Chapter Seventeen
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First Impressions
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Allie, equally excited and nervous, fixed her hair into a simple style pulled back with small hair-combs then donned her new uniform. She admired the navy blue color, as she folded the necktie over her white blouse. She was thankful that her father had taught her how to tie a necktie when she was young. It had been something special she liked to do for him before church on Sundays or for a special event. Swishing back and forth to make the skirt pleats swing Allie then gathered her new book tote and blazer, and draped them over the front room sofa.
In the kitchen Allie found her father hovering over the stovetop and drinking his coffee while stirring oatmeal. He was fully dressed in his new blue serge, but wore a denim apron to protect it.
"Oh Dad, you look breathtaking!"
In the middle of a sip of coffee, Nathan choked and coughed. Once recovered, he laughed. "Breathtaking, huh? Allie-girl, you are too funny!"
"I wasn't going for a laugh, Dad. I'm serious. I wish you could come into school with me so I could show off my Staff Sergeant Major Dad! Well, without the apron of course!" Allie grinned and came behind her dad, reaching her arm around his waist. "So a simple breakfast, eh?"
"Yeah. I hope you don't mind? There are some scones, plus cheese and Hope Valley jam on the table as well. I thought that might make it special. I packed your lunch with some of Gramma Carol's ginger cookies by the way." He leaned towards Allie and admitted. "I packed some for myself too!"
Nathan handed a bowl of oatmeal to Allie. "Shall we have breakfast?"
Dad and Daughter sat together at the kitchen table and held hands as Nathan prayed.
"Dear Lord, Today is the day! We thank you for all your provisions and especially thank you for all you have given us today, each other, our new home, Allie's school, my job, all the people we have already met and the food before us. Thank you that you promise to go before us and beside us every day. Help us to make new friends and do well in all that lies before us. Bless us and make us a blessing. In Your Name we pray, Amen."
They gratefully squeezed each other's hands and enjoyed their breakfast, before their morning ritual of Allie helping Nathan to don the Sam Browne belt and cross strap. He no longer carried a firearm, so that was locked in a trunk in his bedroom. As Allie finished pulling down the serge and Nathan buckled the strap, he reached around his daughter and embraced her. Allie responded with a tight hug. With a kiss to the top of her head and an exchange of 'I love you' and I love you, too' the Grants were ready to face their day.
Commissioner Collins had informed Nathan that he would personally drive them each day this week and offered to take Nathan to look at automobiles on Saturday while Allie did some baking and bonding with his wife. A grateful Nathan had accepted both offers so Nathan and Allie met Peter outside the screened porch on the first day of school.
Gramma Carol came to the door to see them off. "You both look mighty good in those uniforms. I'm impressed!" She chuckled. "Now, you all have a wonderful day and I'll see you after school, Allie!" She waved and blew a kiss into the air.
Excitedly, Allie waved and blew a kiss back, then hopped in the automobile.
"Are you both ready for this day? Carol is right. You both look good!" Peter welcomed them as he helped Nathan place his crates into the trunk of the automobile.
"We are as prepared as we can be for so many unknowns!" Nathan glanced at Allie in the backseat. "Thank you so much for driving us, though. It's one less concern for the next couple days."
"As I said before, no problem at all."
In front of St. Anne's, the Commissioner, explained he would be parked right here while Nathan walked Allie into the building. "All the best Allie. You are going to come out of those doors this afternoon with friends and lots of stories to tell us at dinner! Godspeed, dear girl."
Allie waved over her shoulder than turned to walk with her dad, his arm draped over her shoulder and his Forage cap in his hand.
Nathan walked Allie into St. Anne's oblivious to the heads that turned to watch them. Allie noticed but kept her smiles to herself and tried to concentrate on the introductions and new names. Nathan gave her a shoulder hug and whispered in her ear. "I'm proud of you dear Daughter. Love you!" He winked and Allie smiled. "Remember Gramma Carol will come with Mr. Cook to meet you this afternoon."
Nathan donned his hat and returned to the auto. Peter noticed the apprehension on Nathan's face and sought to encourage him. "The most important thing to remember is to breathe, Nathan. Everything else will fall into place."
"Do people forget to breathe, Peter?"
The Commissioner laughed. "You just don't want to be the first! She'll be fine, Nathan. As a matter-of-fact I think she will excel and thrive!"
Nathan carried his additional crates into his office and began to unpack his photos and books. Having finished, he had a half hour before his first scheduled meeting, so Nathan stood at the window and watched the cadet's drills taking place in Parade Square. Remembering his own time as a cadet he listened to the drum and bugle corps. It stirred his soul and when the bagpipes began to play he was excited that he would hear their clarion call each day.
After a morning of faculty meetings and personal introductions, Nathan joined the formal introductions for fellow faculty and himself at the orientation assembly for the incoming troop of recruits. By noon, Nathan was ready for lunch, but first he had a brief meeting he had requested.
