A/N: Ok, just a couple of sweet chapters ahead (3 I think) before I drop the bomb and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Just wanted to warn you so you can enjoy the sweet stuff before things get rough. (author tiptoes away, whistling quietly to herself while glancing furtively around her).

And the Heart is Brave

Chapter 7

"And now, I give you, Elizabeth Thornton," Lucas Bouchard introduced Elizabeth Thornton, authoress, to the crowd gathered inside the town library as he gestured with his hands over to her. To the sound of polite applause Elizabeth drew up her skirts and ascended a small temporary platform made to raise her slightly above the crowd for better viewing. She nodded slightly to Lucas before turning to the crowd.

"Thank you, thank you all," Elizabeth addressed them with a smile, her hands clasped before her and her face aglow with happiness, as the crowd hushed and prepared to listen to her words. Nathan Grant stood at the very back of the room, his height no impediment to his view, his arms crossed and feet braced as he stood tall, his gaze fixed and unwavering on Elizabeth Thornton's figure as she stood up front. Allie stood on a chair beside him, affording her a good view of the proceedings as well.

"It means so much to me that you are all here today," Elizabeth began, smiling around at the crowd, the faces familiar and dear to her. "They say that writing a book is like having a child. Well, I don't know for sure, but I can tell you that next to my son-" Elizbeth sent a soft glance to her son in Rosemary Coulter's arms not far away in the front row "-this book is the thing I am proudest of creating," as the audience ahhed at the sweet reference to her child and Rosemary raised one of Little Jack's hands to wave to his mother.

As Elizabeth continued her speech, Nathan watched her. How easily she spoke, simply but eloquently. He knew he could never do what she did. That words were hard for him and especially not in front of a crowd such as this. Something shone in his eyes for her...admiration, pride even. And even though it was her that was speaking the words, he felt himself stand a little taller, just being in her presence.

Elizabeth spoke a few moments more, ending her speech again with her heartfelt thanks and inviting the gathering to enjoy the refreshments and free copies of her book. The crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause and Elizabeth descended the platform, Lucas offering a hand to assist her down.

"Well done, Elizabeth," he said with a smile.

"It was a wonderful speech, Elizabeth," Fiona Miller chimed in from her place at Lucas's side. Her comment was genuine but there was a brief flash of pain in her eyes as she addressed Elizabeth that she was careful to quickly mask. Fiona knew that Lucas cared for her now, maybe even loved her, but he had once been infatuated with Elizabeth and sometimes that knowledge caused a small jolt of pain inside her, a feeling like she'd been his second choice. But she pushed the thoughts away, not letting the thoughts mar the day for either herself or Elizabeth. Elizabeth was becoming a dear friend, and she was truly happy for her success today.

"And it looks like your book is almost as successful as the cupcakes," Lucas teased and he swiveled to note the disappearance of the chocolate cupcakes slightly outpaced the stack of Elizabeth's books nearby.

Elizabeth laughed. "That's okay, I don't think anything could compete with chocolate cupcakes!" Oh, how happy she was today. This was the fruition of a long-held dream. Elizabeth turned as more people approached her, with compliments and congratulations, her face lively and animated as she spoke with them all.

"Okay Allie, I think it's time we got going," Nathan said to his niece, helping her down from the chair at the back of the room.

Allie looked up at her uncle and shook her head wonderingly and rolled her eyes slightly. Didn't he know they couldn't leave yet? Even she knew that. Did she really have to explain it to him? "We have to talk to Mrs. Thornton first!" she told him, explaining the etiquette lesson with another shake of her head. With a sigh, she grabbed his hand, pulling him reluctantly behind her through the crowd of people.

"Nathan! Allie!" Elizabeth's eyes brightened as the pair came into her view. "I am so glad you both could come today. It means a lot to me," she said, smiling from one to the other.

"Of course...we wouldn't...have...um...missed it," Nathan said, stumbling slightly on the words, as Allie rolled her eyes next to him, a small shake of her head. You could lead a horse to water but you couldn't make him talk, she suddenly smiled at her own internal joke.

But Elizabeth apparently didn't notice anything amiss with Nathan's words and she continued to smile happily at him. "Have you tried the cupcakes?" she asked, still smiling.

Nathan pivoted his head to the table behind him, then turned back to Elizabeth. "Not yet, but we will," he said, hesitating, wanting to say more, not sure how.

"Uncle Nathan got me a journal, Mrs. Thornton," it was Allie's turn to speak. "He said that's how you started writing. In your journal. I'm going to start writing too," she informed her.

Elizabeth's eyes widened in delight, her mouth agape in both surprise and pleasure. "Allie, that's wonderful!" Elizabeth enthused. Had she done that? Inspired Allie to start writing? And had Nathan gotten Allie a journal because of her? Nothing could have pleased Elizabeth more and her eyes traveled back to Nathan's, her eyes now soft with both pleasure and gratitude.

