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Chapter 11
"Uncle Nathan! Where have you been?" Betsy said, bounding to his side and grinning up at young Jack, still in his arms.
"I made a little detour on the way home, and then I had a talk with Mrs. Thornton."
"Dinner's waiting, you two," Rosemary said cheerfully.
"And I helped make dessert," Betsy enthused. "Cinnamon apple cake — it's my new favorite!"
Nathan laughed. "You've already had a piece, I suppose?"
"No more than a baker's taste," Rosemary assured. "Not enough to spoil her appetite, which must be huge by now, since you two have been dawdling."
"So sorry, Rosemary," Elizabeth apologized, tucking the bottle into a bag that contained her son's necessities. "Jack really hasn't been awake that long."
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Four adults were seated at the Coulter dinner table, along with one child and an infant who refused to leave the Mountie's arms. When it was time to say grace and for everyone to join hands, Nathan was holding little Jack, so Elizabeth clasped her son's hand, instead.
"… And thank you for a glorious Sunday with our dear friends," Lee concluded. "Amen."
"Thank you for inviting us, Rosemary, Lee," Elizabeth said, shaking out her napkin. "It looks and smells delicious."
"This is nothing compared to the dessert coming up," Rosemary said.
As promised, the meal was simple — braised beef and root vegetables in a broth-based sauce, served with freshly baked biscuits, which were slightly flavored by apples and cinnamon, as they'd shared the oven with the last cake.
"Seriously, Rosemary, these biscuits are incredible," Elizabeth said after swallowing a delectable bite.
"Just when I think every meal is the best I've ever had, the next one tops it," Nathan said. "Late lunch yesterday, our picnic and this dinner today. By next week, I may have to loosen my belt a few notches."
"Tell me about it," Lee said, patting his midsection.
As they ate, little Jack kept reaching for Nathan's shiny silverware, but he warded off each attempt by scooting his chair farther and farther from the table, to the point he was almost sitting sideways, facing Elizabeth. The position served no hardship, and he continued eating without pause and gently bouncing the boy between bites.
"Let me take him so you can eat in peace," Elizabeth offered, gathering the child in her arms despite his resistance. "He'll be fine. I'll hold him right here so he can see you."
"Perhaps Jack would like some mashed apples," Rosemary suggested. "I boiled a few thinking they might agree with him."
"We can try," Elizabeth said. "That's very thoughtful of you."
"Here you go." Rosemary placed a small bowl and demitasse spoon next to Elizabeth's plate.
Lee had followed his wife to the kitchen and came back with a tea towel. "Let's fasten this around your neck to keep you clean, young man."
At his first bite, Jack opened his eyes wide and seemed just as excited about "dessert" as Betsy had been. Like a little bird clamoring for worms, he couldn't get enough.
He was so enthusiastic that Elizabeth was unable to take another bite from her own plate — Nathan had finished his meal, while Elizabeth was barely half through.
"Let me take over so you can eat," he insisted, holding out his hands to Jack, who eagerly went to him. "So you like apples, too, hmm? You and Betsy." He winked at his niece.
Betsy grinned, but he noticed that she kept glancing at Rosemary as if seeking a signal. In response, he saw the lady of the house give her an almost imperceptible nod.
"Uncle Nathan?" she began.
"Yes, Betsy?" He couldn't study her while feeding Jack, but it was clear something was going on.
"Will you walk me to school tomorrow since it's my first day?"
"It would be my pleasure," he said with a smile, glancing from Betsy to Rosemary.
"Will you wear your uniform, too? I want everyone to know you're very important."
"I can do that. I'll be wearing it when I make my rounds anyway."
"Thank you, Uncle Nathan."
"Is that all?" He wondered why subterfuge had been called for.
As though silently prompting her, Betsy looked across the table at Elizabeth, who was eating quickly and glancing at Nathan and her son, unaware of any plans afoot.
"Elizabeth, I was thinking." Rosemary took the reins of the conversation. "Perhaps Nathan's escorting Betsy to class might present an opportunity. What do you think?"
"Oh. Yes." She swallowed her next-to-last bite. "Maybe you could speak to the students while you're there."
"What an excellent idea, Elizabeth," Rosemary enthused. "It would give them a chance to get to know you, and then they would tell their families wonderful things about you. It could also help break the ice between Betsy and her fellow classmates."
It was all Nathan could do not to laugh at her over-acting.
"Would you like to?" Elizabeth asked.
He looked from Rosemary, to Betsy, to Elizabeth, and they regarded him with hopeful expectation in return.
"You know you can't refuse," Lee underscored the mood around the table.
"I don't know what to say," he said.
