CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Elizabeth had fallen asleep in Nathan's arms. She had stayed there contentedly until Nathan realized daybreak would be coming soon and knew he should go back outside to recheck the weather conditions.

He kissed her softly on the forehead, gently placed a pillow under her head, and slowly extricated himself, trying hard to not disturb her.

Finally, it had stopped snowing, and the temperature had dropped enough to harden the snow, it would be safe for them to head home. That realization was tinged with a hint of sadness. Nathan had never been as happy as he had been here, tonight, with Elizabeth. He turned and stood facing the cabin for a moment, reflecting on all that had happened inside, and he could feel his heart overflow with love.

As the cold air whirled about him, Nathan made his way back inside and quietly tidied up. He made a few trips to the sleigh and checked that the horses had eaten well through the night. He then hitched the team of horses to the sleigh. With that, everything was ready for their return trip. He and Lee would return with a wagon after the weather conditions improved, to get the rest of the furniture and "ambiance," as Rosemary so eloquently put it.

He walked through the snow, to go back inside and marveled at the beautiful woman who was before him, sleeping as though she hadn't a care in the world.

He hated to wake her, but as he knelt beside her, she opened her sleepy eyes and, with her lovely smile, whispered, "Good Morning, my Love!"

"Good Morning, Sleeping Beauty! I have good news. We can now make it home safely. As much as I hate for us to leave, I know the children will want to make use of our sleigh. I don't have to take it back till Sunday morning, which gives us the whole day to play together. What do you think?"

"Oh, Nathan, do we have to leave?" she asked with her beautiful pouting face on full display. "You have given me the most magical first date a girl has ever had! And as much as I don't want it to end, I know we have to. You're right, the children will be chomping at the bit to ride in the sleigh! Here, let me help."

"No, everything's done. I've straightened up from our Dinner, and everything is packed under the sleigh seat. Even your flowers and gifts!"

"Nathan, you are too good to me. You literally have thought of everything!"

"Anything and everything for you, my Love, always, not just tonight!"

He knelt to put out the remaining embers and turned to extinguish the lanterns. He stood silently for a moment, to just take in the sight of his beautiful Elizabeth curled up on the settee. He would always remember this perfect night.

She was watching him intently, trying to remember every detail of their perfect first date.

Love emanated from each of them, one for the other.

"Ready?" he asked. He grabbed her fur wrap and placed it around her shoulders as she stood in front of him. He sighed, and from behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing his chin almost down to her shoulder. She placed her arms over his and closed her eyes. He brought his face next to hers, and she could almost feel his eyelashes on her cheek. His lips slowly grazed her shoulder, then moved up her neck, and very slowly moved further toward her face, and she could feel his warm breath, all so very close but without touching. She was having a hard time catching her breath, and she was sure nothing else existed in their world. She knew she couldn't stand on her own a moment longer. But somewhere in her fog, she remembered he was holding her, and she allowed herself to fall back, fully collapsing into him. She could feel both his strength and his tenderness at the same time. He was now totally supporting her, yet his lips were still so very close to her. He took in the lavender and white lily scent that surrounded her. He could feel the softness of her skin, the silkiness of her hair without touching them. His lips very slowly moved over to her lips, and hovered closely there, until finally, both their lips met as though their souls were melding together.

He finally swooped her up, kissing her forehead, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and carried her out the door. Kicking it closed, he carried her through the deep snow, and on to the waiting sleigh, where he placed her gently. He then tenderly covered her with the large fur blanket he had warmed inside by the fire.

She couldn't wait for him to sit down beside her, and when he did, their lips met again, finishing the monumental kiss that in their mind had never ended, as they could still taste each other's lips. Their resumed kiss was necessary, fervent, lingering, and even euphoric.

Finally, gazing at each other, their eyes held all the excitement they could contain over the plans they had just made for their future. They would always remember that they had made those most important plans, really the start of their lives together, in this rustic cabin in the middle of the woods that he had magically transformed just for her.

