Pastor Zeke Marvin stood in the doorway of the one-room schoolhouse and church, greeting his parishioners as they walked by. For such a small town, there certainly was a lot going on. More than even some were aware of. Sometimes he wondered if he knew more than the local Mountie, and on some subjects he supposed he did. His personal prayer list was much longer than the public entreaties he had put up to God at the end of his service.
As he shook hands with Richard and Rebecca Moore, the latter reminded him to keep Evelyn and Eric in prayer that they would find a home, and that God would help her and her husband with letting go of the girl. Zeke reminded her that God would care for all the children of her flock. He knew the couple would be relieved to know that Florence and Ned would be adopting Evelyn and Eric after their wedding. For now though, that was one of the many secrets that he needed to keep guarded. He watched the Moores briefly, as they continued down the steps to gather Evelyn who was talking with a couple of girls near her own age. The girl had found her place in their little town. She was no longer the scared girl that felt defined by her bad choices, which Zeke had met that first day. She had accepted those mistakes and the forgiveness offered by people like the Moores, and had begun again. Though she still missed her parents, Zeke knew in the long run she would be just fine.
The Coulters passed by. While Lee and Rosemary stopped to exchange a few words, Bridget and Ivy hurried past with a 'hello, Pastor Zeke." The pastor smiled at the youthful display of joy. He didn't let the fact that they were anxious to leave his church bother him. He remembered scurrying as quickly as he could for the door himself, when he was their age and he turned out all right. As he spoke with Lee and Rosemary, Zeke heard a pain in Rosemary's voice as she expressed her concern for Rachel. Though happy for her friend, Zeke knew of the longing in Rosemary to have a child of her own. The two girls who had come into her care, and who there was no doubt she loved, had not cured that. Zeke prayed that it would make it easier to bear.
"I will continue to pray for peace for you in your inner struggles, Rosemary," Zeke told her. The woman smiled as Lee led her down the steps.
Behind the Coulters was Nathan with Jack and Ally.
"Is Elizabeth feeling all right?" Zeke asked, having noticed the woman's absence from the service.
"Yes," Nathan assured him. "Elizabeth is with Rachel this morning."
"Good," Zeke said. "Other than when she was out of town or sick, I do not recall Elizabeth missing a service since I have come to Hope Valley."
"Unlike her wayward husband, huh?" Nathan teased lightly.
Zeke heard the teasing in the Mountie's voice. "I am sure God understands that lawbreakers do not always abide his Sabbath and as such, those who protect us must sometimes work on his day," the pastor replied. "As you are in uniform, I am guessing you are on duty today."
Nathan nodded, his expression growing serious. "I am. I figure I am easy enough to locate at the service if anyone needs me and there are plenty of people in the congregation to hand these two off if the need arose."
"I am glad it did not," Zeke said. "Not just because it would have interrupted my sermon, either," he added lightly.
Nathan chuckled. "So, my plan is to hand these two off to Bill before making rounds but Ally had a special prayer request she wanted to make."
"Of course," Zeke said, giving his attention to the child.
"I am not sure if you know, Pastor Zeke, but my birth father is in town." Ally started.
"That information had reached me, yes," Zeke said. He had actually paid a visit on Dylan Parks when he found out, wanting to judge for himself the man's intentions on being in town. As a pastor, being open to changes in people was a job requirement, but he also had a duty to protect those currently in his flock as well. He had been pleased to find out that the man was struggling with a faith. He and God could work with that much better than someone who had closed his hear to God. In fact, Dylan Parks had attended this morning, though the man slipped in late, stayed at the back, and slipped out as soon as the word 'amen' was out of his mouth for the final prayer.
" Well, Dylan wants to meet with me. At first I said no," Ally said, slipping her arm through Nathan's. "Uncle Nathan is my Dad. He is the only Dad I need. However, I have questions that only Dylan can answer. So Dad is going to arrange a meeting and come with me. Will you pray for all three of us?"
Zeke blinked a few times at the threatening tears at the request. Ally asking for prayer for herself and Nathan was expected. That she would include Dylan in that request, despite her unease of meeting him, spoke of the maturity level of this young woman.
"I most certainly will, Ally," Zeke promised.
A good-bye was promptly spoken. Though some had slipped around the line waiting to speak to Zeke, a few still waited. Zeke spoke to Mike and Kevin. Ned and Florence were arm-in-arm. When Zeke asked about wedding plans, Florence said part of her felt uneasy making such plans, what with things uncertain for Rachel and her baby. Zeke told her that the last thing Rachel would want was for Florence to change plans for her. It was a sentiment echoed by Tyler, who was had brought Autumn to church that morning. After Ned and Florence had continued on, Tyler had confirmed Zeke's visit to Rachel's home that afternoon. Zeke promised to be there.
