The following afternoon, Nathan was sitting at the desk at home writing a letter to his mother. Though he had written to her about Ally's accident after he knew she was out of danger, this letter was much easier. Though the only mention of Elizabeth was that the group of them had ended up having hot chocolate and cookies at her house, Nathan happily wrote the news of Ally being able to move her legs and feet. He told her of their Christmas day fishing trip and the lone fish that had been caught. He even planned to include the news about Dylan though he would leave out some details. There was no reason to worry her needlessly.
As for his father, he and Ally had written a long letter together the night before. Nathan still found correspondence with his father was easier when Ally was involved. Archie had written that he would have some time off at the end of January had asked if he could come visit. The letter they had written yesterday had told Archie he was welcomed to come visit.
At the table, Ally was working on school assignments. She would join the rest of her classmates when school started back up after the new year. Though Elizabeth was not expecting her to have all the assignments done at that point, Ally was determined to be as caught up as possible and Nathan was not about to discourage her.
Nathan glanced over his shoulder at his little girl. She was in the wheelchair and would be using it for a little while yet. Though Carson would be doing daily therapy with her for the next few weeks, he had told her it would take some time to build up strength. Part of the braces that she was wearing were visible under the skirt of her dress. Carson wanted her to wear them during the day. The doctor had her standing with the crutches that morning, but Ally had not been able to take a step on her own. Carson had told her not to be discouraged as she had to simply get her brain and her legs talking to one another again.
Carson had also permanently removed the bandages around Ally's head. The shaved side was facing Nathan and he knew that Ally was self-conscious about it. She had already refused to see Robert who had stopped by after Carson left. Nathan had explained the situation to Robert while also asking him to find Fiona and ask her to stop by at her earliest convenience. The boy had happily agreed saying that maybe Ally would at least talk to him then.
A knock sounded on the door. Nathan saw Ally's head come up quickly.
"Don't let anyone in," Ally told him, a panicked look on her face.
"Relax," Nathan told her, getting to his feet.
Reaching the door, he opened it part way, knowing Ally would panic if he opened it all the way. Standing on the front stoop was Fiona and Opal.
"One house call hair dresser at your service," Fiona greeted cheerfully.
"Thank you for coming out so quickly, Fiona," Nathan said. "Ally is being overly sensitive."
"I am not! You just don't understand!" Ally called back. "A mother would understand!"
Nathan felt a pang at the accusation. It was not the first time he had heard it when Ally was upset with him. He also knew that there was probably some truth to the statement, especially in this instance.
Fiona smiled at him sympathetically. "Bad hair days upset all women no matter what age we are," she told him. "I can be a bear if my hair is not being cooperative in the morning."
Nathan smiled. "Good to know," he said, before looking down at Opal. "Hi, Opal."
"Hi, Mountie Nathan," Opal greeted. "I aksed Mom and Dad buy me some scarfs for Christmas. Miss Miller is going to show me how to use them so Ally and I can have similar hairstyles."
"Well, that is a very nice gesture," Nathan told Ally. He glanced over his shoulder at Ally. "Am I allowed to let them in?" he asked, knowing full well that Ally had been listening to the conversation.
Ally nodded her head in agreement so Nathan opened the door and stepped aside. Opal hurried inside and rushed over to the table to show Ally her hair scarves.
Fiona stepped inside so that Nathan could close the door. She placed the bag she was carrying on the floor and then went about removing her coat. Opal, comfortable in the Grant household, had removed her coat, and hung it on the back of another chair. As Fiona slipped off her coat, Nathan held out his hand for it.
"Thank you," Fiona replied as she surrendered the coat.
"I am the one who should be thanking you," Nathan told her quietly. "I may have learned more about doing a girl's hair then most men, but this is beyond me."
Fiona reached out and patted his upper arm. "I will take care of the issue," she assured him.
Nathan glanced to Ally and Opal who were at the table chatting animatedly. Opal had been wonderful for keeping Ally's spirits up these last few weeks and Nathan knew she would continue to do so.
"I have a favor to ask you," Nathan ventured looking back to Fiona. "Would you mind keeping an eye on the girls for a bit? There is a phone call I would like to go into town to make."
