Thanks for the positive feedback and also for letting me rant to all of you as well. I hope this chapter can redeem Elizabeth more.
Chapter 12
Welcome Back, Elizabeth, We Missed You
Nathan got zero sleep that night. He was too hopeful. So, he had decided to go on an early morning walk, and the first person he ran into was Gabe. Who took one look at him and somehow knew what happened.
"She finally kissed you!" Gabe said in greeting.
Nathan glared at him.
"Oh come on, I know you. She would have to make the first move. And you have the look of a man who has been kissed by the woman he loves," Gabe said.
Nathan just narrowed his eyes.
"What did you do this time, Kinslow?" Bill said in greeting, noticing their looks.
Gabe just raised an eyebrow at Nathan. Nathan's eyes narrowed further.
"She kissed you!" Bill said. "Well done!"
Nathan flushed with embarrassment.
This only confirmed both of their deductions which made them both laugh. And it also gave both men ample ammunition in teasing Nathan.
"Well, how did last night go?" Rosemary asked.
Elizabeth flushed with happiness.
"That good," Rosemary smiled.
"I kissed him, Rosemary," Elizabeth said.
Rosemary just about spat out her tea.
"You did what?" Rosemary choked.
"I kissed him. And it was wonderful," Elizabeth said.
Rosemary sat back and watched how happy and content the last 12 hours had made Elizaebeth.
"You certainly seem happier," Rosemary said.
"I'm just so glad that he's willing to have a second chance. He asked me to court," Elizabeth said.
Rosemary smiled.
"And then you kissed him," Rosemary teased.
"It was short and innocent, but the way we both reacted to even that says mountains. It was electrifying," Elizabeth explained.
"Well, it looks like you're going to need to do some more groveling to Ruth," Rosemary added. Seeing the look of love and happiness on Elizabeth's face, she didn't think much could stand in their way anymore.
"I know that. But it feels like we're finally going in the same direction at the same time! And I will do everything in my power to prove to Ruth that I'm worthy of her son," Elizabeth said softly.
Rosemary smiled.
Despite the levity and happiness of the morning, the men also had serious business to attend to regarding the attack on Nathan. There were still holes in the story.
"Look, Nathan, someone needs to go back to High Level and look around. We still have no idea how you ended up on the ground without any ID. Or who picked you up. We didn't talk to the doctors and nurses on duty there because we were more worried about you, but someone needs to go soon," Gabe said.
Bill and Nathan nodded in agreement.
"How are your wounds coming?" Bill asked.
Nathan looked at them both.
"Okay. Still hurts, but my sores from the probes are not as bad," Nathan admitted.
"We also need to get the pictures from when Nathan was brought back," Bill added.
Nathan and Gabe both nodded, but neither were excited about viewing them.
The men went into the infirmary, needing to speak with Carson. He looked up at them all.
"I take it this isn't a courtesy call?" Carson surmised as they entered.
They all shook their heads.
"How can I help?" Carson asked.
"We need a few things actually. First, how long until Nathan can resume his duties?" Bill asked.
"That depends. I will need to do a full checkup and mental wellness check," Carson said.
"While you're doing that, we need to add more photos of Nathan's injuries that were caused by the situation with the other Mountie," Bill added.
"And I take it, you want the first ones?" Carson finished.
They all nodded.
Carson nodded before leading Nathan back behind the privacy screen. Carson went through each piece of physical checkup. Then he went into Nathan's mental wellness. Carson was asking questions as they were going about how often he was having nightmares. What made him flinch? How he was dealing with the trauma (which wasn't well). Throughout the checkup, Carson was also snapping photos of the progression of Nathan's injuries.
"I think Nathan can handle light desk duties at the moment. But I'm not confident enough in his mental recovery to okay anything more strenuous than that," Carson said as he pulled the privacy curtain back. Carson handed over the file with the old photos.
"We can make that work. Thanks, doc." Gabe said.
"Ready to try on your uniform again?" Bll asked as they walked across the street towards the Mountie Office.
Nathan just nodded.
He was shown to the back room where Mounties could rest while on duty and found a clean and ready uniform waiting for him. Nathan touched the different pieces and then put them on. When he came out Bill and Gabe were both looking at him in apprehension but also pride.
"How does it feel?" Gabe asked.
"Like I'm being choked," Nathan pulled at the top button.
Bill and Gabe just shook their heads.
"Well, at least you're back to normal," Gabe remarked.
Nathan gave him a glare.
"Nathan can do the paperwork and keeping a presence in Hope Valley proper. I will do the rounds on the outer Hope Valley limits. Gabe you will go to High Level and see if you can find anything," Bill said.
