"So, what is your plan for the evening?" Nathan asked Tyler as the two Mounties prepared to leave the office for the day.
"Well, I have my room back at the Queen of Hearts," Tyler replied. "I think I am going to change out of my uniform and then ride out to check on Rachel. I understand her desire to be at home, but part of me wishes she was still at your house so I could stay nearby through the night."
Nathan nodded. "I know how you feel. It was hard not being able to stay with Elizabeth when she was sick with scarlet fever because we were not yet married. Knowing I was taking care of Jack for her helped some."
"I hope someone is staying with her tonight. I hate to think of something happening and Autumn having to go for help."
"I am sure someone is," Nathan told him. "If they haven't arranged something, I am sure Elizabeth would be willing. Lee was going to help me get everything from the baby shower from my house to Rachel's home. Elizabeth was planning to come to help organize the clothes."
"I am grateful that Rachel found a town where people are so neighborly," Tyler said as the two men stepped out of the office and onto the boardwalk. "That doesn't mean I wish I couldn't stay around for a while."
"I can help you out with that," Bill commented. Both men look in the direction of his voice to see the judge on the road at the bottom of the steps. Seeing that he now had both Mounties' attention, he continued. "I got a call from Sgt. Oakley, from Clearwater. Seems that thief that got away from you Tyler showed up in Clearwater. When he realized people recognized him, he spooked an ran but Constable Kinslow caught the guy heading in the direction of Brookfield."
Nathan chuckled. "That guy definitely picked the wrong direction to run," he said, knowing how keen an investigator and tracker his friend was. He still maintained he was the better tracker of the two though.
"He did. He is sitting in a cell in the Brookfield jail as we speak. As he did not actually commit a known crime in Clearwater, he will be sent back here. I'll get Lucas to make the identification and then set up the trial. As you were the Constable on duty when the theft at the Queen of Hearts happened Tyler, you will be needed for the trial. You should be getting the official orders via telegram for you to stay in Hope Valley through the duration of the trial. As my schedule looks 'filled' right about now that might be a couple of weeks or so. I hope it isn't an inconvenience for you."
Tyler smiled. "I think I will survive, Judge Avery," the man told him.
"Good," Bill replied. "Now, I am going to head over to the café and insist that my business partner feeds me before I take over cooking duties so Clara can head out to stay with Rachel tonight. Good evening gentlemen."
"Business partner, huh Bill?" Nathan teased. "My observation skills tell me their might be something more going on there."
"As I have met your mother, I have no doubt that Amelia taught you that you should respect your elders," Bill countered as he turned and started in the direction of the café.
"Was it me, or did his cheeks get a little rosy?" Tyler commented, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Oh, it definitely was not you," Nathan told him. "There was more to Bill driving to get Abigail and Cody than just trying to get Abigail here for the reception. The real question is how long will Bill try to pretend there is nothing going on."
Tyler chuckled. "I guess I should go check with Ned at the mercantile to see if that telegram came in. You know, I was upset the guy got away from me even though Lucas didn't seem all too upset over it once he knew Miss Miller was all right. He said the money was not all that important and he was confident the man would be caught eventually. Now, I kind of think the man getting caught now was just the right timing for me."
Nathan laughed as he clapped a hand briefly on Tyler's shoulder. "I am thankful that Rachel and Autumn are going to have you nearby for the next week or so."
"I may have proposed to her," Tyler confessed, his voice quiet even as his eyes met Nathan's gaze.
Nathan quickly hid the moment of surprise that crossed his expression, at the confession, before he spoke. "Are you sure the timing is right?" He thought of Elizabeth, and how he had struggled to figure out when and how to declare his feelings for her. He never had really figured the issue out. Life had sort of figured it out for him.
Giving last night's health scare for Rachel, perhaps life was doing the same thing for Tyler and Rachel. Someone to share her burdens was exactly what Rachel needed right now.
"Is the timing ever right after someone loses someone they love?"
