After the hearing, Nathan went to the mercantile to make a phone call to his private investigator. They discussed what kind of dirt they wanted to dig up on Lucas and what they could use against him in court.
As Nathan was leaving, Ned informed him that a pile of wood was being delivered to the house for the winter. Colleen always ordered wood in advanced. Nathan walked home. After getting home, he changed into two comfortable clothes.
After changing, he wrote two letters; one to Gertrude and the other to a friend in the Mountie's asking for any information on Lucas.
After writing the letters and having lunch, Nathan went outside to look at the wood. There were about 15 logs that would have to be cut. Nathan went out to the barn and grabbed an axe. Nathan set the log on a platform and swung the axe. Unfortunately, the axe didn't go that far into the wood. The log was stuck to the axe and Nathan used his foot to steady the log and pulled the axe out of the log. Nathan set the log on the platform and tried again, but it still didn't go through. This frustrated Nathan and he threw the axe into the yard.
Nathan decided to go clean up the stables and look for eggs under the hens. After doing that for a couple hours, Allie finally came home from school. Nathan walked over to Allie who was looking at the axe.
"You know the wood is over there." Allie said.
"Something is wrong with the wood." Nathan said.
"Or you." Allie retorted back.
"The axe won't go through. Maybe it isn't sharp enough." Nathan said.
Allie sighed. She put down her bag and carried the axe over to the platform. She set a log on the platform. One full swing, the axe went through the wood and cut the pieces in half.
"How did you do that?" Nathan asked.
"You have to swing the axe back and then follow through. It helps if you pretend the log was someone you don't like. Mom used to pretend it was you." Allie said with a smirk.
"Ha. Ha. Let me try." Nathan said.
Nathan took the axe from Allie. He swung the axe back and thought of Lucas as he hit the log. It split in half.
"Alright!" Nathan said.
"Good job. You better do all of this before Mrs. Thornton comes for dinner." Allie said.
As Nathan was swinging back, he heard what Allie had said and dropped the axe.
"What do you mean dinner?" Nathan asked.
"I invited her over for dinner. And when I say invite, I mean I told her that you wanted her to come over for dinner. She'll be here around 5." Allie said.
"Allie! I'm still learning how to cook!" Nathan said.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out!" Allie said walking away.
Nathan picked up the axe. He swung it back and chopped the wood into two.
For the last several weeks, the women who bartered with Nathan for his legal help came over to help Nathan learn how to cook. He learned how to make chicken, spaghetti, Shepard's pie and meatloaf. The only problem was that even with the help of cooking, his food burnt. Now, he would have to make edible food for Elizabeth.
Nathan decided to make meatloaf. He put all the ingredients together and then put it in the oven to bake. Nathan went to wash up and change out of his clothes. Nathan wanted to make a good impression for Elizabeth since the few times they had interacted, he acted like a jerk. Nathan decided to go with a nice shirt with a nice pair of slacks.
Allie walked by his room and whistled.
"Someone is trying to impress Mrs. Thornton." Allie said.
"I'm just wearing a nice shirt." Nathan said.
"You don't even wear a nice shirt with me when we have dinner." Allie said.
"I'm not trying to impress you." Nathan teased.
"So, you are trying to impress Mrs. Thornton." Allie said. Nathan gave Allie a look and she walked away.
Nathan knew that Elizabeth was a different kind of women. She was smart, warm, friendly and funny. But even if he was interested, Nathan could tell that she was still reeling from the loss of her husband. And if Nathan was honest, he was still reeling from Colleen's death and wasn't emotionally ready for any woman. Nathan decided that he would be Elizabeth's friend, if she wanted.
There was a knock on the door. Allie went to open the door. Nathan heard Allie greet Elizabeth and her son. Nathan walked out of his room and greeted Elizabeth.
"Hello Elizabeth. And hello Jack." Nathan said.
"Hello Nathan." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"Welcome. And thank you for coming." Nathan said.
"Thank you for inviting me." Elizabeth said.
Nathan gave Allie the side eye.
"Please, come make yourself comfortable." Nathan said leading them into the living room.
"May I get you something to drink?" Nathan asked.
"Do you have lemonade?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, we do." Nathan said.
