On Saturday, Nathan headed into town. He knew he needed to check in with headquarters as well as check for any messages that might have been sent to him from any other Mountie posts. Gabriel, with Billy bundled up and sitting behind him, rode with him part way. He had come to Hope Valley to take the Wolfs up on the offer of hand me downs for Billy. Gabriel intended to ride with Nathan until they had to split ways so Nathan could head into town and he would head to the Wolfs.
"I hope things are okay back in Brookfield?" Gabriel commented, as he and Nathan rode slowly. Both of them were letting the horses set the pace as the animals made their way through the high snow.
Nathan didn't miss the worry in his friend's voice. He also knew it wasn't just Brookfield he was worried about.
"I'm sure things are fine," Nathan said. "I'm sure someone made sure the message about the incoming storm was relayed to folks. Headquarters knew you were away, so if they couldn't get someone into the area before the storm they will be checking in on the people now. As for Lillian and Grace, they are both capable, smart women. I'm sure they came through the storm fine. Not to mention, Chuck would have checked in on them."
Gabriel nodded. "You are right. I just wish I knew for sure."
"If there is no word on the area waiting for me when I get into town, I will see about getting a message sent when I get into town," Nathan assured him.
"Thank-you," Gabriel replied.
Reaching the turn off that led out to the Wolf's place, Nathan and Gabriel parted ways. Nathan headed into Hope Valley. A few people were out and about and greeted Nathan as he rode into town. Opal was having a snowball fight with some of the other children who lived near town. Spotting Nathan, she ran toward him.
"Hi, Mountie Nathan!" Opal said excitedly as Nathan reigned in Newton. "Did you hear? The storm blew a branch into my bedroom window and broke it. My parents and I had a camp out in the living room for the rest of the night."
Nathan smiled. Leave it to Opal to be more excited about the camp out over being worried about the window. "I'm just glad you and your parents are okay."
"We are. Dad boarded up the window from the inside to keep the cold out of my room. He promises to fix the pain soon but the room is kind of dark now. Are Mrs. Grant, Ally and Jack okay?"
"They are," Nathan told her. "I'm sure Ally will want to hear all about your camp out when you're back in school."
"Do you think we'll have school on Monday?"
Nathan thought about the road he had used to get into town. It was definitely not safe for a car and probably not for a wagon either. Even on horseback the road had been treacherous, and Elizabeth was not in any condition to be riding horseback as far along in her pregnancy as she was.
"I'm not sure, Opal. It depends on the conditions of the roads. We'll make a decision tomorrow."
"Tell Mrs. Grant we don't want her to take any risks even if it means Mrs. Yost takes over classes until the baby comes."
Nathan smiled. The child's love for her teacher was clear and equaled the love Elizabeth had for her students.
"I will pass along the message," Nathan assured her. "Now go back to your friends. I have work to do."
"Yes, sir," Opal replied, before going to rejoin the snowball fight.
Nathan watched the children for a few moments before nudging Newton forward again. Before going to the office, Nathan stopped at the mercantile to check for messages. He had barely stepped through the door when Ned called out to him.
"Constable, I'm glad you stopped in. I've got messages for you. I hope you don't mind I shared some of the information regarding the storm with Judge Avery. Apparently there are some down wires and blocked roads that I thought people should know about."
"I trust your judgement, Ned," Nathan said, walking toward the counter.
Ned turned his back on Nathan momentarily as he found the papers the messages had been written on.
"Was there any word from Brookfield?" Nathan asked.
"Only via Clearwater Headquarters," Ned replied. "The storm knocked out the telegraph lines going into Brookfield, but as Constable Kinslow was here, Clearwater sent a Mountie to check on the area. Other than some ranchers losing cattle, and down trees knocking out the wires and blocking quite a few of the roads into the area, they made out okay."
"That's good news," Nathan said as he took the messages from Ned.
"How did you and the Coulters make out?" Ned asked.
"We're all fine and no damage up there. Horseback is the only way we're going any distance though."
Ned nodded. "That seems to be the case around here two. Some city bloke staying at the saloon thought he could leave in his car this morning. He didn't listen to Lucas' warning not to drive the car. The car is now stuck about six hundred feet from the saloon. The guy is back at the Queen of Hearts."
Nathan shook his head. "Some people should just stay in the cities," he commented. "Have a good day, Ned."
"You too, Constable," Ned said.
Leaving the mercantile, Nathan got Newton settled in a stall at the livery and then walked over to his office, going through the messages as he walked.
"You and Billy need to at least share a cup of hot chocolate before you head back into the cold," Mrs. Wolf said as Gabriel pulled the door to Robert's room closed behind him. Billy wanted to change in private and Gabriel saw no reason not to let him.
"I think we would both appreciate that. Thank-you," Gabriel told her, joining her in the hallway. Robert's voice drifted upstairs as he entertained his little sister downstairs. "I appreciate you sending the coat with Bill and the offer of the hand me downs. It is a lot of help."
"You are welcome, Constable."
"It's Gabriel, please."
Mrs. Wolf smiled and nodded. "Gabriel," she corrected. "I held onto all of the clothes that Robert didn't tear or wear out before he grew out of them. I always wanted more children but it just didn't seem to be meant for us to. Then I did get pregnant with Alise and there were complications with the pregnancy. My little girl is fine, but I have no desire to go through the scare of losing a baby again, so I'm not going to have a boy to use these clothes again. I've been giving things away as a need arises so I'm happy to help."
The door opened, and Billy stepped into the doorway, now dressed in the first outfit he had tried on. The shirt fit just fine but the pants were a bit too long.
"That is an easy enough fix," Mrs. Wolf said. "Let me get some pins. I'll pin them before you take them off and it will take no time at all for me to have a hem in them"
"I don't want to be any trouble," Billy said, looking down at the floor.
