CHAPTER EIGHT
As they were getting Lucas and Gustav settled in Bill's Cafe, Gabe came running in.
"Ready to help. What can I do?" asked Gabe in his matter of fact way, coming to give Nathan a slap on the back and a firm, brotherly handshake.
In a lower voice, he asked, "Nathan, what is happening to Hope Valley? First the O'Rourkes' and now this? I stopped by your office, and Latham said to meet you here."
Nathan gave his friend a quick shrug and turned his face toward Bill.
"Bill, while you finish up here, why don't Gabe and I go check on Constable Latham and his prisoner? I'll brief Gabe as we go." Nathan looked to Bill for an acknowledgment.
"No, I'm ready. If these two can't figure this kitchen out on their own, then it's their problem. Besides, I need you two to help me carry these boxes, and then we've got work to do!"
Bill quickly deposited two separate boxes into Nathan's hands, then Gabe's. He picked up a third bigger box to carry himself.
"Bill, what are we doing? There's no time for this…" shot Nathan.
"Sh! It's a legal matter."
"So, we're taking these to your office?" asked Nathan, hopefully.
"No, we're taking them to your office!"
"Bill, my office is overrun! There's barely a spot to stand now. Plus it's going to be inundated with Mounties and we've got bigger fish to fry!"
Realizing, this battle was not to be won, Nathan aquiesced, "Come on Gabe, let's just get it done!"
"Now that's the spirit!" said the Judge, a little bit too enthusiastically, which made Nathan all the more suspicious.
Bill winked a thank you at Gabe, and Bill led Nathan and Gabriel on the trek back to Nathan's office, with each of them toting their assigned box.
As the three reached the middle of the street, a team of twelve Mounties from Union City and the entire surrounding area could be seen from a distance. When Bill called in favors, people knew it was serious and took note!
It also didn't hurt that they were coming to help Nathan.
"Boys, we'll wait here till they dismount and get their horses stabled. I want this street empty. I want that gang to walk right into the middle of town without a care in the world. We're getting every last one of them."
Nathan and Gabe glanced at each other, deciding to let the "boys" thing pass since it was coming from Bill...
Elizabeth had encouraged Allie and Little Jack to go back to sleep for a while, and surprisingly, there was no disagreement from either of them.
She had sat at her typewriter the last couple of hours, as words flew copiously from her heart to the pages. She was experiencing so many different emotions that the words came quickly, and she knew she had Nathan's love to thank for that.
A feeling of contentment surrounded her, as she glanced out the kitchen window to notice the sun had finally risen, its warmth starting to fill her little kitchen, as the sun's rays spread across her table.
Unconsciously, she raised her hand to touch her lips, remembering Nathan's passionate kiss, which brought a huge smile to her face.
She rose to wash her cup from the coffee she had just finished and noticed something in Rosemary's backyard. When that something moved, she became startled, until she finally realized it was Rosemary.
Cracking the back door open, she hissed "Rosemary!" in a loud whisper. "What are you doing?"
"Get your things and come stay with me, she motioned as she mouthed the words. "Don't forget to leave Lee a note and tell him you're with me. Hurry!"
Although Elizabeth was more than a bit anxious that Rosemary had taken a reckless chance like that, she was glad they were going to be together.
Elizabeth and the children could use the company later. And nobody was better at making a bad situation a bit cheerier than Rosemary!
Elizabeth kept watch out her back door, and finally, after about ten minutes passed, Rosemary appeared through their gate with a large carpetbag satchel, stuffed full. She ran bolting through the door into the kitchen, halfway dragging her satchel behind her.
Elizabeth stepped back and breathed a sigh of relief.
They hugged, and then both of them started talking at the same time, but Elizabeth prevailed.
"Rosemary, whatever were you doing outside? Didn't Lee tell you to stay inside?" her tone was full of love, but still admonishing.
"Yes, he did, and I know I should have listened. But I couldn't stand being in that house a minute longer without Lee. Elizabeth, I'm so worried about him. And I don't even know what's going on, not really."
"Where's Little Jack?" she continued, noticing he was nowhere in sight.
"Allie's here, and she's put him down to sleep a bit longer. It's been so quiet. I took a break from my writing and peeked in on them earlier. Turns out, Allie fell asleep too. They're on my bed together. It was the sweetest thing. Allie had instinctively placed Jack next to the headboard, so he couldn't possibly fall out!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "How in the world did she know to think of that on her own? She's really very grown-up for her age."
"I guess we females, all have that maternal gene, no matter the age!" smiled Rosemary, but Elizabeth knew it was a smile tinged with sadness, despite her trying to be light and cheerful.
Elizabeth reached to hug her, "Your turn is coming, my dear friend, and I'll be there with you every step of the way. Just like you were with me."
With that bit of encouragement, Rosemary's slight smile turned into a huge one, full of hope.
"Here, sit, I'll fix us some hot tea…"
Rosemary did as she was told, and appeared to relax a bit more from when she first arrived.
Elizabeth put the water on to boil and laid out her favorite cups and saucers for the tea, thinking it might cheer Rosemary up to be a bit fancier than usual.
"Elizabeth, how can you be so calm?"
"Rosemary, first of all, I just know everything's going to be alright. Lee, Nathan, and Bill are going to be alright. I'm sure of it."
"How can you be sure of it? I mean how can you possibly 'know' it?"
"I'm not even sure of the time, but it was still dark when Nathan brought Allie over to stay with Little Jack and me. At first, panic started to set up inside me, but as Nathan left, God just surrounded me with peace, and that peace hasn't faltered for one second since."
Rosemary's fretful look began to ease, as she asked Elizabeth, "What is all this about?"
