Hello! Thanks for your patience and kind words. A post much more quickly than normal. Snow days are great for writing!

Chapter 34

Julie Thatcher Explains Herself

Lucas helped get Julie into one of his last available rooms before being whisked away to deal with customers who were wanting to speak with Lucas about things. Julie smiled as she waved goodbye to Lucas, and unpacked some of her things.

Julie then went downstairs and watched as Lucas was expertly managing the largest crowd she had seen in Hope Valley without anything special going on. She looked at the busy saloon in surprise.

"Is this normal?" Julie asked Fiona, who was just about to leave.

Fiona looked up at her and smiled.

"Ms. Thatcher! What brings you to Hope Valley?" Fiona asked with warmth.

"I have some ideas, but I need to be here to try them out," Julie said.

Fiona nodded.

"So, is this normal?" Julie asked again.

Fiona looked out to the busy saloon and nodded.

"The crowds haven't ebbed the way we expected them to," Fiona explained. "Lucas is here most of the time. Mike is taking care of the oil company. But Lucas hasn't been able to look into the oil business in a little over a month."

Julie nodded in understanding. She met Lucas' eyes across the busy room and gestured that she was going outside. Lucas gave a slight nod in her direction, before he went to busing the empties off of tables.

Julie exited The Queen of Hearts and blinked in the Hope Valley sunlight. She looked across the way to the Mountie Office. Nathan was reading a library book while his mentees were doing paperwork. She watched him for a bit. How he was focused on each page. How he turned the pages much more quickly than any other person she knew, including her sister. Eventually, he raised an arm to cover a cough, and she could read the title of the book. Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems. Julie couldn't help but shake her head and giggle lightly.

The more she learned about Nathan, the more she was convinced her sister was the epitome of being an imbecile with major self denial issues where it concerned Nathan. The man was not afraid of strong women and actually encouraged those women in his life to achieve their goals and dreams. He was, apparently, very well read, and preferred female authors. Mary Shelley, Barrett Browning, Emily Dickenson.

She watched as Nathan also somehow knew that Elizabeth and Allie were done with their school day without looking at the clock at all, he had put his book down gently, closed it with a bookmark, straightened his surge, grabbed his hat, and stepped onto the boardwalk to be standing as a Mountire presence, even before Elizabeth had rung the cowbell.

What was most surprising was that he didn't look surprised to see her standing on the boardwalk across from him. He just raised an eyebrow and gave a slight smile. Julie walked across the street once it wasn't busy.

"Hello, Brother," Julie said as she reached out her arms to pull him into a hug.

"Julie," Nathan said as he released her.

"You don't seem surprised," Julie observed.

"I'm not," Nathan said.

Julie looked at him to explain more, but Nathan just kept quiet as he watched the streets as the school children ran into the main street.

Robert had been meeting Allie everyday at the schoolhouse to walk her into town. They had decided to make this routine longer by not running, like they had in the past. Today Robert gave her some flowers. Allie was beaming.

Elizabeth followed behind them. She was walking more slowly behind them to give them private conversation.

"Hi, Aunt Julie," Allie said with a not surprised wave.

"Hi, Ms. Thatcher," Robert said politely behind her.

Julie looked at them both in surprise, before turning to look at Elizabeth. Instead of the welcoming look of surprise, Elizabeth was looking at her with a look of frustration and reprimand.

"Hello, Sister," Julie greeted enthusiastically.

Elizabeth gave her a glare.

"Julie, you are not subtle. And people more clever than you can read your intentions even before you do. Archie and Ruth called us when you started the train journey because they felt like they needed to let us know of your impending arrival," Elizabeth lectured.

Julie gave her an apologetic smile.

"I know it seems sudden, but I have been thinking about this for quite some time," Julie said.

"What is 'this'? Why are you here?" Elizabeth said.

Julie looked down.

"I can't explain it just yet," Julie said softly.

Elizabeth glared at her harder and took in a breath before Nathan stepped up to her and kissed her in greeting.

"Hi, how was work?" Nathan asked.

