CHAPTER FORTY

The Coulter Family, Lee, Rosemary, and Fred drove into Hope Valley with smiles that could not have been dynamited off their three faces.

The initial papers had been signed with Lillian, and there would be a formal adoption ceremony, that they would complete in Bill's office before the end of tomorrow. It was imperative that all legal documents be signed and witnessed no later than Friday.

Everything had to be finalized by that date, or they ran the risk of losing Fred forever. And that was a risk none of them were going to take.

Rosemary and Lee had assured Fred that they would bring him back to see Lillian and Grace and that they would also invite them both to come visit him in Hope Valley.

Rosemary had almost cried when Lee came down the staircase from Fred's room at the orphanage with only a single battered suitcase and a worn stuffed rabbit.

But, instead, she smiled and took her small Son's hand, "Are you ready to go home, Fred?"

He sniffled a little but nodded his head. She walked with him as he hugged Lillian and each of the children good-bye. There were tears in Fred's eyes, but there were also tears in Rosemary's eyes, both for Fred and all the other children she was leaving behind. if they only had the room in their tiny little rowhouse, she would have taken every single one of the children and brought them home.

Lee and Rosemary each grabbed a little hand, and led Fred down the steps of the Orphanage. They both smiled radiantly down at him, willing him to feel secure with them.

When Fred realized, they would be riding in a car, his eyes got wide and he said, "Woooow!"

Unknown to Lee and Rosemary, Fred had never ridden in a car before. He sat on Rosemary's lap in pure wonder, looking out at everything that began to pass them by, then up at this beautiful woman, whom he had been told, was now his Mother.

He cheerfully chatted all the way from Brookfield, and Lee couldn't help but smile and think, "Like Mother, like Son!"

Little Fred waved adorably to all the people of Hope Valley who were taking notice that Rosemary and Lee were not alone in their vehicle.

"Shyness is not going to be a problem with our Fred," Lee noted, as he smiled down at his little boy.

Lee and Rosemary were already in love with their Son.

If truth be told, they had fallen in love with him when Rosemary had said, "Let's go get our Son," and then again the second they laid eyes on him at the Orphanage.

Lee pulled the car up in front of their rowhouse and got out to lift both his Son and his Wife from the car.

"Lee, you don't have to fuss over me!"

"Oh, yes I do! We do, don't we Fred?"

Fred smiled back at Lee with the biggest of grins.

Rosemary ran up the steps with Fred, laughing with him and taking him inside their home for the very first time.

Lee lagged a little behind to get the single suitcase and the tattered rabbit when he spotted Allie walking along toward him.

He stopped a minute, ran toward her, picked her up, and swung her around.

"Allie, I love you! Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, Uncle Lee, what do you need?"

"I need you to find your Dad, Mrs. Thornton, and Little Jack, and you bring them to our house as soon as you can. Can you do that?"

"Consider it done, Uncle Lee. I'll have them there in just a bit!"

"Thanks, Allie! Auntie Rosie and I have a surprise for you!"

"Can't wait Uncle Lee and I love you, too!" she gave him a quick kiss and ran to accomplish her given task.

Lee climbed the steps to his porch with all of Fred's earthly belongings and paused before he entered.

"I have a Family!" he said out loud and then bowed his head, "Thank You, Dear Heavenly Father! Please show me how to be the Father Fred needs, and the Father our Baby is going to need. Show me and I will do as You tell me. Thank you for these bountiful Blessings!"

He opened the door to find Rosemary and Fred already at the table, laughing together, drinking milk, and eating a cookie.

"Hey, where's mine?" he teased.

"I'll share," offered Fred, as he broke his cookie in half and gave it to Lee.

"I think that just might be the sweetest cookie, I've ever had Fred. Thank you."

"Let me get you a glass of milk, Darling, and more cookies!" smiled Rosemary lovingly. She could barely take her eyes off their new Son.

Lee smiled and sat down in the chair on the other side of his Son.

Allie quickly gathered up her soon to be official Family.

