"Thank you for your help," Abigail said as Lillian washed the breakfast dishes allowing Abigail to start her prep for the breakfast crowd at the café. Cody had taken Helen upstairs to let her pick out a book to read before he headed off for school.
"It is the least I could do," Lillian said "You are letting Helen and I stay here. I hope I didn't disrupt you dinner plans too much last night."
Abigail smiled, remembering the lovely dinner for two that Bill had set up in his office. "Not at all," Abigail said. "I was only a few minutes late, and Bill was very understanding when he heard why. He had borrowed a pretty lace table cloth and two place settings of china. I think he borrowed the Victrola and records from Rosemary and the choice of music was lovely. Two candlesticks were set up on either side of a lovely bouquet of roses that I know he had to find somewhere other than Hope Valley at this time of year."
"That sounds nice," Lillian said as she finished the dishes.
Something in the young woman's voice made Abigail look in her direction. Though there was a smile on Lillian's face, Abigail also saw a wistful look as she gazed out a window.
"What is it, Lillian?" Abigail asked.
Lillian looked toward her. "Nothing of consequence. The children, Grace and Gabriel and I are all safe and have shelter while the problem with the wagon is taken care of. I am thankful for that even if things are not going to work out as planed."
"What things?"
Lillian gave a sigh as she looked down on the small diamond that sparkled on her left hand. "Gabriel and I were supposed to be married in Pine Hill Grove this morning. There was a traveling pastor that had agreed to meet us there. Gabriel talked to him last night and he was regretful that his commitments would not allow him to wait for us or come this direction. Brookfield has no pastor. I have no doubt Gabriel will find another pastor once we settle but I'll have to wait to have him living in the orphanage with me. Who knows how long it will take."
"Oh, Lillian," Abigail sighed. "That is why you asked if Hope Valley had a pastor?"
Lillian nodded, reaching up to wipe a few tears away. "I don't know why I am crying. It isn't like anyone is hurt or he left me. It is just a delay," she said. Abigail watched as a stoic mask went over her true emotions.
"That is true," Abigail said. "But a postponed wedding day would be a disappointment to any woman," she told Lillian sympathetically, moving closer and resting a hand on the other woman's shoulder.
Lillian nodded. "It can't be help. The children and getting them settled in a new home before Christmas is what is important."
Abigail was thoughtful for a moment. "Was any family supposed to be joining you in Pine Hill Grove?"
"No," Lillian replied. "Grace is my only family now, and Gabriel's family couldn't make the trip. We were planning on making a trip to visit them this summer."
"Do you have your heart set on being married by a pastor?" Abigail asked.
Lillian shook her head. "Not really. I suppose a judge would do if we could find one who had time in their schedule."
"Leave that to me," Abigail told her. "Do you think you could help Clara with the café for a bit if I left? Just keep an eye on the food cooking while Clara takes the orders. I shouldn't be long."
"All right," Lillian said as footsteps on the stairs indicated the others coming downstairs.
There were a few moments of chaos as Helen showed Lillian the book Cody had let her borrow. Abigail told Clara the plan for Lillian to help her open the café. Then both Abigail and Cody donned their winter garments and headed outside. Mother and son walked together briefly and then Cody gave his mother a hug and headed for the schoolhouse while Abigail walked the length of the road to Bill's office. Reaching their shared office, a peek inside showed her that Bill had already come downstairs. Pulling the door open, Abigail walked in.
"Good morning, Abigail," Bill said, looking up. "This is a pleasant surprise. Couldn't wait to see me again?"
Abigail smiled. "While I had a delightful time last night, and I am happy to see you, that isn't exactly why I am here. Are you busy tonight?"
"No plans that I can't change," Bill replied. "Why?"
"Because I want to make a young couple very happy but I need you to do it," Abigail told him, repeating to him what Lillian had just informed her of.
Bill chuckled.
"You think something about this is funny?" Abigail asked, confused and a little annoyed. Giving the romantic side of Bill she had seen last night she thought he would have been happy to help.
"Not the situation exactly," Bill said, pulling open the drawer to his desk. He pulled out an ornament from the wishing tree. "I saw Gabriel hang this last night after walking you home from dinner. I was going to ask for your help in making something happen."
Abigail looked down at the ornament. "Help finding a way to make Lillian my bride before Christmas," she read softly. "That is sweet."
