Chapter 10
Getting Nathan Home
When Bill and Gabe got the money order both were flabbergasted at the amount.
"Do you think we should save some of this for his recovery?" Gabe whispered as he pointed to Nathan who was staring out the window again.
Bill shook his head.
"Knowing the people of Hope Valley they've set aside some already," Bill whispered.
"Hey, Nathan, do you feel up for a walk?" Gabe asked more loudly.
Nathan had turned at his name being called. But only because they had been using it.
"Where are we going?" Nathan asked without standing up.
"We're getting our train tickets home. And we figured you could see your horse," Bill added.
"I have a horse?" Nathan asked in surprise.
They both laughed and nodded.
Nathan was a lot more interested in seeing the horse. He stood up and only needed a moment to steady himself.
They walked at his elbows, just in case. The train depot wasn't far from the hotel entrance and Bill handled the train tickets while Gabe was with Nathan who was looking around.
"Recognize anything?" Bill asked when he returned, putting the tickets and his billfold back in his jacket pocket.
Nathan was looking around the depot taking things in.
"No, not really," Nathan admitted.
"That's alright. Maybe you'll remember something when you see your horse," Bill said kindly.
They walked slowly to the livery where they were boarding Apollo and Newton. Both horses immediately perked up when they saw their person.
Nathan didn't seem to recognize either of them. But his eyes kept lingering on Newton.
"Do you recognize either of them?" Gabe asked.
Nathan shook his head in frustration.
"Don't worry. I'm sure these things take time, especially after what those jerks we helped you escape from were doing," Bill said. He gently took Nathan's elbow and stood him in front of Newton.
Newton immediately knew something was wrong with his person. Despite not recognizing his horse, Nathan could sense that the horse knew him and knew he was hurt. Nathan reached out a hand gently. Newton met his caress with his long nose. Nathan slowly stroked Newton, the way he always had. Nathan put his head down onto this strange, yet familiar, horse.
Bill and Gabe watched in happiness as Nathan reunited with his horse.
Gabe started brushing Apollo with love and teasing affection. Bill started to brush Newton. Nathan was still happily scratching Newton's ears. Newton was just relieved to see his person alive.
Nathan was looking around at the saddles and blankets hanging over the railing between Apollo's and Newton's stalls. He was staring at them intently.
"Are you a….a...a...a...?" Nathan asked Bill as he trailed off struggling for the word.
"Mountie," Gabe and Bill answered.
"Yeah, that...a Mountie?" Nathan asked.
"I was. But I was forced to return my uniform and saddle blanket. Not that long ago actually," Bill replied.
"Don't they only give those to Mounties?" Nathan asked as he pointed to the spare Mountie gear.
Bill and Gabe both nodded.
"How did you get two?" Nathan asked Gabe, who had been wearing his serge when they met yesterday.
"I didn't," Gabe answered with a smile.
"Well, who do they belong to?" Nathan asked in wonder.
Bill and Gabe both looked a little sad that they were having to tell Nathan this.
"They're yours, Nathan. You were on a mission when you hit your head," Bill explained.
"I'm a Mountie?" Nathan asked in surprise.
"You seem surprised by that," Bill observed. "What else do you think you may have been?"
Nathan shrugged as he thought about it.
"I don't really know, actually. Nothing I've thought about felt like it fit," Nathan replied honestly.
"Well, if you decide that being a Mountie doesn't fit anymore, I've always said you would kill in the circus," Gabe said with a straight face.
Nathan glared at him.
"I may not remember you or much of anything, but I know that that's not true. Maybe you should go since you're the one with the jokes," Nathan replied.
Gabe smirked as Bill laughed.
"That was a very 'Nathan' response. I'm sure you'll be fine once you get home," Bill said once he caught his breath.
The men walked slowly back to their hotel. They showed Nathan where they had kept some of his things. Nathan looked at his brush, tooth paste and tooth brush, he had changed into his sleepwear after washing his face. Then he went into brushing his teeth. Once he was finished, he looked at himself in the mirror, trying to recognize anything about him. It was still a blank slate.
