Bill let all three men involved in the fight sit in jail overnight. Kevin volunteered to take the second half of the night watch for Bill. The next morning, Bill listened to everyone's account of the incident. The guy wondering why he hung out with the other two men was let out with a warning as the only thing he had been guilty of was getting involved in trying to break his two companions apart. Bill charged the man who had caused Linda to fall and get injured, to which the man pleaded guilty. As he had at least been apologetic, Bill's sentence included a second night in jail, a fine, along with paying Linda's doctor tab and for the broken glasses. As for Jude, Bill contacted the Mounties for a prisoner transport to take the man back to Rock Creek. Though the town was still under his jurisdiction as judge, Bill decided to pass a sentence on those charges as Jude had only hit his companion after the other man had thrown the first punch.
Nathan and Tyler split guard duty that night, Nathan telling Tyler to take the first part of the night so he could get some rest before traveling with the transport Wagon to Rock Creek. The transport went smoothly and Jude Mastiff was turned over to the custody of Constable Lassing. Bill had ridden along with the Mounties for the transport and planned on conducting a hearing the next day. Tyler left the judge in the office reviewing the reports on the incident Jude was wanted for, and checked them both in the boarding house he had stayed in while covering for Constable Lassing. Rachel had gotten a ride into town so that she could call and talk to Tyler that evening. Hearing his wife's voice was a nice way to end the day, though Tyler was looking forward to returning home the next day.
Home.
That one word made him pause. It had been a long time since he had thought of any place as home but he once again had that with Rachel and the children. Yes, he did like Hope Valley but it wasn't so much the town that made him feel that way as it was Rachel. Rock Creek could be home, just as long as she was here with him.
The rest of the evening passed by smoothly, albeit slowly for Tyler. In the morning, he was able to head back to Hope Valley, his assignment complete. His first stop was the little two room cabin which he called home. Yes, he would need to take Icarus into town to bed him down at the livery, but first Tyler wanted to see his family. He had no sooner dismounted, then the cabin door opened and out ran Autumn.
"Papa Tyler, I missed you," the girl called out as she hurried toward him.
Dropping Icarus reigns for the time being, Tyler opened his arms to the black-haired girl running toward him. Scooping her up as she reached him, Tyler hugged her close.
"I missed you too, Honey," Tyler told her.
"Mama missed you too but she was feeding Gilbert," Autumn explained. It was clear to Tyler that his daughter did not want him thinking her mother hadn't missed him.
"Then how about we head inside so I can say hello to them," Tyler suggested.
Autumn nodded once and then placed a quick kiss on his cheek before Tyler put her down. Securing Icarus' reigns to a nearby tree, Tyler than followed Autumn into the house. Rachel was sitting on the settee currently trying to get Gilbert to burp. Crossing over to them, he leaned down and pressed a quick, welcoming kiss against Rachel's lips.
"I am glad to be home," Tyler told her, running a hand gently over his son's head.
"Me too," Rachel said. "I dread when a longer assignment comes in."
"We will figure it out," Tyler assured her.
Rachel nodded. "Are you hungry? I can get you something."
Tyler shook his head. "I will be fine until dinner. I actually need to head into town to get Icarus settled for the night. I just had to stop by and see you and the children first."
"I am glad you did. I will have dinner ready when you get home," Rachel assured him as Gilbert finally burped. She moved the infant from her shoulder to a cradling position.
"If I can make arrangements, perhaps we can take the outing we talked about tomorrow?" Tyler suggested, not wanting to say too much in front of Autumn before anything was definite.
"I have no plans," Rachel told him.
Tyler nodded. "Then let me go get Icarus settled and then I'll talk to a couple of people."
Rachel nodded even as Autumn spoke up. "Can I come with you, Papa Tyler? Can we ride Icarus?"
Tyler silently asked Rachel's permission. Yes, he claimed the two kids as his own, but they had yet to talk about him adopting Autumn. Tyler did not want to overstep and make decisions without Rachel's input, especially as he did not know how she felt about him having the girl up on the horse with him. Perhaps it was time to have some discussions regarding where they were with parenting, especially as he was listed as Gilbert's father.
Rachel silently nodded her consent, allowing him to answer the girl as Autumn had directed her questions to him.
"Yes, you can ride with me into town."
Autumn let out a happy sound as she bounced up and down.
"Do you need anything?" Tyler asked, looking back to Rachel.
