For those fans or Hearties that are disgusted with the 8 season of when calls the heart. I have decided that Elizabeth Thornton's character didn't deserve Constable Grant. So this is a story of Nathan finding a real women who is worth fighting for, and the regrets of Elizabeth for choosing the safe option.

Chapter 1

Constable Nathan Grant was reclining on the porch of the Mountie station, looking over the quaint little town of Hope Valley. He was their protector and he took his job very seriously. As he continued his perusal, he saw Elizabeth and Lucas stroll along the boardwalk by the cafe. They were standing very close to one another and Nathan was astounded by the teachers behavior in public. She had spent the last couple of years leading on two very different men. She had even thrown herself into his arms the year before when he had a close to death encounter. Now here she was with Lucas, but she still would occasionally pass a longing glance Nathan way, when she knew Lucas was distracted.

Nathan sighed in relief, he had loved her deeply at one point. Enough to change his career, or whatever was needed to win her hand. But that was five months ago. Since then she had decided firmly that she wanted to be with Lucas. She even told Nathan she loved him...but was not in love with him. What does that even mean anyway? Either you love a man or you don't, you could love someone as a brother, but he knew that had not been the case. In fact, he knew where her heart truly was...with him. Nathan however had changed in the past months, to the point where he truly could say he no longer loved her. After all, a man could only take so much rejection.

He also knew he wanted to settle down and have a family, and to of course give Allie the mother figure she was longing for. Hope Vally had some available women, but there were none that appealed to him. Faith Carter the new doctor was whom everyone in town thought he should court. She seemed nice enough, and she subtly flirted in the last month. She also was recovering from a broken heart, and Nathan knew she could have fought harder to make it work out with Carson. It seemed she all but pushed him out the door to take the surgical fellowship. Therefore Nathan knew she was not the one for him either.

He wanted a warm house, with someone there to make tasty meals and treats for dessert. Someone who would put family before their career, similar to him. Unfortunately Hope Vally had many women who loved their careers. So Nathan decided to look elsewhere for his future bride. He could have moved to a new location, but Allie was happy here and she had many friends that loved her. So he had only one alternative, look for a mail order bride.

Ordering a bride was not an easy decision for him to make, and Nathan wanted to fall in love with the girl he married. So he was terrified, but determined as he finally made his decision. He had some friends who were also Mounties, located in various other locations around Canada. Some of whom recommended a widow from Ottawa, who ran a mail order bride company. She was highly recommended, and had many successful matches. Some of which were to Mounties in remote locations.

Nathan wrote to her two weeks ago, and had since received a phone call informing him that Mrs Reynolds had found him a match to his requirements. She was in fact to arrive in one week from the currant day. In some ways Nathan felt like a school boy for how nervous he was becoming. He really didn't need to prepare for her arrival too much, for his and Allies home was small but always kept organized and tidy. Nathan could never handle disorder of any kind, that's why he always hated it when Judge Avery would use his desk. Something was always out of place afterwards and he had to reorganize or hunt down a missing file.

Allie was aware of her uncles upcoming marriage, and she was sworn to secrecy. She was nervous that the woman would take one look at them and hightail it back to Ottawa, so she had no problem keeping that particular secret. Elizabeth had crushed the little girl, although Allie hid her emotions pretty well. The student teacher relationship did become rather strained, but Elizabeth chose to ignore it for the most part. Partly to avoid a conversation with Nathan, her heart still skipped a little around him and that was just unacceptable. She figured after a while that Allie would warm up to her again. So she kept trying to talk with the girl and have her open up to her. But Allie would often attempt to escape the school as quickly as possible in order to avoid her noisy teacher. She had rejected her and her uncle, and outside of school she should mind her own business.

When Nathan ended his watch for the day her headed over to the Coulter's residence. They were obviously good friends with Elizabeth, but Lee had with time became a good friend of his and he had a favor to ask. He knocked on their door and waited...

"Oh...Nathan, are you looking for Lee?" Rosemary asked as she saw him behind the door.

"Actually I was hoping to talk with the both of you." He responded holing his hat in hand and his eyes strayed slowly to the ground. He was a bit nervous to make his request to them. Rosemary smiled and quickly ushered him inside. He saw Lee had just came down the stairs, probably changing from being in the mill that day. Usually he would be in his office, but they had been having some problems lately that needed his presence in the mill. And earlier Nathan had noticed Lee has sawdust all over his collar.

"Hey Nathan, good to see you. What did you want to see us about?" Lee inquired after Rosemary filled him in.

Nathan had not sat down in the chair they had offered, instead he shifted his weight back and forth clenching his hat. He finally quickly stated what he wanted, "I was hoping you and Rosemary would be willing to watch over Allie next week?"

Before Lee could answer Rosemary grabbed the opportunity to have a child in their house even for a short time. But she quickly added, "I hope their is no trouble taking you away on Mountie business?"

He developed a lopsided crooked grin as he explained, "Actually, I am getting married next week. And I was hoping that we could get aquatinted better before she is thrust into motherhood."

"Nathan Grant, who on earth could you possibly be marrying. You haven't even courted anyone, and trust me I would know." Rosemary exclaimed loudly.

"Rosemary, I know you like to write articles on the latest news... but I am hoping you will keep this bit of information to yourself."

Rosemary slightly scowled but agreed. Then Nathan explained how his Mail order bride was to arrive the following week and how he hoped the coulters would both welcome her, be their witnesses for the marriage and watch over Allie as his new bride settled in. Lee spoke for the both of them and agreed to all Nathan's requests and they both hoped he would be very happy. Rosemary seemed to even have some tears in her eyes. She had wanted Elizabeth to choose the man she truly loved, but when she proceeded to break his heart for the umpteenth time all she could hope was for Nathan to find a love greater than what he could have had with Elizabeth. She doubted a mail order bride was the answer, but she would do anything in her power to help love grow for this new couple in Hope Valley.

After Nathan left the Coulters he headed home. Earlier that day her arranged with Judge Avery to preform the marriage and everyone he involved, mainly the Coulters and Judge Avery plus of course Allie were all sworn to secrecy. So now all he had to do was wait and see what kind of girl Mrs Reynolds had picked for him.