Hello, everyone! Thanks for the positive reviews and patience!
Chapter 23
Actually, It's Mrs. Grant, Constable
Nathan and Elizabeth were both quite content to stay within the warm confines of the warm bed beneath the warm covers, especially since it had started to lightly snow and the fire hadn't been freshened in the stove. But as they enjoyed cuddling together, they both knew that they had to get up before they were invaded by their family.
Nathan gave Elizabeth one last longing look and quickly sat up, pulled on his socks and robe to go downstairs to make the house warmer. Elizabeth was shivering as he stood up and missed his body heat next to her.
"Why did we decide to get married in December?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled the sheets and comforter to her chest.
Nathan gave her a look.
"We didn't decide anything. You wanted to have a quick engagement and your family was already here. I was all for getting married in spring," Nathan reminded her as he stood up and crossed to the door.
Elizabeth flush red and bit her lip, but also was looking at Nathan warmly.
"I love you," Elizabeth called out.
Nathan gave her a look as he opened the door and walked onto the cold floors.
"Uh huh," Nathan said as he pulled the door shut.
Nathan tiptoed to the stove and quickly and efficiently added wood to it, so that it could start warming up the house.
Elizabeth finally made her way down stairs in her wool nightgown, Nathan's wool socks, and her thick bathrobe with her hair in a small braid down her side.
Nathan looked down at her feet and smirked at her.
"Yours are better," she said.
"I know," Nathan said with a slight head shake.
Elizabeth walked close to him and gave him a light kiss in gratitude.
"Are you ever going to attempt to use my stove?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled down some cookware for their breakfast.
"Not unless I have to," Nathan said with a headshake.
"Don't touch it," Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled at her. While he wasn't good at cooking, Nathan was actually pretty good at being helpful in the kitchen. He knew what she needed, when she needed it, and would pass it over. He also had started a wash bucket in the sink. Nathan also set the table when he noticed it was almost ready.
Elizabeth smiled at him.
Both bent their heads to pray.
Then, they started eating.
Both were trying to come up with something to talk about, but since it was their first morning as a married couple, neither knew what to say. This was a new, but wonderful, experience for them both.
"It's weird without the kids' noise," Nathan said as they were finishing.
Elizabeth giggled but nodded in agreement.
They both went about the cleanup. With the two of them, it didn't take long before the kitchen and dining room were both clean. With the warm air spreading through the house better, they both went back upstairs to get changed and ready for the day.
"How do you want to do this? Should I get changed in the bathroom?" Nathan asked with a red face.
Elizabeth flushed as well.
But she nodded.
Nathan grabbed his clothes and walked to the water closet and got ready.
Elizabeth was just putting on a sweater over a wool skirt when he returned, and there was an impatient knock at the door.
"Mama! Nat'an! Mama! Nat'an!" Jack said loudly.
Their eyes met briefly before they went back downstairs and opened the door to find Allie and Jack with each set of grandparents and a few aunties.
Elizabeth and Nathan were surprised that Ruth was with them.
"It's Jack's birthday. I'm not missing any of it," Ruth said firmly.
With everyone in the house, they realized that it was small and cramped. And not everyone who would want to celebrate Jack's birthday was here yet.
Nathan and Elizabeth watched as everyone was elebowing each other in their seats. Archie, William, Charlotte were all standing. They looked at each other and had an entire silent conversation about needing to move the birthday party, and where they could move it without interfering with the Christmas Festival and the Christmas Eve concert.
"So, what are we doing today?" Julie asked.
"Well normally we have the Coulters, Bill, and Laura over for Jack's party in the afternoon, before going to the Christmas Eve concert later," Elizabeth said.
"I bet you enjoy watching Jack open his gifts," Julie said to Allie.
"I would, but this is his first birthday party we've been to," Allie admitted as she smiled brightly at her new brother.
Julie looked shocked with that. William also looked at Nathan in surprise, as Jack was playing with his toy Mountie that Elizabeth had said was from Nathan.
