Chapter 21

Nathan and Gabe made their way into Hope Valley early in the afternoon on Wednesday. They went directly to the livery to stable Newton and Apollo. Once they were settled they headed to Nathan's office to work on some reports necessary to wrap up their mission. "Hey Gabe, you go on ahead, I've got a quick stop to make." Nathan made his way to the dress shop. He found Clara behind the counter.

"Welcome home Nathan, can I help you with something?" She smiled at Nathan knowing exactly why he was there.

"Uh, is Sarah here?" Clara thought it was sweet how Nathan got nervous when he asked about Sarah.

"I'm sorry Nathan, she's off this afternoon. She might be upstairs in her apartment."

"Thank you Clara, oh, and I hope you're doing well." With that Nathan made his way upstairs.

Nathan knocked on Sarah's door hoping to hear footsteps. As soon as she opened the door both their faces broke into smiles. "Nathan, I'm so glad you're back safe and sound. It hasn't been the same around her with you gone."

"It's good to be home and good to see your smile. I don't have much time but I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner at our house this evening. I know Allie would love to see you and my friend Gabe is still here from Brookfield." Nathan hoped she had no other plans.

"I would love to but only if you let me cook. I'll make Allie's favorite. You must be exhausted after being gone so long and I would like to do that for you."

Nathan accepted Sarah's offer and with a quick squeeze of her hand said they would see her at 6:30.

Sarah closed the door and put her hand to her heart. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed Nathan. With the memory of his smile she made her way to the Mercantile to get what she needed to make Allie's favorite chicken pot pie. She also stopped at the café to get Nathan's favorite chocolate cake.

Sarah arrived on the Grant doorstep right at 6:30 laden with their dinner. She could hear the laughter inside the house already. She set down one of the baskets and knocked and barely before she could pick the basket back up Nathan had opened the door. Taking the baskets from her he welcomed her into the house. Allie came running and gave her a big hug. "Miss Crawford, this is my Uncle Gabe." Sarah looked into the kitchen to see Gabe getting plates and silver ware to set the table.

"It's nice to meet you Gabe. I hope everything went well last week in Benson Hills."

"Good to meet you Sarah. Everything went as expected. They don't team Nathan and me together for nothing. It took a little longer than usual but we were able to nab all three guys and they are now sitting in the Benson Hills jail waiting for trial."

Nathan opened up Sarah's baskets to see what she'd brought. "Allie, Miss Crawford made your favorite dinner and brought my favorite dessert. Thank you for doing that." Sarah thought Nathan looked more relaxed than she'd ever seen him. She was sure it was because he was back in his home with his daughter.

Sarah laughed. "Sorry Gabe, no one told me what your favorite is so you'll have to make do with what I brought."

The four of them sat down to eat and the laughter didn't stop all through dinner. Nathan and Gabe shared funny stories of their time in Mountie training. Many of the stories Allie hadn't even heard. Sarah shared stories of eccentric customers and their idiosyncrasies that would come into her father's bookstore. Allie did impressions of some of the people that came into the café on Saturday mornings. There was talk about Gabe's upcoming wedding to Lillian. Allie couldn't wait to go to Brookfield for the wedding. Nathan finally looked at his watch and realized it was way past Allie's bedtime. "Come on sweet girl. You have school tomorrow." For the first time Allie didn't argue. She gave Nathan a hug and said good night to Sarah and Gabe. As she made her way upstairs Gabe and Sarah started cleaning up the kitchen. Nathan shuffled them out telling them he would take care of it. He asked Gabe if he would walk Sarah home on his way to his room over the saloon since he didn't want to leave Allie alone.

Gabe grabbed his jacket and made a quick exit down the stairs to give Nathan and Sarah a moment together. Nathan thanked Sarah again for dinner and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. "I've wanted to do that all evening" he admitted. Sarah smiled feeling the increase in her heartrate as his lips touched her skin.

"Thank you for including me this evening. I had a lovely time. Gabe seems like a good friend."

"He is. He's been there for me through a lot of challenges."

"Nathan, I was wondering if there might be some time tomorrow that we can talk. Would you be available before I have to open the store in the morning?"

"Why don't you come by my office around 8:30? Gabe will be gone by then and we can talk." Nathan hoped his voice didn't convey the concern that had entered his mind.

As Gabe walked Sarah home they chatted about the evening and how good it was to laugh as they had. "Sarah, I have to tell you. I've not seen Nathan that relaxed and happy since before his sister Colleen passed. I know he's happy to be home with Allie after a week away but I also think you play a part in his newfound happiness."