Bill and Gabe had settled into their beds. They had put Nathan's pictures on his bedside table. Nathan sat down and looked at the two in the frames. One was just him and the young girl that Gabe had shown him yesterday. The other was a picture of him and the girl at some sort of ceremony with a lot of children standing around them.
Nathan's heart lurched at seeing the girl. He didn't know her, but he knew he missed her. Nathan started taping his fingers against the picture frame. Unconsciously, sending out morse code; the same message he had tapped out the day before. Gabe and Bill both looked up from where they were laying down and looked at each other, then at Nathan.
Nathan felt their attention on him and looked up and blushed in embarrassment and apology.
"It's fine, Nathan. We know," Bill said as he turned over.
Gabe nodded as he turned back over.
Nathan put the picture back on the table and tried to sleep himself.
The men got up early the next morning and grabbed their things onto the train. Nathan was looking around the compartment in awe.
"I don't feel like this is normally something I can afford," Nathan said as he sat down, placing her arms across his bag in comfort. He looked ready to dash at any moment.
"Normally, we don't. But the people of Hope Valley are very generous, and they want you back home safely," Gabe said.
Nathan nodded.
As the train pulled away from the station, Nathan took to observing the changing scenery through the window. Eventually, Gabe and Bill were both snoring across from him. While they were napping, Nathan explored the bag Gabe had given to him. There were the pictures, and some things a Mountie would need on a ride, he assumed. But towards the bottom was a series of letters wrapped in a feminine handkerchief.
He picked those up and looked at them in confusion.
Nathan unwrapped the letters. On top was a note in a feminine hand.
'My students were told to write a letter to people they are thankful for. These are for you.'
Nathan looked at them in confusion.
He grabbed the top one.
'Dear Mountie Nathan,
I'm so glad you and Allie came to Hope Valley. You've made us all feel safer!
Thank you!
Gratefully,
Anna Hayward'
'Dear Mountie Nathan,
I didn't think anyone can be as brave as Mountie Jack was, but I've come to learn that you are just as brave. Thanks for keeping us safe!
Opal Weise'
'Dear Constable Grant,
I'm so grateful for you allowing me to see what being a Mountie is really like. I was first inspired to be a Mountie because of Mountie Jack, but in shadowing you and learning from you, I've come to respect the position, and what you do everyday even more. You've also become a mentor, and I appreciate the time you've given to me.
Sincerely,
Robert Wolf'
Many of the letters were written by small children. Some of them included drawings of a tall man standing, wearing a red serge, outside of a Mountie Office and next to his horse.
Nathan read these letters without knowing who these kids were, but he did recognize that he felt some affection for them. He put the letters carefully back into his bag and leaned back against his seat and let the swaying of the tracks lead him into dream land.
Spending a week on a train, no matter how upgraded, is always uncomfortable and awkward. Nathan, Gabe, and Bill were all tired of sitting for so long after day 3, but none of them were particularly okay with taking Nathan on a walk up and down the train. Nathan had spent the train ride looking at his pictures or his things and trying to connect memories to them. He felt them, just below the surface, but nothing had come to him. Bill and Gabe had helped trim his beard and hair to make it more presentable, which is when they got to see where he had hit his head, and both realized how lucky he was.
It was mid afternoon when they pulled into the Hope Valley train depot. Carson and Faith were waiting in a private waiting room for Bill to bring Nathan to them before they drove back to Hope Valley. Bill was gently supporting Nathan. Nathan was looking around. He was having memory flashes, but he couldn't hold onto them. Nathan started breathing heavily and stiffened.
"You're fine, Nathan," Bill said next to him.
Nathan took in a deep breath and let Bill lead him to where he was supposed to go.
"Hello, Nathan. I'm Dr. Carson Sheppard. This is Dr. Faith Carter," Carson introduced.
Nathan looked at both of them.
"How are you doing?" Faith asked.
Nathan shrugged.
"Have you been able to remember anything? Carson asked as both doctors started checking him out.
"Not much. Just some brief flashes, and they didn't stick around," Nathan replied.
"Just as you came onto the platform," Carson observed.
Nathan nodded.
"That's not uncommon. Let's get you to the infirmary and check you out properly," Carson said with a smile.
