Chapter Twenty-Four: Traveling North - Part II
Millicent slipped her arm under his suede leather jacket and placed it on the plaid flannel shirt he was wearing, rubbing his back, just wanting to be close to him.
"Wait till you see the barns and stables. I'm even in love with the stone chicken coop!"
"Uhm, that feels so good! Please don't stop!" he moaned, and turned to look at her with a smile. "A stone chicken coop? Are you serious?"
She continued his back rub as she answered.
"Afraid so. And stone smokehouse, too. There's even a stone carriage house. It's very old, but I think it could be made into the perfect Guest House. There's another building that serves as their Motor House. Pretty much everything you're going to see is stone!"
"If they let the furniture go with it, are you pleased with it? Everything does look fairly cozy, but perhaps a bit dated?"
"Yes, very much dated! But I don't think it's the furniture causing that even though most is antique, which I love. But if we were to live here, I'd brighten the entire place up with brighter art pieces, bright fabrics for upholstery and drapes, and light-colored rugs. I'd also have all the wood stripped to a lighter look, including the furniture. I think it would look like an entirely different place when I got through with it! It would look like us, Love! Young and happy!"
"I have no doubt," and he turned to nuzzle her, grazing his kisses along the length of her long graceful neck, ending at her ear.
"You owe me a real back rub!" he whispered.
"And you're not paying attention…"
"Oh, yes I am…"
"I mean the house, Love!"
"Oh that, I love it already! It's just that it's so much more than I ever dreamed possible. It's…" he whispered.
"A lot," Millicent finished for him. "I know it is, but if we want that big family, I want them to have a place to run and play without worrying about security. And I want privacy for us. I want Allie to be able to ride without a team of security around her. I want a home for us to have to use when we're ready for it. I just don't know of anything that comes close to fitting that bill, other than this. Property seldom comes available for purchase in these parts, and most certainly not something as nice, as private, or as secure as this!"
"I bet it's got a lot of history attached, too," surmised Nathan.
"Yes. I think there are a couple of leather-bound volumes in the library that tell all about the place from its beginning!"
Nathan made a mental note to read those as soon as possible.
As Millicent poured them two cups of tea, dousing hers with honey, he thought of her eldest brother's kidnapping, and suddenly he realized, this place wasn't some luxury Millicent wanted to acquire, this was the home she needed in order to give privacy and protection to her family.
"I understand what you're saying, Mil, and I love you all the more for it! You're trying to solve a problem you'd rather us not have."
She nodded and smiled tenderly, as he seated her at the large kitchen table and then reached for the plate of biscuits to serve her.
"The cookies look too pretty to eat," he declared as he winked and ate one in two bites, then reached for another.
She laughed.
They chatted over their tea and 'biscuits,' or fancy cookies.
"Mrs. Toussant can certainly bake!" complimented Nathan, as he was devouring the plate.
"Yes, Love, she most certainly can, and it looks like I'm going to have to get her recipes! You do know you're supposed to fall in love with the farm, not the cookies! Hey, am I ever going to convince you to try honey in your tea?"
"You probably could convince me of about anything right now!" he ruefully declared, narrowing his eyes.
"Why, Constable Grant, that's a very good thing to know! That settles it! I'm definitely getting Marnie's recipes!"
They flirted and communicated via their own language of love, which had somehow grown even deeper and more meaningful through their mostly sleepless night, post engagement.
As they finished, Nathan helped Millicent up. They were wearing their Ranch wear, knowing they would be outside most of the day in the cold.
But even in suede culottes, leather cowboy boots, and suede ranch hat, Millicent was positively gorgeous, maybe even more so to Nathan, than when dressed for a ball.
"You look so beautiful, Mil!"
"Thank you, Darling! If I do, it's just for you!" she smiled and then got a serious look on her face.
"I know thinking about marrying me and into my family, is a lot, because of all the negative that comes with it," she said. "And I hate that."
Nathan took her into his arms.
