CHAPTER TWELVE
In his deep sleep, Nathan turned to stretch out a bit on his bed. But with a thud to the floor, he had rolled off and landed on Elizabeth's living room floor, instead.
"Oh, no," he moaned profoundly and brought both hands up to cover his eyes. He could only throw his head back in despair. How could he have let this happen? How could he have gone to sleep? No matter that he had gone without sleep for two nights straight, under the most stressful of circumstances.
The last thing he remembered was kissing Elizabeth.
"What time is it?" he whispered to himself. "How could I have let this happen? Oh no, where's Allie?"
"She's upstairs, still asleep. She slept with me through the night." Elizabeth calmly stated, carrying a cup of steaming hot coffee toward him, from the kitchen.
"Elizabeth! This is horrible! I have to go now…there's no time for coffee. Laura will be coming soon. I can only imagine what she will think! And anyone else who sees me leave here for that matter. Elizabeth, I will NOT allow your reputation to be compromised."
It was beyond him how she could be so relaxed, given this dire situation. He was growing more and more uncomfortable by the minute if that were even possible.
She was much too calm to suit him, given all this. This was extremely serious with all sorts of possible ramifications, and none of them were good!
"Nathan, everything is perfectly fine. Now, drink your coffee and relax."
"Elizabeth, I'm leaving. I just can't figure out if it's better to slip out the back door or slither out the front!"
She broke out in soft laughter, leaving Nathan even more nonplussed.
"I'm sorry, but I fail to see the humor in any of this, Elizabeth!" He placed his hand on the front doorknob, deciding that going out the front would be less speculative than slipping out the back.
Fortunately, she didn't have the heart to continue her charade of torturing him a moment longer.
"Nathan, I promise you everything is fine." She took his hand from the doorknob and led him to a chair, almost having to pull him in the process.
He had an exasperated look on his face, and all she could do was to continue to laugh softly.
"Elizabeth, absolutely nothing is fine. This is awful!"
"Nathan, look at me. Everything is okay."
She stifled a giggle watching his frustration. She had never before seen this man who was usually so calm, so rattled.
"Just exactly how is it fine, Elizabeth? Can you tell me that?" Trying to keep his anxious voice low, so he wouldn't wake the children. His eyes were still wide with horror.
"Nathan, Lee spent last night right there in the chair you're sitting in now." she pointed emphatically. "He insisted I not wake you! You were downstairs, I was upstairs and we, well YOU, had a chaperone! There is absolutely nothing to be upset about!" as another giggle escaped!
"But what are we going to tell Laura?"
"We're going to tell her the truth, that Allie spent the night with me and you're here to walk us to school. You are here to walk us to school, aren't you?"
"Ye..umm. Yes, I had planned to do that. I could do that. I wanted to do that."
"See everything's okay." she smiled triumphantly.
"But Elizabeth, isn't that stretching the truth?"
"No, Nathan, the entire town, does not have to know every little thing about us. We're just leaving out that part."
"Oh no, Allie will know, and she's not exactly Miss Subtle! Elizabeth, this is never going to work…" Nathan whispered in absolute agony at just the thought of it.
"Oh no," she squeezed her eyes shut. "I didn't think about that! I know…you go home right now, change quickly and come back to walk us to school."
As she was halfway pulling him up from his chair, she couldn't help but add, "And if you're a really smart man, you'll come back early enough to have breakfast with us!"
He took enough time to kiss her quickly on the cheek and flew to the front door. "Now that, I can live with!"
She laughed as he quickly closed the door behind him, after he had checked that the streets were clear, of course, ever being the Mountie.
Elizabeth couldn't stop grinning or control her bursts of laughter. It was so sweet to see him so flustered and all over protecting her good name!
Still laughing softly, she went back into the kitchen to start breakfast, taking Nathan's untouched coffee cup with her.
As Elizabeth sliced the bacon and put it on the stove to fry, Allie stumbled into the kitchen.
'Whew, just in time!' Elizabeth thought to herself with widened eyes looking out over her backyard.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Thornton. but where's Uncle Nathan?"
"Good Morning to you too, Allie! Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, Ma'am, thank you. But do you know where Uncle Nathan is?" she asked, sounding a bit worried.
