The ride to Brookfield was uneventful. At least as uneventful as a journey can be when its destination gives you the one precious gift you've wanted for such a long time.
Lee and Rosemary rode up front in the wagon, and though Elizabeth thought the ride would be filled with nervous chatter, there were actually long stretches of silence. Rosemary was subdued, with her arm through Lee's as he guided the horses. At times she leaned her head on his shoulder and they talked softly.
Elizabeth was on the bench behind them in the back of the wagon, and every once in a while, Rosemary would turn around and smile, or reach out a hand to touch Elizabeth's.
Nathan rode Bear alongside, and he and Elizabeth were able to talk about the party, and Archie, and the children, and all of the details they wanted to finish on the house and the land before the winter. It was a very pleasant trip, though Elizabeth thought it would have been better if Nathan had been in the wagon and she could lean up against him and perhaps steal a kiss or two.
"I miss riding," she said sulkily, watching him on Bear. "You'll need to take Sergeant out on your rounds once in a while so he knows we still love him."
Nathan smiled. "I will. And he'll cope. Actually, Dad was asking if he could ride him, so that might be a good solution if it's okay with you." He looked at Elizabeth. "And thank you for not giving me a fight on that. Though I think it was Carson and Faith who convinced you more than I did."
Elizabeth sighed. "No, I agree with all of you. I don't want to take any chances either," she said, unconsciously putting her hands over her middle. Nathan smiled, wishing right now, just as much as she did, that he was sitting next to her.
Nathan wore his full red serge and hat. Early this morning he'd felt it would be better to keep up the charade that he actually had business in Brookfield with Gabe. He was starting to realize that no one believed him anyway.
Gabe had expressed surprise that Nathan was coming to Brookfield to do something that could easily be accomplished in writing, but once Nathan shared his happy news, Gabe understood. He knew that he would have done the same thing.
The road from Hope Valley to Brookfield was no more or less dangerous than most roads between small towns on the edge of the western frontier. Open wagons and stage coaches routinely broke down or were robbed, and though there were fewer casualties than one might think, they did happen. If Nathan were simply sitting in his office in Hope Valley and something happened to Elizabeth on the road... Well, he didn't even want to think about it. He would have worried the whole time she was gone anyway, so why not just ride along?
And it couldn't hurt to have the appearance that the wagon had a Mountie escort.
The added benefit was getting to see his friends in Brookfield. Not to mention witnessing the joy on Rosemary and Lee's faces when they met the little girl that everyone hoped would become their daughter.
Nathan had offered to meet Gabe in town, but the Brookfield constable said he would meet them all out at the orphanage. It only took Nathan a moment to remember the looks he'd seen pass between Gabe and Lillian the last time he was in Brookfield.
Smiling, Nathan recalled just a few hundred times he might have gone out to meet Allie at the schoolhouse when it wasn't necessary, so he could understand Gabe's motivation.
Elizabeth was glad that Constable Gabriel Kinslow would be present when the baby girl was put into the arms of her new loving foster parents. It was up to Gabe to investigate the child's abandonment. He'd been called immediately when the orphanage's cook, Eleanor, had answered the knock on the door, so he'd seen the shivering child firsthand. Elizabeth thought it wouldn't be a bad thing for him to also see the love the little girl would receive in her new home.
Usually Elizabeth would say that a child should be with their natural mother if at all possible. But she simply couldn't understand how someone could leave a child in the cold on a doorstep. She hoped she would never feel that desperate, that lost, and that completely without alternatives.
But what it also said to her was that the mother, whatever her circumstances, felt unable to care for her child. As a mother herself, Elizabeth couldn't imagine what despair it would take to not only plan this, but then to walk away.
It was one of those situations where Elizabeth hoped and prayed there could be a happy ending.
They rounded the corner and the house came into view. Its wrap-around porch and the way it was situated in a meadow and backed up by a thick stand of trees, reminded Elizabeth a little of their own home. But unlike their home on the pond, the orphanage was two stories, and very large.
In the distance, they could see that Lillian, Grace and Eleanor were on the porch, having heard the wagon approaching. Gabe was standing just below them with his horse, his red serge acting as a beacon drawing them in.
Nathan looked at Elizabeth and said, "I'll ride on ahead and say hello," and Elizabeth put two fingers to her lips and blew him a small kiss. He grinned at her and did the same before he touched Bear's flanks and took off across the meadow.
Rosemary, as always, saw everything between Nathan and Elizabeth. She shook her head, smiling affectionately. "You two..." Then she threaded her arm back through Lee's and kissed him on the cheek.
"What did I do to deserve that?" Lee said, looking at her.