Elizabeth smiled up at him, allowing herself to be held up by his long arms.

"It's fine. But the church is getting more crowded. As much as I hate to admit it, I will be grateful when Charlotte is certified again," Elizabeth said.

Julie smiled as she watched them, completely realizing that she would be on the receiving end of Elizabeth's long lecture had Nathan not intervened.

Elizabeth met her look and told Julie they would talk later.

Julie nodded before taking a walk around Hope Valley trying to get a feel for the buildings already there.

She watched at the end of the street as Nathan led Elizabeth towards the mercantile. Both whispering back and forth.

Smiling again at the image, Julie thought once more, 'whoever thinks they weren't made for each other is obtuse!'

Julie had walked to the outskirts of Hope Valley and looked at one plot of land in particular.

"Ms. Thatcher," a male voice called out.

"Julie, please," Julie said with a smile at Lucas.

"Julie, why are you all the way out here?" Lucas asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I can't say just yet," Julie said with a teasing glint.

"This has to do with your plans?" Lucas asked.

Julie just nodded.

"They're not quite fleshed out, though," Julie admitted.

Lucas gave her a look.

"You'll be the first to know," she promised as she took his outstretched arm.

Lucas escorted her to the saloon.

"Lucas, I can see how busy you are. Is it possible to schedule a meeting with you?" Julie asked just before they were going to enter.

Lucas looked at her in surprise.

"There used to be a time where I was available whenever. But I am afraid that my time is very limited. How about lunch?" Lucas asked.

Julie nodded.

"It will be a business lunch. Thursday?" Julie asked.

Lucas looked surprised by the business part but nodded his agreement.

Julie smiled then went inside up to her room.

By Thursday's lunch, Julie had filled out several notepads, had looked at every available spot in Hope Valley and had also reconnected with her Hope Valley contacts. Gustave escorted Julie into Lucas' office in the saloon for the business lunch. To her credit, Julie was wearing a modern women's business apparel. She looked like she wanted to be taken seriously.

"Hello, Julie," Lucas greeted from behind his desk. He had his coat off and his sleeves rolled up.

"Hello, Lucas," Julie said as she set down her things.

"Shall we eat first?" Lucas asked.

Julie agreed. They ate in pleasurable company and kept the talk to small talk.

"So, what is this idea?" Lucas asked as he set aside both of their lunch trays.

"Hope Valley is obviously growing," Julie started the speech she had rehearsed.

Lucas looked at her.

"You don't need to sell me on this. What is it you are trying to do?" Lucas asked.

Julie sighed.

"I want to build a major hotel in Hope Valley. Not quite first class, but near enough. Something that is elegant, charming, comfortable, and affordable," Julie explained.

Lucas raised his eyes.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because it desperately needs one. Hope Valley is charming, but it doesn't have nearly as many places to eat, sleep, relax, or shop as other towns that are even smaller. I mean Elizabeth has said that Brookfield is much smaller, but has a bakery and teahouse in addition to their hotel. I feel like that being as well traveled as I am as a Thatcher, I can bring sophistication and elegance to the hotel. It can have a bakery and teahouse for mornings and teatime, and then turn it into a restaurant space for dinner," Julie said excitedly.

Lucas watched her as her eyes showed potential and excitement.

"There's no place in Hope Valley that is large enough for your grand hotel. Have you thought about land to buy, building costs, funding?" Lucas asked.

"Yes. Yes, I have. The land on the north road is still for sale. I was going to ask Lee to send me someone to help make my plans, if I can get that far. I have my trust fund to start up the costs," Julie said as she handed over her initial plans.

Lucas read over her folder and numbers.

He had to admit that she was doing quite an excellent job with the preplanning.

"This is good to start, but no business man or banker is going to provide additional funding without seeing long term costs and expenditures compared to the initial income, especially since as a new business you would have to work without income as you build," Lucas started.

Julie's face fell.

"I'm not saying you can't do this. I'm just saying from experience what you need to be successful. I can help you put together a more formal business plan and proposal for you to take to town council," Lucas said.

Julie smiled.

"Really?"

