Chapter 15: The Founder's Day Dance
Nathan felt a nervous wave sweep over him as he straightened the collar of his navy blue suit. For a long time that day, he had debated on whether to wear his serge or a suit to the Founder's Day Dance tonight. It didn't help that Allie was off at Dani's getting ready, and not here to give him her input. After struggling to decide, he had finally settled for the suit, realizing that dancing in his Mountie boots would end up making him feel hot and uncomfortable, since the dance was being held under the stars in the town square. Seriously, Nathan stared at his own reflection in the mirror as he smoothed out the dark blue vest and suit jacket. With a sigh, he noticed the bouquet of daisies that he had bought in town to give Dani behind him. They stood tall in the vase that he had managed to rummage out of he and Allie's unused possessions in the little closet upstairs. As lovely and welcome as his visits with Dani had been this past week, the tension within him had been steadily building as he came to understand just how deeply he loved her with every passing day. What had started in uncertainty had slowly evolved into complete surety. He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind nor in his heart of that anymore. But did she love him? That was the question that still lingered. Nathan stared for a long moment at himself and sighed, glancing down at his polished shoes. Like Bill had said, there was only one way to find out, a way that utterly terrified him. Feeling his anxiety rising within him again, he adjusted the cufflinks that Allie had given him last Christmas and with a final glance at himself, headed for the door, grabbing the daisies as he went.
The sun shone brilliantly in his eyes as he stepped outside and flooded everything in a golden afternoon light. The sight of the glowing fields in front of him helped to take the edge off of Nathan's fears and relaxed him a bit as he stepped confidently out into the road to walk towards Dani's house. As he did however, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet behind him, and when he turned around, he was surprised to find see Robert following at a distance, a colorful corsage in his hand for Allie. With the slightest roll of his eyes, Nathan stopped in his tracks and waited for the boy to catch up. Seeing Allie talking with boys her own age was one thing; seeing her kiss one of them the way that she had the other night was another. He eyed Robert with a stern glance as the boy approached him awkwardly, his eyes reverting quickly to the ground. "Good afternoon Constable Grant…" he murmured. Nathan nodded in greeting. "Robert…" he replied, a little tersely. For a few minutes, they walked along the dusty road in silence, Nathan's eyes straight ahead, Robert's awkwardly on the ground. Finally, Nathan forced himself to look down at Robert again, trying to think of something to say. As he did, it suddenly came to his attention that Robert looked slightly pale, and creases of worry furrowed his young brow. Nathan swallowed tensely. "Are you, uh…" he broke the silence, a little uneasily. "Are you okay?" Robert looked up at him shyly and shrugged. "I don't know" he muttered with a helpless sigh. "I guess I've just got some jitters. That's what my dad says anyway…" Nathan frowned. "About what?" he asked. "The dance?" Robert shrugged again, just like Allie always did when she was expressing herself. "I guess you could say that…" he murmured tensely. "I feel so nervous."
Nathan looked at the road ahead of them, his eyes narrowing. "Listen Robert" he said slowly. "No matter what happens tonight, you… and Allie, are going to have fun. It's all she's been talking about for days." Mentally, Nathan kicked himself. No! He thought. Why am I telling him all this? He was rewarded however by a hopeful smile from Robert. "Really?" he breathed. "So, you think she'll have a good time, going with me?" Nathan stared ahead thoughtfully. "I think…" he murmured. "As long as the two of you try to make tonight special for each other, then everything will be just fine." Robert nodded soberly. "I guess so" he agreed. "But I don't know how I should act… Should I be more formal do you think?" Nathan couldn't help but smile at Robert's fears. "Just… Be yourself" he advised. "That's what she really wants." Nathan couldn't believe he was giving Robert advice about Allie. No one would ever be good enough for Allie, at least not in his mind. But as their conversation continued, he found himself admitting that Robert was a good kid at heart. The flood gates seemed to open for Robert, and he shared with Nathan some of his own personal struggles, like entering the Mountie Academy. Robert explained that his father had given his blessing, while his mother had refused, out of fear for his life. Nathan listened, like he always did, adding sparks of input every now and then. Robert's plight reminded him very much of his own growing up. "You know" he said seriously. "My mother didn't want me to join the academy either." Robert's eyes widened. "Really?" he breathed. "What did you do?" Nathan nodded slowly. "I waited" he admitted. "I stayed with her until I knew she would be taken care of." Robert lowered his head, discouraged. "Does that mean I should wait too?" he asked. Nathan shrugged. "Don't be too eager to grow up Robert" he murmured. "Your mother is right to worry. However, if you are still committed to joining the force come Christmas time, I'll see what I can do. Maybe special arrangements can be made to accommodate you." Robert's face lit up. "Thank you Constable Grant!" he cried. "That means a lot!" Nathan nodded, a little doubtfully. He still couldn't believe he was talking to Robert this way. Robert, who was sweet on Allie! Robert, who had asked her to the dance! Robert, who like every other boy, would never be good enough for her. Nathan sighed resignedly and squared his shoulders, trying not to think that far ahead into the future.