"Listen to me, Darling, the negatives are just problems we will learn to work through together. They aren't because of you at all. I'll admit, the money thing is what's overwhelming me the most and even the security, a bit. But I do understand the security. Truthfully, I'm just having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the vastness of the money," he admitted.
"I'm not sure I understand it completely, either, but I do think we need to meet with my Financial Team, so you can better understand it. Nathan, please know that it's only money and whatever we have when we marry is each others. It's that simple. Last night, you gave me the sun, the moon, and the stars plus this exquisite ring, as well as the most incomparable love I've ever known. I pray mere money won't be a stumbling block, Darling! That you'll be able to put it all into perspective, so we can put it behind us, once and for all. I don't love the money, I love you!"
She continued with a look of combined concern and compassion on her face.
"You know, I had to go through this too, although I know because I grew up with it, it was on a much smaller scale than what you're facing. When I realized after all the hard work of Law School, that my handsome salary was a literal drop in the proverbial bucket, it hurt. Like I would never matter. And then I realized all that work had never been about money. It had been about making a real difference, and that was my contribution to society, the service I performed, not the money I made from it. It's the same with what you do."
"Thank goodness you didn't go through Richard's rebellious phase! Not at all sure, I could have survived another one of those!"
They both laughed together remembering Richard and his horrible phase of rebellion!
But then he grew serious and tightened his grip around her, and leaned into her, bending his forehead to hers.
"Milli, I promise you, I will get through this. We will get through this together. I'll pray, too. You're right, we need to resolve it once and for all! I'm afraid it's my pride, Mil, and I'm so ashamed of that."
She took his face in her hands.
"You have nothing to be ashamed about. Absolutely nothing. Do you realize, you're the only man in my entire life who has loved me for just me? That means the world to me, Nathan. Truly the world. It's a priceless thing. I love you so very much. It hurts me to see you struggle with this, but I also know it's something you have to work through alone, and we have to work through together, as well! If you're willing, just know that we will, Darling!"
"You can count on it! We absolutely will conquer!" he vowed.
"Ready to look at the rest of the house, so we can get you to the parts I know you'll love, namely the stables!"
He grinned that crooked grin, and she melted, holding on to him, reaching up to kiss both his cheeks, but ending by placing her lips directly on that crooked grin.
He kissed her back and then flashed his crooked grin, again.
"I guess if I can't stand here kissing you all day, I'm ready!" he acquiesced.
"Don't tempt me. I'd much rather! Do you know how you talked about my gown being lethal the other night? Well, my Darling, that crooked grin of yours slays me every time. Always has, come to think of it! And I'm sure, always will!"
He laughed and touched her face, grinning as crookedly as he could!
"You're so bad!"
She playfully planted a huge kiss on his lips, then swatted his chest.
"I suppose kissing you is the only way I'm ever going to survive those grins! So, watch out! But now, we have to focus!"
"I'll be good! Or at least, I'll try!"
She gave him an endearing exasperated look, but wouldn't have him be any other way.
And he knew it…
She led him through a few more rooms on the first level.
First, two large, very nice suites that were meant to serve as living quarters for any help that was needed.
Nathan whistled, "I could live in one of these suites, too!"
"What am I ever going to do with you? Although they are very, very nice!"
He got the most mischievous look on his face.
"And that, Constable, was a rhetorical question. Don't you dare even think about answering that!" she teasingly warned.
"As Bill would say, 'Drats!' and I had so many great answers, too!" he grinned, snapping his fingers.
"Umhmm, be good!" she instructed, grabbing his hand, leading him through what was known as a booting room, a laundry room, a sewing room, and a few other service rooms, including the largest pairs of pantries even Millicent had ever seen.
But somehow the Constable's attention was split at best!
Then she led him up the back stairway to the upstairs hall, full of bedrooms and baths.
"Good grief, this could hold a mega-sized family!"
She laughed.
"Think you're up to the challenge?"
