DEER FALLS INN

Maddie and Nate finally made it to the inn. They were exhausted and hungry and just needed to sit down.

"Good evening, you must be the Carlins?"

"Yes, ma'am," Nate answered. "I'm Nate and this is Maddie."

"It's wonderful to meet you both. Let me show you to your suite."

"Wait," Maddie said. "I didn't ask for a suite. We just need a room. We can't pay for a suite."

"Now don't you worry, Mrs. Carlin. This suite is just what you two need and it has already been paid for."

"What do you mean? I said that we would pay when we arrived. There must be a mistake."

"No mistake. A Mr. Travis Harris, who just happens to be my son, arranged for everything."

"Uncle Travis," she whispered. When she sent the telegram, she had forgotten he was Renee's son.

"Follow me," she said, already walking up the stairs to the second floor. Nate picked up both suitcases and they followed her. "I call this my honeymoon suite. Are either of you hungry?"

"Yes!" they said in unison.

"I have roast beef with carrots and mashed potatoes. I'll bring it up in about five minutes."

The second she closed the door, they looked around. "I think this is the most beautiful room I've ever seen." Fresh flowers adorned various vases in the room. The atmosphere was very calming.

Nate had walked into the bathroom. "The bathtub is huge, babe. There is even vanilla bubble bath on the sink."

"Sounds perfect." She opened her suitcase and set out her nightgown and robe for after dinner.

HARRIS TOWN, THORNTON HOUSE

Caleb and Amy sat on the couch on their last night in town, just enjoying each other.

The children were asleep upstairs and they were enjoying quiet.

Caleb touched her chin, staring at her beautiful, soft lips. He slipped his hand behind her neck and leaned in to capture them. She pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his back.

Caleb felt a little hand on his knee and jerked back from their embrace. "Abbie. What are you doing up?"

"Kisses," she said with a giggle. Amy hid her face in his neck, her face heating up.

He picked her up and kissed her face all over, making her laugh. "Where's Mama?"

"Kiki eat."

"She's feeding Kiki?"

"Yes."

Em walked in. "Sorry Caleb. She somehow escaped her crib." She held out her arms to Abbie. "Time for bed, Ab."

"Night night," she said with a wave.

Caleb smiled and then looked back at his wife. "Shall we continue?"

"As much as I would love to just sit here and kiss you all night, we need to finish packing and sleep."

"Amy Thornton, always my voice of reason."

"That's right. Someone has to do it." They stood up and turned the lamps off.

"It's kinda romantic here in the dark."

"Caleb, upstairs," she said with a giggle and a swat to his rear end.

A WEEK LATER

All the wedding visitors were gone and the honeymooners were arriving home on the train.

"We need to make a trip to the store, Nate. We have nothing in the house to eat."

"Ok. After we take our suitcases home, we'll go."

"What do you want for dinner?"

"Anything you want to make is fine."

"Liver and onions?" she joked.

"Gross! No."

"What if I like liver?"

"I might have to rethink our marriage."

"A deal breaker?"

"Absolutely."

"Ok, no liver. Don't want to lose a husband over something as disgusting as that."

"Good choice. We could go to my parents for dinner."

"Seriously? We just get home from our honeymoon and you want to spend the evening with your parents?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Three words. Short blue nightgown."

"Ok, so what's for dinner?" She giggled and made a list of things they needed.

DINNER TIME, NATE AND MADDIE'S

Maddie finished cooking while Nate set the table, lighting candles as he went. "I didn't know we had this many candles, Nate."

"We didn't, but I bought a few more from the store."

"A few?" There was at least a dozen around the room. He had gone to the store alone.

"I thought it would make it romantic."

"I love that you thought that." She kissed his cheek and smiled.

"It doesn't?"

"Let's try this." She blew out about half of them to make her point.

"It's shadows and darkness. That's romantic?"

"Maybe this will help." She removed her robe revealing her short blue nightgown she had mentioned on the train.

He raised his eyebrows and saw her point. "Ok, less candles and less clothes. I'm good with that."

Just then the door opened and Em walked in. "Maddie! Why is it so dark in here? I need to talk to you."

