"You are always smiling these days," Bill retorted drily as he looked up from the mountain of papers on his desk. Nathan was walked towards him and even though he appeared to be on Mountie business, he wore a big smile. Getting engaged to Elizabeth had done that to him.
"There's a lot to smile about Bill." Nathan winked.
"Such as?"
"Well, the Mounties have agreed to my request for permanent Hope Valley placement." Nathan looked down at the telegram he had received from Headquarters. "I know it's unconventional, but I really do not want to leave Hope Valley anymore. I am okay if my career stays where it is. With Hope Valley becoming a booming town, my superiors agreed that we needed someone here all the time."
Bill shook Nathan's hand emphatically. "I really am happy for you. For all of you. I know Elizabeth will be very pleased."
Nathan smiled at the mention of his fiancee's name. "She never would have said I could not be a Mountie. She knows how much I value my oath…."
"As Jack did," Bill interrupted, reflecting on Jack Thornton's own Mountie career. Whereas Nathan was content to stay in one place, and felt that satisfied his oath, Jack had been the complete opposite.
"Yes," Nathan nodded reverently. "Jack loved the Mounties as much as I did. But call me a softie…"
"Or in love"
"But I cannot leave Ally and Little Jack and Elizabeth. Not anytime soon." Nathan smiled. "It's really time I put down roots. Marriage and a family and a job I love, in a town I love, is the best kind of roots." Nathan gestured towards the papers. "You have to agree, Bill. If you were to move closer to Benson Hills or Cape Fullerton, you wouldn't have to be gone so much. But you love Hope Valley."
"That I do," Bill admitted. "How about some coffee?"
Nathan set his hat on the seat. "I would like that."
Bill walked over to the stove where Molly always seemed to have a fresh pot of coffee ready for him. He poured a steaming black cup for both of the men and sat back down.
"What are you working on?" Nathan carefully took a sip of coffee. Bill had a tendency to bring coffee to a rolling boil and rendering it undrinkable, at least for several moments.
"Henry approached me back at Christmastime about the land the former mine sits on. He wondered if Gowen Petroleum could have access to drilling rights around the land as it is doubtful the mine itself would produce anything of interest. So I am looking through Coal Valley land charters and agreements with the mine to see if he needs to build a case."
"You mean Hope Valley right, Bill?" Nathan glanced quizzically at Bill.
"No, I mean Coal Valley." Bill sat back in his chair. "Oh perhaps you don't know this. Hope Valley was originally named Coal Valley for obvious reasons—the coal mines that brought people to the area. However, after the mining disaster that killed every man in town, it was decided that the town needed a new name. So much positivity was happening: Elizabeth was here and staying, Lee had arrived and was starting the mill, Rosemary was here and being, well, Rosemary. Abigail talked about how the town had gone from a place of grief to a place of hope. So the name was changed from Coal Valley to Hope Valley. But on some of these land charters, the original name is still listed."
Unbeknownst to Bill, Nathan's face changed colors. His smile disappeared.
"Coal Valley…" Nathan mumbled under his breath.
"What is it?" Bill took a sip of coffee and gave his undivided attention to Nathan. "You look like you have seen a ghost."
"I've only heard the name Coal Valley one other time in my life. It was eight or nine years ago now. It was where I was to be assigned."
"What?" Bill looked completely dumbfounded. Of all the things that Nathan could have said, this is what he was expecting the least.
"I remember being excited about the posting. It seemed adventurous—a small mining town with all sorts of people flocking to it. But the day after I got the posting, I got word of Colleen."
"Of her passing away…"Bill was beginning to put two and two together.
"Not exactly," Nathan swallowed. "I got word of her being in an accident and that she was in grave danger. My mother wired me to come home and I did. Without looking back. From home, I wired Mountie headquarters that I would be unable to take the Coal Valley posting and I received word that it had been filled. That was the last I thought about Coal Valley to be honest with you."
"And nine years ago, you became guardian to Ally." Bill could hardly believe what he was hearing. Nathan was to have come here all along. It was not supposed to be Jack and Elizabeth. It would have been Nathan and Elizabeth. Jack had no doubt of that.
"Yes," Nathan continued. "After Colleen passed, I told my mother that her health was too tenuous to take care of Ally. I said that even though as a Mountie I would bounce around a lot, I would be able to care for her better. So, nine years ago, Ally came into the every day part of my life and it is the best thing that could have happened to me."
Nathan stood up. "I need to tell Elizabeth. I don't want her finding out that I found out some underhanded way. Clearly, our chapters were meant to come together. It just took a crazy route to get to it.
Bill stood up as well. "Elizabeth is strong, Nathan. Do not think for one moment this will cause her to waver in her love for you. She will probably worry about you."
"Me?" Nathan looked incredulously. "Why?"
"Good," Bill spoke as if the matter was closed. "If you don't know, then it is not my place to say."
Nathan walked out of Bill's office, slightly curious about what Bill had said. Should he be worried about Elizabeth's reaction? Should he have had a different reaction? He did not know but he knew he needed to find out. Elizabeth deserved that much.
It was also time she learned the whole Colleen story. Ally was to be Elizabeth's daughter; she deserved to know her origin.
