Chapter 15

Every morning Nathan and Allie would meet Elise on her front steps and the three of them would walk into town together. As soon as Nathan was close enough, his lips met Elise's, then would whisper "Good morning".

"Good morning" she would whisper back, a small smile playing on her lips.

Some days Elise would make breakfast for the three of them, others they would have breakfast at the cafe. They had decided it was important to them to have breakfast and dinner together as much as possible, not just to get to know each other even better, but simply because they wanted to spend every waking moment together. And unless it was necessary, work never came home with them. If they needed to discuss work, it happened in either the jail or Elise's office. They knew they needed to develop boundaries, and they were much more than their chosen careers. Nathan had also decided to not wear his serge home every day and was now changing in the backroom of the jail. It was one way to keep work at work, but also be able to do things like hold hands with Elise in public and not potentially have issues later down the road.

That morning they decided to have breakfast at the cafe. Nathan picked up Elise's briefcase off the porch and interlaced his fingers with Elise's as he helped guide her down the stairs and they headed to town, side by side. Allie always said they looked adorable, especially since Nathan was so much taller than Elise was.

At the cafe they grabbed a table, and within moments Minnie, who saw them come in the door, was there to fill their coffee cups and bring Allie a glass of orange juice. They ordered what have become their usuals - Allie was French Toast, Elise a ham and cheese omelet with vegetables and fried potatoes, and for Nathan bacon, eggs, fried potatoes, and toast. Bill himself brought their plates out and took in the three of them. He loved that Nathan was so happy, and that it was Elise who made him that way. He thought the woman was extremely intelligent, kind, and it was obvious that she adored him and Allie. She brought out a lightness in Nathan that he had never seen before, and it was refreshing to witness the love blooming between them.

After breakfast, Allie headed to the mercantile to run the switch board till lunch, and Nathan and Elise headed down the boardwalk to Elise's office, hand in hand. Along the way they said good morning to the Coulter's, and various other people they saw along the way. Elise took her keys out a small pocket on her briefcase, unlocked the door, and they both entered. Before Elise knew it, Nathan had her in his arms, while she put her arms around his neck as he pulled her up to his lips. He kissed her with a hunger that both had discovered had been stewing in them for a while. They both felt like youngsters in love for the first time, and in truth, they were, they just were not youngsters.

If it had not been for a knock at the door, they could have stayed like that for a while. The two broke apart, both trying to hide their laughs and smiles as Elise opened the door. Lee was on the other side. "Oh, hi Elise. Is Nathan still here?" Nathan peeked his head around the door, his face red, because he felt like he did when his mother caught him sneaking cookies out of the cookie jar. "Oh Nathan, can you swing by the office when you have a minute. I have some town business to discuss with you".

"Sure Lee, I'll be right there."

"Thanks. Good day Elise." Lee turned, and with a huge grin, walked back to his office, very happy for his friends.

"I should probably go to work. Are we on for dinner?" he asked, looking down at her sheepishly.

"Always." He kissed her cheeks, then her hand, and lastly brushed his lips on hers before he hesitantly turned and headed to Lee's office.

Elise was pleasantly surprised at how well her services were received since she had arrived in town. She was not overly busy, but enough to keep her busy through the day, pay the bills and start saving for her future. A future she very much wanted to share with Nathan.

Her two biggest clients were by far Coulter Lumber and Lucas Bouchard. While Lee was having her go over all their contracts, Lucas was a little bit more hands on as he was trying to develop his business and overall rebranding of the former saloon and hotel. It seemed that they had found the right direction for the business as it followed in his footsteps of loving to travel. Instead of him traveling to new places, he was helping others to discover their own new adventures. Gone were his ascots and three-piece suits. He had started wearing button down shirts and vests, and many times his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. It was still unstartling to see him like that, but the look was starting to fit him, and according to the other town folk, he finally looked like he belonged in Hope Valley.

He showed up in her office almost every day, sometimes multiple times a day with some new idea he wanted to run by her. She got into the habit of leaving the door open when she was not with a client so he, or anyone else, could just walk in.

Mid-morning she was busy looking at some figures Lucas had already dropped off that morning when she heard a knock at the door. She lifted her head, and saw Elizabeth Thornton standing in the doorway. Very few people had seen Elizabeth since the night she was confronted by Nathan. The rumor flying around town was that she was too embarrassed to go into public, or that she was completely engrossed in writing another book. Knowing this, Elise was very surprised to see Elizabeth at her door.

Elise stood and walked towards her. "Good day Mrs. Thornton, please come in". Once Elizabeth came in, Elise closed the door, and encouraged Elizabeth to take a seat. Elizabeth declined, and stood in the middle of the room. Elise stood off to the side of it, waiting for Elizabeth to tell her the reason for the visit.

"I know this is probably awkward for you, but I need your help again."

Elise listened to Elizabeth explain what she wanted to do, and it tugged at her heart. When Elizabeth stopped talking, Elise told her that she could draft the document within a few hours and have it ready for that afternoon. They agreed that Elizabeth would come back at 4PM, just before the end of Elise's workday.


At precisely 4PM, Elizabeth walked back through Elise's office door. Elizabeth was surprised to see Allie sitting at the receptionist desk, reading. "Hello Allie".

