Gabe shivered in the cold wind as he dug through yet another collapsed building. It had been nearly a week since he'd arrived in Lytton. A severe windstorm had swept through the town, along with a freak tornado that leveled nearly every structure on the main street. Buildings not touched by the tornado had been blown apart or severely damaged by the wind.

"A tornado," Gabe muttered, shaking his head. Tornadoes were rare occurrences in British Columbia. Very rare. For one to have swept through a town in late November was mind-boggling. The residents of Lytton had panicked, not that he blamed them. The town was decimated, with a high casualty rate. Gabe and several other Mounties had been called in to help with search and rescue. While they had found some people alive within the rubble, too often they uncovered bodies that would have to wait for proper burial when the clean up was complete.

Gabe's heart hurt from all the chaos, devastation, and death that descended on Lytton in one wild, force-of-nature storm. His lungs hurt too, though he wasn't sure if it was from working in the freezing rain for three days straight or from the constant clenching of his heart in his chest. There was no one here to talk to about the sorrow he felt. He missed his family.

Most of all, he missed Colleen.

He focused on her sweet face in his mind as he worked. Her honey blonde hair that curled just slightly at the bottom. Her green eyes that were all too easy to drown in. Her beautiful smile that made him feel like anything was possible.

She was the subject of his dreams at night. He thought about her all day. While he was focused on his job here, he couldn't wait to get back home.

A cough shook him from his thoughts. The burning in his lungs intensified before tapering off a bit. Gabe paused in his work to catch his breath. The freezing air burned his throat, while the constant hum of rain poured around him. When he first arrived, it had been snowing. But then snow turned to rain, and Gabe decided he much preferred snow. At least that didn't soak him through and make the cold seep into his very bones.

He coughed again. This time, he dropped his shovel, resting his hands against his knees as he attempted to breathe. Just as he filled his lungs once more with freezing oxygen, someone called his name.

"Kinslow!"

He glanced up, seeing Superintendent Reeser looking at him. "Yes, sir?" he asked, standing straight at attention.

"Ease up, man," Reeser said. "You sound awful."

"I think it's just an effect of the weather," Gabe replied. "The cough only started today."

His supervisor studied him, then shook his head. "You've been here an entire week, Kinslow. You said you have a family waiting for you back in Hope Valley?"

Gabe nodded. Reeser nodded back. "Go home, son. Rest up and take care of that cough before it gets worse."

Relief flooded Gabe, but he looked around. There was still so much to be done. "Are you sure, sir?"

"Yes," Reeser said firmly. "As of ten minutes ago, we have accounted for everyone in this town, whether dead or alive. Your work here is done. The rest of the boys can finish up, and we have some fresh men coming in to help with the rebuilding process. I'm releasing you from this mission."

"Thank you, sir," Gabe said. "I appreciate that."

Reeser chuckled. "I'm sure your wife will as well."

Gabe saluted sharply. Reeser returned the gesture. "Safe travels, Kinslow."

Suddenly feeling tired, Gabe nodded in response. He walked to the stables, where he returned the shovel and then prepared Apollo for travel. It was a long ride back to Hope Valley. If he was fortunate and rode hard, he wouldn't have to find a hotel along the way.

He glanced down at his rain-soaked clothes, wondering if he should change into something dry before leaving. One look out the stable door told him that would be pointless. The rain had picked up. If he changed into dry clothes, he would be soaked again within five minutes, despite his rain slicker. Steeling himself for a cold ride, Gabe saddled his horse.

Elizabeth sat on the floor of her living room, laughing as she watched her kitten explore. The ball of fur was still nameless, as Elizabeth was having a hard time deciding what to call her. "Kitty" seemed to be working for the time being.

Nathan finished stirring a pot of chili on the stove, then came to sit beside her. They were near the fireplace, which was warm and cheery to keep out the chill of the late November evening. "Dinner will be ready soon," he said, planting a kiss on Elizabeth's cheek.

She smiled at him. "Thank you for cooking tonight," she said. "That was very kind of you."

He grinned. "Thank you for letting me use your kitchen. Mine is rather dismal."

She chuckled, thinking of the tiny stove in his apartment. "That it is."

He wrapped an arm around her loosely. "If we ever have a place of our own, I think a big kitchen is in order." He stopped talking suddenly, as if he realized what he just said. "That is…I mean…uhh…"

The unspoken promise of marriage that rested in his words made Elizabeth's stomach dance. She smiled at him, resting a hand on his arm. "I agree," she said simply. Feeling completely comfortable with him, she spoke her heart. "Is that where we're headed, Nathan? Do you see a future with me?"

His eyes were calm and steady as he looked at her. No fear marred them. "Yes, Elizabeth," he said softly. "I wouldn't be in this relationship if I didn't see a future for us."

"Me neither," she replied, getting lost in his eyes. Nathan leaned down, kissing her gently. She returned it willingly. After a few moments, he broke away as their kiss began to veer into passionate territory. "Okay," he said, running a hand through his hair and scooting away from her. "We should stop before things get out of hand."