As they approached Dani's homestead, Nathan felt his heart begin to race, and as he looked down at Robert, he guessed that boy was probably feeling the same way. "You ready?" he asked, tightening his grip on the bouquet of daisies in his hand. Robert shook his head seriously. "As ready as I'll ever be" he murmured. They both waited tensely on the front steps as Nathan knocked lightly on the door. He heard Robert draw in a deep breath as the knob turned. Then, out the door stepped Allie. Nathan hardly recognized her. She was wearing a beautiful, frilly pink dress that reached down to her ankles. Her hair, which was usually worn down or braided, had been curled and tied up with a pink ribbon. But most strikingly of all, her face glowed with a gentle pride, for she knew she looked beautiful. Nathan felt his jaw drop, and it suddenly hit him how grown up and womanly Allie had become in over the last year. She eyed both her uncle and Robert shyly and blushed at the surprise on their faces. "How do I look?" she asked timidly, although she already knew the answer. Robert couldn't breathe, so Nathan answered for both of them. "Allie" he marveled. "You look magnificent." She smiled and forgetting to act like a grown up, hugged him gratefully. "Thanks Uncle Nathan" she whispered, before adding, "Dani will be out in a minute. She just had to finish her hair." Nathan nodded and smiled down at his little girl. "Thanks for letting me know" he said softly. "You two go on ahead. We'll meet you there." Allie beamed and turned to Robert, who smiled at her and presented her with the corsage. "You look real pretty Allie" he managed to say, as she held out her hand shyly for him to tie the little wreath of flowers around her wrist. "Thank you Robert" she said with a smile, taking his arm as he held it out to her. Nathan watched them both pass through the little front gate together in the direction of the dance and smiled, though a little sadly to himself. Allie was growing up, too fast for him. Still, it warmed his heart to see her so happy. With a sigh, he turned back toward the door and shifted the bouquet of flowers in his hands. He was lost in his thoughts about Allie when he heard the door open. "Thank you for waiting" Dani's voice roused him. Nathan looked up, and his eyes widened. Dani stepped delicately out the front door and smiled brightly. Her dress was white with sprays of yellow flowers embroidered all over it. Her hair hung in a loose bun, though several of her brown locks cascaded down her back like a curling waterfall. She had also carefully intergraded several little wild roses into the updo, which could not have complimented her hair more perfectly had they been diamonds or jewels. But most beautifully of all, her eyes sparkled like blue sapphires. She took Nathan's breath away as he gazed up at her, leaving him completely at a loss for words. Dani blushed shyly at his reaction. Seeing her redden, he quickly regained his composure. "Dani…" he breathed, an enchanted smile overtaking his face. "You are beautiful." Dani smiled modestly and looked down at the ground. "Thank you Nathan" she murmured softly, folding her hands in from of her. Nathan smiled up at her lovingly and held out the bouquet of flowers. "These are for you" he said. "I saw them in town, and they reminded me of you." Dani took the flowers and held them close to her heart, her blue eyes smiling. "Thank you" she said. "Let me go put them in water and we can be on our way."
