Darkness was falling by the time Nathan and Lee reached the Grants' home. Both men were carrying a lighted lantern as they led the horses to the barn. Having been watching from the window, the three girls, bundled up against the cold, came hurrying out to meet them. Ally, Ivy and Bridget all went to the barn with Nathan and Lee to get the horses settled.
"I know I made fun of you for how big you wanted to make this barn, but it is a good thing you did," Lee commented as he took the saddle off of his horse.
Placing his saddle in its place as Ally began brushing Newton, Nathan looked down the line of stalls. There were four on either side of the barn with a tack and storage area at the back of the building. Right now, six horses occupied stalls and then there was Colleen, the cow whom Bridget was currently milking. It was a task she enjoyed doing when visiting the Grants.
"You know, most of the time I think how empty this place looks when I am out here alone with our three horses and the cow," Nathan replied. "However, right now it seems kind of cozy."
Lee laughed as he turned his attention to Ivy who wanted to help him get his horse settled. Despite it taking longer with Ivy's help, Lee was only too happy to have his daughter at his side. It was hard to imagine Bridget and Ivy not being around. Even with the prospect of a new baby coming into his life, Lee knew these two would always have a special spot in his heart.
Once the horses were settled, Nathan and Lee herded the girls out of the barn and back toward the house. Coming inside, they found Elizabeth sitting on the floor before the fire, reading a fable to Billy and Little Jack. Though he probably didn't understand all of the words, and he definitely wouldn't understand the moral, Jack was watching his mother just as attentively as Billy was. Coming into the living room, Bridget and Ivy sat down near the others while Ally went to set the table for dinner. Gabriel and Rosemary's voices drifted in from the kitchen occasionally as the two prepared dinner.
"I'm going to go change out of my uniform," Nathan told Lee quietly as the two men stood in the doorway of the sitting room. He took the note from Lillian out of his pocket. "Can you give this to Gabe? It is a note from Lillian that O'Leary brought."
"Okay," Lee replied just as quietly, not wanting to disrupt the reading.
As Nathan went upstairs, Lee made his way to the kitchen through the dinning room to avoid walking through the sitting room. Ally nodded to him as she placed plates down at the table as he walked through. In the kitchen, Rosemary was at the counter slicing a loaf of bread while Gabriel was at the stove, a light blue apron with ruffles, protecting his clothing.
"The ruffles look cute on you," Lee teased.
"At least it isn't the pink one," Gabriel replied, nodding his head toward Rosemary who indeed was wearing a pink apron.
Lee laughed, walking over to Rosemary to give his wife a quick kiss. He then held the note out to Gabriel. "A Constable O'Leary brought this note from Lillian," he said. Seeing Gabriel's panicked expression he added, "I'm sure it's nothing bad. Though telegraph lines and roads are blocked in the area, O'Leary said Brookfield came through the storm fine."
"Good," Gabriel replied his expression relaxing as he took the note.
Rosemary moved from the counter toward the stove. "Move aside to read your note. I'm hungry and I'm not going to let any love notes ruin dinner."
Lee laughed at his wife's comment as Gabriel took a step aside, already reading the note.
"Everything all right?" Lee asked, when Gabriel folded the note.
Gabriel nodded. "Yes. Lillian just wanted to let me know that everyone is fine. Chuck stayed at the orphanage during the storm."
"And Lillian misses you and is counting the days until you get home," Rosemary supplied stirring the contents of a pot.
Gabriel looked over at her. "Were you reading over my shoulder?" he asked, the smile on his face softening the words.
"No, but being very much in love myself, I can tell you that is what I would have put in a note to Lee if he was away. Thankfully, he doesn't often have to go on overnight business trips," Rosemary commented.
Lee shifted his weight back and forth at that comment as he looked at the floor. "Funny you should say that," he ventured.
Rosemary rested the wooden spoon against the pan as she looked at Lee. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"I think it is my turn to rescue dinner," Gabriel said, moving back to the stove even as Lee reached out to take Rosemary's hand.