They drove Nathan in a closed car to the back entrance of the infirmary where Molly had set up privacy screens. Nathan was led carefully up the steps and into his bed. Both doctors started pushing and prodding and making verbal notes of their findings that Molly was writing down.
"Ouch!" Nathan said when they finally poked at the back of his head.
"Well, that's definitely where you hit your head," Carson said with a smile.
"I thought that was rather obvious myself, doc.," Nathan replied with an eye roll.
Both Faith and Carson were surprised with the open response.
They cleaned and re-did the stitches.
"Your head injury is why you can't remember much. But we think that it will go away with time and being around the people you love," Carson said.
"We want to see you everyday, but we're confident that your parents can help you well enough everyday, and I'm sure you will be more comfortable at home," Faith said.
"My parents?" Nathan asked in surprise.
"What are you thinking?" Carson asked.
"Just a feeling," Nathan said slowly.
"Follow those feelings, Nathan. If you get the hint of a memory, trust your instincts and go with it," Carson encouraged.
Nathan nodded and looked down at his hands.
"It's just that I feel that they don't live here," Nathan said slowly.
Faith and Carson both smiled at him.
"They didn't. But they came to help you and your daughter over the summer and stayed when you officially/unofficially went missing," Carson said.
"What does that even mean?" Nathan asked.
"It's a long and involved story that would be better for you to hear when you have more memories back," Faith said.
Nathan just looked at them and nodded.
"We've lectured the entire town to leave you alone," Carson started.
"Four times," Faith added.
"But we also know that many of them won't be able to help themselves," Carson continued.
"We know it will be overwhelming to be rushed by people who are essentially strangers to you," Faith said.
"But know that it comes from a place of love for you," Carson finished.
Nathan nodded, but was also a bit worried about the fact that they felt the need to warn him.
Bill and Gabe had returned with their bags and the horses by the time that Nathan was being escorted outside into the main street.
Nathan looked around at his surroundings. They seemed familiar, but he couldn't place why. In the distance, a cow bell was being rung and then there was the sound of stampeding school children. Nathan's first thought was that a cow bell was a weird signal to start or end school especially since the church had a new bell. The second thought he had was that the sound of the cow bell was exactly what it needed to be, despite the church bell. And he had a small sense of peace.
Nathan was turning around looking at the street, when the rush of the school children and their parents were all in a hurry to get to town. There was one child in a mad dash in front of them all.
"DAD!" a very familiar voice shouted just as Nathan had enough time to turn around and the child in front, and from his pictures, jumped straight into his arms.
The force knocked him off balance and knocked the breath out of him, but Nathan didn't even hesitate in swinging her up and around.
"I'm so glad you're back," she said in his ear.
"Me too, Allie bear," Nathan said with a smile.
Allie leaned back and beamed at him.
"You remember?" she asked.
"Not much. But I do remember your hugs," Nathan said.
Allie was only a little disappointed. But everyone else was happily, optimistically, beaming with hope at their reunion and that Nathan's memory was returning slowly. Allie finally disentangled herself from Nathan's arms and that let Nathan take a look around at the people who had hovered around. A good chunk of Allie's friends and their families were all standing and waving politely. Nathan gave a small smile back. Behind most of the crowd standing on the boardwalk and carrying her son, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She smiled at him and waved her son's hand in greeting. Nathan waved back and then put his arm around Allie who was chatting about how they were going to help. Gabe then led them both into a car and Bill drove them to their home with their bags.
Most of Hope Valley actually respected Nathan's need to readjust and get into a routine again, and left the Grants mostly alone when they were in their home. If they were out about in tow, many would smile and wave and say how glad Nathan was back. Some couldn't help themselves and would come up and shake his hand.
With Nathan's memory loss, not many trusted him around sharp objects, so Nathan wasn't able to help with chopping wood or around wood cutters tools (although he had found a well used set in his bedroom). So, with not being able to ride, or do anything more active than walk, Nathan got bored inside his home very quickly.
He complained about his frustration in his daily check ups.
"This is a good time to return to an old hobby," Carson suggested.