Fiona waved her hand. "Not a problem," she informed him. "The girls and I will have fun playing with hairstyles while you are gone and I promise you, Ally will not be worried about getting visitors when you come home."
"Thank you," Nathan replied as Opal hurried up the stairs. Nathan had a feeling she was going upstairs to get the scarves and headbands that Ally's classmates had bought for her.
Nathan made his way over to Ally. Standing behind the wheelchair, he placed his hands on her shoulders. Ally leaned her head back and looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I know you do your best to be both father and mother to me," Ally told him.
Nathan squeezed her shoulders gently. "I appreciate the apology," he told her. "I am going to head into town to make a phone call to Mr. And Mrs. Parks," he said.
Nathan had told her about his conversation with Graham Parks that morning after breakfast. As Ally had previously just been told that her grandparents on her biological father's side had chosen not to be a part of her life, Nathan had finally explained to her why they had made that decision. He had patiently answered all the questions she had asked, doing his best to make her understand the sacrifice that they had made in an effort to keep themselves and her safe.
"You do not think they will be upset that I just want to correspond through letters, do you?" Ally asked. "I just do not want to say something that might upset them. Letter writing lets me think through what I say."
"It will be fine, Ally," Nathan assured her. "I will explain the situation to them and let them know that you would like them to write the first letter. I think they are just going to be happy that you want to start a dialogue. The rest will come with time."
Ally nodded.
Hearing footsteps on the steps told Nathan that Opal was returning. Leaning over, he placed a quick kiss on Ally's cheek, before addressing both girls.
"I want you both to listen to Miss Miller while I am gone," Nathan told them. "I won't be long."
"Yes, sir," both girls replied.
As Nathan headed for the door, Fiona stepped forward and placed the bag on the table. "First, we need to cut your hair, Ally," she said addressing the girl. "I was thinking we should cut it about shoulder length. I think the style will look cute on you and it will take less time for it to even all out."
"All right," Ally replied as Nathan reached for his coat.
Slipping his arm into the coat, Nathan found himself wondering if he would even recognize his little girl when he returned home.
As Jack insisted on walking, the trip into Hope Valley seemed to take forever to Elizabeth. She kept looking toward the little town thinking that she would see Lee's car coming toward the row houses before she got to his office. Knowing that Lee would ask fewer questions than Rosemary would, questions that Elizabeth was not quite ready to answer, she wanted to talk to Lee at his office rather than at home.
Just over halfway between the row houses and the buildings of town, Jack stopped and lifted his hands up to Elizabeth.
"Tired, Mama," Jack informed her.
Elizabeth obliged by picking Jack up. With her son in her arms, she was able to walk faster, though her arms were soon getting tired. She was grateful when she reached Lee's office.
Lee looked up from the papers in front of him when she walked into the office. Wanting to give her arms a rest, Elizabeth placed Jack on the floor.
"Unc' Lee!" Jack said happily, making his way toward Lee's desk.
"Hey there, Jack," Lee said, a huge smile on his face as he pushed his chair back. He held his hands out to the boy, and picked him up when he was close enough. Little Jack put his arms around Lee's neck almost immediately.
"I hope we are not disturbing you," Elizabeth said, as she walked toward Lee's desk.
"You and Jack are a disruption I will always welcome," Lee assured her. "Is there something I can do for you, Elizabeth?" he asked.
Elizabeth nodded. There was no point in trying to pretend there was not a reason for her visit. It wasn't as if she made a habit of visiting Lee at work.
"Rosemary mentioned that you were going into Benson Hills tomorrow and I was wondering if I could tag along," Elizabeth told him, watching as Lee settled Jack on his lap, out of reach of the things on his desk.
"Is there something I could pick up for you?" Lee offered, trying to save her a trip out of town.
Elizabeth shook her head. Though she had been able to talk about the revelation about Nathan she had come to with Abigail the night before, Elizabeth did not have all the details of her plan worked out. "I am working on something and I am not quite sure what it is I want," she told him. "I do know that I am more likely to find it in the Benson Hills shops rather than the mercantile."
Lee chuckled. "Then I would be happy to have you go along. I will even buy you lunch while we are there."