"Nathan left not long after midnight to travel to visit the deceased Mountie's family. I insisted he stop by here before he left, and I'm so glad I did. Because if he had been a few minutes earlier…" a shiver went through Elizabeth's entire body.
"I'm sorry, Rosemary. When Nathan returned with Allie, he told me that he had apprehended a man at the Saloon, but that the man wasn't a robber, he's a known murderer. He's responsible for at least 16 deaths that they know of, and probably more they don't know about."
Rosemary's eyes widened in horror, "He was at the Saloon to murder someone?"
"Yes, it appears so." And both gave each other a knowing look.
Then Rosemary slowly put a voice to their thoughts with narrowed eyes, "Someone at the Saloon. Well, that certainly narrows it down!"
"I know. I'm just glad Nathan got there in time. Bill and Nathan are pretty sure Johnston's gang will show up once they figure out he's been apprehended."
"So, that's why they needed Lee to deputize the men. And that's why everyone is staying inside!"
"Exactly, Rosemary. That's why I was terrified when I saw you in the backyard. Who knows if Johnston had someone with him! But I'm so glad you're here with me now."
"Oh, Elizabeth, this is just too much! Let's talk about something else. You totally skipped over the part when you saw Nathan off on his trip. Might there have been a kiss involved?"
"Oh, Rosemary, you're incorrigible! Actually, let me count…there was, yes, a total of…let's see…one…two…three…four, no five kisses involved!" taunted Elizabeth with an upturned smile.
"Oh no, you didn't! Five? Alright details on every single one," Rosemary demanded.
"Silly, one was on my forehead, one was on each of my cheeks, and one was on each of my hands - five, just like I said!" Elizabeth threw up her hands. She had finally pulled one over on her best friend.
She knew Rosemary was imagining five passionate kisses, mouth to mouth. But it was just too much fun watching her face fall flat.
"Well, you're no fun," Rosemary retorted.
"I can't help it if you didn't ask me about this morning when Nathan brought Allie," Elizabeth emphasized each word in a sing-song voice.
"Elizabeth, don't tease me any longer. What are you saying? Did you, or didn't you? The suspense is killing me!"
"Oh, Rosemary," sighed Elizabeth, "Let's just say there will be no worries in the kissing department!" Elizabeth couldn't resist adding as a huge smile flashed across her face, "No… worries… at… all!" And Elizabeth verbally underlined each word for emphasis.
"And I suppose I'm getting no details," pouted Rosemary.
"Nope, not a single one!"
"Oh, young love! Forget using any blush, Elizabeth, because you certainly don't need it!" sighed Rosemary. "I truly am happy for you and Nathan. I do really like him. Even more, than I thought I would. You know, the better I know him, I really do think he just might be perfect for you."
"Well, that means a lot, Rosemary. But of course, you like him. You already have a secret with him! Hmph!" feigning exasperation as she turned to pour their tea.
The "Secret" comment made Rosemary smile, but she hid it from Elizabeth and pretended not to hear.
"Oh no, Rosemary, I just realized I was in my robe this morning when Nathan brought Allie! And it was the not so nice one! In fact, the sort of ratty one. Oh, why haven't I thrown that thing out?" groaned Elizabeth. "Why is my world so topsy turvy? Is this wrong for everything to be happening out of order and in a mishmash too?"
"Elizabeth, no, it's not wrong! It's because you're in love and because for some reason God only knows, chaos has descended on Hope Valley these past few days! After all, you and Nathan have been drawn to each other for almost two years, albeit in a push-pull sort of way," using hand motions, Rosemary giggled, then turned serious again.
"That's a lot of time, Elizabeth. Nathan loves you, and you love Nathan. We all see that, and truthfully, we could all see it waaaaa…y before now." rolling her eyes for emphasis. "Oops, I just sounded like Allie, didn't I?" They both nodded and laughed.
"Looked like her too! You've got her eye roll down pat Rosemary! But, then again, you are the actress!"
"Looking back," Rosemary continued in an even more serious tone, "I think Nathan loved you from the beginning. I must say, now that you two are a couple, I've never seen two people more in love. Elizabeth, seriously, it all makes perfect sense that things are a little 'topsy turvy' 'mishmash' right now. I wouldn't give it another thought! We are adults, you know, and life is not perfect!"
"Elizabeth, woohoo! Are you even listening to me? We've chatted since dawn, and in the back of my mind, I've still been worried about Lee the whole time. But you don't even seem worried at all about Nathan. In fact, I've never seen you so calm," Rosemary marveled. "How can you be so sure, Lee, Nathan, and Bill are going to be okay?"
"Yes, I am listening, and I am calm, Rosemary. In fact, I must say in spite of all this going on, everything else with Nathan and me feels pretty perfect right now! Of course, I'd rather him not be going through all this. But I will tell you again, I'm very sure deep inside that Lee, Nathan, Bill, and the others are going to be okay. I don't know how I know, but I know. God gave me this peace, a promise, really, and I've never been so sure of anything."
"Here, Rosemary, I'll start breakfast, and why don't you go wake up Allie and Little Jack?" Elizabeth knew that would put a smile on Rosemary's face, and it did.
As Rosemary headed for the staircase on her mission, Elizabeth glanced out her kitchen window and raised her head, mouthing a 'Thank You' to God for giving her this perfect peace "that passeth all understanding." (3*)
Then Elizabeth remembered the exact verse where God had promised His People in His Word: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (3*)
Elizabeth had no doubt. God was most certainly fulfilling His Promise today, right here in Hope Valley, in her own little row house kitchen!
(3*) King James Bible, Philippians 4:7 (Public Domain)