Everyone except for Eleanor made the trek into Brookfield that morning. The first stop was the school. As usual, Gabriel walked Billy into the schoolhouse, though the other children took advantage of the time left until school started to play outside. While inside, Gabriel took a few moments to talk quietly with Miss Peterson about his conversation with Billy. The teacher promised to keep an eye out for further issues and address it if the problem continued.
Lillian and Grace had waited for Gabriel outside. Though Lillian had things to pick up at the general store before heading back home, first she planned on walking her husband to work. As the trio turned from the school, Gabriel offered an arm to each sister. While Lillian simply smiled with pleasure as she slipped her arm through Gabriel's, Grace giggled as she did so.
Gabriel noted the differences in each sister's reaction. Though Grace's bubbly cheerfulness was certainly a boost to one's own mood, Gabriel had to admit he found Lillian's calm joy, very endearing. It was a thought he kept to himself though as the trio headed further down Brookfield's only true street.
The trio walked to the Royal Brookfield first where Gabriel and Lillian said good-bye to Grace. The newlyweds then made their way across the street to the Mounted Police office. Davor's horse stood out front of the office, in full tack and gear.
"Looks like the force has decided that I do not need a babysitter," Gabriel commented, as it looked like Davor was ready to head out of town as soon as he turned the post back over to Gabriel. "Given the forced medical leave and O'Reilly's concern about my mental state, I was expecting them to have Davor work with me for a little while," he said, looking at Clover.
"Would that have been such a bad thing?" Lillian asked, as she stood at his side.
"No," Gabriel said. "To be honest, it makes me a bit nervous that they do not think it was necessary. Guess I was kind of counting on a bit of a safety net, by having back up at my side." Gabriel looked down at Lillian. He could see the worry on her face. He gave her, what he hoped, was a reassuring smile. "I will be fine," he told her confidently. "Sgt. Oakley asked me all the tough questions when he came out to see me on Friday. He also admitted that they had talked to Nathan after my visit with him. If they had any concern, they either would have not cleared me for duty or would have Davor staying here in Brookfield."
Lillian nodded.
"I probably should not keep my fellow Mountie waiting," Gabriel said, though a part of him wanted to turn around and walk right back the orphanage with Lillian. He was not sure if it was simply because he wanted to stay with his new bride or if he was more nervous about returning to work than he was admitting, even to himself. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
Lillian didn't reply, but with a little tug on the arm she still had an arm looped through his, Lillian led him into his office. As much as Gabriel felt that he needed to be a source of strength for Lillian and the children, he was thankful for her display of strength for him in this moment.
The couple walked into the office. Constable Davor was rearranging notices that were hanging on the one wall. He glanced over at the sound of the door.
"Good to see you in uniform again, Constable Kinslow," Davor replied. He finished securing the new Missing Poster to the wall and turned to Gabriel, hand extended.
"The uniform feels good," Gabriel told him, as he shook Davor's hand. "I suddenly am feeling a bit nervous though walking back in here," he admitted.
"I remember my training officer telling me and another new Mountie that he would be more worried about us if we did not feel nervous about the situation we found ourselves in," Davor replied. "I think that applies well here as well."
Gabriel smiled. He remembered telling both Davor and Jenkins that when the two Mounties had joined his squad in the Northern Territories.
"Yes, those words definitely apply well here as well," Gabriel admitted.
"I should be going, and let you two get to work," Lillian said, still standing at Gabriel's side.
Gabriel nodded, as he turned to her. "Do I get a good-bye kiss?" he asked her, looking into her eyes. Part of him just wanted to lean in and kiss her, but though Lillian had come a long way he was still mindful of her feelings.
Lillian did not reply right away. Her gaze did go over to Davor.
"Mounties see more scandalous displays of emotions than a husband kissing his wife good-bye," Gabriel teased, lightly.
The comment made Lillian chuckle, knowing that there was some truth in at as well. Mounties saw people at the highs and their lows all the time. They saw the whole range of emotions in the line of work and the actions those emotions evoked in people.
"I can turn my back, if it would make you feel more comfortable, ma'am," Davor offered, a sweet sincerity in his voice that made Lillian find that she could not be at all upset with the young Mountie, even if he was teasing her a bit as well.
Lillian's reply was to wrap her arms around Gabriel's torso as she stepped close. She tilted her face up to him, and Gabriel immediately responded to the invitation. Resting his hands on Lillian's waist, he lowered his head toward hers. Gently, knowing that if he applied more pressure he might lose himself and possibly push Lillian further than she was ready to go, Gabriel touched his lips lightly to hers. After a brief kiss, Gabriel reluctantly started to pull away. To his surprise, Lillian followed him, not letting the contact be broken. Shortly after, he felt her hand on the back of his head, a silent message that she wanted more.