"Uncle Lee said he and Auntie Rosie have a surprise for us. Do you have any idea what it is?"

Nathan and Elizabeth smiled knowingly at each other, but little did they know the surprise was for them, too!

"Let's get ready. Allie, do you mind to go to Little Jack's room and grab his blue cardigan sweater? I think it's in the top drawer on the right. I need to put it under his coat."

"On my way!' Allie was already at the top of the stairs. "Do you need anything else?"

"Maybe my white cardigan, laying on the chair by my bed. Thank you, Allie!"

"Nathan, I haven't had time to get anything for dinner."

"Darling, you are not expected to cook dinner every evening, anyway! How about we take the Coulter's to the Cafe and buy dinner to celebrate their Baby? That is if Rosemary feels like it!"

"You wouldn't mind?" she asked hopefully.

"It would be my pleasure," and he reached to kiss her.

Allie finally came back from downstairs, "Sorry it took so long, Laura must have moved Little Jack's cardigan to the bottom drawer. I had to go through all of them, but finally found it!"

"Sorry, thank you, Allie! Little Jack, come here to put your sweater on. We're going to Uncle Lee's and Auntie Rosie's."

Instead, Little Jack decided it was time to run, all the way around the living room, into the kitchen and around the table, and….until Nathan intercepted him in the doorway.

"Got Cha Jack!" and Nathan lifted him to the ceiling where Little Jack giggled and giggled till there were no more giggles left!

"Now for the coats. Let me help," offered Nathan.

It wasn't easy, but together, they got the job done!

"Ready?" called Elizabeth.

"We're ready, Ma'am!" answered Nathan.

"Can you believe all this for just going next door?" asked Elizabeth.

Nathan just laughed, as they made their way to the Coulters, where Allie loudly knocked on the door.

Rosemary came to the door, her usual welcoming self, but both Nathan and Elizabeth noticed something very different about her, and they didn't think it was her pregnancy.

As soon as they had kissed her and stepped inside, they knew.

"Nathan, Elizabeth, Allie, Little Jack we want you to meet our Son, Fred," Lee announced proudly.

"Fred, this is your Uncle Nathan and Auntie Elizabeth and your cousins, Allie and Little Jack," said Rosemary gently, holding her hand at his back.

Nathan knelt down on one knee to bend and reach Fred's eye level as close as he could, "Fred, it is very nice to meet you. I'm your Uncle Nathan," and he reached out his big hand and gently shook Fred's little one.

Elizabeth also bent down to give him a kiss, "I'm your Auntie Elizabeth, it's wonderful to have you here with us."

But Allie and Little Jack were standing on no formality.

Allie reached for Fred and gave him the biggest hug ever.

"This is Little Jack, and he's going to be my brother. And now, you're already our cousin! I'm Allie, by the way. Want to play?"

And just like that the three of them became thick as thieves, retreating to the corner of the living room and dragging out the blocks Allie had brought for Jack to play with. They chattered, and laughed and giggled.

The adults were amazed, there was no awkwardness, no shyness, no hesitation. Just getting down to the business of playing.

"Allie, are you okay to watch the boys?" asked Rosemary.

"Of course, Auntie Rosie. Fred's the best. We'll be fine!"

Rosemary led the adults into the dining area, knowing there would be tons of questions.

"Rosemary, Lee, Fred is adorable. We thought the surprise was the baby, but this is wonderful!" exclaimed Elizabeth.

"Congratulations to the new parents! Couldn't be two more deserving people." Nathan kissed Rosemary on the cheek and hugged Lee and both beamed.

"How did this all happen, in such a short period of time?"

"Right after we got home from Carson's Office, we got this call that just kept ringing. I didn't even want to answer it, but something made me do it anyway. Lillian was on the line, and she was frantic. As it turns out, a distant relative was coming next week to claim Fred. But Lillian hired a private eye…" and Lee lowered his voice, even though the door was closed. "The man had done the same thing before, claimed other children who were distantly related, but they were now nowhere to be found. The PI thought he was selling the children. I can't even think about it."