Nathan had to admit that Tyler had a point. Maybe the reason that he had not been able to decide when the time was right to speak to Elizabeth would be, was because that time did not exist.
"Maybe not," Nathan conceded.
"I know Rachel is still grieving the loss of Gilbert. I still miss him at times. However, I also know that I love Rachel and perhaps she isn't ready to feel love in return but I do know that she cares about me at least as a friend. I also care about Autumn and that unborn child. I want to take care of all three of them, and being her husband will allow me to do that. It will also allow me to protect her against her ex-husband if he is ever a threat again."
"How did Rachel react?" Nathan asked, unable to refute any of what his fellow Mountie said. He had no doubt that Rachel and her children would be loved and protect with Tyler. The woman could certainly do worse than marrying Tyler.
"She wanted time to think about it," Tyler replied. "Perhaps I should have waited longer before speaking my intent, but Rachel needs to be able to rest and not worry about how she is going to provide for the children both for her health and for the well being of that unborn child. If we got married, she would be able to do just that."
"I will pray that things work out the way it is best for everyone," Nathan told his fellow Mountie, knowing that it was not his place to judge what was right. That was for Rachel, Tyler and God to determine. Besides, he wasn't even sure that it wasn't the best solution. Rachel would be getting someone to share her burden with. Two children would be gaining a father and Tyler would gain a family. It was clear that Autumn already adored him and Rachel cared for Tyler at least as a friend.
Nathan thought of Elizabeth, finding out that she was pregnant so soon after the death of Jack. She had told him how she had felt joy and been overwhelmed by the thought of raising a child by herself. That first Christmas he had been here in Hope Valley, she had commented about how she had never expected to be raising a child alone. Nathan had understood how she felt. As much as he loved Ally, there were times that trying to be both father and mother to her had terrified him.
If he had come to Hope Valley when Elizabeth had still been expecting Jack, would he have offered to marry her to ease some of those worries for the both of them?
Nathan did not have to ponder that one long. He knew the answer was yes.
"If there is anything I can help you with, let me know. I will help in anyway I can," Nathan told his fellow Mountie.
Tyler nodded. "I will let you know," he said. "I'll see you later," Tyler said as he started in the direction of the mercantile.
Heading in the opposite direction, Nathan headed for the livery for Newton. Soon, he was on Newton's back, heading toward home. The ride was uneventful and as he approached his home he spotted his daughter sitting on the porch steps. As Ally got to her feet and started toward him, Nathan reigned Newton to a stop and dismounted.
"Is everything all right?" Nathan asked Ally as she approached. He held out an arm to her.
"Can I talk to you?" Ally asked as she stepped into the reach of her father's arm. She looped an arm around Nathan's waist as he rested his arm across her shoulders and held her against him.
"You can always talk to me, Ally," Nathan assured her. "Can we get Newton settled while we talk?"
"That is fine," Ally said. She was quiet for a bit as Nathan led her and the horse toward the barn. Nathan gave her time and let her start talking when she was ready. "Jack wanted to go watch the builders today while I was keeping an eye on him. We stayed on our property," Ally assured him before he could even ask. "However, I think I saw my biological father. There was a man working with the crew that I hadn't seen before. It made me realize that I don't remember my father at all. Yes, my memories of Mom are vague but I do remember things about her but try as I may, I can't remember anything about my father. Why is that?"
"Well, your age is one factor," Nathan told her. "You were young when he left."
"But I do have memories of mom. I lost her about the same time."
Nathan felt the familiar pang at the thought of the loss of his sister, even now. He pushed it aside though. It was Ally who needed him right now.
"Yes, he left about the same time as you lost your mother, but the other difference is that your mother doted on you Ally. You were my sister's sunshine. Rarely did she let you out of her sight. Even when she was sick, you were on her mind. As soon as the doctor said she was no longer contagious, our mother said the first thing she wanted, was to see you," Nathan told her, pressing a kiss to Ally's head as they walked.
