Author's Note: First of all, I want to make it very clear that this is a LUCAS and ELIZABETH fanfiction story. Despite the title, Elizabeth IS NOT Mrs. Constable Grant.
Secondly, the idea for this story comes from a comment made by my fellow Team Lucas fan heartiehallmakie who mused that they should have brought a married Mountie to Hope Valley to replace Jack. This story was born from that tweet.
This story is going to follow the course of Seasons 6 and 7 with the addition of several more Lucas and Elizabeth scenes and the adjustment of Nathan being a married man.
Please let me know what your thoughts are. I hope I do this story justice.
This story is dedicated to all my fellow Team Lucas fans who are patiently and hopefully waiting for an Elizabeth and Lucas romance in S8.
Chapter 1
The Queen of Hearts
Elizabeth Thornton moved to the food table that was almost groaning under the abundant selections that had been provided for the celebration. If nothing else, it was evident that Lucas Bouchard was certainly a generous person, throwing such an elaborate party for the town, especially a town that hadn't been overly welcoming to him. She had heard from Abigail how Bill had been investigating the new saloon owner and that he was getting increasingly frustrated by his lack of success in learning anything about the newcomer.
Elizabeth wasn't sure herself what to make of him. She had been surprised by their conversation in the street the other day. Without even knowing so much as her name, he had offered her a position as a waitress, stating he could tell she'd be perfect for the job. He had been mildly embarrassed when he had learned that she was the local schoolteacher and married as well. She had been surprised when he had commented on Baby Jack, referring to him as "the baby" as if he had noticed him before.
After filling her plate with some delectable-looking food, she turned to search out her friends. She found that Lee and Rosemary, and Carson and Faith were all still on the dance floor and that Abigail was across the room speaking with Molly, Florence, and Ned. Instead of heading in their direction, she decided to tuck herself into a corner and watch the festivities that were going on.
Tonight, was the first time that she had attended a gathering since the night of Carson's birthday party last year – the night that she had found out that Jack had been killed. She still missed him very much. When he had returned from the Northern Territories, she had been so excited to finally be starting their life together. She had never expected that less than a year later she would be a widow and a single mother. She honestly didn't know how she would have managed without the wonderful friends she had made since coming to Hope Valley. Abigail, Clara, Rosemary, Florence, and Molly had been especially wonderful, helping her set up the nursery for Jack and helping to babysit when she needed them. She could never repay them for their kindness.
"Hello again," a deep voice said, pulling her out of her musings.
"Hello," she replied, giving Lucas Bouchard a small smile.
She had to admit she was feeling a little embarrassed by her earlier behaviour when he had asked after her husband. It had been the first time that she had been asked that question, since everyone in town knew what had happened to Jack, and she hadn't been prepared to answer it. Instead, she had left it to Rosemary and Lee to explain.
"I hope you're enjoying the party," he said in a friendly tone.
"I am," she acknowledged. Then nodding towards the large group of attendees she added, "You have quite a good turn out. It appears as if everyone's here."
"Really?" Lucas gave her a delighted smile. I'm glad to hear that. I was hoping everyone would attend."
"Well, you will find that the inhabitants of Hope Valley always enjoy a good party," she told him lightly.
There was an awkward lull in the conversation and Elizabeth was just about to excuse herself when he suddenly said, "I wish to apologize for what I said earlier."
Before she could say anything he quickly continued, "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable by inquiring after your husband. I didn't know he had passed away. My apologies for my impertinence."
Elizabeth gave him a reassuring smile as she replied, "There is no need to apologize. You're new in town and so you had no way of knowing." She paused for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry for walking away. It was the first time I actually had to answer that question, since everyone here knows what happened to Jack." Then taking a deep breath, she said, "My husband passed just over a year ago."
A look of realization appeared on his face. "Before your son was born."
Elizabeth nodded. Then surprised herself by admitting, "I found out I was pregnant shortly after I buried Jack." Seeing the look of compassion deepen in Lucas' eyes, she quickly asked, "So how are you enjoying Hope Valley so far?"
"It's a wonderful little town," he replied, looking from her to the rest of his guests. "It's exactly what I was looking for."
"Oh?" She looked at him curiously. "For what?"
He made a sweeping gesture towards their surroundings. "For a good business opportunity. I'm always on the look out for a good investment. And everyone in town has been very…" he hesitated for a moment before concluding with, "…welcoming."
She let out a chuckle at his assessment of his reception in town. "That's very magnanimous of you to say, but I've already heard that Bill hasn't been so welcoming."