"Allie and I were out of town this past Christmas. We were visiting Archie. We weren't necessarily all that close, the first Christmas," Nathan explained.
The others nodded.
"Well, how are we doing this now? This house with all of us in it, is not going to work," Grace pointed out.
"Rosemary and I can bake the cake and make some food," Elizabeth said, before catching the glare Ruth gave her. "Ruth, Rosemary, and I can make the food here. The rest of you can keep Jack with you until 3, and we will have his party in the church."
They all nodded in agreement.
"How do you feel about spending the day with us, Jack?" Allie said as Jack was walking to his next toy.
Jack looked up at his very full house and looked between Allie and Nathan.
"Up," Jack said with his arms raised and on a direct path to Nathan.
Nathan picked him up.
"You come?" Jack asked as he looked into Nathan's eyes.
"Yes, I will be there," Nathan said.
"Good," Jack said as he leaned into Nathan.
The group began to slowly get their things on and go outside into the lane and walk back.
Jack wouldn't let Nathan put him down.
"Jack, why don't I hold you while Nathan puts on his coat,and why don't we get your coat on?" Elizabeth said to Jack as she noticed the problem.
"No, Mama!" Jack protested wanting to stay in Nathan's arms.
"Don't worry, Elizabeth, I know how to juggle," Nathan said with a wink.
Elizabeth and Ruth then watched as Nathan put on Jack's coat using one arm and then another. Followed by Jack's hat and scarves and mittens. Then they watched as Nathan pulled on his own coat while expertly holding Jack.
Elizabeth watched them in awe for a moment. Before she grabbed Nathan's scarf and hat and approached Nathan with both. She wrapped Nathan's scarf around his neck. Then she kissed him gently as she put his hat on his head.
Elizabeth and Ruth watched and waved as Nathan held Jack in one arm and put another around Allie.
"What do you want to do today, Jack?" Allie asked.
"Horse!" Jack said.
"You want to see Newton and Sergeant," Allie said.
"Ride," Jack insisted.
Nathan only looked back at Elizabeth for a moment with that comment.
"I trust you," Elizabeth said.
"I think, maybe, riding a horse may have to wait until the party. Your mama and Grandma Ruth will want to see you," Nathan said as he whispered into Jack's ears.
Jack looked up at both of them and waved with a good-bye kiss.
Elizabeth and Ruth were both smiling brightly.
Both went inside when the cold couldn't be tolerated any more.
"Ruth, I hope you don't mind," Elizabeth started.
"Elizabeth, I know we didn't have the best of beginnings. But even I can see and admit that you and Nathan are good together," Ruth said with a look.
Elizabeth smiled in gratitude. Both turned to Elizabeth's kitchen just as Rosemary bounded in through the front door.
Ruth gave Rosemary a small glare of reprimand for not knocking.
Rosemary stopped for a moment.
"I am sorry. I guess I do need to stop that," Rosemary admitted.
Elizabeth smiled.
The three women set about making Jack's birthday dinner and cake.
Meanwhile Jack, Allie, and Nathan walked back into town and met up the Thatchers, Charlotte, and Archie in Main St. Constable Gabe was standing nearby.
"We were wondering how things were going to go today," Bill admitted as he looked at the growing number of people who were invited.
"We're moving his party to the church. After his nap, but until then we get to entertain him," Nathan said.
Bill smiled.
"I have an idea about that," Gabe said.
"Oh?"
"Sibling's snow challenge," Gabe said as he looked at Nathan with a smirk.
Nathan smiled and shook his head but ended up giving a nod of agreement.
Gabe smiled.
"What's this challenge?" William asked.
"Colleen and I used to have a competition with snow related games and things. Building snowmen. Tobogganing. Snow shoeing. It was a series of snow related tasks that we had to do in a certain time frame," Nathan explained to everyone.
"Well, I'm game," Julie said.
William and Grace nodded.
Charlotte also agreed.
They made their ways bundled up in many layers to the fields next to the pond.