As Tyler and Autumn went down the steps, the Mountie getting help, to allow Autumn climb up on his shoulders for the walk home, Zeke found himself with the last two people to leave the church - Laura Campbell and her father. Zeke chatted to the man about his farm and then before they left Laura extended a dinner invitation.
The softly spoken invitation made Zeke's heart beat a little faster. Though many of the families in the area had asked him to dinner, none of those invitations had made him feel this way. As much as he would rather the dinner just be he and Laura, Zeke acknowledged that this would be an opportunity to get to know Laura and her father and perhaps end the evening with a request to call on just Laura at some point.
"I would love to," Zeke replied.
"Will Wednesday evening work for you?" Laura asked.
"Wednesday is fine. What time?"
"Six o'clock?"
Zeke nodded. "I will be looking forward to it," he told her, reaching for her hand. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, noting the slight blush that rose in the girl's cheeks. He then shook hands with Mr. Campbell. As father and daughter walked away, Zeke looked out over the pond, the buildings and his dispersing flock.
Coming to Hope Valley had definitely been the right choice.
Reaching the little cabin that was the Quinn's home, Tyler put Autumn down. The six-year-old dashed for the door to tell her mother about her morning. Tyler followed at a slower pace. Reaching the cabin, he pushed opened the not quite closed door left ajar by the child. Stepping inside he found Elizabeth at the stove.
"I thought you would be along shortly when Autumn rushed past," Elizabeth commented. "I put in a chicken casserole suppled by Melissa Weiss and put in a fresh batch of biscuits with it. I am assuming you are going to be eating with Rachel and Autumn."
"Yes," Tyler admitted. His cheeks felt a bit warm and he hoped that if any blush was noticeable that Elizabeth would attribute it to walking in the summer heat.
"Rachel asked me to stay so I could take Autumn for a walk while the two of you talk," Elizabeth said.
"I appreciate it," Tyler said, not wanting the young girl to overhear anything this soon. He hoped Autumn would be happy to welcome him to her family, but he also knew how close Gilbert and the girl had been. She may think he was trying to replace the man she had known as her father. Tyler would prefer that he and Rachel had come to an understanding before anything was said to Autumn.
"You are a good man, Tyler Randall," Elizabeth told him.
Tyler nodded an acknowledgment. The comment told him that like he had confided in Nathan, Rachel had confided in Elizabeth. He made his way to a basin of water to clean up a bit. He washed his face and hands and turned to find Elizabeth arranging plates, glasses and utensils on a couple of trays.
"Clara brought the trays from the café," Elizabeth supplied. "She thought it would be easier to get things in the bedroom if multiple people are eating in there."
"I will have to thank her when I see her. I do appreciate all everyone in this town has done for Rachel. She's had a hard time since December. In Landsdale she seemed to just go through the motions of living after Gilbert's funeral. If she did not have Autumn to care for, I am not sure she would have bothered with that. I am glad she is engaging with people here. I hear you helped with that process."
"I just offered friendship to a new arrival in town," Elizabeth replied. "The fact that we had something in common, with the loss of our husbands, just helped that bond. In fact, the town's history, with the mining accident, may have helped with people reaching out to her. Those who have been in Hope Valley since it was known as Coal Valley, know first hand what it feels like to pick up the pieces after a tragedy."
"I was hurt when Rachel left Landsdale. It was more than just being hurt that she left without saying anything. I guess I was blaming myself for not being able to keep Gilbert safe and I just assumed that she was leaving for that same reason. Once I worked through my own guilt, I could entertain that perhaps Rachel leaving had nothing to do with me but with her own pain. That was when I chose to reach out."
Elizabeth moved from the stove and took one of Tyler's hands in both of hers. "No matter what the two of you decide, your friendship has been a source of strength and comfort to Rachel and Autumn clearly adores you. I also don't think I have thanked you for helping my husband come home to us when he got lost during that storm. So thank you."
"If it had not been me, it would have been another Mountie ma'am," Tyler told her.
Elizabeth nodded. "Perhaps, but it wasn't another Mountie. It was you. So, thank you."
"You're welcome," Tyler told her. "You will also be happy to know that I told Nathan he could be home for dinner with his family tonight and I will wait for the transport wagon from Brookfield this evening."