Lucas pulled a bit of a face. "No, I seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot with him somehow."
Smiling she said, "I'm afraid you got off on the wrong foot with him before you even arrived in Hope Valley."
"Because I bought the saloon," he stated, a knowing look on his face.
When she looked at him in surprise he explained, "My first day in town I was enjoying a delicious breakfast at the café when I overheard him and Mayor Stanton talking about how he wanted to buy the saloon. Even before he knew anything about the new owner, he and a couple of women were ready to run him out of town."
Elizabeth laughed. "Yes, I heard about that encounter. It sounds as if your introduction made quite an impression." When Lucas gave her a surprised look she explained, "Abigail is one of my best friends. She told me all about it."
"I see," Lucas said with a soft smile.
"What you don't understand is that Bill was so desperate to buy the saloon that he was even willing to partner up with Henry Gowen to meet the asking price." Seeing Lucas' curious look, she explained, "Bill and Henry are like oil and water. They have a long history and generally grate each other the wrong way. But they were both so interested in the saloon that they were willing to team up to buy it."
"Well, I'm sorry that I inadvertently thwarted their plans," he said with a genuinely contrite look on his face. "But I'm glad that I was able to buy the saloon." He looked around again as he said, "I think it'll be a very good business opportunity for me."
"Well, the saloon has always been a meeting place for the town," she commented, as she looked at the happy faces of her friends. "We've had many town gatherings, wedding receptions, and dances here over the years." She smiled nostalgically as she added, "When I first moved to town the saloon was even our schoolroom."
Lucas looked at her curiously. "How long ago was that?"
"Seven years ago," she replied. "I moved here right after graduating from Teacher's college. Coal Valley, as the town was called then, was my first assignment."
"Where did you move from?" he asked with obvious interest.
"Hamilton," she replied. "How about you? Where are you from?"
"Here and there," he replied evasively. "I've done a lot of travelling during my life." Then changing the subject, he asked, "So how did Hope Valley come to get its name?"
Elizabeth noticed that he hadn't answered her question, but she decided not to pursue it. "Coal Valley used to be a company town for the coal mine," she explained. "Just before I moved here there was a mine disaster and almost 50 miners lost their lives. About a year later, the widows took the company to court and it was shut down because of unsafe working conditions. Bill was a Mountie back then and had been sent to town as the lead investigator on the case. He retired from the Mounties and took up residence here shortly after the trial was over. A few years ago, he became the sheriff."
"Couldn't leave law enforcement behind," Lucas teased with a smile.
Elizabeth smiled in return, and admitted, "No, I guess he couldn't."
After a moment Lucas asked, "So, if this was originally a company town and the mine shut down, what kept it from becoming a ghost town? I mean I've heard of other town's having to shut down because their major source of employment closed. What was different about Hope Valley?"
Elizabeth smiled. "Well, for one thing the people here are very resilient and don't give up easily. Secondly, we have Lee Coulter." When Lucas looked at her expectantly she continued, "At the same time that the decision was rendered, and the mine shut down, Lee arrived in town announcing that he was going to open a sawmill. He had bought acres of timber in the area. So, he hired all the mine workers who wanted a job, plus many others and we became a timber town instead of a coal mine town. We also got a new schoolhouse/church built, so the children and I were able to move out of the saloon. Things were really starting to look up for the town, so the Mayor at the time suggested changing the name to Hope Valley."
Lucas smiled. "Well, the name certainly fits from everything I've heard about the town." Then giving her a mischievous look, he asked, "So, how did Lee ever get Mrs. Coulter to leave the bright lights of New York City for a small town like Hope Valley?"
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. Rosemary had told her about her encounter with Lucas a few days ago when her friend had offered to provide entertainment for the saloon. Rosemary had been anything but impressed by his declining of her offer.
"Actually, Rosemary and Lee arrived in town separately," she told him with a chuckle. "They met and fell in love here."
"Well they seem to be a lovely couple," he said earnestly. Then added with a twinkle in his eye, "She seems quite…spirited."
Elizabeth laughed at the description. "Oh, yeah. She is. She and Lee are also very dear friends of mine. I honestly don't know what I would have done without them and Abigail after Jack died, especially since Little Jack was born. They have been such an invaluable support to us." She found herself flushing slightly. She hadn't meant to be so forthcoming.
As if sensing her discomfort, Lucas gave her a warm smile and then turned his attention back to his guests. After a moment he asked curiously, "Are any of the coal miner's widows still in town?"
