Elizabeth stood in the clearing with her arms wrapped around her. She felt the tears rolling down her cold cheeks but did not try to wipe them or way or stop them. Jack had disappeared and it was her fault. Yes, he had walked away while Lucas should have been watching him, but she had asked Lucas to watch Jack while she went to see the pine boughs and pine cones that Opal and Byrony had gathered. Opal wanted to show Byrony how to create a wreath and she was very excited about it. She had been so happy for the two young girls, and happy that Opal had wanted to share the project with her in even that little way.
I should have kept Jack with me, Elizabeth scolded herself silently.
As much as she wanted to blame Lucas, Elizabeth knew she was just as much to blame. She knew how quickly a toddler could move, having learned quickly while raising Jack. Lucas did not.
Elizabeth could sense Lucas' presence right behind her, as she stood looking in the direction Nathan had gone. He had not tried to comfort her since she had shrugged away his first gesture. She wished he would. Jack would have. Jack would not have let that first brush off be the final offer of comfort.
The sound of footsteps crunching in the snow caught her attention. Elizabeth fond herself holding her breath as she waited for the source of those footsteps to make an appearance. As Nathan came into view, Elizabeth murmured 'thank-god' as she spotted her son contently in his arms.
"Mama," Jack cried as Elizabeth rushed forward.
As Elizabeth took Jack from Nathan, she heard exclamations of joys behind her. She knew the Weises' were just as happy as she was that Jack was safe.
"I checked him over. He seems fine."
"Are you a doctor now too?" Elizabeth asked, immediately regretting the words. Mounties were trained in first aid. Both Edward and Jack had patched her up on more than one occasion.
"No, I am still just a Mountie," Nathan told her. "If it would ease your mind, Faith is right over there," he told her nodding. "I will not be offended if you ask her opinion."
Elizabeth followed his nod with her gaze and spotted Faith standing with her arm around Ally's shoulders. "No," she said. "I trust you," she said looking back to Nathan. "Thank-you for finding him."
"You are welcome," Nathan told her with a nod. "Have a good evening," he added, given both her and Lucas a polite nod.
"Bye, Nathan" Jack said with a wave.
"Bye, Jack," Nathan told the boy, giving the toddler a quick salute that caused Jack to giggle despite what he had been through.
Elizabeth watched Nathan walk toward Faith and Ally. As the trio disappeared into the woods, Elizabeth felt a hint of some kind of emotion stir in her. Was it jealousy? She did not understand why she would be jealous. She had made her choice. Nathan was certainly free to see whoever he wanted and she had not talked to Faith a lot recently. Perhaps she and Carson had decided to go their separate ways.
Opal ran over to her and gave her a quick hug.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Thornton. If I had not distracted you, Little Jack would not have wandered off."
"Oh, it is not your fault, Opal," Elizabeth told her, giving her a one-armed hug. "I am glad you showed me your materials for your wreath. You are a good big sister to show Byrony how to make one. Now, I think your family is waiting for you."
Opal glanced over at her parents and Byrony. "Bye, Mrs. Thornton. Bye Jack," Opal said. She was halfway to her family before she added, "Bye, Mr. Bouchard."
"Bye, Opal," Lucas said, with a smile. He looked from Opal to Elizabeth. "Shall we go back to looking for our trees?"
Elizabeth looked from Lucas to her son. The scare with Jack had taken the desire of finding a Christmas tree out of her. "I think I would like to just take Jack home," Elizabeth admitted. "Do you mind?"
"Elizabeth, he was out of your sight for no more than twenty minutes and you heard Constable Grant. He is fine," Lucas told her, his voice exasperated. "We came out to find a tree for the saloon and your house. How about we do that instead of running home because our trip had a bit of a bump."
Elizabeth looked back to Lucas. "A bit of a bump? You lose my son, and you call it a bit of a bump?"
Lucas sighed. "I already said I was sorry," he said.
"No, you did not," Elizabeth stated, her voice wavering. Though her tears had stopped when she had seen Nathan emerge from the wood with Jack in his arms, she still felt them close to the surface. More than anything she just wanted to sit down somewhere and have a good cry but Jack needed her.
"Pardon me?" Lucas asked.
"You explained what happened. You never did apologize," Elizabeth said.
Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "I am sorry I let Jack wander off, Elizabeth. Now can we go back to looking for Christmas trees?"