Nathan and Elizabeth could see the anguish on Lee's face, and both were sickened by what he had just said.

"Lillian said she had to find a family to officially adopt him by the end of this week, or she would have to turn him over to the relative next week. She was beside herself!"

"I just thought God has given us the blessing of this Baby, and that perhaps he was also giving us Fred. It was the strangest thing," whispered Rosemary in a calm, low voice, "In that very instant I knew Fred became our Son. I've never been so sure of anything. And I think both Lee and I fell in love with him at that very moment!"

"Rosemary, that's so beautiful. So lovely. That's a family!" Elizabeth said through tears.

"We couldn't be happier for the three of you. He sure is adorable!" added Nathan. "And I personally know, it's overwhelming when it first happens. I know it was that way with me for Allie. But it just somehow all works out. You'll be amazed. And quite frankly, you just learn as you go along. I'm still learning each and every single day!"

"Thanks for that, Nathan, we needed that!" Lee got up to give him a hug. "You just keep telling us that! Day in and day out!"

"I tell you one thing, that cabin's getting bigger by the minute! Lee, we're going to have to think about adding some bedrooms onto that thing. What are we up to? Let's see a room for Bill, a room for the Coulters, a room…" and both Nathan and Elizabeth turned red. "And a bunkroom for the kids. That's four bedrooms. Five including Mr. Helmsly! Is that even doable Lee?"

"Sure it is, Nathan! You and I need to sit down with the Ladies and come up with some drawings. Then I'll use the men in their off-hours to make it happen. It won't be any fun unless we're all up there together! We'll make that cabin into a lodge if we have to!"

"You know, Lee, with that Lake and Little Fred, you're going to have to learn to fish!"

"I tell you what, you teach me to fish since I'm teaching you to drive."

"Deal, Lee, but I'm sure I need to get in some extra lessons fairly soon. There is a Mountie Ball coming up, you know!" and he looked lovingly at Elizabeth.

"How about we get another lesson in before we head out for Buxton to get the sleigh?"

"Deal, wish there was a way to take the kids to pick up the sleigh…"

"That's a lovely idea, Nathan! But how can we do it?" asked Rosemary, realizing this might be one of her first parental requests.

But she knew Fred would love riding in that sleigh back from Buxton.

"You know it's probably going to be ready by tomorrow. Saturday for sure," he answered. "Of course, it will depend on the weather, but we could all ride up on the train, Saturday. That way if it's too cold for the kids to come back on the sleigh, they could at least see it and then ride back on the train. Fred might enjoy that, and that way you two can enjoy him without having to put your attention on driving. What do you think?"

"That's a lovely idea, Nathan! Let's do it!" announced Rosemary, and Lee was shaking his head yes, too.

"Mama, Papa come see what we made!" Little Fred came running through the door, pulling Lee and Rosemary from their chairs.

Both were so shocked, they could barely move, and they just stared at each other.

Nathan and Elizabeth literally helped Fred pull them out of their chairs. And when the couple finally got over the shock of hearing their new names for the first time, they quickly followed their Son to see what it was he wanted to show them."

"Fred, it's wonderful!" exclaimed Rosemary.

"Son, it's something else!" added Lee.

"Auntie Rosie, Uncle Lee, it's Hope Valley, Fred's new home!" explained Allie.

"Of course, it is and it's beautiful!" said Rosemary as she stroked her son's back.

"Fred, this is quite an extraordinary model of your new town. You three are quite the architects!" bragged Lee.

And Fred beamed as though he had just been given the best Architectural Award in the country.

The adults stood and watched the children continue their play. It was clear, that Allie was just as good with Fred as she was with Little Jack.

Rosemary quietly pulled Elizabeth aside.

"Elizabeth, I have nothing for him. He has one little suitcase and one very tattered rabbit. What am I going to do?"

"You have love, Rosemary. And that's all he needs for now. Maybe when we go to Buxton on Saturday, the two of us can pick out some things he'll need. Clothes, books, and toys, things like that. Nathan's right. It will all fall into place. Just relax and enjoy him for now!"