They both nodded in agreement. Before anything more could be fleshed out, Molly came rushing into the Mountie Office.
"Bill, there's a Constable Monroe, a Dr. Richards, and a Sergeant Jeb Winters in your office. They said they have urgent business with you," Molly said.
"I don't have anything on my calendar," Bill looked confused.
"We can wait until you're done with them," Gabe said.
Bill gave them a smile of gratitude and left the men.
Gabe and Nathan both stood outside the office to wait on Bill.
"It's good to see you back in uniform, Nathan!"
"Glad your back, Nathan!"
Many people came up to him to shake his hand.
"It's limited duties! Not fully back, yet," Nathan said.
The people of Hope Valley didn't care.
A black lab began making its own rounds among the people of Hope Valley. It was a friendly dog and, for some reason, Nathan thought it looked familiar. The dog approached Nathan as if they were old friends. He sat at Nathan's feet and looked at him expectantly. They just looked at each other for a little while, before Nathan bent down to scratch the dog's ears and neck.
"Rip! Rip! Come back here you silly dog," a woman's voice rang out.
The long term citizens of Hope Valley all gave a long pause at that name being shouted. The black lab gave Nathan a long, slobbery lick before heading towards the voice. Nathan just wiped his face off, as he watched where the dog was going.
When he reached the eyes of the woman, she was looking at him with wide eyes and relief.
"Ma'am?" Nathan asked.
"Oh my! You ARE a Mountie," she said as she eyed his uniform.
Nathan looked at her in confusion.
"Sorry, Constable, but my husband and I were the ones who found you," the woman said.
Gabe and Nathan were both surprised by that, and even if the citizens of Hope Valley didn't know anything else about this couple, that would have been enough to get them free lodging and food for the rest of their lives, but Bill ended up walking down the boardwalk with Dr. Richard, Constable Monrow, and Sergeant Jeb Winters (who was in uniform as he had learned that having it on, greased more wheels). When Jeb and Daisy Winters acknowledged each other, a reverence settled among the people.
"Good news is we have some answers to some of our questions," Bill said as he approached Nathan and Gabe and pointed over his shoulder.
"But there are more questions," Gabe said.
Bill nodded. Then he introduced the men to each other.
"They're all from High Level or surrounding areas. And what little they've said made me realize that we need to discuss it as a group," Bill admitted.
They all went inside the Mountie Office.
Gabe took over as the lead Mountie on the case and sat behind the desk with a notepad and pencil.
"Sergeant, you said you and your wife found Constable Grant?" Gabe asked.
The man nodded.
"Well, it's more like my dog found him. But we were the ones to take him into High Level for treatment," Sergeant Winters said.
"Can you describe everything about your involvement, please?" Kinslow asked.
"Daisy and I were just enjoying an afternoon together after getting back from the Western Front, when Rip went off a beaten path, tracking something."
"Your dog's name is Rip?" Bill asked.
"Yes, why?"
Gabe glared at Bill for interrupting.
"I followed Rip to where a man was lying unconscious on the side of a path. I could see that he had a head wound, and he wasn't wearing anything identifiable. I looked around him quickly. I couldn't see anything that screamed that the man was a Mountie. But I was also more worried about getting him to a hospital in enough time. I was a medical officer in the army. I've seen my share of head wounds. I knew that time was against us, and we got him to High Level as quickly as we could. We debated about going back to look around after dropping him off, but since we had left a message about the man we found with the Mountie Office, we thought everything would sort itself out. I left coordinates and our contact information, fully expecting to get contacted. But we didn't. I haven't been able to get the situation out of my head. So, we went back into High Level proper to learn about what had actually happened."
There was a short pause, before Dr. Richards started talking.
"We accepted a John Doe from Sergeant Winters in critical condition. It was touch and go for a long time. But eventually he woke up. But without any of his memories. He was treated for a head wound that caused memory loss, and once we realized that he wasn't on a fast path to recovery, we had him transferred to the long term care facility in Fort Vermillion."
"When this person left you, were you aware that he spoke two different languages?" Bill asked.
"Of course! He spoke in them on different days, and usually only spoke one language at a time," Dr. Richards said.
"What did you write down for the language that he was speaking?" Bill asked.
"English and some other unidentifiable language, but only because no one on our staff could speak it."
"Are you aware that the long term care facility in Fort Vermillion is treating patients with electric-shock therapy?" Gabe asked.
There were several gasps in horror.
"I wasn't at the time, but it was recently brought to my attention," Dr. Richards said tensely.