"You'd better believe it! We could fill this place in no time!"
"Says the man!"
He laughed his deep throaty laugh.
"Touché! It does seem you get to do all the work, my Darling! This is definitely the room Allie would pick!"
"How do you know?" she asked curiously.
"The window seat and the wall of bookcases."
"But there's an identical reverse mirror room across the hall. Would that change anything?"
Nathan peeked into the room.
"No, the sun streams in through the other windows. Definitely the room on the right!"
"I can see her curled up in that window seat with a good book, but all the fabrics would have to be changed to her colors and her preference," admitted Millicent. "This isn't her!"
"You know her pretty well! Those definitely aren't her colors," agreed Nathan.
As they made their way to the master suite at the end of the hall, a strange feeling came over Nathan.
"It's like we belong here, yet it's so massive, I don't understand why!"
Millicent giggled and wrapped her arms around him.
"Some things, we're not meant to understand, Constable Logic. Some things just are!"
He laughed.
"Since when did you get so wise!"
"I have my moments!"
"And I love your moments! Maybe color changes here, too?"
"Most definitely color changes here too, brighter for sure. This is just way too drab for my taste. Whatever you'd like, we'll do!"
"No, whatever we'd like!"
"That sounds so wonderful! You and I are really a 'we!' now, aren't we?"
"We are most definitely, officially a…"
And instead of the words, he bent to kiss her, passionately, deepening his kiss, caressing her, pulling her as close to him as he possibly could.
"Marry me quickly, Millicent. I don't think I can bear to be apart from you!"
"It's the same for me, Love! We'll get our Mothers' help to start planning our Wedding tonight! I don't want to wait forever! I just want you and Allie! I want us all together."
"I've got several lists I made on the Train of things we need to discuss!"
"And I've got several lists too! I bet they're identical!"
"At least pretty close," he laughed."
They walked happily hand in hand down the main staircase, through the hall, and out the front door.
"Okay, let's see. The stables are this way!"
"The views are breathtaking wherever you look. That's really quite extraordinary!"
"Yes, they are, and Monsieur Toussant has seen that the grounds have been maintained perfectly. Oh, I forgot to tell you! Besides, the grazing meadows, there are two separate meadows that I know of with just flowers. One is full of sunflowers in season and the other is full of every kind of wildflower you can imagine! They cultivate from both and sell to Montreal and Toronto Florists. And believe it or not, both have been quite the moneymakers. They've done so well, there's talk of expansion to other markets."
"Hmm. That's really unique. Something I would never have thought about from a farming perspective. But then again, I'm your Horse Ranch guy! Just give me horses and I'm happy!"
"You and me both! There's plenty of room to do that here, too, if you wanted."
When they came upon the suite of stables, Nathan was aghast.
"These are the stables? Forget the Caretaker's House and the Help Suites! I'll just live here instead!"
"Oh no you don't," she laughed. "You, Sir, live with me. Not the horses! Although, I could probably live here too, as long as you were here!"
"And Serena, of course! But more for you," she added with a pointed grin.
"You sure I'm first?" he teased, as they walked inside the first building of stables.
"Positive, Love! Serena's definitely second! A close second, but…"
And there was that crooked grin, as he put his arm around her, and led her over to Monsieur Toussant.
"These stalls are immaculate, Sir. You've obviously done a beautiful job with your horses! And I should know as I was raised on a Horse Ranch."
"You don't say! You know that's been my biggest worry. I want someone here who knows how to take excellent care of my horses."
"You're leaving them here?"
Nathan was dumbfounded because he could already see they were of the highest caliber of horses.
"Have to Son. We're moving to the city to be closer to Marnie's family. And truthfully, we're not getting any younger. It's getting harder and harder to maintain this place as it should be. It's time for us to pass this on to a younger couple, so we can enjoy an easier lifestyle before it's too late! It's to ma grande consternation, and Marnie's too, but we'll be alright if we have someone who loves these horses as much as we do," winked Monsieur Toussant. "And if we can come visit them occasionally!"
