AN: So given the hours I work, tomorrow's update will be in the evening as well. I appreciate all the reviews for this story. Glad that so many are enjoying it!

Abigail went about her duties as quietly as she could. They had pulled the curtain across the doorway of the kitchen area and the main dining room to give Nathan a little privacy, although even the café patrons were subdued. Everyone was aware of what was going on and everyone was hoping to hear good news.

Slipping through the curtain with the coffee pot, Abigail made a round of the tables filling coffee cups. The coffee was more popular than the food right now and Abigail was fine with that. She was happy to provide whatever comfort she could to the worried parents and children that were sitting in her café. Spurlock and his Pinkerton were the only ones blissfully eating their meals as if it was an ordinary day.

With coffee cups filled, Abigail slipped back through the curtain. Bill was waiting for her.

"I am going over to my office for a little while," Bill told her quietly. "I had promised Nathan to stay out of this parole hearing business but giving the circumstances I am not keeping that promise. I want to talk personally with the judge hearing the case in the morning and give him my thoughts on the situation. Someone needs to speak for Nathan and Ally tomorrow even if it is simply over the phone. I won't be long."

Abigail glanced over at Nathan sitting on the settee. The Mountie had not said a word since Bill had led him into the building. Nathan had simply been sitting on the settee, staring at the floor. A coffee cup was in his hands but Abigail had only seen him take one sip from it. She knew he could have drunk more when she had not been looking but Abigail had a feeling that the cup was nearly full.

Cody and Robert came sedately through the door and quietly made their way to the steps that led upstairs. Though Robert was not currently crying, Abigail did see traces of tears on the boy's cheek. Cody had told her that Robert and Ally liked each other and that he was thankful that despite that, his best friend and Ally tended to include him and Opal in things. If Robert and Ally wanted to be alone, Cody seemed content to spend time with Opal. Abigail felt for Robert but for now was content to let him seek comfort in Cody. She would speak to them both eventually.

As Cody and Robert disappeared upstairs, Abigail was reminded of her fear of losing him during surgery. Like Nathan, she had sat in this room, praying her boy would survive. Praying that when Carson came through that he would not bring bad news with him.

"Go ahead, Bill," Abigail replied, suddenly knowing that even though she did not know Nathan well, in this moment, she probably knew how he was feeling better than anyone else. "I will send someone for you if we need you."

Bill nodded and then quietly slipped out of the café. Nathan simply continued staring at the floor.

Grabbing a clean mug, Abigail filled it with hot coffee. Trying to remember how Bill had fixed the cup he had given Nathan, and knowing the Mountie would probably barely register the taste if he did drink it, Abigail added a little sugar and milk. Walking over to Nathan, Abigail slipped the old mug from his hands. It wasn't until she placed the new mug in his hands, with its hot liquid in it, that Nathan seemed to take notice.

"Just in case you decide to sip it, the coffee will be warm," Abigail told him as Nathan looked up at her.

"Thank you," Nathan said softly as his hands closed around the warm mug.

When Abigail was sure he had a hold of it, she released the new mug. Walking to the sink, she dumped the old coffee. Only about a quarter of it had been drunk. She rinsed the mug and let it sit in the sink as she went back to Nathan.

Abigail sat down on the settee next to the Mountie. She and Jack had gotten to know one another fairly quickly when Jack came to Hope Valley due to the mine accident. It had given them a reason to interact and they had quickly become friends. Since returning to Hope Valley, she had not had a reason to interact with Nathan, though she had definitely heard a lot about him, both in letters and in person since her return.

Cautiously, unsure of how Nathan would react, Abigail rested what she hoped was a comforting hand on the Mountie's back.

"I know how hard this is, just sitting wondering if your child is going to survive. Wanting the doctor to walk through the door and dreading it at the same time because you know it could be bad news."

"How?" Nathan asked quietly.

"Because about three years ago, Cody got extremely sick. We didn't have a town doctor at the time, just Faith as a nurse. We had recently discovered Carson, who was cooking here in this café, had been a doctor. He had stopped practicing after he loss his wife during a surgery. He had left town after his secret was discovered. Faith feared Cody had appendicitis and needed a doctor. We sent to Union City for one and folks went out searching for Carson. I ended up with two doctors. Carson thought surgery was necessary and the other doctor did not. I was torn with what to do. Torn about which doctor to listen too. When Cody got worse, I finally let Carson operate. If I had waited much longer, or if Carson had not come back, I might not still have Cody."

"Faith did not believe Ally would survive without the surgery. She might not live with the surgery."

"But Ally has a chance. Carson is giving her that chance. He came back for Cody and he arrived just when you and Ally needed him today. I would like to think God was at work with Carson's arrival."

"Where was God when Ally fell?"

Abigail was not sure how to answer that question. She almost regretted starting this conversation. What did she say to Nathan?

An answer came but it was not from Abigail.

"I would like to believe he was right there with her, Nathan," came the quiet soothing voice of Joseph Canfield. "As human's have free will, God cannot prevent all tragedy. Our actions and the actions of others dictate what happens from day to day. However, I believe that God is right there when bad things happen. He does not let us face them alone. He was with Ally then and he is with her now. He has been with everyone who has helped her today and he is listening to the prayers of those who care about Ally and you."