Elizabeth studied him carefully for a moment before asking, "Why do you want to know?"
He looked down at the ground for a brief moment before looking back at her, a look of embarrassment on his face as he looked her directly in the eye and admitted, "Because I don't want to make the same mistake I made with you and ask after their husbands."
Deciding that he was being sincere, she said, "Very well," and pointed out Florence, Molly, Clara, Abigail, and a few of the other widows that still lived in town.
"Thank you," he said with a small nod. "I'll be sure to file that information away."
"You may also want to take note that Ned Yost is a widower," Elizabeth added. "He has a daughter named Katie, but she moved to Benson Hills last year."
"Good to know," he acknowledged. Then after a brief pause, he remarked, "So Hope Valley is a big change from Hamilton. How do you like living in a small town as opposed to a bustling city?"
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before admitting, "It took a little getting used to. Hope Valley doesn't have the same basic amenities that I was used to in Hamilton, but now I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. I love the people and I love my students. It's where I met my husband and where my son was born. Hope Valley is my home now, more so than Hamilton ever was."
"When was the last time you were in Hamilton?" he asked.
Again, she hesitated before replying, "Shortly after my husband's death. I went back to spend some time with my family." Then after a pause she asked, "Where does your family live?"
It was his turn to hesitate before replying, "They tend to travel a lot. They're currently in Europe."
"You must miss them," she commented. "Having them so far away."
"I do," he confirmed. Then giving her a pleasant smile, he said, "Thank you for the lovely conversation, Mrs. Thornton, but I should see to my other guests. I hope you continue to enjoy the party."
"Thank you," she said with a nod and a smile. "I'm sure I will."
She watched him as he walked away to speak to some of the others in attendance.
She still wasn't sure what to make of him. In general, he seemed open and pleasant, but he was very evasive when it came to his past. She had noticed how he had deflected when she had asked where he was from and he hadn't been very forthcoming about his family either. He had certainly been interested in learning more about the town and its history. She hoped it was only because he was curious to find out more about his new home and not something more sinister.
At that thought she chastised herself for being so suspicious of him. She had no reason to believe he was anything other than what he appeared to be – a businessman who had bought the saloon because it seemed like a good investment opportunity. She knew some of the townsfolk were automatically suspicious of newcomers, but everyone in town, except for some of the children, had been a newcomer at one point or another. She determined that until she had any reason not to, she would treat Mr. Bouchard as she would any other businessman in town. She only hoped that her instincts were right, and that Lucas Bouchard proved to be an asset to the town and not a liability.
She was surprised and a little disconcerted when she realized that her eyes kept seeking him out as he mingled with his guests. He was currently speaking with Lee, Mike, and Kurt on the other side of the room. His warm smile was firmly in place as he shook hands with each one and he seemed genuinely interested in what they were telling him, giving whoever was speaking his full attention.
She couldn't deny that he was a very handsome man. Those dark eyes of his, while guarded, held a warmth and kindness in them that couldn't be denied. She had also found it very sweet that he had seem so embarrassed about his earlier misstep in asking after her husband. If she didn't know better, she could have sworn that she had even detected a certain amount of shyness about him. Though given the way that he had supposedly stood up to Bill the other day, brandishing a dead fish in the sheriff's face when Bill had insisted on inspecting one of the crates that had arrived at the saloon, Elizabeth very much doubted that there was a shy bone in Lucas Bouchard's body.
She couldn't help the smile that broke over her face as she remembered laughing at the image that had popped into her mind when Abigail had told her the story about Bill and the fish. Abigail had also laughed, though she said she had been sure not to so much as crack a smile when Bill had told her the story. Their sheriff had been anything but pleased.
"What's so funny?" she heard Bill suddenly ask.
She looked to her right and found Bill standing beside her, a half-full glass of beer in his hand.
"Nothing much," she replied evasively. "Just enjoying the party."
Bill gave her a tender smile. "I'm glad to hear it." Then turning to look at the group she had just been watching he said,"I saw you speaking with Bouchard. What do you think of him? Did you learn anything about him, like where he's from? Who his family is? What's he really doing in Hope Valley?"
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the intent expression on her friend's face as he continued to study the man in question. When she didn't reply he looked at her expectantly, silently urging her to speak. She gave him a wry smile as she said, "I'm not your spy, Bill."
"I'm not spying," Bill objected in annoyance. "I'm looking out for the welfare of the town. We have no idea who this guy is or where he comes from."
She gave him a knowing look. "Are you sure your desire to find out something sinister about him isn't because of a personal vendetta?"