He was watching Nathan petting a black stallion and he knew instantly this young man knew his horses.
"That's Black Feather, because he's lighter on his feet than any horse I've ever seen. But he's never let anyone but me touch him like that. And I've had him since he was a foal!"
"He's beautiful! Majestic even."
"Seems he's taken to you. Want to ride him?"
Millicent was shocked because she knew no one but Monsieur Toussant, himself, rode Black Feather.
She watched as the two men bridled and saddled the beauty up.
"All my saddles are English. Is that a problem?"
"No. Sir! I learned to ride English style. In fact, I prefer it!"
"Then you and Black Feather are going to do just fine!"
"Now Millicent, who's your pick today?"
"I think I'll stick with Gracie. She's a love!"
"Yes, she is, but a handful too!"
"Sounds like someone else I know," grinned Nathan as he grabbed the saddle Monsieur Toussant pointed to for Gracie.
"You'd better be careful, Nathan Grant, talking about two feisty girls like that, and in their presence too!" teased Millicent.
"Afraid she's got you on that one, Son!"
They looked up to see Albert coming toward them with their picnic hamper.
"Thought you two might want to take this along for your ride."
"Oh, thank you, Albert! That's perfect. Essie packed enough food for an army! Why don't you saddle up and ride with us?"
"Oh no, not in these clothes Ma'am. My wife would have my hide! You two enjoy!"
"Well at least get you some food!"
"I thought I'd run back to that little cafe I saw before we reached the Mercantile. It looked interesting and I'd like to give it a try!"
"Enjoy, Albert. Take your time. We still have a lot to see!"
"The place is extraordinary, Sir, Miss! Enjoy!"
"See you later, Albert," smiled Nathan, looking up from his task.
And with that Albert took his leave.
Nathan had just saddled Gracie for Millicent and was adjusting her bridle.
"I think she's ready for you, Love," as he handed Millicent the reins.
They walked their horses just outside the stables and mounted there, with Nathan first gallantly helping Millicent to mount.
He then mounted Black Feather in one fluid motion, and with one gentle signal, the horse took off like lightning.
"Wow, he's fast!"
"Keep him steady or you'll be a half mile ahead of me and Gracie's pretty fast!" shouted Millicent.
He looped back around, trying to get Black Feather used to Gracie.
"She is, isn't she? These are two very well-bred horses, Mil. And we didn't even look closely at the others."
"They're all just like this!"
"Black Feather may have just sealed the deal, Babe!"
Millicent smiled.
"I knew you would love Black Feather! But I can't believe Monsieur Toussant's letting you ride him!"
They rode happily, both laughing and teasing each other, with Nathan doing his best to hold Black Feather back, to match Gracie's pace, which was none too slow, and Millicent trying her best to get Gracie to launch forward even faster, but both racing through the wind together.
And so, they continued, until they came to a grass meadow, browned by fall, bathed in the sun's golden rays, with both of them on horseback, her on Gracie and him on Black Feather, racing through the wind together.
With Nathan laughing by her side, looking masculine and rugged, the wide brim of his ranch hat lowered just enough to shade his sparkling, teasing eyes!
And with Millicent laughing by his side, her long blonde hair flowing out behind her!
With pure happiness and joy etched on both her most gorgeous face and his most handsome face.
All that was missing, were the wildflowers and their own horses, but were they?
Perhaps it was just that winter's blanket had covered the vast field of wildflowers, and that the Toussant Estate was just waiting with two empty stables to spare, belonging to Serena and Newton, with a third for Cookie.
Could this perchance be the exact same meadow in both their dreams, had it only been a spring month?
Was this meant to be?
Was this even possible?
Would the two realize it might have been, someday riding in this very spot…
Without any recognition whatsoever, the couple rode on till they came to a wide brook that was contentedly bubbling and gurgling away.
