Ally was too excited to sleep. Uncle Nathan was her dad! She could hardly believe it! He always had been like a dad but now it was official! There were the documents to prove it and no one could take her from him. Ally realized that was what made her happiest—that she always had a home with Uncle Nathan, one that was certain and sure.

Ally sat up in bed and grabbed her diary from the nightstand. Ever since Miss Elizabeth had told her to write out her feelings, Ally had been doing just that. And it helped! Ally found herself being inspired by the school assignment prompt from a few weeks earlier.

My Christmas wish came true this year. Uncle Nathan is officially my dad. I kind of had hoped he would be one day. People say that blood isn't what makes family—it is how you love them and treat them and raise them and are there for them. By that definition, Uncle Nathan has always been like a dad. But now he is! I had hoped that this year would be the best Christmas ever, even more than last year, and last year was pretty great. We had a big Christmas tree and we didn't leave Hope Valley.

I get a little sad when I think about Christmases of years ago. I didn't get to have many with my mom. I also was four when she died; I don't remember too much about her. Uncle Nathan….Dad….says that he and Mom used to go fishing when they were growing up. Maybe that is why he established the tradition of us fishing on Christmas Day. I wish I could remember a Christmas with my mom. Instead, I can think of Christmases in a different place every year…until last year.

It is kind of scary writing down a Christmas wish for the future. Because what if my expressing it makes it not come true? But do you want to know anyway? I would like next Christmas to have a Mom. To see Uncle….Dad….get married. He has become so happy lately courting Mrs. Thornton. He is even singing again! When I think about him and Mrs. Thornton getting married and Little Jack becoming my brother, I get all happy inside. Even more happy than I am right now and I am full to bursting!

Ally paused. Normally Miss Elizabeth had the class read their assignments out loud. Perhaps she could convince her not have that happen this year? Ally smiled. Even if she did have to share her wishes and memories with her classmates and friends, it would be okay. After all, her wish was nothing to be ashamed of.

Ally closed her diary and snuggled back under the coverlet. Just yesterday she had gone to sleep with such fear. Not now. Her dad had been right. Everything had turned out okay.

But even better than okay, Ally thought, as she drifted off to sleep.

"Ally," Nathan paused while sipping his morning coffee.

"Dad?" Ally responded, slightly in a teasing fashion.

The two made eye contact and smiled. Clearly both uncle and niece were thrilled with the new arrangement.

"You know," Nathan grinned. "I think I'm going to like you calling me that."

"Grandpa in his last letter reminded me of all the ways you are like a dad. Ways that he wasn't to you and to my mom." Ally didn't always share her letters from Archie. They were for her alone and Nathan trusted her with them. "So I think I'll like calling you Dad too. But I don't think that was what you were going to say."

Nathan took another sip of coffee. "No, it wasn't. I wanted to run an idea by you."

"Well, you know, I am full of ideas!"

Nathan cocked his head. "You mean like the idea of the haunted house? Or the idea of the card trick and stealing your classmates' food? Or the idea that Mrs. Thornton smelled like chalk?"

"Okay, okay," Ally held her hands in surrender. "I didn't say I always had good ideas!"

Nathan laughed. "You can say that again."

Nathan paused before continuing. "I want to do something really special for Miss Elizabeth for Christmas. As a way of saying thank you for being there for us."

"And because you are courting her, kissing her, and in love with her." Ally hurriedly finished her statement and then looked at Nathan. He was a terrible liar.

Sure enough, Nathan's face turned red. "Well, I"

Ally sat back in her chair grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I knew it." She waved her hand in the air. "So you want to do something different?"

"I was thinking," Nathan continued. Golly this girl kept him on his toes. "of actually going to the Mountie Ball this year and asking Miss Elizabeth to go with me. What do you think?"

Ally's face lit up. "A ball! That's so romantic!"

Nathan paused. "You think so? It could also become a Christmas shopping expedition for your present."

"And don't forget Little Jack!"

"Absolutely not!" Nathan nodded. Never would he forget Little Jack. In fact, he already had a few ideas for his Christmas present.

"I think it's a great idea. Only….."

"Only what?"

"Would only just you and Miss Elizabeth go?" Ally looked expectantly, like she wanted an invitation herself.