The large group of misfitted people caught the attention of others. The Montegomeries came past their way first.
Allie saw them first and waved them over.
She explained what they were doing and then invited them to join.
"Can we?" Emily asked Cat with a look.
Cat looked at them.
"It seems like a family thing. We shouldn't intrude," Cat said.
"If there has been one thing that I have learned about Hope Valley is that we are all family," Nathan said in a low whisper as he approached.
Cat looked at her three children, and her gaze lingered on her eldest. She was quite certain that the only reason he was doing any form of well was because of the relationship with Nathan.
"This used to be a competition between Colleen and I. Why don't we make it between families instead?" Nathan said with an eyebrow raised in competition.
"Are you sure?" Cat whispered back.
They all nodded.
Cat looked back at her children.
"We should do it, Ma," Gabe said.
Emily and Miles both looked at her with expectation.
"Well, why not?" Cat agreed.
They joined. And soon the large group got the curiosity of most Hope Valley families and many people were joining the large group.
Finally, they were all settled with the materials for the competition.
"First round is snowmen building," Gabe Kinslow said loudly. "You have 20 minutes to make and dress your snowman."
The groups got all settled in and started.
Nathan, Jack, and Allie started on theirs.
The Montegomeries were working on theirs.
Julie, Grace, William, and Archie were another group.
Bill and Charlotte were a team.
Gabe Kinslow was helping some of the Hope Valley children who had wanted to join in the fun but their parents were busy.
"Mountie Gabe! We need more snow," Maggie said.
"On it in a flash," Gabe smiled at her and went about rolling the snow into hard packed balls.
"Now we need a hat," Anna said.
Gabe took off his Mountie hat and set correctly.
The group all laughed and clapped.
Gabe nodded in satisfaction, just as a snowball went flying past him.
He immediately went to look towards Nathan.
Nathan gave him a look of innocence back.
Gabe bent down and packed snow into a snowball.
Then he threw it at Nathan who dodged it.
"Are you really challenging ME in a snowball fight?" Nathan asked with a raised eyebrow.
Gabe smirked at him.
Nathan packed his own. Then he threw it. It went sailing fast and hard and hit Gabe hard in the chest.
"Where did that come from?" Bill asked in surprise.
"I was a pitcher," Nathan explained.
"Nathan was the opening pitcher on the Mountie baseball team," Gabe said.
Bill glared at Nathan.
"Why haven't you said anything?" Bill said in offense.
"It didn't come up," Nathan said with a shrug.
"It did too come up. We've talked baseball," Bill argued.
Nathan just gave Bill a shrug.
Bill scowled then threw his own snowball at Nathan, who deftly dodged it. Nathan shot one back. And soon snowballs were flying left and right, and it wasn't quite certain who was winning or on what teams.
Lucas and Robert were leading a covered wagon towards the field.
"Constable Kinslow!" Lucas shouted over the noise.
Kinslow heard and turned.
"They're here for you," Lucas added.
Kinslow looked confused.
But he walked to the wagon.
Chuck was the driver.
"Chuck?" Gabe said in surprise, "is everything alright?"
"More than. The sisters decided that the Christmas Festival was worth the trip, and they brought the orphans with them. I decided to bring them here so that neither of them would be in the cold," Chuck said with a bright smile.
Gabe looked back into the wagon and saw Grace with Fred on her lap.
He smiled at them warmly.
"Well we are in the middle of a snow competition. I'm sure you all would be more than welcome," Gabe encouraged. The orphans and Grace all looked back at Lillian.
Lillian nodded her approval.
Gabe and Chuck then helped all of the occupants down. The orphans were looking at the Hope Valley children with curiosity, but also a bit of fear about joining them when they obviously have a set of friends.
"Why don't I introduce you?" Gabe said as he smiled at them.
The group smiled and nodded.
"Follow me," he said and led the children right towards Allie, Opal, and Emily. He knew the importance of the Hope Valley children accepting this new group based off of these young ladies.
"Hi, Uncle Gabe," Allie said with a bright wave.
