Hello, friends! I've got another story for you. This one was inspired by Missela. She mentioned wanting to see a story where Jack and Elizabeth had broken up after Hamilton, but both remained in Hope Valley and fell in love with other people. So here is a version of that story. This is an alternate story fic, taking place within the S3 timeline of the show, though there will be many things that don't line up with the happenings of S3. This is also a Nathan/Elizabeth story. Jack will feature prominently and find love with someone I always thought he was better suited to than Elizabeth.
I'm not sure how frequently I'll be updating fanfiction over the next few months, but I'll do my best to keep all three stories going without too much of a gap between chapters. That being said, I hope you enjoy Call of the Heart!
On a brutally hot day in the middle of July, a young man walked into Hope Valley for the first time. He held the hand of a small child, a girl about five years old. She had wide brown eyes that were full of fear. She clung tightly to the man's hand, walking beside him as close as she could possibly get. The child hadn't been fearful until she saw people. Once they came into view, she withdrew.
Nathan Grant stopped walking, looking down at his daughter. She was so tiny beside his tall frame, not even reaching his hip. Bending down, Nathan lifted her into his arms.
"What's the matter, Allie?" he asked, keeping his voice as soothing as possible.
She buried her face in his neck, whimpering without an answer. Heart clenching, Nathan slipped behind a building. He wanted to be out of sight from any curious eyes. "Sweetie, you can talk to me," he said softly.
Allie just shook her head, clinging to him even tighter. For the hundredth time, Nathan wondered what the little girl had suffered in her short life. She had only been with him for six months. Biologically his niece, Allie lost her mother at the age of fourteen months. Her father abandoned her soon after, leaving her on the steps of an orphanage without telling anyone else in the family. Not that there was much family to tell. Nathan's father died when he was sixteen. His mother was in frail health. Dylan had no family to speak of. Nathan only knew of Allie's abandonment when he'd tracked down his brother-in-law a year after Colleen's death. Dylan was dying of liver failure in a backwoods infirmary, victim of his decades of hard drinking. He confessed to leaving Allie at an orphanage, even providing Nathan with the name and town before he died. But when Nathan went there in search of his niece, he discovered that the orphanage had burned to the ground. There weren't any casualties, but the children had been scattered to various towns and new orphanages.
A Mountie by profession, Nathan used all his connections in an attempt to find his sister's child. Despite his renown as Canada's best tracker, it took him two more years to find her. She had been bounced around from orphanage to orphanage, and the condition of the one he'd finally found her in turned his stomach. As he was the only family member who could care for her, Nathan had immediately petitioned to adopt her. The local judge lazily approved his petition. Just like that, Nathan gained a daughter. Days after the adoption went through, Nathan received word that his mother was ill. He and Allie traveled to Bison Springs to see her, and Nathan knew immediately that her time was limited. The same day he arrived, he found out he was being transferred to a town on the east coast, nearly a week's journey from his mother. He requested a leave of absence, but it was denied. His only options were to take the posting or quit.
So Nathan left the Mounties. He pulled all his resources from his years in law enforcement, using what he could to care for his mother and provide her with a longer life. For a while, it worked. The two of them cared for each other and for Allie. The little girl was mistrustful and quiet, but as the months went by she began to develop a bond with Nathan. Still, she wouldn't talk to anyone outside of their little family. She regarded strangers with suspicion, and more than once when Nathan inadvertently raised his voice, she cowered in fear as if expecting a blow. It hurt his heart to see a small child so easily frightened. He felt a burning anger toward the people who had caused her fear.
His mother was saddened by Allie's plight as well. Compounding her grief was the fact that Allie looked exactly like her mother. She commented often that Allie was the spitting image of Colleen at that age. Still, Allie's presence seemed to help Eva heal from Colleen's death.
That healing was short lived. Five months after coming to live with his mother, Nathan watched in helpless sorrow as she began to decline rapidly. He enrolled her in an experimental treatment plan in a Benson Hills hospital, hoping against hope that she might survive. His money drained away quickly over the next month as he paid medical bills and hotel expenses. When Eva breathed her last, Nathan's crushing grief was exacerbated by the fact that his money was gone and he had no way to support himself and Allie. With his final bit of savings, Nathan made sure his mother had a proper burial, then tried to come up with a plan of action.
