AN: Let me just start by saying I can't remember if any background information was ever given on Ned Yost on the show. If there has been, what I have in this chapter is probably going to contradict it as I made it up while writing. Just wanted to throw that out there. Other than that, thanks for the reviews and keep enjoying the story!
"You're up early for a Saturday," Nathan commented as he came downstairs. He had heard sounds and smelled the aromas drifting upstairs that told him Ally was already downstairs while he had gotten ready for the day.
"I wanted to send you off with a hot breakfast," Ally replied.
"I appreciate it," Nathan told her, walking over to where Ally stood in front of the stove. Stepping up behind her, he saw that she had made both scrambled eggs and oatmeal. "What did I do to get a special little girl like you?" he asked, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
Ally smiled and blushed at the compliment, not bothering to complain about being called a little girl. As long as her uncle didn't call her that in front of people, Ally had to admit she liked being his little girl. "It's almost ready," she informed him.
"I'll set the table," Nathan told her.
Together, the two finished the breakfast preparations. It wasn't long before they were sitting down at the table together.
"How long are you going to be gone today?" Ally asked, spreading jelly on her slice of toast.
"A good part of the day. There are some families I want to check on. Make sure this latest snow fall didn't catch anyone by surprise. I plan on being home for dinner though. Do you have any plans?"
"Just sewing lessons with Mrs. Weisse," Ally replied. "Is it okay if I spend the day with Opal?" Ally asked.
"As long as it's okay with Mrs. Weisse, I don't see why not," Nathan replied, knowing that it wouldn't be a problem. The Weisse's were always willing to look after Ally when he was away. "Would you like me to pick you up there when I get back into town this evening?"
Ally nodded. "That would be great, Dad," Ally replied, nodding her head.
The two ate in silence for a bit before Ally spoke up.
"Can I tell Opal about the engagement, or are you keeping it quiet?"
"It's not a secret," Nathan replied. "Besides, Mrs. Thornton was planning to tell Mrs. Coulter last night so I have a feeling by the time I get back into town tonight there won't be too many people who don't know."
"Good," Ally replied. "I don't have to worry about slipping up and saying something while I'm at Opal's today," she added, sounding relieved.
"Believe me, I wouldn't expect you to keep news like that quiet," Nathan assured her.
"Is that why you didn't tell me about the ring ahead of time?" Ally asked.
"It may have factored in," Nathan told her. "Mostly though, the fewer people who knew I even had the ring the less stressful it was. Even after I tied the ring to the ornament yesterday, I almost just hid the ornament," Nathan confessed.
Ally laughed. "I'm glad you didn't," she informed. "I'm looking forward to having a proper family," she said. "I know you love me and I know we are a family, but I always looked at other kids that both a mother and a father and siblings and felt like I was missing something. Not that I'm faulting you or anything," she added quickly, afraid of hurting her uncle's feelings. "You've done your best and I know I'm lucky in a lot of ways but I'm looking forward to having a mother and a little brother."
"I am glad you're excited about this, Ally," Nathan told her, looking across the table at her.
"I am," Ally assured him. "The fact that Mrs. Thornton makes you happy makes it even better."
"I am happy," Nathan told her, echoing the realization he had made reading his sister's letter to him the morning of her birthday.
Nathan had no illusions that forming a family was going to be smooth sailing. Elizabeth promising to marry him was simply the first step. He and Elizabeth had a lot of things to talk about, the wedding seemingly the most prominent, but not the only thing. He had no doubts that there would be disagreements and compromises would need to be made.
However, they would do it together and that was enough to put his mind at ease.
Despite telling Nathan the night before that she planned on staying inside by the fire, Elizabeth had some things to pick up at the Mercantile. Leaving Little Jack with Lee, who was home with Bridget and Ivy while Rosemary was at the dress shop, Elizabeth made the walk into town. She didn't hurry but instead enjoyed the change the snowfall had brought over there little town.
Reaching the mercantile, Elizabeth found herself face to face with Lucas as she approached the steps.
"Ladies first, of course," Lucas said gesturing up the steps.
"Thank-you," Elizabeth replied, as she headed up the steps. "Are you picking up something for the saloon?" she asked, as Lucas followed her up the steps.
"Not exactly," Lucas replied. "I'm actually hoping to figure out a Christmas gift for someone," he added sounding a bit nervous.
"For Fiona?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"Yes," Lucas admitted. "I probably should have already selected something but I kept changing my mind about what to get. I want to get her something she'll like but I'm not sure our relationship is at the stage where jewelry would be appropriate," he told her. "Although, I notice that you have a new piece of jewelry today," he added his gaze falling to her left hand.
