After Elizabeth's door shut, Nathan walked to his house. He entered the house and saw Allie reading a book. Allie looked up from her book when she saw Nathan enter the house.
"Dad. What happened? Why are you all wet?" Allie asked.
"I got caught in the rain." Nathan said taking off his serge. He suddenly stopped and looked at Allie.
"Did you call me Dad?" Nathan said.
"Yes. That's who you are." Allie said.
Nathan smiled. "I like it"
Allie rolled her eyes. Nathan took off his serge and hung it by the fireplace. Nathan started putting wood in the fireplace.
"May I talk to you? Nathan asked Allie. Allie closed her book.
"Sure. What about?" Allie asked.
"One of my superiors came to the office today and informed me that he is recommending me as Staff Sargent." Nathan said.
"That's great! You worked so hard for this!" Allie said.
"The posting is in Cape Fullerton." Nathan said.
"Oh." Allie said and her smile faded.
"I know that would mean leaving Hope Valley and leaving all your friends. But we would get our own housing. You would go to a private school. I would rarely go on missions. I would lead my own unit." Nathan said.
Allie nodded her head.
"I haven't made a decision yet. They have invited us to visit and see if would be a right fit for us." Nathan said.
Allie nodded and hugged Nathan.
"I'm proud of you Dad. Where you go, I go" Allie said. Nathan smiled. Allie excused herself to go to bed.
Nathan decided to take a bath. He boiled hot water and made a few trips to the bathroom until the tub was filled to the appropriate spot. Nathan tested the water. Once it was to his satisfaction he went into the tub. Nathan let out a sigh of relief when the water hit his skin. Nathan sat in the tub thinking about the words Elizabeth said. She wasn't brave enough. She loved Nathan but was afraid to be with me. Nathan understood her apprehension. She gave her whole heart to Jack as did Jack. And the next moment it was crushed. Nathan went under the water and came back up. Once he was done with his bath, he put on his sleeping undergarments and sat by the fire.
He watched as the fire crackled. Nathan pulled out a box. Inside it were a few things he kept that he would look at from time to time. He saw the book that Elizabeth had written him for that one Christmas. Next, Jack looked at the old knife that Elizabeth gave him that was in one of Jack's trunks. Nathan smiled and remembered the memories this knife had made. Next there was a picture of Jack and Nathan at the academy graduation day. Nathan smiled. It was a special day for both of them.
"I wish there was some way that you could help Elizabeth overcome her fear. Tell her that it's okay to be scared. Tell her that I'm scared too. That I'm scared that one day I won't come home to her or Allie or Little Jack. I wish you could tell her that love conquers all, even fear" Nathan said. Nathan wiped away tears from his eyes. Nathan watched as the fire burned out and went to bed.
Nathan gave word to the commanding officer in Cape Fullerton that they would be there for a visit by the coming weekend and stay a whole weekend. Nathan continued to do his normal routine in Hope Valley. Ever since his conversation with Elizabeth, they have both avoided each other. By the middle of the week, Nathan and Allie were packed for their visit. Lee drove Allie and Nathan to the train station. For the next couple of days, Nathan and Allie sat on the train. Allie mostly read and wrote in her journal. While Nathan pondered his decision. Cape Fullerton would be a fresh start. No secrets or promises.
Nathan and Allie arrived in Cape Fullerton early Saturday morning. They were greeted by the commanding Officer and his wife. Nathan and Allie would be staying with them for the duration of their visit. The commanding's officer wife took Allie back to their house to get situated while the commanding Officer took Nathan to look at the base.
When Nathan and the commanding Officer arrived at the base, Nathan noticed how large it was.
"This is huge." Nathan exclaimed.
"More than you are used to" The commanding Officer said.
"That's for sure." Nathan said.
The commanding officer showed Nathan around.
"As you can see, our base is technically advanced. We have telephones, radios and even an airplane being developed. You would be stepping into the 20th century instead of being stuck in the 19th century" The commanding officer.
Nathan liked the idea of being to communicate more quickly. In Hope Valley, it took a long time just to get connected to someone. The commanding officer showed him classrooms where Constable's continue their education. He showed him the barracks and how he would lead a unit.
"You would be responsible for training and preparing men for any battle." The commanding Officer said. Nathan nodded.
After the tour, the Commanding officer took Nathan back to his home. Nathan couldn't get a word in with Allie. She said that she was shown where they would live and the school. They would see the school on Monday. Nathan was glad that Allie was excited if they were to potentially move there.
On Sunday they were given a tour of Cape Fullerton. Places to eat and visit were pointed out to them. On Monday, they visited the school where Allie would attend. Allie would be in a class with children her own age and the curriculum would be suited just for Allie. She would be put in upper math class with the older children. Nathan looked at the children. He noticed they were very happy. They were all wearing the same uniform. The teachers seemed extremely qualified but not approachable. For the rest of the week, Nathan and Allie visited museums, the bay and new places to eat. But as Nathan was walking though Cape Fullerton he started thinking back to Allie's adoption ceremony. He wondered if any of them would have thrown a celebration for the adoption. Probably not.
After the week ended, Nathan and Allie boarded the train back to Hope Valley. As they were riding along, Nathan was looking out the window.
"Dad" Allie said.
Nathan smiled. "Yes"
"I liked Cape Fullerton but it didn't feel like home to me. But I wouldn't be sad if we moved there" Allie said.
