Chapter 29

Nathan had heard an early morning tapping on his door. The sun hadn't even risen above the horizon yet. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, quickly got dressed, and then ran down the stairs. If someone was knocking on his door this early it usually only meant one thing, trouble was brewing somewhere. Whatever it was, he hoped that it wouldn't take a long time to resolve. The last thing he wanted was to not make it to Elizabeth's book celebration.

He hated the thought of having to disappoint her even though he knew she would put on a brave face and tell him that it was ok and she understood. He knew that wasn't a lie either, she above all people really did know the importance of the role that he played as a Mountie to the town of Hope Valley. There were times that he didn't understand, after all she had been through, how she could still possibly love and want him despite knowing first hand the dangers of his job, but Bill had told him that she was tougher than she looked and she had proven that to him time and time again in various ways. He did; however, know one thing and that was for some reason she had fallen in love him and was willing to risk loving him despite his job and he knew how incredibly blessed he was to have her in his life and how very much he loved her back.

As he approached the door the tapping became a banging noise. "All right, all right, I'm coming," he called out. He swung the door open and met two dark cold eyes staring back at him and before he even had time to respond he felt the cold handle of the end of the pistol sweep across the side of his head, knocking him into the floorboards beneath his feet.

The man quickly stepped inside and dragged Nathan across the floor, picking him up, he sat him in the dining table chair and tied him to it with the rope that he had brought inside with him. He carefully ran the rope around Nathan's hands behind the back of the chair and after feeling good about the rope being securely tied he took a cloth napkin and tied it around Nathan's mouth to keep him from being able to yell out.

"Uncle Nathan," Allie called out while descending the stairs, "What's going on…." Her words trailed off as she took in the scene in front of her and as if on cue she began to scream, causing her uncle to start stirring and the man who she couldn't quite see to reach around and grab her while putting his hand across her mouth.

She could taste the saltiness of his skin as she tried to bite his hand and get him to let go of her, but it was useless. The man who she had still not clearly seen was holding her from behind and preventing her from running, "I'll let go of you, but no more screaming. Nod your head if you understand."

Allie nodded as the tears started to roll down her face. The man released her and then turned his attention back to Nathan who was starting to come to, moaning lightly. He watched Nathan as is eyes slowly fluttered open and then he squatted down so he was eye to eye with Nathan, "Well Nathan, we meet again. You know what I want and this time I'm walking out of here with it. I've been following your trail for the past 2 years and I finally caught up to you. I'm here for my daughter and you're going to sit here and watch me walk out the door with her."

Allie's eyes got bigger. "Dad," she whispered softly in astonishment.

The man turned back to Allie, "that's right Allie, I'm your dad and you're coming with me.

"No," Allie screamed, "I won't go. You abandoned me and I belong to Uncle Nathan now. I'm not going with you anywhere."

He smiled, a wicked like grin spreading across his face, "Oh yes you will because if you don't your uncle might get hurt, if you catch what I mean."

Nathan's eyes connected with Allie's, almost pleading with her to forget about him and to just run and get help, but he could tell by looking at her that it was a lost cause, Allie would never risk him getting hurt. She turned back to the man standing in front of her and in a low soft voice responded, "Ok….." She could hear her uncles muffled pleas, but she ignored them as best as she could. There was no way she was going to let anything happen to her uncle, "I'll go with you, just don't hurt Uncle Nathan."

"Good, you've taught her well Nathan." The man chuckled out loud, "don't try to follow us or you know what will happen. Allie say goodbye to your uncle."

Allie eyed the man carefully while walking gingerly toward her uncle. When she reached Nathan, she leaned over and clung to him, her body shaking, "I love you, Uncle Nathan," and the tears started falling heavier. Nathan tried to stay strong. He didn't want Allie to see the fear in his eyes, he wanted her to see how much he loved her and that he was going to do everything in his power to come after her and not let her get hurt. He wanted her to trust him, even if he was uncertain himself. He had made a promise to Colleen that he would always protect her and he intended to keep that promise at all cost.

"All right, that's enough," the man said gruffly while grabbing Allie by the arm and yanking her away from her uncle. Nathan watched has they both walked out the door and he waited for the door to click before the hot tears he had been holding in started to fall. He quickly started shifting his body, trying to maneuver his hands to wiggle his way out of the ropes, his hair bouncing across his forehead as he worked.

He looked over to the window and noticed that the sunlight was starting to stream in and he worked even harder to try and loosen the ropes, but he could not seem to get them loose. An hour later the clock on his mantle struck 9:00 am. He knew he was losing time and that the longer Allie was gone the lesser chance he had of being able to catch up to them today. The clock struck again, it was now 9:30 and Elizabeth's book ceremony was supposed to take place in a half an hour.

He suddenly realized that his feet had not been tied together. He tried to stand with the chair still attached to him, but it was proving difficult. All he needed to do was to reach the cabinet by the stove. He was certain if he could just get the knife out of the drawer he could get out of the ropes. He tried again and even though it was an awkward position he was able to walk over to the kitchen and get the knife out of the drawer. He carefully sat the chair back down and began to try to work at the rope with the knife in his hand, gently moving it in a back and forth motion. It was working and he could feel the sweat on his forehead beading up as he quickened his effort. After sawing at it for what seemed like an eternity, he finally felt the thread on the rope snap. His hands were finally free, he rubbed them together to get the circulation coursing through his veins again and then pulled the cloth away from his mouth, throwing it to the ground. Crying out between breaths, "Allie," he ran for the door and up the path towards town to find Bill and get help.

To Be Continued….(Reviews always welcomed)