Chapter Forty-two

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Family History

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Zachary was waiting when Nathan pulled into the parking lot standing with his hands behind his back and feet apart, looking every bit a Mountie except without his uniform. His dark blue overcoat was open so Nathan saw Zach was dressed in a medium blue shirt, brown slacks and suspenders and his shirt was unbuttoned at the top. Nathan chuckled to himself when he saw his wardrobe choices, thinking to himself, 'More confirmation we are brothers!'

Nathan pulled to a stop and reached over to open the door from the inside. "Hello, Zach!"

Climbing in, Zach greeted Nathan. "Hello, there." Admiring the car, he continued. "This is a sharp vehicle you have!"

"Isn't it? It's my first vehicle and purchased shortly after we arrived in Regina, so I still admire it myself. By the way, Allie has named it! Midnight." Nathan glanced at Zach as he pulled onto the road. "You'll have to ask her about that!"

"I am looking forward to meeting her, Nathan, and to getting to know you both. This all feels really strange to me though."

"We're all adjusting, Zach, so we'll take our time, ask lots of questions and eventually we'll all feel natural together. We were not expecting this."

"No. We sure weren't. Thank you for arranging for today, though, Nathan. I really need to start getting some answers!"

"Did you have any trouble from your Troop?"

"I got up extra early to finish my duties, cleaning my section in the barracks and I traded my stable responsibilities with a friend so I could clean the latrine, then participated in the morning drill. When everyone returned to the barracks to rest before lunch, I just quietly slipped out. I may have questions to answer when I return this evening, but one thing at a time."

"We can discuss what and how much you want to reveal later in the day, Zach, so don't worry about that now. Do you have any questions before we get home to Allie?"

"How old is she?"

"She'll be fifteen on Wednesday."

"You told me her birthday was coming up but I haven't been able to get to town to get her anything. One of my colleagues has sisters, so let me take a few new hair ribbons I can replace next time I am in town. Do you think she will like those? I don't know what to get for a teenage girl."

"That's very thoughtful, Zach, although not necessary. You can give them to her at dessert tonight. Hair ribbons will be fine. In my experience you can never have enough!" Nathan reached one hand into his overcoat pocket and withdrew a shiny satin ribbon. "You see? I have to be prepared. I'm a father to a girl!"

"Yeah. I was raised with my mother and an elderly aunt, so although with women, I'm not used to young women, except for school of course."

"Well, Allie has an effervescent personality so she'll make you right at home. She is extremely excited to have a real uncle, by the way. She hasn't had that for a couple years now, since I became her dad."

"What was that like? To raise a child I mean."

"She was four when she came to me and in the beginning it was trial and error for a long time. Gratefully, Allie is resilient and we gradually found our way together. We grieved and we healed together. God provided people to watch her when I was working in each fort where we were stationed, but it was hard for her to move so frequently. She didn't settle-in to make friends until we moved to Hope Valley, four years ago. I'm thankful she is making good friends very quickly here in Regina and that eases my burden somewhat." Nathan paused then admitted. "I love her as though she was my own child, Zach. She is my delight and blessing. I thought all the benefit would be hers as I protected, provided and cared for that little girl, but in truth? As much as I gave I received tenfold."

"How old were you when you took in Allie?"

"Twenty-four."

"Wow! Just a few years older than I am!" Zachary watched Nathan, taking it all in. He was aware that his big brother had an admirable reputation as a Mountie around the Academy, but now he saw Nathan was an admirable man.


"Here we are!" Nathan declared as he turned the car into the driveway. Pointing to the large house, he explained that was where the Commissioner and his wife lived. "Maybe I can bring you over there later to officially meet them both. But for now, this is where Allie and I live." Nathan directed his gaze to the Cottage and pulled on the brake. "It's small but adequate for now! Come on."

Zachary nervously followed Nathan onto the porch and was startled as the door swung open.

"Hi Dad! Hi Uncle Zach!" Allie bubbled over enthusiastically, hugging Nathan and then opening her arms to hug Zach.

As Zach welcomed her hug, he hugged back closing his eyes and absorbing the love. Nathan observed Zach's eyes glistened when they each pulled away. "Hello, Allie."

"This is soooo exciting!" Allie enthused.

Nathan reached for Zach's coat, and a moment later Allie grabbed his hand. "Let's do a tour before we eat, okay?"

Looking at Nathan questioningly Zach saw Nathan grin and shrug. "Go ahead…" Nathan commented as he motioned to follow Allie, then followed them himself.

"We'll start in my room." Allie tugged on Zach's hand.