Lucas nodded, "I think you could easily have a very successful business in Hope Valley. If it starts off right."

Julie was beaming.

"Thank you, Lucas! This is why I knew I had to speak with you about it. My father wouldn't take me seriously," Julie said.

Lucas smiled back.

"I will also admit that having you be successful in Hope Valley also makes our planning future Christmas Festival events that much easier," Lucas teased.

Julie just rolled her eyes as she stood up.

While she knew that it was a long way to go, she felt that she had made the correct choice…and now she had to explain it to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was teaching Allie how to cook when Julie arrived. Nathan was in the backyard with Jack. Charlotte was eating her dinner at Abigail's Café.

Julie entered with just one knock.

"Hello!" she called out.

"Julie," Elizabeth said. Allie smiled brightly.

"I'm going to see if I can help Dad," Allie said as she left Elizabeth and Julie alone to talk.

"She's smart," Julie said.

Elizabeth nodded.

"And mature," Elizabeth added.

Julie stepped into the kitchen.

"Are we okay?" Julie asked.

"That depends on why you're in Hope Valley," Elizabeth said sternly.

Julie picked at her dress nervously.

"I want to open a hotel here," Julie said.

"A hotel?" Elizabeth asked. "And why here?"

"I think, with all of my traveling, I am quite qualified to run a nice hotel. And I need to do something. I'm way beyond the age that Mother and Father wanted me still under their roof! So if no one in our society wants me, then I need a way to earn a living on my own! I've shown Lucas my plans, and he…" Julie said before she was interrupted.

"LUCAS! Lucas knows!" Elizabeth said in outrage.

Julie stopped herself as she looked at the growing anger in her sister's eyes.

She stepped back in hurt.

"I think I should go," she whispered as she began to head out the front door. "Tell the others that I'm not feeling well all of a sudden."

Julie left the house in a rush, walked stiffly back towards town.

Nathan effortlessly caught up with her.

"I'm quite capable of walking on my own," Julie said.

"Ma would have my hide if she ever found out that I didn't escort a lady," Nathan said.

Julie gave a faint smile, knowing how easily Ruth could find out.

"I'm not going to talk about it," Julie said as she crossed her arms.

Nathan just nodded as he looked out at the lane in front of them.

"I'm not hurt that my big sister seems to think the worst of me," Julie raged.

Nathan slowed his pace.

"It's not like I picked Hope Valley on a whim! I figured with her here, I would have her support no matter what," Julie ranted.

Nathan stopped her and held out his handkerchief.

"I can't actually say this as I'm not Elizabeth, but as her husband and someone who has grown to know her moods, she wouldn't not support your choices in how you want to live your life. But her pregnancy hormones are wild and make her over react to the slightest hurt. And she knows that you told Lucas first, rather than her, and that hurt her older sister's pride," Nathan said.

Julie looked at him.

"I've only just told Lucas my business plan today!" Julie protested.

Nathan nodded.

"How do you know?" Julie asked.

"Lucas is the one man you can trust with taking your business plan seriously. You wouldn't have said anything if he had said it wasn't worth the risk," Nathan explained.

Julie looked at him.

"Colleen was very lucky," Julie said.

Nathan gave her questioning look.

"You're very good at the brother thing," Julie said.

Nathan just gave her a quick smile as they continued the walk into town.

"So, do you think we can retry this again? Tomorrow?" Julie asked.

"I will speak to Elizabeth. But Saturday would be better," Nathan said.

"Why?" Julie asked.

"Charlotte and Bill are on a date, so you won't have to deal with Charlotte's presence for an uncomfortable conversation," Nathan explained.

Julie's face lit up with the delight of having that knowledge.

They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

"I mean can you believe her? Letting Lucas know before me?" Elizabeth growled out in frustration as she was sitting at the dining table with a large piece of chocolate.

"Actually, I can," Nathan said calmly as he started washing the dishes in the soapy water.

Elizabeth glared at him with a warning look as she chomped her chocolate.

"When is Julie the first to know about anything in your life?" Nathan pointed out.

