And just like that, they were alone.
No more rules to break, no more worries about propriety, no more watchful eyes or judgement. And instead of making them bold, they became shy.
Before opening the door to the Summer Cabin, Nathan turned to Elizabeth. They were both wearing the white flower blossoms, and without speaking, they began to brush them off of each other. Nathan plucked them out of Elizabeth's hair, as she restored his red serge to its pristine color.
"I want to tell you something," Nathan said as he found another white petal in a curl at her forehead. At the tiny frown that was starting between Elizabeth's brows, he said quickly, "You're going to like it."
She relaxed immediately. "Okay."
"Last night, before I fell asleep, I was walking around the living room, remembering the times that Sarah and I used to play there as children. I felt this sadness that she wouldn't ever meet you or Jack, and that she couldn't see us getting married today."
"Oh, Nathan," Elizabeth said, softly, touching his face, "I wish you'd knocked on my door. I would have sat with you a little longer."
He smiled at her. "I know that, but I only felt that way for a second. Suddenly, I had this absolute certainty that Sarah was all around me, and that she would be here today."
Nodding, Elizabeth said, "I'm sure she was."
Nathan raised his eyebrows. "I know she was. And she sent me proof this time."
He held up one of the tiny blossoms. "Sarah used to stand right there under that elder tree, just waiting for the wind to blow. One day when we were about Allie's age, she said that on the day she got married, she would stand there and the moment she kissed her husband, the wind would blow and it would be like it was snowing in June."
Nathan exhaled. "Her exact words. I'll never forget it, because I told her she was a silly, sentimental fool and that life didn't work that way."
He looked at Elizabeth. "Do you remember there being any wind in the clearing at any time today? I don't."
Elizabeth looked back at him, her eyes laughing. "Nope. Not a breath."
Nathan shook his head. "That would be just like Sarah, to give me a kick in the pants to let me know she was right about something."
"I would have liked her," Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.
Nathan sighed. "She would have loved you." He squeezed her hand. "And she was right. Real life is romantic, Elizabeth, and sometimes when you kiss the woman you love on your wedding day in June, it snows."
Elizabeth laughed. "Sometimes it does."
He looked at her, his eyes soft. "I keep thinking I'll wake up," Nathan said.
"Me too," she said, leaning her head against his chest.
He wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly, and then, without warning, Nathan bent and put his strong arm under her legs and lifted her like she was a feather.
"Nathan!" Elizabeth laughed and quickly put her arms around his neck.
He balanced her carefully and opened the door, pushing it with his boot, while Elizabeth continued to laugh in pure joy. "You're going to have to do this again in Hope Valley, you know!" she said.
He kissed her just behind the ear. "I'll do it a hundred times," he said, his warm breath on her neck making her shiver. Putting her down gently, Nathan looked around. All the lamps were lit. There was a basket of fruit and another of cheese, fresh rolls, butter and jam on the table.
"Well, we won't starve," Nathan said.
Elizabeth looked at the bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket with two crystal glasses next to it. "Or die of thirst," she said, looking at him from under her lashes.
Nathan walked to her and took the bottle. He grimaced a little. "This was not in the wedding manual," he said, "But how hard can it be?"
Elizabeth laughed. "If I've learned anything from champagne bottles, it's to aim up and out," she said. "Away from lamps, vases, lanterns, and people."
He turned to her. "That's right! A Hamilton girl. You're probably an expert at this." He smiled and started to hand her the bottle.
"Oh, no," she said quickly. "Husband's job."
Nathan took a quick breath. "Could you say that again, please?"
"Husband," Elizabeth said softly, leaning up to kiss him.
Nathan closed his eyes and let the word wash over him. "Wife," he said, against her lips.
They both fell headlong into the kiss, utterly aware that there was no one here to say no, and nothing more to stop them. And the weightless feeling of that freedom made them both step back from the edge of the cliff, a little breathless.
"The champagne," Elizabeth said in a whisper.
