Well, thank you very much for that information. That should help us locate Inspector Grant. Have a good night.”

“Well, what did they say?” Bill impatiently asked. 

“So the good news is that Nathan was at Granville this afternoon. The bad news is that he told them he was heading back to Hope Valley when he left there a few hours ago. He should have been back before dark. I know he has the skills to take care of himself out there, but I’m not sure Allie would forgive me if I don’t at least see if I can find him.”

“I’ll come with you, but I need to go talk to Elizabeth before we head out, because I promised to come over this evening to visit with her about the book tour.”

“That’s perfect, because I’ll need to go update my family and Allie before we leave. Let’s go get the horses ready and we can stop by the houses on our way out of town.”

On their way to the livery they ran into Hickam who could tell something was wrong. “Where are you guys headed in such a hurry this late?” he inquired.

“Nathan hasn’t made it back from Granville Penitentiary where he was this afternoon, so we are just riding out to see if he ran into some trouble getting home because Allie was worried.” Bill spoke fast and seemed annoyed to have to explain the situation to yet another person.

“Do you need any help?” asked Hickam. “Nathan really went above and beyond to help me with the pipeline deal and I owe him.”

“I think we’re good,” Thomas answered. “It’s not safe to have too many people out in the dark. We’re just going to ride out a little ways and if we don’t find Nathan we’ll head home. He’s trained and can take care of himself, so we’ll go out again at first light if we don’t find him before it is too dark.” Hickam nodded and headed back to his office. 

After getting Hero and Midnight saddled up, the two lawmen mounted up and headed to the row houses. Bill stopped at Elizabeth’s and Thomas went several houses down to where his family lived. 

Elizabeth smiled when she heard Bill’s familiar knock at her door. She needed his listening ear and advice tonight. She opened the door, but was puzzled by the look on his face. “Come in, Bill. I just put Jack to bed, so your timing is perfect.”

“I hate to cancel on you tonight, Elizabeth. But Thomas and I are riding out to look for Nathan.” Bill was a little shocked at her strong reaction when he mentioned Nathan, but wanted to ease her mind so he continued, “I’m sure he’s fine, it’s mostly to help Allie feel better. Nathan can take care of himself.” 

“I’m sure you are right,” Elizabeth agreed. “Does Allie need someone to stay with until he gets back?”

“She is with Miss Bradshaw right now, so I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Again, Bill noticed a little cringe from Elizabeth at the mention of Kathryn spending time with Allie. He had heard the rumors of Elizabeth and Lucas being over, but was hoping to get a little more information out of her tonight. It wouldn’t surprise him if she still had feelings for Nathan, but he had been suspecting something going on between Nathan and Kathryn ever since she got to town. He shook his head and thought there had been enough love triangles to last a lifetime in Hope Valley recently.

Elizabeth walked out onto the porch with Bill as he went to mount Hero so he could head out of town with Thomas. “All of you be safe.” Elizabeth waved as he rode off and took some deep breaths to calm down. When she went inside, she noticed the back door slightly ajar but figured the wind must have blown in slightly open. She just went and closed the door and sat down, worried about Nathan and wondering about Allie with the new school teacher.

Thomas went inside his house while Bill had been talking to Elizabeth to give an update to everyone. Kathryn was reading to herself and motioned for him to be quiet as he noticed Allie sleeping soundly in the living room and figured Anne was asleep upstairs.

He whispered to Kathryn, “I’m riding out with Bill to see if we can find Nathan, but we are only going a little ways before it is very dark then we’ll be back. If we don’t find him we’ll go riding out that way tomorrow morning at first light. Thanks for watching out for Anne and Allie.”

“Be safe Thomas. You don’t think Nathan is in danger do you?” She tried to not look worried, but inside her stomach was in knots thinking about anything happening to her Mountie.

“I’m sure everything is fine. He’s one of the smartest and most experienced Mounties I know. He must have been a little distracted to not tell anyone where he was going, but you are lucky your brother is also a Mountie with decent investigative and tracking skills.” He gave her a quick hug and headed out to mount Midnight just as Bill was coming on his horse.

Mike Hickam sat in his office thinking about his interaction with Bill and Thomas. He had wanted to help search for Nathan, but no one usually took him seriously. He wished they could all see all of the hard work he had put in to get to where he was in life finally. Being in the town for years, he had observed all the comings and goings and knew basically everyone that had been in town for any time at all. He put a lot of time and effort into becoming proficient and educated in whatever profession he was pursuing at the time. He had basically been running the oil company for the past year, and he had helped not only revive the business but with Fiona’s help, made the pipeline happen. Nathan was one of the only people who ever listened to him, and took him seriously when he found the evidence that led to proving the land documents had been forged and allowing them to be able to start building the pipeline. While thinking he looked out the window and saw a very upset Elizabeth heading into Lee and Rosemary’s office across the street. He stepped outside to see what was going on.