"Thank you Gabe. It's all very new still. He's such a good man and a wonderful father." Sarah sounded hesitant in her comments.

Gabe recognized this and asked "But?"

"Gabe, I'm sure you know Nathan had very strong feelings for Elizabeth Thornton for a very long time. I just want him to be sure he's worked through all of that. I don't want to feel like I'm competing with her and the idea of what Nathan had hoped they would have together. Does that make sense?"

Gabe nodded. "Yes it makes sense and I know what you're talking about. I can tell you that I don't think Nathan has those feelings for Elizabeth anymore." Gabe didn't say anything else not wanting to betray Nathan's confidences.

Sarah thought about the conversation she needed to have with Nathan the next day. She had to tell him about her conversations with Elizabeth. She was still embarrassed at how she'd acted and hoped Nathan wouldn't think less of her for it.

Sarah was up early the next morning and decided to forego her usual stop at the café. Truthfully she was too nervous to eat. She arrived at Nathan's office and found him behind his desk finalizing reports he and Gabe had started the day before. She looked at him shyly and sat down in the chair across from him not sure where to start.

Nathan too was feeling a bit nervous wondering what it was that Sarah needed to discuss. In spite of feeling a bit on edge he couldn't help but smile as she entered thinking how beautiful she looked this morning.

Nathan broke the silence. "Sarah, I'm not sure what you want to talk about but I can tell you're on edge and the last thing I ever want is for you to feel like you can't talk to me about something."

Sarah decided to just say it. "Nathan, do you remember when you called the café on Saturday morning?" Nathan nodded and Sarah continued. "Elizabeth was in the café when you called and she realized you must be out of town. She came to the store shortly after I opened and started asking me where you were and I wasn't kind to her in my response. I think she was startled at the anger I had in my voice. I asked why she cared and where was her concern for you and Allie for the last two years when she was playing with your hearts. I'm sorry, I still remembered the hurt in your voice from our talk last week and I let it get the best of me. I understand if you're angry with me."

The first thing Nathan did after Sarah's revelation was breathe a sigh of relief. He didn't realize how worried he was that Sarah was going to tell him she couldn't be with him because of the dangers of his job. Suddenly Nathan was up from his chair. He walked around to where Sarah was sitting and pulled her out of her chair. He took his hands and cupped her face pulling her to him. Their lips met with an explosion of pent up emotion. Sarah was so surprised she felt her knees buckle. That's when Nathan put his arms around her and drew her closer to him.

Coming to his senses Nathan apologized. "I'm sorry Sarah. I shouldn't have done that." Sarah answered his apology by reaching up and letting her lips find his softly but with equal passion. They stood quietly for a moment wrapped in each other's arms. "Sarah, no woman has ever cared enough to speak up for me in that way. How can I be angry with you for caring about me and Allie so much?"

Sarah felt tears pricking her eyes. "Oh Nathan, I just hate the thought of what you and Allie have been through. If I could erase it all for you I would."

"Sarah, you are doing that for us every moment that we spend together." Nathan bent and kissed her again. This time with tenderness that left Sarah breathless.

"Nathan, there's more. Later in the afternoon I was feeling at odds with myself and Clara asked me what was wrong. I was trying to make sense of everything and I explained to her what I'd done and that I felt disappointed in how I handled myself. I told her I felt I owed Elizabeth an apology. I asked Clara if she thought Elizabeth would be open to one. "

Nathan wondered where this was going. "Sarah, what did you do?"

"Nathan, I went to Elizabeth's house and told her I owed her an apology." Nathan listened intently trying to imagine the conversation. "She told me she wasn't sure that I owed her one. She talked about how confused she's been and still is. She said the only thing that makes sense to her right now is the love she has for Little Jack. She admitted that she hasn't always treated you and Allie the way you deserve. Nathan, I felt so sorry for her. I don't know how I would handle losing a husband and trying to raise a child on my own. That doesn't make what she did right but I have more understanding of how it could lead to her behavior."

Nathan tried to comprehend what she was saying. All he could think was what a kind, gracious, loving heart Sarah had. He felt so blessed to have found her.

"Nathan, there's something I have to ask you. Do you still love Elizabeth?" Nathan could see the sadness in her eyes as she finished the question.

"Sarah, it's true, at one time I thought I was in love with Elizabeth. Maybe I was. But I'm not now and I won't be. I will always care for her and Little Jack but they aren't my future anymore." To make sure Sarah understood how serious he was he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the passion he had within him.