Chapter Three

Peace In The Soul

The new job as Hope Valley Sheriff meant he did not have to relocate and uproot Allie again. Also he got a pay raise which meant he could buy a parcel of land and get started building that new home he wanted to build for him and Allie.

The town was growing and the neighboring towns would benefit from having a local sheriff stationed close by. He understood how hard it had been for Bill to turn in his red serge but it was time for a change of his own now. Time to turn in his serge too. He was proud of that red serge and proud of all the mounties who wore or had worn theirs. Brave mounties that had sworn to protect the territories sometimes to their dying breaths. That sense of pride would never change. Nathan was a protecter. It was in his nature.

Allie was old enough now to know there could be times he might possibly have to leave for weeks at a time just like before so not all that much would change for her. Rosemary and Fiona had stepped up as did Opal's parents and a few other families offering to watch over Allie should he be gone. He was so thankful for them all. It gave credence to the saying that when it comes to raising children, it often takes a village.

Nathan felt he had finally come to grips about his feelings for Elizabeth and had accepted what she claimed as her feelings for him…or more accurately not for him. The pain had lessened and it was hard to envision what just being friends with Elizabeth would be like but he knew he had to do it for the good of all especially Allie. Even though he accepted and would abide by her decision, he knew the ache in his heart was one that he would hide from himself and others. Let the healing begin…and hurry the process, he thought.

Thinking back to when he first arrived in Hope Valley, the people at first were hesitant and standoffish with him. He knew the reason was because they all had loved Jack Thornton, the previous Mountie who died in a terrible accident. They soon realized Nathan was only trying to do his job and they quickly warmed up to him. He and Allie took only a short while to realize they loved the town and the people.

Allie was impressed with the places to fish and had said the fishing was…well…"impeccable". When she used that particular word, it cut like a knife but he simply laughed, threw one arm around her as he walked her home from a productive fishing trip. He recalled how Elizabeth had told him to tell Allie that she thought her Uncle Nathan was impeccable. All he could do was look at Elizabeth when she said that. He thought, You tell her that. but he kept that thought to himself. Nathan knew that it was Elizabeth's way of trying to cushion the blow and make herself accept what she had said about not being in love with him. Maybe she wasn't, he thought. Maybe she wasn't in love with him but he sure thought he could see it in her eyes, not in her actions lately but in her eyes…the windows to the soul. The only thing he could do at this point was to accept it, wish her the best then move on. Let the chips fall where they may, so to speak.

What had helped Nathan with his internal struggles and deep feelings of loss was the one evening while sitting with Pastor Joseph Canfield on Joseph's handmade swing, Nathan had opened his heart and soul during a conversation. He told Joseph about his declaration of love to Elizabeth and the pain of rejection he felt. That was unusual for Nathan to open up his heart and talk about his feelings but Joseph had a way about him that brought comfort to people. He was a genuinely good person as was his whole family.

Joseph and Nathan prayed about this situation and his recent decisions to take the job as Sheriff. Nathan finally felt a sense of peace and such a heavy weight had lifted. He had done all he could. What will be will be. He thanked Joseph for his prayers and the two came together in an awkward quick man hug. They laughed at their awkwardness. Joseph turned to go into his house and suddenly turned back towards Nathan.

"Minnie has baked some apple pies. Can I send you home with a couple of pieces?"

Nathan's brilliant blue eyes lit up and he broke out in a big grin. "That would be wonderful. I know Allie would love a piece. It is her favorite pie…mine too"

With pie in hand, Nathan headed home. He was tempted to eat both pieces on the way home because the pie smelled so heavenly but he knew the wrath he would get from Allie if he did, so he resisted temptation. Maybe he could just pinch off a little of the crust on the way home…just a little bitty piece of crust. No, no, no, he thought to himself. Just walk a little faster.

The other burden Nathan had shared with Pastor Joseph before he headed home was the one about Jack's death. Heavy had been Nathan's feelings of guilt for Jack having taken Nathan's place during that training expedition and then getting killed during a mudslide. Jack had left behind a wife, now widowed, but had not know at the time of his death about his baby boy who was to enter the world eight months later.

When Nathan found out about this he knew what he needed to do. He needed to be transferred to Hope Valley so he could watch over Jack's family and keep them safe. Protect them from harm. He felt he owed Jack that much. Nathan had never met Jack but everyone had spoken highly of him, a fellow mountie. Jack's family did not need to know the reason he requested transfer there since protection was what he had intended. Nothing else. Loving that family had not been his motive. It was simply protection which is what he did as best he could. Love is sneaky though. Love snuck in when he least expected which confused the whole situation.

Thankfully, Joseph Canfield's support and prayers were a God send for Nathan and had helped lessen Nathan's burden and created a much needed sense of peace inside his soul.

Allie saw Nathan walk through the door smiling and carrying two huge pieces of apple pie. She could smell it and knew it was still warm.

She ran for the forks and said "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He laughed as she always seemed to have a way of making him do and said, "Well, don't thank me. Tomorrow you should go thank the Canfields."

She hugged his neck and said "Oohhh, you can bet I will.", as she happily savored the delicious pie.