"No, of course not!" He exclaimed firmly. "This is strictly professional. I'm the sheriff. It's my job to look out for the safety of the town and everyone in it."
"And what reason do you have to think that he's anything but an honest businessman looking for a sound business opportunity in a growing town?" She asked sensibly. "It's not a crime to move to a new place. If it were, you'd have to arrest half the citizens of Hope Valley, including yourself."
When Bill frowned at her she gave him a mischievous smirk and asked, "Are you sure you're not just smarting because he was able to pay ten thousand dollars for the saloon while you would have had to team up with Henry to pay nine thousand?"
"No, this has nothing to do with that," Bill assured her adamantly. "I am solely concerned about what his intentions are here in Hope Valley. That is all."
"Uh, huh," Elizabeth acknowledged, not believing him for one minute. "Bill, I think you're getting more and more cynical in your old age."
Bill huffed. "You surprise me, Elizabeth. I thought you were far too sensible to be taken in by a handsome face and some flashy clothes." Then turning on his heels he almost stomped away from her.
Not the least bit offended by his outburst, Elizabeth just chuckled in amusement knowing he would cool off in time.
"Was Bill pumping you for information about our new saloon owner?" Elizabeth heard Abigail remark with obvious amusement in her tone.
Turning to her left she saw her friend standing there, an amused look on her face. "I noticed you speaking with Mr. Bouchard earlier."
"So did Bill. He wanted to know if Mr. Bouchard told me anything about himself or his intentions in Hope Valley," Elizabeth replied with a smile.
"And did he?" Abigail asked curiously.
"I told Bill I wasn't his spy," she told Abigail mischievously, then noting the look of genuine concern in her friend's eye she added, "But since I know you are only looking out for the welfare of the town and not your own personal vendetta, I will tell you that I didn't really learn much about him outside of the fact that he seems genuinely friendly and sincere about fitting in around here. He apologized for asking after my husband, not realizing I was a widow. We also talked about the history of the town, and when he found out that there were other widows here, he asked me who they were."
Abigail frowned. "He asked who the widows were? Why?"
"He said he didn't want to make the same mistake of asking them about their husbands," Elizabeth said.
"Do you think he was sincere about that? Or do you think he's looking to prey on them?" Abigail asked with obvious concern.
Elizabeth thought back over her conversation with the saloon owner, remembering the genuine look of embarrassment on his face as he apologized for his unknowing faux pas.
"I think he was genuine about not wanting to embarrass himself or them by asking the question," Elizabeth told her. "I know Bill is convinced that he's up to something, but I didn't get that feeling off him. He's guarded, that's true, but who can blame him after the reception Bill has given him. My instincts tell me he's well-intentioned, though a bit mysterious."
"Well I have always trusted your instincts," Abigail told her. "Bill on the other hand, can be like a dog with a bone when he gets something into his head."
Elizabeth laughed at the imagery that invoked.
"He certainly is handsome," Abigail remarked with a grin. "And clearly very well off. If he truly is the honest businessman that he's presenting himself to be, that would make him one of the most eligible bachelors in town."
Elizabeth shot her friend a warning look. "Abigail."
The older woman smiled innocently. "What? It was just an observation."
"Well you can keep your observations to yourself," Elizabeth told her firmly. "I have absolutely no interest in getting married again." She let out a soft sigh. "I already found the love of my life. I just wasn't allowed to keep him."
"Oh, Elizabeth." Abigail slipped an arm around her waist. "You're too young to think like that. I know it seems impossible right now, but I have no doubt that the right man is out there and that when your ready to open your heart again you'll find him. Look at Clara and Jesse. Clara wasn't looking to get married again when Jesse suddenly came into her life, but now she can't wait for him to ask her."
Elizabeth looked over at her friend, who just like her had lost her husband very shortly after their wedding. Clara had been a great source of comfort to her, especially in those early days after Jack's death. Unlike the other widows in town who had been married for several years before losing their husbands, Clara understood the pain of being cheated of time with the man she loved. Clara also knew the joy of falling in love with someone new. Elizabeth, however, wasn't prepared for that yet.
Fortunately, she was saved from having to dwell on Abigail's teasing by Florence and Molly who suddenly joined them, all excited about some new piece of gossip they had discovered.
It was almost one o'clock in the morning when Lucas entered the suite of rooms that were now his home. After the families and couples had left the party, several of the single men had stayed for a few more hands of cards or a few more games of darts. The music and the drinks had continued as well. It had been well after midnight before everyone had finally called it a night.