"He must have been feeling desperate last night after talking to the pastor," Bill commented. "So, how are we going to make Gabriel and Lillian the happiest people in Hope Valley tonight?"
Abigail smiled as she sat down in the chair across from Bill. It was going to be a busy day, but she knew it was going to be worth it.
After lunch that day, Lillian and Grace lead four of their charges toward the little schoolhouse, on the outskirts of the town. Holly was still with Rosemary. The little girl had taken a liking to Rosemary, who had said she did not mind watching the little girl. Lillian and Grace were hopeful that the extra time would lead to something good for all involved. Giving the age difference between Holly and the other children, the little girl being with Rosemary made things easier on Lillian and Grace, especially as Elizabeth had invited them to bring the four older children to the schoolhouse for the afternoon as her students were spending the afternoon making Christmas ornaments for their trees or wreaths for their doors, while they enjoyed punch and Christmas cookies provided by Abigail.
"Are we going to get to our new home in time for a tree to put the ornaments on?" Christian asked as they walked.
"I sure hope so," Lillian said, not wanting to make any promises that would not be kept. These kids needed hope but not false hope. "We'll have a better idea after Mountie Gabriel comes back. He went out with the local blacksmith to see what the wagon needs."
"What if it can't be fixed?" Helen asked.
"Miss Grace and I will figure something out, but for now, I choose to believe it can be fixed," Lillian replied.
"And while we wait, our new friends here will make sure we are comfortable," Grace told them. "Perhaps we can figure out something to do with the ornaments other than a tree."
"What about hanging them from a wreath?" Vincent suggested.
"And we could give it those we are staying with," Mary Louise added.
"I love that idea," Grace said. "Though we would need enough ornaments for three wreaths, so none of our hosts are left out."
"We can do that," Helen said, followed by three agreements. "But what about you and Mountie Gabriel getting married, Miss Lillian."
"That will happen, I am just not sure when now," Lillian told her as they reached the steps of the school house.
Each of the children gave her a hug in sympathy, telling Lillian that she was already making a difference in theses children's lives, as she shared her lives with them.
"Thank you," Lillian told the children. "For today though, we have Christmas decorations to make."
Though they looked toward the white building, none of the children moved to go up the steps. Lillian saw the familiar feeling of not feeling quite good enough to join something that she had experienced more than once during her own childhood.
Taking Mary Louise's hand, Grace started up the steps. "Our new friends are waiting for us!" she said excitedly.
The three older children followed slowly with Lillian bringing up the rear of the group. She hoped her own adoptive hometown would be as welcoming to them as Hope Valley had been.
Nathan sat at the desk in the Mounted Police office sketching and making design plans for a rocking chair. When Lee got back from driving Kevin and Gabriel out to the broken down wagon, Nathan had an order to place with Lee.
The door opened and in came Jack. "Please tell me there is coffee in that pot. I need something to warm myself up after rounds," he said as he hung up his hat and black overcoat on pegs.
"You are in luck. I just made a fresh pot about ten minutes ago," Nathan said, looking up from his sketching. He watched Jack for a bit as his friend took off his gloves and held his hands by the heat of the stove. "You know, most of the time I miss being able to go out on rounds and do the job I trained to do, but on days like this I realize being limited to a desk job has its perks."
Jack laughed as he reached for his mug and the coffee pot. "Yes, some days, like rainy days or days like this, I would not mind sitting at a desk indoors all days. However, I think I would eventually go stir crazy." As he turned to face Nathan, he took a small sip of the too hot liquid before speaking again. "I hear you do too. Folks are talking about how they are getting use to seeing you take a walk at eleven o'clock every morning."
"The doctors said I need to keep walking, even if it hurts at times, or the limp will probably get worse," Nathan said.
"Nice try," Jack said sitting down across the desk from Nathan. "Walking Allie to the schoolhouse and picking her up in the afternoon and to and from the office I think would probably make your doctor happy. I think these four walls get to you."
Nathan sighed. "They do," he admitted. "And it isn't because I do not appreciate your efforts in getting me posted here. Hope Valley is exactly what Allie and I needed. Being here feels right, but I never thought I would be limited to paper work and phone calls at this point of my career."
"I know," Jack said. "I do appreciate your efforts in saving me from that bullet. If you didn't, I might not be here to welcome my child into this world. That is something that I do not know how to thank you for."