"Are you aware that they are treating patients with memory loss and head wounds in this manner?" Gabe continued.
"They can't be. That is a ridiculous method for those types of problems. It would cause more damage to both issues," Dr. Richard protested.
Gabe and Bill looked at each other. Bill handed over Nathan's file from Carson, with the pictures added.
Dr. Richards opened the file and blanched.
"If I had known that this was what they were going to do, I never would have sent him there," Dr. Richards said apologetically.
Everyone turned to Constable Monroe.
"I had been returning from my own tracking team, when I got back to High Level around the time Constable Grant was put into the long term care facility. I didn't see a single message or memo about a found man who had suffered a bad fall or, more likely, attacked. So, I had no idea that I needed to look, or that there was a John Doe in my jurisdiction. I had no idea something was off until Croaker was in my office by himself and messing around. I must have startled him, because he jumped quite high. I asked him what he was doing, and he replied that he was just checking on some things that had to do with the Olsen gang's leader's arrest. He quickly skedaddled out of town, though. I didn't think much of it, until Sergeant Winters came and asked me about the man he had found and what had happened to him. I looked at him with shock and it was obvious that I had no idea what he was talking about. Winters said that he had left the note, with his information under my books. I told him that I hadn't seen any of that, and that's when I lifted them up to point out that it wasn't there, but the note flowed down gently to the table. I quickly read through it, and examined it and put it into an evidence bag."
"Do you still have it?' Bill asked.
"Yes. And I had my investigators go over it. Besides my finger prints, the little rat who came into my office was the only other person to have touched it recently," Constable Monroe growled.
"Any theories about why?" Gabe asked.
"It's become common Mountie knowledge that Constable Grant was found, and that he is remembering things. He's trying to cover up loose ends by blackmailing others," Constable Monroe said.
"Someone has to be helping him. He's not smart enough to do this on his own," Nathan said.
"We need to know who is close to him," Gabe said.
"We also need someone to talk about how Nathan was taken out of his uniform before he was found," Bill added.
"Did the Olsen Gang leader say anything?" Gabe asked Bill.
"No, nothing that hinted at that. In fact, he said that the Mountie didn't check him. Only left him for dead and they went back. Although, he could be lying," Bill said.
The men in the room were all processing everything.
"Gabe, you'll still need to go and talk to people," Bill said as he rubbed his head in frustration.
"I will help," Constable Monroe said.
Gabe and Bill nodded.
"There still hasn't been any news outlets reporting the fact that Nathan went missing," Bill added.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"What are you thinking, Bill?" Nathan asked with some hesitancy.
Bill looked at Nathan.
"This needs to be public. I think we should have Rosemary Coulter interview you about your experience. It doesn't have to be completely detailed, but people need to know," Bill said.
They all looked at Nathan, knowing how private a person he was. Nathan thought about it, but ended up nodding in agreement. Then the group ended up discussing what, exactly, they were going to say for the article, and what they couldn't say.
"I need to tell my family about all of this first, and let them know," Nathan said.
Gabe looked at him. Bill nodded.
So, Nathan found himself walking towards the school house after school, despite it being a tutoring day.
He heard Elizabeth going over the steps to Allie's math homework with enthusiasm. Allie was soaking it up. They were both laughing.
Nathan sighed as he knocked on the door.
Allie and Elizabeth both paused, but he heard the soft 'enter.'
Nathan opened the door.
"Nathan?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.
Allie beamed at her familiar address.
"Hello, Elizabeth," Nathan replied.
Allie smiled wider.
"You've been approved to go back to duties," Elizabeth observed.
"Desk duties only, but it will help ease my boredom," Nathan said with a half smile.
Elizabeth gave him a kind smile.
"I uh...need to talk with both of you about some things. Are you okay with coming and listening with my parents present, Elizabeth?" Nathan asked hesitantly.
Allie looked between the two of them in curiosity.
"I'm fine with it, but would your mother be okay with it?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan shrugged.
"Maybe, maybe not, but this is something I don't want to have to repeat a lot," Nathan said.
That put looks of concern on both of their faces.
"Is everything okay?" Allie asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Nathan said.
Elizabeth and Allie immediately started packing their things and walked with Nathan to the Grant rowhouse. Gabe and Bill were both already there and explained that they were here as support to Nathan as he told them his experience. Nathan shut and latched the door behind Elizabeth as they walked in. Elizabeth took a seat next to Bill. Allie was between Ruth and Archie. Gabe was standing behind the sofa. Nathan took a seat in his chair.
"This is going to be hard for me to say, so please don't interrupt," Nathan said as he looked each person whom he loved in the eye.