"No," Rachel replied, looking down at the infant in her arms. Already Gilbert was starting to drift off to sleep. "I should be able to lay Gilbert down in his cradle soon and then I will start dinner."
"We won't be long," Tyler promised, leaning down to kiss the baby's forehead and then give his wife another quick kiss.
Straightening up, Tyler looked to Autumn. "Are you ready?"
Autumn nodded as she reached out to claim Tyler's hand. With a little tug on his arm she started toward the door. Tyler chuckled as he followed behind her.
Up on the Coulter's property, Lee and Dylan worked to move all the materials into the new home which was now built, the tiles on the roof having been finished earlier that afternoon. At this point, the stain and pain just needed to be applied inside and out and some trim work inside needed finished before Lee, Rosemary, Bridget and Ivy could move into their new home. As dark clouds had started to build throughout the afternoon, Lee wanted to make sure that if it did rain, the rest of the work materials were protected from the weather. Dylan and Curt had volunteered to stay behind after regular work hours to help him with the task. Curt was currently outside making sure any left over lumber was covered securely with a tarp.
"I appreciate your help," Lee told the man as he placed cans of stains in what would soon be his living room.
Dylan shrugged. "I am having dinner with Nathan's family again so it didn't make sense to go into town and come back out anyway. This keeps me from showing up too early and wearing out my welcome."
Lee nodded. "Have you made any plans for when the house is finished?" he asked.
Having placed the cans he was carrying next to the others, Dylan turned to face his boss. He shook his head even as he spoke. "No, I haven't. As much as I have enjoyed getting to know Ally and the others, I am not sure Hope Valley is my future. I have appreciated the hospitality of everyone and the job that has allowed me to stay to get to know Ally, but I do not want to over stay my welcome. I can be Ally's uncle from a distance. I am afraid staying in the area will only confuse her."
Lee nodded. "I hope you plan to stay in touch."
"I do," Dylan said. "Maybe even come back to visit on occasion if they'll have me."
"Good," Lee replied. "I could use some help getting things moved if you have nothing else pressing to get to. Nathan, Tyler and Bill are going to help, assuming they are in town to help, but I have other projects I would like to get my men working on. We also need to get the Randalls settled in the row house Rosie and I are vacating. Are you up to being a mover for a few more days?"
"I can help out with that," Dylan said without hesitation. It gave him a few more days to figure out his next move. Yes, he could return to Saskatoon and his old job, but that city held no more pull for the future than Hope Valley did. There was a place for him somewhere. He just wasn't sure how or when to find it.
"Good," Lee replied, as he headed back toward the front door. "Before you leave town, I will write up a letter of recommendation for you. You have been a good worker and I am willing to give my word to that."
"I appreciate that," Dylan said, remembering how hard it was to get work when he first came out from the remote area of the North. Most employers in the cities didn't want to take a chance on someone they knew nothing of.
As he and Lee went back to completing their task in silence, Dylan's thoughts went to Ally. Given the ground they had gained these last weeks, he did not want the girl thinking that he was running out on her again. That meant preparing her for his eventual departure and assuring him that he would stay in touch with her this time around. Perhaps that process needed to be started tonight.
Reaching the end of the book, Viola closed it and looked over at her sleepy daughter. Though she had always tucked her daughter in at night, actually reading to her wasn't something she had done in the past. That had always been the task of Margaret's nanny.
It had quickly become Viola's favorite part of the day.
Leaning over, Viola pressed a kiss to Margaret's forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goo'night, Mama," came the sleepy reply, the girl's eyes already closed.
Getting to her feet, Viola put out the oil lamp and quietly left the room. It had only taken a few days fro Margaret to get comfortable in her aunt and uncles home and willing to sleeping in her own room. Viola hoped she would make future moves as easily. Stepping out of the room, Viola walked down the hallway, following the sound of her sister's voice who was reading to Jack tonight. She stood in the doorway of her nephew's room, watching and listening to her sister. Elizabeth looked so much more at ease in her role as mother than Viola had ever felt. Though she had often thought her younger sister's life choices to be a mistake, Viola was seeing now that they were the right choices for. Perhaps Elizabeth had even made better life choices than she herself had.
Elizabeth didn't even finish the story, as Jack had already fallen asleep. Placing the book on the table next to the bed, Elizabeth kissed her son goodnight and got to her feet. She smiled as she saw Viola in the doorway. Viola smiled back, even as she padded softly into the room to return the book to the book shelf. Then she and Elizabeth both left the room and went to the balcony off the master bedroom.