"Right now I feel alone," Nathan said, lifting the mug in his hands and taking a sip from it. "Just when I thought my life was falling into place again, everything started to unravel."

"You are not alone, Nathan," Abigail told him, moving her hand slowly back and forth on his back.

"She is right," Joseph echoed. "I have gathered a bunch of people who are going to go to the church and hold a prayer vigil for Ally, and for you."

"Ally is the one fighting for her life."

"Yes, but she is your daughter. You need our prayers for strength and comfort as much as she needs prayers for healing. I came to see if you wanted to join us."

Nathan shook his head.

"That is fine," Joseph said. "Can the three of us pray before I leave?" Joseph asked.

Nathan nodded his consent. Joseph knelt down next to Nathan. Laying one hand on Nathan's arm, Joseph held out a hand to Abigail. Leaving her hand on Nathan's back, Abigail reached out to take Joseph's hand, bowing her head as Joseph led them in prayer.

Riding into Hope Valley, Constable Gabriel Kinslow felt like the place was too quiet. Though he saw people moving around through the windows of the saloon, the street was empty. He reigned in Apollo in front of the Mounted Police Office. He figured he would see if Nathan was in the office before going elsewhere.

Dismounting Apollo, Gabriel secured the reigns and headed toward the office. A quick look inside showed him that Nathan was not there. From the looks of things he had not been in the office for a while now. Everything was in its proper place and it was as cold inside as it was out.

Gabriel walked back toward Apollo. As the Weisse's were expecting him, he supposed it would be best to stop by and see them and then search out his friend. He was about to mount Apollo when a bit of activity caught his attention. Looking down the street, Gabriel saw a woman hurrying in his direction.

"Constable," the woman said, approaching him. "I know you just got into town, but I am not sure I should bother Constable Grant with this right now given the circumstances."

"What circumstances?" Gabriel asked, concern rising in him

"Constable Grant's niece had an accident at school today. She is undergoing surgery," Florence explained.

"Where is Nathan?" Gabriel asked, his concern pushing all thoughts of using a formal address out of his mind.

"Last I knew he was at the café waiting for word about the surgery," Florence told him. "Could I give you this telegram? It is being sent to all the Mountie offices in the area. They had a prisoner escape in Union City."

Gabriel nodded, holding his hand out for the telegram. "Of course, ma'am. Thank you."

Gabriel took the telegram. As Florence headed back to the mercantile, Gabriel read the message.

All officers please be advised. Prisoner has escaped custody in Union City. Prisoner's name is Dylan Parks.

A description followed. It was a description that Gabriel did not need. He had met Dylan Parks before and knew exactly who he was. Gabriel also knew that his escape meant even more trouble for Nathan. Trouble that at least until the outcome of Ally's surgery was know, Gabriel intended to keep from his friend.

Folding up the message, Gabriel put it in the pocket of his coat. Untying Apollo's reigns, Gabriel walked the horse the short distance to the café, where he secured the reigns again. Walking into the café, Gabriel looked around as he removed his hat. Though he did not see Nathan, he did spot a young woman placing plates on a table.

"Excuse me, miss," Gabriel said, approaching the waitress.

"Can I help you, Constable?" the young brunette asked.

"I was looking for, Constable Grant," Gabriel told her. "I am a friend and another woman told me about Ally's accident."

"Come with me," the young woman said, heading for a curtain that partitioned the room.

The young woman held the curtain aside for him. Gabriel stepped through, and immediately spotted Nathan sitting on the settee along the back wall. With long strides, Gabriel crossed over to his friend and sat down next to him.

"Nathan, I heard Ally is in surgery. Have you heard anything else?" Gabriel asked.

Nathan shook his head. He took a deep breath and then looked over at Gabriel. "She hit her head before falling into the pond. The doctors think there is bleeding in the skull. They are not sure she will even survive the surgery. Gabe, what do I do if I lose her?" Nathan asked as he broke down into tears for the first time since entering the café.

"We take this one step at a time, Nathan," Gabriel told his friend, taking the coffee mug from his friend's hand and setting it on a nearby end table. He then wrapped his arms around Nathan and pulled his friend close as Nathan cried. "Ally is in surgery. The doctors will do all they can and until we hear otherwise, we are going to believe that she is going to pull through. Ally is a strong, resilient girl."

As Gabriel held his friend, allowing Nathan to express his emotions through his tears, he thought of the message in his pocket. He was even more certain that Nathan did not need to know about the contents of that message. At least not until they knew that Ally was through surgery and had a chance at recovery.

If Ally didn't pull through the surgery, Gabriel had a feeling the main danger to Nathan that the message presented would pass. Without Ally as leverage, Dylan Parks would leave Nathan alone. Though he was full of bravado, under the surface Dylan Parks was a coward. He would avoid conflict unless he knew he had the upper hand. Without Ally in the picture, Dylan Parks had no chip to play against Nathan.

Though Gabriel wanted his goddaughter to pull through the surgery, Gabriel knew it would mean danger for both Ally and Nathan unless Dylan was captured. Ally would be an even more vulnerable target. If Dylan got to her, Nathan would do anything to protect her. Even put himself at risk.

Gabriel did not intend to let that happen. It looked like his stay in Hope Valley was going to last a little longer than he originally planned.