The sunrise started to peak its way through the blinds in Nathan's room. He opened one eye and groaned. It was Saturday and he wanted to sleep in. Once a month, Nathan woke up early on a Saturday so that he would be able to take Sunday off. Nathan wiped the sleep out of his eyes and got up. He went to the bathroom and splashed water on his face. He took out a razor and shaving cream and began to shave his face. It was only a few months ago Nathan grew a mustache. Nathan began to shave and thought about the last few months.

His first thought was about his broken heart. And the person responsible for his heartache; Elizabeth. Elizabeth decided not to court with either Lucas or Nathan. Her reason was because she needed to properly grieve Jack and be ready to move on. Nathan understood the reason but he did not understand the reason why she was cruel him. As she was explaining her reasons for not wanting to court with Nathan, one of her reasons was that she was trying to find Jack in him. Nathan had been rejected before, but the hurt was different. Not only did Elizabeth not reciprocate his feelings but she belittled him by comparing him to Jack. She acted like they were interchangeable. And that hurt the most. Elizabeth's rejection put Nathan in a downward spiral which manifested as a mustache. Luckily for him, Allie was outspoken and told him that she did not like the mustache.

Protecting his heart and his daughter's heart, Nathan distanced himself and Allie away from Elizabeth. When Christmastime arrived, Nathan took Allie to see his mother. To his surprise, his father joined them for Christmas. Nathan asked his mother how she could let someone back into her life that had hurt so much in the past. His mother told him that forgiveness was a process. But with time and God's help, she might be able to completely forgive his father. But also, that person should realize their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Nathan wasn't sure if he could ever get to the point of thinking about forgiving Elizabeth. He was angry with her. He was cordial to her in town but knew that if they had any further conversations, that anger would come out.

For now, Nathan was focused on Allie. And she is the reason that he was getting up early. He made a deal with Allie that his weekends wouldn't always be tied up with work. He would get up early on a Saturday so that he could take a Sunday off.

Nathan finished shaving and put his uniform on. He went downstairs and ate breakfast. He left a note for Allie to come see him later on. Nathan locked the door behind him and headed toward the livery. As he was walking, he saw Elizabeth in the distance. She was heading out of town on Sargent. When he reached the livery, Bill was putting hero away.

"I saw Elizabeth riding in the direction of leaving town. Do you know where she is going?" Nathan asked Bill.

"She is heading to Maple Creek" Bill said.

"Why is she going to Maple Creek?" Nathan asked as he took Newton out of his stable.

"Why is she going there?" Nathan asked.

"She's going to train a teacher so that the teacher can teach the children of the town. They don't have a teacher in that town. Elizabeth is going to change that." Bill said.

"Oh" Nathan said. There was a silence between the men.

"There is part between here and Maple Creek that is dangerous. Is she going alone?" Nathan asked.

"I offered to go with her but you know Elizabeth." Bill said.

"That I do." Nathan said.

"I'm going to do my rounds" Nathan said mounting Newton.

"I'll be here. And if you don't come back for a while, I'll know where you are" Bill said with a smirk.

Nathan scoffed and started his rounds. As he was doing his rounds, his thoughts returned to Elizabeth. She wasn't very smart going there alone. But Elizabeth made it perfectly clear that she did not want to be with him. Her safety was not any of his concern. But then his thoughts turned to Little Jack. What if something were to happen to Elizabeth while she was traveling to Maple Creek. Could Nathan live with himself if Little Jack lost another parent? Nathan sighed and made his way toward Maple Creek.

As he got closer to Maple Creek, he saw Elizabeth surrounded by three men. One was close to Elizabeth and one had a gun out. This angered Nathan and he went over there. He scared them off and turned his attention toward Elizabeth.

"Nathan? What are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked.

"What am I doing here? Why are you traveling to Maple Creek alone?" Nathan asked.

"Bill" Elizabeth said under her breath.

"I can take care of myself" Elizabeth said.

"Apparently not! What were you thinking?" Nathan said with a raised voice.

"I was thinking about how the children in Maple Creek need a teacher" Elizabeth said with a raised voice back.

Why is this woman so headstrong? Nathan thought to himself.

"I'm going to escort you there and back. No arguments" Nathan said.

Elizabeth grudgingly agreed. The two rode in silence until they were at Maple Creek.

"Bill said I should take to the Sheriff" Elizabeth said.

Nathan nodded his head. They made their way to an office that had Sheriff written on it. Nathan and Elizabeth dismounted their horses and headed inside.

"Hello" The young woman at the desk said.

"Hello. I'm Elizabeth Thornton. I'm here to see Sheriff Mayes." Elizabeth said.

"I'm Sheriff Mayes" said a man walking from the back. The Sheriff was a fat man with a mustache and wore a cowboy hat.

"Sheriff, I'm Elizabeth Thornton. Bill Avery said that I should come see you when I arrive in town" Elizabeth said.

"Right. The teacher." The Sheriff said. Elizabeth noticed that he was chewing Tobacco. The Sheriff turned his attention to Nathan.

"Avery didn't say that a Constable would be coming too" Sheriff Mayes said.

"Constable Nathan Grant. It was a last-minute decision" Nathan said with his hand out. The Sheriff shook his hand.

"That's fine. Just remember, this is my town and I'll take care of any of criminal matters" The Sheriff said. Nathan nodded.

"Where is the school?" Elizabeth asked.

"There isn't one. But don't worry, we have an old barn set up for the children." Sheriff Mayes said.

"A barn?" Elizabeth said.

"We don't have a school. I'll show you to the barn. Constable, we have stables over there so your horses can rest" Sheriff Mayes said.

Nathan thanked him and made his way over to the stables. Once Nathan was inside the stables, he put Sargent and Newton in their own stables and gave them water. Nathan heard someone walking into the stables. A woman walked in with a black stallion.

"Hello" The woman said.

Nathan smiled. "Hello." The woman with the black stallion was very pretty. She had blonde hair that fell just above her shoulders and green eyes.

"Your horse is beautiful" Nathan said.

"She is. But unfortunately, she isn't mine. I'm just making sure that her foot has healed from the wound" The woman said with a smile.

"I'm Cora Ridgeway. I'm the Veterinary for the town." Cora said.

Nathan took her hand. "Constable Nathan Grant. I escorted Mrs. Thornton to town"

"I heard that there was going to be a teacher from Hope Valley to come train one of our teachers." Cora said.

Nathan smiled.

"Do you have your own horse?" Nathan asked.

"Yes. But she is in a stable at my house. I live just outside of town" Cora said.

"You and your husband must love that." Nathan said.

"It's only me out there. No husband. But I do enjoy the peace" Cora said.

"I love peace and quiet" Nathan said.

Cora smiled.

"Are you only escorting Mrs. Thornton today or will you be escorting her every Saturday." Cora asked.

Nathan paused.

"I'm not sure." Nathan said.

"That's disappointing. But the next time I see you I'll show you around my property and we can go horseback riding together." Cora said.

"I'd like that." Nathan said.

"Me too. Hopefully I'll see you sooner rather than later" Cora said. They said their goodbyes and Cora left.

Nathan smiled. Maybe he would escort Elizabeth every Saturday.