"Dylan isn't the only one that should probably think about moving along," Viola commented as she walked around the table to take the chair furthest from the door.
"You are welcome here as long as you want to stay, Viola," Elizabeth said as she took a seat in the chair next to her sister. Elizabeth reached out for Viola's hand.
"I know you mean that," Viola said gratefully. "However, while it has been nice to be able to hide from society while dealing with my grief, you and I both know that I am not cut out for small town life like you are."
Elizabeth chuckled. "It is hard to imagine you living in a small little cabin or making your own clothes," her sister admitted. "When do you think you might leave?"
"I'm not sure. Truth is I am a little hesitant to travel across the country again alone. I think if I had stopped and thought about what I was doing when I left New York, I never would have boarded that train alone."
Still holding her sister's hand, Elizabeth gave it a squeeze. "You know, if you tell Father you are ready to go home, he would probably happily send someone to escort you home, if not come himself. After all, he sent Edward with me without even consulting me."
Viola nodded. "Perhaps I should do that."
"Or perhaps you do not need to trouble your father," Nathan said, stepping out onto the balcony with a tray in his hands. "Perhaps Dylan would be willing to act as escort for your trip out east. He isn't sure what he wants to do or where he wants to go. Escorting you and Margaret to Hamilton would give him more time to make those choices," he suggested, as he put the tray, with three mugs of warm apple cider, cheese and crackers, on the table.
"Isn't Ally joining us?" Elizabeth asked, as her daughter had been the one who wanted the warm apple cider and a snack.
"She is curled up in the armchair downstairs with a book," Nathan replied. "She wanted to enjoy her snack that way."
Elizabeth nodded in acknowledgment. She looked to Viola as Nathan sat down in the chair next to her. "That might not be a bad idea," she told her sister, referring to Nathan's suggestion.
"Are you two trying to play matchmaker?" Viola asked with a blush.
"I am just suggesting a possible escort," Nathan said innocently. "You both say you are ready to move on and technically Dylan is family through marriage. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time he has played escort."
Picking up a cracker, he placed a slice of cheese on it.
"Besides, from what I have seen, I don't think we need to play matchmaker."
Viola looked down into the mug of cider she held. "Is it wrong that I am showing interest in a man so soon after my husband's death?"
"Everyone moves on from the death of a spouse at their own pace," Elizabeth assured her, thinking of Mary and Abigail who had shown interest in other men only months after the mining accident. "Besides, from what you have said, a lot of the emotion had already left your marriage before Lionel's death. Let yourself feel what you feel, Viola. Fighting those feelings only leads you down a path of confusion and possible hurt. I know that personally."
Viola looked up at her sister. "What will mother and father think?"
Elizabeth smiled at her sister. "I think that if they see you are happy and that Dylan is committed to you and Margaret that they will figure out how to accept it. I may have paved the way for you, on that account."
"At least Jack and Nathan had a job," Viola commented.
"Though at first Father didn't think Jack's job was sufficient. He offered Jack a job with Thatcher shipping that first time we were in Hamilton. Jack, of course, was never going to accept it. His heart was in being a Mountie. Who knows, perhaps working with father and being with you is what will help Dylan feel he is somewhere he belongs."
Viola nodded. "I wouldn't even know how to bring up the subject. I couldn't just ask him to escort me and Margaret to Hamilton. It wouldn't be proper."
"I would be willing to do so on your behalf," Nathan said. "If you are all right with it, I will ask Dylan if he would be willing to make the trip to Hamilton. Nothing wrong with a brother-in-law making sure his sister-in-law and niece get home to her parents' safely."
Viola took a sip of the apple cider, stalling for time to give a reply. She couldn't deny that she was not ready to say good-bye to Dylan. Perhaps she would have even had already brought her visit in Hope Valley to an end if it wasn't for Dylan. Spending some more time with him was appealing. If she were honest, the prospect of him staying in Hamilton and getting to know him better was appealing. Perhaps their two worlds would never fit together properly but they wouldn't know if they didn't try.
"I would appreciate it if you would see about securing me an escort home, Nathan," Viola said.
"I will talk to Dylan tomorrow," Nathan replied.
"Thank you," Viola said before changing the conversation to another subject.
It had rained overnight, and though the precipitation had ended by the time the sun rose on Hope Valley, the clouds still blocked most of the sunlight. The temperatures were also on the cooler side, meaning that both Tyler and Autumn wore light coats while Rachel had a shawl wrapped around her shoulders as the borrowed wagon rolled toward Benson Hills. Already excited about the trip, the fact that Tyler was allowing her to hold the reigns, had the biggest smile on her daughter's face that Rachel had ever seen.