They all nodded. Elizabeth gave him a small nod of encouragement.
Nathan then went into the details of his mission, what had happened. How and who he was found by, his treatment, being found by Gabe and Bill. How they were still needing to investigate who else was involved. But also that they needed to make his story public.
"Once this becomes public, all of your safety is at risk. I need to know if you would rather go back to Calgary, or leave well enough alone," Nathan said as he looked at his parents and Allie, then he looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked offended at the comment.
Archie and Ruth both looked at Allie.
"We're going where she wants to go," Archie said as they both looked at Allie.
"I realize that there will be more danger, but I would honestly feel safer with you around, Dad. I know that no one else would do more to make sure we're okay," Allie said.
Ruth and Archie both nodded at that comment.
"Mom, are you sure?" Nathan asked, knowing her impairments were flaring up more with the turning weather.
Ruth just glared at him.
Nathan looked at Elizabeth.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly.
"Perhaps you should think about it," Nathan offered.
"I already have been. For months. I'm not going to change my mind," Elizabeth said just as firmly.
"Really?" Ruth glared at her in reprimand.
Elizabeth flushed red, but stayed firm.
Bill and Gabe both nodded.
Nathan looked at them all one last time, before walking Elizabeth home.
"I really think you should think about this. It's not just you, it's also Jack," Nathan said as he worried about them both. "Not many know yet; we can keep what happened last night between us."
Elizabeth gave him a long look.
"Do you really think I'm that fickle?" she asked with offense and hurt in her voice.
"No, not when you've actually decided. But this could put you and Jack in serious trouble. I don't want you to regret us," Nathan said.
"I've decided," Elizabeth gave him an encouraging look.
"Elizabeth, I want you to take time to think about exactly what this would do. Don't tell me what you decided for at least 24 hours," Nathan said as they approached her row house.
She gave him a long look.
"Fine. I will do what you ask, but know that I seriously doubt that taking the time will change my mind," Elizabeth said as she entered her house.
Nathan nodded and then walked back to his own. Bill and Gabe were both leaving.
"I'm sticking around for the initial interview with Mrs. Coulter, so is Constable Monroe and the others. Once Rosemary has what she needs for the story we're leaving to interview some witnesses," Gabe said.
Nathan nodded.
"I'm going to be with Elizabeth for a bit," Bill added as he walked in her direction.
The men said goodbye.
"How are you holding up, Elizabeth?" Bill asked as he held Jack.
Elizabeth gave him a cross look.
"Nathan thinks I need more time to think about being with him," Elizabeth said flatly.
"That's a fair deduction. When this goes public it won't be long until Nathan, and everyone he cares about, will be in more danger," Bill said as he gave Elizabeth and Jack a look.
"Bill, I know my heart. It's his. No matter what. Through the good and the bad. And while it does scare me to think that Jack could be hurt in some way, that is NOT Nathan's fault. It is the fault of the people who are seeking revenge. And Allie is right, we're safer with Nathan around us," Elizabeth said as she kissed Jack's head.
Bill looked at the firm determination in her eyes, something that had been lacking for some time.
"Besides I don't think keeping our distance will actually keep us any safer. They know how much Nathan cares even if it is not something we are showing off. I would rather be able to support him in this, than to be on the outside," Elizabeth added.
Bill smiled at her.
"That is actually a very good point. Welcome back, Elizabeth, we missed you," Bill teased with a smirk.
Elizabeth just gave him a look before shaking her head at him.
The next day, Nathan was met at his door by Elizabeth with a fiery determination in her eyes.
"I don't think that morning counts as 24 hours," Nathan pointed out.
"You need support. This is me supporting you," Elizabeth said.
Nathan just gave her a long look.
She returned it and looped her arm through his.
"Where are we going?" Elizabeth asked.
"To the newspaper office. I need to see if Rosemary is okay with what we need her to do," Nathan said.
They walked in companionable silence to the newspaper office where Rosemary was still struggling for people to take her seriously as an editor and a journalist. Fiona and Clara both wrote pieces for the style sections, but not many took Rosemary's journalism seriously, even though she checked and verified sources. Many didn't believe her main pieces because she was a woman.
Nathan knew that this story would make and certify Rosemary as a legitimate reporter with the Valley Voice as a serious news source. Bill and Nathan also knew that Rosemary would be the one journalist to give the writing and the slow rollout of their news just the right care and diligence to make a stir and get people angry and talking about Mountie Headquarters' actions in this matter.
Nathan and Elizabeth quietly entered the new office, and while it looked like a newspaper office, there was also the standard Rosemary flare to it.