Some of the initial awe and breathlessness wore off for both of them as they made the two mile walk down the dusty road. Nathan felt some of his previous anxiety wearing off as he fell into step with her, listening to her talk about how she was saving up to buy a milk cow. "With that harvest or corn Allie and I gathered, I should have enough very soon" she explained, a hint of excitement in her voice. Nathan smiled at her enthusiasm. "That's wonderful Dani" he commented. "I guess a cow officially makes your homestead a farm then." Dani laughed. "I guess it does" she agreed mirthfully. "Everything seems to be falling into place so perfectly." Before Nathan could respond, the sound of distant music reached he and Dani's ears, as well as the smell of funnel cakes and roasted meat. "Looks like we're almost there already" Nathan said with a smile. Dani nodded. "Time flies when you're enjoying yourself" she agreed. "I'm glad we were able to spend some time together before the dance." Nathan nodded. "Me to" he murmured.
There was a large crowd of people in the town square, and in the middle, a makeshift dancefloor had been created by Lee and some of his men the night before. As they approached, Dani and Nathan were greeted by the loud buzz of music and hundreds of voices all talking at once. Normally, Nathan hated big crowds like this. With Dani at his side however, it didn't seem so bad. If fact, he came to believe that he might actually enjoy himself. He laughingly allowed Dani to lead him through the crowd as she looked for people she knew. Finally, on the other end of the large mass of people, she spied Clara, Jesse, and Fiona, who stood by idly watching the dancing. "Let's go that way" she suggested, towing Nathan along. Nathan laughed. "I'll go wherever you lead me" he joked, following her quickened steps with equal vigor. As Dani, Clara, and Fiona exchanged compliments and casualties, Nathan shared a few words with Jesse, before the younger man was called away to refill the jugs of lemonade. As he looked around the crowd while Dani conversed with the women, Nathan spied Allie and Robert swinging across the dancefloor, their faces bright with enjoyment. He chuckled softly to himself at the sight, glad they were having a good time. As he continued to watch, the music finally came to end, before picking up again, this time with a waltz. Nathan instinctively turned to Dani and tapped her shoulder lightly. "Dani" he murmured quietly, holding out his hand. "May I have this dance?" Dani smiled and nodded, placing her hand in his. Side by side, they made their way out onto the dancefloor until they reached a more spacious area towards the middle. Then, turning to face her, Nathan laid his hand on Dani's waist as she rested hers on his shoulder. He noticed how slender and delicate her hands were against the navy blue of his jacket, despite all of the hard work she had done lately. Likewise, Dani couldn't help but notice how safe and secure she felt in his strong, but gentle arms. Their steps were perfectly in sync as they glided across the floor. After a minute or two, neither felt the need to watch their feet, but rather turned to face each other instead. Time seemed to stand still as their smiles were reflected in one another's faces. Lee and Rosemary both noticed the warm, yet intimate gaze that passed between them as they passed by on the dancefloor. "You see?" Rosemary pointed with her head in a loud whisper. "What did I tell you?" Lee eyed the pair and nodded in agreement. Rosemary's suspicions about the pair appeared to be undeniable. "Well, what do you know?" he mused thoughtfully. "They do look really good together." Rosemary nodded eagerly. "Yes, they do!" she agreed. "I wonder when they'll start courting?" Lee tilted his head to one side. "Now Rosie, don't start" he begged. But Rosemary quickly put his mind to easy. "Don't you worry my honey bunny" she crooned. "I know better than to stick my nose into their business. I learned my lesson with Faith and Carson." Lee smiled. "I'm glad" he beamed, leaning in, and kissing her lightly. "Oh. I love you." Rosemary smiled. "I love you too" she murmured sweetly.