Elizabeth sucked in a breath.

"That's because she doesn't live here," Elizabeth defended herself. "Writing letters and telegrams take time"

"But even then…when did you talk to her about me? About us?" Nathan pointed out.

Elizabeth sighed.

"And how long was it before we got the phone call after Carson and Faith confirmed our little one?" Nathan said as he wiped his hands off on a tea towel to kneel next to her and hold her.

She glared at him.

"When you get good news or excited, who is the first person you want to see or talk to?" Nathan asked gently.

"You, of course," Elizabeth said.

"Exactly. Same for me. You've often expressed your frustration that Julie hadn't found that person for her yet. But you're angry at her because she is exploring the one true potential since Tom Thornton," Nathan explained softly.

Nathan watched as Elizabeth processed his words and watched her deflate.

"You're right. I knew she had feelings for Lucas before we left Calgary. I don't know why I reacted so badly. We all saw this coming," Elizabeth said.

"You reacted badly because you're her big sister, and it's your job to do your best to protect her. But you've also forgotten that she doesn't need protection from Lucas. And she has to try and do things on her own," Nathan said softly just before kissing her head.

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

"So, when Allie is going through an adult crisis…" Elizabeth finally looked up.

Nathan stiffened and rolled his eyes.

"I will tear down everyone and everything that tried to hurt her," Nathan said fiercely as he went back to the dishes.

Elizabeth just laughed.

"I will have to remind you of your own words," Elizabeth said with a smirk.

Nathan just hmmd his response.

Elizabeth quickly grabbed her stomach.

Nathan looked at her in alarm.

"The baby is an active little one. I wish you could feel it," Elizabeth said.

Nathan just smiled at her.

"I'm okay with waiting," he said.

"Do you want a boy or girl?" Elizabeth asked.

"I want a healthy baby and a healthy mama," Nathan answered honestly.

Elizabeth smiled up at him.

"Have you gotten a sense of the gender yet?" Nathan asked as he finished with the dishes and dried his hands.

"Some days, I feel like he's a boy…other days it feels like she's a girl," Elizabeth said.

"Which would you prefer?" Nathan asked as he pulled her into his arms.

"I pray that it's whichever you would prefer your first natural child to be," Elizabeth whispered.

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"I can't tell you how often I get that question. 'How excited that your first natural child is being born?'" Nathan scoffed. "I realize that Allie and Jack aren't my flesh and blood, but I really couldn't love them any less, and they deserve that!"

Elizabeth stood on her toes to kiss him.

"I know. I'm sorry I upset you. But most of us also know that most men would prefer to have natural children rather than adopt. We're a bit old fashioned in that way, and it's not right to keep asking you that when you've been clear about your feelings from the start. I will just be pleasantly surprised with a boy or a little girl," Elizabeth said.

Nathan sighed but nodded.

"Oh, Elizabeth, which do you feel like you're carrying?" Rosemary asked as the two women caught up at Rosemary's house Friday afternoon.

"I keep going back and forth. I know that a little boy with Nathan's thick hair and crooked smile would just charm everyone, but then I think that a little girl with brown hair and Nathan's blue eyes would also be wonderful!" Elizabeth said as she looked down at her stomach. "Well whatever he or she is, you're going to be a perfect mixture of both of us!"

Rosemary smiled and raised her teacup in agreement.

"How are you and Nathan settling into marriage with 2.5 kids?" Rosemary asked.

Elizabeth looked at her in surprise.

"You both were single parents for a long time. Both set it your ways and your routines. And besides having more footwear to trip on at the front door, nothing in your house screams Nathan's space," Rosemary pointed out.

"Of course it does," Elizabeth protested.

"Where?" Rosemary demanded. "And don't say your bedroom. That is a place where you both go. Where can Nathan go to get away and be able to rest and relax?"

Elizabeth thought about her house.

"When they moved in, it was because their house had been burned, with most of their things in it," Elizabeth rationalized.

Rosemary nodded.

"But it's been some time since then and nothing has changed," Rosemary pointed out.

Elizabeth nodded.