"Auntie Rosie, may I speak with you and Uncle Lee in the kitchen?"

"Of course, Allie, what can we do for you?" asked Rosemary as she and Lee led Allie into their kitchen.

"It isn't for me. It's for Fred, I mean Frederic. He says his name isn't Fred, that the Orphanage just called him that because the kids couldn't say his real name. But he doesn't like it. He wants to be called his real name because that was his Father's name."

"Oh, sweetest Allie, thank you ever so much for telling us that. Of course, he wants to be called his real name," Rosemary knelt and hugged Allie with tears in her eyes, and Lee reached down and kissed her forehead.

"Allie you did the right thing by telling us, thank you, Sweetheart. Let's go back in and introduce our Son to everyone properly!"

"Oh, Lee, they took away his name, too!" Rosemary was devastated.

Lee and Rosemary wiped the tears from their eyes and went back into the living room with Allie.

"Everyone, Rosie and I have an announcement. It seems we were given the wrong name when we picked up our Son, today. We want you to officially meet our Son, Frederic, who is named after his Father!"

Instantly the little boy ran to his new Father and started crying.

Lee picked him up and held him close, stroking his little back.

"Thank you, Papa! Thank you, Mama! But how will everyone know?" he asked through tears.

"That my Darling is what Mother's are for. I will personally see to it that everyone knows to call you by your proper name, Frederic! You just leave it to me!'

And there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Friday morning was a particularly brisk one. But the Coulters awoke jubilantly.

This was the day they were adopting their Son!

Bill had agreed to meet them promptly at 8 AM in his Courtroom for the Official Adoption Ceremony.

The Judge had completed all the necessary paperwork last night at his home, to make sure everything was in order.

This was a Court Case, the Judge wouldn't have missed presiding over for the world!

He did a final check: yes, every single legal document was in order and waiting to be signed.

Everyone involved wanted to leave no chance that Fred's relative could swoop in and lay claim to him.

Rosemary had asked Nathan and Elizabeth to be there with them, and of course, they wouldn't have had it any other way. But Rosemary had also asked them to bring Allie and Little Jack, so Fred wouldn't seem so alone. Though Little Jack was too small to understand, Allie was positively thrilled to be part of the Ceremony. And Fred seemed awfully happy that the children would be there with him.

Poor little thing, had no idea what a 'doption' Ceremony was, although Lee and Rosemary had done their very best to explain it to him. They finally left it at, "You'll be our Son, and we'll be your new Mama and Papa!" That, Frederic, could understand! It made him happy to finally have his own family.

Nathan had gone ahead to town to pick up something for Rosemary and Lee, he had said. Elizabeth had no idea what, but she was busy explaining the morning's lesson plans to Laura who was going to oversee her Classroom. He had promised he would be back in time to go to the Ceremony with everyone. Allie was watching Little Jack for Elizabeth, while they waited.

About a half-hour had passed before Nathan could finish his task, and although he had been running here and there, he was awfully cold when he knocked on Elizabeth's door.

"Nathan, you're frozen. Come, I've got a steaming cup of Coffee ready for you!"

"Not before this..." and he bent to kiss her tenderly.

"I think that just might be the sweetest, yet coldest kiss I've ever had."

"I hope so. The sweetest part, I mean. Where's that Coffee? I may need two cups."

She laughed and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Where are Allie and Jack?" he asked curiously.

"Allie's watching him up in his room. I don't even know what time it is. Do we even have time to drink this Coffee?"

"We not only have time to drink this Coffee, we have time for this...and this...and this...and this!"

"Nathan Alexander Grant, stop! You're going to muss my hair and I'm going to forget and walk into Bill's Courtroom looking like a ragamuffin!"

"Are ragamuffins as cute as I think they are? If so, that's not a problem."

"Oh, forget the hair..." and she kissed him with all the desire in her heart that she was trying so hard to suppress.