As the waltz finally ended, Nathan bowed, a little awkwardly and held out his arm to Dani. "Thank you" he grinned. "That was nice." Dani placed her hand lightly in the link of his arm and smiled up at him. "It's been so long since I've been dancing" she agreed. "I forgot how much I missed it. Plus, you're a good dancer Nathan. Has anyone ever told you that?" Nathan blushed. "I've never really danced with anyone" he admitted. "Except my sister and Allie." Dani nodded understandingly. "They taught you well" she pointed out. Before they even reached the side of the dancefloor however, the pair was stopped by Bill, who greeted them cordially. "Hello you two!" he said jovially. "Having fun?" "Yes!" Nathan and Dani said in unison. They looked at each other and laughed. Bill raised his eyebrow at Nathan and chuckled. "Well, I'm glad" was all he said. Nathan looked Bill over quickly, still somewhat surprised by his good mood. "How about you?" he asked. "You seem to be enjoying yourself, despite prior objections." Bill gave Nathan a slideways glance. "Actually, I quite enjoy dancing, once I get into the swing of things" he admitted. "I've been trying to make my rounds to everyone. Molly seems to think I'm quite popular with the ladies tonight." Dani nodded emphatically. "Oh, I'm sure you are" she grinned. "Who could resist a handsome man like you Bill?" Bill eyed Nathan, amused. "She has a point" he agreed. Three of them laughed before Dani looked up at Nathan inquiringly. "You wouldn't mind if Bill and I took the next dance?" she asked. Nathan smiled and shook his head. "Not at all" he chuckled. "There's someone I need to find anyway, so…" Dani smiled gratefully, then realized that she was still holding Nathan's arm. She quickly moved her hand, hoping he wouldn't notice. "See you later" she said, smiling as Bill lead her out to the dance floor. Nathan laughed to himself as he watched them. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he wandered aimlessly, looking for Allie. At last, he spotted her by the refreshment table, enjoying a cup of lemonade while Robert led her friend Opal through the ongoing dance. "Hey Allie" he called, looking down at her admiringly. He still couldn't get over how grown up she looked. Allie smiled when she saw him and put down her lemonade. "Hi Uncle Nathan" she said. "Do you wanna dance?" Nathan laughed softly. "That's exactly why I came looking for you" he said, holding out his hand. "Shall we?" Allie grinned and taking his big hand, allowed him to lead her out onto the dancefloor. At first they danced in silence. After a few minutes of observing her beaming face however, Nathan smiled. "You having fun kiddo?" he asked. Allie smiled brightly. "Yes!" she cried. "Tonight, has been just… magical!" Nathan laughed and nodded. "I'm glad you're having a good time" he murmured. "Just don't have too much fun" he added teasingly. Allie grinned mischievously. "Uncle Nathan!" she mumbled under her breath, hoping Robert wouldn't hear. Changing the subject, she eyed him coyly. "Are you having a good time too?" she asked, a teasing note in her tone. Nathan nodded in mock defeat. "Alright, I get the picture" he laughed, before adding, "But for the record, I'm having a lot of fun." "Even with all these people?" Allie marveled. Nathan nodded. "Even with all these people…" he admitted. Allie grinned. "Speaking of lots of people…" she began slowly. "Mrs. Coulter is hosting a game night and sleepover at her house for all the girls at school. Would it okay if I went too?" Nathan thought for a minute, then nod. "Sure Allie" he agreed. "That sounds like fun. Dani and I will walk you there after the dance." Just then, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Robert standing by. "Mind if I cut in Constable Grant?" he asked humbly. Allie looked up at her uncle expectantly, and he relented. "Sure Robert" he said, handing Allie off. "You two have fun, okay?" Allie smiled gratefully and took Robert's outstretched hand. "You too Uncle Nathan" she called as the two of them whirled away.