Zach entered a room that obviously belonged to a teenage girl! What he was most drawn to though were the paintings. "These are beautiful, Allie! Did someone paint them for you?"

Allie looked at her father and at his nod, she explained. "My mother painted these! Colleen, your sister, Uncle Zach, and I agree they are beautiful."

Zach let go of Allie's hand and went to examine the paintings closely. He took in the direction of the brush strokes, the subtle use of color, the contrasting highlights and shadows that breathed life into the scenes and the treatment of the subjects as if they were well-loved. Whispering to Allie, he asked, "Do you know where this is?"

"Dad knows. I was too little to remember. Dad?" Allie requested Nathan tell the story.

"That is a view from the main entrance of our barn. It looks as it always did in my youth. Colleen and I grew up on a horse ranch just outside of Calgary and it was a beautiful place."

"Colleen also painted those." Nathan pointed to an arrangement of four smaller canvases, each showing a different scene in a different season. "They are vignettes from the ranch."

"These are wonderful. Your sister was very talented."

"She was. But, Zach, she was our sister, your sister too." Nathan quietly reminded him.

Looking at Nathan, but making no comment on Nathan's correction, Zach asked quietly. "Do you have a photograph of her?"

"We have some. But in truth, except for Allie's brown eyes, she looks just like her mother."

Zach looked at Allie with renewed interest. "You are very pretty, so Colleen must have been as well."

Allie blushed and looked at her dad.

Nathan rescued her from her embarrassment. "'Pretty' is definitely the right word! Come see my room and a couple of Colleen's other paintings." Nathan motioned for Zach to follow him.

Zach turned around to follow Nathan, but stopped momentarily to address Allie. "Don't be embarrassed, Allie. I was just speaking the truth." And although unused to dealing with a niece, Zach did remember teen girls from school so he winked and smiled the Grant half-smile!


Back in the front room, Nathan showed Colleen's other paintings and her photograph on the mantle while Allie took the sandwiches she had prepared out from the icebox, along with three bottles of Canada Dry pale ginger ale. She added a bowl of fruit to the table and a small plate of cookies before announcing, "We are ready to eat."

Nathan pulled out the chair for Zach, then for Allie and was seated himself. "Zach, I don't know how you were raised, but we always hold hands and give thanks for our food." He opened his hands to Allie and Zach.

Zach smiled and agreed, extending his hands. "Same here."

After Nathan blessed the food and gave thanks for this new family member, they all pronounced "Amen."

Over lunch they got to know each other's histories with both Allie and Nathan asking Zach about his family, childhood and schooling. Zach had only had his mother, grandfather and great aunt, all deceased. There were a few distant cousins left in the Edmonton area, but they only wrote at Christmas.

Zach had enjoyed school, excelled in math, art, music and track. "I know, quite a combination! I just have an affinity for math, without really trying. I enjoy watercolor and my mother was a pianist. She taught a few neighborhood children for extra income and taught me piano as well. I learned guitar after learning three chords from a friend, so on guitar I am sort of self-taught."

Nathan and Allie grinned at each other. "We are musical too! I play the guitar and Allie is beginning to learn. We both sing and we take after Dad for that. He has a beautiful tenor voice!"

"Baseball is my favorite sport, but Allie what about you?" Nathan asked.

"I love volleyball, badminton and tennis. I'm going to learn archery at school here! And in the winter, I love to ice-skate!"

"I do too!" Zach agreed. "I wonder if there is any location here in Regina for ice-skating?"

"I can ask some of my friends." Offered Allie. "What is your favorite part of track? We will have that in the spring at St. Anne's."

"For track I just love to run, outside in nature, not inside of course! I am enjoying learning to ride a horse though," Zach explained. "That is a new experience as I always lived in the city and we relied on wagons, sleighs or electric trams."

"We love to ride. Of course Dad rode every day as a Constable, but I learned too. Hope Valley was small enough that we mostly walked everywhere though."

"Tell me about Hope Valley?" Zach looked at Allie.

Nathan raised his eyebrows, questioning Allie and she responded, explaining the town's history, the main businesses, the combination school and church, ending with descriptions of their friends. Completing her description, Allie concluded, "We try not to think about it a lot, but we miss our friends."

As he started to thank Allie for the lunch she had prepared, Zach noticed the tender looks between Nathan and Allie. "Thank you for a delicious lunch, Allie? It feels like home with you two and I appreciate it."

"You sure you don't want the last cookie, Uncle Zach?" Allie handed the plate to him. "We don't need it and you are probably working really hard right now."

"Okay, I will. They're delicious and thank you." As he munched the cookie he tried to figure out how to begin questions about the Grant family and his father, but Nathan was a step ahead of him.