"Uncle Gabe?" the Brookfield orphans all looked at their Mountie being greeted so informally.
"Hi, Allie. I would like to introduce some friends of mine from Brookfield," Gabe said with a smile.
Allie beamed and nodded.
Gabe introduced them.
"Are you related to Constable Grant?" Fred asked.
Allie nodded.
"He's biologically my uncle. But he adopted me this past summer. I am his daughter," Allie explained.
"He adopted you! What happened to your parents?" Fred asked.
"My mom passed away when I was four and my dad abandoned me," Allie explained.
The orphans all looked at her with surprise, but also understanding having had similar losses in their lives.
"But it was the best thing, because Uncle Nathan took me in," Allie said with love as she looked at Nathan who was holding a tiring Jack.
Nathan felt her gaze and turned to meet her eyes. He saw who she was standing with, then looked around the crowd, saw the new people and met Gabe's eyes. Gabe just shrugged.
Nathan walked with Jack towards Gabe.
"I'm taking him to the saloon. He needs his nap. Did you know?" Nathan asked in a low voice.
"No idea," Gabe admitted.
"Well, I have to say that she picked the perfect day to see you in your element. And I think it bodes VERY well for your relationship if she brought them here," Nathan teased.
Gabe flushed red but couldn't keep the smile of hope that crossed his face.
Nathan smiled and laughed before walking back towards town.
He waved in greeting to the people on the outskirts.
Everyone waved back as he walked past.
Nathan carried Jack up to his room. Got him into dry and warm clothes. Then, he sat with Jack in the bed and began to read Allie's old children's book to Jack. With how busy the morning was Jack fell asleep quickly on Nathan's chest. Nathan just held him close and took a nap with Jack.
The families and children playing in the snow soon began to feel tired and cold themselves.
"This should be something we do every year," Julie said with happiness, her face red from the exertion, she was holding onto Lucas' arm who had decided to be helpful by escorting people back.
"We?" Lucas asked.
"Yes. We should make the snow competition a Christmas Festival tradition," Julie added.
Lucas gave her a long look.
"You have to admit that it's a good idea," Julie protested.
Lucas nodded slowly.
"We can add snow games from different countries each year," Lucas added.
Julie beamed at him.
And off they both went into how to organize it for the next ten Christmases.
"Another one of your daughters might be staying," Bill teased William and Grace as they all watched Lucas and Julie walk excitedly and quickly up the lane.
Bill watched as William truly processed what he was seeing, because Lucas was a saloon owner. Successful or not, his business wouldn't be a good one for a Thatcher daughter to marry into.
"Lucas is a good man and he can provide Julie with the things she loves," Grace whispered.
"But…" William started.
"William, we agreed that we wouldn't get in their way anymore. We are trying to reconcile with both Elizabeth and Julie. We would let them pick," Grace added.
William sighed.
"Besides, it seems like the saloon is not a place of dirty dealings or women of the night," Grace whispered.
William nodded in agreement before looking at Archie Grant standing near them.
"Does Ruth trust Bouchard?" William asked.
Archie raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. She wouldn't have let Allie out of her sight when they drove to Calgary if she didn't," Archie said with a smile.
"Well, then if Ruth can trust him, I can trust him," William added begrudgingly.
They all smiled at William and Grace.
"Uncle Gabe?" Allie said as she ran up to him.
Gabe just turned around and looked at her.
"Will you?" Allie gestured to her fallen braids.
"Why are you asking him? He doesn't know how to braid," Anna said.
Allie just glared at her friend then looked at her uncle.
Gabe just gently untangled her hair with his fingers and braided them both tightly and expertly.
Allie smiled in thanks before she walked ahead and walked besides Robert and her friends a few yards in front the other adults heading towards town.
"Since when do you know how to braid, Constable?" Lillian asked in shock.
"I have four sisters. Each sister has two girls. I would have been overrun if I didn't learn," Gabe admitted with a smile.
Grace and Chuck were laughing.