Rosemary looked up from her papers as they walked in and smiled at the two of them together.
"Oh, hello you two!" she greeted them with a wide smile.
They both smiled back.
"How can I help you?" she asked.
Elizabeth just looked up at Nathan and gave his arm an encouraging squeeze.
"Rosemary, I would like to offer you a story," Nathan said slowly.
Rosemary looked shocked at that being their business in her office.
"A story?" Rosemary said in surprise.
Nathan nodded.
"I'm...uh...making...parts...of my story public...I need a journalist I can trust," Nathan said.
Rosemary thought about what Nathan had said to her and the amount of trust he would be placing on her shoulders.
"You don't have to agree to anything right now, but know that it will put you and Lee in danger. You should discuss it with him first," Nathan said.
Rosemary nodded.
"When do you need to know?" Rosemary asked.
"As soon as possible. Constable Kinslow and Constable Monroe are needing to leave soon to do some digging of their own, and we were hoping to have their interviews done before they leave," Nathan said with an apologetic look.
"I will talk it over with Lee and let you know by noon," Rosemary said.
"Are you sure?" Nathan said.
Rosemary nodded.
"We will be waiting on you in Bill's office then," Nathan said.
They said goodbyes and left each other alone. Nathan tried walking Elizabeth to the school house, but she refused to go. Nathan was glaring at her again.
"I'm not going to let you go into your interviews alone," Elizabeth whispered firmly.
"Rosemary hasn't even agreed to them yet," Nathan pointed out.
"She will," Elizabeth said with certainty.
"Pretty sure if the teacher skips school it sets a bad precedent," Nathan pointed out.
She glared at him, but conceded that point.
They walked to the school house where her students were already milling around. Allie was with them.
Elizabeth gave Nathan a long look.
He gave one back to her before she started her school day, and he went back into town.
Rosemary was thankful that Lee hadn't been scheduled to go up to the mill that day. She knew he was in his office. She walked determinedly to his office and saw him looking over the maps of the area.
"Lee?" Rosemary said as she entered.
Lee could hear the hesitation in Rosemary's voice.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he said.
"Nothings wrong, per se. But I've been asked to write and look into a major story, and it could impact our lives for a while," Rosemary said.
Lee looked at her in concern.
"What do you mean?" Lee asked.
"Bad people may want to silence me, and the people involved in the story," Rosemary said honestly.
"You want to put yourself in a position of danger? For the sake of your job? Rosemary, I know you've been struggling with the newspaper's credibility, but this isn't the way to do it," Lee said with anger.
"I'm not doing it because the newspaper is struggling, Lee Coulter," Rosemary argued back.
"Have you signed anything yet," Lee asked.
Rosemary shook her head.
"Then don't do this…" Lee begged.
"Nathan asked me," Rosemary said with a look in her eyes.
"Nathan?" Lee asked in complete surprise. "Our Mountie Nathan? The man whom we only learned about because of his longtime friend and him not remembering much? The man who doesn't make public displays, that Nathan?"
"Yes, THAT Nathan," Rosemary emphasized.
Lee stopped to really think what this would mean for everyone, and why Nathan was asking Rosemary at all.
"I don't like the amount of danger this will put you in, but Rosie, do what you have to do," Lee said softly as he grabbed her head and kissed her.
"I have your support?" Rosemary said with some surprise.
"Yes, you do. Nathan wouldn't be asking if he felt he had another option," Lee said.
"That was my thought too," Rosemary admitted.
They continued to hold each other.
Bill's office was looking a little cramped with everyone who was supposed to be interviewed by Rosemary. Rosemary had come with a pad and pencil.
"Rosemary, are you okay with being the journalist we are asking to handle this?" Bill asked her as they were all seated and the blinds drawn and the door was locked.
Rosemary nodded.
"We're here to get people talking about the fact that Mountie Headquarters hasn't published an official statement about Nathan's disappearance, his reappearance, and why he wasn't being looked for until it was brought to our attention when Archie and Ruth returned. This needs to be a series of slow rollouts. First, questioning why they hadn't, putting public knowledge to the test. Then, as our investigation continues and gets more solid on our missing information do the other articles become more detailed. The first ones need as much anonymity as possible. Nathan's name will eventually be placed in them, because he is the Mountie involved, but we're trying to keep most of that as strictly as need to know as possible," Bill said.
"I will do my absolute best," Rosemary said with firmness.
"This contract is the agreement between you and Nathan, showing that you are following our lead with his story, what kinds of royalties you share, etc." Bill said as he placed them both to Nathan and Rosemary.
They both read through it and signed.