Gently guiding Rosemary away from the stove, Lee decided that the best way to tell his wife that he would be out of town for a few days was to just come right out and say it. "The roads between here and Brookfield have quite a few trees down along the way. The Mounties have men moving the ones that can be pulled out of the way with horses, but there are others that need to be cut. Constable O'Leary asked me to send a crew out to cut and haul the logs out of the way."
"Well, that is good news in the way. I'm sure some of the logs hauled out of the way still have usable wood," Rosemary said, knowing that some of the trees that had fallen could have rotten spots in them.
"Yes. However, it is also going to mean having a crew working out of town for a few days. There will be hunting cabins the men will be able to use to rest and get warm, but it won't be feasible to have them coming in and out of town all the time. Given the conditions I am asking for volunteers and I want to personally be out there with them, Rosie."
"Lee, no," Rosemary said, the worry clear in her voice. "It is going to be cold out there and what if another storm comes along."
"We will be working with the Mounties, Rosie. They will be looking out for us and they are all trained in first aid if anything happens. If another storm is heading our way, they will get that message out to us. We will be fine."
"Then let your men do it and you stay in the office."
"I am not that kind of boss, Rosie. You know that," Lee told her.
Rosemary sighed. "I know. I also know I'll worry the whole time you are away. I know," she added, holding up a hand. "This is exactly what Elizabeth goes through every time that Nathan leaves and she does it graciously. However, I don't have the practice she does, so you are going to have to listen to my worries," she told her husband.
Lee reached out and enfolded her in his arms. "I will listen to your worries all you want, Rosie, but I will be leaving with the crew tomorrow. I talked to Bill, he will stop by and check on you a couple of times a day. If you want him to stay at the house overnight for any reason, just let him know and he will do so."
"I'll be sure to stop by and check on you too, Rosemary," Nathan said, entering the kitchen from the diningroom, not wanting to disrupt the reading session himself. "Gabe will be around for the next few days as well."
"I will?" Gabriel asked. The original plan had been for him to head back to Brookfield the following day.
Nathan nodded. "Superintendent O'Reilly called me today. With the telegraph lines out to Brookfield, any messages to those out clearing the roads about an incoming storm or anything else, will need to be relayed through another town. As you are already here, he wants you to stay put so that if a message needs to be relayed one of us can go and the other one will still be in town."
"One of us?" Gabriel asked, moving pots and pans away from the heat as the food was done.
"O'Reilly may have said you specifically, but if it becomes necessary to take a message out, you and I will discuss what would be best," Nathan said nodding toward the room where Elizabeth and the children were. "Billy seems fairly comfortable here, but if you are gone for an extended period it might be a different story. You, Elizabeth and I can sit down with Billy later this evening and make that determination."
"Thank you for taking that into consideration," Gabriel said.
Nathan nodded.
Rosemary sighed. "I guess we all just have to do what is required of us. I get why you want to go out with your men Lee, but it doesn't mean I have to like it."
"I might be offended if you liked the idea of me being gone," Lee joked.
Rosemary swatted her husband, before giving him a quick kiss and stepping out of his embrace. "Lee and I will get the food on the table," she said, taking charge. "Elizabeth is expecting the two strong Mounties to help her up off the floor."
"A Mountie's work is never done," Nathan joked, already heading toward the living room. Gabriel took the apron off and followed his friend even as Elizabeth's voice could be heard from the other room.
"I heard that, Nathan Grant."
Lee and Rosemary laughed as they started to get the food out to the diningroom table. "I hope you are as easy going about everything as Nathan is, when I am as far along as Elizabeth is," Rosemary commented.
"I promise I will ask him how to be the proper husband to a pregnant wife," Lee joked.
"Are you making fun of me, Lee Coulter?"
"I wouldn't dare," Lee told her, as he went about finishing slicing bread and putting it on the platter.
"Anything I can help with?" Ally asked brightly as she came in from the dining room.
"There is a pitcher of lemonade there on the counter, and we'll need the butter," Rosemary said as she pulled the roast from the oven.
That night it was Nathan who read to Ally and Billy. Father and daughter sat side by side at the head of the bed, while Billy sat cross legged at the foot. Though he listened to the story, the boy cast frequent glances in Gabriel's direction as he stood listening in the doorway.