"No," Nathan said emphatically. "But I first wanted to know if you thought Miss Elizabeth would like it."

"I think she'll love it," Ally sighed. "She'll look beautiful, you'll look handsome, it's just like a storybook. And all girls want a little bit of a fairy tale."

Nathan took a final sip of coffee. "Well I'm glad I have you around to help me out."

Ally stood up, cleared her breakfast dishes, and grabbed her school books. She paused and hugged Nathan.

"You'll always have me Dad."

Elizabeth looked up from the papers she was grading. Nathan was standing in front of her with an outstretched invitation in his hand.

"What is this?" Elizabeth looked at the note in front of her.

"Well, why don't you read it and find out," Nathan teased.

Elizabeth opened the envelope and read

Dearest Lizabeth,

You have changed my life in so many ways. You make me want to do things I never would have even considered before. What I am about to ask you is one of those times.

Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Mountie Ball in Union City?

Yours

Nathan

Elizabeth finished reading. The Mountie Ball. Elizabeth couldn't help but remember another time when she had been asked to the Mountie Ball—with Jack. But they had not been able to attend and so Jack had turned the saloon into their own Mountie Christmas Ball. Candles, a music box, it was a wonderful memory.

But now, Elizabeth realized, her heart was open to making new memories. They were not going to replace the ones she held so dearly. They would be added to them.

"Elizabeth?" Nathan's voice, laced with concern, snapped her out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry!" Elizabeth stood up and walked around the desk. "I was just thinking."

Nathan took her hand, trying to appear defeated or discouraged. "You looked a million miles away."

Elizabeth sat down in one of the pews and she encouraged Nathan to sit beside her. "I was remembering the last time I was asked to go to the Mountie Ball."

Realization dawned on Nathan. "Jack."

"Yes," Elizabeth said simply. "Jack and I had plans to go years ago. But circumstances prevented it."

"Honestly, Elizabeth," Nathan began to push back, "the last thing I want to do is…"

Elizabeth interrupted Nathan by putting her finger to his lips. "Yes."

"Yes?" Now Nathan was confused.

"Yes!" Elizabeth smiled. "I would love nothing more than to go to the Mountie Ball with you! It is our chance to make special memories together. You and me."

Nathan smiled. "So it is an overnight. How do you feel about that?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "This trip is different than my last overnight trip to Union City."

Nathan chuckled wryly. "Yeah, I'm not Lucas."

Elizabeth playfully hit his shoulder. "It's more than that. I knew, deep down, I shouldn't have gone with Lucas. Yes, I wanted to, but I also knew I just viewed Lucas a friend. Nathan….I don't view you that way. Having a chaperone might be a good idea this go around."

Nathan felt electricity between the two of them. Elizabeth's statement clearly reminded him of how attracted he was to her. Of course nothing would happen between the two of them; he respected Elizabeth too much for that. But thankfully, he had already thought of a solution.

"I thought the same," Nathan admitted. "So I was thinking Rosemary and Lee could come and be chaperones. We could do lunch together and some Christmas shopping. Then they could have their own romantic time while we are at the Ball. Little Jack can come too or Opal's mom graciously offered to watch him."

"You would be willing to have Little Jack with us?" Elizabeth had to admit she was surprised. She had had the feeling last time in Union City that Lucas was thrilled not to have the boy there.

"Lizabeth," Nathan squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "Little Jack is never an imposition or a chore. If you are more comfortable being in Union City with him then that is fine with me."

Elizabeth paused. "Just knowing that you would be okay with it is enough for me. I am fine having this be a couple's trip. I promise."

Nathan stood up and Elizabeth stood up with him. "I asked."

Elizabeth stopped. Her mouth was about to form a question but then she remembered. Back to the days after the wind storm and she had stormed into the jail. She had asked Nathan why he was shutting her out—which he had denied—and then she had told Nathan why she had gone to Union City with Lucas. Because he "had asked."

Elizabeth looped her arms around Nathan's neck. "You did. See, was it that hard?"

"Well," Nathan cocked his head, "I didn't have a horse or a niece or a Lucas interrupt me. So no."

Elizabeth laughed. "Nathan Grant, I am very much looking forward to being your date."

Nathan smiled. "Honestly, Elizabeth…neither can I."