"That does make me happy. Thank you."
The two fell silent as they finished preparations for the midday meal. All four of them ate in the bedroom. Elizabeth, Tyler and Autumn were just finishing the dishes when there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Autumn called putting down the dish towel in her hand and hurrying for the door. "Who is it?" she called out before even reaching the door.
"Pastor Zeke," came the replied.
Reaching the door, Autumn opened it. "Hi, Pastor Zeke. Are you here to visit with, Mama?" she asked, stepping aside to allow the pastor to enter.
"I am," Zeke replied.
"Good. She says she gets bored just sitting in bed and reading. I don't blame her. Even school is more appealing than having to stay in bed indefinitely," Autumn supplied, shutting the door behind Zeke. Realizing that her teacher was present, Autumn looked over at Elizabeth. "Sorry, Mrs. Grant. I like you, just not school."
Elizabeth smiled. She knew that learning to read and write was proving difficult for the girl, though the concept of numbers seemed to pose no problems. Still, the girl was trying and that was all she could ask for. "I understand, Autumn," she assured the girl. "How about you go tell your Mama that you and I are going to go for a walk."
"Are you going to turn the walk into a lesson?" Autumn asked.
"Possibly," Elizabeth answered, knowing that the teacher in her sometimes snuck into fun activities without her realizing it. "But we will have fun too."
"All right," Autumn said, moving toward the bedroom.
Tyler watched the girl go and then greeted the pastor. After Elizabeth and Autumn had left on their walk, Tyler led the pastor into the bedroom.
"Thank you for coming, Pastor," Rachel said as both Zeke and Tyler found seats. While Tyler took the chair right beside Rachel's bed, Zeke moved the chair Elizabeth had been sitting in, from its spot, to beside the foot of the bed so that he could face the two of them.
"I am most happy to be a service to my parishioners - to listen, guide and counsel if necessary. Marriage is a union that should not be entered into without careful consideration no matter the reason it is being considered," Zeke told them. "Can we start with a moment of prayer?"
Rachel and Tyler both nodded consent. The three then bowed their heads while Zeke asked for God's blessing and comfort for both Rachel and Tyler in the conversation to come. As amens were said and heads raise, Zeke looked directly at Tyler.
"Where I would like to start, is knowing for sure that this was a proposal that was thought out and not made on a whim. While there is no doubt in my mind that you care for Rachel and Autumn, and offering to care and provide for them is noble, it is also a huge responsibility. I would feel better knowing that this is something that you have thought and prayed about Tyler."
Tyler nodded. It was a fair question. He also realized the pastor was providing him a way to backtrack on the proposal if he wanted. However, Tyler did not want to take anything back. "While I did not plan on proposing quite so soon," Tyler admitted, "the thought of proposing has been on my mind for a while now. I truly love Rachel. My plan was to give her time to grieve Gilbert and heal from that loss, and then ask her out on a proper date. The current situation that threatens her health and the baby's health has only changed that time line," he looked from Zeke to Rachel. "That baby is a part of Gilbert. It is his legacy. I don't want anything to happen to either one of you, no matter what sacrifices I need to make personally."
Rachel stared back at him, surprise clear in her feature. She remained quiet though.
"How does that make you feel, Rachel?" Zeke prompted.
"Loved," Rachel admitted. "Also, a little guilty because at least now I can't return that love."
"What do you feel for, Tyler?"
Rachel looked down at her hands that rested on her rounded stomach. "I care about him. I have since he and Gilbert were friends. I have gone from thinking about him as Gilbert's friend, to being my friend. I value his friendship and the strength he has given me since Gilbert's death. I see the way he is with Autumn and know that she and this baby would grow up loved and cherished under his protection." Rachel paused. "I know that I could not find a better man to be a husband and father. He is a good, honorable man whom I know Gilbert would approve of. Any time that I let myself think past that though, I feel guilty and feel like falling in love again would be a betrayal to Gilbert's memory. I am not sure I will ever feel differently."
"Grief is a long and hard process," Zeke said. "It is a journey that others can support you on Rachel, but one that ultimately must be settled withing yourself."
Rachel nodded.
"Under different circumstances, I think I could have fallen for Tyler," she admitted.
Tyler reached out for her hand. Taking it in his, her smaller hand dwarfed by his bigger one, he gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Knowing that, Tyler, could you still with a clear conscious, make the vows to Rachel that marriage would entail. Could you promise to love and cherish Rachel through all circumstances in life for the rest of your days knowing that the only love she can promise you is the love of friendship?"
