Chapter 41 Planning for Christmas

The next morning all the Grants are excited about the engagement. Allie can't stop talking about it and wants to know when there will be a wedding. "Hold off Allie, we haven't talked about it yet. Let's just enjoy this" Nathan says. Maura says "Nathan I have been thinking and I need to return to Cape Fullerton to do some things. I will leave early in the week, but I would like to be back for Christmas."

Hearing this Allie glows and says "Grandma and Aunt Julia for Christmas that will be so much fun!" Nathan gives his mother a look and says "Christmas is fine as long as we keep it simple, agreed". Maura nods and says "Yes I promise".

Being happy with that Nathan says "Then maybe you can pick up some Christmas gifts for us?" Excitedly Allie sits at the table to start making her list. "Dad is it ok if we get the Coulters a gift this year" she asks and he agrees. Leaving Maura and Allie working on the list he takes a quick run into work. Finding nothing urgent he takes a ride out to the clearing where he proposed last night. "Constable "says Joseph, William's assistant. "Were things to your liking last night?" "It was wonderful" Nathan says. He asks if he can help and Joseph assures him they are almost done. Nathan does approach the Christmas tree and takes something off it he puts it in his pocket and heads back to town.

Nathan meets Allie at the livery for a ride as the snow has melted enough Nathan thinks it's safe for Allie to ride. She loves to ride her horse and spend time with Dad. Not being shy after they rode awhile Allie asks, "Is this just a ride or are we going to have one of our talk?" Nathan laughs and says "You know me too well Allie." She says "Let me guess, you want to make sure I am happy with you getting married". Nathan says "Yes Allie I want to know how you feel, for years it has just been the two of us and I want you to know you will always be my first priority, but now I have to include Elizabeth and Jack in that circle as well. Allie says "I know that just by having a bigger family doesn't mean we won't disagree and get mad at one another, but there will more of us to love one another as well. Dad you have done a great job in our family but I know you love Miss Elizabeth and Jack and so do I. I think we will be fine and I am so happy about it." Allie, you know you may have to share more don't you?" Nathan soldiers on. Rolling her eyes she says "I know, now are you going to give me the whole list of what is going to change or can we just figure this out as we go along. I know you love me and I will be part of this family so I am good. Let's not make this too complicated" Nathan tries one more time," Allie if you feel bad you know you can still come to me". Dad enough, enough, I am happy. You be happy too after all these months. You just said this morning let's just enjoy it" she spouts off. "How about we race now"—and Allie takes off laughing "I know I will be careful" Nathan just looks at her and shakes his head and admires her spirit that has gotten her through so much. He takes off after her,

Meanwhile at Elizabeth's Rosemary bustles in and says "Elizabeth I am so happy for you! Now let me see the ring and I want to hear all the details" Rosemary greatly admires Elizabeth's ring and Elizabeth sighs and says "Oh Rosemary it was so romantic—we took a sleigh and there was all lanterns and beautiful pine tree with little lanterns and a roaring fire. We sat before the fire and ate. Then we sang some Christmas Carols. Nathan then serenaded me with his own love ballad and then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was so beautiful and heartfelt and I will treasure all of my life. Then coming back to the house and having Allie and Jack so excited about becoming a family was just an overtop feeling I feel so blessed." With eyes brimming Rosemary says "Oh Elizabeth I am so happy for you and you deserve every happiness." Elizabeth goes on and says "I feel like we both had to go through the last several years of loss and hurt to rebuild and be ready to allow ourselves to feel like this. Jack will always have a special place in my heart, but my heart has grown to include Nathan and Allie. I look forward to seeing how our life unfolds".

"When is this happy event," Rosemary questions. "Oh Rosemary we haven't even talked about it yet. I am thinking let's do Christmas first and let me finish my book before I can think of all that. I'll have to talk to Nathan about this" Elizabeth responds. "Where is our Mountie this morning" Rosemary asks. Elizabeth says "He's taking Allie riding so they can talk about all this". Rosemary laughs and says "I don't think he's going to have any trouble with Allie, but it so sweet that he wants to make sure she is OK".

When Nathan and Allie get back to the livery Kevin tells them Judge Avery is looking for them and they should go to the Café. Reluctantly Nathan goes hoping this is not Bill trying to pull off an engagement party. When they arrive there is a crowd there including Rosemary and Elizabeth across the room and Nathan sees his mother and Julia. There is a lot of conversation and Nathan is unsure what is going on. Bill spots him and says "Good Nathan we are just talking and want to run somethings by you." Bill sees Allie and says" Allie you look cold from your ride let's get you a hot chocolate." Clara takes Allie to get her drink and then brings Nathan a coffee. Making eye contact with Elizabeth across the Café he shoots her a quizzical look, she just shrugs her shoulders.

At that point Rosemary begins to speak, "Nathan you will just have to catch up. Listen up everybody we have just realized that we have not made a town plan for Christmas and we need to decide what we will do fast. It's only several weeks until Christmas." Fiona has been standing by Rosemary and says "Yes we don't have the time to do anything elaborate like last Christmas and most of are really busy so we need to make this simple". Nathan begins to relax as he realizes he is just here for safety concerns. "

First up we will have the large tree in the middle of the town as usual," Rosemary says and then looking at Lee and says "You and your men will take care of this." "Yes sweetheart as always" Lee responds. Fiona follows up with the traditional ornaments will be there to hang as always. "Elizabeth what about a Christmas Eve concert like last year?' Fiona asks. Elizabeth says "Yes I can do this". "Good" Rosemary ticks off another box, "Lucas, can we have social in the saloon after" and he responds in the affirmative. Julia speaks up and says "I would like to sponsor this—you have all been so welcoming to me over the past several weeks" Lucas bows and says "Of course Julia". Nathan stands there silent waiting to see if more is coming. Fiona then says "We have all the traditional things and we know time is short, but there has been talk of a Christmas stroll for only one week-end. Rosemary jumps right in and says "Yes we can bring in people to the town." Nathan now stands up straighter to listen, "Just for week-end" Rosemary says. "What will others come to do?" someone asked.

Fiona says "We have seen a wonderful idea and would love to do it. We were thinking we would do a gingerbread house contest and people could stroll around the town and vote for the best gingerbread house". There is a buzz that breaks out and many different ideas thrown out. It finally is decided that the gingerbread houses will be replicas of places in the town including the jail. Nathan groans and Rosemary says "Find someone to bake it and maybe you can give tours of the jail". Nathan sends her a look.

With further discussion it is decided and Nathan gets volunteered that he will help make town ornaments that can be sold in the various shops. Bill fills in with we can bake cookies that look like the ornaments. Rosemary and Fiona split everyone into groups to work on things and Nathan find himself in the ornament group due to his wood working skills. In the group is a young woman sitting next to Mike Hickam. Nathan introduces himself and she blushingly says "I know you are the Mountie, I am Victoria Carter and I am here with my father who is a consultant with Mr. Bouchard with the oil company." Quietly she designs a simple ornament that can be cut and painted with Hope Valley Christmas 1920. All agree that this will be the design used. Schedules are set up and as usual Hope Valley rallies to show off the town.

Nathan finally finds Elizabeth and as they are ready to leave Bill booms out, "People, People I just want to make an announcement. It is my pleasure to announce the engagement of Elizabeth Thorton to our beloved Mountie, Nathan Grant, I couldn't be happier for them". With that the people surround Nathan and Elizabeth offering their congratulations. Bill says "Everybody please pick up a glass and let's toast to their happiness" which the crowd did.