"Say 'yes!'" Betsy and Rosemary said together.
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically, as she savored her last bite.
"You misunderstand. I don't know what to say to a classroom full of children. Youngsters don't take to me very well."
Elizabeth gulped and opened her mouth in surprise. "Why, children love you!" She gestured at Betsy and Jack. "They adore you. In fact, my son is this close to preferring you over me." She chuckled.
"Your mother exaggerates," Nathan said to the fair-haired boy in his arms.
"You think I'm joking? Watch this." She held out her hands to little Jack, who sat unmoving on Nathan's knee.
"I have his bowl and spoon," Nathan pointed out.
Elizabeth plucked the spoon out of Nathan's hand and slid the bowl in her direction.
"Come to momma?" She held out her hands again, one of them waving the spoon.
Her son looked uncertainly at Nathan, but still didn't budge.
"Young man, that's not very gentlemanly. When a lady asks you to 'go,' you go! Especially when it's your mother."
Elizabeth patted Nathan's arm and let the baby be. "You'll be fine with the children. Just be yourself. Show them your — what was it you called it?"
"My charm?" He grinned.
"Your character." She nudged his elbow. "Show them who you really are."
"I guess I can try," he said, looking rather like a man waiting for the guillotine.
She saw his expression. "And for heaven's sake, practice your smile!"
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All three households turned in early that night, but not before Elizabeth and Betsy spent some time going over the next day's lessons.
The following morning, when Elizabeth was already in the schoolhouse, Laura ushered Betsy out the door when her uncle came to call.
Rather than continuing on with Betsy at his side, Nathan bounded up the steps and greeted a happy little Jack, waving gleefully in Laura's arms.
"One last smile before I face the gallows," he murmured. He gave the child a hug, and then he and Betsy were on the path to school.
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As he'd predicted, he hadn't charmed the students. But he hadn't alienated them, either. Yet.
"Are there any more questions, class?" Elizabeth asked, as Constable Grant stood awkwardly at the front of the room.
Robert's hand shot up. "Have you ever killed anyone?"
"I have not," Nathan said, looking uncomfortable. "I've been able to subdue violators of the law without the necessity of lethal force."
"Have you ever been shot?" Cody questioned.
Nathan grimaced. "No. Thank the Lord, no."
"How about …" Timmy started.
"Boys, that's enough!" Elizabeth called a halt to the questioning. "I was thinking we might ask Constable Grant to tell us how he and others trained to become a Mountie."
Nathan gave the short version, hurrying through a stilted, unprepared speech, and was relieved when it was over.
"Thank you, constable," Elizabeth said a scant five minutes later when he had finished. "Children, let's show appreciation to our new friend."
She led them in polite applause, and he bowed slightly in her direction and theirs.
"Students, please turn to page 117, while I see Constable Grant to the door."
His eyes were apologetic after they'd stepped outside. "I told you."
"You were fine," she soothed. "Betsy was so proud, and the boys were definitely engaged."
"Is it any wonder why I've only made three friends here in the space of a week?" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration before putting on his hat.
"Four," she corrected. "Lee and Rosemary, me and my son."
He chuckled. "Truly, there is no higher praise."
"Keep little Jack's admiration in mind as you go about your business this morning, and I hope you make a few more friends. Good day, constable."
"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton."
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"Where is that Mountie, anyway," Bill Avery asked, as he paced in Lee's office. "When Jack was in Hope Valley, you couldn't turn a corner without tripping over him."
He wished his blustery words could help ease the grief that still sat like a lead slug in his gut.
"Here he is now," Lee said, as Nathan knocked and walked in.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" Nathan asked. "I can come back."
"Don't walk out that door," Bill ordered.
"Yes, sheriff?" Nathan faced him straight on and clasped his hands.
"I received an official request to investigate you."
"Ask me anything," Nathan said calmly.
"Do you have a young girl named …" He looked at a paper in his hand. "… Betsy Grant living with you?"
"Yes. My niece. She arrived two days ago, while you were away."
"She's living with you at the saloon?" Bill pressed.
"Uh, no. She's with Mrs. Thornton at the moment."
"You're both living with Elizabeth?" he questioned.
"Of course not. I have a room at the saloon."
"Then, sir, you've got a problem. Because if you two aren't under the same roof by the end of the week, that child is going back to her grandmother."
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See Chapter 12
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Dear readers,
Please be aware that my goal is for my stories to align with Hope Valley and "When Calls the Heart" values! Readers of my last chapter expressed the concern that this story might deviate from that — but nothing could be further from the truth! Please continue reading with my assurance that your morals — and Elizabeth's — will not be compromised!
Annette Zoaps
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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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