Although invited to join a few fellow faculty members for lunch in the cafeteria, Nathan had to decline and tell them that he looked forward to joining them another time. Nathan headed to the first floor of the office wing for his meeting with the Commanding Officer at Depot Division, where he waited to be summoned from the outer office.
Chief Superintendent Timothy Stewart stood as Nathan was ushered into his beautiful, wood-paneled office. He saluted Nathan in response to Nathan's salute. "Come in, Sergeant Grant. Welcome to Depot Division. I believe we have a scheduled meeting early next week, but you wanted to see me today?"
"I did, Sir. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I'll make it brief, but I have an idea I wanted to run by you." Nathan sat at the Superintendent's motioning. "I don't want to shake things up as a new instructor, but I would like to take the troop out for a few hours to try tracking before they begin formal, classroom instruction. I would like to begin tomorrow with an introduction, then on Friday, divide them into teams and have them search and, hopefully, find someone who is lost in the woods."
Noting that Superintendent Stewart was listening attentively, Nathan continued. "I'm thinking of taking about two hours, one hour out and the other to return, with the third hour to begin classroom discussion together. The troop would be on foot, but another Instructor and I would be riding between teams, checking on them, not assisting, just listening. If possible I would like two Instructors to be the lost ones and each team beginning from a different location. If they find the lost person, they must sign a roster along with their fellow team members."
"Innovative, Grant. Tell me more." Nathan had the Superintendent's full attention. "What do you hope to accomplish?"
"I want to test their skills before instruction and begin to instill the necessity for team work. I don't believe I will inform them that a portion of the grade will be arriving back together. Watching out for one another should be intuitive and not need to be taught. A team is only as strong as its weakest member. Another goal is to nip complaining in the bud, and break their confidence in their own abilities before we guide their training."
"We've all thought we knew all that needed knowing and I want them to realize what they will learn may be life or death or injury for themselves, a fellow Mountie or the lost individual. I believe words are not enough to convey that to someone who hasn't experienced it." Nathan shifted, sitting on the edge of his chair. "Are there instructors who could ride in and hide, acting the part of someone lost? In civilian clothes, not the serge of course. I would need to take tomorrow afternoon with those individuals and together chose the sites and leave some tracks and hints for the teams to find and follow." Nathan took a deep breath. "What do you think?"
Superintendent Stewart sat still and silent, contemplating the idea, the plan and the man before him. He was impressed with them all, but wanted to refrain from being overly zealous until the exercise was completed and he could examine the results with Nathan Grant.
"Sergeant Grant, this is unusual, but has potential. It might be telling as you get to know the differing personalities within the troop. I say give it a try and come back to me and discuss how it went. I suggest Sergeant Adam Dunne to assist you as he already instructs the course. He has been here a couple of years so knows the grounds and surrounding community. Dunne is the also the history professor and often assists with other departments. His curriculum is already planned, so I believe he would have time. He and I can send a couple other faculty to you this afternoon." The Superintendent held up his hand, lifted the receiver and called his secretary. "Brooks? Could you see if Sergeant Dunne could come to my office right away? Thanks."
"Let's give him a few moments, Sergeant. So, how are you settling-in to Regina so far?"
"We are making adjustments, Sir. My daughter begins school at St. Anne's today, so we are both experiencing the uncertainties of the first day of school! For me it has been a very long time though!" Nathan smiled his crooked smile, then chuckled. "Tonight's dinner conversation will be very interesting!"
"Peter did inform me you had a daughter. How old is she?"
"Allie is fourteen, and the joy of my life. We've been together for ten years now, so that's a significant number of first days of school!" Nathan chuckled again.
"Been together? Meaning?"
"Allie is my niece, the daughter of my sister. My sister's husband deserted Allie when my sister died, so I became Allie's guardian when Allie was four years old. I formally adopted her last year." Nathan looked at his superior with clear eyes. "Caring for her has determined my career choices, Sir. As a single parent, she has been my priority. I am grateful for this opportunity as it gives us a new measure of stability and a regular daily schedule. I will make every effort to fulfill my responsibilities, Sir, and to live up to the confidence that Commissioner Collins has placed in me, but I have had to consider Allie in all my decision making."
"I understand and you are to be commended for stepping up and taking on that responsibility, Sergeant. Peter mentioned you had declined a promotion a few years ago, so might your daughter be the reason for that?"
"She was the reason in part, Sir. I couldn't see moving her from the first town where she had felt at home." Nathan explained.
"Yet, you have relocated now?" As the Superintendent asked the question he was interrupted by a knock on his office door.
The secretary opened the door and announced, "Sergeant Dunne to see you, Sir."
"Dunne! Come in." After formal salutes, the three men took their seats and the Superintendent briefly explained the assignment.
"I look forward to assisting in this. It is an intriguing idea and might be a revelation to the troops as well us to us instructors!" A jovial man, Adam Dunne laughed. Turning to Nathan he confirmed. "So, Grant, when do we begin?"
