Nathan stared at the paper he held. On it, was his future. The next place that the Mounties wanted him to serve.

Over the years, Nathan had pretty much tried to do what was asked of him. He had gone where his superiors had sent him. The last six years, which had involved uprooting Ally and taking her along with him. More than once he had wondered if that had been fair to his niece. He didn't need her teachers accusing him of not being a fit parental figure in her life.

Only one time had he asked for a transfer and that had been away from Fort Clay. He had requested that for his own mental well being. He had never questioned his choice to go after those cattle rustlers. Letting them go had not been an option. His fellow Mounties had agreed with him. His superiors in the inquiry had sided with him.

Hargraves was the only one who had questioned that choice. For the Fort Commander of Fort Clay, it had not been a question of had he done the right thing or not, but the fact that he had disobeyed Hargraves orders to wait for back-up. The man's pride had been wounded and the inquiry board's decision to clear him of the charges of insubornation had only wounded Hargraves pride even more. Taking him off the training assignment had simply been that wounded pride talking.

Nathan glanced over to where Allie had fallen asleep with her book. He was still here with her because of Hargraves choice of replacing him. However, part of him felt like he had escaped death. That another man had died in his place. Being at Fort Clay had been a constant reminder of that and so he had requested the transfer.

He had been transferred here to Fort Simpson. He and Ally had been content enough with this assignment. He had been able to put Fort Clay behind him. The only blimp in that peace of mind had been new of Jack Thornton's widow giving birth last Christmas.

That boy may have grown up with his father if Nathan had simply followed orders, let the cattle rustlers go, and waited for the back-up. How many more cattle would those rustlers have stolen though? Would they have claimed innocent lives in their crimes?

Going after them had been the right choice and yet, again he felt like he was paying for that choice. This transfer to Hope Valley felt like another punishment from Hargraves. A way to keep Nathan from living in peace.

Nathan dropped the paper on the coffee table and went to pick up his sleeping niece. He wasn't going to fight the transfer. He would go to Hope Valley. He would give his best to the people there.

He would honor Jack Thornton's memory by looking over his wife and son until the next posting came along.