After dropping Ally off at school, Nathan had not left Hope Valley. Instead, he headed into town. He had plenty of time to make the trip to Benson Hills and he wanted to touch base with Bill before leaving town. It was not just the idea of letting Bill know he was leaving. He could have just sent the message to Bill in that case. The main reason that he wanted to talk with Bill was he wanted to discuss the next day's parole hearing with him. Being a judge himself, Nathan hoped that the man could give him advice on what things he could say to keep the judge from granted parole.
The first thing that Bill had done was make the offer to go with him. Though touched by the offer, Nathan had declined. The last thing he wanted was for Dylan to think he needed back-up to face him at a parole hearing. He also felt better knowing that Bill was here to look after the town. Here to keep an eye on Ally. Even to keep an eye on Elizabeth. Despite the distance he saw between Bill and Elizabeth these days, Nathan knew Bill was still looking out for her and Little Jack. Knowing that, made things a little easier for Nathan. He still only wanted what was best for Elizabeth and even if a relationship with him wasn't that, Nathan knew that her current relationship was not either. Elizabeth did not look any happier these days. Nathan prayed that she realized that before it was too late.
Bill had sat with him for a couple of hours in the office of the judge. He had told Nathan how to present his case. What to say and what not to say. Had warned him to only show sentiment when he was talking about Ally and her safety.
"You do not want the judge to see this as a purely emotional reason for Dylan Parks to remain behind bars but you also do not want to appear uncaring when it comes to Ally."
Those and other words Bill had spoken to him that morning kept echoing through his mind as Newton made his way slowly along the road. Nathan saw no point is pushing the horse and so he let Newton choose his own pace. Nathan knew he would have an easier time thinking through things on the back of his horse than he would in a hotel room anyway. Given the slow pace of the ride, Nathan had simply eaten a sandwich from the supply in his saddle bag for lunch.
The sound of a galloping horse behind him had Nathan pulling Newton to stop. Turning in the saddle, Nathan watched the road behind him. Shortly, a horse and rider came galloping around the bend in the road. Moments later, Nathan realized the rider was Bill.
Nathan felt a lump form in his throat. Bill would not push his horse like that unless it was an emergency and Bill would not be coming for him unless that emergency affected Ally.
Nathan had Newton turned back toward Hope Valley as Bill reigned Hero to a sop beside him.
"Bill, what has happened?" Nathan asked, his heart already pounding in his chest from his anxiety.
"There was an accident at the pond. I do not know all the details, what I do know is that Ally hit her head and went into the water briefly before Robert was able to pull her out. Cody said Lee and Faith were going out to the schoolyard already when he came for me. Knowing Faith will do all she can for Ally, I came for you."
All thoughts of the parole hearing out of his mind, Nathan had only one thought. He needed to get home to Ally. "Thank you, Bill," Nathan replied.
"You go ahead," Bill told him. "I want to give Hero a breather. I will be behind you."
Nathan nodded and then urged Newton into a gallop. As the scenery past by him in a blur, the cold air stinging his face, Nathan had only one thought - getting to Ally as quickly as he could. The prayer in his heart was for God to be with Ally and for forgiveness for failing his little girl. Ally needed him and he was not there at her side.
Unshed tears, filled his eyes as he held onto Newton's reigns as his horse covered the road back to Hope Valley as quickly as he could.
Elizabeth sat on the bench outside of the infirmary as she held Lucas' coat close around her. Having retrieved a second coat from somewhere, Lucas sat beside her. He had suggested more than once that she let him walk her home but she had refused. Though there had been little news from the infirmary, Elizabeth could not leave. Not yet. Not when she still did not know whether Ally would be okay.
Both Rosemary and Lee stood next to her, offering silent support. Abigail had checked in briefly but was currently at the café. Elizabeth knew that others were there as well, waiting for news. Perhaps that was where she should be waiting as well, but she could not bring herself to leave the spot she was in.
Mrs. Weise was currently inside with Ally and Faith. She had kept Opal and Byrony with her until her husband had come by to take Opal home. Opal had been crying against her father's shoulder when they had left. Byrony had been walking close to his side, pale and frightened. All Mr. Weise could tell them was that Faith was still in the process of warming Ally up and that she was still unconscious.
Elizabeth was not sure how long ago that was.
