After dinner, during which Fred talked extensively about the morning he had spent at the Stewart ranch, Grace ushered the children into the sitting room so they could play round robin. That left Gabriel, Lillian, Nathan and Eleanor at the dining room table.

"I guess I should start cleaning up," Eleanor commented, standing up as she started gathering the dishes near her.

"I'll help you," Lillian said, getting to her feet.

Before Eleanor could say anything, Nathan spoke up.

"How about I help with the dinner dishes," Nathan suggested, standing up as well. "That would free you up to spend some time with Gabe without the children around."

"You two could talk in private out in the cottage," Eleanor chimed in. "Perhaps start the fire out there for our guest. If he's willing to help me with the dishes a warm place to sleep afterwards would be nice."

Lillian smiled. She knew exactly what the two were trying to do and she did want a chance to talk to Gabriel alone. He had been quieter than usual all evening. That, along with the way he had held her when Nathan and he had come back had her worried.

"I can do that," Lillian replied. She looked over at Gabriel. "Do you mind helping me with the fire?"

"I'd be happy to," Gabriel replied.

While Eleanor and Nathan went about gathering the dishes from the table, Lillian and Gabriel headed toward the sitting room. Reaching into the closet, Lillian took out her heavy shawl.

"Let me help you with that," Gabriel said softly, reaching for the shawl.

Vincent was currently adding to their story and none of the children were paying attention to them. Grace, however, did cast a quick glance in her sister's direction.

Lillian silently handed the shawl to Gabriel. Taking the shawl, Gabriel settled it around Lillian's shoulders. He let his hands rest briefly on her shoulders. Even that brief, casual touch told Lillian that Gabriel cared for her and made her heart beat just a bit faster.

"Thank-you," Lillian murmured, looking back at Gabriel.

"You're welcome," he told her even as he moved forward to open the door.

The two started toward the cottage, a comfortable silence between them though Lillian was curious about what was going on with Gabriel. She hoped he would talk to her but she wasn't going to rush anything.

"I asked Christian to make sure there was wood for a fire inside the cottage earlier today," Lillian commented as they crossed the yard. "Hopefully he did it."

"I don't mind getting it from the wood pile if he didn't," Gabriel commented. As Lillian opened her mouth, he continued. "I know that isn't the point. However, the children are very well behaved. You and Grace should be proud."

"Thank-you," Lillian replied. "And we are," she assured him.

"I see your wood pile has been added to since I left."

"Yes. Chuck and Hank came over and chopped some wood for us. I had the boys stack it."

"Are you finally starting to allow the townsfolk to offer some neighborly help?" Gabriel asked, a slight teasing tone to his voice as he opened the door to the cottage.

"Within reason," Lillian said. "I'm willing to admit that there are things around her that having a little help with would be nice. Chopping the wood is one of them. I can manage, but it seems to take me forever."

"Well, I'm sure between Chuck and I, we can make sure that wood pile stays full this winter."

"That would be appreciated," Lillian told him.

Gabriel and Lillian went about getting a fire started in the fire place. Gabriel took the lead but Lillian was able to hand him the things he needed without him having to ask for them. Eventually, the big chunks of firewood had caught. The fire started throwing off heat, starting to chase the chill from the small shelter.

Standing in front of the fireplace, Gabriel stared into the flames. He looked to be lost in thought to Lillian, who stood watching him for a few minutes. Finally, deciding that he wasn't going to speak unless she prompted him, Lillian stepped closer to him.

"Gabriel, what's on your mind?" Lillian asked softly, as she stepped up behind him. She slipped her hands around his waist, resting her head against his back. It was the first time she had initiated such intimate contact and she had to admit it felt natural. "And don't say nothing, because I can tell something has been bothering you all evening."

"I guess going to this trial has affected me more than I thought it would," Gabriel admitted. He continued to stare into the flames, though he did place his hands over top of Lillian's, which rested on his stomach. "It brought up feelings I had thought I had worked past, as well as created new ones. The fact that Trenton didn't bother keeping his mouth shut didn't help either."

"I'm sorry you had to endure that," Lillian told him, thinking of her own encounter in the Brookfield jail. Trenton had seemed to know exactly what words to use to play on her feelings of guilt at the time. She had a feeling he had known what to say to bother Gabriel as well. "But he's behind bars now, where he belongs."

"For now," Gabriel agreed.

Lillian realized that she hadn't asked what the sentence was. Nathan and Gabriel hadn't volunteered that information either. She supposed for now it didn't matter.

"The immediate future is all we can worry about," Lillian said logically, knowing that was a lot easier said than done. She was guilty of worrying about the future, and about things she had no control over, on more than one occasion.