Shrugging out of his jacket, he draped it over the back of the chair at his small writing desk before making his way to the wingback chair by the sitting room fireplace. Wearily he sat down, staring into the red coals that were glowing in the bottom of the fireplace.
Lucas was thrilled with how successful the grand opening celebration had been. According to Elizabeth Thornton, everyone in town had been in attendance, no doubt drawn in by curiosity and the promise of free food. The fact that so many people had come out for the party gratified him greatly, because, despite Sheriff Avery's misgivings about him, his intentions towards the town of Hope Valley really were honorable. He was merely looking for a place that he could call home. He had spent so much of his life traveling about, that he was ready to settle down and enjoy being part of a community. While he was used to cities like New Orleans and San Francisco, truth be told, he much preferred the idea of settling in a quieter place, where people took time to socialize and get to know each other. Of course, the news of Amos Dixon's early release from prison had also played a part in Lucas' decision to leave the big cities behind.
When Janette had told him about the advertisement that she had read regarding a saloon that was for sale in a little town called Hope Valley, he had immediately jumped at the opportunity. He had never run a saloon or hotel before, but he was never one to back away from a new experience. And thanks to his father's training, he learned from an early age how to handle business matters. He also had a good imagination and had already pictured great things for the place. If only he could get Bill Avery off his back.
Under different circumstances, Lucas would find the overzealous sheriff's distrust amusing. Lucas was anything but a lawbreaker or a scoundrel. He came from a good, law-abiding family and who had never done anything the least bit shady in their lives. His father was a well-respected businessman and his mother a much sought-after book editor. Unfortunately, circumstances had forced Lucas into a situation where he had to be very careful who he trusted.
He sincerely wished he felt that he could trust Bill Avery with his story, but given the sheriff's deep-seated suspicions of him, he doubted Bill would believe what he had to tell him. Besides, Amos Dixon had a long reach, and he couldn't risk the conman finding out where he was living. As it was, Lucas was worried that the inquiries that Bill was making in New Orleans would some how get back to Amos. The last thing he needed was the heartless loanshark tracing him to Hope Valley, especially not with so many widows in town. He cringed when he thought of how the shyster would take advantage of them. The man could be very charming when he wanted to be, but once he had someone in his clutches, he was a heartless monster. Lucas just hoped that both he and Janette could stay out of Dixon's sights.
Leaning his head back against his chair he closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. Suddenly the smiling face of Elizabeth Thornton came unbidden to his mind. She truly was a beautiful woman; he had noticed that the first time he'd set eyes on her. Though he had to admit that while he had been immediately attracted by her beauty, it was when she had said that she liked to read books that he was truly intrigued. A woman after his own heart. Ever since he was a young boy, his mother had instilled in him a love of books. He used to love sitting with her while she read manuscripts. He found himself wondering if he and Elizabeth shared the same taste in books. Suddenly he pictured them sitting together in front of his fireplace discussing their thoughts on different books or even taking turns reading to her son.
Lucas opened his eyes and lifted his head, more than a little surprised by the direction his thoughts had taken. He had only just met Elizabeth and until this evening he had thought her to be married with a young baby. So why was he picturing them in such a cozy and intimate setting as reading to her son before his fireplace?
"You're just tired," he told himself firmly. "It's time to go to bed."
To bed he went. The problem was his dreams were filled with one Elizabeth Thornton.
Constable Nathan Grant let out a deep sigh as he absently poked at the red-hot coals in the bottom of the fireplace, his mind whirling over the contents of the letter that he held in his other hand. He honestly hadn't expected to be reassigned so soon. In fact, he had been hoping that when he'd notified headquarters of his recent marriage that they would leave him where he was, at least for a while. But the letter in his hand was proof that that wasn't going to be the case.
How was he going to tell Rachel that they were going to have to pack up and leave the area that she had spent her entire life in; that they were going to be moving far away from her parents and her siblings and every friend she ever had. It was true that she knew he was a Mountie when she had agreed to marry him, and she always said that she greatly admired his devotion to duty. But would that admiration last when she found out that they were going to be moving hundreds of miles away from the only town she'd ever known? She had found it difficult moving the few miles from Madison Creek to Fort Simpson, but at least she was still able to ride over to visit her family and friends a few days a week. How would she cope now?