"You took the day off work and drove the wagon and..." Rosemary couldn't contain herself any longer, "...I'm so happy!"
Elizabeth reached forward and took her hand. "We're just about to see your little girl," Elizabeth said. "Your Violet."
Rosemary took a deep breath. "Lee, can we go any faster?"
"No-o-o-o," Lee said laughing. "We're almost there, sweetheart."
Elizabeth squinted into the mid-morning sun as they got closer. "Rosemary?"
Turning, Rosemary said, "What?"
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows playfully. "Is Lillian... holding someone?"
She was. And as they moved ever closer, they could see a sweet face with bright eyes and a shock of light brown hair. The little girl was looking at Bear, who Nathan had tied loosely to the rail in front of the porch, right next to Gabe's horse. The two Mounties were on either side of Lillian, and Violet was alternating looking back and forth at them.
Lee laughed. "The red serge claims another female's heart," he said, shaking his head. "Honestly, how do the rest of us even stand a chance?"
Finally, after what seemed an eternity to Rosemary, Lee pulled up to the side of the house. Rosemary jumped out faster than Elizabeth had ever seen her exit a wagon. Lee helped Elizabeth down carefully, and she again needed to remember to be gracious and accept that everyone thought she was in a delicate condition, no matter how energetic she felt.
Lillian walked out to Rosemary. She smiled so genuinely and spoke so kindly, that Rosemary felt tears beginning. "We're very grateful, Rosemary. Thank you for doing this."
When Rosemary looked from Lillian and into the eyes of the sweetest face she'd ever seen, the tears began to fall.
Everything stopped. There was no conversation on the porch, or here just beyond the steps where Lillian and Rosemary stood. Even Elizabeth and Lee stayed back a little, giving them space.
"Violet," Rosemary whispered, reaching up slowly to gently touch her cheek. The little girl gazed at her with wise eyes, blinking impossibly long lashes.
Lillian smiled. "That's a lovely name." She put her hands around Violet's little waist and held her out for Rosemary. "You want to hold her?"
"Oh... yes..." Rosemary said softly.
And everyone present for this moment witnessed how a person falls in love.
Instantly, utterly, irrevocably.
Lee gave them as long as he could, but he couldn't wait any longer. He came up behind Rosemary cautiously, not wanting to overwhelm the little girl with new faces. "Hello, Violet," he said quietly, putting a finger out slowly to touch her soft shoulder. She looked back and forth between them and gradually, responding to the joyous smiles on their faces, Violet smiled back.
Elizabeth was still behind them and she was the only other person to see it. She responded to that smile by putting her hands up over her mouth to stifle the intake of breath she couldn't control. How many times at this age had she prompted Jack to smile at people and gotten nothing but the wise old soul stare out of him? How many times had he simply burst out crying when someone new tried to hold him? Elizabeth had been ready to comfort Rosemary if anything like that had happened, but it was clear this little girl had no intention of ruining the moment.
Thank you, Violet, Elizabeth thought, for making this so easy.
Then the moment broke, and Lee and Rosemary laughed softly. Elizabeth and Nathan walked to each other and he put his arm around her protectively. As they gazed at the new family, it wasn't hard to guess what they were thinking about.
Lillian stepped forward again and said, "Come inside. Eleanor has fixed lunch for us."
For the three or so hours they spent at the orphanage, Violet never left someone's arms. Even when she slept, Rosemary held her, sitting in the rocking chair across from Elizabeth.
"You look so beautiful, Rosemary," Elizabeth said quietly. She smiled. "This is a very good look on you."
Rosemary sighed. "She's different from Jack," she said softly. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but even when he sleeps, Jack has a kind of energy to him. Violet is... serene."
Elizabeth smiled. "And she's yours."
Rosemary nodded. "For now." She reached out and took Elizabeth's hand. "I've got that little piece of my heart set aside, Elizabeth. That was very good advice."
Lee came up behind Rosemary and whispered, "Sweetheart, there are some papers we need to sign. Do you want Elizabeth to hold Violet while we do that?"
Rosemary smiled and held up her right hand, saying softly, "I can do two things at once."
Elizabeth nodded and raised her eyebrows. "Get used to that, Rosemary," she said, laughing.
Lee and Rosemary walked over to the table to Lillian, and Elizabeth had a chance to look around the room. This was her first time in Brookfield, though Nathan had been here a number of times to help Gabriel. In fact, she could see the two of them right now at the round table in the corner with their heads together, making notes.
They'd all had a delicious lunch with the children, and Elizabeth was so impressed with Lillian and Grace. She'd seen them in Hope Valley, but here in their home, they were more confident, more sure of themselves.
