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Chapter 10

Walking back from the stable, with Jack still asleep and her flowers safe at the foot of his carriage, Elizabeth fretted over what Nathan wanted to talk about.

He promised it's not about Jack. But what else could it be?

When she reached the Coulter home, the front door was open wide. If the need to collect Betsy hadn't drawn her in, the tantalizing smell of cinnamon apples would have.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway with her son in her arms, taking in the scene.

As Betsy stirred something in a bowl, Rosemary layered apples over batter in a pan and called, "Go!" Betsy immediately sprinkled what turned out to be cinnamon sugar over the fruit. Rosemary mixed flour, oats and butter in another bowl, crumbled it over the top and again said, "Go!" — the signal for more cinnamon sugar.

"This is quite the operation!" Elizabeth enthused, eyeing a second pan that was baked and cooling on the sideboard. "If my son wasn't sound asleep, I'd lend you a hand."

"Oh, hello, Elizabeth!" Rosemary greeted. "Come in and sit down, but do not get in our way!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," she assured. "It smells scrumptious. I hope you'll save a bite for me."

"Don't be silly," Rosemary said. "You and Betsy are staying for dinner."

"But I invited, uh, Uncle Nathan to eat with us."

"He can come, too, of course. It's nothing fancy, but the dessert will be divine!" She bumped elbows with her young assistant, who grinned.

"Thank you very much. I'll take little Jack home to finish his nap. He shouldn't sleep much longer."

"We'll see you soon, dear." Rosemary waved with a folded towel and opened the oven door before popping the pan inside.

Since she was holding her son in one arm, Elizabeth parked his carriage at the bottom of her stoop. As she entered her home, a light and unexpected fragrance made her breathe deeply. It was then that she noticed the beautiful bouquet of wildflowers tied with a ribbon and arranged in a vase.

"Rosemary and Betsy," she whispered. "Aren't you the sweetest!"

Reminded of her own flowers still in the stroller, she placed Jack in his cradle and slipped down the front steps and retrieved them, only to find Nathan about to walk up to Lee and Rosemary's door.

He smiled when he saw the flowers in her hand. "You'd think I would have had my fill of wildflowers today, but no. They still make me happy."

"Perhaps because they bring so much joy to Betsy," she said, giving him a grudging smile in return. "Jack's still asleep. Won't you come in? You said you have something to discuss."

She thought he seemed self-conscious when he nodded agreement and followed her inside, so she left the door standing open, in case he felt awkward about being alone with her.

"Betsy's flowers," he said at the sight of the vase. "She had such fun picking them for you."

"I haven't had a chance to thank her," she said. "I stopped at Rosemary's before coming home. By the way, we're all invited to dine next door. A simple dinner, she said, but the dessert looks, and smells, wonderful!"

"Dessert." He chuckled. "If Betsy's involved, it's all about the dessert."

"And flowers," she added with a grin. "Please, sit down and let's talk. We're under orders to report to Lee and Rosemary's as soon as little Jack wakes, which should be soon."

The Mountie may not have been wearing his uniform, but when he sat, his posture was every bit as straight and official as one would expect from any member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

"This is an awkward subject to bring up," he said.

"I told you, I'm not ready …" she interrupted, holding up her hand.

"It's about money."

"About what?" She blinked, confused.

"It's Sunday, so I haven't had a chance to set up accounts yet. But I promise, tomorrow I'll have funds deposited at the mercantile, the dress shop, the laundry service and the café."

"I assumed you took care of such things last week, after you got settled. Why are you telling me?"

"These aren't my accounts. They're yours."

"Mine! Why are you arranging accounts for me?"

"They're for Betsy's care," he explained. "There's no question in my mind that she should stay here, where she's happy. But you needn't be responsible for her keep — hence, the accounts. And I'll give you a weekly bank draft to help with Laura's services, too."

"I hardly think a little girl will add much to my monthly expenses."

"You'd be surprised," he said. "Your son's but an infant, and a boy. You have no idea how expensive girls can be. Why, the bill for flour, sugar, cookies and cakes alone can be astronomical! And the dresses and petticoats? I promise, you'll be thanking me very soon."

She started giggling so hard she had to cover her mouth to keep from waking Jack.

"I'd say you were exaggerating — but I'm the middle sister of three, so I know you're not. Thank you, uh, uh …"

"Uncle Nathan," he finished with a grin, finally leaning back against the couch cushions.

"Thank you — Nathan. You're very thoughtful."

"You're welcome. I can't thank you enough for coming to our rescue. The saloon — I still shake my head when I think about Betsy ever living there."