In Nathan's mind, turning down the assignment was not an option. When he had graduated from the academy, he had vowed to himself that he would never turn down any assignment that he was given, no matter how difficult or unpleasant it was. When duty called, he had to answer. He had to admit, however, that that vow had become harder to keep after he'd taken in his niece, Allie. Moving from town to town with a young girl in tow wasn't what he had imagined when he'd signed up to be a Mountie, but there was no way he could leave her to be raised by strangers after her mother had died. And his mother was too old to look after Allie by herself. So, the two of them had made the most of the situation and moved on average every six months or so. His assignment in Fort Simpson had been his longest – almost a year – and the most life-changing.
When he had first arrived here, he had been given the assignment of patrolling the area that included a small town called Madison Creek. Because of its close proximity to the Fort, the town didn't have a full-time Mountie or Sheriff. Instead, a Mountie from the Fort was always assigned to look after the town. That was how he had met Rachel Madison.
Madison Creek had been founded by Rachel's paternal grandparents. At first it had been just a large homestead located a few miles away from the Fort, but over the years other families had joined them in the area, and soon the store and other businesses had started appearing. Now it was a surprisingly busy town. Rachel's parents ran the mercantile, two of her aunts ran the dress shop, and her uncle ran the livery. Rachel herself had worked in the only restaurant with her two older sisters.
At first he hadn't understood what it was that had drawn him so often to the town's restaurant when he could just as easily have eaten at the Fort, but none-the-less he found he had arranged his schedule to always arrive in Madison Creek in time for lunch. It had taken him a few months to realize that he was falling in love with Rachel, but then he hadn't been sure what he should do about his feelings. He had always felt that Mounties should not get married because of the dangers of the job, but the more he had thought about Rachel the less convinced he had been of that. In time he had asked her if he could court her and then last month, they had gotten married.
While they had been courting, he had been clear that he could get transferred to another posting at anytime and that if she were going to marry him, she had to be ready for that. She had always insisted that she loved him enough that she would follow him anywhere, but he'd seen how hard it had been for her to just move the few miles from Madison Creek to Fort Simpson. How would she ever endure moving clear out of the area, especially to a town where he was replacing the previous Mountie who had been killed in the line of duty?
The sound of creaking wood alerted Nathan to the fact that either Rachel or Allie was up and on their way downstairs.
Turning his head, he found his wife walking towards him, a soft smile on her lips. "Are you coming to bed, sweetheart?" she asked sleepily. "It's late."
"I know," he said softly turning to look back towards the fire, trying to decide whether to tell her the news now or wait until the morning.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she sat down beside him on the sofa. "You look worried."
"Nothing's wrong, per se," he said slowly.
"Then why do you look so thoughtful?" she pressed, slipping an arm around him, and looking at his face intently. "You look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders."
He let out a sigh and decided it was now or never. Lifting the letter that he held in his hand he said, "I've been given a new posting."
He felt her stiffen at the news. "Where?"
"A little town called Hope Valley," he told her. "It's a few hundred miles from here."
There was a long pause before she asked, her tone a little choked, "And you feel you have to take it?"
Nathan turned to look at her as he said, "I vowed to myself when I graduated from the academy that I would always accept whatever assignment I was given."
"But surely you realize how impractical that is now," Rachel told him seriously. "I mean when you graduated from the academy you were a single man with no other responsibilities. Now you're raising your niece and you have a wife. Can't you see that that vow is no longer practical? And what if we were to have children of our own? Are you going to pack us up and move us from pillar to post every time Mountie headquarters decides it's time?" There was a hint of anger in her tone as she added, "What about what we want?"
Nathan frowned at her. "You knew that moving was more than a possibility when we got married. I told you numerous times that I could get reassigned at any moment, but you kept insisting that you were happy to follow me wherever that may be."
Tears formed in Rachel's eyes as she admitted, "But I was secretly hoping that when the time did come that you would change your mind and decide to stay here in Fort Simpson, or even move to Madison Creek and become its Mountie-in-residence."
"Well, what you hoped is not what's going to happen," he told her firmly. "Madison Creek will be looked after by another Mountie from the Fort. Hope Valley doesn't have a Mountie and they aren't near a Fort like Madison Creek is. They need me."
"They don't need you," Rachel retorted crisply. "They may need a Mountie, but why does it have to be you?"
"Because that's my next assignment," he told her firmly. "And that's where we will go."
Tears flowed down her face. "Regardless of what I think about it."
Nathan looked at her and sighed, "It's my job, Rachel. It's what I signed up for and it's what you agreed to when you married me. I can't help it if you secretly hoped things would be different. I know it won't be easy for you, but we are moving to Hope Valley and that's all there is to it."