Author's Note:
After completing two stories that were written over the course of a year (plus!) I fully intended to devote a lot of time to writing this story again. Then my email was hacked (with my new mail, contact list and saved files and records wiped clean!) and it has taken 10 days, many hours of work, long phone calls, etc. to recover just some of my losses. I've changed myriad accounts and passwords although my cell phone is still messed up. Sigh... Hackers are wicked and disruptive, especially in a computer-dependent world.
When a family member was injured in a fall this week, that took away more writing time... finally I am planning to publish 3 chapters now. I have additional chapters in the works, so plan to publsh more frequently going forward, God-willing!
Thank you for your patience and thank you to those who contacted me to ask if more chapters were coming! Please let me know what you think of our progress with our characters? I appreciate your reviews and comments and look forward to a nice long story to come!
Eilie
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Chapter Thirty
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Kindred Spirits
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After the Sunday service, Nathan and Allie waited outside Knox Presbyterian for Sergeant Jon Samuels and his family. Sally was the first to point to the Grants as she and her father descended the church steps. Waving excitedly, Sally called out, "Allie! Sergeant Grant!
Allie and Sally hugged and giggled while Nathan and Jon, both in civilian clothes, shook hands. Jon suggested that Allie call him Uncle Jon if that was okay with her and with her father.
Nathan laughed as Allie giggled. "Allie has an ever-increasing family of uncles and aunts. I have no problem with the familiarity as she has no blood-related uncles or aunts. Feel free, Allie-girl."
Allie knew what her dad had already shared about the Samuels, so willingly agreed. "Nice. Uncle Jon it is!" And the Grant family expanded once again.
"Sarah? I would be happy to be Uncle Nathan to you. I haven't heard that title since I adopted Allie and I've had many years of experience at being Uncle Nathan. Are you really okay with me calling you Sarah?"
"I am but if you're part of the family, I think it's more fun to call me Sally. I mean we're bosom friends." The girls giggled. "Allie and Sally. Sally and Allie! Right?"
"Okay, Sally it is!" Nathan winked and chuckled at the girls comments.
"My wife drove our vehicle home so I could ride with you and show you the way, Nathan." Jon and Nathan each held open a rear door. "And, of course, with the opportunity for bosom buddies to be together, Sally came along!"
The fathers, Jon and Nathan, exchanged happy grins as they settled in the front seat.
Dinner at the Samuels house was delightful. Jane Samuels welcomed Allie and Nathan with hugs and requested she be called Auntie Jane or, in Nathan's situation, Jane. She happily introduced her daughter, Rachel, and son, Joshua.
"Sally has already agreed, so if you want to call me Uncle Nathan that would be fine. Your dad is Uncle Jon to Allie." Nathan shook Rachel and the Joshua's hands. "A pleasure to meet you."
Rachel was a little tongue-tied, but nodded.
Joshua was more forthright. "You're right, Sally! He does have really blue eyes." When his sisters and mother gasped, Joshua looked at them. "What? I'm just repeating what Sally told us."
Diffusing the embarrassment, Nathan grinned, "I do have really blue eyes and you, young sir, have…hmmm…what would you call that color?" Nathan put his hand to his chin and tilted his head. "Allie? Sally? Help me out here… Tree trunk brown? Root beer brown? Plowed field brown? Hot coffee brown?"
"Molasses brown!" Sally suggested.
"Chocolate brown!" Allie giggled.
"Well, Joshua, what do you think?" Nathan nudged Joshua's shoulder. "Which name would you choose, eh?"
Blushing with the attention, Joshua quietly said, "Just brown. That's okay."
"Oh? Then Joshua, you have 'just brown' eyes! It's settled." He winked at the young man.
As laughter spread around the gathered group, Nathan handed a basket to Jane who gratefully accepted the jars of homemade Hope Valley jam that Nathan offered as a hospitality gift.
"Thank you, Nathan." Jane lifted out a jar. "These are from your home, eh? Made by…"
Nathan laughed. "Not by me, so perfectly delicious I assure you! We have a few ladies in town who compete for who has the best jam, preserves, pickles and pies. You name it! They all sell at the local Mercantile and I don't think they realize we all just grab whichever one is available at the moment. They are all that good! And I won't even mention the baked goods at the Café…"
"Miss Clara's are our favorites, right Dad? Except of course the carrot cake. Miss Fiona's carrot cake is the very BEST!" Allie dramatically clutched her hands together to her heart. "I have her recipe, but I'm afraid to make it on my own."