"Oh, there's a dance after the concert. We should go," Grace said as they entered the town and saw one of the posters or a family dance after the concert held in the church.
Chuck smiled his agreement.
Gabe just turned to Lillian.
"Would you do me the honor of letting me escort you to the dance?" Gabe asked softly.
Lillian flushed red.
"Gabe, you have no idea how tempting that is. But you have to know that I'm not going to give up what Grace and I do. You have to realize that these children are my passion and my work," Lillian added seriously.
Gabe looked shocked to hear this speech from her.
"I would never expect you to give it up, Lillian. What you and Grace do is too important. I know that asking you to think about us as an us, means that I would need to be okay with the kids. And I am. I've always loved kids, and want a family, no matter where they come from," Gabe added.
Lillian gave him a searching and skeptical look back.
"Alright, I will agree to tonight," Lillian added.
Gabe smiled.
"No pressure," Gabe said.
Lillian just gave him a look as she joined Fred and Grace and Chuck being greeted by Lee Coulter.
"Allie, do you have a moment?" Robert asked as they were alone.
Allie looked up at him in confusion, but nodded.
Robert led her to where the livery was being worked on.
"I probably shouldn't admit this, because we're friends, and I respect that, but I've been talking to Gabe Montgomery, and he thinks I should say something because, to him it's fairly obvious, but I don't want you to think you owe me anything and I don't want our friendship to suffer," Robert was rambling while looking at his feet.
"Robert Wolf, what is this about?" Allie asked with impatience in her tone.
In his mind, Robert could see her look of annoyance. Arms crossed with a crunched up nose and her eyes piercing through him. Robert actually looked up and saw exactly what he had imagined.
"I like you, Allie," Robert admitted.
"I would hope so, we're friends," Allie said in confusion.
Robert just gave her a look.
Allie looked into his eyes, and that's when it registered.
"Is that why you stood in front of me?" Allie asked softly.
"I couldn't bear the thought of Hargraves hurting you," Robert admitted. "If he was actually going through with his threats, I didn't want to live in a world without you."
Allie sucked in a breath of surprise.
"That sounds more than like liking someone," Allie said.
Robert nodded.
Allie looked up at him. Robert couldn't quite decipher her reaction.
"Allie, I know this is sudden, and you don't owe me anything. It's just that you've become my best friend," Robert said. "I don't want that to change."
"I thought Cody Stanton was your best friend?" Allie asked.
"He used to be. Then you came," Robert said.
Allie nodded.
"Robert, I don't feel as strongly as you do, but I do like, like you," Allie admitted.
"I was expecting to just be friends," Robert said before he processed her comment.
Allie looked up at him.
"Wait, what?" Robert stuttered.
"I like, like you," Allie repeated.
"You do?" Robert asked.
Allie nodded.
Robert sighed in relief and smiled.
"So, where does this put us?" Allie asked.
"May I have one of your dances tonight?" Robert asked.
Allie nodded.
"I also need to talk to your dad," Robert said in fear. "Is it better to do it in public or private?"
Allie shook her head at him.
"Do you know my dad at all?" Allie said sarcastically.
"But it's easier to kill me in private," Robert said.
"It's better to have private conversations in PRIVATE. He might kill you in private, but he will torture you if you start that conversation in public," Allie reminded him.
Robert just smiled and nodded.
They both walked back to the main road with smiles on their faces.
"Happy Birthday, Jack!" everyone was singing to Jack as he blew out his candles.
Jack Thornton was happily surrounded by every Grant, the Thatchers, the Coulters, Charlotte, Bill, and Laura. With a massive pile of presents sitting in front of him.
"I told all of you not to go overboard," Elizabeth gently reprimanded as she saw Jack's massive pile.
"We didn't. Each present is only one from each of us. There's just a lot of people this year," Lee said as he looked around at the group.
"And I feel like it's just going to grow," Rosemary added as she looked at Julie happily playing with Allie and Jack.
"Well, we won't be around every year," Ruth said as she pointed between herself and Archie.