Allie looked up and smiled. "Hello Mrs. Thornton. Is Miss Monteith expecting you?"

Elizabeth smiled as Elise approached and said, "Yes I am."

"I didn't know you would be here Allie", Elizabeth conversed.

"I work here in the afternoon's, answering the phone and scheduling appointments. Miss Monteith is teaching me about the law also. It is very interesting. Sometimes it is boring, but some of the case studies are intriguing."

"Well, I am glad you are experiencing new things, you never know when you will find something that will spark your interest. Who knows, maybe you will be a barrister like Miss Monteith someday."

"Maybe", Allie replied, and looked at Elise adoringly.

Elise took a dollar bill out of her desk drawer, and walked over to Allie, handing her the money. "Can you do me a favor? Can you let your dad know that I need him to come over here, then head over to the mercantile for some ice cream? Dad and I will meet you there when we are done talking."

Allie looked at Elizabeth, and back at Elise. "Are you sure you want me to get dad?"

"Yes sweety. Trust me. Just have him come here".

Allie headed for the door but turned before she walked through it. "Good day, Mrs. Thornton."

"Good day Allie."

Once Allie was out of ear shot, Elise pulled the document out that she had finished drafting just an hour before. "You're sure about this?"

"I should have done it sooner. It was never supposed to come to this. I hope someday they will forgive me, but if not, I made my bed, now I can lay in it." Elizabeth signed the lines that Elise pointed to, and then they patiently waited for Nathan to arrive.


Nathan walked up the stairs to Elise's office with a big smile on his face and a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand, tied with string that he had started carrying in his saddle bag for moments like today where he passed a field of flowers. He loved to bring Elise flowers, but more than that, he loved the look on her face when she saw them. He changed out of his serge when Allie had stopped by to let him know that Elise was almost done for the day. He was prepared to walk in the door and kiss her until they were both breathless.

He held the flowers behind his back as he stepped into the room, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. He smiled, and just before he reached her, he brought the flowers out from behind his back. Elise smiled, and he was just brushing his lips over hers when he heard someone clear their throat. It was a noise Nathan knew all too well. He turned his head to see Elizabeth sitting in one of the chairs.

"Hello Nathan".

Nathan was speechless for a moment, before he was able to squeak out "Hello Elizabeth".

Elise looked at the two of them. She knew in her heart how much Nathan loved her, and she knew she had to give them a moment to discuss why Elizabeth was there.

"I'll give you a few moments". Nathan looked down at her, questioning what was going on. She reached up for his cheek and said, "Trust me". He nodded, then Elise swept by him, and was out the door, closing it behind her.

Elizabeth stood, nervous. Nathan laid the bouquet of flowers down on Elise's desk, then ran his fingers through his hair. He knew this day would come, someday. They both started to speak at the same time, but Nathan quickly stopped. "Ladies first".

"You were right to be angry at me. Yes, I wrote about you and Allie. Do you remember that day at the pond, and we were talking about my writing, and you asked me, 'What's in your heart?' The story of you and Allie was in my heart. Little Jack and I were in my heart, so I wrote what was in my heart. I was honest when I said I love you. But also, honest when I said I was not IN love with you. You deserve so much more than what I can give you, because I am still, and always will be in love with Jack. Nathan, you are like my best friend. You and Allie are family to me. I want you and Allie in my life no matter what happens. But you deserve the great love story that Jack and I had. Elise is amazing. She is your Jack! And she will love you so much more then I could ever begin to. She is the one worthy of you!"

Elizabeth took and envelope off the desk, crossed the room and handed it to Nathan. Nathan opened the envelope, and started to read, but Elizabeth started to speak again.

"I set up a trust for Allie. Fifty percent of my advance and fifty percent of all royalties of "A Single Mother on the Frontier" will be put into the trust for her. I know what is in there now, and who knows how well it will sell going forward. I hope there will be enough money to pay for college or use towards whatever it is she chooses to do with it someday."

Nathan stood there, stunned. He was floored that Elizabeth would do this, and he could not accept it. "I can't take this Elizabeth, it's too much".

"Well, you are not taking it, it's not yours, its Allie's, but you need to know it's there. That it is there for her. "

Nathan was nodding his head, speechless. Elizabeth turned to leave, but Nathan stopped her. "Lisabeth. Thank you."

"There is no need to thank me, Nathan."

He turned toward her and began. "That's not why I am saying Thank you. Thank you for…. For letting me go. If you had not, I never would have discovered the amazing woman that Elise is, I would not have my life with her in front of me. I would not be as happy as I am. And as much as I did not understand it before, I have you to thank you for that. She is the best part of me, and I can't imagine my life without her in it."

Elizabeth came back to him, and lightly touched his hand. "Love her the way Jack and I loved each other. She is absolutely perfect for you." Elizabeth then turned and left the building.

Elise came back in, and Nathan enveloped her into his arms and pulled her to his chest. She fit perfectly against him, and he bent his head slightly to smell her hair, then kiss the crown of her head. Looking down at her, he whispered, "Let's go home". Elise picked up her flowers, they shut off the lights, and then hand in hand, went off to find Allie.