"Zach, as soon as you finish your cookie, let's get comfortable in the front room. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea? I can put the kettle on." Nathan offered as Allie stood to collect the plates.

"Coffee would be great, if it's not too much trouble? Thank you." He polished off his cookie and stood to help collect the dishes. "Please let me help with the dishes? I will really feel at home doing that!" Zach chuckled then more soberly answered Nathan's suggestion. "Thank you, Nathan. I have so many questions about the Grants."

"Okay, we'll all get the dishes washed quickly! I don't doubt you have questions. I will do my best to tell you all I can, Zach, though it isn't all pretty." Nathan replied knowing it would be a difficult discussion.

"I'm thinking there is unpleasant truth in everyone's family. But thank you." Zach took the dishtowel that Nathan handed him.

"Before we get into that, I want to tell you about tonight." While Allie wrapped the leftover food and washed the dining table, Nathan handed Zach a rinsed dish.

"Judge Bill Avery, from Hope Valley, is a dear friend, colleague, mentor to me and uncle to Allie and he is visiting us right now. This afternoon he and his lady friend are preparing our dinner at her place and will bring it over later to share dinner together here. Judge Avery may have you call him Bill, and Adeline will probably have you call her Adeli. We're just getting to know her as Bill and she have just reunited after five years apart, so we've spent some special times together this past week or so. They really want to meet you." Nathan explained. "Allie and I just wanted this private time with you today, but you will meet them this evening. So, just a forewarning."

"Okay, thanks. I feel as if I should be taking notes though with all the names and places and all. I hope you will excuse me if I have to ask questions over again in the future?" Zach held up a dry plate and Allie pointed to the correct cupboard.

"Of course. We are condensing a lifetime into an afternoon. We expect we'll have to repeat things in the future. And, Zach? There is no test or timeline." Nathan assured him. "We just want you to know some things and fit-in when you are ready and feel comfortable."

"Well, I actually already feel comfortable with you and Allie." Zach confessed shyly.

Nathan laughed, "I told you Allie's bubbly personality would work its magic on you!"

"Not just Allie, Nathan. Your quiet strength, forthrightness and love are a part of that too. I confess I gravitate towards the more quiet types myself, although Allie is spunky and fun and I appreciate her enthusiasm."

Nathan smiled, accepted the compliment without comment and changed the subject. "Allie has some homework to complete this afternoon, so we'll have some time to ourselves. With church tomorrow and Youth Group in the evening, she has to have everything finished on Saturday."

"Oh? Where do you attend church?"

"We attended Chapel at Depot the first Sunday and ever since have been finding our place at Knox Presbyterian Church in town." Explained Nathan. "What is your church background?"

Zachary laughed. "It must be in the blood! I was raised Presbyterian as well, although there was a time when we attended the Baptist Church for a couple months when there was an interim pastor my mother didn't agree with!"

"Unfortunately that happens. The important thing is our personal faith in Christ though, and daily practice of our faith in our everyday choices, not our label." Nathan paused thoughtfully. "Allie and I have worshiped in gothic cathedrals with soaring ceilings, impressive pipe organs and stained glass as well as in simple country churches where we could see the clouds in the sky through clear glass windows. I've felt at home in either location and felt God's presence too."

"What kind of church did you have in your previous assignment? Hope Valley, right?"

"Allie?" Nathan wanted to included her. "You want to describe it?"

"It was both a church and a school, Uncle Zach." Allie responded having re-entered the kitchen and leaned against the Hoosier cabinet. "For Sundays and weddings, they covered the chalkboard and bulletin boards with velvet curtains, moved our school books from our desks and used the teacher's desk for an altar table with a cloth over it. Then it was back to being our one-room schoolhouse Monday through Friday. It seemed normal when we lived there. Now it seems… I don't know maybe quaint?" Allie laughed softly. "They're almost ready to open a new big school now. I'm sorry I won't get to see it…"

Recognizing it might be good to distract Allie, Zach questioned. "Quaint, eh? And were the windows colorful or clear? And did you have an organ or…?"

"Clear windows and only a piano. But one of my friends, her name is Angela and she's blind, played the piano as though you were in a concert hall. She's really good!"

"Wow. Blind? She must be naturally gifted and have a phenomenal memory!"

"Oh she does. She even keeps up with our classes, although she has to remind us sometimes that she can't read the chalkoard!"

Recognizing Allie was getting nostalgic, Nathan changed the subject and brought Allie back to Regina. "What are you reading for today's homework, Honey?"

Zach added trying to get to know his niece a bit more. "A subject you like I hope?"