Among the many spectators that lined the side of the dance floor, Faith stood alone while her partner conversed with some of his friends briefly at the outdoor bar. As she watched the dancers gliding across the floor, a familiar face approached her. It was the factory worker she had patched up the other day with Dani's help. His greasy smile and yellowing teeth were pretty unforgettable. "Good evening Doc" he grinned. Faith drew in a quick breath and lowered her eyes. "Good evening…" she muttered as civilly as she could. The man smiled and held his hand out to her. "You know" he went it. "It would be a real 'shot in the arm' if I could have this dance." He chuckled to himself at his own joke, and Faith felt her face redden with awkward embarrassment. "Actually" a voice interrupted behind her. "I've already reserved this dance." Faith whirled around and could have sunk to the floor with relief at the sight of Nathan, standing tall beside her. He threw a stern glare in the direction of the other man and held out his hand to her. "Shall we Dr. Carter?" he asked formally. Faith wordlessly grabbed his strong hand, her face beaming. As they drifted towards the middle of the dance floor, she glanced up at him shyly and smiled. "Thank you for that" she murmured. "You saved me." Nathan shook his head modestly. "It's alright" he reassured her. "Glad I could help." As they navigated their way through the swaying couples, Nathan glanced quickly around the dance floor, and became aware of several pairs of male eyes upon he and Faith. "I think I might have cut in line" he grinned. "You seem to have a lot of admirers tonight." Faith laughed faintly and shook her head. "Yes" she sighed. "Most of them have been very kind. But none of them hold a candle to you." Nathan glanced down at her in surprise, but Faith shook her head reassuringly. "You've been such a good friend Nathan" she said, putting his mind at ease. "And I wouldn't want things to be awkward between us. But, I haven't had a friend like you for a long time." Nathan looked down modestly. "Well, I don't know about that…" he murmured, a little uncomfortable. "We both know some pretty great people here in Hope Valley." Faith nodded vigorously. "Oh, of course!" she corrected herself. "It's just nice to know that someone like you is watching out for me. The only other person who made me feel that way was Jack Thornton." Nathan's whole body almost came to a screeching halt as she said it. His breath quickened, and Faith was dismayed to see his face go completely pale. "Nathan…" she murmured anxiously, as he fought to regain his composure. Her grip on his shoulder tightened. "Nathan, what's wrong?" Nathan drew in a deep breath. Faith's comparison of him to Jack had jolted his senses and even as the words escaped her, all of his painful memories had come rushing back. "I have been trying to find Jack in you." Elizabeth's voice rang out in his head like a nightmare. "I've been trying to replace him with you." The pain paralyzed his heart, even if regret or longing did not. However, he forced himself to remember where he was and who he was with. "I'm fine" he murmured, forcing a smile. "That's very kind of you Faith." He knew she hadn't meant any harm. And maybe someday it wouldn't hurt so much. Not wanting the painful moment to define the evening, he changed the subject. "I noticed things have been pretty busy at the infirmary" he said as casually as he could. "How are you holding up lately?" Faith's worry faded into a smile, and she shrugged. "I've been fairing pretty well" she admitted. "I may have a lot of patients, but thankfully nothing major has happened. Cuts and bruises are enough to keep me busy, and I'd like to keep it that way." Nathan nodded and smiled. "I'm glad" he murmured quietly. "Although, I'm sure if anything did come up, you'd handle it just fine." Faith looked up at him admiringly and sighed. "I hope so" she agreed. "It is nice to have Dani's help during the week." She saw Nathan's gaze unconsciously drift to where Dani was gliding across the floor with Bill and smiled knowingly. "She's a wonderful person Nathan" she encouraged. "And life doesn't always wait for us. Sometimes it's better to take a leap of faith instead." Nathan looked down at her in surprise and opened his mouth to speak when the music died and was followed by a quick applause. Wordlessly, Faith took his arm, and they both walked together off of the dance floor. After thanking him again, Faith eyed him earnestly. "Don't wait Nathan" she said again. "Life's too short to wait."
Nathan caught his breath as she disappeared into the crowd. His eyes wandered to Dani, who was now standing with Fiona and Mike, laughing at something that Mike had said. She was so radiant and beautiful… Suddenly, Nathan felt his ever-growing love for her swelling up within him again. It was neither a flaming passion nor a feverish urge. Rather, it was an intense longing to be with her and share everything with her. As Nathan stood gazing at her, completely floored by his own thoughts and feelings, he realized with sudden clarity that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Danielle Lemont. He had never expected love to be so easy. It never had been in the past. Apart from his love for Allie, love had always been a difficult commitment for him. He suddenly began to understand that maybe it was because the people in his life had always made it hard for him to show his love. But with Dani… Love seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Maybe it was all a lot simpler than he had thought. Maybe he could dare to hope that in giving his heart, he could expect an equal love in return. While he was still unsure as to what Dani's feelings for him were, he was certain of one thing; he needed to tell her of his own, tonight.