"Oh, Sweetie, he's at your house. You were asleep when he left, and he didn't want to wake you." 'All true,' thought Elizabeth… "He is, however, going to try to make it back to eat breakfast with us and walk us to school."
"Oh, Mrs. Thornton, that's so good!" Allie was immediately thrilled, "I wanted to show him off to all my friends at school! After, all he is a Hero, you know."
"Yes, Allie, your Uncle is a Hero, but he's also very humble. He might not feel very comfortable being touted as one in front of all the children. Perhaps you might want to mention it to him first."
"But Mrs. Thornton, if I do that, Uncle Nathan will just say...no…." and then her face fell. "Oh, I get it, but maybe he could take just a few thank you's?"
"I think that would be very appropriate, Allie. And I'm so proud you figured that out on your own." Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. "Would you like to set the table?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Oh, Allie choose your favorite jam, and set it on the table too, please. The biscuits will be ready before you know it!"
And while they were waiting on those biscuits, which were beginning to smell heavenly, Elizabeth scrambled enough eggs for all, including Laura, hoping Nathan and Allie liked them that way. When the eggs were done, she started on the gravy, which was something she had totally mastered, finally. It hadn't been at first, but now it was a quick and easy thing to add to the meal.
"Delicious too," she thought to herself.
"Oh, and the Apple Juice. Can you set that out, too, Allie?"
"Yes, Ma'am! I love helping you in the kitchen! It's so much fun. I love to help Uncle Nathan cook too, but you know how it is, he's a man!"
Elizabeth couldn't help the giggles that came.
"Oh, Allie, whatever are we going to do with you? You call it just like you see it, one of the many things that are so endearing about you!"
Allie's face broke out into a smile that could barely be contained! And she started to giggle too.
Laura walked in at that moment, and without knowing what the giggling was all about, couldn't help but join in.
While they were all in fits of giggles, in walked Nathan.
"I knocked, but apparently, no one heard! All I could hear was some sort of giggle hysteria. Are you all okay?" he asked, searching all three faces.
"Of course, Uncle Nathan. It's Girl Talk, Silly!"
"Not much talking if you ask me, but I'm just a man! What do I know?"
"Exactly!" they chimed in unison, and they all looked at him, shaking their heads.
"Okay, Girls! Let's all sit at the table and pray," directed Elizabeth.
They all joined hands.
"Dear God, we thank You for this beautiful new day You've given us. We thank You for the food before us, and we thank You deeply for keeping us safe and bringing the people sitting around this table into our lives. We ask that You guide each of us today to follow Your Will, doing that which is pleasing to You. In Your Name, we pray. Amen."
Elizabeth could tell she was blushing a bit, as everyone said, "Amen."
Nathan thought it was adorable and caught her eye in gratitude for the breakfast, the prayer, and the company.
Elizabeth smiled lovingly back at him.
Allie and Laura started comparing stories about their beloved school teacher, and Nathan was enjoying them immensely, as he ate quietly, trying to catch every word."
Laura told a particularly interesting one, "One spring day, Mrs. Thornton told us we could each bring a pet to school the next day. Most of us brought our dog or cat. One little boy brought his bird, another brought his hamster, and a little girl brought her rabbit. But Mrs. Thornton hadn't counted on Cedric the pig! Cedric was brought by Joey, the tiniest boy in the whole school, and Cedric was quite large, routing at everything in the Schoolhouse all morning long. But by recess, unknown to Mrs. Thornton who had to grade some tests, it had rained most of the morning. So, during recess, Cedric decided to go swimming in all the mud puddles that the rain had created. When Joey took him back into the schoolhouse after recess, Cedric was covered in mud and somehow he got loose and ran straight toward Mrs. Thornton, who had to jump on her desk to keep from being charged. We think Cedric liked her perfume, but he liked her so much, he tried to climb on her desk to get to her and she started screaming. The boys had to tackle Cedric…mud was flying everywhere…and the whole time Mrs. Thornton was screaming on top of her desk…"
Even Nathan couldn't withhold his laughter imagining this one!
Finally, the girls went back into another phase of giggling. Elizabeth cleared her throat, "You do realize I am sitting right here at the table with you?"
"So sorry, Mrs. Thornton, but these stories are adorable. And they're some of our best memories!" Laura exclaimed.
"But whatever happened to Cedric?" asked Allie innocently.