The Mounties were not an option. He didn't want to foist that lifestyle on a little girl who clearly needed a present, loving father. He'd been called away from his assigned towns more times than he cared to count. He couldn't do that to Allie, not when she'd already suffered so much. He vowed to be there for her, no matter what.
Word reached him that the railroad industry was looking for good, dependable workers. The paper he read claimed that Union City was the place to find work. Determined to make an honest living for himself and his little girl, Nathan packed up their meager belongings in a single knapsack. If they could just make it to Union City, he knew he could find a job to support them both.
They passed through various towns on their journey to Union City. Nathan knew they still had a ways to go, but he also needed money. Allie needed food. He worked odd jobs along the way, giving them just enough to eat as they continued on their way. Right before reaching Hope Valley, their small supply of food had run out. Nathan knew they would need to stop and find a means of acquiring sustenance.
At the moment, however, his most pressing need was making sure Allie felt safe. She was still clinging to him, though her whimpers had faded.
Nathan gently set her on her feet. He knelt in the dusty ground before her, running a hand through her honey-blonde hair. "Are you tired, Allie?"
She nodded.
"Are you hungry?"
She nodded again. Her stomach rumbled right after Nathan asked the question. He felt his throat constrict. They had to get to Union City. He desperately needed a job. He needed to feed his daughter.
The sound of laughter rang out nearby, making Nathan jump. He stood quickly, pulling Allie behind him and leaning against the wall in an effort to hide his tall, lanky frame. Two women passed by. Neither one noticed him. Sagging in relief, Nathan let out a breath.
"Loitering is frowned on in these parts."
A firm voice sounded behind him. Nathan whipped around, once more pulling Allie behind him. The sun shone in his eyes, making it impossible to see the man who had spoken. "We're not loitering," he said, trying to sound just as firm. "I had to comfort my daughter. She doesn't like crowds."
The man walked into the shadows. Nathan immediately noticed the uniform he wore. He was a Mountie.
A rush of relief filled him. Though he felt some bitterness about being forced to quit or leave his sick mother by the organization he'd given his life to, Nathan still felt a connection with his former brothers-in-arms. There was a bond there that was not easily broken. When the man came close enough to be seen, Nathan gasped in shock.
"Jack Thornton?"
Jack squinted at the stranger hiding behind Abigail's Café. The shadows prevented him from seeing the man. Stepping forward cautiously, Jack eyed him warily until he could see him clearly. His own jaw dropped, matching the expression on the other man's face.
"Nathan?"
His old friend from the academy smiled, though there was a sadness in his eyes that hadn't been there all those years ago. "What are you doing in Hope Valley, Jack? I thought you wanted assignments in big towns with lots of danger."
Jack chuckled. "I was assigned here to babysit a rich man's daughter," he said, good humor in his voice. That was the exact reason he was in this town – shipping tycoon William Thatcher had him assigned here to watch over his daughter, Elizabeth. Jack knew Elizabeth wouldn't begrudge him the phrase. He still teased her about it often enough. She just rolled her eyes and pointed out that he loved serving in Hope Valley.
He certainly couldn't deny that.
Nathan had a puzzled look on his face. Jack chuckled again, slapping Nathan's shoulder. "Why don't I buy you lunch?" he asked. "We can catch up."
Something like relief crossed Nathan's face. "You don't know how good that sounds."
"Good," Jack replied. "Abigail makes the best food in town." He glanced down at the child behind his friend, his observant eye noticing her discomfort. "And who do we have here?"
Nathan crouched down. "This is my daughter, Allie," he said. He murmured something to the little girl, something too quiet for Jack to hear. She seemed to shrink into him.
Jack knelt in front of her. "Hi, Allie," he said gently, smiling as he took off his campaign hat. "My name is Mountie Jack. I knew your daddy a long time ago. We were good friends."
Allie didn't respond. She stared at him with huge eyes, hugging her father's arm so tightly, Jack knew it must be cutting off Nathan's circulation. Recognizing mistrust, Jack tried another tactic.