Nathan squirmed under her gaze. There were those looks again. The ones that seared pain directly into his heart. "Um...I guess Allie and I'd better be going. You have a lot of people to talk to," Nathan said, as Elizabeth nodded. Nathan cupped a hand around Allie's shoulder and lead her away, as other people moved to fill the vacant spot before Elizabeth.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

It was later than night, not long after Allie had gone to bed, that Nathan pulled out a small book from his jacket, where he'd placed it earlier that day. Just one from the many that had been offered in neat piles on a table in the town library. Just one that he'd collected and slipped quietly into his pocket.

He pulled a chair up close to the table and sat down, reaching for the oil lamp to draw it nearer. He wasn't using the electric lights tonight, just the lamp, and the room was mostly darkened except for the small glow of the lamp. Nathan opened the book and tilted it towards the lamp, its pages illuminated in a warm light, and began to read.

And the Heart is Brave:

stories of love and hope

by

Elizabeth Thornton

Nathan smiled at the words, running his fingers over them a moment before he turned the page.

For LJ

Nathan smiled again. He knew, immediately. LJ. Little Jack. Knew too why she'd used the initials in her dedication. Although 'Little" was firmly affixed to his name now, one day a young man might not want such an appellation attached to his identity, so Elizabeth was sparing him that now. Nathan didn't wonder how he knew these things, didn't question it, that somehow along the way he'd begun to understand her and know her ways and her mind.

Nathan turned another page, then reached down to the edge of his chair, tucking it and himself in closer as he settled in for a long night's read.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

In the days following her book release, Elizabeth walked around in a cloud of happiness. People came up to her in the streets, congratulating her and recounting favourite parts and passages of her stories. It was more rewarding than she could have ever anticipated. Writing was a lonely endeavour, but this, finally being able to share what she'd spent so many hours labouring at, was almost more than she could have hoped for. She didn't know if her book would break any sales records, or be considered anything close to literary greatness, but even just the sight of seeing a copy of it on the shelves at the town library was thrilling enough.

There was only one small disappointment. And she didn't know why she even let it disappoint her, there was so much else to be grateful for. But somehow in all the excitement of the publication and reader reaction, she had hoped that someone would mention a particular passage, a small poem really, that she had inserted among the prose. It was very special to Elizabeth, something she had revised over and over, something she had even shed tears to produce as it had stirred such intense feelings within her, until the words flowed exactly as she wanted. But no one mentioned it and Elizabeth began to think it maybe wasn't as good as she had thought. That it didn't move anyone as it had moved her.

But that was just a small disappointment and Elizabeth would not let it mar one of the most amazing experiences of her life. Why, Lucas had even begun talking about her next book and Elizabeth had laughed and tugged on his arm to slow him down. To ask him to let her enjoy all the pleasures and rewards of this one first.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Elizabeth entered the town library the following Saturday morning to begin a short shift. Upon entering the room, she immediately began to straighten the shelves in anticipation of any visitors, then turned around to scan the room, making sure everything was tidy and inviting. Finally, she headed towards her desk, a small table off to the side where she checked out books and prepared catalogue cards. Elizabeth stopped short as she drew near, a splotch of yellow colour causing her to catch her breath. She drew even closer, her heart beginning to pulse when she saw what it was. A small yellow flower—a coreopsis—sitting atop a copy of her book. Immediately, Elizabeth's eyes went to the shelves where her book normally resided and saw only an empty slot there. Someone had taken the book from there, placed it on her desk with the coreopsis. Elizabeth picked up the flower and the book, grasping the stem between her fingers, gently twirling it around as her eyes grew thoughtful.

So it wasn't just her. It had moved someone else too. That passage in her book. There was no doubt in Elizabeth's mind. That passage had moved someone else too and this was their way of telling her. But why like this? Elizabeth wondered. Why not just tell her? And now she had no idea who to thank, who to express gratitude to for their kind appreciation of her work. Part of Elizabeth was pleased, but part of her was frustrated too.

Suddenly, the library door opened and Allie swept in. Elizabeth almost laughed. Of course it would be Allie as the first visitor. She was a voracious reader and the library was one of her favourite places. "Hello, Allie!" Elizabeth called out to her, setting her book and the flower back on her desk. "I've got a new book in I think you might like!" she said, heading over to the girl, knowing Allie had already finished her own book and was ready for something new.

A short while later when Allie approached Elizabeth's desk to check out two books, she spotted the yellow flower on Elizabeth's desk. "Hey, we have some of those at home too," Allie said.

"Some of what?" Elizabeth said, absent-mindedly, looking for the date due stamp.

"Some of those flowers," Allie replied, pointing to the small delicate yellow flower with the red center that was sitting on Mrs. Thornton's desk. "We have a whole jar of 'em on the kitchen sill. I don't know what they're called though," she added apologetically, apologizing for not knowing the name.

