CHAPTER 2

Allie had still been awake when Nathan arrived back. The little row house felt like a sanctuary tonight. Here he felt the love of his darling niece, his sidekick. Little did she know but her love for him and his for her would be his crutch. With that and God's help, he would get through this, somehow.

Allie knew her beloved uncle, her "legend" as she had called him many times, so well. His face said it all. She thought how his usual sparkling eyes looked so different tonight. Had he been crying, no not Uncle Nathan, He looked sad, beyond sad.

"Come sit Allie, I need to talk to your kiddo".
He struggled with the words at first, repeating was like reliving the whole nightmare again. Allie clung to him, tears falling, they were now consoling each other.

"So, Allie what we both need to do now is figure out where we go from here".
My plan is one step at a time, at least for now. The first was telling you, now together we must figure out what step 2 will be.

"Uncle Nathan?" the tears had stopped now.
"Do I have to go to school in the morning?"

The tears started again and through the sobs, she said "I couldn't face Mrs. Thornton. I just know I cannot. Not right now at least."

Nathan held her even tighter, "No, you don't, I will let Mrs. Thornton know you won't be
attending school for the time being." He would get a message to Elizabeth somehow, he could not face her either, but one way or another he would get a message to her.

This seemed to soothe Allies fears and as Nathan tucked her up in bed, something he had not done for a few years, he thanked God for his little princess. For one so young she had been through so much, if he had not had to come home to her tonight, he did not know what he might have done in the heat of the moment.

So, step one was complete, step two was to let Elizabeth know Allie would be absent for the near future. Who could he rely on to pass the message?

He opened the front door and looked down the row, His eyes were drawn to Elizabeth's, he shook his head. For the last three years, unbeknownst to Elizabeth, he had done this every night before he turned in. Checked to see all looked well. Another habit he would have to break.

The lights were still on in Lee and Rosemary's, he pulled the front door closed, walked the few steps, took a deep breath, and knocked'

Lee answered the door, a look of worry on his face, after all, who comes calling at this time of night.

"Nathan, come in, come in, is anything wrong? A silly question he knew if Rosemary was correct, judging by Nathan's face he knew she must be.

As Nathan entered Rosemary took one look at him, she knew she was right.

"Come sit, Lee get Nathan a drink, he looks like he needs one "
"What is it Nathan, what has happened?
"Is Allie OK, she hasn't had an accident or anything?"

Lee handed Nathan a glass of whisky, "get that down you."

"To answer your question Rosemary, Allie will be OK, she hasn't had an accident, but things have happened today that have turned our world upside down."

His eyes filled again.

"Oh, Nathan I am so sorry "Rosemary just wanted to hug him, this tall, handsome, noble man, this man the whole town looked up to and were so proud of. He made Hope Valley feel safe, and here he was a broken man.

Lee sat down next to Rosemary in shock if anything.

"You are right in your assumptions". I can't bring myself to repeat the whole conversation, well no it wasn't a conversation as I didn't say a word, it is like I am torturing myself."
"Elizabeth came to see me earlier and told me she had made a decision. While she loves both Allie and me, she is not in love with me. Forgive me, I know she is a close friend of you both, but I hope I am too."

"Of course, you are, "said Lee, "Something tells me there is more, what is it, what else did she say that caused this excess pain because it is obvious something has?"

He looked at Rosemary wondering if she knew,

"Elizabeth told me that all she has done is look for Jack in me. The feelings I thought she had for me were all due to the fact she was looking at me and seeing Jack".

He took another mouthful of the drink.

Lee was lost for words, well he had them but did not dare say them. Rosemary was in tears, how she felt this man's pain. "Oh, Nathan tell me that isn't true, maybe you misheard"

"Why would I make it up Rosemary, why would I inflict that on myself. I have never been more than that."

"Anyway, the reason I called so late, and I apologise again for that, I wondered if one of you could do Allie and me a favour in the morning?"

"Anything, "they both said in unison.

"Would one of you kindly relay a message to Elizabeth? Tell her that because of what has happened and how Allie is feeling she will be absent from school for the foreseeable future."

"Oh, Nathan you had to tell Allie all of this, how did she take it, a silly question I guess?"

"She is such a good girl Rosemary, she is upset, more for me, I think. We will get through this, not sure how yet but we will. I have so much spiralling in my head at the moment, one step at a time is the only way I can cope at present." There was the voice again.

"So, if one of you could pass the message on for us, we would be most grateful. I can't face Elizabeth at present and there is no way I can expect Allie to sit in a classroom with her all day."

"That is understandable Nathan, leave it with me I will deliver the message in the morning"

Rosemary still had tears in her eyes, "What will you do now Nathan, sorry I was just thinking out loud."

"That, "said Nathan "is my next step. Figure out where we go from here. It isn't easy, my whole being wants to pack up and leave"

"What leave Hope Valley?" Lee said,

"Yes Lee, I gave up everything to come here 3 years ago, and I did it happily. I saw my life unfolding here, but now I think I need to move on, everywhere I look will remind me of what was or what I thought would be. If it were not for this Pinkerton mystery and the unrest that seems to be brewing, I think that is exactly what I would do."

"Time is a great healer, Nathan. Please know that no one here in Hope Valley would want to see you go. You are a huge part of this community. We will all help you through this any way we can."

"I know Rosemary and I want to thank you both. Just now this is very raw. You know I had the most wonderful talk with Elizabeth just yesterday morning" his eyes filled again as he remembered. "I dropped Florence's bouquet off. She even warmed my serge for me as I was feeling the chill. I woke this morning feeling so positive, so happy, and full of hope. I love, or should I say loved now" the lump in his throat was back again, "her for so long. I thought love was worth fighting for, but it seems I was so wrong."

"Anyway, I apologise again for calling so late."

He turned to leave then turned back, "and thank you both for being such good friends."

Rosemary could not stop herself. Her arms were around him and tears were flowing yet again.

"Thank you, Rosemary, I needed that hug, I really did."

He shook Lee's hand as he left, walked the few paces to his front door, and locked the world outside. As he finally climbed into bed in his head he said "Well my lady that is Step 2 complete.