"He was permanently barred from school and all school functions," laughed Laura.
Both Elizabeth and Nathan couldn't help but smile, but Nathan thought it might be best to change the subject, so he used the pause as his opportunity to speak directly to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, you're spoiling me. After dinner last night and this breakfast now, it may be hard for Allie to ever eat my cooking again! Breakfast is almost as good as last night. The gravy's perfect, just like I like it!" and Nathan helped himself to a second biscuit and a spoonful of the gravy she had worked so hard to perfect.
But Nathan then reached for an extra piece of bacon and couldn't resist adding, "Oh, no, I do hope we're not eating Cedric!"
"Constable Grant, have you ever had Detention?" Elizabeth was trying hard to look and sound serious, but they all just collapsed into laughter.
After everyone had cleared their plates, Elizabeth asked through their continued laughter, "More coffee or juice, anyone?"
"No, thank you, full as can be, but I do think we need to wrap this charming breakfast up, or the Teacher herself is going to be late for school!" suggested a more serious Nathan as he pointed to his pocket watch.
"Oh, no! Laura, please let Jack sleep another half hour or so, and perhaps you could walk to school during my lunch break? I can't possibly go all day without seeing him, but I know he needs to sleep for as long as possible."
Laura promised she would, "That's perfect, Mrs. Thornton. It will help break up our day, and Little Jack will be so excited to see his Mama. Don't worry about the dishes. I'll get those. And we're sorry about the stories."
"That's alright, I'm glad we survived Cedric. Consider it a lesson learned: always stipulate what specific pets may be brought when having a Pet Day! Laura, I don't know what I'd do without you! Allie, Constable Grant, shall we head to school?"
And off they went hand in hand, with Allie skipping along ahead of them.
But as they neared the school, Allie ran back to them, reaching up to hug Nathan around his waist.
"Have a great day, Allie! I love you so much!" and he reached down to kiss her cheek.
"Allie," he continued, "don't worry about me. I am perfectly fine. Study hard, Sweetheart. I'll see you after school."
She brightened and ran off to brag on her Uncle to all her friends!
Nathan reached for Elizabeth's hand again.
"Elizabeth, do you think we could get a chance to talk alone this evening, maybe at the pond?"
"Of course, Nathan. Is anything wrong?"
"Oh, no. Not at all. Actually, it's the opposite." His smile was warming her entire being, and she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "We just haven't gotten the chance to talk alone. I just want to update you on some details from Monday that I know you'll be interested in. That's all. Would half-past five work for you?"
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Perfect."
I'll walk by to get you and Jack then. Have a great day Elizabeth!"
"Thank you, Nathan. But what about your day?"
"It appears I'm being sidelined after I finish a few important things this morning. I'm going to try to get some things done at home this afternoon, that I haven't had time to do for a long while. I'll be fine."
"Try to rest some Nathan. I worry. You've had so much to deal with, all stressful. It's all been more than any man should have to bear."
"No, not all stressful!" he emphasized, looking directly into her eyes. "Can't wait till half-past five!" that crooked smile was flying all over his face, and those blue eyes were sparkling, making her seriously weak in the knees.
"Me neither," she said breathlessly.
As he started to walk away, he turned, grinned, and with his eyes melting into hers, he took both her hands and added, "Again, thanks for breakfast!"
Then added with a knowing wink, "That could get to be quite the habit, you know!"
Elizabeth beamed as she watched him start to walk away.
But he turned once more to add conspiratorially, "And for the record, Mrs. Thornton, I'd be happy to have Detention with you anytime! Just say when and I'll be there!"
"Why, Constable Grant, I do believe you're an incorrigible flirt…" she tried to sound shocked. And, in a way, she was a wee bit surprised! This man was full of surprises.
As she turned to enter her schoolhouse, she couldn't stop smiling, and she could feel her cheeks burning with fire.
She walked to her desk and turned to face the children, who had been giggling and were now all smiling like Cheshire cats at her.
"Let's rise to start our day with the pledge to our flag, followed by the Lord's Prayer. Robert, will you come to the front and lead us, please?"
With that formality completed, she hoped they could return to a somewhat typical school day, but the children were having none of that!
All they wanted to talk about was Packer Johnston, his gang, and all the Mounties. In particular, they kept bringing the conversation back to one Mountie, Constable Nathan Grant.