"As for your father, he was gone a lot and not just for work. He spent a lot of evenings out with friends, usually drinking. When he came home, he wasn't exactly in any condition to pay a lot of attention to anyone."
"So my father didn't love me?"
Nathan shook his head, thinking about how to best answer the question. "It was not that he didn't love you. I believe that Dylan did love you and your mother. Your parents were both so happy on the day they got married. When you were born, Dylan was boasting about what a pretty little thing you were to anyone who would list. However, your father had demons that he struggled with. When things were good, he was a good kind man. I could see why my sister fell for him. However, he didn't know how to handle stress. He did not have a strong faith in God to lean on when times were hard. Instead, Dylan looked for help in a bottle."
"Did he gamble like Grandpa?"
They had reached the barn by now and Nathan led Newton into his stall as he answered his daughter.
"If your father gambled, it was not to an extent that it was a problem," Nathan replied, knowing that he had not spent enough time with his brother-in-law in the past to say for sure the man never gambled. "However, both vices are just as bad when taken to extremes. Both addictions have destroyed families."
Ally nodded but remained silent. As she had a thoughtful look on her face as she leaned against Holly's stall, Nathan remained quiet as well. He worked on getting Newton settled for the day leaving Ally to her thoughts for a little while. As Holly put her head over the stall door for attention, Ally reached up to absently stroke the mare's nose.
Nathan was checking Newton's hooves when Ally spoke next.
"The man I saw today was one I have never seen around Hope Valley," Ally commented. "That is why I thought it was my birth father. When he saw me watching he nodded at me but went back to his work."
"Chances were that was Dylan. He is the only new person that I am aware of Mr. Coulter has hired recently," Nathan said, relieved that Dylan had kept his word.
"Is he mad that I don't want to see him?"
"No, Ally. Your birth father is not mad. Don't let your compassionate nature guilt you, into doing something that you are not comfortable with," he told her, letting Newton last leg down, satisfied that nothing had gotten stuck in the hooves throughout the day. He put the pick on a shelf and picked up a brush.
"You gave Grandpa another chance."
Nathan nodded. "I did, but if you remember, I did not do so easily. That was a struggle for me, so I understand how hard this is for you."
"If I met with him, could you be there?" Ally asked.
"If that is what you want," Nathan replied without hesitation. "Are you saying you want to meet your birth father?"
"Well, he seems to be the only one who would have answers to some of the questions I have asked myself over the years," Ally said. "Besides, you gave Grandpa another chance for me even after all the hurt he put you through."
"Ally, only do this if it is what you want to do," Nathan told her.
The soft sounds of the brush going through Newton's coat were the only sound in the stall for a few moments.
"I want to ask my questions," Ally said. "But I want you by my side," she added. "And perhaps we can ask Pastor Zeke to say a prayer for me after church tomorrow."
"That sounds like a plan," Nathan told her. "I will try to catch up with Dylan sometime tomorrow to make arrangements. As for tonight, if there is nothing else, you want to discuss, how about we just enjoy an evening together as a family."
"I like that idea," Ally told him.
While Nathan continued to brush out Newton, Ally went about getting food for Holly and Sargent.
As kind and caring as everyone had been, Rachel was already tired of being in bed. Part of her wanted to ignore doctor's orders and get up and cooked dinner herself. Instead, Fiona was in her kitchen cooking dinner. It wasn't that she did not appreciate all everyone was doing. She did. She just wished that it was not necessary.
A kick reminded her that it wasn't just her own health the doctor and everyone else was concerned about. The health of her baby was the only thing keeping her in the bed. If this was just about her, she probably would give in to the urge to be up and about. She wasn't about to risk the health of Gilbert's child though.
Rachel eyed the hair brush on the dresser. Elizabeth had helped pin her braided hair up again this morning. Right about now, she wanted to take it down. Surely, the few steps to the dresser and back would not do any harm.