With a yawn, Jack lay his head down on Elizabeth's shoulder though his eyes remained open.
"Could you please take me home, Lucas?" Elizabeth asked.
Lucas nodded. "I would be happy to after I at least find the tree for the saloon," he said stubbornly. "You are welcome to wait at the car if you wish," he added even as he started to stroll away looking at the trees that surrounded them.
"I will walk home then," Elizabeth said stubbornly, turning and heading back in the direction they had come.
Elizabeth did not bother looking back but she had felt sure that Lucas would soon catch up with her and drive her home after all. A few minutes later, she was still alone. Realizing that Lucas was not going to follow her, the tears started to fall.
Jack might have argued about going back but when he saw she was determined to head home, he would have followed. Jack would not have let her walk home alone.
Nathan would have consented to taking her home without an argument just like he had with their almost dinner at the café. She had sensed his disappointment but he had not pressed the issue. He had walked her home and then a short time later had returned with food from the café. He had told her that he figured if she wasn't feeling well that she probably would not feel like cooking.
"No cry, Mama," Jack said, breaking through her thoughts. Her son reached out with a mittened hand and wiped tears from her cheek.
Despite the tears, Elizabeth smiled down at him. "I guess I am not walking home alone, am I. You are walking home with me. I am so glad you were found, my Sweet Boy."
"Daddy found me," Jack told her.
"No," Elizabeth said gently. "Constable Grant found you and I am very grateful to him for doing so," she said, though she realized her actions at the time had not really conveyed gratefulness.
Jack shook his head. "Before Nathan. Daddy there," Jack insisted.
Elizabeth caught her breath. Had Jack been there with their son in spirt, looking over him? The conviction in Little Jack's voice kept her from trying to convince him otherwise even as her rational mind fought against the idea.
"I am just glad you are safe, Jack," Elizabeth said, holding her son tightly as she leaned her cheek against her son's hat? She felt her tears make icy tracks down her cheeks but she did not try to wipe them away as she kept both arms around her son.
Coming out of the woods a short time later, Elizabeth heard laughter. Looking around she saw Jesse and Clara loading a tree into the back of a wagon. Apparently finding a Christmas tree was a popular activity in Hope Valley today.
Still upset, Elizabeth started walking in the direction of town without calling a hello. She had not gotten to far when Jesse called out.
"Elizabeth!" Jesse called. "Are you okay?" he asked hurrying up beside her.
Elizabeth nodded, not looking in his direction though she did stop.
"Can we give you a lift home?" Jesse asked nervously, seeing the tears on Elizabeth's cheeks but not wanting to say anything about them.
"Yes. Thank-you," Elizabeth said.
Jesse gently took her arm and led her back to the waiting wagon. He helped Elizabeth up on the wagon seat first and then Clara. As Jesse walked around the team to the other side of the wagon, Clara wrapped her arm around Elizabeth's shoulder.
"What has you upset, Elizabeth?" Clara asked kindly.
For a fleeting moment, Elizabeth thought about deflecting the question. Instead, she found herself telling the story about Little Jack wandering off, Nathan finding him, and Lucas not wanting to take her home as Jesse directed the team toward home.
"Maybe Lucas was right," Elizabeth finished up. "Maybe I was overreacting and I should have just finished looking for a tree."
"You are not overreacting," Clara said, giving her shoulders a squeeze. Little Jack had fallen asleep in Elizabeth's arms. "I am sure that Little Jack missing gave you quite a scare. Of course you just wanted to get him home safe. Lucas should have been more understanding?"
"I would have taken Clara home in that situation," Jesse commented quietly from the other side of Elizabeth.
"Let us hope we never find ourselves in that situation," Clara commented, the hand that was not around Elizabeth's shoulders drifting to her stomach.
Elizabeth noticed the action. "Is there something you would like to tell me, Clara?" she asked.
Clara smiled. "We are going to have a baby. Faith confirmed it yesterday. Besides Abigail you are the first person I have told."
"Oh, I am so happy for you both," Elizabeth said, her own sadness melting away as it was replaced for joy for her friends.
Faith found herself humming as she ladled the hot chocolate into mugs. Except for the brief scare with Little Jack, the day had been a pleasant one. She was thankful that Nathan had invited her to share tree hunting with him and Ally. It had sure been a better way to spend the day rather than sitting alone wondering if Carson was ever going to reply to her telegram, having taken Nathan's advice.
