Chapter 3
Most of the crowd that had gathered outside the mercantile had dispersed by the time Nathan and Bill returned with the two suspects. Nathan and Bill tied the horses to the hitching post outside the Mountie Office and helped Alonzo down from Newton and Cole from Sergeant. They led the two men inside and straight to their cells. All the while Cole professing his innocence and complaining of his still empty stomach. "Hey am I gonna starve in here or what? I haven't had a bite to eat all day! How am I suppose to fill my belly now!" "You should have thought about that before you decided to rob the Mercantile." Bill advised. "You know we have some pretty decent people here in Hope Valley, I'm sure if you had bothered to be friendly and introduce yourselves someone would have helped you two out! But instead here you sit a jail cell, starving and wondering when your next meal is coming! Don't worry we aren't actually allowed to let you starve here. You'll eat." Bill promised. Nathan stepped aside and made his way over to the peg on the wall assigned to his hat. Cringing just a bit when he lifted his arm to place the hat on the peg. Nathan pulled the chair from his desk and attempted to sit. But bending at the waist was proving to be harder than he remembered. Nathan couldn't contain the pain he felt as he lowered himself to the seat. He never cried out in pain, but the look on Nathan's face told Bill all he needed to know. "Nathan you don't look too good." "I'm fine Bill." Nathan tried to convince his friend. "I don't agree. I know you're hurt. And you're caked in mud! I think you should just go home. Get cleaned up, get some rest." Bill suggested. "I can't go home. Someone has to be here with these two." Nathan glanced up at Bill and pointed to the two prisoners." "Nathan go home! I will stay with these two. I'll take the first shift. You go home get some rest, nurse those wounds and then come back and take the next shift." Are you sure you want to do that Bill?" "Nathan," Bill looked at him with determination, "I insist."
The walk home had seemed to take forever, Nathan thought to himself just as he was approaching the back yard of the welcoming little house he called home. A sight for sore eyes on this day Nathan chuckled to himself. Grimacing as he did so. Nathan eagerly swung open the gate and entered the small fenced in yard. Realizing how muddy he was he decided not to walk through the house. His boots being the muddiest he knew he would have to remove them before entering the house. The recent rain had been a blessing but it didn't aid any in the capture of two would be thief's on the run. Nathan removed his jacket and hung it up by one of the hooks on the handcrafted wall rack he had made. The cool evening breeze felt good. He didn't realize how warm he had become in the heavy wool garment. He looked down at the shirt he wore underneath and saw that that garment was dirty too. He ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration, only to realize he had mud there too! Nathan was dirty, hot, and sweaty. Not to mention in pain too! Nathan grabbed a small bucket and began dipping fresh water from the rain barrel into a basin he had resting on a small work table. Throwing caution to the wind Nathan looked around to see if anyone was near and took down his suspenders and removed his dirty and sweaty shirt.
Elizabeth sat on her back step and watched as her little boy happily played in the backyard. He had brought out an array of some of his favorite toys with him, but right now he was preoccupied with a rubber ball. It was about the size of a baseball and Little Jack giggled as he bounced the ball against an assortment of different surfaces before it fell to the ground. Elizabeth smiled as she watched her little boy play. She just wished Lucas could be here. This would have been a perfect moment for Jack and Lucas to play and bond but Lucas had told Elizabeth he had some sort of business to attend to this evening. Elizabeth loved when Lucas did spend time with her and Jack. But these moments had recently become more and more infrequent. It made Elizabeth somewhat heavy hearted. "Mommy! will you play ball with me?" Little Jack implored his Mother, bringing her back from her introspection. "Of course Jack. Lets toss the ball...want to?" "Yay" little Jack exclaimed! Elizabeth and Jack tossed the ball back and forth each time little Jack getting a little braver and throwing the ball a little harder. Elizabeth was proud. She just might have a ball player on her hands! "Okay my little pitcher one more toss for each of us and then it's time for supper, a bath, and bed!" Okay Mommy, but I don't like taking a bath!" Jack frowned. Elizabeth laughed.