"That's so much better!" he whispered in her ear. "See I didn't muss your hair one little bit!"

"You do know Rosemary's going to know!"

"She is? How could she?"

"Well, it appears you're not the only Detective in Hope Valley. She says she can always tell when we've kissed because your eyes have extra sparkle."

"Oh they do, do they?" he laughed, while his eyes were absolutely sparkling!

She laughed too, "Oh, yeah! She's so right. In fact, they dance, just like they're doing now, but I don't tell her that."

"Well, thanks for leaving me with that sliver of dignity! Let's give her something to really talk about..." and there was that crooked grin, just before he planted the biggest kiss on her, but the surprise was she planted one back just as big.

"Nathan, now, you've got me all flushed. She'll never let me live this down!"

"She'll have other things on her mind..."

"Rosemary, the Queen of Romance?"

"Oops, as Allie says, we're doomed! Oh, well... Might as well make the best of it."

"That's coming from you, the eternal optimist where kisses are concerned!" and there was that grin that melted her every single time!

It just wouldn't go away.

He took his right hand and placed it on her chin and he took his left hand and placed it at the back of her neck, drawing her even closer. He moved his lips to her lips, all the while searching them to find the exact spot where he already knew she could never resist. Their breathing was now identical, and they were truly alone in their beautiful world of love. She caressed his back with her hands, then her hands automatically went around his neck, pulling him closer to her...

And then there was a thud.

"We're okay, Jack accidentally knocked over a stack of books. We're straightening them up." Allie called down the stairs, loud enough so she was sure they heard and wouldn't be worried.

"Thanks, Allie," Elizabeth answered back in her loud Teacher's voice.

"Yikes, I guess it's back to reality with a thud! Here, let me warm up the Coffee!" but Nathan's eyes were doing some serious dancing.

And her face was flushed to smithereens!

"Come sit with me, Darling," and he led her into the living area.

"How much time, Love?"

"About ten more minutes."

They sat drinking their coffee, but both scooted closer together without even thinking about it. They put their coffee cups down, and Nathan cupped her chin in his hand as he looked directly into her eyes, "I love you, Elizabeth Thornton, with all my heart I love you."

She was lost in his eyes, and he in hers, but for what was probably the first time in their lives, the Coulters were early, loudly tooting their horn. The couple jumped up and Nathan quickly helped Elizabeth on with her coat, then put on his.

"Allie, can you bring Jack down, so we can leave? Uncle Lee, Auntie Rosie, and Frederic are here!"

"Coming, Dad."

Both Elizabeth and Nathan helped bundle the children up as fast as they could! Nathan picked up Jack, Elizabeth grabbed Allie's hand, and they all ran to pile in the Coulter car.

When they walked into the Courtroom, Judge Bill Avery met them at the door. Even with the short notice Bill had been given, he had taken time to go to the Mercantile last evening and pick up a toy car for Frederic.

He stooped down to give it to Frederic, "Young man, I'm your Uncle Bill and I happen to be the Judge. We're just going to have a little fun today. Okay? And you know what? I'm going to need some help. I need a Junior Judge. Would you want to help me?"

"Yes, Sir!" said Frederic in a soft voice.

"Bill led Frederic to his chair, placed him there and he stood beside Frederic at his desk.

As Lee and Rosemary looked up, Rosemary gave a gasp. There were beautiful flowers on Bill's desk, and at the front of the Courtroom, on either side.

Elizabeth now knew where Nathan had gone. He had gotten every flower Ned Yost had and brought them here. He looked straight ahead, not allowing his eyes to meet hers, but she knew that's exactly what he had done. 'Only my Nathan would think to do that,' she thought. 'And he did it for my very best friends, without saying a word. Just to make this special day extra beautiful for them!'

But somehow, Rosemary knew too, and she went straight to Nathan with tears in her eyes and kissed his cheek. He hugged her in return and she cried soft tears of joy on his shoulder. Lee was behind her to hug him as well.