"Good idea," Nathan said, his heart beating firmly in his chest.
They both needed just a little more time, and they looked at each other in complete understanding and smiled. Still in sync, walking the path at the same speed, as they had since they'd first confessed their love to each other.
Nathan held up the bottle, inspecting the top meticulously. "So, my guess would be to untwist the wires and then wait for it to blow." He looked at Elizabeth and said, "Correct?"
She laughed. "So I'll assume this wasn't a part of your Mountie training?"
Nathan raised his eyebrows. "Wedding champagne protocol? Need I remind you? They don't really encourage this sort of thing at Headquarters..."
Elizabeth said, "No going back now, Constable Grant. You're all mine." She looked at the bottle in his hand. "Okay, hand it over, then."
Nathan gave her the bottle and stood behind her with his hands clasped tightly around her waist.
Elizabeth began, "You hold the bottle like this..."
He said softly in her ear. "Oh, the teacher voice. That's my favorite of the many Elizabeth voices."
She turned, making a face. "I have voices?"
Nathan nodded. "Many of them. Continue..."
"I want to know more about that later, all my voices," she said.
"Later," he whispered into her neck.
Taking a deep breath and trying to regain her concentration, Elizabeth said, "You hold the bottle like this. Away from you. Then you carefully untwist the wire..."
Nathan smiled. "I had it right so far," he said, proud of himself.
Elizabeth laughed. "Yes, but the waiting for it to blow part could have taken a while. You want to put your thumbs here, under the cork, and gently..." Elizabeth did exactly as she was explaining. "Turn the bottle as you push..."
The cork went flying safely into the upper corner of the room. Elizabeth squealed. "Oh, I forgot, be sure you have glasses ready..." she said quickly, as the champagne bottle overflowed copiously and splashed over the table before Nathan managed to get the two glasses under it.
They were both laughing and trying to mop up. "I would say that was moderately successful," Nathan said, shaking his head at her.
"In my defense, it's been a long time since I've done that!" Elizabeth said, wiping the champagne off of her chiffon skirt. "Oh, my beautiful dress..."
Handing her a glass, Nathan said, "Did I tell you how beautiful you were... you are... " He shook his head. "That dress, Elizabeth. And you in it. I couldn't breathe when you and Allie walked out."
Elizabeth smiled, taking the glass. "I think you told me a few times. Maybe a dozen or fifty or so times during the reception... And each time you said it, I told you how handsome you looked. But most of all," she said, looking up at him, "It was your eyes. Did you know that they change color? They get more blue, brighter, when you're feeling things deeply." She kissed him softly. "So, I blush and you have a window into my thoughts. And your eyes give me a window into your feelings."
"And what color are they now, angel?" he said, very softly. "What am I feeling?" He kissed her cheek, then her eyes, then moved down to her lips.
Elizabeth sighed with a small sound, her eyes closed as he kissed her. "They're very blue and you love me. And that's a miracle. Because I love you just as much, and in this whole great world we found each other." She opened her eyes. "Do you know how many people never do? They never find their person, the one who will love them with humility, gentleness and patience until death do they part?" she said, reciting the vows they had taken only a few short hours ago.
Nathan's eyes were very blue.
He raised his glass, and said softly, "To you, my wife, my one true love, the greatest surprise of my life."
Elizabeth smiled and sighed. "Did you plan that, or did it just come to you?"
Nathan laughed softly. "It just came to me, a little like my proposal. I'm grateful I didn't mention my horse this time."
Elizabeth laughed. "I told you you're a writer." She raised her glass. "To you, my dear Nathan. I couldn't love you more. I can't wait for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow... but for tonight..." She put the glass to her lips and bravely drained the contents, laughing when the bubbles popped around her nose.
Nathan did the same and then took both glasses and put them on the table. He looked at her for a long moment, and she back at him. He raised his eyebrows tentatively in a question.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and nodded to him, smiling shyly.