"Rosemary, you are going to get a lot of interviews today, but most of the material you will be using in later articles, but we need to let some of them get to where they need to be," Bill added.
Rosemary nodded then took up her pencil and pad.
And they spent a long afternoon and into the evening doing the various interviews. Rosemary had several pads and notebooks filled with notes and all were color coded. She read through her notes once again after each person's interview had finished.
"I think I got it all," Rosemary said. Her hand was cramping, but she wasn't complaining.
The men left Bill's office.
Constable Monroe and Constable Kinslow both went to prepare for their journey.
"Nathan, you've been through so much," Rosemary said with feeling when it was just them and Bill left.
Nathan shrugged.
"I promise to do what I can to help make this right," Rosemary said forcefully. Bill and Nathan both helped her carry her notes back to her office.
They said their goodbyes.
Lee found her in the office much later.
His eyes widened at the piles of notes.
"How did it go?" Lee asked.
"It was hard to hear everyone talk about what happened. Nathan is...very lucky to have made it home. And we have this whole plan from start to finish about getting his story out. I hope what I write ends up helping," Rosemary said.
"I'm sure it will, honey," Lee said as he kissed her head.
Rosemary smiled at him.
Ruth had insisted that Gabe spend his last night for the foreseeable future eating dinner with the Grants. Gabe, never one to turn down a free meal-especially Ruth's-was not at all adverse to the suggestion. Elizabeth and Jack had also been invited. So, it was on the steps of the Grant's rowhouse where Gabe and Elizabeth saw each other. They smiled.
"You're back in her good graces," Gabe smiled.
"I don't know about that. More like she is hesitantly giving me time to prove myself," Elizabeth said.
Gabe chuckled.
"With the Grants, they are very protective of their small family. Although, she knows that Colleen approves, and that is really the hardest earned forgiveness," Gabe whispered.
"Really? Because I feel like I'm going to be on my deathbed before she approves me," Elizabeth said with worry.
Gabe smirked.
"Well, maybe openly," he teased.
Elizabeth snorted.
Gabe just turned to the door and rapped gently.
Allie flung open the door in happiness before the sound stopped.
"Welcome, Uncle Gabe!" Allie threw herself around his stomach in a hug.
Gabe didn't even flinch. He wrapped his arms around her just as tightly.
"Welcome, Mrs. Thornton," Allie said after she pulled back.
"Thank you, Allie," Elizabeth smiled.
"Hi, Jack!" Allie took Jack by the hand and led him inside.
Jack smiled and waved happily at all of the Grants inside.
Allie had brought down some of her old toys for Jack to play with. Archie was sitting on the floor waiting for them to enter.
Elizabeth and Gabe both smiled.
"Hello," he greeted both of them.
Both nodded in greeting.
"Need any help, Ruth?" Gabe asked.
"I need you to stay out of my kitchen," Ruth said firmly.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Elizabeth asked next.
Ruth shook her head.
"We have some snacks to tide us over until dinner is ready," Allie pointed out.
"Where's Nathan?" Gabe asked.
Nathan answered that question by opening the back door and entering with an armful of fresh cut wood.
"Nat'an!" Jack said happily.
Nathan smiled at everyone. He carefully put the wood in the wood canister.
"Need any help, Ma?" Nathan asked.
"If I won't let Gabe or Elizabeth help, what makes you think I would ask for yours?" Ruth said sarcastically.
"Because they're guests," Nathan said.
"Gabe isn't. And even so, you aren't allowed near my stove while I'm here," Ruth glared.
Elizabeth and Gabe were both smirking.
"Is your cooking that bad?" Elizabeth asked with humor.
"He's been known to burn water," Gabe said.
Nathan just nodded.
"I can make small, select meals, and that's more out of necessity," Nathan admitted.
Elizabeth giggled.
Nathan smiled. Elizabeth took a seat on the sofa watching Jack, Allie, and Archie playing on the floor. As much as it would have formerly pained him to admit it, Nathan took after Archie with how easily he made Jack laugh deep laughs.
Nathan was standing just behind everyone leaning on the wall taking everything in. At no point in his adult life had he ever thought that he would be a witness of such a scene. Prior to this summer, his parents hadn't even spoken. But both had dropped everything they were doing to call a truce and be there for him and Allie, which spoke volumes about how much both of his parents loved Allie and loved him. And even though he had hoped the truce would last, they hadn't been as loving towards each other as he had barely remembered from his childhood. And even then, they weren't all that receptive to the Thorntons at that time. Or it would be more accurate to say that they weren't all that receptive to Elizabeth. Jack could charm anyone. Jack must have thought it was weird for Nathan to be standing by himself, because he walked over with a determined look.