Nathan finished the chapter and closed the book. As he placed it on the night stand, Ally settled down in her bed.
"Sweet dreams, Ally," Nathan said, leaning over and kissing the girl's forehead.
"Good night, Dad," Ally said, smiling up at him. She then looked at the other two in the room, saying good night to both of them as well.
Standing up, Nathan held his hands out to Billy, a silent invitation to help the boy off of the bed. To both Gabriel and Nathan's surprise, Billy silently held his arms up to Nathan, who reached down and picked the boy up, placing him on the floor next to the bed. Billy then slipped his hand into Nathan's as the two headed for the door. Neither man commented on the trust that Billy was showing toward Nathan, not wanting to do anything to disrupt it.
Gabriel stepped out in the hallway as Nathan and Billy approached the door. As he stepped into the hallway, Billy reached for Gabriel's hand at the same time letting go of Nathan's.
"Billy, there is something we want to discuss with you before I tuck you in," Gabriel said. "Will you come back downstairs with me?"
"Did I do something wrong?" Billy asked, looking from Gabriel up to Nathan, the worry clear in his expression.
Instinctively, Gabriel knelt down and pulled Billy into an embrace. "No. You did not do anything wrong," he assured the boy.
Nathan stood silently watching the scene, his heart aching for the child. The boy had shown model behavior since arriving in his home. Almost too good, really. Children were supposed to be disruptive and get into mischief at times. It was part of growing up. Nathan knew he had gotten into his own share of trouble as a child. Nathan suspected that some of Billy's model behavior was from the fear that if he did wrong he would be sent away. Billy's question was the first evidence that Nathan had to back up that suspicion.
"Good. I'm trying to be good. At the orphanage in Saskatoon I use to think it did not matter. None of us could seem to be good enough to please the people in charge. I do want to be good for you, Gabe. Especially after all you have done for me."
Nathan saw tears glistening in Gabe's eyes and knew his friend's heart was aching like his own.
Gabe held the boy close a little longer and then moved back so he could look into Billy's eyes. "It is important that we try to do what is right and I do expect you to remember things like it is wrong to steal and to lie. However, part of growing up is learning right from wrong. I don't expect you to be perfect, Billy. I just want you to be respective to your elders and to follow the rules but if you slip up on occasion, I'm going to care about you just the same. I may lecture, and I may punish you but I promise I will never hit you and I will never send you away. Do you understand?"
Billy nodded.
"Let's go downstairs for a few minutes," Gabriel said, standing up and reaching for Billy's hand.
Billy took Gabe's hand and let himself be led downstairs. Nathan followed the two, having a feeling that he knew how this conversation was going to go. Billy might be getting use to him and Elizabeth, but he couldn't see the boy being okay with Gabriel leaving the child in their care, even for the short time it would take to ride out to deliver a message. If that message was about an incoming storm, depending on where the storm was, it might be after the storm passed through that whoever took that message could safely return.
Nathan wasn't thrilled over the idea of having to leave Elizabeth when she was due in shortly under two months, but if he had to, knowing that Gabriel would be here with her and the children would make it easier.
They found Elizabeth in the living room. She was sitting on the settee reading. When she heard footsteps, she looked up and placed the book she was reading aside. Gabriel and Billy joined Elizabeth on the settee while Nathan went to the rocking chair. Nathan had found a few minutes to fill Elizabeth in on the news while they had put Jack to bed a little while ago.
"Billy, as you might be aware from the talk at dinner time, the road between here and Brookfield is blocked because of the storm," Gabriel started. Billy nodded in acknowledgment as Gabriel continued. "I've been given orders to stay in Hope Valley until the telegraph lines to Brookfield are fixed or the roads are clear. Should it be necessary to get a message out to Mr. Coulter's crew and the Mounties out there, that message would need to be relayed through Hope Valley."
"You mean they would want you to take it?" Billy asked. "What about me?"
