Sorry for the delay in getting these chapters out. I've been in a WCTH funk lately realizing I was letting it get me down so I had to take a step back. I'm still enjoying my WCTH friends on twitter and Instagram and hope to continue giving you a story you enjoy. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 68

Sarah blinked her eyes open her brain still in the fog that occurs between the stages of sleep and awake. The sun made its way across the covers of the bed but at a different angle than what was familiar to her. As she allowed herself time to adjust, she felt Nathan's arm draped across her waist. A contented smile crept across her face as she remembered she was waking up as Mrs. Nathan Grant. She lay still listening to the sounds of Nathan's even breathing and replayed in her mind the events of the day before. It had been perfect. The personal touches her husband included throughout the day touched her heart as did Allie's toast to her dad and new mom. Sarah lay there completely at peace feeling no urgency to get up and start the day. She and Nathan had a week for their honeymoon and no schedule to keep, no place they had to be. Only Archie knew where they were. There were a couple of times they almost gave away their secret location but they were quick to cover up their blunders.

Sarah felt Nathan stirring next to her. She rolled over and watched him as he made his own transition from sleep to awake unable to take her eyes off of him. She studied his profile as he lay on his back, eyes still closed. She wanted to touch him but didn't want to hasten his waking. Finally, he turned his head toward her and slowly the smile she loved so much made its way across his face. Nathan reached over and tenderly tucked away the hair that had fallen across Sarah's face. "Good morning Mrs. Grant."

"Good morning Mr. Grant." Sarah rolled toward Nathan and he pulled her close showering her with kisses. She lay her head on his chest and looked up at the bed where they'd spent their wedding night. "Nathan, where did you get this bed?"

"My dad and I built it. I thought we should have a new bed for our new life together. Besides, my old bed was barely big enough for me and I couldn't imagine the two of us fitting into it."

"It's beautiful. I don't know where you found the time to do all these projects but I loved everything you did for yesterday." Sarah propped herself up on her elbows and with her face directly over Nathan's she looked into his eyes and then changed her focus to his lips. Leaning over she touched her lips to his as lightly as a butterfly landing on a flower. Nathan responded with the same intensity he'd shown her the night before.

Nathan went downstairs to the kitchen and returned with two steaming cups of coffee for him and Sarah. Still not wanting to move from the comfort of their bed they propped themselves up on their pillows and drank their coffee discussing what they wanted to do with their time together. They had talked about spending their honeymoon at the new house, but had been so busy with wedding plans that they didn't have much time to make plans for their first week together as husband and wife. Both Nathan and Sarah were simple people and had chosen to spend their honeymoon at the house so they would have a week all to themselves without the interruption of anyone else. They were perfectly happy just to be together. They talked about the wedding decorations that needed to be taken down and what to do with all of it. They decided to store much of it in the attic though they could enjoy the flowers and candles in the house. Nathan told Sarah he wanted to keep one of the outside tables they'd used for the reception dinner but he wanted to donate the other one to the school knowing they would be able to find a use for it. Sarah loved that idea especially knowing how much the school was expected to grow the next year.

Both were finally restless enough that they left their bed and got dressed but only made it as far as the swing on their porch. With refilled cups of coffee, they sat together, Sarah nestled into Nathan, swinging gently and enjoying the peacefulness of the morning. "I'm picturing many, many mornings and evenings in this very spot." Nathan told Sarah before leaning over and kissing her.

Sarah turned toward her husband, and losing herself in the blueness of his eyes she told him "I picture us sitting here watching our children playing in the yard, chasing each other around and lots of laughter."

Nathan returned her gaze and with a sly smile asked her "And when do you think that might be?"

Sarah knew Nathan looked forward to children as much as she did and deep down, she knew she would welcome them as soon as God granted that blessing. "I don't know Nathan; I leave that in God's hands. For now, I'm thankful for the gift of being your wife and Allie's mother.

Nathan brought Sarah's hand to his lips. "Well, whenever it happens, I will consider myself blessed as I do having you as my wife."

They enjoyed more time on the swing until they realized they'd not yet eaten and it was almost noon. They made their way into the kitchen and rummaged through the ice box where Bill had left the remains of their wedding dinner. They found some ham and potatoes and heated it in their new oven. Once they had eaten their fill they cleaned up and decided to take a walk around the property, ending up down by the creek. Nathan sat down on an old log and pulled Sarah onto his lap. She turned her face to him and her fingers pushed back the lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead and she slowly caressed his cheek and, with the softest of touches, traced the outline of his lips. Resting her hand on his cheek she leaned in and covered his lips with hers. Her hands worked through his hair pulling him closer to her feeling exhilarated at her new found confidence in showing Nathan her love and desire for him.