"You've given me a lot to think about. But thanks for the warning. I wouldn't like it if I had married into an already set up home and wasn't allowed to change anything," Elizabeth admitted.

Rosemary smiled.

"Glad to help," she said before turning the topic to Lee and Fred.

Elizabeth went into her home and looked around after she paid Laura. Most everything on the bottom level was from when she had first moved in. The paint job on the walls. Her colors. The dishes. Hers. The layout of the furniture. Hers. The pictures (although they had several of their wedding and Allie and Jack)-they were all hers. She walked upstairs to their bedroom. And while she found Nathan's things around the room, they were always put in polite places as if he were staying in a hotel and didn't want to break anything. She looked in their closet, most of the clothes were hers…and he had even shoved his guitar high up on the top shelf. Elizabeth sighed.

But she also stood on her tiptoes to try and grab the guitar. But it was still slightly out of her reach. She grabbed a chair to stand on, and put her foot on tentatively. Then she did the other. But because of the awkward placement of the chair in relation to Nathan's guitar she overreached and overbalanced which landed her in the bottom of their closet with their (her) shoes and the things that had been on the shelf with the guitar onto the floor.

She let out a scream of surprise and landed with a hard thump.

"MAMA!?" Jack said from downstairs.

"Lizzy?" Charlotte let out a worried call.

"I'm in here," Elizabeth said pitifully.

Charlotte entered with Jack in her arms.

"Lizzy?" Charlotte asked as she put Jack securely in her bed to help her up. "What on earth? Are you okay? The baby?"

"I'm sore and feeling foolish. The little one is still fluttering around. I was trying to get Nathan's guitar," Elizabeth said.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"Mmmhmmm, and it couldn't wait for him to get here because?" Charlotte asked.

Elizabeth shuffled the items in their closet.

"I wanted to surprise him," Elizabeth said.

"Surprise him?" Charlotte asked.

Elizabeth looked down at her hands.

"Rosemary pointed out that nothing and nowhere in here does it really scream Nathan. I wanted to put it out in the parlor so that he can see for himself that he can make it more like home while we are here," Elizabeth said.

Charlotte looked at her.

"You're really just now noticing this?" Charlotte asked.

Elizabeth nodded.

"I got used to it being a certain way, and that's not fair to him. Everyone else has a space, so should he," Elizabeth said as she rubbed her sore arms.

Charlotte looked at her.

"Lizzy, I appreciate what you were trying to do, but you need to ask for help next time. Your current husband towers over everyone, and if he has put something on a top shelf, he's going to need to be the one to get it. Let's get you into bed. I want Dr. Carter to check on you anyway," Charlotte ordered.

Elizabeth nodded as Charlotte helped her into her bed.

"I'm going to go get Dr. Carter," Charlotte said. "You don't move, and you don't lift a finger."

"I'm glad you're here, Charlotte," Elizabeth said as she leaned back into their pillows.

Charlotte had taken Jack with her. She returned with Dr. Carter, Jack, and Nathan all in the Grant's car.

Faith immediately went upstairs and began to ask Elizabeth questions as she was taking her vitals. Elizabeth answered them. Faith then began to check her womb.

Elizabeth could tell that Faith was worried.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.

"I can't hear the baby," Faith said. "Now, it might be because it's turned away from the stethoscope."

"But I might have damaged it in my fall?" Elizabeth said the other possibility.

Faith nodded.

"How can you tell?" Elizabeth asked.

"With time. If the baby is still alive it will eventually turn and make itself known. If it's not, then you'll start bleeding in a few days," Faith said.

Elizabeth looked up as she blinked tears away.

"What do I do in the meantime?" Elizabeth asked.

"Bedrest. No sudden or sharp movements," Faith said.

Elizabeth nodded.

Faith then went to update Charlotte and Nathan. Then Nathan was taking the stairs three at a time which left Charlotte to escort Faith out of the door.

"I'm leaving the stethoscope, so that she can hear anything," Faith whispered to Charlotte as she left.

Charlotte nodded and led her out the door.