"I'm glad she's happy here, because we're happy to have her." She heard a stirring in the cradle and rose to make sure her son didn't drift off to sleep again. "Betsy's welcome to stay as long as she likes. We enjoy her company. Yes, we do!" She addressed her son.

Little Jack giggled in his mother's arms as she picked him up, until he saw their guest, whereupon he cooed and held out his arms.

"Uh oh. Don't tell Rosemary that you've taken her place as his favorite friend."

Nathan took the baby's outstretched hand and gave it a gentle shake. "Tell your mother it's not a competition. No, it's not! Everyone who loves you is special in their own way. Isn't that right?"

"Goodness, he's so strong. He's practically climbing out of my arms. He definitely wants you to hold him."

"I'd love to." Nathan reached for the child without hesitation.

Elizabeth couldn't tell whose grin was bigger — Jack's or Nathan's. But when Jack started with the open-mouthed baby kisses on the Mountie's cheek, she handed Nathan a cloth to wipe away the evidence of her son's affection.

"You've definitely charmed him," she said, taking a seat across from them.

He laughed heartily, which elicited more baby giggles in response.

"My remark wasn't that funny."

"You'd think so if you had a niece who recently accused you of not being charming. In her defense, she was right."

"Why would she say such a thing? I know she loves you dearly, so you must have charmed her at some point. Or does your charm only extend to children and babies?"

She thought about Lucas, the town's suave and sophisticated saloon owner who often rained compliments on her and her son, but always shied away from holding him, and certainly never welcomed his kisses.

"I don't know," Nathan said. "What is charm, anyway?"

"Our finishing school instructor could explain it very nicely," Elizabeth said. "Whatever it means to be charming, my sister Viola took her lessons to heart. She set out to marry well, and she did. Lionel is a British aristocrat."

"She must be very happy."

Elizabeth pondered. "I don't think happiness was her goal."

"She should have taken a lesson from her sister on that subject."

"Julie certainly has a greater capacity for love and happiness, even if she hasn't quite found either of them yet."

He looked at her with amusement.

"Oh! You mean me?" She blushed. "I am happy. Sometimes I feel I'm betraying my husband by feeling so, but I know he would have wanted me to raise our son in a joyful home."

"And 'charm' has nothing to do with it," Nathan addressed little Jack jovially, as though giving him a life lesson.

"I'm curious how you responded to Betsy's accusation." Elizabeth moved to the kitchen and began preparing the baby's bottle to take next door with them.

"I told her that one's character is more important than charm." Nathan stood and followed her, expertly bouncing Jack as though it was second nature. "I doubt she heard me, though, since she'd been lying on a bed of flowers and pretending to be a princess."

Elizabeth burst out laughing. "And you were unwilling to be her prince charming?"

"Correct. But I was willing to be her horse and let her ride on my back to our picnic site."

"I suspect you two made a very charming picture."

He made a face. "Perhaps your sister can introduce you to a real prince charming one day."

"I can't imagine a prince living in Hope Valley, and I never plan to leave."

He gave a satisfied sigh. "I wouldn't have said so a week ago, but Hope Valley truly does feel like home."

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"It looks like dinner is ready," Lee said, coming downstairs to a table set for five and the completed meal staying warm on the stove. "Why aren't we eating?"

"We think our neighbors need just a minute longer," Rosemary said, giving Betsy a conspiratorial wink.

"You're not listening in again," Lee accused.

"Some things are simply beyond my control," Rosemary said, putting a finger to her lips as she leaned close to the wall bordering Elizabeth's house.

Lee peeked out front window. "Her door's wide open. Why don't you just sit on our porch — all the better to eavesdrop on their conversation."

"Oh, Lee. Where's the fun in that?"

"Shouldn't we go over and remind them to come and eat?" he insisted.

"She said she'd be here as soon as the baby wakes up."

"Can't you hear the child giggling up a storm?" he asked. "As nice as the Mountie is, I didn't know he even had a funny bone."

"Ah, it's music to our ears." She winked at her fellow co-conspirator again. "But you're right, it's time to eat, so we'll shoo them on over. Coming, Betsy?"

"Yes, and I remember exactly what I'm supposed to say after dinner," she said excitedly, taking Rosemary's hand.

"Heaven help our unsuspecting neighbors," Lee muttered.

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See Chapter 11

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Thank you to all who have offered enthusiastic reviews of my story!

My heart goes out to those who prefer to read stories about Elizabeth and Jack.

I know that his loss will forever be felt.

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If you enjoyed this story, please check out my fan fiction about "Chesapeake Shores."

Search fanfiction . net for writer "Annette Zoaps."

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