Movement caught her attention. Robert was pacing the sidewalk. Like Elizabeth he had refused to leave the boardwalk in front of the infirmary wanting to be the first to hear any news about Ally. Cody had stayed and waited with his friend. Ana and her parents were the only other people waiting in the cold. More than once, Ana's parents had tried to get their daughter to at least walk over to the café to wait. Ana refused, saying it was her fault because she had dared Ally to walk the log. Elizabeth knew she should join Ana's parents and Robert in trying to assure the girl that it was not her fault but she could not find the words.
If it was anyone's fault, Elizabeth knew it was her fault. The students were her responsibility during school hours. She should have done more to get the children away from the bank of the pond.
Galloping hoofbeats caught her attention. Looking up, Elizabeth saw Nathan's red serge and felt relief that Bill had found him and he was here. Nathan came to a stop in front of the infirmary and swung down from Newton.
"I'll take care of your horse, Constable Grant," Robert said, coming down the steps and reaching for the reigns.
"Newton needs to be walked for a bit to cool down after running like he was," Nathan said.
Robert nodded. "I'll check with Mr. Milton," the lad said. Ronald Milton ran the livery. "He'll make sure I know exactly what Newton needs."
Nathan nodded. "Thank you," he told Robert as he turned to come toward the infirmary. Nathan's long strides had him quickly on the boardwalk.
Elizabeth had gotten to her feet. "Nathan, I am sorry this happened. If there is anything I can do-"
"Haven't you done enough, Elizabeth?" Nathan asked. "You did not just break my heart. You broke that little girl's heart too. Now this happened. I may not know exactly what happened but I do know it happened under your watch, Elizabeth. She is still one of your students. You should have kept her safe while she was at school."
Elizabeth heard Rosemary give a little gasp. She knew how her friend felt. Nathan's words were a shock to her as well but Elizabeth could see the truth in them. She also knew they were said out of fear and pain.
"Now wait a-,"
Lucas stopped talking as Elizabeth grabbed his arm. "Not now, Lucas," Elizabeth said as Nathan disappeared into the infirmary.
"He had no right to talk to you like that."
"Nathan is right. Ally was my responsibility when this happened."
"This was not your fault," Lucas said. "It was an accident. He had no right to speak to you like that, especially when Ally is not even his child."
Elizabeth heard Rosemary start to speak and Lee gently silence her. As for Elizabeth, Lucas words felt like a knife in her heart. She felt the pain not just for Nathan's sake, knowing the fierce love he felt for Ally, but for herself and her son as well.
"How can you say that?" Elizabeth asked tears in her eyes. Tears from Nathan's words as well as from Lucas' words. Somehow though, what Lucas had said hurt more than the accusation Nathan had made. Her mother's heart understood the pain and fear Nathan was feeling. It could make allowances for him in this moment.
"Say what?" Lucas asked, looking confused. It was clear he did not understand why his words would upset her.
"That Ally is not Nathan's child. In every way that is important, that girl is his daughter. Being a parent is about the love you feel for a child not necessarily whether they are biologically yours. Will Jack always be just my son to you?"
"Elizabeth that is not what I mean."
"I think those words show me more about you then all the time we have spent together," Elizabeth said, taking off Lucas' coat and handing it back to him.
The infirmary door opened and Mrs. Weise stepped out.
"How is, Ally?" Elizabeth asked. She could hear the desperation in her own voice.
"She has not regained consciousness," Mrs. Weise told them sadly. "Faith, thinks the blow to the head caused bleeding in the skull. Before Nathan came in, she told me the best thing we can do for Ally is to pray. Nathan wanted to be alone, so I am going to go home, hold my own girls and do just that."
Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth as a sob escaped her. She felt strong arms encircle her and attempted to shrug them off, thinking it was Lucas.
"Elizabeth let me take you home," Lee's voice said quietly in her ear.
Realizing that it was Lee who was attempting to offer her comfort, Elizabeth relaxed against him.
"Rosemary can stay with you and I will come back into town and wait for updates. I will let you know about any updates just as soon as I get them myself."
Elizabeth just nodded, tears falling down her cheeks. This was supposed to be a season of joy and yet everything seemed to be falling apart. It wasn't fair. But then Elizabeth had learned that life was not fair soon after she had gotten her teaching certificate. She had been sent to Coal Valley because she had refused the advances of the super intendant. The devastation she had been faced with when she had come here had told her that life was not fair. Jack being taken from her so soon after their marriage had been proof that life wasn't fair.