As the sun began to sink behind the mountains, and the crowds began to lessen, Nathan figured it would soon be time to leave, since he and Dani still had a two mile walk ahead of them. He found her talking with Rosemary and Lee and held out his hand to her. "May I have this dance?" he asked playfully. She grinned and took it. "Of course," she laughed. As they swayed back and forth to the slow, soft music, Nathan looked down at her quizzically. "How are you holding up?" he asked. Dani looked up and breathed a faint sigh. "It's been a wonderful night" she said. "But I think we should probably leave soon." Nathan nodded. "Right" he agreed. "We can grab the lantern at my house when we drop off Allie. Apparently, she has some sort of girl's night or other." Dani laughed. "Sounds like fun" she giggled. "Although I'm guessing that's not something you would particularly enjoy." Nathan laughed and shook his head. "Nope" he admitted blatantly. "Not particularly." His sarcasm made Dani laughed again. Oh, how he loved that laugh. How he loved her…
The night was dark, but the stars shone brightly as Nathan guided Dani and Allie through the crowd of people and towards the open road. Allie was animatedly telling Dani about the dance as he grabbed the lantern from its hook on the front porch of their rowhouse. The trio made their way almost to the end of the row until they were greeted by a flood of light and the sound of female laughter from inside. Allie looked up at her uncle and Dani happily. "Good night you two" she called. "And thank you for a wonderful night!" Allie's teasing reference to he and Dani suddenly brought to the forefront that lingering task that had been at the back of Nathan's mind for days now. He had to tell Dani of his feelings for her. His love for her was strong and growing stronger by the day. Even tonight, he could not imagine loving her more than he already did. The feelings may have been gradual, but the fall was rapid. As they walked together down the darkened dirt road, Nathan's lantern cast a golden glow over Dani as her beautiful white dress flapped lazily in the breeze. While they conversed throughout their long walk, Nathan's mind was overcome with anxiety and anticipation at the task that lay before him. Someway, somehow, he needed to tell her. His fear of rejection was strong, but he knew his love was stronger. Every step forward was another step closer to him losing the chance to tell her. And yet at the same time, it could also be a step closer to the end of their friendship, something Nathan knew he would struggle to live without. If she pushed him away… If he was forced to go on without her… He didn't want to think about it. With every passing minute, the inner turmoil grew, until he found himself at her front gate, following her to the porch. "Breath" he told himself. "Just breath…"
Dani smiled back at him as she felt his gaze upon her. "Well, that was lovely" she said cheerfully. "I hope you had a good time." Nathan nodded, forcing a smile. "I certainly did" he said. "Thanks to you." Dani blushed modestly. "Well, it if weren't for you, I wouldn't have a dance partner" she pointed out. Nathan swallowed hard, his nerves preventing him from responding. Dani, however, didn't seem to notice. "I should probably let you get back home" she murmured. "I don't want you on the road too late on my account. Thank you for everything Nathan." As she turned to mount the stairs, Nathan sucked in a sharp breath. "Dani…" he said, trying to be calm. "Wait a minute, please… There's something I need to tell you…" Dani stopped at the stairs and turned. "What is it Nathan?" she asked unsuspectingly. Suddenly feeling nervous again about what he was going to say, Nathan swallowed hard, then continued. "You're the kindest person I've ever met and the best friend I've ever had" he began. "I've enjoyed every moment I've spent with you." Dani nodded, smiling. "That's very sweet of you Nathan" she murmured, blushing. "I've loved our time together too. You've taken such good care of me since I arrived, even though I slapped you on the first day." Nathan tried to laugh, but he couldn't. His heart was in his throat. "Dani" he murmured. "I want to be fair to you, so I think you should know." He drew in a deep breath. "I love you Dani" he said finally. "And I've never felt so close to anyone in my life as I do to you. I love you. I tried not to, but I couldn't help it. You're just… so wonderful."