Leaving Gilbert had proven harder than Rachel had thought it would be. Autumn had been almost two before she had left the girl with someone. The fact that Elizabeth had children of her own and had watched Autumn had helped but Tyler had still had to escort her from the Grants' home.
Still, a full day away from home would have been uncomfortable for the infant. He was better off with Elizabeth and he was in good hands.
Rachel glanced over at her daughter, sitting proudly between her and Tyler, with the reigns in her hands. Tyler had one arm around Autumn, his hand poised to grab the reigns at a moment's notice.
They didn't need the sun to make the day bright. Autumn's smile was brightening their day all on its own.
As they approached Benson Hills, Tyler took the reigns back. Their first stop was the jewelry store. Rachel felt her heart beat a little faster as Tyler escorted her and Autumn into the store. Yes, she was married to Tyler, and that wouldn't change, but the idea of having rings of their own to represent that union meant more to her than she thought it would.
As the store owner led them to the gold bands, some of which were already engraved but assuring them that he could personalize engraving and what that would cost, Autumn started looking at some of the other jewelry.
"Don't touch anything, sweetheart, and stay close by."
"Yes, Mama," Autumn replied though her eyes were on the jewelry.
Rachel kept tabs on her daughter as they looked at the bands. She noticed that Tyler did as well. Glancing up at her husband as her looked at the bands before them, there was no denying the love she felt for him. She could not pinpoint when it had happened. There had been no sudden realization, no electricity at his touch, no butterflies in her stomach. None the less, she had still fallen in love with Tyler and he had fallen in love with her and Autumn.
The children and she were lucky to have him in their lives.
Turning her attention back to the bands, she picked up a simple gold band with an ivy pattern engraved around the outside. Glancing inside the band, she read the inscription there - Love Comes Softy.
Slipping the band on her left ring finger, she found the band fit perfectly.
"Is that the one you like?" Tyler asked.
Rachel nodded her head in reply. Reaching down, Tyler picked up the matching band as the store owner started talking about adjusting the size or getting a matching band made up if the man's ring did not fit Tyler. While the man was talking, Tyler slipped the band on his finger. To everyone's surprise, like the ring Rachel had tried on, this band slid on his finger like it had been made just for him.
"It is like the bands were meant for the two of you!" the store owner exclaimed.
Rachel had to agree. Looking up at Tyler, the two silently communicated their agreement.
"We'll take them," Tyler told the store owner.
"Very good," the man said. "Let me find you a box for them," he said turning toward the counter where the cash register was.
Rachel slid the band off of her finger. Though part of her wanted to keep it on, she had agreed to a ring exchange following a church service. She could wait a few days to wear the band. Somehow, recognizing her union to Tyler in front of their neighbors seemed significant.
Tyler had already removed the band and left it on the counter top as he left. Looking around for him, she spotted him kneeling next to Autumn. Her daughter's eyes were transfixed on a necklace. From this distance, Rachel could make out the light-blue glass beads, with a silver medallion in the middle.
Tyler spoke quietly to Autumn, but the words too low for Rachel to make out. Her husband then reached out and lifted the necklace from its hook. Tyler paid for the wedding bands on the necklace. Though the store owner produced a velvet bag for the necklace, Tyler instead fastened it around Autumn's neck. The little girl gave him a hug and then came over to Rachel.
"I will remember both Daddies with this necklace, Mama," Autumn told her.
Kneeling down, Rachel took a closer look at the medallion. There were angel wings and a halo etched on the medallion with the word - A Father's Love is Forever.
Rachel felt her eyes mist up. It was a nice reminder of her daddy in heaven and the fact that Tyler was the one to buy it had significance too.
"It is lovely, Autumn," Rachel told her daughter.
Pocketing the box with the rings, the velvet bag, and the receipt, Tyler addressed Rachel and Autumn. "Shall we go find my two girls new dresses before we get something to eat?"
"I still get a dress?" Autumn asked, her hand resting on the necklace.
"You do," Tyler told her.
"And your Papa Tyler needs new socks."
"His socks are starting to look funny," Autumn commented, getting chuckles from the adults.
With smiles on their faces, the Randalls left the jewelry shop to finish their shopping trip. Autumn held a hand of each of her parents, clearly enjoying this special time with them.