Elizabeth looked at them with pain filled eyes.
"We've gotten used to you being around, though. Really, you should think about staying," Elizabeth said.
"You and Nathan need to learn how to be together without all of us in your house," Ruth said.
"I suppose so, but think about moving into a house in Hope Valley," Elizabeth said softly.
"I won't be around each year, either," Charlotte said as she joined their conversation. "I will visit as much as I can."
Elizabeth looked at Charlotte sharply with tears in her eyes.
"You should think about moving here too," Elizabeth protested.
"I think Florence Yost might kill me in my sleep with how I dress," Charlotte said as she looked down at her pants.
"I don't think anyone can kill you in your sleep. You would defend yourself before they got the chance," Elizabeth said.
Charlotte and Ruth both laughed.
Jack was sitting on Nathan's lap as they started opening his gifts. He gained many new toy horses, a stuffed bear, a toy train, a new fishing pole, and some new books. After they had opened the presents and were eating the snacks and cake, Jack was playing in the middle of the church floor. Nathan was sitting on the ground with him. Allie was sitting nearby and they were all playing with a ball.
As the group was packing things away to get ready to disperse, Nathan approached Elizabeth.
"Do you mind?" Nathan asked as he held Jack and nodded over his head towards the door.
"No, but you were correct in assuming that I want to see it," Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled. He took Jack out to where he had tied up Newton and gently placed Jack on the saddle and tied a rope around Jack to keep him still and secure.
"LOOK, MAMA! I RIDE! NE'TON!" Jack exclaimed happily.
Everyone looked over to where Jack was sitting on the back of Newton. Happily waving as Nathan slowly walked his horse with Jack on the back.
"BEST! BIRFDAY!" Jack said happily.
Everyone was smiling as wide as they could, and watching the scene with pride, hope, and affection.
Everyone dispersed to their own places to get ready for the Christmas Eve concert and the family dance Lucas had added this year after the concert.
It was a tight fit in the church with the out of town guests and the Hope Valley residents, but the school choir performed very well. Soon everyone was walking to the saloon for the dance. It was decorated very well and had long tables along the sides rather than the round tables.
The reason that they had decided to have a family dance after the concert was because it had been a long time since the town had had a dance where children could attend. It was long overdue.
Lucas was standing with Julie near the Victrola with his record player. Both were looking over the music selection, trying to find the perfect song for the first dance. Constable Kinslow approached them first and spoke so lowly that no one but Julie and Lucas could hear him, but both looked surprised but nodded in agreement to his request. Then they both looked frantically through the music selection to find the song he had asked for.
Lucas found it and positioned the record.
Then they turned up the volume. Allie and Nathan were the ones who recognized the song first. Allie looked at Julie and Lucas in a questioning glance. Nathan was glaring at Gabe, his former best friend. Gabe just shrugged and gave him a long look to go to the dance floor.
Allie looked at Nathan trying to see if they were doing this.
Nathan just held out his hand. She grabbed it with a smile.
They positioned themselves. Then went into the steps of Colleen's favorite Irish jig. Seeing Allie's face of happiness and joy was all the encouragement Nathan needed. Nathan just focused on his daughter and her face as they danced, which helped him forget that they weren't in the living room of whatever place they were in.
"Nathan isn't a bad dancer when he's not aware of an audience," Grace said as she watched the two of them.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Nathan is going to get you back for this," Ruth pointed out to Gabe in a whisper.
"This is the first time they've been allowed to dance as father-daughter in public. It's totally worth it," Gabe said back.
Everyone but Ruth looked at him in confusion.
"Surely, they've been to family dances in other postings? I was raised in the Mountie life. I know they have them," Rosemary protested.
Gabe shook his head.
"Nathan tried buying tickets once. But they weren't technically related, except as uncle and niece. They said that since he wasn't Allie's father, that they couldn't come to a father-daughter dance," Gabe whispered.
There was a long pause before...