Nathan helped Millicent dismount Gracie, and lifted her down to him.
His face was glowing...
"This is extraordinary, Darling. I can absolutely see us here!"
"Oh, my darling Nate. That makes me so very happy!"
She kissed him with everything she had, and he returned her kiss with everything he had, taking them into their own little world where only the two of them existed, now, in an inner and outward place called home.
"The ground is cold, Darling. I'm glad Essie added these thick blankets."
"She always thinks of everything! We are in the wilderness, you know, at least as far as she's concerned!"
Nathan couldn't help but laugh, as Essie was something else!
"Do you think you could ever convince her to come here?"
"Are you kidding me? One look at those two suites, she and Hendrix would be moving in!"
"Have you thought any more about them possibly being interested in one another?" asked Nathan.
"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. With those two it's really difficult to tell. This morning, though, I thought you definitely might be right! Sometimes they do fight like an old married couple. Although we're never going to be that way," she quickly clarified.
"Never! I promise! You know, the other day when Richard waltzed Essie around the kitchen, I think Hendrix might have been a little jealous! So, this morning, I sort of gave Hendrix a nudge!"
"Oh, really? That's great! They'd make the loveliest couple. She's beautiful in a very European sort of way, with an earthy elegance about her even when she's fussing! Just wait till you see her on stage! She makes the whole place come alive! And honestly, Hendrix has the same elegance, although he's much more formal. He's also quite handsome for his age!"
Nathan feigned dismay.
"Oh, of course, nothing like you, my Darling!"
He grabbed her onto the blanket with him.
"You'd better say that, Miss Bradford!"
She laughed, but let him know she couldn't possibly even look at another man with the kisses she gave him, starting at his neck and ending by playfully smothering his face with them.
"I love you, Nathan Grant even out here in this bitter cold! Brrrrr..."
"Here, let's get some hot food in you. Essie packed soup with the sandwiches."
He unscrewed the thermoses and poured them two cupfuls of the still-hot Vegetable Soup.
They bowed their heads.
"Dear Father, we thank you for this food, Essie so kindly prepared for us, and we thank you for this beautiful place, that's being shared with us. Guide us in all things we pray. In your Holy Name, Amen!"
"Amen!"
"This soup is so good. Hits the spot! Is it warming you up, Mil?"
"Helping!"
"Come closer. You're shivering, Babe."
He wrapped his arms around her, helping her position herself in front of him.
"Better?"
"So much better! But, Nathan, now you can't eat."
"I can sip it from the thermos, so I won't spill it on you."
They sat there warming themselves with their soup and each other.
"Who would have thought a picnic in the dead of winter could be so romantic?" he whispered.
"But with you, it totally is! I can see and feel your warm breath on my neck, and it feels marvelous. The only spot I'm not cold!"
He blew her kisses to warm her.
"Can you reach your sandwich, Love?"
"If I stretch…"
"Good job!"
They finished their soup and quickly finished their sandwiches for fuel.
"Baby, can we come back in the spring to this very spot and have a warmer picnic?" she asked.
"I thought you were going to say more romantic picnic," he teased.
"No, this is as romantic as it gets. Freezing, but romantic!"
She looked up at him and he managed to bend enough to kiss her.
"Now I'm warm to my toes!"
He laughed.
"Well, Miss Warm to Your Toes, let's go stand by the horses for more warmth and get this hot coffee inside us for the rest of our ride!"
He took her hand and helped her up, then they cleared their food, grabbed the hamper, and folded the blankets.
"I think I want one of those blankets to wrap around me while we ride!"
He gently wrapped her in one of the thick blankets and embraced her as tightly as he could to warm her, but also to love her.
As he held her, with his chin resting on her blonde hair, he realized she was what mattered, not her bank account.
She was all that mattered.
"Mil, I can't live without you, which means I'm going to man up and learn to live with the money. I won't let it be a sliver of a wedge between us. And I'm not going to keep you from enjoying what is yours. You've always made me feel 'more than,' never 'less than,' and I know that's never going to change. I promise to always do the same for you."