Nathan sat next to Elizabeth comfortably sitting in their bed.

"Why were you trying to get my guitar?" Nathan asked after he had looked around.

Elizabeth couldn't stop the crying and pain she felt.

"I wanted you to feel more at home here. Shoving one of your most prized possessions in a place that is hard to get to shows that you aren't at home," Elizabeth whispered softly.

Nathan swallowed his throat as he was trying to check his emotions.

"Elizabeth, I'm surprised at you. I have told you that my greatest fear is losing you and the rest of our family! Do you REALLY think me that shallow? That a few things in this house mean more to me than your life and our baby's life?" Nathan choked out.

Elizabeth cried.

"Of course not, but I also know that you would rather suffer in silence than say something that would hurt me. I love you, Nathan. I want you to feel at home here," Elizabeth said.

Nathan kissed her head.

"Is tú mo theach," he whispered with a tear filled voice.

Elizabeth looked at Nathan in his wide and fear filled eyes.

"I know. You're my home, too. I'm sorry! I should have asked for help first," Elizabeth said.

Nathan nodded as he grabbed her hand to hold it in his strong grip. He kissed her hand as he watched her sleep.

Elizabeth rested her eyes, but she couldn't fall asleep.

At some point during the night, Nathan had undressed from his serge and held her protectively in his civilian clothes. He was leaning his head back and closing his own eyes, when he felt Elizabeth shift.

She was reaching for the stethoscope. Nathan helped her get it and she put it to her ears as she moved it around.

"Anything?" Nathan whispered.

She shook her head.

The next day, Charlotte was out with Allie and Jack just as Faith and Carson returned. Cadet Brooks and Cadet Cross both were at the house because Nathan hadn't shown up in the Mountie Office.

"You should go," Elizabeth said softly as she read their body language through the window.

Nathan glared at her.

"No way. The whole point of having them here is to train them. This is a test on how well they can handle their duties without me hovering over them," Nathan argued.

Carson and Faith left the row house with no more news to impart. But they also told the young cadets what Nathan had ordered.

Elizabeth and Nathan both were resting uneasily throughout the day.

Bill and Charlotte took Allie and Jack with them to have dinner in Bill's office.

Julie had come over with flowers and apology snacks.

Elizabeth smiled and also apologized to her.

It was during the middle of the night that Elizabeth felt a sharp pain. She sat up quite alert.

Nathan noticed and sat up with her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Elizabeth just grabbed the stethoscope and quickly listened.

"Nathan?" she said as she held it in one spot.

"What?" Nathan asked nervously.

"Nathan? Do you hear anything?" Elizabeth whispered as she took the ear pieces off and shoved them into Nathan's hands.

Nathan gently put them on. Elizabeth guided the placement. And waited breathlessly.

Nathan was straining to hear anything.

But he did hear it. A rapid beating.

Nathan looked at her and nodded.

"It's so fast." Nathan whispered.

Elizabeth smiled.

"It's tiny and needs to work extra hard," Elizabeth said.

Nathan held her as she took the stethoscope again and listened more. Unconsciously, Nathan had started to sing an Irish lullaby to Elizabeth and the baby.

"She likes it," Elizabeth said.

"Hmm?" Nathan questioned.

"Your lullaby. She likes it," Elizabeth said.

Nathan blushed.

"Are you getting a sense of it now?" Nathan asked.

Elizabeth nodded.

"I feel like she is a little girl with her father's sky blue eyes," Elizabeth said as she rested in Nathan's embrace.

"We haven't talked about names." Nathan said.

"I want to name her Colleen," Elizabeth said as she still listened to the rapid fluttering.

Nathan looked at her in surprise.

"Let's be real, Colleen is part of the reason we're together, part of the reason you're even alive, and she should be commemorated in such a beautiful way," Elizabeth explained.

Nathan nodded in agreement.

"I would bet she's very proudly, and a bit arrogantly, preening at that statement," Nathan said as he held her.

Elizabeth gave a chuckle and laughed into her husband's embrace. They fell asleep holding each other. The baby's middle name could wait.