"Oh really? Maybe you and the girls could all make it together. That is if you are willing to share the recipe?" Offered Aunt Jane.
"Oh, Miss Fiona doesn't mind sharing. I would love that." Allie agreed. "Then I can write her and tell her we enjoyed it!"
"When can we plan it, Mom? It sounds like fun… delicious fun. And that's the best kind!" Sally dissolved into giggles, quickly followed by her bosom buddy, Allie.
Over a satisfying roast beef dinner, the Grants and Samuels got to know each other.
"Tell us about Hope Valley, Allie?" Uncle Jon asked.
"I'll let Dad answer that right now." Allie immediately had tears threatening her eyes as she glanced at her father. The earlier mentions of food and recipes and friends had made Allie a bit homesick.
"Everything is a little too close-to-heart at the moment. We left behind many dear ones in town and we are not yet ready to share everything." Nathan looked tenderly at Allie, than continued. "What I can say is that we lived in Hope Valley for four years. It is a small but growing frontier town. Originally settled as a mining town, there was a mine collapse and almost fifty men and boys, fathers, sons and brothers lost their lives. By the time we arrived six years later, the town and its widows and children had grieved and begun to heal. They are resilient, brave, tough and tender people. I replaced a beloved Mountie who died in a landslide during a training mission… Have you heard of Jack Thornton?" Nathan turned to Jon.
"Who hasn't?" Jon eyed Nathan with mutual understanding. "I didn't realize though, was he from Hope Valley?"
"Yes. I replaced him about a year and a half after he died. It took a while for the townspeople to warm up to me, but eventually they did. I think Allie's presence helped with that. She made friends amongst townsfolk of all generations and that helped my shy tendencies." Nathan looked into the distance outside the dining room window. "I think we made more of a connection than we thought. I was amazed at the kind comments as I said individual goodbyes to the townspeople and farmers. I guess we'll be missed, eh, Allie? We even had a surprise send-off at the train station!"
Allie held her father's gaze, assessing him in the moment, then offered. "They gave Dad a key to the town and gave us a beautiful mantel clock to remember them by."
"How lovely!" Jane exclaimed. "I don't recall ever hearing of another town gifting a departing Mountie. They must think you very special."
"They are the ones who are special." Nathan cleared his throat in an effort to change the subject. "Tell us, how long have you lived in Regina?"
"For forever." Piped in Joshua. "I wish I could see the world like you have."
Nathan and Allie laughed. Nathan confessed, "If you mean see the Canadian world and its forts? That we have seen. But postings don't last long and our opportunities to see the scenery were often limited! Hope Valley was the first place that Allie and I could enjoy a home and nature and fishing and just small town life. Settling down has its advantages, Josh."
Jon and Jane exchanged a look, sensing there was a sadness and longing in the hearts of the Grants whenever Hope Valley was mentioned. Individually they planned to address this with Nathan when the children were not present.
"I guess…" Joshua was disappointed there wouldn't be stories of high adventure, robberies, gun fights and suspense, but decided to ask about that when his father wasn't around.
"So, how long is forever?" Nathan addressed the question to Jon.
"Jane and I met and married a year before I graduated. I was originally assigned to Headquarters here, then eventually promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Depot. We've been in Regina for a total of seventeen years. I'm guessing I probably graduated a class before or right after yours? 1904 Spring?"
Nathan grinned. "1904 Autumn for me. So if you have weathered so many years in Regina, you'll help Allie and me adjust? I was here for training of course, but since we've been together Allie and I haven't had any assignments in the plains."
"You'll get used to it. Just remember fall-winter-spring are all one season some years!" Jon advised. "Warm clothes and lots of hot chocolate, right children?"
"Lots of hot chocolate!" Sally contributed and giggled as Allie joined her.
"Speaking of chocolate, we have cake for dessert. Is everyone finished with their meal?" Jane questioned.