"The money's ours, Nathan, and will be legally upon our marriage! You have to believe that for us to work equally as partners."
"I do believe that. Just give me some time to adjust and rein me in when I falter. If this is the place that makes you happy, where you can see us as a family, I'm all for it. But to be completely transparent, for some strange reason I don't understand, this feels like our home to me too. I think this really is our place, Millicent!"
Her face was radiant.
"To accept the money is the very best gift you could ever give me. And to love this as our someday home is a dream come true! Thank you, my Love, because I know you mean it and you're not just humoring me!"
"No, my Love, not at all humoring you. This place is us…"
They sealed their new someday home and their vow regarding the money with a fervent and passionate kiss, embracing each other and reaching into the depths of their souls, both knowing the money part was a most critical part of their union, which could make them stronger or destroy them.
"We are choosing strength, Millicent! Always strength!"
The bond they felt with those words was indescribable because now they knew nothing could ever come between them.
Not the money, not anything!
He helped her mount Gracie, then tenderly re-wrapped the blanket around her, and reached to kiss her once more.
He knew she wasn't normally a crier, although she had shed tears several times this week due to the emotion of their newly recognized love between them, but, he could see the tears in her eyes now, about to fall, and he knew even more than before how very important the money resolution was to her and to them.
She was giving him everything she had, and he was humbled by her generosity, her grace, and her strength. He would be the man his mother had taught him to be. He would somehow rise to meet the challenge of the wealth.
He would somehow adapt.
They were becoming one more and more each day, each hour.
And he felt as though he would burst with love for her.
He patted her leg for reassurance, and quickly mounted Black Feather, this time intently holding him back so he could canter along with Millicent, which was still no easy task!
They toured acre after acre and still couldn't possibly see it all.
There was a large herd of Holstein Cattle in an Eastern field, a herd of beautiful sheep in a western field.
And somewhere, though they weren't sure where, they came upon an apiary of Bee Hives.
Millicent had snapped photos of it all, using the camera from her saddlebag, she had looped around her neck, hoping to give them future business ideas for discussion.
"The Cattle, the Sheep, and the honey from the Bee Hives are all commercial businesses. I know there's also a fruit orchard they market as well, but I don't know where," explained Millicent.
"It's amazing. I don't know how we'll ever learn it all! Horse ranching is all I know."
"But that's a lot, Darling!"
"Millicent, I think we need to turn back. It's just gotten too cold. I don't want you getting sick!"
"Agreed, let's head back!"
When they finally reached the stables and had said goodbye to their mounts, they walked back to the car with Monsieur Toussant joining them.
"What did you think, Nathan?"
"We think the estate is wonderful and we'd like to ask you to give us first refusal!"
"I can't imagine anyone else with my horses, and I hear you're a fisherman too!"
"So is my daughter!"
"Then I've got to meet her, as well!"
"Promise you won't show it to anyone else!" begged Millicent.
"My Dear Sweet Child, I promise not to show it to another person!"
He and Millicent kissed, and he shook hands with Nathan.
"Gentleman's agreement, Nathan!"
But exactly what on, Nathan wasn't sure. Especially if he was reading Monsieur Toussant accurately. He just seemed to be holding something back, although Nathan just wasn't sure what.
Monsieur Toussant, friendly as ever, waved as Albert drove away and he watched them for as long as he could see the limousine.
"So sorry, I couldn't shake on that first refusal part, Constable Grant, as that's sort of been done, but as I told Mademoiselle Bradford, I give you my word I won't be showing it to anyone else! I can promise both of you that, but only that…"
"Because the Toussant Estate has already been sold, lock, stock, and barrel!"
As he turned to go back to the stables, Monsieur Toussant chuckled loudly!
And he couldn't stop.
My, how he loved a good conundrum!
And this one was just too good to not enjoy…