They were now officially a couple, at the start of their courtship, and this night had been spent mapping out their beautiful future together. They had a plan, with an engagement not far away, followed by a wedding sometime in June. Now, both knew without any doubt, the depth of their commitment to each other. It would only be a matter of months till they would be joined as Husband and Wife. Just the thought of that filled them both with exhilaration.

The sleigh rails started to glide over the hardened snow beneath them, and they couldn't help but be amazed at the trees draped with boughs of snow above them.

The spectacular rising sun sprayed slivers of light around them and caused the snow to glisten with golds and reds, as though the ground beneath them was on fire.

The scenery around them was ethereal, and they would never forget it. It was as though everything had been clothed in a shimmering glistening white, then set aglow, just for the two of them, and their special night together.

They were indeed in the middle of a Winter Land full of Wonder! Each mile they traversed, with the night's added snow, appeared more splendid than the last. Neither had experienced anything quite like it. They marveled in the nature around them and in each other.

Elizabeth held tightly to Nathan's arm for the entire trip, not willing to lessen her grip in the slightest.

When they finally reached Hope Valley, the town was still asleep.

Nathan turned to Elizabeth, "I love you Elizabeth Rose Thatcher Thornton, with all my heart I love you!"

She was overcome and couldn't speak, but her eyes told him her heart was overflowing with love for him. She clenched his arm even tighter.

Nathan drove the sleigh slowly through the town, directly to Elizabeth's house, and once again took her in his arms to carry her through the snow, to her door. He placed her down gently there, kissing her tenderly on the forehead and opening the door for her before he went back to the sleigh for her book and flowers.

"Darling, where would you like me to put these? I'll take the Christmas Schoolhouse back to my place and hide it till you're ready to show Jack and Allie."

"That's perfect! Oh, Nathan, let's put the flowers on the dinner table and I don't know if I'm ever going to let my book out of my hands!"

He handed her the book along with a kiss, placed the flower arrangement on her table, and turned back to take her in his arms.

She reached up to straighten his white bow tie, which he had re-tied in the cabin, and she suddenly realized she wanted to spend a lifetime doing just that for him, along with a million other things, "You tied that very well without a mirror! But, I think I knocked it a bit askew. There, now it's perfect! Love, please do come straight back to have Breakfast," she continued. "I'll change and get the children while you take care of the horses."

"Darling," she continued, "tonight was a fairy tale, only better! Every single thing you did, was something so very special to me. Some of the food from my childhood I had almost forgotten. But you brought all those memories back to life for me! Each and everything was me, is me. Both Hamilton and Hope Valley. Thank you, my Love, for loving all of me, my past and my present. Thank you for knowing what I needed even before I did! Everything was more than I could have ever dreamed of. I'll cherish this night my whole life through!"

"I love you Elizabeth. Forever."

"I love you completely, Nathan."

They walked back to her porch together, and with his blue eyes sparkling, he drew her tightly to him, and they shared one last passionate kiss surrounded by the glistening snow, followed by whispers to each other that made them both laugh.

Finally, the crooked smile widened on his face, and he stepped back to formally kiss her hand, then he reluctantly turned to drive the team of horses back to the Livery for food and a well-deserved rest.

She kept staring and waving after this handsome man in the tux, till he was completely out of sight.

Elizabeth didn't even want to take her gown off. She still couldn't believe her first date with Nathan.

"Was all this a dream?" she whispered. "No, because her mind could never have dreamt it!"

Little did she know, this man would be surprising her the rest of their life together.

But she was beginning to understand that this man she loved had many layers and would always have a new discovery for her. She smiled in the revelation and moved toward the stairs to change and get ready for their Breakfast together.

Instead, she found herself somewhat in a trance, touching her lips where Nathan had so passionately kissed her, and she, him. She was deeply, hopelessly, and passionately in love. And she had never been so sure of anything.

Everything was once again so very right in her world. It was more than right. It was perfect. The darkness, heaviness, and deep pain she had carried for so long, was gone, leaving only beautiful memories in their place, along with an open heart ready to be filled with love and new memories full of God's brilliant colors.