"Seeing you with Elizabeth is more than enough thanks for me," Nathan replied. "Though I have to say, I know you like to work with wood, so why did Elizabeth hang this on the wishing tree?" he asked, tapping the ornament he had taken down about a rocking chair for rocking the baby when it came.
Jack laughed. "Because I am currently finishing a crib for said baby and told her I would buy the rocking chair. She said she wanted something of better quality than the flimsy chairs she saw in Benson Hills."
"I suppose that is a good reason," Nathan said. "It also gives me a chance to give something to you and your family. If it weren't for you I would probably be working in Union City or something in an office where I couldn't come and go as I please. Elizabeth has been wonderful with Allie, even though I know she can be challenging."
"She's a hurting child. Elizabeth has a soft spot for the students that need a little extra compassion. Allie has been that child these last few months. I also think it is part of the reason Elizabeth resisted stopping earlier and why she wants a steady substitute for the end of the school year," Jack admitted. "Speaking of Allie," Jack said, placing his coffee mug down on the desk. Reaching into his pocket he removed Allie's ornament from the wishing tree. "I know a judge who can make Allie's wish come true but I need to know how you feel about the subject first," he said, handing Nathan the ornament.
Jack watched Nathan's lips move as he read the words. Though he saw Nathan wipe away a few tears, Jack did not draw attention to them.
"I think of Allie as my daughter. Uncle Nathan has always been what she called me. That has always been my role in her life, and I keep being told by teachers that children need stability. I did not want to disrupt what little stability I could provide nor did I want her to think I was trying to take her parents' place. Granted her father wasn't the best but I know Allie loved her mother."
"That love will never change no matter who comes into Allie's life," Jack said. "However, since coming here, I have seen a lot of children who have lost one or both parents. Some are resistant to the idea of another parent in their lives, while others crave to have someone to call Mom or Dad," Jack said, thinking of how Cody had taken to Abigail. "Allie has lost a lot in her short life. She almost lost you. I think it seems natural that she wants to claim you as her father and I think your sister would have wanted that for Allie as well."
Nathan nodded. "Colleen knew Dylan wouldn't stick around. She asked me to let Allie call me Dad. I promised her I would but then I never quite had the heart to try changing how that heartbroken, little girl addressed me."
"Well, this is coming from Allie now," Jack said. "What do you say? Can we give that little girl of yours a Dad for Christmas? I'll talk to Bill for you."
Nathan nodded. He didn't trust his voice right then.
The door to the office opened once again and in walked Gabriel. The third Mountie quickly assessed the situation and asked, "is this a bad time?"
"No," Jack said quickly. "Nathan and I just finished our conversation. What did Kevin say about the wagon?" he asked, standing up and motioning Gabriel into the chair.
"He says it can be fixed, though he needs to get it into his shop to do a proper job," Gabriel replied, taking the chair Jack had vacated as Jack perched on the corner of the desk. "Lee will take him back out tomorrow morning to do a patch job to bring the wagon into town and he hopes to have us back on the road by next Tuesday. With any luck we will be in Brookfield on Thursday, in time to get a tree for the kids on Christmas Eve."
"Glad to hear it," Jack said.
"I hope the boys and I won't make things too crowded for you and Allie in the meanwhile," Gabriel said, looking at Nathan.
"I would find a way to stuff all eight of you into my house for the next few days if I had to," Nathan assured his friend. "Just like I know you would find room for Allie and me if there was the need."
"I would," Gabriel agreed. "Which is why I have another favor to ask, Nathan."
"Just name it."
"Will you be my best man when Lillian and I say our vows tonight?"
"Tonight?" Nathan asked. Gabriel nodded, a huge grin on his face. "Of course but how did this come about?"
"Well, Lillian and I had plans to get married this morning in Pine Hill Grove. The wagon breaking down meant we couldn't make that appointment with a traveling pastor there. Well, between my act of desperation of placing a wish on the wishing tree last night and Lillian mentioning it to Abigail this morning, it appears Bill and Abigail have arranged a ceremony, dinner and cake for tonight with Bill officiating."
Jack reached out and clapped Gabriel's shoulder as both he and Nathan congratulated their fellow Mountie.
"I told you the hospitality of this little town was rivaled by no other," Jack boasted as excited talk continued among the three.
