The snow had fallen for a short time, just enough for the children to scrape up a few snowballs to toss at each other. Then it had largely melted, as it wasn't quite cold enough for it to stick yet. When Elizabeth looked behind the row houses in the distance she could see that it was full winter up in the mountains; but for now, Hope Valley was still green and wet.
Most of the morning's guests had gone home to wash and rest after being up before dawn. Many of them would come back for the dinner that was right now being prepared in the saloon's kitchen, overseen by Bill, Gustav and Lucas.
The family had taken the lull in activity as an opportunity to participate in a Grant family tradition, one that Nathan and Allie had explained to Elizabeth last Christmas.
Last evening, Nathan and Archie had gone over to dig up the tiny pine tree that had grown from the seed Allie had taken from last Christmas' pine cone. They were replanting it here at the new house, and it was barely a foot tall. It looked fragile to Elizabeth, but as Nathan covered its long roots with fresh warm soil taken from under the eaves of the barn, it stood up proudly on its own.
Rebecca watched with her arm through Charlie's, and directly across from her, Archie and Julie were huddled together against the wet chill. Nathan crouched down as Allie and Jack helped to fill in the small hole that would be the forever home of the little tree.
They'd chosen a spot that would always be visible from the house, where it would stand alone with plenty of room to grow tall and provide shade, and fragrance, and more Christmas pine cones for the children that would grow up in this home.
Elizabeth's hands were in the pockets of her coat and she pressed her fingers lightly against the small rise that only she and Nathan could detect at this point. She knew that she would never look out her kitchen window at this spot without also thinking of this new life; this child, hers and Nathan's, who would grow tall along with the tree.
As if he could read her thoughts, Nathan gazed up at her. In the gray mist, even at this distance, Elizabeth could see how blue his eyes were. And perhaps only Elizabeth knew how his emotions were welling up as he looked at his father, his mother, his son and daughter, and then finally at his wife who carried another part of his future inside her.
Nathan let the children finish the job and he stood and walked to her, wiping his hands on a towel. He put his arm around Elizabeth and pulled her to him, touching his lips to her hair while they watched Jack and Allie press the dirt around the small tree.
"It means so much that you're all here for this day," he started, his voice rough. He couldn't say more, so Rebecca saved him the effort and said in a strong voice, "The first tree of many at your beautiful new home, Nathan." She looked at Charlie and then across at Archie. "I think I can speak for all of us when I say how proud we are of the life you and Elizabeth have made here."
"Thank you, Mom," he said softly.
Elizabeth squeezed Nathan's arm and looked up into his face. This was one of those moments when she could see his gratitude so clearly written there, almost a look of disbelief that this life was his. She reached her gloved hand up and touched his cheek affectionately.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and turned to the rest of the family and said brightly, "What about some hot chocolate? Allie puts lots of marshmallows in."
Allie jumped up, "I'll get it started!" She took Jack's hand and led him into the house, followed by the rest of the family.
Elizabeth and Nathan stayed by the little tree, taking a moment to enjoy the perfect view of the house. The lights inside provided a soft glow through the heavy curtains Elizabeth had finished. They had closed them once most of the guests had left, to keep the house warm until the next wave arrived in a few hours.
This would be the time they would normally walk around to the front porch and sit in the swing. But they knew it had been retired for the winter, pushed under the small overhang at the side of the house and firmly covered with oilcloth. It would stay protected until the spring.
"Are you cold?" Nathan asked her.
Elizabeth nodded. "No, not at all," she said.
"Can we walk down to the barn?" Nathan asked.
"I'd love to," Elizabeth said, taking his arm. "I need to say hello to Sergeant." She took his hand. "I wasn't riding as often before I was carrying Jack. I don't remember missing it so much."
Nathan smiled at her. "I know that next spring seems like a long way away, but it will be here before you know it." He took a deep breath and laughed softly. "I have to admit that this all has me reeling a little bit, Elizabeth. In a very good way, but I just wake up every morning to the... the miracle of it."
He stopped and turned to her, placing his hand gently on her stomach. "What you're doing for us, for me... I..." Nathan sighed. "This is a first for me, and I know that it'll change me forever. It already has." He shook his head, laughing softly. "As usual, I'm not expressing myself very clearly,"
Elizabeth leaned up and kissed him. "I know exactly what you're saying. It's a miracle to me every day too." She looked into his eyes. "When I was pregnant with Jack, I was alone, Nathan. I had Abigail and Clara and Rosemary, of course, but to be able to share this with you, to really share it, because this is both of us," she placed her hand on top of Nathan's, "This is a first for me too. It's all new. And I love seeing that look in your eyes that tells me you understand what a mystery this all is."
Nathan laughed. "Well, get used to that look. When I see Rosemary and Lee with Violet? Their eyes when they look at her? Get used to that look too. I'll be lucky if I can get myself to work every day."
Elizabeth laughed as they started walking again. "I remember when I first had Laura come in and help with Jack so I could go back to work. Poor Laura! I would go to the door, then come back and kiss Jack, then go to the door, then come back to make sure she knew what he liked for lunch..." She put her face in her hand. "I was impossible."