"Yeah, but I don't remember what those are," Nathan said.
"Go to the Mercantile and see what feels right to you. Then, when you have what you need go to the library for beginners books on that hobby," Carson said.
Nathan just nodded before leaving and going to the Mercantile immediately after leaving the doctor.
"Oh, Constable, is there anything I can help you with?" Mr. Yost said as he saw Nathan come inside.
"No, I'm just trying to find something to do," Nathan said as he looked around.
"Your father could push you in the right direction," Mr. Yost suggested, pointing to where Archie was tallying up several customers and chatting a storm up.
"I'm sure he could, but I think the point of this particular exercise is for me to figure it out," Nathan said.
"Fair enough," the man left him alone.
Nathan walked to the crafts and hobbies. Nothing was sticking out or made him feel anything but dread at even trying to attempt it. Until his eyes landed on a simple guitar. He picked it up and gently thumbed the strings. It was horribly out of tune! But if he knew that then he must know how to play.
Nathan grabbed it and the case and went to the counter where his father was smiling widely at him.
"Glad to see ya taking that up again," Archie said as he checked Nathan out.
"We'll see. I may not be any good," Nathan said.
"There was a time that ya wouldn't put it down," Archie said.
Nathan smiled.
"No sheet music?" Archie asked.
"Dr. Sheppard told me to get those at the library," Nathan said.
Archie laughed.
"Well, get yourself a few books to read while yer in there. Yer not doing anyone any favors when yer bored," Archie lectured as Nathan left the store.
Nathan just turned and saluted.
With it being a time when most of the town was busy with other things no one had seen Nathan enter the library with his new guitar. Nathan checked the clock and saw that it was still a few hours before Allie would be done with school so he quickly found some books to read for later and some books to help him with his guitar.
Nathan quickly sat down and tuned it. He started strumming the scales. He fumbled a bit in the beginning. But he progressed enough in his playing that he was playing three songs quite well and quite loudly. Loud enough that passersby were stopping and gawking at whomever was playing. No one dared to interrupt because their interim Mountie would glare at anyone who tried.
Nathan hadn't noticed how much time he had spent playing. But when Allie walked into town with her classmates and was talking algebra with Mrs. Thornton, she heard the music and immediately started crying.
"Allie? Are you okay?" Opal asked.
Allie nodded through more tears.
"You don't look okay," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Dad hasn't played in years," Allie said. "I remember him playing and singing a bit...before mom...but he hasn't picked up a guitar since."
Everyone turned to look at Constable Kinslow for confirmation.
"She's right. Nathan used to play all the time. Which is why I tried to talk him out of selling his old one. He was tired of moving it and it just took up space in a closet," Kinslow added.
"I bet that went over well with him," Elizabeth's eyes twinkled.
"Yeah, especially when he's on leave and can't do about 80% of what he normally does in one day. There have been quite a few 'I told you so,' moments," Gabe added.
Archie ended up walking over to the group who was listening to Nathan's impromptu music session.
"Did he play when you were around?" Elizabeth asked kindly.
"Yes, I taught him and Colleen how to play," Archie said.
Nathan finally stopped and put his things away and realized he was late picking up Allie. Once he had everything ready in his bag and secured, he walked out of the library door and was stopped by a lot of people all sitting in places along the boardwalk and standing politely in the street. Nathan looked over their faces and surprised eyes to land on Allie and his father standing with Gabe and Mrs. Thornton. They were all smiling with pride.
"Some of us didn't know you play, Nathan," Cat said with a reprimand as she was standing behind Emily.
Everyone in Hope Valley nodded.
"To be fair, I didn't know this about myself until about three hours ago," Nathan said with a shrug and half smile.
"We'll come back to your hidden talents and why you hide them when your memory is back. Just know we're keeping a log," Cat said teasingly and then gave him an eye.
Nathan just smiled.
The crowds began to disperse.
"Is there actually a log?" Nathan asked as they began to walk home.
The people walking with him all laughed. This included Mrs. Thornton. Her laugh did funny things to his heart.
"There is. It's in Bill's office. He started it with your singing, actually," Mrs. Thornton said with a teasing look.