Elizabeth looked up, her gaze following Allie's pointed arm to the flower on her desk. "Coreopsis," she said, her brow furrowing. "They're called coreopsis," she repeated, a bit stunned. Allie had these at home? "Allie, how did you get them?" she asked, wondering.

"I dunno," Allie replied with a shrug. "I guess Uncle Nathan picked them. We have a whole bunch of wild flowers in back of our house. I don't know why he picked just the yellows ones though, there's all kinds back there," she informed Elizabeth.

Nathan? Nathan picked them? Was he the one to...? Elizabeth stopped her thoughts. She finished checking out Allie's books, waiting until she was alone to give this information some thought.

Alone in the room a moment later, Elizabeth began to ponder. Should she be surprised if it were Nathan? She guessed she had just thought, perhaps mistakenly, that a man so sparce on words wouldn't be much interested in something so..so...wordy as her book. But then the gesture was so like him too. That instead of using words to convey his thoughts, he had chosen a gesture instead. Elizabeth sighed, not knowing how she would ever even find out for sure, other than to ask him and for some reason she didn't know if she wanted to do that either.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Walking down past the rowhouses later that morning after her shift at the library, Elizabeth took a deep breath of the fresh air and tilted her head up to the sun, letting the light and warmth of its rays wash over her. In her arms she held a couple of books, a little yellow flower jutting out by its stem from one of them, held tightly inside the pages. She heard Nathan before she saw him. Heard the distinct rhythm of a hammer driving nails into wood.

"Nathan, what are you doing?" she asked as she came up alongside his house, a rowhouse only four houses away from her own.

"Putting on a porch railing," he informed her between swings of his hammer. He had done the same for her, when Little Jack had almost accidentally slipped from the unprotected porch a few times too many. Now he was putting one on his own house. "All the houses should have railings," Nathan opined. "It's not safe without one," he stated and Elizabeth suppressed a laugh.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"You," she answered, amused by him. He was almost affronted by it, by the safety violation. But then Nathan was a protector, she knew that about him, and safety would be an issue for him, even if it was a simple porch railing. "Are you going to spend your Saturdays putting railings on all the rowhouses?" she quizzed him teasingly.

Nathan's mouth twitched. "Maybe," he deadpanned and Elizabeth chuckled. She watched him work a second or two more and then an idea struck her. Casually, too casually, she set her books down on the porch near him, pretending she'd done it to free herself to inspect his work. She slipped the yellow flower from the pages that held it and placed it atop the books. Then she stepped away from the porch and pretended to survey his work. "It looks good," she said, watching Nathan from the corner of her eye. But he showed no outward reaction to the flower or that he even noticed it and continued with his task. She saw him reach for a nail, and she held her breath as his hand brushed close by the flower. He would have seen it, he must have, but still he showed no reaction. Elizabeth sighed. Maybe it wasn't him then. Maybe it was just a coincidence he had picked the same flowers. Her shoulders dropping a little in disappointment, Elizabeth gathered up her belongings.

"Good day, Nathan," she said, and turned to go.

Nathan clenched his jaw as Elizabeth took her leave and he hammered three more times before he stopped, expelling his breath. He'd seen the flower there, known what she was asking, only he hadn't wanted to answer. When a man gave a woman a flower it was a romantic gesture, but his wasn't. It couldn't be, not ever. But this wasn't about romance. It was about something else. It was about giving Elizabeth her due. Her due as a writer. She had earned it and he couldn't deny her that.

"Elizabeth, wait!" he called out to her retreating form.

Elizabeth turned around on the path and waited as Nathan approached her before he came to a stop near her, a question on her face. Nathan looked off to the side, raising his shoulders to slip his hands in pockets. He took a deep breath, struggling for the words. More often than not words had been hurtful things in his life, words used to berate and chastise and harm so was it any wonder that as he grew he learned to use them sparingly.

"Elizabeth, I...," Nathan couldn't find the words, so he thought to borrow hers. Those came easily as he pictured the page in his mind. Slowly, his eyes fixed on some distant point, he began to recite:

the solitary soul awakes

in lovely sunlit hours

a heart, a home, and respite found

where coreopsis flowers

"Nathan!" Elizabeth breathed his name, her gaze intent upon him. "Nathan, it was you!" she breathed, moved and touched. He had read her book. Not only that, he had recited her favourite part back to her. It meant so much to Elizabeth, knowing the words meant something to him too.

"You have a gift for words, Elizabeth," Nathan said, his praise filling her with more joy. "But..." he trailed off.

"But what?" Elizabeth eyes suddenly widened at the qualifier.

"But I already knew that. Without written proof," Nathan teased. Elizabeth laughed. She could best him any day of the week with her words and they both knew it. It was her strength, he had others.

Elizabeth turned serious, letting out a small sigh. "Thank you, Nathan," she said, her appreciation glowing in her eyes, a small smile on her face.

Nathan pursed his lips and gave a slight nod in acknowledgement then stood in the street and watched her, watched her turn and walk away, down past the row of houses.