"Absolutely delicious, Jane. Thank you so much!" Nathan offered as he nudged Allie to help clear the dishes.
"Oh, let the children and me clear today. The first time you are guests, the next time we'll put you to work, eh? Children?" Jane motioned to the table and they each rose to complete their regular tasks. "Coffee or tea, Nathan? We'll have hot chocolate after we have soup and crackers later in the afternoon before the girls head off to Youth Group."
The chocolate cake was a hit and Allie immediately requested the recipe for her notebook.
"You have a book of recipes, Allie? I never thought of that." Sally turned to her mother. "Can we get a notebook for me to do that, Mom?"
"Of course. Maybe we should do a little cooking class for you young ladies. Would you like that?"
"We do that in our Home Economics class, Mom." Rachel contributed. Her tone was dismissive, but her words were controlled.
"So you do. We can always supplement though." She smiled at her daughter, recognizing that the teen would prefer to learn anything, anywhere away from home. Jane sighed, aware it was her daughter's age that was pulling her away. "You don't need to join us, my dear."
Jane glanced at her husband with a hurt expression, then back to her cup of coffee.
Nathan noticed the hardly perceptible communication and realized it was a parenting-a-teenager-issue he would have to ask about later. Nathan wanted to be prepared.
After dessert and clean-up, the Samuels and Grant families decided to play Dominoes. They had two games of Mexican Train going, one at each end of the dining table. The adults relaxed and chatted at their end of the table while the young people laughed loudly and enjoyed competing, making sure to never help another player. On this Sunday they were unaware, but this day was the beginning of a tradition as the families became closer over the coming months.
"Noooo, Allie! That's where I was going to put mine. Now look how many high numbers I am left with." Joshua pouted.
Nathan and Jane caught each other's eye and each pressed their lips together trying not to smile as Jon stood and called his son to come out of the room with him.
Nathan whispered to Jane. "Don't worry about Allie. She can handle competition, whether winning or losing. This will only make her more determined to win though!" He rolled his eyes at the ceiling causing Jane to let her grin escape.
"What games do you two play together? Or do you have other beloved activities?" Jane asked as they waited for Jon to return and take his turn.
"Let's see. Reading, music, fishing are the top three. Oh, and riding! Which comes first depends on the season! I carve and Allie loves to paint, much like her mother, so we sometimes share the space while working on different projects. I guess that's to be expected with just the two of us." Nathan glanced fondly at Allie. "But we have a lot of fun together."
When William and Grace took young Jack for a ride around Hope Valley before his nap, Elizabeth returned to her desk to continue her letter to Jack. Last evening she had tackled her assignment from Dr. Ben and completed a draft. In the stillness of the empty row house, Elizabeth reread her words.
'My Dearest Jack,
You have been gone for five years now and I think of you every day. Our son, Jack, is a beautiful little boy. Bright, funny, thoughtful and sweet. He has his moments though and those are when I could really use your help!
You see, I am still a single mother. I wrote and published a book about that, you know? But that season is over for me. I haven't any books left inside now. You see, I have been struggling and I had what they are calling a nervous breakdown. I am on the road of recovery now though and feeling more like my old self every day. But, that is why I am writing to you.
My doctor has suggested I write you a goodbye letter, Jack. I know you wrote one to me long ago, but I could never reciprocate. Partly because I was expecting and then mothering our son, and partly because I couldn't say goodbye. You will always be my first love, Jack, and I miss you so much.
But in your final letter you told me to move on and open my heart to love again. The whole idea was repugnant to me for a long time. And then I began friendships with two eligible bachelors in Hope Valley. I don't really want to go into details, but maybe you already know or have been watching from heaven sometimes? (I sort of hope not because you would be ashamed of the woman I became in recent years.)
Anyway, I rejected the love of a wonderful Mountie who expressed his love for me and little Jack. But first, let me get this out of the way. In rejecting the Mountie, I pursued a relationship with a businessman here in Hope Valley.