Nathan responded to his wife's lead wrapping his arms around her waist eliminating any space between them. Nathan's kisses always took Sarah's breath away and she was thankful she was sitting as her muscles went weak and she knew she wouldn't be able to support herself if she were standing.

Back at the house they finally started removing the wedding decorations. As they worked, they reminisced about the evening before with their friends and family. "I was surprised to see your parents had a dance together."

Nathan agreed. "I think they did that for Allie's sake. She told me she really wanted to see them dance together just once."

"Well, it seems like they're doing their best to get along with each other and, even if it's just for Allie's sake, maybe it will help your mom heal a bit."

"They have been civil with each other. I will be curious to see how they do while we're gone this week." Nathan hoped Allie didn't get stuck in the middle of any issues his parents might have.

Once the decorations were down and stored away Nathan took Sarah down to see the barn and workshop. There were six stalls in the barn which Sarah thought was a lot but as Nathan explained, three would already be in use by Newton, Bridget and Archie's horse Bandit. The other three were there should Sarah ever want her own horse and space for the horses of their future children. Sarah leaned into Nathan and he wrapped his arm around her. "Well, you certainly did plan ahead, didn't you?"

Nathan gave her a sly smile. "I'm just wondering if I should have put in eight stalls."

The workshop was smaller than the barn but plenty spacious for Nathan's projects. It had obviously already been used quite a bit judging by the sawdust on the floor. Nathan told Sarah he wanted to build a second cradle for the Coulters as a thank you for all of Lee's help with the wedding. Nathan's thoughtfulness never ceased to amaze Sarah. "Can I help?"

"You want to help me build the cradle?" Nathan was a bit surprised at her question.

"Yes, I would get to help you create something beautiful and spend time with my new husband so I that's a win-win for me." Sarah's eager response told Nathan she was sincere in her desire to help him.

"In that case, I welcome your assistance but not until tomorrow. For now, I'm hungry so let's go see what we can find in the kitchen for dinner. They found more leftovers but also some other food that Bill had been left in the ice box. They put together a light dinner and decided to eat outside since it was such a beautiful evening.

"So, Mrs. Grant, how was your first day as a married woman?" Nathan asked her in a teasing tone.

"Well, Mr. Grant, I think it's been absolutely perfect. I'm not sure how, after having you all to myself for a week, I'm ever going to be able to return to life in Hope Valley." Sarah focused her gaze on Nathan still coming to the realization that this man who filled her heart was her husband, her partner, her lover for life.

Following dinner, they cleaned up and made some tea to enjoy on the porch swing while they watched the sun make its way beyond the horizon and the stars as they appeared one by one in the dark night sky. Nathan leaned over his lips softly grazing Sarah's. After watching the stars become brighter in the sky Nathan took Sarah's hand and led her upstairs.

Nathan and Sarah had a glorious week together, alone, at the new house. There was something about falling asleep and waking up next to the person you loved most in the world that induced perfect slumber. Twice they opened their front door in the morning to find a basket of food on the front porch with a note from Archie wishing them well and letting him know all was well in Hope Valley.

They spent their days walking, talking, working around the house and in Nathan's workshop. The new cradle for the Coulter's was finished and would be delivered once they were back in town. Sarah had helped Nathan with the project appreciating his attention to detail and ability to create something so beautiful out of a few pieces of wood. After just a few days together both Nathan and Sarah had a hard time remembering what life was like before being married. It made them realize how much their relationship was meant to be.

For the last night of their honeymoon Nathan packed a picnic and they walked out to the creek and sat in the new chairs Nathan had made so they could sit and relax with the sound of the creek as their dinner music. There was a small table and Nathan took a cloth from the basket to cover it. He added a candle and some flowers he'd picked for his beautiful bride. "This is probably the most peaceful it will be around here for a very long while." Nathan chuckled imagining what the next few weeks would be like as they returned to work and settled the family into the new house. "I know our time together in this house will no longer be our own but I hope and pray that it is a happy home filled with love and laughter."

Sarah knew that Nathan was right but she couldn't wait until they were all together in the new house. As they talked about returning to Hope Valley and their family, they had no idea what was in store for them.