"I understand the feeling Allie." Nathan said.
"Whatever you decide, I'll be happy" Allie said. Nathan smiled. Nathan continued to look out the window. He would have to give his answer the day after they got back.
Lee and Rosemary picked them up from the train station and drove them home. Rosemary wanted to know all about Cape Fullerton. After hearing about it, she decided that it sounded wonderful and that even though they would be missed in Hope Valley, it sounded like an opportunity of a lifetime. They got back to Hope Valley late. Nathan and Allie went straight to bed.
The next morning, Allie told Nathan that she was going to play with her friends. Nathan told her to be back by supper. Nathan watched Allie run off to play with her friends. Would she be able to do this in Cape Fullerton? Would she be able to have a childhood or would she have to grow up fast in Cape Fullerton.
Nathan went into the office. He looked over the paperwork that was left for him while he was gone. After finishing up some of the paperwork, he did his first rounds around Hope Valley. Nathan looked around Hope Valley as he rode. The one thing that Hope Valley had that Cape Fullerton didn't was the beautiful scenery. Hope Valley was also quieter.
After Nathan finished his first rounds, he went to the café and grabbed a sandwich. He also noticed that the food at the café was more delicious than the food in Cape Fullerton. The only thing that Hope Valley couldn't offer was the love of his life. He couldn't start over in Hope Valley. Being near Elizabeth and still in love with her, he could never truly move on.
For the rest of the afternoon, he filled out reports, made inquiries about reported crimes and talked to Bill about certain cases. The sun was about to set. Nathan grabbed Newton and headed up to Jack's land. It was the best place to watch the sunset. Once he was on Jack's land, he dismounted Newton and stood looking over Jack's land. He closed his eyes and went back to a memory when Jack and Nathan were thirteen years old and fishing at their favorite spot:
"What do you know about fate?" Young Nathan asked Young Jack.
"Fate? What's fate?" Jack asked.
"Don't laugh, but I read one of my sister's romance novels" Nathan said.
Jack laughed.
"Why did you do that?" Jack asked.
"She's always crying while reading them. I wanted to know what was making her sad." Nathan said.
"So what is fate?" Jack asked.
"According to this book, fate is when two people find each other against all odds and fall in love. That a higher power constructed them to meet." Nathan said.
"Sounds silly. My Father once told me that when you find the love of your life, the only thing that should keep you apart is death" Jack said.
Nathan nodded his head and reeled his fish.
"Standing guard?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
Nathan laughed. "Just thinking"
"Little Jack missed you while you were away. I did too" Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled. Elizabeth went into her pocket and pulled out an envelope.
"I finally cleaned out Jack's last chest. He had an old serge in the chest. I went through the pockets and I found this letter. May I read it to you?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan nodded.
Elizabeth unfolded the letter.
"Dear Elizabeth,
If you are reading this letter, you know that I won't be coming home. I wrote a letter and gave to Abigail to give to you if I didn't come back from the Northern Territories. But that letter didn't explain everything so I'm writing another letter. I'm scared Elizabeth. I have watched so many men die who won't be going home to their loved ones.
Elizabeth, I want you to know how much I love you. You are who I think of when I wake up in the morning and before I go to sleep at night. Loving you was the best thing I have ever done in my life. And I have been honored that you decided to love me.
If you are reading this, there will be a new Mountie in town. His name is Nathan. He is my best friend and I made him promise me an impossible task; to look over you and the town. I have asked him not to tell you because sometimes you think that you can do everything on your own. But you can't. Nathan will be grieving as well. Nathan is like a second brother to me. He is the only one I trust to look over you and the town. He is reserved but you have a gift of bringing out the best in people.
And if you two were to fall in love, there is no one better I want you to fall in love with. But I know you Elizabeth. You will be afraid to love another Mountie. Please don't retreat back to your Hamilton ways. Be brave. Be courageous. Don't let fear hold your heart back. Love again. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
I am praying that I will come back to you and we will be married. The only comfort here is our future life together. Our children, our house, even our grandchildren.
I love you and always will. I will be watching above guiding your heart.
Love always,
Jack"
Elizabeth wiped tears away from her eyes as did Nathan.
"While you were gone, I did some soul searching and praying. Instead of listening to my brain, I listened to my heart. My heart was ripped apart when Jack died. But somehow you were able to put it back together. Jack guided my heart and built a bridge for us to fall in love. I was scared of loving you. I have been so blinded by fear that I could see the love you were willing to give. The garden. The money so the school could stay open. Yes, I know about tha.t But losing you to Cape Fullerton would rip my heart apart" Elizabeth said.
Nathan did not saying anything.
"I'm asking you, Nathan Grant, to stay in Hope Valley. Stay in Hope Valley so I can tell you how much I love every day. So I can kiss you whenever I want. I'm ready to be Brave. To be courageous." Elizabeth said.
Nathan stepped toward Elizabeth and kissed her softly on the lips. This kiss was different than the other two. This kiss was between two people who were on their way to becoming one.
"I love you" Nathan whispered.
"I love you too" Elizabeth whispered back.
They kissed some more.
"Will you stay?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan grinned.
"All the teachers in Cape Fullerton are either old or married, so I guess I have no choice" Nathan said.
"Nathan!" Elizabeth said playfully hitting him.
"Of course I will stay. This is where my home is. This is where my heart belongs" Nathan said. The two kissed and watched the sunset.