"I like almost all of my subjects, but Art, English, Music and Home Economics are my favorites. This afternoon I have to read and answer questions on 'Evangeline' by Longfellow. Did you ever read it?"

"I don't think so, but I do know who Longfellow is, so that's a start!" Zach laughed and was joined by Allie and Nathan as they completed their clean-up.

"Enjoy your reading, Allie." Nathan patted her shoulder as she turned to head to her room.

"Okay. Enjoy your talk." Responded Allie seriously.

"Coffee's brewed, Zach, so are you ready to head into the other room?" Nathan poured him a cup of coffee asking about sugar or cream.

"A little sugar makes it palatable for me. I'm not a hardened Mountie yet!" Zach grinned.

"Uh, oh. I guess I am. You may find there isn't time to add the extras on watch so you drink it strong by necessity!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Nathan, I didn't mean to imply…" Zach colored, afraid he had just insulted his brother.

"Relax, brother! No offense taken. I was just speaking from experience! I have been known to add some cream and/or chocolate on a relaxing Saturday morning or a special holiday!"

"Whew!" Zach breathed out in a sigh.


The men settled in the front room as Allie closed her bedroom so she could study.

"So, let me start in the beginning. Now this is my history, so only one half of it is our father, Archer's history." Nathan went on to describe his father's upbringing which was rather sad as Archer's father, James, was absent a good part of Archer's life. He shared about Archer's move from Medicine Hat to Calgary and his parents' falling-in-love and marrying young. "Dad became a ranch hand on a horse ranch where Mom and he lived in a small house. When his aptitude for numbers was discovered, the owner had him working on the books for the ranch. That led him to a more lucrative opportunity working in a bank. Dad's downfall was a desire to get money faster than he could earn it and he began to gamble. I understand he was good at it, but he didn't know when to stop. Probably common with gamblers. By this time, Colleen and I had come along so Dad had a family of four to support."

"Dad was never a fighter, so when he owed a debt and they came after him to collect, Dad was roughed up pretty badly and took the blame for instigating the fight. For that he only got a few days in the local jail and returned to the job at the bank. As his debts rose over the years, Dad became more desperate and began to pawn family belongings, like jewelry and silver items from the old country. When that wasn't producing enough…"

Nathan looked at Zach who was trying to imagine all this.

"Be prepared, Zach." Nathan watched Zach carefully. "Dad stole from the Bank where he was employed. And he was caught." Nathan paused to let that sink in. "I was ten and Colleen was twelve when Dad was arrested and taken away for the first time. He was tried and sentenced to a couple of years in prison." Nathan leaned forward, elbows on his knees and ran his fingers through the sides of his dark hair.

Zach just sat speechless. He didn't know what he expected to learn about his father, but this wasn't it.

"When Dad was released from the prison in Edmonton, he met your mother and you were conceived." Nathan still cringed to say these things about his father. "Dad said he left town that next morning and returned to Calgary. He did probation work in town and didn't return to the farm until a year later." Nathan's voice cracked as he explained. "He left my Mom, Colleen and me with no source of income and a shameful reputation as the wife and children of a thief. Mom was gifted with horses and the ranch owner allowed us to remain on the property and paid Mom to train the horses, while Colleen and I did odd chores, keeping chickens and mucking out stalls and shining saddles and tack. No one said it to me, but I thought I had to be the man of the house and did everything I could do help my mother. Working extra jobs for the ranch owner on weekends helped my contributions to the family income and Colleen sold a few paintings in town."

"I didn't know it until years later, but we also had a benefactor that sent a monthly stipend to us and Mom saved that so that Dad knew nothing about it. Dad couldn't return to work at the bank of course, but his math skills opened the door for him to work on the books for some local businesses. The General Store was his main source of income and from what I know, he was honest and free of gambling for a few years. Then something changed, and our belongings began to go missing again even as Dad had to work late a lot. The worst was a ruby brooch that he had given to Mom as an engagement gift. When that disappeared Mom's hurt was devastating. Colleen and I hurt right along with her and I remember her sobbing behind closed doors after she thought Colleen and I were asleep. We eventually overheard a heated argument and learned about the brooch. Dad always promised he would buy it back as soon as the next paycheque came in. He never did."

"Mom allowed him back in the house on conditions which, mercifully, I never heard, but arguments became more frequent. Dad ended up in jail again two more times and finally Mom wouldn't let him return. His empty promises were not only hurting her, but Colleen and me too. By the time I was eighteen and joined the Mounties, Dad had been in and out of jail. Mom and I had saved enough money to purchase the house and a portion of the ranch which was enough for her to continue training and boarding horses. Colleen had married Dylan Parks and they had little Allie. I was already serving at a Fort by then, so only saw her once when she was a baby. She won my heart though, immediately." Nathan blinked to keep his emotions under control.