Rachel was about to push the blankets back and retrieve the hairbrush when there was a knock on the door. She looked up at the ceiling. "Is that your way of telling me to stay put, Lord?" she asked softly before calling out, "Come in."
Expecting Fiona or her daughter, Rachel was surprised to see Tyler, despite knowing that he would be back this evening. It was one of the reasons she had asked to be helped into a dress for the day. She also just felt some kind of normalcy being dressed even if she had been told she needed to be on bed rest.
"Did you not think I would come back?" Tyler asked, a teasing lilt to the softly spoken question.
Despite everything, Rachel laughed. She may have doubted that he would come back to Hope Valley for her like he had last night, but now that he was in town, no she was not surprised by him stopping by to check on her. She had come to expect it really.
"No, however I was expecting Fiona or Autumn," she admitted.
"They are out there, fussing over the stove," Tyler commented. "Whatever they are fussing over, sure smells better than what I tend to cook. My food is edible but it usually is not very flavorful."
"A few lessons in using herbs would probably solve that," Rachel commented.
"Are you offering?"
Rachel felt her cheeks grow warm. It was just a cooking lesson but even the thought of that little time extra with Tyler made her cheeks grow warm. Then she got a vision, of her and Tyler at the stove, cooking for Autumn and a little boy. She knew the little boy was the baby she carried within her. She knew people would say she could not know that this child would be a boy, but in her heart, she knew already.
"It would have to be after my doctor says I can be up and about."
"I will wait," Tyler said. "I will always wait for you, no matter what the situation is."
Rachel knew it was no longer the cooking lessons that Tyler was referring to. She knew he was subtlety bringing up the proposal.
"I was thinking about the proposal today. Even spoke to a few people about it. You should probably know that Pastor Zeke and Elizabeth are aware of it."
Tyler nodded. "I told Nathan I made the proposal as well. It just came up in a conversation and I felt like I needed to confess to someone."
"It's fine," Rachel told her. "Before I give you an answer, Pastor Zeke suggested that you and I have a conversation about what it would mean for each of us in the years to come. I asked him if he could help direct the conversation, as I am not sure how such a conversation would look. He said he would be willing to do so tomorrow after the noon meal if that will work for you."
"If that is what you want," Tyler replied.
"It is."
"Then I will be there," Tyler assured her. "What about tonight? Anything you need. Would you like me to stay or leave you be?"
"I know Autumn would enjoy it if you stay for supper. So wold I," Rachel admitted. She thought of the brush and the fact that she had been about to sneak out of bed to get it. "I will also confess that I was about to sneak out of bed to get my brush so I could take my hair down."
Rachel heard the soft catch of Tyler's voice at her words and wondered about them even as Tyler moved to the dresser to retrieve the brush.
Even as he moved for the brush, Tyler was aware of his reaction to Rachel's words. It had nothing to do with her confession and everything to do with the fantasy he had often pictured in his mind of Rachel with her hair down. Last night had been the first time he had not seen her hair pinned up, but even then it had been in a braid.
Picking up the brush, he turned back to face Rachel. "Would you like help taking it down and brushing it out?" Tyler offered.
"I don't want to take Fiona from supper preparations."
"I was thinking I could help you," Tyler told her. "My mother was not in the best of health during my teenage years. Many times she would be forced to take to bed for days, sometimes weeks at a time. She only had sons, my older brother and me. While Donald would happily clean the house, he left the care of my mother to me, so this would not be the first time I brushed out a lady's hair. I could even braid it again, for you though my styling skills end there."
Rachel simply nodded her reply.
Moving the chair still beside the bed, Tyler moved it closer to the head of the bed. Rachel shifted on the bed so that her back was to him as he sat down. Placing the brush on her pillow, Tyler reached for the pins holding the shiny black hair in place. One by one the pins came out until the long hair tumbled down her back, about a half an inch at the end, bending to lie on the mattress. Tyler reached out to gently smooth the hair. It felt just as silty as he always imagined it would.