Chapter 23
Allie took charge of the "dinner party" as she called it. She pulled out their best dishes and she put a nice cloth on the table. She placed candles on either end of the table and created a centerpiece of dried wildflowers she'd picked last summer.
Nathan came downstairs dressed in his grey slacks, a blue shirt with the top buttons undone, and suspenders. He skipped the cologne this evening since Rosemary and Lee were included. He didn't want Rosemary to assume he was trying to impress Sarah. "Allie, the table looks beautiful."
Allie answered the knock on the door. Rosemary and Lee entered bringing with them a beautiful strawberry rhubarb cobbler for dessert.
Nathan busied himself getting them each something to drink when they heard another knock. Allie ran to the door greeting. Allie had apparently not told either the Coulters or Sarah that they weren't the only guests. Fortunately everyone knew each other and seemed to enjoy each other's company.
Nathan stayed in the kitchen and watched the scene unfolding in the sitting room. Allie was playing hostess and doing a very good job at it. It was obvious the job at the café was teaching her something other than pouring coffee. Allie had always been comfortable around people but Nathan admired her ability to carry on a conversation with people of all ages.
Sarah slipped into the kitchen under the guise of offering help with dinner. She really just wanted to be close to Nathan. "Hello Nathan, How have you been?"
Nathan was busy pulling together dinner but stopped to give Sarah a quick kiss on her forehead. Sarah was surprised at the display of affection given the other three in the room but she looked over to see that Allie had the Coulters completely engrossed in conversation.
Sarah and Nathan worked together to get the food on the table. Nathan realized how comfortable he was with Sarah present. Being with her felt natural in a way he'd not experienced before. Once they were all seated Nathan said grace and they began passing food around the table.
Rosemary was very enthusiastic about the fish they were eating. ""Nathan, this looks delicious! Who would have thought that our brave Mountie could cook?"
Nathan laughed. "Thanks Rosemary but I wouldn't go publishing that in the paper. It's really the only thing I can cook well. Allie's the one who makes sure we don't starve around here."
Allie joined the conversation. "It's true. Uncle Bill said he would start teaching me to cook some different things at the café so we have more than four options for dinner."
The conversation drifted to news of the town. Rosemary was full of information given her role as publisher of the newspaper. Nathan told their guests that he and Allie had been discussing the upcoming mayoral election earlier in the day while they were fishing. "How's your campaign going Lee?"
Lee sent a look over to Rosemary who gave a small nod of her head. "Well Nathan, I've actually decided to drop out of the election."
Nathan was surprised at Lee's news. "Why? I would have thought you were most likely to win. Is there an issue with Rosemary being publisher of the newspaper? Conflict of interest or anything like that?"
"No, no. Giving Rosemary an adoring smile, Lee continued. Rosie and I are going to be busy with something else that will need our full attention. We recently found out we're having a baby."
Allie jumped out of her chair and ran over to Lee and Rosemary and engulfed them both in a big hug. "I'm so excited for you! Can I babysit?"
Everyone laughed at Allie's enthusiasm and congratulated the couple. Lee and Rosemary were the only ones who knew how long it had taken them to get pregnant and that they had waited to start telling people for fear something might go wrong.
"We haven't told very many people yet, just Elizabeth, Joseph, Minnie, Clara and Jesse. We're still feeling cautious and Rosie is just starting to feel better."
Nathan held up his glass to toast the couple and their future baby. "Congratulations to both of you and to the luckiest baby in the world to have you as parents. God bless you all."
Sarah was so happy for Rosemary and Lee and watching Nathan give his toast she couldn't help but let her mind wander to what it would be like to have someone toast her and Nathan with those same well wishes. Sarah shook her head thinking she was getting way ahead of herself. She looked around the table and captured Nathan's gaze not realizing that he had been thinking the very same thing.
During dessert of Rosemary's delicious cobbler Nathan brought up the Christmas Festival. "I guess it makes sense now that Rosemary why you won't be heading up the Festival committee. Rosemary nodded and reiterated that she's happy to help but knows she couldn't give it the attention it needs. "What about Fiona? Would she consider it?"
Rosemary shook her head, "I actually have a feeling she may win the mayoral election and if that's the case she'll be busy with those responsibilities." Everyone at the table sat wondering whether the festival would even take place given they had no one to take charge of it. Even with all of the volunteers there was still a need for someone to direct the event.
"I'll do it." Everyone turned to look at Sarah who had just volunteered herself. "Hope Valley has become my home too and this is important for the community."
Rosemary clapped her hands together and excitedly supported Sarah's offer. "I think that's fabulous! I know you've not experienced our Christmas Festival before but there are enough of us who can help fill in details from what we've done before and you're the perfect one to bring some fresh ideas! Why don't you come by the newspaper office this week and we can get started planning.
Nathan smiled at Sarah admiring her decision to take on such a big responsibility. He was also happy that she felt Hope Valley was now her home.
Allie added that she and her friends would help too since she knew a lot of the activities that the kids liked.