"It won't be any trouble," Mrs. Wolf told him. "Wait just one minute," she added as she disappeared down the hall.
When Mrs. Wolf had disappeared into a room down the hall, Billy looked up at Gabriel. "Gabe, there is one shirt in there that I think is ugly. If I don't try it on, do you think Mrs. Wolf would be offended?"
Gabriel smiled, though he managed to keep himself from laughing. "I am not going to make you wear something you don't like. Just set it aside," he told Billy. "If Mrs. Wolf says something, simply tell her that it didn't fit right," he told the boy, figuring it was the most diplomatic thing to say.
Billy nodded. "The first pair of pants I tried on was too short, so at least the shirt won't be the only thing set aside."
Mrs. Wolf came back and cuffed and pinned a hem into the pants. Billy then went back into the room to try on the next set of clothes.
Nathan had gone out on rounds after lunch, just to check in on people on the outskirts of town. Everyone seemed to be doing okay, and other than one road that was partially blocked by a fallen tree, things were passable on horseback though treacherous. In order to give Newton a break from the cold before heading home, Nathan put his horse back in the stall at the livery. Walking back to his office, Nathan noticed Lee heading toward his office. Changing direction, Nathan went to check in with his friend.
Lee was already inside assessing the damage when Nathan stepped inside.
"How bad is it?" Nathan asked when Lee looked in his direction.
"Not as bad as I feared," Lee replied. "Getting the roof patched is going to be the most pressing thing. Other than that, the snow broke the leg of a table and a shelf when it came through. Some books and papers are warped due to the dampness but are still readable. I'm glad Jesse and the guys got the snow out of here quickly."
Nathan had walked further inside and was examining the damaged shelf and table. "Some of the wood could be reused from the shelf, but I think you would be best just building a new shelf. This table, I could easily build a new leg for it if you brought it out to the house."
"Really? I would appreciate that," Lee said.
"Anytime," Nathan told him.
"Oh, I left Rosie and the kids at your house when I came into town. Rosie was feeling stir crazy and I figured visiting with Elizabeth would help. They were making plans for having dinner together but neither Rosie nor I want to upset Billy."
"Billy seems to be doing okay with us. He seems to have gotten comfortable with both Elizabeth and Ally. I think it would be okay, but you may want to be cautious with your interactions with him. He is very cautious around men."
"So noted," Lee said. "If you would like to ride back together, I can be ready whenever you are."
Nathan nodded. "I want to give Newton some time to rest, but I should be ready in an hour or so."
"Great. I've got some work I can do here in the meantime. Figuring out a plan for fixing the roof is on top of that list."
"I'll meet you here when I'm ready," Nathan said.
"I'll be here," Lee told him.
Leaving the lumber company's office, Nathan went to his own office. The allotted hour had almost past when the door opened and another Mountie walked in.
"Constable Grant?" the Mountie asked.
"Yes," Nathan replied, getting to his feet. "How may I help you?" he asked, holding out his hand.
"I'm Constable O'Leary," the man said. "I'm one of the Mounties out evaluating the conditions of the roads following the storm. I started out in Brookfield yesterday, and came across a lot of down trees. There aren't going to be any cars, wagons or stages running along that road until it can be cleared. There are some Mounties starting the process by moving some of the smaller trees to the side of the road but some of the larger trees are going to need to be cut. I hear Hope Valley has a lumber company."
"We do," Nathan replied.
"Well, if you can point me in the direction of whoever owns that company, I'd like to talk to him about getting a crew out to clear the roads. Once I make those arrangements, I need to place a call to the Clearwater Headquarters to report in. Is there a hotel in town? A warm bed to sleep in tonight would be nice."
"The Queen of Hearts is a hotel as well as a saloon," Nathan told him. "As for the owner of the lumber company, he's in the office. I'll walk you down and introduce you."
"Much appreciated," O'Leary said. "Oh, and is Constable Kinslow still in town? A Miss Walsh in Brookfield begged me to bring a note to him as the telegraph lines to the town are down and they don't know when they are going to get them working again."
"Constable Kinslow is actually staying with me. If you give me the note, I'll see that he gets it. It will save you the ride out to my place."
Pulling off his right glove, O'Leary undid the button of his jacket pocket. "I will take you up on that offer," he said pulling out the note.
Nathan tucked the note from Lillian safely in his own jacket pocket, and then donning his winter coat, gloves, and campaign hat, headed outside with O'Leary. After introducing O'Leary to Lee, Nathan offered to bed down O'Leary's horse at the livery and get him checked into the hotel while the two talked. O'Leary expressed his appreciation for the help and Nathan left the lumber office again.
After getting the horse settled into the empty stall next to Newton, Nathan made his way to the Queen of Hearts. He had O'Leary's gear with him. The place was empty for a Saturday afternoon, which told Nathan that most people were wisely sticking close to home still. A few people who lived in town and the guests at the hotel were the only ones sitting at tables. The couple of windows that had to be boarded up made the place dimmer than usual. Lucas was behind the bar.
"So how did the Grants make out during this storm?" Lucas asked, spotting Nathan walking his way.
"We are fine," Nathan told him, placing O'Leary's gear on the floor near the bar. "Elizabeth and the children are warm and snug at the house, and if I have my way that will remain so for the next few days. I'd prefer that Elizabeth not try to venture into town to teach on Monday, but we'll see how that goes."
"Good luck," Lucas said, all too aware of how independent Elizabeth could be.
"Thank you," Nathan said. "I actually came in today to arrange a room for a Mountie who is in town."
"Of course," Lucas said, reaching for his guest book.
Nathan gave Lucas the necessary information. Taking the key from Lucas, Nathan headed upstairs with the gear, wanting to give O'Leary one less thing to worry about.