"You do not need to buy me lunch," Elizabeth told him.
"I want to," Lee told her. "If you do not accept it will hurt my feelings," Lee told her, faking a frown.
Elizabeth giggled. "Lunch sounds wonderful then," she told him. "What time were you leaving?"
"I was planning on nine o'clock. Will that work for you?"
"I will be ready," Elizabeth assured him. "Thank you."
"No problem," Lee told her.
"We will let you get back to work," Elizabeth said, coming over and reaching out for Jack. "Though I am surprise you are working. Didn't you give your men a week off?"
"I did," Lee replied, as he handed Jack to her. "However, I am trying to get a contract from a business owner who is looking to expand his building in Benson Hills and I want to make sure everything is right for the bid I am pitching tomorrow."
"I will definitely let you get to that then," Elizabeth replied. "Say good-bye to Uncle Lee," Elizabeth prompted her son.
"Good-bye, Unc' Lee!" Jack said happily, waving to the man.
"Good-bye, Jack!" Lee said as he waved back. "Keep your mama out of trouble, all right."
Jack nodded, a serious look on his face which caused both adults to laugh.
Elizabeth exchanged her own good-bye with Lee and then crossed over to the mercantile. She needed more oatmeal and cinnamon for breakfast tomorrow. She had not been in the store long when Jack wiggled to get down. Elizabeth placed him on the ground, though she kept a hold of his hand as she made her way to where the cinnamon was kept. After getting the cinnamon, Elizabeth made her way to the counter. As she approached though, Jack pulled his hand from hers.
"Nathan!" the boy exclaimed as he hurried off.
As she followed Jack, Elizabeth noted that Nathan was just hanging up the telephone in the mercantile. Having heard Jack's exclamation of his name, Nathan squatted down to meet the boy as he hurried over.
"Hello, Jack," Nathan said easily. "You know you should not wander off from your Mama," he told the boy in a patient but firm voice. "It is not safe and you do not want to worry her," he added as he looked up at Elizabeth.
Jack followed his gaze. "Sorry, Mama," Jack told her before turning back to Nathan and hugging him.
Nathan hugged the boy back.
"I hope he did not interrupt your phone call," Elizabeth commented, as Nathan got to his feet with Little Jack in his arms.
"He did not," Nathan assured her. "Are you heading home after this?"
"Yes, just as soon as I pay for these things. Jack detoured me from the counter," Elizabeth admitted.
"May I walk you home?" Nathan asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "I would like that," she replied, without a moment of hesitation.
"I'll keep an eye on Jack, while you make your purchases," Nathan told her.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said.
Knowing her son was safe with Nathan, Elizabeth went to the counter. As she approached, Elizabeth noticed that Ned was watching something behind her. She placed the containers of oats and cinnamon on the counter and then looked over her shoulder. Nathan was holding Jack up over his head, causing the little boy to giggle.
"Jack sure does seem to like Nathan," Ned commented.
"Yes, he does," Elizabeth murmured, as she looked from the sight and met Ned's gaze. The store owner was giving her a searching look, as if he was trying to figure out if it was only Jack who was taken with Nathan. "I just need these two things today," Elizabeth said as she pushed the items closer to Ned.
"Of course," Ned said, as he reached for the items. He wrung up the items and gave her the total. As he handed back her change, the store owner met her gaze. "You know, Elizabeth, you gave both me and Florence some good advice during our short courtship," he told her. "We might not have actually gotten married without that advice. It might be a good time to start listening to the advice that you have been given those around you."
Elizabeth felt a little heat rise in her cheeks. "I am working on doing that," she told Ned, quietly.
Ned beamed. "I am happy to hear that. Have a good day, Elizabeth."
"Thank you, Ned," Elizabeth said, turning from the counter.
She draped her basket over one arm as she walked to where Nathan waited with Little Jack. Together, they left the mercantile. Even with Jack in one arm, Nathan opened and held the door for her.
"Thank you," Elizabeth told him as she walked through.
The two walked in silence for a little while and then Elizabeth broke the silence. "I thought Constable Mackenzie was covering for you so you could spend some time with Ally?" she ventured casually.