As she paused in front of the door, Elizabeth followed his gaze. The diamond ring Nathan had given her the night before twinkled up at her.
Reaching around Elizabeth, Lucas opened the door to the mercantile for her.
"Congratulations," Lucas told her, saving Elizabeth from having to come up with a response to his observation.
"Thank-you," Elizabeth replied, going through the open door, the smile coming naturally to her face.
"I'm surprised our fine constable found his tongue to ask the question," Lucas commented lightly.
Elizabeth thought of Rosemary, and her opinion that Nathan wouldn't ask until after Christmas. "You weren't the only one," she said, chuckling. Nathan had a reputation of being a man of few words. Even so, she could remember quite a few occasions where Nathan had started to ask her something only to change his mind or get interrupted.
"I'm starting to understand how he felt in those situations," Lucas confessed, surprising Elizabeth. "I've found myself fumbling for the right words when talking with Fiona on more than one occasion lately."
Elizabeth reached out and laid a hand on Lucas' arm. "I'm happy for you and Fiona. The two of you are well suited for each other and seem happy together."
"She does make me happy," Lucas said.
"And if you want some help with a Christmas present, I have an idea of what she would like," Elizabeth said, thinking of something that she had seen Fiona admiring not too long ago. "However, we have to go over to the dress shop for it."
"I will be most grateful for any insight," Lucas told her.
"Just let me grab a few things, and we'll head over," Elizabeth said.
"There's no rush. I'm still only running oil operations five days a week and Fiona and Gustav are going to open the Queen of Hearts at noon," Lucas commented, as Elizabeth set out to get the things that she had come into town for. "However, so I'm not hovering over you, I'm going to go check with Ned to see if the extra decorations have come in yet. I let Fiona use whatever she wanted to decorate her tree as I had put in an order for decorations a week ago. I needed a different look this year."
"That was nice of you," Elizabeth commented. "And I can't wait to see how the saloon will look when your done decorating."
"It'll be nice to have help this year," Lucas said before heading off to the counter to talk to Ned.
Elizabeth went about getting the items she'd come into town for. As it was only a few things, it didn't take her too long. As she approached the counter, Ned was coming out of the back room with a good size box.
"It came in yesterday," Ned told Lucas as he placed the box on the counter. "I meant to bring it over, and then things got busy and it slipped my mind."
"That's no problem," Lucas assured him.
"Would you like to open it here and make sure there are no issues with it?" Ned asked, as he looked over top of the crate.
Lucas shook his head. "That won't be necessary," the saloon owner replied. He turned to Elizabeth. "Do you mind if I take this over to the Queen of Hearts before you help me with that task?"
"Not at all," Elizabeth told him.
"I'll be right back," Lucas said, picking up the crate.
"Did you find everything you needed?" Ned asked, turning his attention to Elizabeth as Lucas headed for the door.
"I did," Elizabeth replied, as she finished placing her selections on the counter for Ned to ring up.
"Your packages came in as well," Ned said, holding up a finger. "Let me go get it for you."
"Thank-you," Elizabeth said, feeling excited.
She had sent away for presents for both Nathan and Ally. She had found a beaver charm for Ally, having learned that the girl loved animals in general. She thought the beaver would have a special meaning as Ally had told her about how she and Nathan had discovered a beaver building a dam along one of the small creeks in the area. The two of them had kept track of the progress the beaver had made until the damn was done.
As for Nathan, she hoped he would like her gift to him. She'd had a hard time thinking of something for him. She'd wanted it to be something he would use, while also being something she could put a personal touch to. She had finally ended up buying some fishing gear for him, which she planned on putting in a basket with a blanket that she had made with a little guidance from Opal's mother. Giving how often he and Ally went fishing, she figured the gift would get use. She just hoped he liked it.
While waiting for Ned, Elizabeth heard the front door open. Looking in the direction of the door, she saw Cat Montgomery walk in, Emily right behind her. Spotting Elizabeth, Cat hurried over.
"Oh, Elizabeth! Rosemary just told me! Congratulations," Cat gushed hurrying over to where Elizabeth stood. Before Elizabeth had a chance to react, the other woman threw her arms around her.
Getting over her surprise, Elizabeth hugged her friend back.
"I want to see the ring," Cat said when she finally took a step back from Elizabeth.
"Did someone say ring?" Florence asked, wandering over from the switchboard. "What ring?" she asked, as she didn't like being left out of any town gossip.
"Constable Grant asked Mrs. Thornton to marry him," Emily blurted out, clearly as excited about the news as her mother was.
"Oh, Elizabeth, that's wonderful!" Florence exclaimed. The only thing keeping her from hugging Elizabeth herself was that Cat currently had a hold of Elizabeth's left hand, as she and Emily admired the ring. "Clara's bouquet found the right person, it seems," she added.