She nodded, knowing he was right. Her heart was already pounding faster than it had a right to. "So, a summer wedding?" she asked casually, wondering what his reaction would be.

Nathan choked. "What?" he gasped, staring at her.

She chuckled, patting his knee. "Calm down, Nathan. I was teasing you." She eyed him. "Sort of."

He floundered for words. Elizabeth took pity on him, though she was amused at his flustered reaction. It told her a lot. Her cat pounced on her foot, giving her the perfect opportunity to change the subject. "What should we name this little girl?"

"We?" Nathan asked, still looking like a fish out of water.

Elizabeth fought a laugh. "Yes, we. If things progress between us, she'll be your cat too someday. We should give her a name we both like."

Amazingly, that seemed to calm Nathan's nerves. He smiled first at her, then at the kitten, who made her way into his lap. Purring in contentment, she curled up and went to sleep. Nathan ran his hands through her fur, looking as enchanted with the sweet animal as Elizabeth was. "Maybe we could name her after one of our literary heroes?" he suggested.

Loving the idea, Elizabeth nodded. "Any in particular?"

He thought for a moment. "We both love Emily Dickinson." His lips pursed. "Though Emily doesn't exactly seem like the right name for this cat."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Not really." She tilted her head, studying the tiny animal. "We also both like Austen novels."

Nathan nodded. "We do. And we share a favorite in Mansfield Park."

"Because we both admire Fanny's moral character," Elizabeth said. She paused, thinking for a moment. "What about Fanny?"

Nathan looked down at the cat, testing the name out loud. He wrinkled his nose. "She doesn't look like a Fanny."

A loud shriek split the evening air, sending the hairs on Elizabeth's arms raising even as the kitten woke, growling low in its throat and hissing at the door. Nathan quickly went to investigate. He opened the door, and the shriek sounded again. The kitten bolted to the door with him, letting out a tiny yowl of her own, her tail puffed to five times its normal size. Nathan bent down, picking her up and petting her gently. "I think it's a mountain lion," he said. "It sounds close."

Elizabeth joined him at the door. "Oh!" she exclaimed, catching her breath. The mountain lion was the farthest thing from her mind.

The sun had just set, with twilight resting over the valley. In the fading light, a thick mist hung over the meadow in front of the row houses, eerie and romantic at the same time. It was beautiful.

"I love mist," she said, resting her head against Nathan's shoulder.

"Mist," he murmured thoughtfully. "It is lovely. And it's kind of gray, isn't it?"

She looked up. "Basically. I always thought of it as a grayish-white."

Nathan smiled, holding up the cat. "Like her?"

Elizabeth looked from the kitten to the mist. They matched perfectly. She smiled. "Yes, actually. Just like her."

Settling the kitten in the crook of his arm while looping his other arm around her shoulders, Nathan smiled easily. "Why don't we call her Misty?"

The little cat meowed in response, looking up at Nathan with her big yellow-green eyes. Elizabeth chuckled. "I think she likes it." She ran her fingers through the kitten's fur. "Hello, Misty. Are you happy to have a name?"

Misty butted her head against Elizabeth's hand, then began licking her fingers. Nathan laughed, shutting the door against the cold and drawing them back to the warmth of the fire. "Our kitten has a name."

Elizabeth's heart warmed to hear him talking about Misty as theirs. She knew it was subconscious, but as he murmured gently to the tiny kitten, she wondered if a summer wedding was such a novel concept after all. It wasn't even December, and they knew they loved each other. Nathan was still working through his fears and insecurities, but he had made a lot of progress in a short time. Once he stopped fighting his love for her, it seemed his healing began in earnest.

When they started eating the chili and cornbread that Nathan had made, Elizabeth decided to broach the subject. "Nathan?"

He looked at her with a tender smile. "Yes?"

She covered his hand with one of hers. "How are you?"

He raised a brow. "Fine. Why?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't mean in general. I meant how are you doing as far as your fears go?"

"Ahh." Nathan sat back in his chair, turning his hand over to clasp her fingers in his. They sat quietly as he ruminated. Elizabeth knew he was collecting his thoughts, so she waited patiently for him to do so.

When he spoke, his voice was low. "I've learned to let go of my fears of failing you," he said. "Gabe tells me everyday that I will fail, and ironically enough, that's been working to show me that perfection is an illusion." He rubbed the pads of his fingers against her hand. "He's also working to show me that I'm not my father, that my choices are my own. That will determine what kind of husband and father I someday become." He smiled at her then, and she got lost in his gaze.

"He's right," she said quietly. "That is completely up to you."

He nodded, a small smile on his face. "I can see that now," he admitted. "I won't lie – the prospect of getting married still scares me a bit."

Elizabeth chuckled. "I noticed. Your reaction to my summer wedding comment was proof of that."

He looked sheepish. "That was a knee-jerk reaction," he said. "I promise the thought of marrying you is not a bad one." He paused, then looked into her eyes. "In fact, it's entirely appealing."