It wasn't until school let out, and Grace and Lillian returned to the café with the children that Lillian found out about the new wedding plans. When Abigail told her, Lillian broke down in tears of joy as she hugged first Grace and then Abigail. Even the wreaths the children had made were forgotten in the excitement, though Grace spoke to Clara about finding a safe spot for them.
With Clara finishing up with the last few customers in the café, a closed for a private event sign, now in the window of the café, Abigail led Lillian upstairs. There, Lillian found that Abigail had already pressed the white dress that Lillian had planned to wear to say her wedding vows in, having found it in the luggage that Gabriel had brought into town with him. It wasn't fancy, but the red chiffon flounce around the shoulders and the ivy and rose embroidery near the hem of the dress made it pretty for this time of year.
While Grace, Abigail, Helen and Mary Louise were upstairs getting Lillian ready, Bill had arrived at the café. He went about rearranging things for the ceremony and simple reception dinner. Cody, Vincent and Christian were all eager to help and Bill quickly put them to use rearranging furniture. When Jack and Elizabeth arrived, Jack took over supervising the boys and Bill went to decorate the now cool cake that he had baked earlier. Wanting to be of use, Elizabeth set about creating some centerpieces from the pine boughs, pine cones, and ribbon that Clara and Jesse had gathered earlier but Clara and Abigail had not yet found time to put together.
The café was ready for the impromptu wedding by the time that Nathan ushered Gabriel into the café. Both Mounties, like Jack, had donned their dress uniforms for the evening festivities. Standing just inside the door, Gabriel looked in shock at the transformation of the café. Though the guest list was limited to Abigail, Cody, Clara, Jesse, the Coulters, the Thorntons, the Grants, Grace and the children, a short aisle had been formed with chairs on either side for the guests. Tables moved together would allow everyone to enjoy dinner together. Two decorated chairs indicated where the bride and groom were to sit. Elizabeth's centerpieces encircled tapered candles down the center of the tables. Red and Green steamers crisscrossed the ceiling. Jack's camera was poised to take photographs. A small table even held a few wrapped gifts.
"How did you manage this in less than a day?" Gabriel asked.
"I kept telling you all up North my town was special," Jack replied, his arm looped around Elizabeth's waist. "Pulling off things like this is just one part of it."
"Thank you all," Gabriel said, looking around at those gathered. Grace and Lillian were still upstairs.
"I am sorry to disturb this gathering," Ned said as he came into the café behind Gabriel and Nathan. "However, a telegram came in for Nathan. I wanted to give it to him before heading home for the night."
The café had gone quiet as Nathan turned and took the telegram from Ned, who promptly left. Nathan read the words, a smile coming to his face. A collective sigh had been released at that smile as everyone knew the words he spoke would be good news.
"It is from, Avery," Nathan said, looking up. The look on his face told everyone how happy the usually stoic Mountie was. "She says she will be arriving on the one o'clock train tomorrow."
Everyone expressed their delight at the good news, though most had only met Avery briefly or not at all. Allie wrapped her arms around her uncle's waist. "She is coming back in time for Christmas!" the girl said happily, having gotten attached to her uncle's fiancé over the years.
Nathan put the telegram in the hand holding the cane, and used his free hand to smooth his niece's hair. "Yes. The three of us will be able to celebrate Christmas together," he told her.
"Will we still have dinner with Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Jack?" Allie asked.
"Yes," Elizabeth replied before Nathan could. "As Avery is staying with us for a while at least, she is most certainly welcomed at the dinner table."
The comment evoked gentle laughter from the adults gathered before Gabriel spoke.
"Now that Nathan has shared his good news, can we get on with the ceremony. Giving the events of the last couple days, I am not ruling out the possibility of something else delaying things."
Nathan clapped his friend on the shoulder, even as Lee moved to lock the café day, as if to lock out all other distractions for a while.
While the guests got settled, Allie sitting happily next to her beloved teacher and aunt. Jack was at his camera, ready to capture the events and Bill, Gabriel and Nathan took their places at the end of the aisle. Abigail went upstairs to collect the bride and maid of honor. Rosemary handed Holly, who she had been holding, to Lee and when Abigail appeared began playing "The Wedding March" on her flute. As the bride made her appearance, everyone stood. Lillian's smile was radiant, despite the tears of joy rolling slowly down her cheeks. As all eyes were on Lillian, the only three to see the groom wipe away a few happy tears of his own were Bill, Nathan and the bride herself.