"When is the wedding going to be?" Cat asked.
"Nathan just asked me last night," Elizabeth replied, laughing at her friends' enthusiasm. "We haven't even had a chance to discuss it."
"Of course. I'm just excited for you," Cat replied, finally releasing Elizabeth's hand.
Florence opened her mouth to say something but the phone rang.
"Excuse me," Florence said, turning to return to the switchboard.
"Here they are," Ned said, returning with the packages for Elizabeth.
"Congratulations again," Cat told Elizabeth, taking Ned's return as her cue to go about her own errands and let Elizabeth finish what she had come into the store for.
"Thank-you," Elizabeth told her. As Cat and Emily disappeared among the shelves, Elizabeth turned to face Ned.
"Congratulations on what?" Ned asked easily, his friendly curiosity evident on his face.
"Nathan and I are engaged," Elizabeth replied, holding up her left hand. She had to admit that she enjoyed the way those words sounded.
"Congratulations indeed," Ned replied. "Being alone isn't easy," the store owner replied. "I'm glad you all found one another."
"Did you ever consider remarrying, Ned?" Elizabeth asked. She knew that his wife, Marilyn, had passed away before she came to Coal Valley. Though he spoke of her sometimes, Elizabeth had never felt comfortable prying too much. Ned's comment seemed a good opening to make the inquiry.
"At first, I couldn't imagine marrying anyone. Marilyn and I had raised two sons, who are both happily married with kids of their own. I had shared more than half my life with the woman. As I keep watching all my friends in town fall in love and pairing up, I find myself missing someone to share everyday things with. Just an old man getting lonely, I suppose, so if I met someone as lonely as me, yeah, I might consider getting married again," Ned told her a bit wistfully.
Ned looked across the counter at Elizabeth. Seeing the sympathy in her expression, he continued on. "Not that I'm unhappy, mind you," he told her. "My boys keep me up to date on their lives and I'm a valued part of this community. I enjoy hearing all the news as people come in to shop."
Ned had been tallying up her order, and placing things in her basket for her as he spoke.
"You are a very valued member of this community, Ned," Elizabeth agreed, reaching for the smaller package. She was excited to see what the charm looked like.
Opening the box, she held up the little beaver. It looked cuter than it had in the catalogue. "It's perfect," Elizabeth said happily.
"Ally will love it," Ned agreed. "And I'm sure Nathan will enjoy his gift as well," the merchant added patting the other package.
"I sure hope so," Elizabeth said. "I forgot how hard it was to shop for a man."
Ned chuckled. "I'll let you in on a secret, Elizabeth. Us men will love anything given to us by the woman we love or our children, even if it's the ugliest shirt in the world. The person who gave it to us makes it special."
"Good to know," Elizabeth said, laughing as well.
By the time Elizabeth was done at the counter, Lucas had returned. He offered to take the basket for her for the time being, and Elizabeth let him. It had a tendency to get heavy after her trips into town.
As they walked the short distance to the dress shop, Elizabeth got to thinking about her thought last night about Lucas starting a betting pool about when Nathan would propose. Though last night she hadn't wanted to know, today she felt as though she wanted her worries put to rest.
"Lucas, I want to ask you something, and I hope you won't be offended," Elizabeth said.
"Uh-oh, what have I done now?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing that I know of," Elizabeth said. "It's just that Rosemary mentioned she and Lee had a friendly bet about when Nathan would get around to proposing, and I guess it got me to worrying that others might have done the same," she said, trying to breach the subject as delicately as possible.
"Well, I can't speak for the whole town, but I can say on my word as a gentleman, that I didn't start any betting pool nor do I know of one. I will confess there was a time that the idea might have been appealing, but I have come to respect Nathan, maybe possibly even consider him a friend. Not to mention my respect and friendship for you."
"Thank-you," Elizabeth told him.
"Now, I will confess, I have been known to run a few baby due date pools for fun, so if that's something that would upset you, let me know now so I don't stick my foot in my mouth when the time comes."
Elizabeth laughed. She was amused that Lucas just assumed that there would be more children in the future. She was also touched that he was asking her permission. It seems he had learned from recent mistakes.
"It wouldn't upset me," she confessed. "However, given Nathan's past with his father, I'm not too sure how he would feel about it."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. Though Nathan didn't interfere with the games that went on in the saloon, Lucas had also noticed that he didn't play cards and only occasionally did he participate in even a friendly game of darts.
"A good reminder," Lucas replied. "And one I will remember when the time comes."
"Thank-you, Lucas," Elizabeth said, as they reached the dress shop.