The children were wonderful to be with, and again, Elizabeth was reminded about how many types of families there were. Of course it would be ideal for these children to find families of their own, but until they did, they were loved and cared for – and also, Elizabeth could see, they were being very well taught.
Grace came over and flopped down on the sofa next to her. Her exuberance always made Elizabeth smile. Turning to her, Elizabeth said, "This is such a good home you're giving these children."
Grace nodded. "And they make it so good for us." She sighed. "It's strange that we love them so much and our goal is to send them away. Find them homes." She whispered softly, "I've grown a little attached to Violet. Rosemary says I can visit whenever I want."
"We'd all love to have you, Grace. Any time," Elizabeth said.
"It might be sooner than you think, actually. Chuck..." Grace paused. "...I don't think you've met him. His family owns a ranch here, and he says that Nathan is buying a cow from them."
Elizabeth tried to stifle the smile that was threatening. "Really?" she said casually.
Grace moved closer. "Chuck and I are a little sweet on each other," she said softly. "And he asked if I wanted to come with him when he brought her over to Hope Valley. Chuck said you're giving a party? Nathan invited us because he wants to surprise... you... oh..." Grace clapped her hands over her mouth.
Elizabeth laughed. "It's okay. We've talked a lot about it. It's not really a surprise, Grace." Elizabeth looked over at Nathan, her eyes soft. "But it's still very sweet of him."
Grace made a face. "So, I guess I'll see you Saturday? I hope I didn't ruin it," Grace said.
"Not at all. And we'll love seeing you. And I'll get to meet Chuck." Elizabeth moved closer and whispered, "And the cow."
Lillian was gesturing to Grace, so she took Elizabeth's hand and said, "By the way, congratulations! We're all so happy for you and Nathan. He's been such a help to us." Then she was off.
Elizabeth wasn't alone for long. While she was watching Grace, Nathan came and sat down beside her.
"Done with your business?" she asked, taking his hand and moving closer to him.
"What I came here for took about five minutes," he said, smiling.
Elizabeth squeezed his hand. "It was very sweet of you to come with us. I must admit I'm very glad you're here," she said, smiling up at him. "And you and Gabe were there for a lot longer than five minutes."
Nodding, Nathan said, "We were talking about Violet."
Frowning, Elizabeth said, "How do you investigate something like this?"
Nathan shrugged. "You examine what you have first, the blanket she was wrapped in, her clothes and how expensive or clean they were, the basket. Then you go a little wider trying to find out if any of the folks living outside of town have young daughters, if there were any expecting women, that sort of thing."
Elizabeth sighed. "And how long and how hard will Gabe try?" she asked softly.
Nathan was quiet for a moment, and then he said, "Long enough to satisfy his conscience," he said. "It's one of the difficult parts of being a Mountie. Sometimes the investigation doesn't bring you the outcome you want. In those times, you have to fall back on what the law says."
Elizabeth said very softly, "And the law says that Violet belongs to her mother."
Nathan took a deep breath. "You're making assumptions, Elizabeth." He smiled at her. "You're a better detective than that."
Elizabeth frowned up at him, thinking. What assumption did I just make? Oh. Not necessarily a mother.
"It could be her father who left her there?"
"We're not ruling it out. There are some indications." He saw her look. "And no, I can't share all this with you." He laughed softly. "I've already told you more than I should have." Pulling her closer, he said, "And I only feel comfortable telling you this because I know you won't share any of it with anyone."
"Of course not. It's not my..."
"...story to tell," Nathan interrupted her softly, remembering. "I was in love with you already when you said that to me, but after you did I felt like I'd fallen off a cliff. I couldn't believe someone like you existed." He turned and kissed her, quickly. "I still can't."
Elizabeth held him tighter and looked around the room to see if anyone was aware that they were snuggling on the sofa. Lee and Rosemary were at the table with Lillian and Grace. Rosemary absentmindedly touched her cheek to Violet's downy soft hair, an activity that both Nathan and Elizabeth knew was one of life's greatest pleasures. The children were in the kitchen with Eleanor, baking something that smelled delicious. Gabe continued to go through his notes.
Elizabeth sighed against Nathan's shoulder. "Violet is a pretty name, don't you think?"
Nathan looked down at her, knowing that she seldom brought up new subjects without a degree of thought. "It is," he said, smiling.
She looked up at him. "You want to hear my choices?"
"Very much," he said softly.
"Nathan Archibald for a boy, Rebecca Julia for a girl."
Nathan smiled. "Those are very good names, but they're pretty heavily weighted toward the Grant family, don't you think?"
She raised an eyebrow. "We'll give the next one a Thatcher name."
She felt Nathan's chest rise and fall quickly. "I'm going to hold you to that, Elizabeth," he whispered.