"Are you hungry, Allie?"
That earned him a blink. He gave her another smile, touching the wall beside him. "This building is a café," he said. "Inside is delicious food. Miss Abigail will make you anything you like."
Allie licked her lips. She looked at Nathan as if seeking his guidance.
He smiled at her tenderly. "Mountie Jack offered to buy us lunch," he said. "Is there anything you'd like?"
Allie's mouth worked a few times. She licked her lips again, glanced nervously at Jack, then whispered her answer.
"Chili, please."
Nathan hugged her close. "Then chili it is," he replied. He stood, taking his daughter's hand. Jack motioned for them to follow him.
"She never responds to strangers," Nathan murmured to Jack. "I adopted her several months ago. She's been through some kind of trauma, perhaps even sustained trauma. People scare her."
Jack nodded. "I can tell," he said quietly. Glancing down at the little girl, he felt a hundred questions come to mind, but he held his tongue until they were settled in the café.
"Is your wife here too?" Jack asked when they found a table.
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not married."
Jack looked at Allie in confusion. Nathan had decided to adopt by himself?
His friend saw the look. "She's my niece," he explained. "After my sister died, Allie vanished into the orphanage system. It took me years to find her. When I finally did, I made sure everything legally guaranteed I would be her father."
"Ah," Jack said, nodding once. Nathan always had a strong sense of love and compassion for his family members. "That makes sense."
Abigail Stanton came by, smiling at them with her motherly demeanor. "Good afternoon, Jack," she said. She looked at Nathan, a welcoming expression on her face. "Hello. I'm Abigail."
Nathan stood, reaching out a hand. "Nathan Grant."
"He and I went to the academy together," Jack supplied. "We were roommates."
"How wonderful!" Abigail exclaimed. "Are you in town long, Constable Grant?"
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not a Mountie anymore," he said, glancing at Jack. "It's just Nathan. I happened to be passing through Hope Valley. I didn't realize Jack lived here." A small smile tugged at his lips. "It's a happy coincidence."
"I don't believe in coincidence," Abigail said softly, looking at Nathan directly. "Something – or Someone – brought you to this town at this moment in time. I'm sure there's a reason for it."
Jack's head was still spinning with the knowledge that Nathan wasn't a Mountie. He loved being a law enforcement officer. What could have made him leave?
Nathan smiled, this time a genuine one. "Maybe so, Mrs. Stanton," he said.
"Please, call me Abigail." The woman turned her attention to Allie. "And who is this precious child?" She crouched beside Allie, smiling warmly. To both Nathan and Jack's astonishment, Allie smiled back.
"I'm Allie," she said.
Nathan's jaw dropped. He stared at his daughter in shock. The surprise on his face deepened when Allie spoke again. "May I have some chili, please?"
Abigail nodded. "Of course, sweetie," she said. "Would you like cornbread with that?"
Allie nodded. "And a glass of milk?" Her eyes were hopeful.
Abigail chuckled. "And a glass of milk." She straightened. "What can I get for you gentlemen?"
Jack leaned toward Nathan, a teasing smile on his face. "Better shut your mouth before you catch some flies," he said with a little laugh.
Nathan clamped his mouth shut, but there was a look of awe on his features. "I'll have the same," he managed. "With coffee instead of milk."
"Black?" Abigail asked.
Nathan nodded. She smiled in acknowledgement and turned to Jack. "And for you?"
"Make it three chilis," Jack said. "Thanks, Abigail."
Opening his knapsack, Nathan pulled out a worn book, handing it to Allie. The little girl accepted the offering and began looking at the pictures inside. Nathan smiled at his daughter, then looked at Jack. "That should keep her entertained for a while. She loves that book."
Jack leaned his forearms on the table, his gaze direct. "I have so many questions," he said. "Foremost among them are two: what are you doing in Hope Valley, and why are you no longer a Mountie?"
Nathan sighed. "It's a long story, Jack."
Jack raised a brow. "This is a relatively quiet town. I have time."
Nathan hesitated, then slowly began to tell Jack his story. Their food arrived halfway through, momentarily halting the conversation. By the time he finished, Jack's heart hurt for his friend.
