Chapter 1 - Grant Me Healing

Elizabeth Thornton's fountain pen was in mid stroke when a firm knock sounded at the front door.

She glanced at the clock perched atop the mantle, frowning.

Who in the world could that be? she thought. It was barely six in the morning, hardly the time that any caller would come knocking - especially on a Saturday. Those mornings were the rare moment in the week when she could get done some letter writing before Little Jack awoke.

"I guess Abigail's letter will have to wait," she muttered and moved as quietly as possible to the door.

Upon opening it, she couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the one person she had been avoiding for weeks.

"Hello, Elizabeth."

"Nathan!"

The handsome mountie towered over her, dressed in his full uniform. The brilliant red shone wonderfully in the early morning sun. No doubt every eye would be drawn automatically to such a regal display. Nathan tipped his hat at her, smiling slightly.

"I apologize for stopping by so soon," he explained. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't have come by at all, but my options were limited."

"Options?" Elizabeth was only just catching up to the exchange. It felt like only yesterday that she confronted Constable Grant on her feelings for him. It was one of the most painful moments of her life - aside from losing her first husband, Jack Thornton. After months of not knowing herself, Elizabeth had finally chosen who she wanted to pursue romantically.

Unfortunately for the stalwart man standing on her front step, her choice hadn't been Nathan.

She cleared her throat and continued. "What can I do for you? I'm sorry that I don't have any coffee or tea to offer. I've been hurrying to write a few letters before Jack wakes up."

"Letters to Abigail?" Nathan met her gaze, unwavering. He was as serious as a stone carving, and his beautiful features appeared just as strong as chiseled granite.

"Actually...yes. Most of my letters go to her. It's been so long since I've seen her, and there's always so much for her to be caught up on."

"I'm sure." Nathan glanced away. "It's nice that you keep your long distance friends informed on your life."

Her eyes fluttered for a few moments and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, you came here to ask me something?"

"Yes," he said, straightening up. What little personal banter he offered was now evaporated. "I was hoping you might have seen Allie in the neighborhood?"

"Allie?" Elizabeth blinked again. "No...I'm sorry. She hasn't been out this way. I would have heard her if she was."

A slight smile cracked on Nathan's lips. "She definitely likes to make herself known wherever she goes. I woke up to this."

He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Elizabeth. Inside, written in Allie's messy handwriting, was as brief a note as Elizabeth had ever seen.

Going into town. Be back by lunch!

"I can only imagine what she's going into town for at this hour." Elizabeth handed the note back to Nathan.

He nodded as the note was pushed back into his jacket.

"If you're thinking it's Robert Wolf, then I think we're on the same page."

The statement wasn't meant the way that Elizabeth interpreted it, but then again, everything that the two of them said to each other these days was tinged with vinegar. Double meanings. It was the kind of thing that Elizabeth expected to find in a novel. But, this wasn't a novel. It was her real life.

As the conversation came to a long pause, she decided to try and bring up the painful subject of Nathan's dismissal.

"Nathan…" she started. "I know that you must still be hurting after I said what I needed to say back in your office -"

The Constable didn't give her a chance to go on.

"We don't need to do this now," he said, moving back down the front steps. "I just came here looking for Allie. Clearly she isn't here. Don't let me waste any more of your time. It must be hard to come by, especially with a little guy as full of energy as Little Jack."

He was on his horse before Elizabeth knew what was happening. With another customary tip of his hat, he bid her farewell.

"Miss Thornton."

She stood there until the sound of the hoofbeats faded completely.

"We aren't getting over this mountain any time soon, are we?" she asked the empty air.

She returned to her desk and tried to get her mind back on what she had been writing.

Oh yes, she thought after a moment. Abigail.

Her pen was moving again in no time, gliding in elegant arcs across the page.

I never thought that I would end up down this path, she wrote. It is a turning point that has caused me so much happiness, but at the same time, I feel so much pain. It must be nothing compared to what Nathan is feeling - and I haven't even discussed this with Lucas. I know it weighs on Nathan, even after the little time that has passed since we spoke. He has reverted to calling me 'Mrs. Thornton' which sounds foreign even as I write it. But, as my mother would have told me - 'Elizabeth, you've made your bed, now you must sleep in it.' Clearly this 'bed' still has some breaking-in to do before I get a full night's sleep. I am holding onto the old wisdom that time heals all wounds. I guess before long, we'll see if it's true.

Little Jack's voice broke the silence, calling for her from upstairs.

This was as good a stopping point as she was likely to get. There would be time later to hand off the letter to Ned at the general store. She was scheduled to take Jack into town where they would have lunch with Lucas. The raven-haired gentleman insisted on treating them, and Elizabeth couldn't deny that it had been ages since she had enjoyed an afternoon out with her favorite little man.

The only thing that gave her pause was the thought of running into Nathan again. She couldn't stand to see him glance at her like a wounded puppy.

She sighed, lingering beside the desk.

"I really hope the saying is true about time," she told herself. "Because, if it's not, then I don't know how I can heal Nathan's wounds."