These three now understood each other in a way that surpassed the strong friendship they had already forged. Nathan had already been through unexpectantly receiving a four-year-old to raise, while Lee and Rosemary were just now starting to experience the same thing with a five-year-old. If Nathan had survived and even thrived in his adventure, with Allie, all alone, they knew that together they could survive and thrive in their own adventure with Frederic.

That was a strong bond, one that said they would be there for each other, no matter the need.

"Well, the first thing we need to do is ask all our visitors to come stand before our desk? After all, we are the Judges. Can you do that, Judge Frederic?"

"Come stand before our deks," announced Frederic softly.

"Say 'Please," prompted Bill.

"Please," added Frederic with a louder voice and a little laugh.

"Now hit that car down real hard on that desk," and Bill showed him how to do it. "Then say Court is in order!"

Frederic hit the toy car on the wooden desk and said "Court is in odor."

"That's close enough," laughed Bill.

"Does everyone Swear, to Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth, so Help Me God?" Bill asked.

"Raise your right hand and say I do," prompted Bill.

"Raise your right hand and say I do," said Frederic a little louder this time.

And everyone raised their right hands (Allie raised Little Jack's, along with hers) and answered, "I do."

"Court is in Session," pronounced Bill.

"Court is in Sessun," said Frederic without any prompting.

"Leland Blaine and Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter, is it your intent to adopt this young lad, Frederic Welsh?"

"Yes, Your Honor, it is," answered Lee for the couple.

"Can you tell me what you plan to give this child?"

"Everything he needs and more, Your Honor. But mostly love."

"Good answer, Lee." noted the Judge. "Can you also say if your intention is to provide a loving home for this child?"

"Yes, your Honor, it is!"

"Frederic, do you want Leland Blaine Coulter to become your Father and Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter to become your Mother?"

"Yes, your Owner."

Frederic was a quick learner using his Father's words, even though his version of Honor was a bit unique and oh so very precious!

"Frederic, are you willing to have Uncle Bill and Uncle Nathan as your Uncles?"

"Yes, your Owner," Frederic's voice was growing stronger.

"Frederic, are you willing to have Auntie Elizabeth as your Auntie?"

"Yes, your Owner."

"Frederic, are you willing to have Allie and Little Jack as your Cousins?"

"Yes, your Owner," and Frederic's face broke out into a huge smile, and both Allie and Little Jack waved to him. Little Frederic happily waved back to them.

"I hereby Decree that Frederic Welsh is now Frederic Welsh Coulter, the son of Leland Blaine Coulter, his Father, and Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter, his Mother."

Although it was not normal procedure for Court proceedings such as this, the Welsh name had been left in at Rosemary's insistence. She had been adamant in refusing to take anything away from her little boy, most certainly not his birth name!

"I also hereby Decree that Frederic Welsh Coulter is now the Nephew of Uncle Bill Spencer Avery and Uncle Nathan Alexander Grant, the Nephew of Auntie Elizabeth Rose Thornton, and the Cousin of Alexandra Rose Grant and Jack Thornton, Jr."

"I also hereby Decree that upon their signatures in this final and legal document, along with the new Parents, that Nathan Alexander Grant and Elizabeth Rose Thornton are legal guardians for Frederic Welsh Coulter, in the event said Leland Blaine Coulter and Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter are unable to fill their parental responsibilities."

"Will the Parents and Guardians please sign the documents verifying these Decrees as such?"

The four people signing could not have been happier to do so, and the task was finished quickly.

"I now formally Decree this Adoption is Complete and Irrevocable."

"And by the Power Vested in Me, I declare us a Family together. My final Decree is it's time for hugs! Welcome to the Family, Frederic!"

Everyone clapped, and cried, and kissed and hugged! Then clapped, and cried, and kissed and hugged some more...

The Judge couldn't remember a happier time in his Courtroom, and he wasn't about to interrupt it...

So from behind his desk, Judge Bill Avery stood watching with tears coming to his eyes, and whispered softly, almost inaudibly, "Court is adjourned."

This new Family was going to have all the time they needed to celebrate with each other.