"You are the most beautiful sight I have ever seen," Gabriel told Lillian as he reached for the hand not holding her small bouquet of flowers that Abigail had managed to come up with.
"You are looking quite dashing, yourself," Lillian replied, her cheeks flushed with emotion.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Bill began, looking out over the small group.
"Don't forget us children," Mary Louise interjected.
"Yes, and children," Bill amended over the quiet sound of laughter. "We are gathered here today, for a joyous occasion - to join this man and this woman in the holy sacrament known as marriage," he began.
After reading a verse from the Bible he held, Bill led each of them through the exchange of vows. Nathan produced the two rings that Gabriel had given him for safe keeping at his house, and Gabriel and Lillian exchanged rings before Bill pronounced them man and wife. There was no recession back down the aisle. Instead, Jack took a couple more pictures, one of them which included all the orphans currently in their care, and congratulations were extended by those gathered. Before they went to sit at the table though, Rosemary insisted that the new couple had to share a first dance. She played a pretty song on her flute for the two to dance to before they all found places at the table.
The meal that Abigail, Bill and Clara had prepared was simple but delicious. Over the meal, a further surprise was revealed to the newlyweds. Bill had convinced Henry to stay a couple of nights at the White Stallion so that Gabriel and Lillian could have two nights and a day to themselves. Nathan and Abigail assured them that the kids staying at their homes would be well looked after. Rosemary and Abigail also assured Lillian that they would give Grace any assistance she might need.
"With a houseful of children, you and Gabriel might find it hard to find time to yourselves," Abigail told Lillian quietly. "You should make the most of this opportunity."
With flushed cheeks, Lillian had finally accepted the kind offer by their new friends.
When supper plates were cleared, gifts were placed in front of the surprised newlyweds. Bill, Abigail, Clara and Jesse had all bought frames from the mercantile. Jack promised to have the photographs he had taken that evening developed by Friday for them as his and Elizabeth's gift. Unwrapping the gift from Rosemary and Lee, they found a serving platter with 'Maintiens le droit' painted on it.
"My mother had it made for my father for one of their anniversaries and it got passed on to me. As I ended up not marrying a Mountie," Rosemary started to explain.
"Though I would have looked good in red serge," Lee interjected lightly getting laughter from his friends.
Rosemary swatted her husband playfully as she continued. "As I was saying, the plate has always seemed out of place in our home. I've kept it packed away. I thought it would fit better in your home."
"Are you sure, Rosemary?" Gabriel asked.
"Quite sure," Rosemary told him.
The two newlyweds thanked her before carefully rewrapping the precious gift. They were equally touched by the gift from Nathan, which was a quilt made by Nathan's mother. This time it was Lillian that expressed the concern, wondering if perhaps the quilt should be given to Allie, to which the girl replied that "Uncle Nathan has the quilt Grandma made for my Mom on her wedding day packed away for me."
The orphans in their care presented handmade cards for them. They had even helped Holly make a card though the squiggles on the card formed nothing recognizable. However, it touched them both just the same.
The last gift was from Grace. The young woman had been working on an embroidery piece that she had planned for just her sister. However, as Lillian had talked about her fiancé who was up north serving their country, Grace had realized the saying she had embroidered on the pillow didn't just pertain to her and Lillian but could fit the relationship that Lillian had with Gabriel as well.
"Love is not diminished by miles, it endures all things," Gabriel read as Lillian ran her fingers over the words, tears filling up her eyes once more. "We know the truth of those words, don't we Lillian?" he asked, placing a kiss on her temple.
"We sure do," Lillian replied. She looked up from the pillow. "Thank you, Grace."
Placing the pillow on the table, Lillian reached out to hug her sister who was in the chair next to her. When she released Grace, Lillian looked around the table of new friends who had gone to great lengths to make this her wedding day, despite not getting to their intended destination. "Thank you all," she told them before looking over at Gabriel as she said the next words. "I am starting to think that the wagon breaking down where it did was a blessing. Sharing this day with all of you has made it more special than what we had planned."
Gabriel smiled back at her. "I can second that."
"It has been nice being here, but I could have done without the walking," Christian said, lightening the moment as everyone chuckled at the comment.
Getting to her feet, Abigail suggested that they cut the cake so that the newly weds could be driven out to the cabin before too late.