"Up!" Jack demanded with his hands in the air.
Nathan just smiled and picked him up.
Jack was looking around the room from a new height and was looking at everything with curious eyes.
"Alright. Food is ready. NOW I need your help," Ruth said as she turned from the stove.
Gabe was first in the kitchen and seemed to know exactly where everything was, he grabbed plates. Archie and Allie were next. Allie grabbed bowls, Archie got the silverware. Nathan walked to his mother.
"Here, trade me," Ruth said as she handed over the hot pad for the hot skillet and pots. Nathan grabbed the pads as he put Jack into Ruth's arms. Jack started babbling happily at her. Ruth smiled and kissed his cheek.
Elizabeth was smiling happily at how efficient their system was. The table was set and the dishes brought safely over within only a few minutes. Jack was given a seat with a dictionary to boost him. Nathan had tied a towel expertly around him so that his wiggles and movement wouldn't topple him to the ground, but also allowed him to sit at the table with the rest.
Gabe helped Allie into her seat, while Archie helped Ruth. Elizabeth was between Jack and Archie. Ruth was next to him and Gabe. Then it ended with Allie and Nathan.
They all reached out to grab hands.
"God, we thank ya for this meal and the occasion for it. We thank you for returning Nathan safely to us and finally giving his memories back. We thank you for allowing Gabe to be a good friend and for his help. We ask you to keep him safe as he goes on his journey. We thank you for allowing the Thorntons to join us as well," Archie said.
Elizabeth was almost certain Ruth kicked Archie under the table. But since everyone's eyes were closed she couldn't confirm that. But as Archie finished his prayer and blessing of the food, Archie's tone was more mischievous.
Ruth had made all of Gabe's favorites.
"Thanks for the meal, Ruth," Gabe said as they started eating.
"You know she is just trying to make you want to return quicker?" Nathan said with a light smirk.
Ruth didn't even protest that claim.
"Hey, if I'm greeted with a welcome back meal as good as this, I will absolutely do everything I can to make it back quickly," Gabe said.
Everyone laughed. Archie was very good at keeping the conversation flowing lightly.
After dessert, Elizabeth was holding a sleepy Jack on her lap.
"We should probably get going, but first, Gabe, I have something for you," Elizabeth said.
Everyone, but Allie looked at her in surprise.
"It's in my basket," Elizabeth said.
Allie went to grab her basket and grabbed the wrapped stationary. She handed it to Gabe.
Gabe looked at her in confusion.
"I may have changed my lessons for today. I asked my students to write letters of thanks and well-wishes, to you specifically, instead of having them write an essay," Elizabeth admitted.
Gabe looked floored.
"Yeah, it's a good thing that the schoolhouse is so far away from the town. The cheering would have caused problems," Allie said.
"This wasn't necessary," Gabe said as he took the letters.
"It is. We've all recognized how much you've done, and are still doing, for Nathan. You haven't gone home in months, and you are going back out again to help him again. Even if we didn't care about you as well, we would have had to say thank you just for that. But we do care about you as well. You're an honorary Hope Vallian," Elizabeth said.
Gabe flushed with embarrassment.
"I most certainly am not doing it for accolades or recognition. We're best friends," Gabe said.
"It's what you do. I know. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be celebrated and thanked," Elizabeth ended.
The Grants all nodded their agreement, before helping both Gabe, Elizabeth, and Jack into their coats for their walk. Nathan had put on his own coat. They were all on various steps of the stairs as Archie, Ruth, and Allie were waving from the doorway.
Someone must have been watching from a doorway, because there was a long flash of a flashlight and then the row house families all came out of their homes and were cheering and clapping at Gabe.
"Thank you, Constable!"
"Safe travels, Constable."
Gabe looked at each family in shock and then at Nathan. Nathan was just smiling widely and clapping with them.
"You better get them home," Gabe whispered as he gestured towards Elizabeth and Jack.
Nathan nodded. Then led Jack and Elizabeth to her door.
She had him come inside for a moment to have a private goodnight.
"I take it you're going to be up before dawn to say goodbye in private?" Elizabeth said as she looked at Nathan.
Nathan nodded.
"I hate that he is having to spend more time away from Brookfield because of me, but I also really don't trust anyone else to handle it," Nathan admitted.
Elizabeth smiled gently at him.
"You know that he is not begrudging you the time. He could have left ages ago and come back to check in on you," Elizabeth reminded him.