No. I realize I cannot make it look good for you… the truth is he was the Saloon-owner. Quite rich, and wooed me with candles and special dates. He even donated a library and helped me publish my book too. I fell for his charms and got engaged. But, Jack, I didn't really love him. He was convenient and reminded me of Hamilton and I liked the attention. But, he was not interested in our son and thereby caused me to neglect my time with little Jack. I mistreated Rosemary and Lee, Bill, and so many other friends in town and I was miserable. But I didn't understand how miserable I was until Nathan and Allie left.
You see Nathan is the Mountie. Eventually I learned he came to town to serve and protect me and little Jack, because of you, a fallen brother! That is the kind of man he is and his niece/daughter and I became close. We enjoyed a sweet friendship and I loved being Nathan's friend. He adored little Jack and made gifts for him, spent time with him, always gave him love and attention. For me, although only friends, Nathan always found the time to stop and talk, encourage me, compliment me on my teaching and told me I mattered to him. He even saved my life, twice! But, you see, Nathan is a Mountie. He was almost killed in a prisoner transfer gone wrong and that was when my fear set in.
You know how I said I wasn't strong enough to love you? Well, this time I really wasn't strong enough. When Nathan declared his love for me, I ran. I told him I couldn't lose him like I lost you. I hurt him terribly and hurt his sweet daughter too. I ran from him to Lucas, the Saloon-owner, and my friendship with Nathan withered and died. He was always patient, kind, gave me space and support from a distance and never pushed or hurried me. He recognized I needed to grieve you, Jack, and he allowed me to talk about you all the time.
But after I got engaged, Nathan and Allie left town. He was promoted to S/S/M and they moved to Depot where he is an instructor. You see, Nathan Grant is an excellent Mountie, well-known and held in high regard. He was willing to leave the Mounties for me, but now I am thankful he didn't do that.
My point is I realize what I most feared happened. I loved and lost you, then I loved and lost Nathan. Breaking off my engagement with Lucas meant nothing compared to Nathan's departure. So much is becoming clear now though and, although I now know that I love Nathan, I wonder if it is too late.'
Elizabeth picked up her pen to continue the letter.
'I have many apologies to make, including to Nathan and his daughter, Allie, and have been meeting with our pastor and learning about God's love in deeper ways. So, I believe God has a plan. I just wish I knew what it was. I am working on repairing the damage to my other Hope Valley relationships and learning to forgive my parents. Yes, they finally came to visit and are here helping with Jack and me.
I am on leave from teaching and don't know what my future looks like. Teaching isn't important right now. My work is now my recovery and loving our son. Without teaching and writing, my only dream is that I can tell Nathan I love him and he will tell me he still loves me. That's all.
If this letter is scattered it is because I cannot condense all the years since you have been gone into one letter. But, the important thing is that I can now say I have finally done as you requested… I have opened my heart to love again. I don't know what that means for the future, but for right now I have peace knowing that fact and knowing I have fulfilled your wish for me.
Thank you, Jack, for your friendship and love. Thank you for the gift of little Jack. Thank you for seeing me and working through my defenses and fears, showing me what love means. I am still sorting through my feelings and fears about the Mounties, but I know you were an honorable man who served with little thought of yourself. That is both wonderful and horrible for the one who loved you, but I am learning to trust God has a plan now.
So, this is my final goodbye to you, Jack.
I miss and love you and promise to raise little Jack to know about you and become a son you can be proud of too.
Yours, Elizabeth'
Putting down her pen, Elizabeth realized she was not weeping. She really was at peace and a Scripture verse came to her mind. 'Peace I leave with you,' Elizabeth hadn't thought of that verse in a very long time. '…My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' (*6)
Leaning back in her chair, Elizabeth prayed softly.
'Thank you, Lord, for giving me peace. Thank you for helping me through these troubles and I ask you to keep me from fear. Thank you for Jack and his love, and for little Jack who is the result of that love. Thank you for enlightening me. Thank you for Nathan and sweet Allie. Help me know what You want me to do.
I choose to trust you. Amen.'
After a few moments, Elizabeth folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope. She wrote 'To Jack' on the front and set it aside. Withdrawing more paper from her drawer, she began a note of apology to Bill and once finished, she wrote one to Rosemary. When her parents returned with Jack, Elizabeth was ready to put him in bed for a nap and then asked if her parents could stay so she could go next door and see Rosemary.
(*6) John 14:27, King James Version, Public Domain