Nathan blushed deeply.
"Well, ya should add a diverse reader to that list," Archie teased.
"Really?" Mrs. Thornton looked pleasantly surprised with that comment.
Nathan shrugged.
"I wouldn't know right now," Nathan said as he looked down at his feet.
"Well, that actually shouldn't surprise me. You've quoted Emerson. He's my personal favorite," Mrs. Thornton said kindly as she looked at Nathan.
Nathan shrugged.
"I'm not sure who my favorite is," Nathan said in embarrassment.
"You don't remember any books!" Allie said with happiness.
Nathan gave her a long look of distrust.
"I feel like I'm about to walk into a trap with that epiphany," Nathan glared at her.
"She's just excited that you get to enjoy reading your favorite books for the first time," Mrs. Thornton smiled.
Allie nodded with a large smile.
"We can reread them together. We'll start tonight," Allie said as she pulled on Nathan's arms.
"Good night, Mrs. Thornton," Nathan said as he waved goodbye to the teacher.
"Good night, Constable Grant," she giggled as she walked away.
The next morning, Nathan walked Allie to school without anyone at his elbow besides Allie, which was an improvement. Although, he had also noticed a larger number of the rowhouse parents walking their children to school that day.
Mrs. Thornton was standing on the stairs observing the children playing. She smiled when Allie and Nathan walked up.
"Well, Constable Grant, did you learn anything last night?" she teased.
"Yes, I did. I learned that I dislike algebra just as much as I did when I was in school, but I can still do it, so that's a relief," Nathan replied with a soft smile.
Mrs. Thornton smiled.
"I also learned that I like Mary Shelley," Nathan answered her original question.
"Also, one of my favorites," Mrs. Thornton gushed.
Nathan smiled and looked down.
"I get the feeling that you have a lot of personal favorites," Nathan teased.
"You wouldn't be wrong," Mrs. Thornton admitted with a nod just before she turned and rang the cow bell.
Nathan gave Allie a big hug before watching her go into the school. She stopped on the top step and waved to Nathan. Nathan waved back. Waiting for the school door to shut, Nathan then turned towards the town. He went to the library first to return the book he read yesterday, and get another one to read. As he was looking around the walls he noticed that the paint had faded more in one area than the others. Nathan's curiosity peaked. He walked closer to the wall and rubbed his hand over it. It was roughly the shape of a small decorative picture. He didn't know why, but seeing the empty spot on this wall hurt him.
Nathan was startled out of his musings by the library door opening, and Mr. Bouchard entered with a pile of new books.
He looked just as surprised to see Nathan in the library.
"I read," Nathan felt the need to defend himself with the man.
Mr. Bouchard looked contrite.
"I'm sorry, Constable, but we didn't see you in here very often," Mr. Bouchard explained his surprise.
Nathan shrugged because there was nothing he could say. He still didn't remember much.
"Although, you were always very busy. You probably didn't have the same amount of time on your hands as you do now," Mr. Bouchard said.
"I, uhh...still don't remember much," Nathan felt that they weren't necessarily friends, and as a result, felt awkward admitting that.
Mr. Bouchard just nodded.
Nathan checked out the book he was holding and went to his doctor's appointment.
"Your head wound is healing nicely," Dr. Carter said as she examined that part.
"How's the memories?" Dr. Sheppard asked.
"It's still mostly a blank slate. A lot of the things I'm doing seem to just be muscle memory to me," Nathan said.
"That isn't uncommon," Dr. Sheppard said in response. "Have you been keeping track of the memories you do have?"
Nathan shook his head.
Both doctors glared at him.
"The act of writing it down might spark your brain into remembering more," Dr. Carter reminded him.
"I don't feel like journaling is something I do," Nathan admitted.
"Well, I don't think you did either, but it could help with your memory loss," Dr. Sheppard answered.
"Think of this time as a way to return to old hobbies and try new ones," Dr. Carter said optimistically.
"I think many of mine are a bit more strenuous than light walking," Nathan said.
Faith and Carson both looked at each other and smiled.