"Em? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you. Why didn't you come see me when you got home?"

"Ok, first, you can't just come in here like this.

"Why?"

"Because I don't live with you anymore and this is my house, with my husband. We are in the middle of our evening."

For the first time, Em noticed the food, the table, and Maddie's nightgown. "Oh. I'm sorry. I need to talk to you, though."

"I'll come over tomorrow and we'll talk."

"It's important."

"I'm busy tonight. Tomorrow. Goodnight Em."

THE THORNTON RANCH

Em walked in the door at home just as confused as she was before she left.

"Em? Where were you?" Elizabeth asked.

"I went to see Maddie."

"Tonight?"

"Yes. She got mad and told me she was busy."

"She was angry?"

"Well, no, but I needed to talk to her and she told me she couldn't. They looked like they were going to eat dinner, but it was so dark and she was wearing her nightgown so I don't think that was it."

"Honey, you should wait for an invitation to go over, especially at night."

"She used to talk to me all the time. Now, she's different."

"Yes, she is. Now, Nate comes first. Then, when she has babies, they'll will take up more of her time." She could see Em's face and her disappointment. "You could talk to me, if you want. I know I'm not Maddie, but I would like a chance to help you."

"I'm just going to go to bed. Night Ma."

"Night, Em."

THE NEXT DAY, NATE AND MADDIE'S

Nate slipped out of bed early. "Where are you going?" she mumbled.

"To work, babe."

"You can't stay with me today?"

"No, Dad's expecting me. I will be home for supper."

She sat up and looked at him. "What about lunch?"

He sat down next to her on the bed. "I won't have time to come home for lunch."

"What will you eat?"

"I'm sure Ma will make me something."

"Ok, but starting tomorrow, I will pack you a lunch. It's my job to take care of you." He stood up and she missed him. "Nate, wait." He stopped and looked at her. She wrapped her robe around herself and then her arms around him. "You didn't kiss me goodbye."

"I'm sorry." He leaned down and kissed her lips, lingering for a moment. "I'll miss you today."

"I'll miss you too." She did already and she didn't want to let him go.

"Babe, I have to go. I'll see you tonight." He kissed her once more and then left.

She made herself tea and then dressed to go see Em. She wondered what was on her sister's mind.

She walked in her parent's house and smiled. All the voices she had missed were coming from the kitchen. "Good morning, everyone."

"Maddie!" "Me Me!" "Bug!"

Jay beat everyone to her, jumping into her arms. "You're home!"

"Hi, bud. Were you brave when I was gone?"

"Yes, Me Me. I missed you but I didn't cry."

"Good job."

Em did the dishes quietly while everyone else talked to her sister.

After a bit, Maddie walked over and picked up a towel to dry. "Em? Are you mad?"

"No."

"Do you still want to talk to me?"

"Yes." Em's eyes filled with tears as she looked away and continued with the dishes.

"What's wrong?"

Em put her dish down and led her onto the back porch. "I miss him."

"Who?"

"Lee Coulter."

"You miss him? You barely know him."

"I do though. Every night since Mom and Dad's vow renewal, we talked. He came over and we took a walk or sat on the porch. We talked for at least an hour each time. Maddie! He isn't in my plans. I'm going to teacher college next fall. I want to teach before I get married. Now…he makes me feel like I want to be with him instead."

"Do Mom and Dad know you were sneaking out?"

"No, are you kidding? Dad would go crazy. He just gave you away."

"Did he kiss you?" Em blushed and turned her head. "He did! How was it?"

"Really good. Maddie what do I do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I'm confused."

"I think it may be hard, but I say go to teacher college and just write letters. He lives far away. If he lived here, I might have a different answer. Is he working at the lumber mill with Uncle Lee?"

"Yes, for now, but he eventually wants to start his own somewhere other than Hope Valley."

"So he has plans too."

"Yes."

"How do you fit into them, Em?"

"I don't know. Growing up is hard."

"It is, but sometimes it's all worth it."

AT LUNCH

Maddie walked over to the Carlin ranch hoping to see Nate for lunch. She knocked on the door and waited. She could hear them inside but it was loud. She knocked again but when no one came, she opened the door. "Hello? Anyone home?"