"I would need you to stay here with Constable and Mrs. Grant," Gabriel said, trying to gauge the boy's reaction. As the boy's breathing starting to become elevated, Gabriel went on. "However, Constable Grant is willing to be the one to take the message out if you wouldn't be comfortable with that idea. However, I would need to take over his responsibilities here, which means you may still be here alone with Mrs. Grant, Ally and Jack."
Billy glanced from Gabriel to Elizabeth. Tentatively, his hand reached out to touch Elizabeth's swollen stomach. Having asked questions, Billy understood that a baby was growing inside until it was strong enough to come into the world.
"So, Constable Grant would be away from his family."
"Yes," Gabe replied, wondering where the boy's thinking was going. He exchanged glances with Elizabeth and Nathan.
"That wouldn't be fair," Billy said, as Elizabeth rested her hand over top the hand that was resting on her stomach. The baby kicked and Billy looked up at Elizabeth in surprise. "Was that the baby?"
Elizabeth smiled. "It was," she told him, enjoying the look of awe that the boy wore.
"I'm jealous, Billy," Nathan told the little boy. "That baby will not kick for me. Mrs. Grant can even tell me he is very active and the second I place my hand where you did, he's as quiet as can be."
"Really?" Billy asked, looking up at Elizabeth for confirmation as if he wasn't quite sure he should believe Nathan.
Elizabeth nodded. "He does. In a way it's nice because if the baby decides to be active at night, all I have to do is to have Constable Grant place his hand on my stomach and I can get some sleep."
"The baby already knows Daddy's touch," Gabriel commented. "She's going to be another daddy's girl like her big sister."
"Oh, so Ally has got you calling the baby a she too," Elizabeth said.
"Someone has to be on Ally's side," Gabriel told them. "From what I've seen, everyone is calling the baby a he except for her."
"Would you not love the baby if it is a girl?" Billy asked, still looking at Elizabeth.
Nathan coughed, trying to cover up his laugh. In true school teacher fashion, Elizabeth kept a straight face and answered the child's question patiently.
"A baby is a joyous occasion no matter if it is a boy or a girl. People like to try to guess what it will be, but in the end, when the baby does get here everyone forgets whether they wanted it to be a boy or a girl. They simply love the new member of the family."
Billy nodded. Removing his hand from Elizabeth's stomach, he looked up at Gabriel. "It would be okay if you have to leave me here with Constable and Mrs. Grant to do your job. Mrs. Grant clearly loves children and Constable Grant is a Mountie. Mom always said it took a special person to be a Mountie, so I think I would be safe with them and Constable Grant should not have to leave his family for me."
"That is a very unselfish and caring choice to make, Billy," Gabriel told him.
"Your Mom was right. It does take a special person to be a Mountie and you and me, Billy, we are lucky because we've both had at least two Mounties in our lives, that think we are really special too," Elizabeth told him.
"Would it be selfish to pray that you don't have to leave town?" Billy asked Gabriel.
"Not at all," Gabriel told him.
"I think that is a prayer we can all pray with you, Billy," Nathan told the boy, knowing that if Gabriel didn't have to take out a message to the work crew that it would be the best case scenario for all involved.
"How about we get you tucked into bed now," Gabriel told Billy.
Billy nodded and he and Gabriel head back upstairs. Alone with Elizabeth, Nathan got up from the rocking chair and sat down next to Elizabeth. Sitting close, he put one arm around his wife's shoulders and placed his other hand on her stomach.
"Come on, slugger. Let Dad feel you kick," Nathan said, looking down at Elizabeth's protruding stomach. The comment got no response from the baby.
"Maybe Ally is right," Elizabeth commented. "Maybe he is a she, and she's mad that you keep calling her a boy," she teased.
"No," Nathan said firmly. "The baby is a boy and is just taking after his father already and being stubborn," he said, letting his hand fall from her stomach.
No sooner had Nathan removed his hand than the baby gave a sharp kick making Elizabeth gasp.
"Did he just kick?" Nathan asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth admitted. She rested her head on Nathan's shoulder. "I still love you even if our baby won't kick for you," she told him.
Nathan laughed, resting his cheek against the top of Elizabeth's head. The two of them sat silently like that, staring into the flames of the fire and just enjoying being with each other.