"Can you say Uncle Lee?" Lee asked Little Jack as Elizabeth held her son out in front of the Mercantile.
"No, he's going to say Uncle Bill first," Bill countered standing on the other side of Elizabeth. "Aren't you, my little man?"
Elizabeth laughed at the two men's antics. Though Little Jack now regularly called her mama, and had a few other random words in his limited vocabulary, he hadn't yet put a name to anyone else in his life. Lee and Bill were continuously prompting Little Jack to say their names. She just hoped when her son said one of the two men's name the other wouldn't be too disappointed.
"Uncle Lee," Lee tried again, pointing to himself.
"Nat'an" Little Jack suddenly said, pointing to a spot beyond the two men.
All three adults looked in the direction Little Jack was pointing. Sure enough, the town's Mountie, Nathan Grant, was walking down the street in their direction.
"That's right, my sweet little boy," Elizabeth said happily giving her son a hug. Each new word Little Jack said seemed like another little miracle to her.
"Well, at least he didn't say your name first," Bill told Lee.
"It's the red jacket," Lee commented, trying to sound serious, but laughing anyway. Bill and Elizabeth joined in with laughter of their own.
The sound caught Nathan's attention. Curious he walked in the little group's direction.
"Did I miss something funny?" Nathan asked, as he approached them.
"These two have been competing to get my son to say their name first," Elizabeth supplied. "Little Jack chose someone else to bestow that honor on."
"Oh? Who?"
As if he was following the conversation Little Jack said, "Nat'an" again, this time holding his arms out to Nathan.
Nathan smiled as he reached out for the little boy. Elizabeth surrendered her son as Nathan spoke to Jack.
"And how did you learn my name, Little Man," Nathan asked Jack.
The little boy giggle and reached up for the brim of Nathan's hat.
Bill leaned close to Elizabeth. "I think maybe your son is trying to tell you something," he whispered before he and Lee wandered off, leaving Elizabeth alone with Nathan and Little Jack.