Slowly, tenderly, Nathan lifted the flower garland from Elizabeth's hair and smoothed her curls. Elizabeth reached up and unclasped the top brass button of Nathan's red serge tunic.
They were both trembling, and so deeply in love. But they were together... And they knew that together they could do anything.
Outside, just beyond the blueberry elders, people were beginning to move toward the wagons after watching the sunset. Rebecca gave some last minute instructions to Charlie so he could direct the ranch hands in breaking down the tables and chairs in the morning.
"The train leaves at 7:30, and Nathan knows that they need to be ready for the wagon here by six so they can get back to the ranch house and make their train. Jack is in Lee and Rosemary's room tonight, in the crib. Julie is packing up Elizabeth and Jack's things and Allie will manage herself."
Charlie whistled softly. "That doesn't give them much sleep." He raised an eyebrow at Rebecca and smiled.
She smiled back. "They can sleep on the train, Charlie. Did you see those two at the reception?" She took Charlie's arm. "God above, I'm so happy for my boy that I can hardly think. How much more in love could two people be?"
Charlie looked around at the darkened clearing. The few people left were bustling around, paying no attention. Charlie snuck up on her, kissed her on the cheek, and grinned. Rebecca laughed and pushed him away affectionately. "Don't you be getting ideas, you old coot, we might break something." Charlie laughed and hugged her anyway.
In fact, the love on display from Elizabeth and Nathan had worked its magic on a quite a few of the wedding guests. There were the couples everyone would expect - Rosemary and Lee, Jesse and Clara, and Carson and Faith. There was a budding romance they hadn't expected – Fiona and Kevin. But the pairing that at first made them scratch their heads, and then nod, was Julie and Lucas.
From practically the moment Lucas had stepped off the train, they'd been inseparable. They had barely stopped talking since then, and those who happened to overhear snippets of conversation heard talk of Paris, and books, and Hamilton and New Orleans. And the more those who knew them wrapped their minds around it, the more sense it made.
They had taken the first wagon out after the reception. Julie said she needed to get herself and Elizabeth packed up for the train the next day, but she hadn't even made it to the room. Lucas had taken her hand and led her to the porch.
"I've been hearing about this magical porch swing for two days, but every time I've come out here, it's been occupied." He rounded the corner and raised an eyebrow and smiled. "But not now."
Lucas pulled her around gently and said, "Please sit and hold our place?"
"Gladly. The last time I was here, I was the third wheel with Nathan and Elizabeth. Tonight, I have my own dashing man to sit with," Julie said.
"So, I think the choices are coffee, tea, lemonade, cider, or... whiskey," Lucas said.
"What are you having?" Julie asked.
He lowered his chin and smiled. "Since I own the saloon in Hope Valley, I think I could call it research..."
Julie smiled. "Whiskey it is. How wonderfully decadent."
"Be right back."
Julie watched him go and sighed a little. She had decided to move to Hope Valley before she had spent much time with Lucas, but it did sweeten the pot to know that he was there.
It was so interesting to Julie that she had just told Elizabeth she wanted to imagine a different life for herself, and now she could almost see it. She'd wanted to not be seen as silly and trivial, and she'd spent the last two evenings and much of the days talking to a man who made her feel as if she had opinions that mattered and that her value went far beyond her looks or her money.
Although Elizabeth didn't think it was possible, Julie could control herself. She wasn't interested in starting a relationship - but a friendship with a very handsome, sophisticated and intelligent man was an attractive prospect.
What had he said this evening? "You know what your problem is, Julie? You've been told too many times how pretty you are, and not enough times how smart you are. And since you already know that you're pretty, I'm going to tell you you're smart."
Julie smiled. It might have been a line, but Julie had heard enough bad lines from men to appreciate a good one.
Lucas came back with two perfect glasses of whiskey. He bowed slightly and handed her one, and then he turned and sat next to her. He touched his glass to hers and said, "To love..." he paused for a moment and finished, "...of the type we saw today."