"You're right, but sometimes, with this job, that isn't so easy," Gabriel told her. "I don't like the idea that you, or Grace, or even the children could be in danger because of me and yet, it's happened twice before."

"Gabriel this wasn't your fault," Lillian said, patiently repeating words that she had told him before. "You did everything in your power to prevent it. This guy came to the orphanage because he was looking for food or money. He simply saw us as a convenient target."

"He was probably hanging around the orphanage the night before and some how I missed him."

"I don't expect you to be perfect, Gabriel. Nor can you hold yourself to such a high standard. You did your best. My father use to tell me that doing your best was the most anyone can ask of you, even if your best falls short of some goal."

"Which is little comfort if someone ends up dead because of it," Gabriel said.

"But you kept us safe, Gabriel. You showing up took Jack's attention away from Grace and myself."

Gently lifting Lillian's hands from where they rested, Gabriel turned from the fire to face her. "And if he hadn't decided I was the greater threat, what then? It's not like I was in any position to actually stop him from doing anything?"

"And if you hadn't shown up, chances are Jack would have raped Grace or myself and then left. If that had happened, who knows whom else he would have hurt before being caught. Who knows how bad Grace or I could have been hurt or how long we would have been alone until someone showed up."

Gabriel looked away. Lillian could see the pain and doubt in his eyes. She knew he was thinking that she would be better off without him. Elizabeth's words from about a month ago came back to her.

"I also learned that though it may be harder and risky in some ways, a Mountie needs people in their life willing to take that risk. Their job can be a lonely and thankless one at times."

Elizabeth was right. A Mountie gave much of themselves to their job and the people they served. Sometimes, like Elizabeth's first husband, they even gave their lives. They deserved people's respect and friendship and in some instances love. Lillian knew that her adoptive mother and father would have approved of Gabriel and her relationship with him.

Lillian had finally found the courage to follow her heart. She wasn't about to lose Gabriel now.

"What Jack Trenton chose to do is not your fault. Mike Sinclair threatening me wasn't your fault either," Lillian told him, reaching up and placing a hand against his cheek, turning his head so she could meet his gaze. "I see that now."

"Sinclair was only interested in you because he saw me with you at the hotel," Gabriel protested.

"We have no control over what other people do. What matters is that once you were aware of the danger, you asked Sam to look out for me. Just like you told everyone to be alert when you knew Jack Trenton might be in the area. I think what upset me more with the situation with Sinclair was that you didn't tell me what was going on."

"I just wanted you to be safe. I wasn't sure how you would react."

"So you've said," Lillian replied. "However, if a relationship is going to work between us, we need to be open and honest with one another. If there is a danger, I want to know about it so I can face it with you. Don't try to protect me by keeping things from me or by thinking that if you left I would be better off."

"I never said-"

"You didn't need to," Lillian told him, cutting him off from finishing the sentence. "I could see it in your eyes. I know the thought of something happening to me, scares you because the thought of something happening to you scares me. When I heard that gunshot, I was convinced that he had shot you. I knew in that moment that somehow I had fallen in love with you despite trying to resist it. I was so afraid that it was too late to tell you how I felt. Please, don't try to walk away from me now."

"I won't," Gabriel told her, pulling her close. "I love you, Lillian. I promise that I will always be here for you and I will always do my best to protect you and whatever children are in your care."

"I know you will," Lillian replied, as she held tightly onto Gabriel. She had her head resting against his chest and she could hear his heart beat. "I think I started to realize that when you and Chuck came out to help with the roof repairs and you started asking questions about Sam. It kind of annoyed me at the time, but deep down I knew you were just concerned."

"And maybe a little jealous," Gabriel admitted, his chin resting on the top of Lillian's head.

Lillian laughed. "Oh, that much was obvious," she said. "It was also very sweet. When Sam started showing interest, part of me thought he would be the safe choice but there was never any spark for me. My heart was always yours. It just took the thought of losing you to get my mind to listen to it."

"I'm glad it finally did," Gabriel stated, his voice sounding husky.

Lillian held Gabriel tighter, hoping that her embrace helped bring him as much comfort as being held by him made her. From the sound of his voice, Lillian had a feeling that Gabriel was battling with his emotions. Feeling a small drop of moisture on the top of her head confirmed it.

"I love you, Gabriel," Lillian stated as she listened to his heart beat. "I also know how blessed I am that you love me as well."

She felt Gabriel place a kiss on the top of her head. Lillian had a feeling that he probably didn't trust his voice right then, which was okay. There was no need for words. Gabriel's actions conveyed his feelings just as well.