"He is," Nathan replied. "Carson removed Ally's bandages this morning, and Fiona was gracious enough to come out and help Ally feel less self conscious about her appearance. While Fiona was with her, I thought I would use the opportunity to make a phone call to Dylan's parents. Now that they do not need to fear Dylan trying to locate me and Ally through them, they want to be a part of Ally's life."
"Are you okay with that?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am," Nathan replied. "Dylan's parents are good people. Ally is their grandchild. They should be a part of one another's lives, though that was not possible before now. For now though, Ally just wants to correspond with them through letters. I think she is still confused about her feelings following Dylan's death. Ally is aware she should be upset by his passing but she isn't."
"That is understandable. You are the only father she has ever really known," Elizabeth told him. "You have also been honest with her about the actions her biological father has taken."
Nathan nodded. "I think Ally is worried that her lack of feeling over the events might upset her grandparents."
Elizabeth considered the observation. It was a rough place for anyone to be in, let alone a thirteen-year-old child who was still struggling with a lot of her own feelings.
"Perhaps letters are the best option for now. It gives everyone time to process their feelings about what is said before responding."
"Perhaps," Nathan responded. He looked down at Jack who had laid his head on Nathan's shoulder even though his eyes were open. "Part of me wishes Ally was still this age. It seemed so much easier to protect her when she was little."
Elizabeth looked at her son. He was getting more and more aware of the world around him. With that awareness came understanding but Elizabeth also knew that the more he understood the more susceptible he was to the hurts to the world.
"I have a feeling all parents have wished that at one point or another," Elizabeth commented.
"You are probably right," Nathan said. "However, children have to grow up and our job as parents becomes less about protecting and teaching and more about just being there through the heartaches. I do know one thing. The first official date she goes on, I do plan on making sure I am cleaning my gun when Robert, or whoever it is, comes to pick her up."
Elizabeth laughed. "I am sure Ally will love you for that," she commented. "Although it probably is not any worse than my own father threatening to call the cops on our boyfriends if they did not have us back at the appointed time."
Nathan smiled. "Do you think he would have?"
"I do not know, but no one wanted to test him on the threat. Though Julie has done quite a lot of sneaking out to see boys," Elizabeth said, thinking about her younger sister's escapades with Tom Thornton. Even Jack, who loved his brother, had been worried about that combination.
"Are you trying to say you never thought of doing anything rebellious as a child?" Nathan asked.
"As a child, I think the most rebellious thing I tried to do was to stay up on Christmas Eve to see Santa Clause," Elizabeth informed him. "Then I became a teacher and moved out here. Moving to Coal Valley is definitely the most rebellious thing I have ever done." Elizabeth paused as she thought about her parents' reaction to her decision to marry Jack. "However, if you ask my parents they will probably tell you the most rebellious thing I did was marry a Mountie."
"So your parents did not approve of, Jack?" Nathan asked.
"I do not think it was so much approving of Jack as it was approval of what he did. My Father actually offered Jack a position with his company at one point, which Jack took offense to."
"I cannot say I blame him," Nathan replied.
Elizabeth nodded. "I do get how Jack felt," she told him. "My parents do not think young women of their social status should have a vocation. They humored me when I said I wanted to get my teaching certificate. I think they figured I would get it, prove I could do it, and then marry and stay home like I was expected to. Then I got the position in Coal Valley, and they did not want me to take it. My mother even tried to bribe the super intendant into giving me a position at a school in Hamilton. Finding that out, just strengthened my resolve to come out here and prove I could do it."
Elizabeth paused as she looked around. "Seeing the resilience of the people of this town inspired me. Teachers are plentiful in the cities. Getting teachers to come to a small town like this is difficult. The children here needed me. After that, it did not take me long to fall in love with the place."
"You are a good teacher, Elizabeth. The children are lucky to have you."
Elizabeth shook her head. "I feel like I am the lucky one," she said.
Beside her, Nathan gazed around. "I know exactly what you mean," he commented.
Elizabeth looked over at him, trying to decide if he was humoring her or if he really meant what he said. Taking in the look on Nathan's face, Elizabeth realized the town had worked its charm on him as well. Nathan may have come to Hope Valley out of a sense of duty but he was still here because of what he had found here.