They were clearly in awe that he had single-handedly captured such a notorious criminal, and then led the operation to capture his entire gang!
"My father said, the Mounties had been trying to get Packer Johnston for years, without any success at all. That they had put teams of Mounties on the case. And here, our very own Mountie outsmarted them all. How did he do that, Mrs. Thornton?"
"And did he really do it all by himself?" inquired another.
"I heard it was really dark when Constable Grant got him. How did he even see him?"
"Could Constable Grant have been shot?"
Both Allie and Elizabeth blanched at the question.
Elizabeth was determined to gain control. "You know, children, those are all valid questions. But, sadly, I don't have the answers for them. Why don't we ask Constable Grant to come to talk with us, after he's had time to rest up, maybe in a few weeks, and we'll let him answer your questions."
They cheered in unison. 'Now how to reel them back in,' Elizabeth thought.
Opal spoke up softly, "Mrs. Thornton, my Mother said she had never felt so patriotic when we all stood on the Boardwalk and sang as the Mounties left. And my Dad agreed with her. Mrs. Thornton, what does 'patriotic' mean?"
Relieved, Elizabeth answered, "Opal, that's an excellent question. A very important question. Thank you for asking. Patriotism, that's a perfect topic for us to discuss today. Does anyone have an idea what the word 'Patriotism' means?"
Elizabeth let out a small sigh of relief. She was in control again. To be honest, she had no desire to relive the capture of Packer Johnston, bringing back all the thoughts of danger Nathan had been in. And it was the last thing Allie needed. Perhaps later, hearing it in his words, she and Allie could manage it. But not today.
The morning finally passed, and Elizabeth released the children for an outdoor lunch and recess. When she looked up from sitting on the schoolhouse stoop, she was thrilled to see Laura and Little Jack walking toward the schoolhouse.
Elizabeth ran to her son, who reached out his arms and called, "Mama, Mama…"
She hugged him tightly, and sat him down on her lap, back on the stoop so she could see all the Children. Laura sat beside her. But she noticed Laura was being very quiet.
"Laura, is everything okay?"
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Thornton. I was just thinking. I see you and Constable Grant together, and you both look so happy. You could just feel the love between you at breakfast, this morning. And I'm thrilled for both of you, but Mrs. Thornton, do you think I will ever find someone for me. Some, someone like Constable Grant, who might love me too?"
"Oh, Laura, Darling Child. You are beautiful, intelligent, kind, and so much more. I have no doubt that when the time is right, your Prince Charming will come along. And you will know when it's right. I do hope you don't take as long as I have to allow it to happen. But of course, my circumstances are so different than yours."
"You truly believe that, Mrs. Thornton? You truly believe someone could love me?"
"I not only believe it, Laura, I know it." she hugged Laura and could feel that she just might be starting to believe it too.
"Awee, Awee!" Jack had spotted Allie, who had finished her lunch, and she came running to him. He was clearly reaching for Allie.
"Mrs. Thornton, is it okay if we girls play with Little Jack. They want to see him so bad," begged Allie.
Elizabeth decided to let the 'bad vs. badly' correction pass since Allie was on recess. She would address that later to the entire class in a more advanced English lesson.
"Of course, Allie. Just be careful. He's still a bit tottery on his feet."
"We will, Mrs. Thornton. We won't let him fall."
"Allie's great with Little Jack, Mrs. Thornton. She's going to make a wonderful big sister. You're not even going to need me before too long."
"Laura, we are always going to need you, for as long as you want. Don't ever worry about that. But Laura, I do want to make sure you continue your courses. You're just too smart to not use all that knowledge. And someday, Laura, I hope you're right here with me in this building, with us teaching together. I believe that's your true calling, Laura, to teach."
"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton! I would love that more than anything," Laura's face was relaxed now, and her smile was as real as it gets.
Elizabeth made a mental note to continue to encourage Laura and help her as much as she possibly could. 'She must not be getting much encouragement at home,' thought Elizabeth, 'I need to be the one to make up for that.'
The afternoon classes had gone much more smoothly than their rocky start this morning, but to Elizabeth, they were dragging on so slowly.
She supposed things could have been worse. At least there was no Cedric today!
Still, she couldn't help but count the hours till she would see Nathan again.