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School had ended for the week and Elizabeth was ready to get home. It was Valentine's Day and the children had a party at school. Jack was still in his seat munching on a heart shaped cookie and going through his box of Valentines.

"Mom, I got twenty Valentines! Can I sleep over at Joseph's house tonight?"

"Not tonight. Daddy is making a special Valentine's dinner for all of us. It's supposed to be a secret, but I think he's making spaghetti and meatballs."

"Really? He's cooking?" Jack said with surprise.

"Yes, Jack. And he is actually very good at it. Now get your coat and let's go."

Back when Elizabeth and Nathan were still courting, they had dinner often with Allie and Jack at either her house or his. Nathan cooked often although Jack didn't remember.

Those had been sweet days. It was much different than her courtship with Jack Thornton. They each had a child and it was a balance including Jack and Allie in things while still trying to steal time alone.

That balance continued into their marriage. Nathan had been the one who suggested a special Valentine's dinner for the whole family. The two of them would have their own private celebration later when Jack and Abbey were asleep.

Elizabeth knew something was wrong as soon as she opened the door. Abbey usually ran to her as soon as heard her and Jack come in the house. Today, she was curled up in a blanket on the settee, barely moving.

Ella, the nanny, greeted her at the door with a concerned look.

"Mrs Grant, I think something is wrong with Abbey."

Elizabeth had already moved into the living room and was putting a hand on Abbey's forehead.

"She has a fever. Has she been like this all day?"

Abbey was moaning softly. "Mama. I 'm hot and cold."

"She hasn't moved for a couple of hours. And she won't eat," Ella said.

"Ella, why didn't you contact me? I would have had one of the older students handle my class and I would have come home."

The girl was obviously nervous and stumbling over her words. "I know there's no telephone at the school. And.. and I didn't want to come there with Abbey and expose the other children."

"Understood. Next time, call Constable Grant and let him know what's going on."

Elizabeth didn't mean to speak to Ella so harshly. The girl had been in a panic and hadn't known what to do. Still, this was her child's life that they were dealing with.

Elizabeth picked up Abbey and curled her in her arms. "She needs to go to the infirmary. Stay here with Jack, please."

"Can't you call Dr. Shepherd to come here?" Ella asked.

I'm not waiting that long. I'll take her myself," Elizabeth said.

"I want to go with you," Jack said.

"I know you do, but you need to stay here, Jack. I don't want you getting sick too. I love you. Say a special prayer for your sister, okay?"

She bundled up Abbey along with her blanket and her stuffed bunny, Floppy. She was usually a very lively and energetic child like Jack. It pained Elizabeth to see her like this.

She was halfway down the road toward the center of Hope Valley carrying a lethargic Abbey when Lee Coulter pulled up, blasting his horn at her.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing out here?"

"Abbey is really sick. I think it might be pneumonia. I need to get her to the infirmary now."

"Okay, get in. Next time. call Rosemary or me and we'll give you a ride, okay?"

Elizabeth got in the car with Abbey. Lee was babbling about how he'd been headed home from the mill when he realized he'd left Rosemary's Valentines gift on his desk and had to go back for it. Elizabeth knew he was talking to distract her but it wasn't working.

When they reached the infirmary he offered to come in and wait with her until Nathan got there.

"Go home. We don't want Rosemary throwing a hissy fit because she thinks you forgot Valentines Day. You're a good friend, Lee."

"Abbey is going to be fine. Elizabeth. I just know it."

Carson Shepherd was already at the door waiting. Ella must have called and told him they were on their way. He took Abbey from Elizabeth's arms and carried her into the exam room.

Carson took the little girl's temperature, checked her throat and her lungs and said that it definitely looked like pneumonia.

"Is she going to have be moved to the hospital?" Elizabeth asked.

"We'll keep her here overnight and then we'll see if her fever breaks," Carson told her.

Elizabeth turned to Nancy, the trainee nurse who worked with Carson and Faith. "Can you go find Nathan for me?" Please."

Nathan Grant was just locking up the Mountie office to head home when he saw Nancy, the nurse from the infirmary running down the street toward him. His first thought was that something had happened to Elizabeth and the baby.

"Constable, it's your little girl. She has pneumonia and she's at the infirmary with your wife."

Nathan brushed past the girl and literally ran down the street to the infirmary. When he got there, Elizabeth was sitting by Abbey's bedside, cooling her face off and singing softly. She ran straight into Nathan's arms when she saw him there.

"Nathan, I am so scared. What if she doesn't get better? I can't lose her..."

"You won't. Carson and Faith are the best. I have complete confidence in them."

She took his hand and led to the bed where Abbey slept. She opened her eyes and saw Nathan standing there.

"Daddy?" She cried softly.

"Mama and daddy are here, baby. We won't leave you," Elizabeth said.

Abbey was born when they had been married just over a year. She was a happy, welcome addition but having another baby so soon was a bit overwhelming. Elizabeth had gone from parenting one child to now having three.

She had gone into labor a week early on her last day of teaching. Doctor Faith Carter Shepherd was supposed to be coming to the house to deliver the baby, but her car got stuck in the mud during a rainstorm and she walked the rest of the way. With Jack it was snow. With Abbey it turned out to be rain.

Nathan sent four year old Jack home with Lee and Rosemary. He had wanted Allie to go as well but she insisted on staying.

It was an intense labor, dragging into the night and the next morning. Elizabeth never swore but she was surely tempted. Claiming the pain was a thousand times worse than last time and having a few choice words for Nathan for getting her in this situation.

At eleven in the morning, her baby girl finally made an appearance. A perfect, gorgeous child with her blue eyes and dark hair like Nathan.

"Say hello to your daughter," she said as she handed her to Nathan.

"Oh, Elizabeth. She is just beautiful. What are we naming her?"

Elizabeth had only one name in mind from the beginning. "Abigail."

Elizabeth stayed with Nathan at their daughters bedside until he insisted she go home and sleep.

"Elizabeth, honey you're exhausted. It's not good for you or the baby. I can stay here with her. Go home and be with Jack."

He was right and she was too tired to argue anyway. Carson offered to drive her home and she gladly accepted. She was grateful for Nathan's calmness, his quiet reassurance and his love.

Ella was in the living room reading when she came in and Jack was long asleep. Elizabeth felt as though she owed the girl an apology.

"Ella, I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. I know you were just confused about what to do. Thank you for staying with Jack tonight."

"No problem, Mrs. Grant. It never occurred to me to call Constable Grant. I know a lot of dads aren't like him. You know. Really involved with their children."

"No, there aren't a lot of men like him. Ella. That's why I feel lucky to have him."

Elizabeth didn't even wait for Nathan to call in the morning. She walked Jack over to Lee and Rosemary's and then went straight to the infirmary. She walked in to discover Abbey sitting up in bed drinking water and holding her rabbit, Floppy.

"Mama! I'm better!"

"Her fever broke during the night. She's got a long recovery ahead, but she's going to be fine," Carson said.

Elizabeth kissed Abbey and then kissed Nathan, trying to ignore the beard stubble on his face.

"Why don't you go home and get some sleep and I'll stay here for awhile? We missed Valentines Day, you know?"

"We'll do it when Abbey is home and feeling better. I love you, Elizabeth."

"I love you too, Nathan Grant. So, so much."

Too be continued...