Gabriel responded to the message by pulling Lillian closer to him, and deepening the kiss. He forgot about their audience. As Lillian was returning the kiss with the same amount of passion, it was safe to say that she had to. Gabriel felt a tension build up that he knew he wasn't going to be able to do anything about anytime soon, and found that he did not care. He was going to be away from Lillian for the longest time he had been since they were married, and he suddenly wanted to leave no doubt for Lillian how much he loved her.
Both of them were breathing heavily as they finally broke the kiss. Though she took a small step back, Lillian remained in the circle of his arms as she looked up at him. The hand that had been on the back of his head had dropped to his shoulder. Gabriel thought there might be a blush of embarrassment in her cheeks now that they had broken the kiss, but there wasn't.
"You be careful today," Lillian instructed him, as she gazed into his eyes. "I do not even want to hear about you getting a splinter on your first day back."
"I will do my best," Gabriel told her, finally releasing her as she took another step back.
Lillian looked over at Davor, who was politely studying his boots. "Safe travels to you, Constable Davor," she said. Gabriel noticed the slightest blush creep into Lillian's cheeks as Davor looked up at the words.
"Thank you, Mrs. Kinslow," Davor replied. "Have a good day."
Lillian nodded in reply, and then headed for the door. Both men watched her leave. Only when the door had closed behind Lillian did Davor speak again.
"I hope someday I find a woman I can share that kind of love with," Davor commented.
Gabriel felt a bit of heat not associated with the kiss rise in his own cheeks at the words. Not that he regretted that good-bye kiss for a moment.
"She is out there somewhere, Richard," Gabriel replied. "Just be patient. You will find her when the timing is right." Moving from his spot, Gabriel made his way over to his desk.
Davor nodded. "I hope you are right, Constable Kinslow," the Mountie replied.
"So it is still, Constable Kinslow?" Gabriel teased as he sat down behind his desk.
"I could go back to addressing you as, sir, if you would like," Davor replied lightly, recognizing the teasing for what it was.
Gabriel chuckled before asking, "so are you heading back to Clearwater?" he asked, switching the conversation to work.
Gabriel leaned back in the chair as Davor walked in his direction. Yes, there was something that felt right about being in uniform and in this office.
"No, not Clearwater," Davor told him, as he sat down in a chair across from Gabriel. "I am actually going to join the search for the gang that abducted you," the Mountie told him. "They thought they had lost their trail, but a recent report put one of the members in Weyburn, Saskatchewan yesterday. They are going down to that area and going to try picking up the trail, though if they are that far south they could easily try to cross into the United States."
Gabriel nodded. "Be careful," he told Davor. "They may try to avoid open conflict but I got the feeling that most of them would have no trouble pulling the trigger if they felt cornered, especially the fellow named Randy."
"I will keep that in mind," Davor informed him.
The two Mounties spent a few minutes talking business, as Davor caught Gabriel up with any pertinent information that he needed to know. When they walked outside, Davor was surprised to find quite a few town folks had gathered outside to see him off.
"Looks like you did a good job these last couple of weeks, Davor," Gabriel commented, resting a hand on his fellow Mountie's shoulder. "Brookfield has turned out to give you a proper send off."
Davor reached up and removed his hat as he stepped forward to have a word for the people who had showed up to see him off. The people he had been getting to know better these last few weeks.
That afternoon, Gabriel made the walk out to the orphanage alone. Though Grace had met him at the schoolhouse when school let out, neither she nor the children were walking with him now. Chuck had also met them at the school to pick up Fred, as Tess and a few of the hands were going to brand the calves that had been born over the winter. One mention of branding around the kids and Vincent, Christian and Mary Louise were begging to be allowed to go watch. Chuck assured Grace and Gabriel that his mom would not mind the audience and he would keep an eye on them. Grace had relented, though she said she was coming to help keep an eye on everybody. Though Billy had looked interested, he had been quiet, as he stood next to Gabriel.
When Gabriel had asked Billy if he wanted to join the others, the boy had shrugged his shoulders, though he had eyed Chuck wearily. Despite being around the town's vet, Billy had not quite yet warmed up to Chuck. For his part, Chuck had remained quiet and wisely let Grace take charge of the situation. Extending her hand to Billy, Grace had told him she would like to have him join them. Billy had reached out for Grace's hand, and had let himself be led to the wagon Chuck had driven into town.
Reaching the orphanage, Gabriel found Lillian sitting on the settee, darning one of the boys' socks.
"Where are the children?" Lillian asked.
"Grace and Chuck took them out to the Stewart ranch. They are branding the winter calves and the kids wanted to see."
Lillian nodded. "Then I guess we have some time to ourselves," Lillian commented. "Eleanor went over to see Mrs. Mary Wilson. They have been friends for years and Mrs. Wilson has been getting over a sprained ankle."
"So, do you plan on continuing to darn that sock while we are here alone?" Gabriel asked.