Given the time constraint, Faith had elected to tell Carson she would really like to see him for whatever time he could spare though she would understand whatever decision he made. She had spent the week hoping for a response but none had come.
Faith's hope now was that Carson had simply elected to stay home and instead of sending a quick telegram had written her a more personal letter. A letter would take longer to reach her.
With three mugs filled, Faith picked up the peppermint sticks and placed one in each mug. Picking up the three mugs, she turned from the stove, her eyes falling on the now decorated little tree that stood by the front window. The little tree did make things feel more festive. She was glad Ally had talked her into getting it.
"The tree looks very nice," Faith said, as she walked toward the settee that Nathan and Ally sat on. "Thank-you for convincing me to get one, Ally and thank you both for helping me decorate it," she told them as she held the mugs out to them.
"You're welcome, Dr. Carter."
"My pleasure," Nathan told her.
With the third mug in hand, Faith sat in the kitchen chair she had brought over. The row house she rented seemed too big for just her, but as Fiona had moved to the rooms above the barber shop she no longer had a roommate. Right then though, Faith was aware of how sparsely furnished the house was as she and Fiona had split the furniture among them. At one time, Faith had thought Carson would soon be helping her make the house seem less empty. Lately though, Faith wondered if that would ever happen.
Pushing her thoughts of Carson out of her mind, Faith tried to focus on her guests.
"This is really good," Ally said, having tasted the hot chocolate.
"Thank you," Faith replied, smiling at the girl. "Hot chocolate is about the only thing I can make that is fit to give to guests. Carson was trying to teach me to cook but the lessons did not seem to help much. I would still rather eat at the café then eat my own cooking, though I can manage oatmeal now."
"Oatmeal was the first thing I learned to make too," Ally supplied. "Is Dr. Shepherd coming back to Hope Valley for Christmas?"
Faith shook her head. "Even if he comes home for a visit, he will need to be back in Baltimore for Christmas for work."
Ally looked to Nathan. "Can Dr. Carter have Christmas dinner with us then?" she asked. "Christmas dinner alone is no fun."
"Dr. Carter might have other plans for Christmas dinner," Nathan said diplomatically, unsure if Faith had gotten another invitation to Christmas dinner.
"I do not," Faith replied. "I do not want to impose though."
"It would be no imposition," Nathan replied. "It will not be anything fancy, but my food is at least edible."
"Though his chili is bland," Ally interjected.
Faith laughed as Nathan shot Ally a look.
"Even bland chili would be preferable to my own cooking," Faith commented. "I would enjoy joining the two of you for Christmas dinner."
"Bill promised to teach me how to make figgy pudding," Ally replied. "That will be dessert."
"I have had Bill's figgy pudding. That will be delicious," Faith replied. "How is Misty doing these days?" she asked, knowing that Ally was always happy to talk about her horse.
The three continued to chat as they drank the hot chocolate. Faith enjoyed the comradery and though he did not contribute much to the conversation, she was glad that Nathan seemed more relaxed then he did most of the time these days.
The light was fading when Nathan and Ally left Faith's house. Ally had her arm looped through Nathan's as they made their way down the path toward their own home. Nathan was relieved to know that their own tree, though undecorated, was already standing in their living room. Given that it had dwarfed Faith's tree in the wagon, it had been easier to remove their tree before trying to get the smaller tree out.
"So, I suppose you will want to decorate the tree when we get home," Nathan commented.
"Could we do it another day?" Ally asked.
Nathan looked down at the girl, surprised by the question. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked, as he pulled the glove off his free hand. He pressed his hand against Ally's forehead.
"I feel fine," Ally said. "Honestly," she added. "Though I am feeling a bit tired."
"It has been a long day," Nathan consented.
"I was thinking that perhaps we could just have dinner and then we could read some of Sherlock Holmes together," Ally suggested. "Maybe I could invite Opal, and Byrony if she stays, over one afternoon next week and she can still help me decorate the tree. I was looking forward to having Opal decorate the tree with us."
Nathan nodded. "I am okay with that," he told her. "Spending the evening reading with my favorite girl sounds like the perfect way to past the time."
"Good," Ally said happily as they reached their home and headed inside.