Nathan smiled warmly at her. "You won't be the only one doing that." Nodding, he said, "And we'll share everything, Elizabeth. You're not alone anymore."
Hugging his arm, Elizabeth said, "I know."
They stepped through the barn door and into the half-light. Immediately they were immersed in the world of horses; a world they both loved.
Archie had insisted, since he said he wasn't paying his way, that he be given work to do. Nathan and Elizabeth knew that he enjoyed working and it made him feel like he was a part of the farm, so he had taken on the care of the barn. He said it kept him limber and moving, and Nathan had remarked that they had the cleanest, neatest barn he'd ever seen.
Elizabeth looked around and had to agree with him. Fresh hay, brushed horses, clean stalls, and the tack lined up on the wall with precision.
When Nathan had built the barn, he'd added a small shop at the back where he puttered with wood the way he had since he was a boy. He'd already made beautiful finials for the tops of the gateposts, and there was a freshly carved sign on the front fencing that said Grant, Est. 1917.
Elizabeth started to go toward Sergeant's stall, and Nathan took her hand, leading her gently back to his shop. "I need your opinion on something," he said, smiling back at her.
"And you know I'm always happy to give it, usually to a fault," she replied, laughing softly.
"Close your eyes," he said. When she did, he put his arm around her and led her slowly to his workbench.
"Open them," he said.
In front of her was another one of Nathan's plaques, so beautifully worked and finished, each letter perfect.
Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Elizabeth smiled up at him. "I wrote that to you in a letter once," she said quietly.
"I know," Nathan said. "You were talking about your decision to teach. But for me, it describes so many decisions." He took her in his arms and held her. "And if because of them, the universe has conspired to create this; you and me, this marriage, this house, these children..." He kissed her gently, "They were good decisions."
"It's beautiful, Nathan," she said. "Where are you going to put it?"
"That's where your opinion comes in. At first I was thinking of just hanging it here, but I wanted to know what you thought."
"If I had my choice," Elizabeth said, "I would want to put it above the bookshelves you're building for me in the sunroom." She raised an eyebrow at him and smiled.
Nathan nodded, laughing. "Well done. An opinion and a reminder in the same sentence..." He put the plaque under his arm and walked out with her to see the horses. "That's where it will go, then."
They spent some time with Sergeant, Bear and Sarah, and then headed into the house. The aroma of hot chocolate was enticing, and so was the conversation going on around the harvest table. Seeing his mother, his father, and Charlie all at the table discussing the Airdrie Ranch was a little surreal for Nathan, but it was the best kind of surreal. Allie had Jack on her lap and they were listening, but most of all they were watching their marshmallows slowly melt into the hot chocolate and waiting for it to cool so they could drink it.
Nathan and Elizabeth walked into the sunroom, expecting to put the plaque there and talk about where the bookshelves would go, but they found themselves in the company of Rosemary and Lee sitting on the sofa and looking out of the windows at their house with its new roof. Violet was napping in the crib next to them.
"That's it, we're moving in," Lee said, warming his feet by the crackling fire in the woodstove. "This is the best room in the house." He looked up at Nathan and pointed to the Coulter homestead in the distance. "And it has a truly spectacular view."
Instead of measuring for bookshelves, Elizabeth and Nathan sat down together on the soft cushions in the window seat facing their new next door neighbors.
"I was just telling Lee about how you and I used to talk over the fence between the houses while we did the washing," Rosemary said to Elizabeth. "I think we'll have to talk a little louder now," she said, laughing.
Nathan looked out the window. "It's a good house, Lee."
Nodding, Lee said, "Yes. It is. And I still can't get over today. The way everyone pitched in."
Nathan laughed. "I know. That's something about this town that's taken me a while to get used to. Still haven't quite managed it."
"What's next?" Elizabeth asked, "When can you move in? I can't wait until you're next door to us."
"First windows and doors, then floors, and then we'll move in and finish up the inside through the winter," Lee said.
Rosemary couldn't contain herself. "Next week!" she said in a forceful whisper, not wanting to wake Violet.
Lee raised his eyebrows. "Sweetheart, I said maybe next week. Maybe two."
Rosemary leaned forward and said softly to Elizabeth, "Next week."
Nathan said, "You let us know what help you need."
Allie cleared her throat softly at the doorway. "You really need to come see this," she said, smiling.
Nathan and Elizabeth followed Allie out to the front windows, and just pulling on to the meadow road was a wagon. As it got closer, they could see that it had Stewart Ranch stenciled on the side.
Chuck Stewart held the reins, and Grace Bennett from the Brookfield Orphanage was standing up and holding a hand-lettered sign that said Surprise! Lizzie is mooooving in today!
Elizabeth laughed out loud, seeing the cow that was dutifully plodding along behind the wagon.
Allie looked up at Nathan and rolled her eyes. "That has to be one of your jokes," she said.
Nathan shrugged and said, "C'mon, that's funny. You've got to admit that's funny, Allie."
"We still have to work on your jokes, Dad."