Elizabeth's heart jumped. To be speaking of marriage with a man less than six months after meeting him seemed strange, but it also felt right. She and Jack hadn't even had a date six months after they'd met. With Nathan, after six months she was contemplating forever with him. She shook her head. The timeline for love was unpredictable and beautiful.

Nathan's eyes shuddered. "You don't think so?"

She blinked, frowning. "Oh, I do! I absolutely do. Why did you think I don't feel the same?"

He bit his lip. "You shook your head."

Elizabeth raised his hand to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. "I was shaking my head because I couldn't believe how fast we fell in love," she said softly. "I can easily see a life with you, Nathan. I can see us getting married and having a family and spending the rest of our lives getting to know each other." She leaned forward. "I love you."

His throat worked. He closed the distance between them and kissed her, then rested his forehead against hers. "Part of me can't believe that I'm fortunate enough to have your love," he said. "My fears might have faded, but my insecurities still have a hold." He kissed her again, then pulled back to look in her eyes. "But there's one fear that won't let me go, Elizabeth." He cupped her cheek. "I'm terrified that I could lose you."

She leaned into his touch. "You know I am the last person who would tell you that you won't lose me," she said quietly. "None of us knows what the future holds." Her eyes held his, hoping he would find some comfort in her words. "What we do know is that we love each other. We know we want to spend our lives together. All we can do is take each day we're given and make it the best it can be."

Nathan slid from his chair, kneeling in front of her and resting his head in her lap as his arms encircled her. Elizabeth was momentarily surprised, not sure what he was doing. He made no move to say anything. She slowly began running her fingers through his hair, letting him rest, waiting for him to speak. When he finally looked up at her, his eyes were shining with tears.

"I want to ask you to marry me right now," he said, his voice husky with emotion. "But I won't. Not yet. You deserve a proper proposal."

Elizabeth started to protest, but Nathan laid a finger against her lips. "Soon," he promised softly. He reached into his pocket, drawing out a small box. "I hadn't planned on giving this to you yet. I was waiting for a special moment." A little smile lit his eyes. "But this moment seems pretty special." He handed her the box. "Open it."

She did. A beautiful gold necklace rested inside, with a ruby pendant surrounded by tiny diamonds. Elizabeth's mouth dropped. "Nathan," she whispered, looking at him with wide eyes. "It's gorgeous."

He smiled. "It was my great-grandmother's," he said. "My mother gave it to me when I turned eighteen, telling me to give it to the woman I would one day marry. I still don't know why this particular heirloom went to me. Joshua and Colleen each got something precious as well." He took the necklace from the box. "This is my promise to you," he said solemnly, standing to move behind her and fasten the stunning piece of jewelry around her neck. "My promise to love you forever." Elizabeth held up her hair as Nathan secured the clasp. When he came back around, he knelt before her again, taking both of her hands. "You are my forever," he whispered.

Elizabeth leaned forward, kissing him for several long moments. The fire crackled and popped, making them jump and then laugh. Tears were sparkling in her eyes as she looked at him. "This is the best gift I've ever been given," she said. "Thank you."

A question flitted across her mind, and she let out an involuntary gasp, pushing it away. Nathan heard it. He searched her eyes as he moved back into his chair. "What is it, sweetheart?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head quickly.

Nathan quirked a brow. "Elizabeth."

She looked down, unwilling to meet his gaze. He took her hand, squeezing lightly. "You don't have to be afraid to tell me anything," he said, his voice gentle. "What is it?"

Swallowing, Elizabeth continued to stare at the ground. She reached up to clutch the ruby pendant in her hand. "Did Sarah wear this before me?" she asked. It didn't matter if she had, but Elizabeth couldn't help wondering.

Nathan's hold on her hand tightened slightly. She peeked up at him to see a gentle smile on his face. "No," he said. "I thought about giving it to her, but I never got around to it." He brushed some hair back from her face ."Actually, remembering that Sarah was taken from me so abruptly made me realize that I don't want to wait too long to move our relationship forward," he admitted. "Life is short, and I don't want to waste time because of perceived formalities or because it seems too soon." He smiled ruefully. "Though ironically enough, I do think it's a little too soon to ask you to marry me."

Elizabeth gripped his hand. "It's not too soon," she told him. "I'm ready when you are." She smiled sadly. "Jack's death taught me the same lesson you learned with Sarah."

They sat quietly for a moment, reverently remembering their lost loves. Finally, Nathan broke the silence. "I will ask you, Elizabeth," he said. "You can count on that." A grin worked its way across his face. "But it's going to be a surprise." He winked playfully. "You won't see it coming."

Elizabeth grinned back. "Maybe I'll be able to figure it out."

Nathan laughed outright. "I doubt it."

She waggled her brow. "Challenge accepted."

Nathan chuckled. They resumed eating their now lukewarm chili, but neither noticed. They were too busy being happy that forever was finally within their reach.