"Dad's last and most recent prison sentence was for ten years, again in Edmonton. Mom wouldn't let him return and had stopped corresponding with Dad by the time Colleen passed, so I found his location through the Mounties and sent him a letter to inform him. Allie and I were in Hope Valley when he was released and he managed to find me through the Mounties. I was not happy when he showed up in town, didn't trust him and didn't want him anywhere near Allie. I was in Mountie- and Father-protective mode and was stubborn. When Allie discovered her Grandpa was in town, she pleaded to see him and to hear stories of her mother."

"Dad was accused of stealing a necklace from a hotel in a town in which he had stayed on his way to Hope Valley. Long story short I had to arrest him and jail him. When I investigated the theft I discovered it was another thief known to Dad, but Dad was not involved. I found the stolen necklace, arrested the man and returned to Hope Valley to release my father. If my youth was difficult, this was twenty-times-over as difficult."

"I was afraid Allie would be hurt by him, his empty promises and his lies, but it turned out Dad was telling the truth. He had an encounter with God in prison and really had changed. Since then he worked up north for a while, then returned to Calgary and found his way back to Mom. They have been back together for a while now and Dad is doing well. He found work in the office of a clothing store and has stayed away from playing cards and gambling."

"I don't know when, but Dad had already confessed about his unfaithfulness to Mom, telling her about when he spent the night with your mother. He said she had forgiven him for that. He also told her about you after I called to tell him I had met you. They are working through that together."

Nathan sat up straight and rolled his neck and shoulders, releasing tension he was unaware he'd been holding-in. "Go ahead with your questions, Zach."

"Your father had just gotten out of prison when he met my mother?"

"Yes. I understand he had a train ticket for the following day, so needing overnight accommodations was true." Nathan nodded.

"Did he say anything to you about my mother?" Zach asked quietly.

"He wanted to know if your mother was still living."

"Oh."

"Remember he had no idea of your existence so this was a complete shock." Nathan mentioned.

"He was very concerned if she or you were angry or not. I told him you didn't appear to be at the time." Watching his brother closely, Nathan added. "Are you angry?"

"Not really. I mean it is not his fault he didn't know about me, although he bears some responsibility for the night with my mother and himself." Zach paused. "But my mother was never angry and felt she had been given a blessing to have me, so if she wasn't angry I shouldn't be."

"I'm glad." Nathan was relieved.

"Does your father want to meet me?"

"He does. I spoke to him briefly from work. Both Dad and Mom want to see you, although I am uncertain if Mom will also come for such a quick trip. Dad is working on arrangements for time off from his job so he can come visit soon and Superintendent Tim will arrange for some time off for you to meet Dad when that time comes. How are you feeling about meeting Dad?"

"Just the thought has me very nervous, Nathan. I can't imagine what I will feel like on that day!" Zach's eyes were shining, and his voice trembling. "Will you be there too? I wouldn't want to meet him, or your mother, alone."

"If you and Dad want me to be there I will be. Dad is a gregarious man, so once you meet and both get over your initial nerves, I would guess he'll have a lot to say!"

Nathan and Zach talked comfortably, each asking and answering questions for a couple of hours. Eventually, noticing the mantel clock was approaching four o'clock, Nathan asked if Zachary would like to talk to his father on the telephone.

Startled, Zach sucked in a breath. "Ahhh… I don't think I am ready for that yet, Nathan. I would prefer to write some letters first. That gives me time to be sure of my questions and/or answers. Is that okay?"

"Of course. I didn't even mention I might try to call, so they're not expecting one. I will give you his address and telephone number, just in case you want to call him at some point?" Nathan smiled reassuringly. "Now might be a good time to go up to the main house and meet Commissioner and Mrs. Collins though. Okay?" Nathan stood.

"Okay. Should I salute the Commissioner even though I am not in uniform?" Zachary stood and straightened his shirt, checking the mirror by the door to be certain his hair was okay.

"No need since neither of you are on duty, Zach. Just shake hands." Nathan moved to the hallway and called to Allie. "Allie-girl? We are going up to see Grampa Peter and Gramma Carol. They want to meet Uncle Zach. Uncle Bill and Aunt Adeli should be here within the hour, so if you can set the table, that would be great. Thanks."

"Okay, Dad." Allie immerged from her room. "See you soon." She waved.

"See you, Allie." As they started up the path, Zach asked. "Grampa and Gramma? Are you related?"

Nathan chuckled. "Well, you might think so, but not really. We are just an ever-expanding extended family!"