"I know that this has always been his choice," Nathan said while looking down. "I just don't know how well it helps with his interest in Ms. Walsh."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Are you aware that Lillian and Grace came through Hope Valley just before they set up their orphanage?"
Nathan shook his head.
"They did. It was actually when Jack was born. Rosemary and I still write to them every week," Elizabeth said.
"Playing match-maker on Gabe's behalf are we?" Nathan teased.
Elizabeth giggled.
"Somewhat. I mean it's really not fair for Gabe to lose his chance at Lillian getting to know him, because he is proving to Hope Valley how honorable, brave, and steadfast he is to his family. We may have been extolling Gabe's virtues to her through our letters. But I've also gotten the feeling that she already knows all of this about him," Elizabeth said.
"That's good. I would hate to be part of the reason that he lost out on something special," Nathan said as his eyes roamed to the pictures on Elizabeth's table. He was giving them a long and confused look.
"What is it?" Elizabeth walked over to him to see what was bothering him. They were pictures of Jack as they always had been.
Nathan was quiet trying to find the words.
"There are moments, from my accident and after, that I've thought were just dreams. Something my brain was trying to use to process what was happening. They mostly happened in a peaceful meadow on a warm spring day. The people were always vague figures and walking here and there. Some recognized me. Some didn't," Nathan started as he was leaning closer to the picture of Jack by himself.
"Nathan?" Elizabeth asked in confusion.
"I'm sorry, but was Jack's dog a hound dog named Rip?" Nathan asked.
Elizabeth was floored. No one had talked about Rip since he had passed when Jack was away in the Northern Territories. She just nodded at him slowly.
"I...I...I…think Jack and Colleen were the ones who convinced me not to cross over. They were the ones telling me to turn away from the meadow," Nathan admitted softly.
They stood in silence as they processed that statement.
"I guess I shouldn't admit that out loud. People will have me committed," Nathan said finally.
"Not me. I absolutely believe you. The only reason we knew you were alive and being looked out for was because Colleen spoke through Little Jack," Elizabeth said.
Nathan gave her a skeptical look.
"Nate. Tá Nate beo. Táimid ag lorg is what she said," Elizabeth insisted.
"And THAT was what made you think they were looking out for me?" Nathan asked in surprise.
"Well, yeah. Archie said that was her message. Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, a more accurate translation would be 'Nate's alive. We are looking for him,' meaning they hadn't found me yet," Nathan said.
"That would have been more terrifying to hear," Elizabeth agreed. "Maybe Archie misheard?"
Nathan shook his head.
"No, this was classic Colleen. While Dad spoke to us in Irish everyday, she wasn't that good at it. She messed up a lot. Dad and I were both having to read between the lines with what she was trying to say," Nathan said with a soft head shake.
"Either way, she proved herself to everyone," Elizabeth smiled.
Nathan nodded in agreement.
"I want to learn it. Would you be up for teaching me?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan took in a deep breath. Every time he spoke in Irish around non-speakers he was given weird looks. No one had asked before.
"Sure, I can teach you," Nathan said.
"Does Allie speak it?" Elizabeth asked the next question.
"Do you really think Allie would have been able to hide being able to speak in another language?" Nathan asked back.
"No, definitely not," Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
"Perhaps, you can teach all of us?" Elizabeth suggested as he lifted a sleeping Jack in her arms.
"Sure," Nathan agreed.
Elizabeth beamed.
"If our lessons go well, you can teach my students as well," Elizabeth's eyes lit up in excitement.
Nathan's eyes went wide in horror.
"Teaching is something you're afraid of?" Elizabeth teased.
"More like public speaking, and yes," Nathan nodded.
"Well, I know some tricks to help warm you to the idea," Elizabeth said softly.
"Hmm, but we don't have to go over it now do we?" Nathan said.
"No, not tonight, but someday," Elizabeth leaned up to give him a gentle kiss on the lips. Nathan had never felt more alive.
"Good night, Mrs. Thornton," Nathan said softly as he opened the door to go back home. Elizabeth and Nathan were both smiling widely.
"Thank you for approving him, Jack," Elizabeth said softly to Jack's pictures.
She was certain she felt Jack's presence.
And there were words imprinted on her thoughts.
"Like I could have done anything else! He's not the Charles Kensington clone! I mean really, Elizabeth?! You almost picked a man from the world you were so desperate to get away from!"
Elizabeth giggled.
"Lucas is NOT that bad. Charles would never be caught dead owning a saloon in Hope Valley," Elizabeth said.
"That's besides the point!"
Elizabeth smiled.
"I know. And I am glad I picked Nathan," Elizabeth said.
She felt the rush of Jack's love for her and then went to bed smiling.