Elizabeth wound up her last toss and let it fly. Jack caught the ball and jumped up and down with joy. "Good Job Jack" Elizabeth praised. Jack then pulled back and let go of his last toss. He was so eager he tossed it right out of the yard and over the fence. Before Elizabeth realized Little Jack was out the gate and chasing the ball. She couldn't believe the gate was not locked! How could she let this happen? She took out after her son, chasing him down what seemed like a very long line of houses. Her son had way too much energy Elizabeth thought to herself as she was becoming quite winded. She stopped and bent over to catch her breath. When she recovered she noticed her son starting to slow down a bit. Elizabeth began to walk towards her son who had bent down to pick up his ball. Just as Elizabeth was thanking the Lord that her son had finally found his ball and would now stop running from her she saw him duck into someone's back yard through the gate they had left gapping open. "Oh no!" Elizabeth whispered to herself. She only had to take a few more steps to realize who's backyard Jack had entered! "OH NO!" Elizabeth quietly exclaimed to herself. "It's ok. It's fine. I will just quietly walk over grab Jack and be gone. I don't think Nathan is even home. Of course not. He's out chasing bandits. I can do this!" Elizabeth tried to reassure herself. Just as Elizabeth reached the edge of Nathan's fence she heard it! It was humming! It was Nathan humming! Elizabeth quickly crouched down and spied between the slats of the fence. She had never heard Nathan hum before! She recognized the tune. It was AFTER YOU'VE GONE. It actually made Elizabeth a little sad to hear. She watched as her little boy snuck up behind Nathan and tugged on the saggy backside of his breeches. Nathan quickly snapped around but didn't see anything at first. "Nathan!" Little Jack cried. Proudly holding out his ball to show Nathan. "Whatcha got there kiddo?" Nathan ask little Jack with genuine interest. "My ball." Jack stated. Playing ball with Mommy." "You were! So where is your Mommy Jack?" Jack turned and pointed straight at Elizabeth who was still crouched down hiding. Elizabeth slowly stood up trying not to look at Nathan. "Elizabeth!" Nathan awkwardly laughed, what are you doing crouched down there outside the fence? Elizabeth was having a hard time finding her words. "Well I uh well...I didn't want to bother you." By now Elizabeth had noticed Nathan's state of undress and what he had been doing. His hair was soaking wet and glistening in the summer sun. She hoped her cheeks weren't too red! "So Jack tells me you two have been playing a little ball." Elizabeth not able find her words once again nodded yes. Nathan smiled. "Sounds like fun. Too bad I missed it.""To bad you missed it!?" "Nathan", he admonished himself. "Why did you say that!?" Nathan and Elizabeth stood in awkward silence for a moment before Elizabeth was able to explain how little Jack had run after his ball and she had chased him all the way down the path behind the row houses. Nathan smiled and giggled imaging Elizabeth running as fast as she could to catch up with Jack. "That must have been quite a site!" Nathan teased Elizabeth, making her relax and laugh heartily. "It's not funny Nathan! I didn't know where he might run to. I panicked. Elizabeth laughed. "Do you know at one point I had to stop and catch my breath!" Nathan smiled. "So I guess Grandma Thornton is what I should call you from now on?!" Nathan teased again. "Don't you dare Nathan Grant!" Elizabeth exclaimed. The two laughed heartily. It felt good to laugh together again. Jack getting bored tugged on Nathan's leg and held up his ball to Nathan. "I share my ball with you Nathan." Jack offered. Even though it hurt Nathan a great deal he crouched down to Jack, his heart full that this sweet little boy who he knew he loved so much, cared about him too. "No Jack. That's your ball. You hang onto that okay." Looking up at Elizabeth Nathan added, If it's okay with your Mommy maybe I can come play ball with you sometime. I bet Allie would want to come too. How about that?" "Yay!" Jack jumped up and down. Then the little boy wrapped his arms around Nathan's Neck and said, "I love you Nathan" Nathan squeezed the little boy tight. "I love you too Jack." Finally Elizabeth crouched down to help Nathan with Jack. Nathan was quickly reminded of his injuries as he attempted to stand. The pain in his stomach seemed to be getting worse and he felt a bit woozy. He swayed just a little trying to make it to his feet and Elizabeth automatically put her arm around his waist in an attempt to steady him. It took a moment for the two of them to become aware of the embrace. But instead of quickly separating they hung on to each other. Savoring the touch...skin to skin. Intimate and raw. Passionate and sweet. Breathing in time to each other. Brazenly Elizabeth began to move her fingers slowly over the bare skin just above Nathan's waist. Her fingers feeling at home there. For what seemed like hours they stood embracing each other. Not sure how to break the connection. But finally Elizabeth's fingers dropped from Nathan's waist and she stepped back, gasping as she did so. "Nathan!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Oh no Nathan...the bruises! I didn't realize how badly hurt you were."