"We'll have two glasses, please." Elizabeth said.
"Allie, can you get them two glasses?" Nathan asked. Allie nodded and went to get some lemonade.
Jack crawled over to Nathan and put one hand out.
"That means he wants you to hold him." Elizabeth said. Nathan smiled and picked up Jack. Jack smiled at Nathan. Nathan made funny faces again and Jack laughed. Hearing Jack laugh made Elizabeth laugh.
Allie came back with the glasses and asked Mrs. Thornton if she could show Jack the garden. Elizabeth agreed and Allie took Jack outside.
"How did the hearing go?" Elizabeth asked taking a sip of her lemonade.
"Well. For now, the rents won't be raised and none of my clients will have to deal with Bouchard." Nathan said.
"That's good. I remember you mentioning that all the rents were raised except mine. I don't pay rent. When my husband passed, I used most of his pension to buy the land the house sat on as security for my son and I." Elizabeth said.
Nathan blushed.
"I'm sorry if I jumped to wrong conclusions." Nathan said.
"I didn't tell anyone that I had bought the land. It was before Lucas came into town and started buying the land." Elizabeth said.
"That's what I'm hoping to accomplish with this lawsuit. That the money my clients get from this they can buy the land the row houses sit on or buy land somewhere else." Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled. She took another sip of her lemonade and then a weird expression came over her face.
"Is something burning?" Elizabeth asked.
It took Nathan a few seconds to register what she was asking and then realized it was his meatloaf.
"My meatloaf!" Nathan said. He ran to the kitchen. He opened the oven and smoke came out. He took the pan out, which burnt him a little and put it in the sink. He found water and splashed it on his meatloaf.
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen with her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, my goodness, what happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"I guess I set it too high and it burnt." Nathan said. Elizabeth looked at the burnt meatloaf and then back at Nathan. Suddenly, Elizabeth burst out with laughter. After looking at the meatloaf, Nathan began to laugh. They both laughed until Allie came in with Jack.
"What's so funny?" Allie asked.
"I burnt the meatloaf." Nathan said laughing.
"Really? What are we going to have for dinner now?" Allie asked.
Still laughing, Nathan turned to Elizabeth.
"Do you like pancakes?" Nathan asked.
Elizabeth smiled.
With his sleeves rolled up, Nathan made pancakes for dinner. As they sat at the table, Nathan told stories about Colleen, his life in Toronto and his life in Hamilton. Nathan told stories of Colleen that Allie had never heard before and she was enthralled with them. After dinner and cleaning up, Nathan and Elizabeth walked outside.
"Your sister would be proud." Elizabeth said.
"I don't know about that." Nathan said.
"She would be. You've managed the land. You've grown closer to Allie. And you are helping the community." Elizabeth said.
"There are so many things I wish I could have told her. I'm sorry, for one." Nathan said.
"Colleen didn't talk much about her family, but when she did, she bragged about you." Elizabeth said.
"Really?" Nathan said.
"Yes. She asked me to have my parents send newspapers from Hamilton to see if you were in them. She saw an article about you once. She was proud of you for standing up for the little man. She knew that person was in you all along." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
Elizabeth looked up at the stars.
"Beautiful." Elizabeth said.
"Yes, it is." But Nathan wasn't looking at the stars, he was looking at Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked back at him. Nathan blushed and looked down at the ground.
"It is getting late. I better get Jack home." Elizabeth said.
"Right." Nathan said.
"Thank you for dinner." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you for coming." Nathan said. Nathan walked Elizabeth back inside to gather Jack.
A couple days after the dinner, Nathan was sleeping when he heard Allie scream.
"Uncle Nathan!" Allie screamed.
Nathan woke up to the scream. Nathan didn't need to ask her what she was screaming about because outside his window, he saw the barn and stable on fire. Nathan jumped out of bed and ran while putting pants on. Allie ran out to the back. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the garden on fire.
"Go get a bucket and try to put the fire out in the garden. I'm going to the stable." Nathan said. Allie ran to go get a bucket while Nathan ran to the stable.