"Yes," Tyler replied without hesitation.
"Rachel, could you promise to care for, support, and be true to Tyler for the rest of your days?"
"Yes," Rachel replied. "When you put it that way, I know I could fulfill that vow."
Zeke nodded. "I think it is obvious what Rachel would gain from this union, but I want to know Tyler, what are you expecting to gain through the union?"
"Just knowing that Rachel and her children are cared for, is enough for me. Along with that though, I see my gains as being, knowing that I have a family to come home to while I am working. I will have companionship. Someone to share life's burdens with. I will gain at least two children who I can be a father too and receive love from."
"Would you want to adopt the children?" Rachel asked.
Zeke sat back, glad to see questions being asked now without his prompting.
Tyler held her gaze as he replied, "if that is something that you wanted. Whether you want Autumn and this baby to have Gilbert's last name or mine, I would love them as if they were my own."
"Would you let me still work?"
"If that is what you wanted," Tyler replied. "Know though that I will do whatever I need to do to support you and any children on my own. If you want to simply stay home with the children, then I will make sure that option is open to you. However, my current position with the Mounties might mean I am away, sometimes weeks at a time. I may also get a posting that would take us away from Hope Valley. Would you be able to accept and support me in those instances, Rachel?"
Rachel paused. It was clear to both men that she was thinking over what those words really meant.
"If your job meant that we would have to move again, I would go with you, Tyler. It would be the least I could do for all you have even already done for me and Autumn."
Zeke thought it was time to interject in the conversation again. There was a sensitive topic that needed to be addressed that he wasn't sure would get brought up if he did not bring it up.
"Now this is a very sensitive topic but one I think needs to be discussed between the two of you now or could cause trouble in the future. If after I pose this question you would rather answer it without me here, I will step out. However, you should discuss the issue now if you both want this to be a true marriage of convenience or does either of you expect more? Would you two share a room? A bed? Are children together an option or not? Tyler, I know you will love Autumn and the coming baby, but are you willing to give up the opportunity for a biological child if Rachel is not open to that kind of relationship?"
Rachel blushed as she looked down at the bed she rested on. "Well, unless we immediately moved somewhere else, Tyler would have to share a bedroom with me."
"I could sleep in the livingroom."
Rachel's head shot up. "Not a chance! You might have to sleep on the ground while you are out on an assignment but not in your own home."
Tyler smiled a bit. Rachel's reaction to that suggestion told him she did care for him. "I will admit that I have always wanted children. If Autumn and the coming baby are the only two I get, I could live with that."
"But you would like a child of your own?" Rachel asked, gazing into Tyler's eyes.
"I would," Tyler admitted.
The two gazed into one another's eyes for a bit. Communication was taking place but it was not the verbal kind. Zeke simply remained quiet while it took place.
"I think that once I sorted through my grief over the lost of Gilbert that I could be open to that idea," Rachel finally said.
Tyler was surprised by that answer. It was more than he had dared hope for right then.
"Tyler Randall, if the offer is still there, I would be honored and thankful to be your wife," she told him.
Tyler reached out and carefully gathered Rachel in his embrace, his love for this woman swelling inside of him. Even if she never quite felt for him, what he felt for her, he knew that they could have a good life together.
"I will let myself out," Zeke said, getting to his feet. "Let me know when you want to say your vows and I will make myself available. I have a feeling for now at least that it will be a simple ceremony. Know that if later one, when circumstances allow it, you would want to renew the vows, I would be happy to do that as well."
"Thank you, Pastor," Tyler said, still holding Rachel close as Zeke got up and left the room.
Leaving the little Cabin, Zeke smiled to himself as he made his way toward town and the row house he occupied. Tyler's love for Rachel was obvious. It had been since he had shown up in Hope Valley.
Though mixed up with her grief right now, Zeke could see the love Rachel had for Tyler as well. She just needed time to sort through all the conflicting emotions and fears she had right now. Time that he knew without a doubt that Tyler would grant her.
Zeke had a feeling the two of them would have settled on a date to say their vows by the end of the day and that date would be soon. Having just witnessed that conversation, Zeke knew that he could lead the couple through those vows with a clear conscience.
As he walked, Zeke sent up a prayer of praise with how the Lord was working things out. Rachel and Autumn had been a concern for many in this little town. While he knew none of them would turn their backs on her with this new development, he also knew that they would say their own prayers of gratitude that this young mother would no longer be trying to handle her burden alone.