CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Nathan glanced down to check the time.

If he hurried, he could make it to the school to walk Elizabeth and Allie home.

He quickened his step and reflected on how much his life had recently changed. How was it possible that in such a short time, he could barely remember the way it was before. And how was it possible to not even be able to imagine his life without these three people, he loved so much, in it.

He used his time walking to say a silent prayer of thanks for his many blessings. He did this at least once daily when he was riding on his rounds. Newton had become quite accustomed to his prayers because sometimes they weren't so silent. But either way, he loved the solitude and always felt God's presence with him.

By the time he finished his prayer, he realized he was already at the schoolhouse. Allie, Emily, and Opal were still outside playing, along with some of the boys. Allie ran to him to give him a huge hug, and then quickly ran back to her friends.

He waved to all the students, who took the time to smile and wave back to him.

As he opened the doors to the schoolhouse, he realized Elizabeth wasn't alone. Lucas was there standing in front of her desk. She had a disconcerted look on her face.

"I'm sorry I didn't know you had a visitor. I'll just head on home with Allie."

"Absolutely not, Darling." And she rose from her chair to kiss him on the cheek. "Lucas just got here a few minutes ago, and I had to finish these tests, so we haven't even started talking yet. Please stay. I should only be a few minutes longer."

"Hello, Lucas. I hope you're doing well. I took Bill and our visiting Mounties to the Queen of Hearts for Lunch today. Gustav was very good to us."

"Thank you, Nathan, that's great to hear."

"I imagine it might be a bit difficult juggling two businesses. Are you holding up okay?"

"Truthfully, I'm not sure how to answer that, Nathan. It's especially difficult when you know zero about the new business, and I do know zero about the new business. Frankly, I'm not even sure where to start, although I wouldn't admit that to just anyone."

"Been there, believe me! Some of my first assignments were so muddled, without any direction, I felt like turning around and escaping to a more logical assignment. But what helped me more than anything, was to step back and think in very simplistic terms. What did I have, and what did I want as my end result. It's amazing how simple everything then becomes. You just make a list and check off each thing, one at a time. And you eventually get to that end result."

"That's excellent advice, Nathan. I've been telling myself the oil business is too complicated for a novice to learn. Honestly, I've felt like I'm drowning."

"Lucas, nothing is too complicated. Everything consists of simple components, even the most complex of things, such as an automobile. You're smart, you're a businessman, you'll figure this out!"

"Nathan, you've given me the best advice I've had. Thank you for that, and for the vote of confidence!"

"You'll learn along the way, Lucas. It worked for me, and I'm sure it will work for you!"

Nathan sat down and motioned for Lucas to sit too.

They sat there on opposite sides of the classroom, waiting patiently over the next few minutes for Elizabeth.

Finally, she rose from her desk and gave them a weak smile. She turned to Lucas.

"I probably owe you an apology, Lucas, for the way I handled our last conversation. But you need to know Sargent is still coming out of the woods. A Veterinarian is coming back again to see him tomorrow. And you need to know if Nathan hadn't come along the exact moment he did, Sargent would now, in all likelihood, be dead. The Vet confirmed that, and frankly was quite shocked that Nathan was able to diagnose and treat Sargent so accurately. What I need to know, Lucas is this. Whatever were you doing in Sargent's stall with sugar beets, no less?

Elizabeth was looking straight at Lucas, and Nathan noticed he seemed very nervous.

"Elizabeth, believe me, I had no idea about the sugar beets. I would never have put Sargent in harms' way."

"That's pretty much word for word what Nathan's been telling me all along. You might as well know, he's been in your corner on this."

Lucas shot Nathan a grateful glance.

"One of the Ladies in town had promised Gustav some sugar beets he had wanted for some special dish he was going to make. But she saw me first instead, and wanted me to give them to him."

"But, Lucas, you still haven't told me why you were in Sargent's stall."

He looked down at the floor. And then back up at Elizabeth.

"I thought I saw you go in the Livery, so I went in to tell you our trip for the publishing tour had been scheduled, and that of course, I still planned to accompany you to New York. It will be at least two months out of the summer, possibly the entire three, depending on how well the book is received. And Mother's worked it out for us to use her New York City apartment as our base for the first two months. Of course, she'll be in Europe during that time, but there will be plenty of servants to serve as chaperones. The location for us to travel to, in the third month, will be determined at a later date."

Elizabeth turned to face her blackboard to fully take in what he had just said to her in the presence of the man who was courting her and planned to marry her this coming June, the exact month Lucas expected her to leave.

She turned around slowly, and instead of sitting down, stood calmly at the front of her classroom, as she had so many times before. It was her voice, she wasn't sure she could keep calm.

But when she finally opened her mouth, it was the low even tone she desired, that came out.

"Lucas, you are running two businesses, and I currently have two businesses too, Mother and Schoolmaster. That schedule could not possibly fit into either of our lives. I realize now, Writing is my third business, and I need to start treating it as such. I want you to give me all the names and numbers of those connected to the publishing company. I'd like your Mother's contact information as well, so I can write her a proper thank you note for her generosity. And I want to thank you, here in person, once again, for your great kindness and magnanimous generosity to me. But from now on, I'll be handling all the business related to the publishing of my book, and any future books, including any possible book tours. Lucas, I think I may have given you the wrong impression, and I say this with deep respect. It was wonderful to see Virginia Woolf in Union City. I never imagined I would get to meet her in person, and you made that happen. I deeply appreciate that. You were also the perfect gentleman there, but truthfully, I regret the trip, not because of you, but because the Elizabeth Thornton I've always been and am today, would never have gone out of town on an overnight trip unchaperoned, with anyone. I apologize for jumping to conclusions about Sargent, but frankly, it still hurts deeply. So please give me time to work through that, as friends often have to do."

