I am sorry for such a long wait for a short chapter. But inspiration was lacking and I got a new puppy. This chapter is beginning to wrap up this story. Thanks for your positive feedback and your patience!

Chapter 38

Ends and Beginnings

The trial of Andrew Hargraves started exactly on time. Much to annoyance of the Grants. Elizabeth was due any day as Nathan's testimony started. Nathan was sworn in to his testimony as he towered on the elevated box. Normally Nathan would have slouched down, but for once he wasn't trying to seem small. He sat straight and could look down on the audience as well as where Hargraves was chained to his table. Hargraves glared at him. Nathan gave him a stern look back.

"Instructor Grant, please briefly describe your relationship with Hargraves," the judge said.

Nathan began, "Andrew Hargraves was my superior officer in Fort Clay. Rather quickly after my arrival, he gave me an order to track, but not intercede with cattle hustlers. I tracked them to the border and arrested them before they weren't in our jurisdiction anymore."

Nathan paused.

"Because I disobeyed a direct order, he suspended me from the training of new recruits until a hearing was started."

The courtroom was silent.

"What happened after?" the next judge asked.

Nathan went into detail about him being transferred to Fort Simpson, then Hope Valley. How Hargraves made it a personal vendetta to get him out of the Mounties. His tracking assignment. Being hit and falling. How he had been left for dead, not searched for by the Mounties. His amnesia and tortures at the hospital. His recovery. How they learned of Hargraves', Croaker's, and Boyce's involvement. Why he went public. Just Nathan telling the story took the entire first day.

Nathan was completely drained as he went to Thatcher's home. He sat in their bathroom for a long while, with his eyes closed as he tried to process the day.

Everyone looked at him with worry.

If this was how badly it affected him in just one day, the next weeks would be problematic.

Elizabeth was the one to gently break his solitude.

"Nathan?" she said softly as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Nathan sighed as he looked at her.

"I don't like talking that much," Nathan said.

Elizabeth nodded.

"You've always been economical with your words, but THESE words are important," Elizabeth said.

Nathan heard the tease as well as the seriousness of the issue.

"Oh, I know! I just wish the testimony didn't have to take so long," Nathan said.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Elizabeth asked.

Nathan shook his head.

Elizabeth gave him a long look.

The second day of the trial, Nathan was ending his findings and why he had recused himself from the official investigation. This allowed both prosecutors and defense attorneys to question him.

"Who was the Mountie who replaced you at Fort Clay?" the defense attorney started.

Nathan gave him a look, already knowing where this was going. By the look on Bill's face, so did he.

Nathan answered.

"Where was he stationed?"

"Hope Valley."

"And what happened to the man while he was on your mission?"

"He died saving recruits from a rock slide," Nathan answered.

"Why did you request Hope Valley?"

"I didn't request Hope Valley specifically," Nathan said.

"How did you end up there?"

"I've always requested safe towns as I was guardian to my niece. In fact, I had recently applied for the Inspector position in Union City and had been denied it. I wasn't asked where I preferred to go, specifically. But like all Mounties, I went where I was ordered," Nathan pointed out.

Bill and Collins both had a small lip raise at this comment before going back to their professional space.

"It seems weird that you were positioned in your replacement setting," the man argued.

"I agree. But that was a decision my superiors made," Nathan said firmly.

"I have to say that it is suspicious that you replaced Jack Thornton in Hope Valley. In your time there, you have managed to wiggle your way into all other aspects of his life. Including marrying his widow," the man said.

Nathan glared at him not saying a word as the murmuring of the people in the room took in the implication of the lawyer.

"Perhaps it is you who are using your charms and influence to…"

"OBJECTION! Instructor Grant is NOT on trial. This is a trial meant to prove the guilt of Hargraves!"

The judge glared down at the defense attorney.

"Perhaps he should be," the defense attorney said as he turned back to his table.

Nathan was outpacing everyone when he was finally released for the day. He stormed into the Thatcher home, immediately finding his space to be alone and leaving the others to explain his ire.

"The defense is saying that Nathan was intentionally trying to take over Jack's life for nefarious reasons," Bill said in explanation. Everyone who had stayed with Elizabeth in the home all looked shocked, outraged, and annoyed.