She walked into the kitchen. "Hi, Maddie!" Dee greeted. "Would you like some lunch?"

"I don't want to be a bother."

"You are no bother. Trust me." Dee kissed her cheek and made her a plate.

Nate walked over and kissed her. "It's good to see you." She looked into his eyes and realized she missed him a lot more than she had thought.

"Can I talk to you outside for a moment?"

"Sure." She led him outside and then turned and basically devoured him with kisses. "Babe. What's on your mind?" She kissed his neck and ear and then moved back to his mouth, this time slowly which drove him more crazy than before.

"We don't….I mean….we can't do this here." He pulled his lips away from hers and stepped back.

"I'm sorry. I should go." She turned, suddenly embarrassed of her own behavior.

He watched her walk away but then stopped her. "Maddie, I missed you. Please don't go."

"I have to. I shouldn't have come." She walked around the side of the house and sat down before dissolving in tears.

Nate walked back in the house and sat down.

"Where's Maddie?" Dee asked.

"She had to go."

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah. It's our first day apart and it's hard for her." He pushed his plate back.

"And you?"

"Yeah. I didn't know how much I would miss her."

"Why don't you go home? Your Dad can do without you until Monday."

"I shouldn't."

"You should. I'm guessing she needs you right now. Go to your wife, Nate. Trust me."

MADDIE AND NATE'S HOUSE

She couldn't believe how crazy she had acted. It was as if her body had disconnected itself from her brain. The absolute torture that she felt in being away from him for only a few hours was overwhelming.

She took a few deep breaths and calmed herself. "I can do this. Four more hours and he'll be home." She stood, dried her tears, and looked in the mirror. "Oh gosh. I look terrible." Her eyes were red and puffy and her nose matched.

"Maddie?"

"Nate?" Her heart leapt in her chest when she heard his voice.

He walked in the bedroom. "Honey, why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry." She sat on the bed and looked at her hands.

"For what? You didn't do anything."

He sat next to her, but turned to face her. "Nate, the way I acted. I'm so embarrassed."

"I'm not complaining about your kisses."

She blushed and smiled. "Why are you home early?"

"Mom told me to. She thought you might want me here. If you don't, I can go back…"

She grabbed him, leaning against his chest. "No, don't go. I do need you."

He pulled her tight against him and sighed. "I need you too."

"You do? I mean, it's not just me?"

"No. I almost dropped a hammer on my toe because I was thinking about you."

"Nate, you have to stop thinking about me when you're working. You almost had a concussion from that tree branch and now your poor foot."

"That's easier said than done, babe. I'm always thinking about you."

HOPE VALLEY, TOM AND JULIE'S

Tom took his suitcase into the room that he had been staying in for the last year or so, ever since Jake had moved. He sat on the bed and sighed. He didn't want to be away from Julie anymore.

"Tom?" She peeked her head in the door.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"I was going to unpack, but I don't want to be in here. Julie, please, I want to be with you."

She nodded and held out her hand. "I want you with me." He jumped up and hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. She leaned back a fraction of an inch and stared at him. He had such blue eyes and she had forgotten how gorgeous they were.

"Jules?"

She touched his cheek with her finger. "I missed you so much." With her confession, she leaned forward, slipped her arms around his neck, and kissed him, letting her lips linger on his, sighing as he kissed her back.

"Mama! Olive is sick I think." Sophie had walked in the room breaking into their moment.

"What? Olive is sick?"

"I don't know, but she's pulling on her ear and crying."

"Honey? We'll talk later?"

"Yeah." He picked up his suitcase and walked to the room that was his and Julie's room.

MADDIE AND NATE'S HOUSE

"Is your Dad mad that you left?" She stared into Nate's eyes as they lay facing each other, arms around each other's waists.

"I don't know. Ma told me to go."

"Oh good grief. He's going to think I'm some little girl who can't handle her emotions."

"Now who's worried about being too young? He was a newlywed himself. He will understand, and he loves you like a daughter."

"I can handle it, Nate. I'm strong. I come from a line of strong women."

"You don't need to prove anything to me."

"I guess we are perfect for each other," she said.