The Measure of a Man

Author's Note:

Special thanks to Mamabethany for sharing both her observations and the original idea that spawned this fanfic. I also appreciate her time to quickly beta read this today, so it could be published. This is as much her story as it is mine!

In lieu of a chapter of Bill's Reaction (which is very much still a work in progress), I bring you a very short ONE-SHOT.

Elizabeth Thornton was out for an evening of adult conversation with her friends Lee and Rosemary Coulter. True, it was at the saloon and she did not care for the new owner, but in Hope Valley, that's where the community went for evening socializing as the café closed early. When the Coulters invited her to join them, Laura quickly volunteered to look after Little Jack.

Elizabeth was a little behind on the time they had agreed to meet. She had spent a few last minutes with Little Jack since he would be in bed before she got home.

As she rushed towards the door of the saloon, she failed to notice a tall lean man approaching the same entrance from around the corner of the building. They noticed each other at the same time and pulled up short in time to avoid a collision with equal expressions of alarm on their faces.

They both paused to regard each other and apologies were stuck in their throats as they took each other in.

The man was tall, taller than Jack, and slender with obvious strength hinted at beneath his suspendered shoulders and Henley shirt unbuttoned at the collar. At first glance, she saw his head of thick dark brown hair which appeared to be hurriedly combed back with fingers just moments before. Then, her eyes connected with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. She inhaled in reaction and her mind was filled with the manly aroma of soap, pine, and clean air.

His eyes softened and a small shy smile tilted up the corner of his mouth. She felt a blush rising in her cheeks and she took a step back as she realized they had stopped only inches from each other.

The mysterious man, clearly a newcomer or a visitor to Hope Valley, found his tongue and said in a deep voice, "Sorry, Ma'am, please go ahead." She gulped and felt a sudden instinct to flee this man and his ability to make her feel…. feel what? She did not want to think about it.

She reached for the door just as he reached to open it for her and their hands met each other on the handle. Elizabeth felt a spark from the touch of his fingers on hers and drew back quickly as her eyes quickly turned up to meet his again. Their expressions both turned serious as they silently acknowledged together that they had both felt something. He saw her swallow and he silently opened the door and politely gestured her inside.

Elizabeth sashayed around him through the door. After a compulsive glance back at the handsome man, who was standing at the door, one hand still on the handle and the other distractedly raking through his hair, she saw the Coulters seated at a table across the room and quickly glided to the empty seat waiting for her.

Rosemary of course had seen Elizabeth come in and had noticed who had followed her. Elizabeth could feel Rosemary's eyes honing in on Elizabeth's flustered demeanor and tried to avoid her friend's knowing look by fussing with her napkin and intensely studying the menu she was already so familiar with.

Finally, she looked up to see Rosemary, looking at her with twinkling eyes.

"Elizabeth," she said, "who was that man you came in with just now? I don't think I've seen him before. He is quite a dish!"

"Rosemary, shush!" Elizabeth whispered with a quick restraining hand to Rosemary's forearm. "I don't know who he is. We just came in at the same time and I didn't talk to him."

Turning to Lee, she asked, "Lee, do you know him?" Elizabeth asked, as she tried to look casual and find where the newcomer had gone. He was sitting alone at a table across the room. The waitress was walking away from him after apparently taking his order.

Lee laughed at his wife and replied to Elizabeth, "Actually, I do know who he is. His name is Nathan Grant. Would you like me to formally introduce you to him?" Lee cautiously offered.

Elizabeth replied nonchalantly, "No thank you. I'm sure if he's new to town, our paths will eventually cross, if they are meant to. Besides, I'm sure his wife would not condone him meeting up with another woman."

Rosemary jumped in, "Oh Elizabeth, be serious! Do you think if he was married, he'd be sitting over there at a table all by himself? Besides, he's not wearing a ring." Elizabeth looked at her sternly. Rosemary looked innocent. "Oh, Elizabeth, haven't you learned to always check for a ring? It's one of the first things you should look for on any man."

Elizabeth tried to discourage Rosemary. "Rosemary, I am not looking at any man, men...oh, you know what I mean…. unless of course he is the father of one of my students for educational purposes."

Lee was laughing at Rosemary's antics. He turned to look at Elizabeth and told her, "As a matter of fact, he is unmarried. Why don't I go and ask him to join us? After all, we should be hospitable to our new Hope Valley neighbors."

Before either woman could comment, Lee was up and walking over to the newcomer. When he walked back, Nathan had joined him.

Lee performed introductions around the table and then both men sat down.

When Nathan heard her name was Elizabeth Thornton, she noticed he bowed his head respectfully and his beautiful blue eyes seemed to cloud over with sadness. He still managed to clear his throat and say how pleased he was to meet her.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying each other's company. While Nathan seemed reserved, he smiled pleasantly as Rosemary peppered him with questions. He had come to town for his work and Elizabeth was intrigued to learn he had a niece who would soon be joining him and would be in her class. She must have had a puzzled look on her face, because he quickly explained that he was the legal guardian over his late sister's child. Everyone around the table extended condolences on his loss. Elizabeth thought to herself what a special man he must be to be raising a child, not his own. For the first time since Jack, Elizabeth admitted to herself she was feeling a special connection to a man.

Since his niece would be her student, Elizabeth felt an undeniable pleasure she would have plenty of future opportunities to interact rather frequently with Nathan Grant.

As they chatted amongst themselves, Elizabeth discovered idle chit chat was not this man's strong suit, but she had a confident impression he had a kind and trustworthy heart. Finally, there was a break in the conversation and an opportunity arose to ask the burning question both women wanted to know.

Elizabeth managed to ask it first, "Nathan, will you be working with Lee at the lumber mill, or ….?"

Nathan awkwardly looked at Lee, who encouraged him to continue. "Well, Mrs. Thornton, as fond as I am of woodworking, the Hope Valley Town Council agreed to my assignment here. I'm with the Mounties."