"Bill, is it possible for me to go tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.

Gabe and Bill both looked at her and each other.

"I will ask," Gabe said as he turned back towards the door.

Gabe came back much later.

"They weren't happy, but they are allowing Elizabeth to comment," Gabe said.

Elizabeth smiled as she caressed her stomach gingerly.

Nathan was glaring at her in reprimand the entire trip to the court house. Elizabeth was not flinching under his gaze at all.

The noise of whispering was loudly echoing in the court room when Elizabeth showed up with him. Nathan was making sure he was sitting in a protective stance with Elizabeth.

"I am told that Elizabeth Grant wants to address the court on record?" the judge asked. Both attorneys nodded. The judge called her forward. Elizabeth waddled to the chair for witnesses.

"What is it that you need to say?" the judge asked kindly.

"Yesterday, some members of this court were trying to slur my husband's name and reputation in the mud just because he happened to be the Mountie my late husband had replaced. Let me tell you what I know of BOTH of the men I married. Constable Jack Thornton would have gone to Fort Clay. No matter who it was he was replacing. So, the implication that Instructor Nathan Grant was using Jack for nefarious purposes to be able to marry me is completely laughable if it weren't so damaging. And while I will not go into the details of our relationship, I will add that I'm the one who had to chase him!" Elizabeth said firmly. "Nathan Grant is a man of impeccable character and anyone who thinks otherwise needs his head examined!"

Elizabeth said firmly before stepping down and waddling back to Nathan. Nathan gave her a light look of love.

Nathan continued with his questioning and back and forth, but knowing that he had Elizabeth's high opinion of him made him feel better to ignore the defense attorneys' attempts of making Nathan look bad.

Once they returned home, they were surprised with Julie and Lucas in the driveway.

"Lucas drove me here with Dr. Sheppard," Julie said.

Nathan and Elizabeth both smiled. The doctors were supposed to begin their testimony. Faith would arrive by train later in the week.

Julie gave them both an enthusiastic hug.

It was that night that Elizabeth felt her labor pains. Elizabeth had flinched and hissed in pain. Nathan was wide awake in an instant.

"Elizabeth?" Nathan asked in concern.

Elizabeth hissed as she grabbed her stomach.

"Who do you need?" Nathan asked as he held her hand through the pains.

Elizabeth was breathing through the small contractions.

Nathan eventually got up to position her more comfortably. Nathan then went to the door.

"DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE THIS ROOM!" Elizabeth ordered. Nathan looked at her startled.

Nathan pulled on the servant's cord.

"Never intended to," Nathan said calmly as he sat back next to her and grabbed her hands.

Soon Grace, Carson, Rosemary, Nathan, and Julie were in Elizabeth's room waiting to see how best to help.

"Julie, will you watch Allie and Jack?" Elizabeth asked as morning was dawning and the children would need to be supervised.

Julie nodded.

"It will be a test for Lucas," Julie winked.

She quickly left to get Jack and Allie dressed and ready for breakfast.

"Your darling mother is bringing your sister or brother into this world. And while she is being helped by others, she wants us to go through our days as normal. So, Lucas and I will be looking out for you," Julie explained.

"We can meet baby?" Jack asked excitedly.

"As soon as she has him or her and gets cleaned up," Julie promised.

Allie and Jack both beamed with happiness.

"We be on best behavior," Jack said.

Julie smiled as she hugged them both.

"Oh, I'm sure you can be. But I really want you to put Lucas through the paces," Julie said in a whisper with a wink.

"Aunt Julie, are you saying we can misbehave?" Allie asked back.

"Only towards Lucas and only today," Julie said back.

The three of them smiled with mischievous glints in their eyes.

"Good morning, Lucas. We are on babysitting duty while the others are on baby watch," Julie said as she ushered Allie and Jack into the dinning room. Julie had timed her comment for when Lucas was taking a sip of tea. He choked on it.

"So, what exactly does this entail?" Lucas asked as they separated after eating breakfast.

"We are entertaining the children and making sure they don't get into a mess," Julie said.