Elizabeth ran into the Coulter’s office in hysterics. Rosemary tried to calm her down so she could understand what Elizabeth was saying, and finally she was able to get a coherent message out. “Jack, he just wasn’t there and the door was ajar but I didn’t even go check on him for a while and now I have no idea where he is…” 

Hickam had walked over and heard what Elizabeth said. He immediately felt sick to his stomach knowing little Jack was in danger and seeing her so upset. “I’ll go find some more men to go search, and then I will get my horse and ride to catch Bill and Thomas to come back to help with the search. I’m sure they would agree that a young child is more important to search for than a Mountie who can take care of himself.”

“Thanks, Mike,” said Lee. “You’re a good man.”

Rosemary was trying to comfort Elizabeth as they headed back toward the row houses to help organize a search party near the home. “He couldn’t have gone too far,” Rosemary assured her.

Through her sobs Elizabeth explained, “He just learned to open doors. But he hasn’t ever climbed out of bed and gone out the back. I’m a horrible mother to lose my son.”

“Elizabeth, this could have happened to anyone. You are a good mother. Toddlers love to run off. We’ll find him.”

“But it’s getting dark, and he’ll be so scared. If only Nathan were here, I know he would find him.” More tears flowed down her face, and Elizabeth could barely put one foot in front of the other, because she felt so sick and worried.

Bill and Thomas had barely gotten a quarter mile out of town when they saw red serge riding toward them in front of a slowly-moving stagecoach. It was hard to see in the dusk lighting, but as he got closer they determined that it was in fact Inspector Nathan Grant. He stopped Newton and the stage slowed down and stopped as well.

“What are you two doing out this way?” Nathan asked.

“We’re searching for you,” Thomas explained. “We finally figured out you had gone to Granville Penitentiary, but knew you should have been back right now and your daughter was worried sick.”

Nathan looked down. “I feel bad I didn’t tell anyone where I was going, and that I worried Allie. I had a lot on my mind today, so I forgot to leave a note or something. On my way home, I ran into this stagecoach that broke down. I was able to help them fix it enough to get them into town, but they will need to have the Blacksmith make a repair before they can continue on.”

They motioned to the driver to keep going and they headed back into town. As they approached the row houses, they stopped in front of the Bradshaw’s house to ease Allie’s mind. However, when they arrived they saw people frantically searching and calling Jack’s name. Kathryn had been searching near their house when she saw Nathan arrive back with her brother and Bill. Her emotions took charge and she hurried over and without thinking wrapped her arms around Nathan. As quickly as she had done it, she pulled away as she became aware that most of the town was out here searching for Jack and no one knew about their relationship. 

Nathan was shocked and pleased when Kate hugged him after finding out he was safe. He didn’t think anyone was paying attention, especially since it was really starting to be dark. But his mind suddenly shifted into Mountie mode and he was concerned. “Everyone is searching for little Jack? He’s missing? What happened?”

“I guess he just learned to open doors and he climbed out of bed and escaped out the back door. He hasn’t been gone long, so he shouldn’t have gone far.” Kathryn could see the hurt and worry in Nathan’s beautiful blue eyes.

“I’m going to get the stagecoach to the Blacksmith Shop, and Newton needs a rest so I’ll send Bill and Thomas out on their fresh horses to search and I’ll join them on foot. Oh, but where’s Allie?”

“She fell asleep while I was reading to her,” said Kathryn. 

Nathan felt grateful for all the people who watched out for his daughter when he was away. He was feeling especially protective of her with Dylan Parks trying to worm his way back into their lives. Sweet Kate had read to Allie, one of their favorite things to do each night. Looking at her, wishing she had stayed in his arms longer than a split second, he noticed her rubbing her head again.

“Kate, is your head bothering you still?” Nathan gently grabbed her arm and led her to the porch steps to sit down. “You should be in bed.”

“It was getting better,” Kathryn began. “But being out here searching for Jack, yelling his name, made it start getting worse again. I’m fine though, really.” She looked into his eyes and smiled. It felt good to have someone worry about her, and actually care about her well-being. He had slid his hand from her arm down to her hand which he sat holding for a brief moment then let go when they heard shouts coming down the street.

