Chapter 33

Nathan felt like cursing as he struggled to undo all the buttons on the back of Elizabeth's dress. He now knew why Allie had needed Rosemary's help with them earlier. He was tempted to go and get Rosemary to help but that would defeat the purpose of having the night to themselves. Seeing Elizabeth in the dress was well worth the fumbles with the tiny buttons. Nathan was so grateful for the larger buttons on his red Serge.

Nathan looked at his wife in the mirror while undoing the last of the buttons. It was the simple pleasure of being together that made him fall deeper in love with her every day. He had to admit that they looked good together. When he finished with the buttons, he drew her closer to him and kissed her on the shoulder. He watched her expression in the mirror. He could tell that she was happy and he promised to make sure she stayed that way as long as he lived.

Elizabeth let the dress drop to the floor and helped him out of his uniform before they called it a night. They let their love shine before falling asleep in each other arms. They both slept peacefully, content to hold each other all night long. They were exhausted from a very long day and even longer night.

Elizabeth woke before Nathan but without having to get up for little Jack she just snuggled closer to her husband and watched him sleep. Before she met Nathan, she had believed that there was only one person for everyone and after she lost Jack, she didn't think she would ever feel love again. She had been so wrong, her love for Nathan was different from the love she had with Jack but no less powerful and deep. She was truly blessed. She wanted Nathan to know how much she treasured him and the life they were creating together.

Elizabeth heard the door creaking open and realized that they overslept because Rosemary was bringing the kids home. Rosemary had told her that she was meeting Clara at the saloon, that morning to take down the decorations before work. Rosemary had to open the dress shop and Clara had to help Bill with the breakfast rush at the café. She dressed quickly and went downstairs, missing the top buttons of her blouse. She left her hair loose as well. She knew Rosemary wouldn't mind. She would just be happy for her friends.

Rosemary told Elizabeth that two plates of breakfast were being kept warm on the stove and that she had just started a pot of coffee. Elizabeth thanked her for being such a good friend. Rosemary waved goodbye to Allie and little Jack before heading out the door. Elizabeth knew that Nathan would be up as soon as he smelled the coffee brewing. She knew that he was usually an early riser but when he slept in after a long night, the smell of coffee was usually his wake-up call.

Back at the saloon Rosemary, Clara, and Gustav finished removing all the decorations and moved the tables back to where they belonged. The ladies left just as Gustav unlocked the doors, opening the saloon for the day. The noise woke the weary traveler. He knew that he must look a fright so he quickly bathed and trimmed up his beard before dressing for the day.

There was so much he had to do because he had been gone for over five months. He hadn't planned on being gone for so long but there was so much to do in Europe. He enjoyed his visit with his parents and old friends. That life was so different from Hope Valley and he loved it. He decided that he would take a trip like that every year, he was thinking somewhere tropical next time.

Lucas grabbed the box with the gift he had brought back from Europe. He went down the saloon steps and saw that Gustav had opened for the day. He would have to give Gustav a raise for helping manage the saloon in his absence. There were only a couple customers but it was early in the day, even though it was Saturday. He headed out the door because there was someone he wanted to see, he heard Gustav calling to him but he ignored him. He would talk to Gustav later. Gustav knew that his boss was in for a surprise.