They each took a sip and Lucas said, "I'd like to ask you a question, but I want you to feel free not to answer it."
Julie looked at him. "Well, that's intriguing. Okay, I will only answer if I want to."
"You knew Elizabeth with Jack Thornton. And I've heard that theirs was a great love, but I see Nathan and Elizabeth and wonder how much better it could be than this."
Earlier in the evening, they had talked about Literature classes in school and how impossible it was to equate one great book to another. So Lucas referenced something Julie had said earlier. "Purely from an empirical standpoint, of course, can you compare and contrast?"
Julie laughed softly. "How many times have you been in love, Lucas?"
Taken a bit aback, Lucas said, smiling, "I think I'd like to defer that answer to another time."
She raised her eyebrow. "You're very good at evading questions, you know that?" Moving closer to him, she whispered, "I don't give up easily. I'm a Thatcher."
He laughed and whispered back, "I am duly warned."
She took another sip of whiskey, "In any case, in my experience there are different kinds of love. So to answer your question; Elizabeth loved Jack very much and he loved her. But if you think of it like a fire, there are those that burn bright and blaze out fast, and those that have embers buried deep inside that burn for a very long time. Nathan and Elizabeth are the second kind."
Nodding, Lucas said, "That was very poetic. And an effective metaphor. I know exactly what you mean."
"So you have been in love," she said quietly.
Lucas looked at her for a long moment, and then smiled. "I like talking to you. I like being with you, and I'd like to explore all these subjects with you further." He sipped his whiskey and looked out at the trees in the moonlight. "Are you moving to Hope Valley, Julie? You told me earlier that you were thinking about it."
Julie swirled the whiskey in her glass and thought for a moment. "I like you too, Lucas. You listen to me. I know I'm intelligent, but for my whole life the only things that have been required of me are charm and poise and beauty. The requisites to snagging a husband with the right pedigree."
Julie sighed. "I'm exhausted by it, honestly. I have no desire to live that life anymore." She touched her glass to his again. "So, yes. I'm moving to Hope Valley. When Elizabeth moves out of her house, I'm moving in. My mother and father and Viola will be horrified and I don't care."
"I'm glad to hear it," Lucas said softly. "And what will you do? Will you miss the charity lunches and the dinner dances? Our great excitement is movie night every month in the saloon."
"That sounds wonderful!" Laughing, Julie said wide-eyed, "I have no idea what I'll do! I don't even know what I could be good at. I've never had to find out." She turned on the swing to face Lucas. "But I know one thing, if I wanted to be a... a... blacksmith in Hope Valley I think the town would get used to the idea. In Hamilton, which is supposed to be the land of opportunity, I have a very narrow window of what I can be."
Lucas laughed. "I do like your passion, Julie. I don't know about blacksmith, because we already have one. But you might be interested to know that Kevin also fixes and makes jewelry."
Julie raised her eyebrows. "Wait, this Kevin? The one with Fiona? How surprising. I thought blacksmiths were huge and sweaty and bald."
Lucas said, chuckling, "You might find yourself moving past those stereotypes, because in Hope Valley, they don't usually apply. The Judge also owns the café. Clara not only works at the dress shop, but also the café and occasionally at the saloon." Lucas laughed softly, remembering his conversation with Nathan. "In fact, I'm the saloon owner and just this evening it was suggested to me that I might run for Mayor."
"And will you?"
"I don't know," Lucas said. "But I like knowing that Hope Valley is a place where that's possible. That a scoundrel and a reprobate such as myself could someday find himself in the Mayor's office."
Julie frowned and said softly, "I haven't known you for very long, but I don't think you're either a scoundrel or a reprobate. Believe me, I've learned to recognize them."
Lucas took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you for that," he said, but he continued to hold her hand.
Julie tilted her head slightly. "Maybe not a scoundrel, but you are a charmer, Lucas Bouchard." She gently retrieved her hand. "I'm going to keep my eye on you."
Lucas raised an eyebrow and smiled at her. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