"I mean have they even SEEN them together?! Not father-daughter my foot! And it's been that way LONG before we knew them, to say that they aren't related in that way is offensive to everything they've been through!" Rosemary protested angrily once she had processed that comment.
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Then as the last notes of the song rang out, Nathan and Allie stopped. Allie was beaming at him. Then she leaned in to hug him tightly. Nathan wrapped his long arms around her and held her close.
"We should have done this before," Rosemary said as she watched them together. "It would have been more meaningful if it had been before the adoption."
"I doubt he would have tried to come," Gabe said before Nathan turned on Gabe.
"We would have made sure they were invited," Rosemary said curtly.
Gabe was smiling at Nathan as Nathan approached.
"Nathan," Gabe greeted.
"Eustace," Nathan retorted.
Gabe flushed red. He had always hated his middle name. Nathan had only found out because of his youngest sister.
"Touché! Still worth it," Gabe said.
"Eustace?" Chuck and Grace Bennett were standing on the other side.
"My middle name," Gabe replied.
"I don't blame you for not spreading that around," Chuck said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Gabe just nodded and smiled.
The next song started playing.
Everyone started pairing off. Eventually, Robert nervously approached Allie.
Allie followed him to the dance floor where they never strayed into what would be considered too close. Elizabeth watched them with surprise, but also love and hope. She looked over at Nathan to see his reaction. He seemed to be struggling with it, but also didn't seem to be as surprised as she was.
She looked at Nathan with surprise.
"Robert finally admitted to Allie that he has feelings for her," Nathan said in a whisper.
"How do YOU know about that?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan gave her a look.
"We don't step in front of danger unless it's to protect someone we love. He just about declared his feelings to the whole town with that move," Nathan said in a whisper.
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise and shock.
"You weren't in town for that," she pointed out.
Nathan gave her a long look back.
"He was still standing protectively in front of her when I got back. And everyone talked about it. It was part of 100's of witness statements, and I can't tell you how many 'Dear Robert must love Allie so to put himself in danger so selflessly!' I had to remind them to keep the opinion part out and focus on the facts. Molly flagrantly retorted that it is a fact that Robert has strong feelings for Allie, and I needed to come to terms with it."
Elizabeth and Nathan looked at each other.
"That still doesn't explain how you know that Robert told Allie," Elizabeth said.
Nathan sighed.
"I heard them while Jack was taking a nap. I took Jack to my old room," Nathan said.
"Which was closest to the back door," Elizabeth said.
Nathan nodded. The back door went out into the street where the livery was being rebuilt.
"How are you doing with this development?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan shook his head in frustration.
"Allie is my little girl, and part of me still sees her as a four year old toddling after me. But I know that she will eventually find someone to love and something to love away from here, and that's fine. Robert is a good kid, and I think he will do well as Mountie one day. I'm just worried about the age difference," Nathan said in a whisper.
"My parents are more apart in age than Allie and Robert," Elizabeth said.
"They met after they were teenagers though," Nathan said.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
"What are you going to say when they come to talk to you?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"I will explain my hesitations, and fears, about what they are wanting, but I'm not going to forbid them from being together. Chaperoned, yes, they are not allowed to be alone together. But I won't stop them from starting something," Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled at him.
"That is a very wise way of viewing things. Allie wouldn't react well to being told no on how to feel about someone. It also allows both of us to let her know that she can come to us about these things without worry of disapproval on our parts," Elizabeth said.
Nathan looked a little floored at the 'we' and 'our' comments.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow at his looks.
"Not used to it being more than just me yet," Nathan admitted.
"Well you better get used to it. I meant every word of my vows yesterday. We are in this together. Every problem will be with each other," Elizabeth said.
Nathan got another look on his face.
"We've only been married for one day," Nathan said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"For some reason, it seems longer than that," Nathan whispered.
Elizabeth gave him a look.
"Nothing bad, I do enjoy the idea of calling you wife," Nathan said.
Elizabeth looked at him with a loving look.