Hickam had sent all the men he could find to the row houses to search, and finally headed to the livery. He was actually a decent rider, and his horse Hunter was strong and fast. As he entered the livery, he heard sounds coming from Sergeant’s stall. He hurried over and relief washed over him when he saw little Jack petting his father’s horse and babbling on about something.

“Jack!” Mike exclaimed. “Everyone is out looking for you buddy.”

“I come to see Sarge. Where’s ‘ewton?” Hickam picked up Jack and started walking as fast as he could back to the row houses. 

Elizabeth saw the outline of a man holding her son, and a sob escaped her as she ran toward them and threw herself into their arms. Right before she reached them she realized it was Mike Hickam who held her son and brought him home to her. She would have hugged anyone who had saved little Jack, in that moment. She was surprised by how strong and steady Mike’s embrace was, and how safe and secure she felt in his arms as they both held Jack. She was suddenly very aware of all the people surrounding them, and how long she had been in his arms. She saw shock, and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on, in his eyes. 

Turning around to see who was staring at them, the first person Elizabeth saw was Nathan...and he was standing with Kathryn. Elizabeth tried to forget the embrace she had seen the two of them briefly share as Nathan had come back into town, then wondered what he had thought of her embrace with Hickam. She turned her attention back to Jack as she held him close and softly scolded him, “Jack, you scared Mommy so much! You can’t just leave and run away.”

Mike spoke up and told everyone how he had found Jack in the livery petting Sergeant. People congratulated Hickam for finding Jack and many patted him on the back. Everyone was so relieved little Jack was found and unharmed. The crowd dispersed and most of them headed back home. 

Elizabeth approached Nathan and little Jack put his arms up for Nathan to take him. Kathryn excused herself to go home to bed, as Nathan hugged Jack tightly. “Little man, we need to have a talk about being good for your mother and not giving everyone a scare. 

“I see ‘ewton!” he babbled, pointing to Nathan’s horse in front of the Bradshaw’s house. 

“Ok buddy, we’ll go pet Newton for a minute, but then you have to go home and go to bed.” Nathan turned to Elizabeth and said, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to help. But Mike is the hero now. Let me take Jack to see Newton, and you can go properly thank Hickam...although that hug may have been all the thanks he needed.” Nathan chuckled and Elizabeth rolled her eyes, unamused. 

“Mike,” she hollered from a distance as she walked toward him. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I was just at the right place at the right time. I’m just glad everyone is safe.” Mike looked embarrassed from all the attention.

“Before you go, I wanted to apologize to you for the way Lucas treated you over the phone during the time we were on my book tour. I heard those conversations, and he had no right to treat you that way.” Elizabeth smiled warmly at Mike and he looked away when their eyes met briefly.

“Lucas was under a lot of pressure, but I appreciate you standing up for me. Most people don’t really know me that well, and I should probably try to stick up for myself more often. I think I gained some respect from Lucas by figuring out the pipeline problem before he got back into town. I hope you know that what he did to you was wrong as well. Leaving you alone on that book tour and making you travel in that storm all by yourself wasn’t a gentlemanly thing to do.” As he spoke, Mike’s confidence seemed to grow. In order to not risk saying anything to ruin the moment, he said goodbye and headed home feeling larger than life.

Nathan took little Jack to pet Newton for a few minutes, and when he saw Hickam heading home he took the little man to Elizabeth and said goodnight. He headed back to the Bradshaw’s house and Thomas opened the door when he knocked. Allie had just woken up and ran over to give Nathan a big hug.

“I’m so sorry I was worried, Dad. I’m not sure why I felt like something was wrong.” Nathan knew she wasn’t just referring to him being late. He knew tomorrow he would have to tell her about Dylan coming back a year ago, and explain how he was trying to disrupt their lives again. But for tonight, he would take Allie home to bed and let her sleep so she could go to her summer class in the morning.

“Nathan, why don’t I take Newton to the livery so you can get Allie home and you both can get some rest? Bill took the stagecoach to the Blacksmith Shop and got them all settled at the rooms above the Saloon.”

“Thanks, Thomas. I owe you one.” Nathan and Allie went to their house, quickly washed up and changed, then practically fell into bed. As he was about to fall asleep, he thought about tonight. Kate had embraced him when she knew he was safe, and he didn’t even care who saw. He only wished it had lasted much longer. He was also grateful nothing happened to little Jack. His final thought was about Dylan Parks and how tomorrow he needed to fight with everything he had to keep him as far away as possible from Allie and all of the other people he cared about.