"You've been through a lot," he said quietly. The sad look in Nathan's eyes now made sense. "How long since your mother passed?"
Nathan swallowed. "Two weeks." The words were faint, but there was a world of pain in them.
"I'm sorry," Jack said solemnly. He looked at Allie again, then at Nathan. "And you think going to Union City is what's best?"
"What other choice do I have?" Nathan asked, spreading his hands. "I need to support Allie. I won't go back to the Mounties. That life would be too hard on her. The railroad purportedly pays well."
Jack leaned back thoughtfully. "And who would look after Allie while you're working?"
Looking stumped, Nathan floundered for words. "I…I hadn't thought that far ahead." He groaned, resting his head in his hands. "I can't afford childcare." He shook his head, a hopeless tone in his voice. "I can't even afford food right now."
An idea began to form in Jack's mind. Seeing his friend so defeated hurt, but this was Hope Valley. It bore the name for a reason. "Nathan, do you still tinker with woodworking?"
Nathan glanced up, confused at the abrupt change in topic. "Here and there. Why?"
The idea gained traction. Jack grinned, feeling a sense of excitement. "My friend Lee recently started a lumber mill in town. It's growing at a steady rate, and he's always looking for good men to employ. He pays well, and he understands family obligations." Jack nodded toward Allie. "If I gave you a recommendation, he would hire you in a heartbeat. You might have to work your way up, but it would be a good job with good pay. You wouldn't have to worry about supporting yourself and Allie. You'd make a sensible living. This could be your new home. It's a wonderful place to live." His face softened slightly. "It's a good place to start over. After all you've been through, it sounds like you need a fresh start."
Nathan looked hopeful for a brief moment, but then he deflated again. "Where would I live, Jack? And who would watch Allie while I work? It seems like I would have the same problem here as in Union City."
"You can live in the apartment over the Mountie office," Jack said easily. "I don't use it because there's a room in the office itself that works fine for me. You and Allie could live in the apartment as long as you like, free of charge."
Nathan began to protest, but Jack held up a hand. "Or until you get on your feet. We can talk about rent once you have a steady income." He looked at Allie, feeling a fond smile form. "As for childcare, there are lots of women in this town who would be happy to help you out. Let me ask around. I'm willing to bet I can find someone this week."
Mouth hanging open, Nathan stared at him. His throat worked. Tears swam in his eyes. "I…I don't know what to say, Jack."
"Say yes," Jack replied with a grin.
"It's too much," Nathan murmured.
Becoming serious, Jack shook his head. "Nathan, you would do the exact same thing for a friend in need. Life has dealt you a hard blow. After so much pain, perhaps things are finally looking up." He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe Abigail is right. Maybe you are here for a reason. Of all the towns you could have traveled through to get to Union City, you came through Hope Valley. This is a place where people look out for one another. Maybe someday down the road, you'll be able to offer help to someone in need and continue the cycle of kindness."
Jack watched as Nathan contemplated his words. He looked at his daughter, then swallowed his pride and squared his shoulders. Looking at Jack once more, he held out his hand. "Alright, Jack. We'll accept your help." They shook hands, then Nathan leveled him a look. "As long as you let me pay you back someday."
"If that makes you feel better," Jack said, having no intention of allowing Nathan to pay him. "Why don't we go check out your new living quarters?"
Nathan put an arm around Allie. "How does that sound, sweetie? Do you want to see where we'll be staying?"
She looked at him, eyes wide. "We're not sleeping outside tonight?"
Jack's own eyes widened. He gaped at Nathan. "You've been sleeping outside?"
Pressing his lips together, Nathan nodded. "We had no money for hotel rooms," he said quietly.
Shaking his head, Jack placed plenty of money to cover their bill on the table. "Come on," he said, smiling at Allie. "No more sleeping outside for you. Tonight, you'll have a bed to sleep on."
Allie stood on her chair, putting her arms around Nathan's neck. "A bed?" she whispered, a flicker of excitement in her eyes.
Nathan picked her up, standing as well. "Yes, Allie," he said gently. He smiled at Jack. "It seems Hope Valley will be our new home."