"You're right. Which is a good thing that you can sense that. We're approving you for more active things. No horse riding. No running. No full contact sports," Dr. Sheppard said.
Nathan beamed. His first stop after the appointment was the Mercantile in order to update his father.
"We're going fishing after school," Archie smiled.
Nathan also nodded. He then went home to update his mother.
Ruth smiled happily as Nathan went about getting their fishing gear ready.
"Ma, are you okay with all of us leaving you alone?" Nathan asked as he looked at his infirm mother.
"An afternoon to myself? Gee, let me think?" Ruth said sarcastically.
Nathan looked at his mother.
"I'll be fine. You three enjoy your trip. Just remember that you only need four fish, not 10," Ruth said.
Nathan looked at her in confusion.
"Just trust me on this," Ruth added.
Nathan carried their fishing gear to the school yard and waited for Archie and Allie to come from their separate directions. He was casually holding the poles. Archie came up behind him just before Allie would be getting out of school.
"I'll take those," Archie said, taking the gear from Nathan.
"I can hold a fishing pole," Nathan protested.
"That's not why I need to take them," Archie said .
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"Yer arms are going to be full in about 90 seconds," Archie said as he directed them to the school door.
And Allie proved Archie correct. As soon as the school bell signaled the end of the day. Allie was the first out and raced straight into Nathan's arms.
"WE'RE GOING FISHING!" she said happily.
Nathan and Archie were both laughing at her.
"Well, I feel like 'Allie hugs' should be a new force scale," Archie said with a teasing wink.
Allie harrumphed.
"Well in that case, I should have been allowed to have more active hobbies when I got back," Nathan added.
Allie just glared at both of them.
"Are we going fishing, or are you both going to pick on me some more?" Allie said.
Nathan and Archie looked at each other.
"Both, we're doing both," Nathan and Archie said at the same time.
Allie sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.
Allie grabbed some of the gear. Nathan had his pole in one hand and his arm around Allie's shoulder in the other. Archie was carrying the rest. All three were smiling happily in the warm afternoon sun. Archie started singing. Allie followed. And then to the surprise of everyone they were walking past, Nathan was singing as well.
They reached the fishing hole in peace and happiness. Archie, Allie, and Nathan all went about baiting their poles. They then gave their poles a couple of good swishes to get the lines loose. Nathan felt that doing this seemed perfectly natural to him. He gave it a few more flicks.
"Do you need any help?" Allie asked.
Nathan shook his.
"No, I think I got this," Nathan smiled.
"Well then, we're not goin' easy on ya," Archie winked.
"Best out of 4?" Allie said with a gleam of mischief in her eyes.
Archie and Nathan both nodded.
Then they went about fishing for their dinner. But due to their competition, they all ended up with three fish each by the time they were needed to start walking home.
"Ma's going to have words," Nathan said as he looked at their fish hanging from the line.
"Not if we get rid of a few," Archie said.
"And invite a few more people to dinner," Allie added.
Nathan shook his head at the two of them teaming up.
They took the long path back into Hope Valley Proper with their catch.
Gabe looked at each Grants' smiling faces and their catch.
"Ruth said four," Gabe commented.
They all nodded.
"You need someone else to come with you," Gabe commented.
They all nodded again.
"It may be a sacrifice, but I think I'm up to the challenge of Ruth's cooking," Gabe said with a wink.
"Dinner's in an hour," Allie said with a wave.
"I will be there," Gabe said as he turned his attention back to the street.
They walked off in the direction of the café. The group entered through the back.
Bill was at the stove.
He looked up briefly when he heard them come in.
He saw each Grants' eyes and faces of apprehension as they entered.
"I see your fishing trip was very successful," Bill said.
"Yeah, need any fish?" Nathan said as he lifted up the ones he was holding.
Bill looked at them carefully.
"Unfortunately, no. Our café menu has been ordered, and our ice box is full at the moment," Bill said as he looked at them in genuine sorrow. "If I had known you were going fishing, I wouldn't have stocked up."
Bill gave them a look and a hard glare.
Allie and Archie both smiled at him.
"Really?" Nathan asked in surprise.
Bill just nodded and laughed.