With the direction of the Christmas Festival figured out the Coulter's thanked Nathan and Allie for the evening but said they needed to get home as Rosemary still tired easily.
Nathan offered to walk Sarah home since he also wanted to check in at the saloon and see how things were going with the new security team Lucas had hired.
The two couples prepared to leave together with Allie promising to take care of the kitchen. Nathan kissed the top of her head and told her he'd not be too long. Allie smiled and told him to take his time.
As the four made their way toward Rosemary and Lee's they noticed Elizabeth sitting on her front porch with a cup of tea.
Rosemary was the first to say hello. She knew it must be awkward for her friend to see the four of them walking together each couple arm in arm. "Hello Elizabeth. We were just having dinner at Allie and Nathan's. What are you doing out here?"
Elizabeth knew Nathan and Sarah were spending more time together but it didn't make it any easier when she saw them together. "I'm just enjoying the stars, the fresh air, and a cup of tea. Hello Sarah, Constable." Elizabeth sounded wistful.
Sarah returned the greeting and Nathan responded with a nod to Elizabeth. Lee and Rosemary made their way to their house as Nathan and Sarah headed in the direction of Main Street.
Once they were on their way Sarah looked to Nathan. "Was that uncomfortable for you?"
Nathan appreciated Sarah's perceptiveness. "Not really, maybe a little, probably more because I think it was uncomfortable for Elizabeth." Sarah had to admit she wished Nathan didn't care that it might be uncomfortable for Elizabeth but having gotten to know him better over the past several weeks she knew that was just who he was. His tender heart was one of the things she found most attractive in him.
They continued walking in silence. Nathan wanting to lighten the tension asked Sarah if she knew how to ride a horse. Sarah chuckled. "I took lessons as a girl but I've not had much occasion to ride in a very, very long time. I never had a need to in either Buxton or Union City."
"Would you consider going for a ride tomorrow with me and Allie? I have to do rounds in the afternoon and sometimes on Sundays Allie goes with me. We can give you a lesson. I taught Allie to ride this summer and she picked it up very quickly so I like to think I'm a pretty good teacher."
"That sounds like fun. I'm always up for a challenge." They had arrived at Sarah's apartment door.
Nathan turned to face Sarah. "Sarah, the other day when I kissed you I didn't ask permission and I apologize if I was too bold."
"Nathan, if it wasn't obvious, please know, I didn't mind." Sarah gazed into his eyes wondering how anyone could look at him and not get lost in the blueness of his eyes.
"Well, this time I want to ask properly. Sarah, would it be all right if I kissed you goodnight." Sarah smiled finding Nathan's question charming. She answered him by reaching up and bringing his lips to hers. They met tenderly at first and then grew deeper and more passionate. Her fingers rested on the back of Nathan's neck fingering the curl of his hair. Sarah's touch on the back of his neck sent what felt like a surge of electricity through Nathan's body.
As much as he didn't want to Nathan pulled back from the intensity of the kiss they just shared. Nathan smiled. "I guess that answers my question. I wish I didn't have to go." Needing to get to the saloon Nathan left Sarah with one final kiss that left her breathless. "See you at church in the morning?"
Sarah found her voice. "Yes, I'll see you there. And Nathan, thank you for this evening. It was perfect. All of it." Sarah emphasized the last part of her statement thinking specifically of the kisses they'd shared.
Nathan reached the saloon shortly after leaving Sarah. He could hear the noise before he entered but when he got inside he was pleasantly surprised that even with the crowds everything seemed under control. Nathan saw the two security men making regular rounds of the different areas of the saloon. He found Lucas behind the bar.
"Good Evening Constable." Lucas hadn't seen Nathan in the saloon for a couple of weeks. "How's your arm?"
"Almost 100%, I got lucky this time. How's business been?" Nathan wondered if circumstances were improving for Lucas between the saloon and the oil business.
"Things are improving. Thank you again for the recommendation of hiring additional security. It's been a big help in controlling the crowds."
"That's good to hear. How's the oil business?" Nathan never heard much about Lucas's other investment other than when Lucas said it was struggling. He was curious if things were improving. He knew how many people in Hope Valley relied on Gowen Petroleum for their livelihood.
"Actually, I've put Mike Hickam in charge and he's got some very interesting ideas that we've started implementing. He suggested we hire Fiona as a consultant. Apparently she has quite a few connections in San Francisco who have been looking for investment opportunities. We're currently trying to figure out how to build a pipeline that takes the oil directly to the railway." Lucas remembered his skepticism when Mike had first suggested the idea but after listening to the plan he came to understand that the pros of the idea far outweighed the cons and told him to go ahead with it. Fiona had managed to secure investors for the project and construction on the pipeline was starting next week.
Nathan congratulated Lucas on the idea and told him he'd keep an eye out on the project while he was out doing rounds. Lucas held out his hand to Nathan who looked a bit skeptical at first. The two shook as Lucas thanked Nathan for everything he did for Hope Valley.