As he entered the stable, smoke was engulfing the inside. Nathan reached Newton and Buttercup and told them to get. Newton and Buttercup ran. After leaving the stable. He went into the barn where he found the cow standing while the barn was falling apart around it. Nathan found rope and guided the cow out into the grass. Luckily, they both got out in time before the flames engulfed the whole barn. Nathan looked toward where the hens were and saw flames engulfing them. It was too late for them. Nathan got down on his knees and watched as everything burned. Everything Colleen had built, was gone.
The fire burned quickly and all that was left of the barn and the stable was a few posts and ash. Neighbors who had seen the fire came over to offer Nathan any help.
"Uncle Nathan." Allie said.
Nathan looked over to Allie.
"I was able to save one berry bush from the fire." Allie said.
Nathan gave a sad smile and went over and put his arm around her. He kissed the top of her head.
"Good job sweetheart." Nathan said.
Allie began to cry.
"Mom worked so hard on all of this." Allie said.
"I know." Nathan whispered. Someone had called the Constable earlier. The Constable motioned for Nathan to come over. Nathan gave Allie a kiss on the top of her head and went over to see the Constable. The Constable was standing by the stable.
"Looks like someone set the fire on purpose." The Constable said.
"Why do you think that?" Nathan asked.
The Constable showed him a cigarette.
"Someone lit it and then let it burn." The Constable said.
Nathan looked at the cigarette.
"It's a common type of cigarette. It is going to be hard to trace back to anyone." The Constable said.
Nathan knew where the cigarette had come from. He saw the same brand in one of Lucas's men's pockets.
"Excuse me." Nathan said. Nathan went over to a neighbor and asked her to look after Allie. Nathan found Newton and mounted him. Nathan rode Newton without a saddle, but he didn't care. All Nathan could see was red. Nathan rode Newton into town.
Nathan walked up to the Queen of Hearts. One of the men saw Nathan. Nathan punched him in the face. The man called out to the other man that "Grant was here." Nathan ran up the stairs and opened the door to Lucas's office. Lucas was sitting at his desk. Nathan slammed the door and put a chair against the door.
Lucas stood up from his desk. Nathan grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him up against the wall.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lucas asked.
"My barn and stable burned down. And I know it was you." Nathan yelled.
"I don't know anything about that." Lucas smirked.
Nathan clenched his fists tight against Lucas's shirt.
Lucas smiled.
"Go ahead, punch me. Make it a good punch because after that, I will have you arrested. You will lose guardianship over Allie and she will be put up for adoption. Maybe I'll adopt her. She's a little young for me now but in a couple years she will be." Lucas said smirking.
Nathan's fists clenched Lucas's shirt until they were white. Suddenly, Elizabeth's voice came into his head.
She was proud of you.
Nathan couldn't let Colleen or Allie down again. He let go of Lucas and he felt to the ground. Nathan took the chair from the door and opened the door hard. Two of Lucas's men came into the office, confused.
As Nathan walked down the stairs, he heard Lucas yelling at him.
"I always win, Grant. You remember that!" Lucas yelled.
Nathan rode Newton back to the farm. What Nathan saw next he didn't expect to see. A crowd of people were carrying wood while a few other men were sawing the wood.
Nathan dismounted Newton. Fred and another man walked over to him.
"What is going on?' Nathan asked Fred.
"Nathan, let me introduce you to Lee Coulter, the owner of the saw mill." Fred said.
The two men shook hands.
"What is going on?" Nathan asked again.
"Fred told me what happened to your stable and farm. We had some extra wood lying around and we would like to help you rebuild the stable and then eventually the barn." Lee said.
"I couldn't let you do that. Please let me pay for the lumber and labor." Nathan said.
"Colleen was good to everyone in the community. She did a lot for the community. And if this happened while she was still with us, we would be doing the same thing." Lee said.
Moved by the gesture, a lump started to grow in his throat.
"Thank you." Nathan croaked.
Lee nodded his head and they went back to work.
A man from the group walked over to Nathan.
"Nathan Grant?" The man said.
"Yes?" Nathan said.
"You've been served." The man said giving him an envelope. Nathan frowned and opened the envelope. Allie saw this interaction and went over to Nathan.
"What is it Uncle Nathan?" Allie asked.
"Your father is petitioning for custody." Nathan said.