He paused, looking up at her cautiously and was surprised by how calm she was. She didn't run away or shrink back, appalled like he thought she would. She just stood there a little breathless, but still composed, and listened. He went on. "I don't want to lose what we have" he said softly. "And if you asked me to, I would never say a word about it again. But I couldn't go another day without telling you how much I love you. It wouldn't be right somehow." Dani looked down at the ground, then back into Nathan's face before answering. "It was very brave of you to tell me" She murmured softly. "And I'm glad that you did. You're an excellent man Nathan, a far better one than I deserve. If I could return your feelings, I certainly would. But… I just don't know my own heart. The life I've started here is everything I've ever wanted, and that is largely thanks to you. But I don't want it to change, and I'm afraid that anything more than friendship between us would change everything." She looked into his face and taking his big hand in both of hers, squeezed it tightly, in the hope of alleviating some of the pain that she saw in his eyes. "I'm sorry Nathan" she whispered. "But I'm not ready to give my heart away to anyone. If I were, it would be yours without a second thought. I just don't think I'm ready. Not yet." Nathan nodded sadly but felt strengthened by the tight hold of her hands over his. He looked into her soft blue eyes and managed a sad smile. Dani saw the look and tears formed in those eyes. "If you don't want to ride all the way out here anymore, I'll understand" she said, lowering her gaze. "I wouldn't blame you." Nathan shook his head as if the idea were absurd. "Of course not!" he said indignantly. "Nothing has to change. Not on my account. You've been nothing but good to me Dani, and I'd be a fool to throw away our friendship." Dani smiled, relieved and grateful. "I'm glad" she said faintly. For a long moment they stood together on the stoop, and for a brief instant their eyes inadvertently locked. Those soft, beautiful blue eyes… Nathan felt a strong draw toward them. Dani felt her own heart flutter as she suddenly sensed it too, looking deeply into Nathan's tender gaze. Instinctively, both of them suddenly found themselves leaning in closer to one another, until their foreheads almost touched. Nathan's heart raced wildly as he felt Dani's warm breath against his face, but quickly lowered his eyes when he realized what was happening and turned away. Dani looked away too and unconsciously let his hand drop as she drew in a deep breath. "Thank you for the lovely evening" she said, a little breathlessly. Nathan smiled faintly and nodded. "Thank you for going with me" he murmured. "Good night Dani." "Good night Nathan" she breathed softly, before retreating into the house as calmly as she could.
Nathan walked home in silence as the lantern in his hand cast little shadows across his path. Something about telling Dani of his feelings had been freeing for him. She had always been kind and straightforward, even now, and her firm grasp on his hand had helped to ease the pain of what she was saying. Still, she could not love him. Not yet anyway. While Nathan was grateful that their friendship would continue, his heart still ached over her answer. She had not been hurtful or unkind by any means. But he knew that after this he would never love anyone the way he loved her. No one would ever occupy the place that she did in his heart, and no one would ever make him feel that way that she did. The entire way home, he thought about her, how beautiful she had been tonight, how wonderful she had always been. Perhaps things hadn't meant to be between he and Elizabeth, but he knew that they had between he and Dani. He was sure of that. The fact however, only made it more difficult to walk away. Her soft gaze and lovely smile played in his mind in his mind over and over again. Her contagious laugh… Her deep blue eyes… Kicking a large stone in his path, he sighed heavily. The sky was dark overhead, and the stars were blurred out by an incoming storm. There was a strangely ominous feeling hanging in the wind as Nathan climbed the front steps to his rowhouse and hung the lantern on its peg. He was a little surprised to see the light on, since Allie had gone with some of the other girls to the Coulter's house for the game night and sleepover that Rosemary was hosting after the dance. He was even more surprised to find Bill inside, pacing the room. "Bill" he exclaimed, gaping for a moment before shutting the door. "What brings you here so late?" "I've got a lead on Walden" Bill said tensely. "One Lee's men told me he'll be visiting a homestead a couple of miles east of here to collect. He'll be taking Spurlock with him. If we play our cards right, we'll be able to catch him red handed." Nathan hung up his coat and looked over the map that Bill had spread out over the kitchen table. "How soon?" he asked. "As soon as his car leaves town" Bill answered mysteriously. "I'll be gathering a few extra hands to be ready at a moment's notice. We're gonna need eyewitnesses present so that they can testify." Nathan nodded, trying to appear focused, even though his mind wasn't completely there. "That's good…" he murmured. "Walden might decide to bring all of his goons, so we'll need all the manpower we can get." Bill nodded. "We'll be ready when the time comes" he agreed.