"And you're my wonderful husband, and I know what you mean. It has felt like we've come to know each other deeply over the last few weeks especially. But there was one thing that we couldn't do while courting, which makes me very glad that I married you," Elizabeth teased.
Nathan looked at her.
"It's how I know every scar you have," Elizabeth said in a whisper near his ear.
Nathan flushed but nodded.
"We were definitely missing that part," Nathan whispered before leaning in to kiss her.
Gabe had eventually went to find Lillian and her charges. He approached each of the young girls with her and asked each to dance with him. Before he was able to dance with Lillian herself. Each Brookfield orphan girl had come back from their dance with Gabe looking pleased as punch.
During his dance with Lillian, Lillian was having a very hard time to not be charmed by how good Gabe was with kids.
"I had no idea this side existed," Lillian said as she pointed to the girls who were watching them with smiles of hope on their faces.
"To be fair, I haven't had much time to interact with you around kids before. I will say that I'm all of my niece's favorite uncle," Gabe bragged.
"Do they have any other uncles?" Lillian asked.
"No, not unless you count Allie," Gabe said. "But Nathan and Allie have always acted more as father and daughter even when Allie's father was around."
Lillian and Gabe both looked towards where Nathan and Allie were standing with Elizabeth and Jack.
"He's your best friend," Lillian commented.
Gabe nodded.
"We know pretty much everything there is to know about each other. I couldn't not involve myself when he was stationed so close," Gabe admitted in a whisper.
Lillian nodded in understanding.
"I could tell. That's not a bad thing," Lillian said.
"Lillian, does it bother you that I'm a Mountie?" Gabe asked.
Lillian looked surprised at the question.
"I've had previous hopes be dashed because of it, and Nathan...Elizabeth clearly struggled with it," Gabe said in a whisper.
Lillian looked at him in surprise as she looked between Elizabeth and Nathan.
"But they look so happy and secure," Lillian said.
"They are now. But Nathan was three inches from a gun barrel when it went off last year, and she froze and let her fear take over," Gabe said in a whisper.
Lillian looked at Elizabeth as if she were seeing her for the first time.
"She never said a thing," Lillian said.
"I doubt that she was aware of it for quite some time and when she did, she had no guarantee that Nathan would be back or stay in Hope Valley at all," Gabe replied.
Lillian looked at Gabe.
"I've never really cared much for placing what men do to make an honest living as a high priority, as long as he is good, and honest I don't mind. I care more about the fact that he will let me continue with the orphanage with Grace. That he is good with kids and isn't afraid to interact with them," Lillian said.
Gabe was smiling down at her.
"Any man who tells you to stop, doesn't know you at all," Gabe said.
Lillian smiled.
"Lillian, when I'm back in Brookfield, will you let me court you?" Gabe asked as their song was ending.
Lillian smiled at him.
"Why do we have to wait until you're back in Brookfield?" Lillian asked with a teasing look.
Gabe couldn't help his beaming smile. He held Lillian's hand and kissed her fingertips.
As the family's were nearing exhaustion, the dance started to dwindle and make their way home, the Grants found themselves walking with their children to their temporary home.
Nathan was holding Jack while Allie leaned on Elizabeth as they walked.
They walked inside and gently went upstairs to put their children into bed for the night.
Then they met downstairs to be alone together once more.
"This, this is how it's different. Before we were married you staying this late would have been a bad look for us both. Now it's completely innocent," Elizabeth said as she leaned into Nathan's chest as they cuddled on the couch.
Nathan nodded in agreement as he just held her closer.
Neither knew who kissed whom first, but they knew that they would have to go upstairs before it got too far.
Elizabeth had dragged Nathan upstairs and pushed him forcefully into their bedroom.
"Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton," Nathan said with some surprise, some reprimand, and some mischievousness in his own eyes.
Elizabeth gave him a long teasing look.
"Actually, it's Mrs. Grant, Constable," Elizabeth reprimanded.
Nathan flushed with her words, but she wasn't certain if it was out of embarrassment or passion. But neither complained about the activities that followed.