The group's first round was fairly easy. Julie asked Lucas if he felt confident enough for her to get snacks for everyone. Lucas, thinking it would be okay, nodded. Julie smiled and nodded. Then chaos ensued. Jack and Allie didn't listen to Lucas at all. Ran around the room tossing toys into the air.

Lucas looked at them in shock and betrayal.

"What?" was all he said as he watched his control slip away.

Ruth and Julie were both laughing at the sounds coming from the room.

Archie and William ended up leaning into the room as they watched.

"The pink boa," Allie said as she grabbed a pink feather boa for Lucas to wear as they had agreed to play dress up.

Lucas glared at her.

"No! No!"

Jack's lip was trembling. Allie's eyes were pleading.

"Dad wears the pink boa with earrings," Allie said.

Archie and William both laughed at the look Lucas gave her. Julie and Ruth made it back with Ruth's snacks.

"Lucas isn't playing with us," Allie said as she bossily folded her arms.

"I am too," Lucas argued.

"You're not playing with girl toys. I'm a girl," Allie pointed out.

"You are a teenager," Lucas protested.

"Aunt Julie!" Allie whined.

Julie raised a challenging eyebrow at Lucas.

Eventually Grace and Rosemary walked into the room to find the rest of the family.

"The baby is born. Are you ready to meet them?" Rosemary asked.

"Me first!" Jack said.

Allie nodded and took Jack's hand as they raced towards the Grant room. Dr. Sheppard was just opening the doors for visitors when they approached. Elizabeth was laying back in a happy exhaustion. Nathan was holding a swaddling babe.

They both looked at their family as they came into the room. Both gave permission to come closer to them.

Allie and Jack went first. Nathan turned so that he could show the baby to his two other children. The baby was tiny and yawning tiredly. A whiff of red across the head. Allie and Jack were looking carefully at the sleeping babe with smiles on their faces.

"Allie, Jack, may I introduce you to Colleen Grace Grant," Nathan said in a whisper as he held the baby to Jack's level.

"Hi baby! Welcome to the world! Awwie, Momma, and Dad are all good family. We love you!" Jack said as he bent down to kiss his sister's head.

Allie gave Jack a bigger squeeze for that comment. Elizabeth and Nathan both smiled.

"How does it feel?" William asked.

"We have three wonderful children," Nathan answered. Elizabeth nodded.

Since Nathan was finished with his testimony, he was allowed to stay at home while Elizabeth recovered and they all got used to the new baby. Baby Colleen was a very happy child. She had the red hair of a Thatcher, and the Grant blue eyes. It was a rare day that she wasn't being passed around and kissed and cuddled. This allowed Elizabeth and Nathan some alone time to be able to sleep.

Elizabeth finally was okayed to move around the house. She and Allie came down with matching braids.

"Your hair is very pretty today, but isn't your usual style," Grace noticed.

"Dad braided our hair," Allie explained as she went to sit and play with Jack.

Everyone else looked at her in surprise.

"Did you say your father?" Lucas asked.

Allie nodded.

"Uncle Gabe taught him," Allie said, "Right, Uncle Gabe?"

Gabe Kinslow had walked in dressed as Corporal.

He smiled at Allie.

"Just for spreading my secrets, you're getting coal for Christmas," Gabe said with a look before winking at her.

Nathan finally joined them with Colleen swaddled in his arms. He was singing to her in Irish.

"You braid?" Lucas asked.

Nathan glared at him without flinching in his song.

"I was a single father to a girl, Lucas," Nathan said.

"I have 5 sisters," Gabe explained.

"Five sisters, yuck! Mama, I want a brother next," Jack demanded.

"That is not how things work, Jack," Elizabeth said kindly.

"Why not?" Jack asked.

Everyone just laughed at him.

"Jack brought up a very good point. Do you want a son?" Elizabeth asked as they were up with Colleen feeding.

Nathan sighed as he processed her question.

"A son would be nice to even things out a bit. But I am also okay with having mostly girls. I don't feel the necessity of making sure my family name is continued through a son. That has always seemed weird to me," Nathan said.

Elizabeth nodded and smiled at him.

"I love you," she whispered.

Nathan just kissed her.

They held each other in a loving embrace. Both not knowing what the future would hold, but knowing they would get through it together.