She hung the gown on the door of her closet and placed the tiny handbag in her top dresser drawer. Sighing, she took a long, luxurious bath.

After dressing, she returned downstairs, deciding to make Breakfast first. She would keep the food warm so that she could have some time with the children when they awakened next door.

"Let me see what do I have…Eggs, Sausage, Tomatoes…and Oatmeal! Not a lot, but throw in some Biscuits and the Gravy Nathan liked, I can make it work!"

She patted out the Sausage and placed the patties in a pan to fry, making a mental note to save the drippings for the Gravy. She then sliced the hot-house Tomatoes and covered them. Placing the Oatmeal in a pot of boiling water on top of the stove, she reached for the Brown Sugar and added a healthy dollop of sweetness, mostly to help entice Little Jack to eat it. Now, for the Biscuits.

As she rolled the dough, she knew she had made way too much. And then it hit her, she would make a thin crust for a Quiche with the extra.

So, she grabbed some Spinach and quickly shaved some Potatoes. Then she beat the Eggs and added everything together in her mixing bowl.

She then added a couple of splashes of Milk to the extra Biscuit dough, mixed it together, and rolled it out thinly. She remembered that Cook had always pricked and baked the shells a bit before adding the Egg mixture, so she did precisely that until the shell's edges were lightly golden.

She then added her Quiche mixture and baked the entire thing along with her Biscuits. Now all she had to do was make the Gravy. She would do that when everyone was here.

But she was going to have a Breakfast to serve Nathan that she could be proud of.

Now, the children.

Elizabeth found her boots and quickly walked next door to the Coulters. She knocked softly on Rosemary's door.

Rosemary was there in an instant.

"Well?" she asked excitedly.

"Rosemary, there are no words. It was magical, beyond perfection, in every possible way. And Rosemary, it's official! We're courting!"

A shriek ran through the Coulter home.

"Oh Elizabeth, now that's a successful first date. See, I told you he was going to knock it out of the park, didn't I?" hugging her best friend as tightly as possible. "I'm so very happy for you both!"

"You did, and I am so ecstatic, I can't stand it. I just had to tell you first, and thank you for everything you've done to make our night so, so very special. We'll have to talk later when we have privacy. Are the children awake?"

"Actually, they are. Lee is reading stories to both of them. They're all piled into our bed! I was just getting ready to fix Breakfast."

"Rosemary, would you mind terribly if I took them home for Breakfast? Nathan and I want to talk to them and share our news."

"Of course, Elizabeth! Do you think we can all get together sometime later today, maybe for Lunch at the Cafe?"

"Rosemary, that's perfect! Nathan wants to take the children for a sleigh ride. And I'm sure he'll want you and Lee to try it out, too!"

"Oh, Elizabeth, I can't wait. I've always wanted to ride in a sleigh with a team of beautiful horses! Was it just enchanting?"

"Yes, perfectly, enchanting and so romantic!" And with that, Lee came bounding down the steps with Little Jack and Allie.

"Mama, Mama!" called Little Jack, reaching for her. Allie came over to her, too, and gave her a hug.

"Good Morning, Mrs. Thornton. Jack and I can't wait to hear about the sleigh ride! But we've had the best time with Mr. and Mrs. Coulter!"

Lee and Rosemary beamed.

"Lee, Rosemary, why don't you come on over for Breakfast too?"

"But don't you need to…" and Rosemary pointed to the children behind their backs.

"Oh, we'll do that after we all eat. Come. It should be ready in about twenty minutes. I have Quiche…"

"Well then, how could we possibly say no?" Lee asked, sounding so happy to be included, as well as being extra excited about the Quiche. Both Rosemary and Elizabeth were bundling up the children.

"Come, Sweet Allie. We need to set the table. Your Uncle will be here soon. See you in a few! And tons of thanks, again for everything you two have done. We love you!"

Elizabeth and the children quickly finished saying their round of Good-byes and Thank-yous, then headed next door to Elizabeth's house.

It was time to finish making Breakfast!