Lillian looked up from her project. "I can put it aside for later," she said, doing just that before getting to her feet. "Did you have something specific in mind?" Lillian asked, trying to sound innocent, though Gabriel could see a desire in her eyes.
"Not exactly specific," Gabriel said. "It does seem a shame to let a rare moment of being alone together pass by with just doing house work."
"It does," Lillian agreed, stepping into arms' reach of Gabriel. Gabriel responded by reaching out to put his hands on Lillian's waist. "You know when I saw you in uniform in front of the mirror this morning a thought occurred to me that I did not voice," she told him, resting her hands on his shoulders.
"What was that?"
"Well, as handsome as you are in the uniform, Constable Kinslow," she said letting her hands slide over the shoulders of the red serge and down his upper arms. "I got to thinking that it might be fun to help you out of it."
"I would not be averse to that, Mrs. Kinslow," Gabriel replied, a smile coming to his face, as he reached up to take one of her hands.
Leaning in, Gabriel placed a quick teasing kiss on Lillian's neck, causing her to giggle before leading her upstairs. He led Lillian to the master bedroom, letting her precede him inside. Stepping into the room himself, Gabriel locked the door, not wanting to be walked in on should someone venture home unexpectedly. Sliding his gun from its holster, Gabriel went to the night stand that had come from his apartment that stood by the closet. He locked the gun safely in the drawer of the night stand and turned around.
Lillian was standing by the bed, her dress sliding down to be a puddle of fabric at her feet. Gabriel felt his breath catch. Though he loved her inner beauty, Lillian's outside beauty never ceased to amaze him.
Closing the distance between them, Gabriel placed his hands on either side of her face and pressed his lips against hers. He heard a soft gasp escape her, and then she was returning the kiss. After a few moments, Lillian reached up to grasp his wrists. The motion caused Gabriel to break the kiss, pulling back only enough to be able to look into Lillian's eyes.
"I do not think it is fair that I am the only one half dressed right now," she told him softly, a slight blush in her cheeks.
Gabriel smiled, removing his hands from her face, When Lillian let go of his wrists, Gabriel put a couple fingers under her chin.
"What are you going to do about that, Lillian?" he asked her softly.
Her hands trembling with the emotions swirling inside her, Lillian reached out for the baldric of the uniform. Gabriel dropped his hands allowing Lillian to remove it. As she laid it over the back of a nearby chair, Gabriel stepped closer again, his lips finding the bare skin of her shoulders.
"You are not making this easy," Lillian said, though she did not pull away from his kisses.
"There . . . is . . . no . . . fun . . . in . . . easy," Gabriel replied, each word punctuated by a kiss that moved from her shoulder and up Lillian's neck.
"Mmmhhhhmmm," Lillian murmured as she rested her hands on Gabriel's chest. She blindly found the buttons of the uniform as Gabriel kissed the other side of her neck and worked his way down to her shoulder on that side.
Unbuttoning the last button, Lillian parted the serge and placed her hands flat against the material of his undershirt, pushing enough to catch his attention. When Gabriel was looking down at her, she slid her hands up his chest and around his neck as she went up on her toes to press her lips against his.
Gabriel let himself get lost in the kiss, closing his eyes as his body responded to Lillian's closeness. He felt his heart pounding in his chest as his breaths came quicker. Then he felt something tight around his arms. He felt panic replace the passion as memory of being bound in the blanket on the back of Charlie's horse came back to him.
Breaking from the kiss, Gabriel took a step back struggling with whatever held his arms, still lost in the memory.
"Gabriel, what's wrong?"
Gabriel didn't answer, even as he finally got the uniform jacket loose. With freedom came the realization of where he was. Looking down, he saw the jacket lying on the floor he suddenly felt foolish.
"I'm sorry," Gabriel said, sitting down on the bed. Resting his elbows on his knees, Gabriel rested his head in his hands.
Kneeling in front of Gabriel, Lillian placed her hands on his.
"What is it, Gabriel?" Lillian asked softly, her voice laced with concern.
Gabriel took a deep breath. "My arms felt trapped by the jacket," he admitted to her, lifting his head from his hands to look at her. "Memories of being bound in the blanket the night I was abducted came flooding back."
"Then I am the one who is sorry," Lillian told him, grasping his hands with hers as she remained kneeling in front of him. "I will be more careful in the future to avoid something that could be triggering for you," she told him.
Gabriel pulled her gently onto his lap.
"I understand if you do not want to continue with this," Lillian told him, as she let him wrap his arms around her and pulled her close. She slipped her hands gently around his neck, the fingers of her left hand rhythmically stroking his hair as she tried to sooth him.
"Just let me hold you for a bit," Gabriel told her, resting his forehead against Lillian's. "Then we'll see where things go from there."
"I am perfectly okay with that," Lillian replied, still stroking his hair as she rested against him, her presence the best comfort that Gabriel could receive right then.