Elizabeth moved toward Lucas, who stood, and she reached out her hand to shake his with a smile on her face.

"Good luck, Lucas, personally and with both of your businesses. I hope you remain our great friend, and that there's no awkwardness between us. We're much too good of friends for that."

"Of course, Elizabeth. I'm actually relieved. You're right, there was no way I could leave both businesses for that long. And truthfully, with the three of us sitting here and Nathan being so generous to encourage me, this just hit me. If the situation were reversed, and Nathan was the one with a connection to the publishing world, I couldn't have stood for you going off with him on a book tour. Yet, he apparently, was willing for you to do just that. I'd say that's love, Elizabeth, something apparently I still don't understand."

"Oh, but Lucas, someday, you will completely understand it. When your perfect person comes along."

He bowed his head to Elizabeth and nodded to Nathan, who, in turn, nodded back to him.

Lucas started his walk back to the Queen of Hearts, feeling much lighter, and even hopeful, for the first time in a very long time, thanks to Nathan. At least about his new Oil Business venture.

Elizabeth was another matter.

'So the New York trip is a no-go. That's a huge blow, and it stings!'

He had had such huge plans for that trip, and they had nothing to do with Elizabeth's book.

He had even arranged for a Nanny in New York, so he and Elizabeth could have private time together.

And he had already purchased premium tickets for two to all the best Operas and top Broadway plays.

'That's alright,' he thought as he clenched his jaw, 'It's time for the Holidays. I'll think of something else that'll get the job done. This old boy is not down and out yet! Not by a long shot, Constable!'

Elizabeth stood in the same spot at the front of her classroom, silently, until her smile broadened and she ran to sit on Nathan's lap.

"You, my Darling, have a much better poker face than our friend, the professional gambler!"

"And you, my Darling, just very eloquently, took your voice back. I'm proud of you, Elizabeth."

And then she kissed him.

"Hmm, never could get a teacher to kiss me before."

"And how was it, Constable?" she asked while fluttering her long lashes.

"Oh, everything I thought it would be, and so much more!"

And he flashed that ridiculously handsome crooked grin at her, with his blue eyes sparkling.

"You may have to carry me home, Constable!" she sighed.

He positioned his arms as though he was going to do just that, and she playfully smacked his hand as she got up to get her things.

"Wow, a kiss and smack all in the same day! I must be in love."

She handed him her satchel, grabbed his other hand, placed it over her shoulder, and pulled him out the door.

He was laughing behind her.

She turned and gave him her best Teacher look and, in a stern voice, said, "Behave!"

Which made him laugh all the more.

Coming out the door, they realized the other children had left, and Allie was sitting alone on the steps.

She turned to smile at them, "Why do you two always laugh when you're together?"

"That's just a huge part of true love, Allie. You'll see one day!"

"Ugh!" Nathan muttered under his breath and emphatically added, "Yes, when you're thirty, and not a day before!"

"Dad!"

"Hey, Dad rules, they're universal. What can I say?" Nathan threw up his hands to emphatically make his wistful point.

"I love you, Dad! I love you, Mrs. Thornton!"

Elizabeth stooped down to Allie's level, so they were exactly eye to eye, "I love you too, Allie, more than you'll ever know!"

And she drew Allie to her, stroking her hair.

"You know, Allie, I can't wait to officially have you as my Daughter! We're going to have so much fun together!" She could feel Allie's tears on her shoulder, so Elizabeth simply held Allie till her tears were replaced with a broad smile.

Nathan watched them, with such tenderness and awe in his eyes.

"Hey Ladies, how about I cook tonight?"

Allie and Elizabeth looked at each other, both wondering if this was a good idea or not.

"Well, Dad, I guess it depends on what you have in mind. You know, we haven't been to the Mercantile in a while. Don't worry Mrs. Thornton, he's a really good cook, but he's a lousy shopper! We never have what we're supposed to have!"

"Hey! Well, maybe if you two Ladies accompany me to the Mercantile, you can show me how to be a better shopper and help me find something to cook for Dinner!"

Elizabeth was trying not to laugh.

"What do you think, Allie, should we save him or let him fend for himself?"

"That depends on whether or not we want to eat, and I'm pretty hungry! He's a pretty slow shopper! And I'm telling you, he's always missing one ingredient. Usually the most important one!"

"Hey, I'm standing right here!" interjected Nathan.

"Oh, come on, Allie, let's save him. I'm starved! And who can resist a home-cooked meal? Let's go pick up Little Jack, and we'll all go to the Mercantile together."

Allie grinned, and Nathan gave a pretend grimace.

The three of them left the schoolyard walking arm in arm to Elizabeth's, but this time Elizabeth was in the center, and she had linked arms with Nathan on one side and Allie on the other.

Anyone looking on would say, "That's one beautiful, happy Family!" And if Little Jack had been with them, they would have been right.