"The two of you rarely come back empty handed," Bill nodded in Nathan's and Allie's direction.
Nathan nodded at the comment, only the vaguest of a hint of memory. A 'come on, Uncle Nathan.' But before he could grasp onto it firmly, it was gone. They said their goodbyes as they left.
"The Mercantile also has a full icebox," Archie said as they looked at the other options to lay their extra fish for.
That left the saloon.
Archie looked at it in apprehension.
"What is it, Dad?" Nathan asked.
"I'm not feeling very strong today," Archie admitted as he looked down at his already shaking hands.
"Well, I can go," Nathan volunteered himself without any hesitation.
Allie and Archie both looked up in surprise.
"What? Is there something I need to know?" Nathan said.
"It's just that you and Mr. Bouchard don't exactly always see eye-to-eye," Allie said tensely.
Nathan looked at then both.
"Well, it's either me go and talk with Mr. Bouchard about needing four fish, or we explain to Ma that we got carried away," Nathan said as he picked up the extra.
Archie and Allie were both seriously thinking this through.
"It's fine. I'm going," Nathan said as he walked towards the saloon doors.
Nathan entered the saloon for the first time since getting back and without his memories. There were a series of flashes, hints of moments, but nothing stuck. He looked around the patrons. There were several Hope Valley residents enjoying a cup of tea or a light drink together, but it wasn't busy yet. Nathan saw a rather bedraggled looking family, all just drinking water.
Mr. Bouchard was whispering to them. The father looked at him with a firm 'no.'
Nathan waited for him to be done.
"How can I help you, Constable?" Mr. Bouchard said with a soft smile.
"We overfished today, by a lot, and we are wondering if you need any fish to use for meals?" Nathan said in a whisper as he held up his catch.
Mr. Bouchard smiled at that.
"I've noticed that that is a Grant trait," he admitted.
"We've already talked to Bill about them. And Dad said the Mercantile doesn't need any," Nathan said. "We're hoping you can use them."
Mr. Bouchard looked at Nathan and the generous sized fish.
"Four is an awkward number for our uses," he said as he was thinking it over.
"Why don't you have your chef make up a fish dinner for that family?" Nathan said as his eyes drifted towards the family he had seen on his way in. "They need the vitamins and minerals that eating fresh fish can bring."
"How do you know that?" Mr. Bouchard asked in surprise.
Nathan shrugged, "it's something that I feel like I know. Maybe it's part of Mountie training. I don't know. But will you?"
Mr. Bouchard's eyes met his.
Mr. Bouchard nodded and took the fish from Nathan and went to the back to let his chef know about the special order for the fish dinner for the family. Nathan turned and left the saloon. He caught up with Archie and Allie, and they started walking back to the row houses.
"Constable Grant!" Mr. Bouchard called out as they reached the lane just past main street. Nathan turned.
"Go on ahead," Nathan said to Archie and Allie. Both continued walking.
"You forgot your chains and hooks, and you forgot your payment," Mr. Bouchard said as he handed over the cleaned chain and an envelope with money.
"I figured I would just grab the chain the next time I was in town," Nathan said as he grabbed the chain.
"And your payment?" Mr. Bouchard was still holding that out.
"I don't need to be paid. Really, Mr. Bouchard, you're doing me the favor for not coming home with more food than we can keep. Ma would have had all of us in her bad books had we come home with those extra fish," Nathan said.
Mr. Bouchard laughed.
"Your mother is definitely a force to be reckoned with," the man admitted.
Nathan nodded and was just about to turn away.
"Constable, I still don't feel right just accepting this without paying you," Mr. Bouchard said.
"Well, put it towards someone's tab then," Nathan said kindly.
"Huh?" Mr. Bouchard looked at him in confusion.
"Put it towards a tab. I don't need the money. Someone else does, let them have it," Nathan said.
The man gave him a long look again, but nodded and placed the envelope in his coat pocket before turning and going back to his saloon.
Both men walked in opposite directions.
Everyone in Hope Valley had all been praying for their Constable's full recovery. But as they got to know him without the worries and pain of suffering and loss, some were beginning to wonder if it would be kinder to let him live without that knowledge.