Now Ally. The girl had done nothing to deserve having this tragedy happen and after she had already lost so much.
Lee guided her to his car. He helped her settle in the back seat and then Rosemary climbed in next to her. When her friend put her arms around her, Elizabeth melted against her friend. Like Mrs. Weise, Elizabeth felt a sudden desire to simply go home and hold her son close.
Nathan had dropped to his knees beside Ally's bed the moment he saw her. He wanted to bow his head and pray but he could not take his eyes from the motionless, pale face of his little girl. His mind would not form words to say a prayer. All he could think of, as he listened to Faith tell him about Ally's condition, was that he had failed Colleen. He had promised his sister he would take care of Ally. That he would protect her.
He had failed to do that. First, he had been so wrapped up in his own feelings for Elizabeth that he had failed to see that Ally had started hoping that Elizabeth would become a new mother to her. Ally's heart had been broken over Elizabeth's rejection, and that hurt him worse than Elizabeth's rejection of him. Now this.
Perhaps people had been right. Perhaps he had done Ally a disservice by trying to be a Mountie and a single father. He had been out of town when this had happen. He could have been even further away and even now not be able to be at her side.
Nathan was vaguely aware of telling Melissa Weise that he wanted to be alone. Had been vaguely aware of her saying if there was anything she could do to let her know. Was vaguely aware of Faith hovering, keeping a close eye on her patient? If he had not been so focused on Ally, he would have noticed the helpless expression on the doctor's face.
Nathan was not sure how long he had been sitting there when Ally's body started to convulse in front of him. He felt powerless. He didn't know what to do to help her. Didn't know that there was anything he could do. His eyes sought out Faith.
"Don't try holding her down, just make sure she doesn't fall off the bed," Faith instructed him as she held something between Ally's teeth.
Nathan sat in silence as Ally's body jumped on the bed before him. The seizure lasted probably less than a minute but it seemed much longer to Nathan. When Ally's body finally stilled he, looked to Faith again.
"Faith, what is happening?" Nathan asked. He could hear the fear in his own voice.
The door to the infirmary opened but Nathan didn't bother looking over his shoulder to see who it was. Quite frankly there was no one that he particularly wanted to see right then. The only thing he cared about right then was the girl lying in front of him.
"My assessment is that the head injury is causing bleeding in the brain. That is what is causing the seizures."
"So what can you do?" Nathan asked even as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. Nathan didn't have to look to know it was Bill.
Faith looked across the injured girl at him. She shook her head, and the look in her eyes told Nathan all he needed to know.
Nathan got to his feet and turned his back on Faith. If he didn't, he knew he would say more words he would regret. He already regretted the accusation he had made of Elizabeth. He hoped he had not said anything offensive to Melissa Weise, but he couldn't really recall what he had said to her. He knew accusing Faith would accomplish nothing except hurt another person he cared about. He was angry at the situation not at the people around him. Taking it out on the people around him would accomplish nothing but part of him wanted to do just that.
"There has to be something," Nathan said. He turned back to face Faith. "What if I took her to a hospital? Is there something they could do there?"
"There is a chance they could operate," Faith replied. "I'm not a surgeon. I can't say for sure that surgery would help her. I doubt she would survive the trip though."
"What if I had not been out of town? Would having been able to take her sooner have made a difference?"
"Nathan, do not do that to yourself," Bill told him. "You were going to that parole hearing to keep a man who belongs in jail there. To protect Ally. You had no way of knowing this would happen. You would not have been able to stop it if you had been here. It was an accident. No one is to blame."
Nathan turned his back on Faith and Bill again, running his hands through his hair. He had lost Colleen. He couldn't lose her daughter too. Yet, there seemed there was nothing he could do.
"You've got to try something, Faith," Nathan pleaded. "Please don't just let my little girl die," he said, as his vision blurred.
Nathan felt his knees go weak. He didn't have the strength to stand. He heard Faith's cry of concern as he sank to the ground, sobs shaking his body. It wasn't Faith who came to him. Instead, Nathan felt strong arms wrap around him. Like a father would console a son, Bill hugged Nathan close. As there was nothing he could do, nothing more he could say that would make this okay, Bill simply tried to let Nathan know that he wasn't alone.
"I'm sorry," Faith said apologetically. "I'm not a surgeon."
"But I am," a new voice said from the door to the infirmary.