AN: Okay, so the Nathan/Elizabeth scene with Gilbert was not suppose to be in this chapter but as heather4cu wanted to see them watching Gilbert, it got added. It actually gave me an opportunity to get in a first mention of a little someone who makes an appearance in "When Worlds Collide". Hope everyone enjoys it!
Nathan ate an early lunch and then made rounds, with the hopes of catching Dylan during a lunch break himself. Though he wanted to talk to his brother-in-law, he also didn't want to take him from his work, not that Lee would mind. Still, it wasn't professional.
As Nathan rode down the road that went past his property to the drive leading to the Coulter's new home, he found that he was in luck. The remaining men putting the finishing touches on the house had found dry places, either on the porch or in wagon beds, to sit and eat their lunch. Nathan spotted Dylan sitting on the front porch chatting with a couple of other workers. Nathan noticed all the men got quiet as he approached, though they also said hello as he paused at the railing. Nathan returned the greeting and then looked to Dylan.
"Can I talk to you about a personal matter, Dylan?" Nathan requested, choosing the wording so others would not think it was a police matter.
"Of course," Dylan said, wrapping the half-eaten sandwich in the brown paper. Sitting it in his lunch pail, he got to his feet.
Nathan lead Dylan a bit away from the other men so they could talk without being overheard. His brother-in-law followed silently, hands stuck in his pocket. He could see the man was nervous and Nathan thought it might be a good thing to set the man at ease before asking for anything.
"I appreciate you giving Allie a heads up about your plans to leave Hope Valley. I think it will mean a difference in your continued relationship with her."
"It seemed like the right thing to do," Dylan said with a shrug of his shoulders, staring at a spot beyond Nathan. "I meant what I said to. I will let you both know where I end up. Perhaps Saskatoon might be for the best. I know I have a job, and I have some kind of support system there for my addiction."
"Doesn't sound to me like you are convinced that is where you should go?" Nathan ventured.
"Can't say I ever felt a connection to the place? Don't get me wrong. I am grateful to my boss for choosing to help me, instead of just firing me for being stupid and showing up to work drunk. I always felt like I was just putting in time there. I think I have gotten to know the men here in the past month or so then I did my coworkers there. Part of me wants to stay here, but I don't think that is fair to Ally. I thank the lord every day that I was able to make a connection with her. The fact that she asked to call me uncle means the world to me but her life is with you and Elizabeth. I have not desire to prove Benjamin Franklin right when he said 'guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days'*. I may already be pushing my luck."
Nathan chuckled but saw his opening. "You are not the only one who might be thinking about that saying," he told his brother-in-law. "Viola mentioned last night that she is ready to return to Hamilton. However, she is nervous about making the trip with Margaret alone, now that she is actually thinking about her actions. I was wondering if you would consider traveling with her and make sure she gets to her destination safely."
"I thought Ally said Elizabeth's father ran a very successful shipping company and lives in a big house."
"He does," Nathan admitted. "Meaning that he will most likely be willing to pay for your passage if you escort Viola and Margaret home."
"And how would Mr. Thatcher react to a drunk like me escorting his once again unmarried daughter and granddaughter across a good portion of our country."
"Well, for starters Dylan, you are not simply a drunk any longer. You have put a lot of work into reclaiming your life. I can see that and you need to take pride in that. I believe that will help you stay on this path, as will continuing to seek strength in prayer."
Dylan snorted, "you sound like Pastor Zeke."
"I choose to take that as a compliment," Nathan replied. "Secondly, you are family Dylan. That has been true ever since you married Colleen, whether I have liked it or not. You always will be family. If you would rather not reveal details to Mr. Thatcher at this point, all we have to say is that you are related to Ally. That and my word that you will safely and respectfully bring his daughter back to the safety of his roof, will be enough for him. Should you and Viola get to know one another better during that trip that is beyond my control."
"Viola is completely out of my league."
"So, was Colleen in my opinion," Nathan informed him. "That didn't stop you then. If you have feelings for Viola, then don't let social status stop you now. I think we are all seeing the man that my sister saw in you underneath the weakness for a bottle. Honor my sister's memory and love for you by continuing to live a life she would be proud of you for. I know you are still searching for you place and you purpose, but be patient. The Lord will reveal that to you when the time is right. Perhaps you meeting Viola is a part of his plan. You came to Hope Valley to release your claim on your biological daughter. Perhaps now, God is setting things up for you to come into Margaret's life in the role of the father that she lost."
Dylan finally met Nathan's gaze. There was a contemplative look in his eyes.
"I will pray to God for guidance and continue to listen where he leads me. Perhaps you have an insight on my life that I don't or perhaps this is just another chapter of my life before I move onto something else. Either way, if Viola is opened to me escorting her to her father's home, I will gladly do so. If nothing else, the train trip will leave me time to pray and ponder my next steps."
"I had Viola's permission to ask you, so I will let her know you have agreed and she can start making plans."
"I did promise Lee I would help get them settled here and the Randalls settled in the row house. After that, I am free to travel whenever she is ready."
"I will let her know and I will let you get back to your lunch. Will you be joining us for supper?"
Dylan nodded yes.
"I will see you then," Nathan told him before turning and heading back to Newton.
As he was already nearby, Nathan rode Newton across the yards to his own home. Ally was out front of the house with Jack and Margaret. The three kids were attempting to kick the ball between them, though some attempts were better than others when it came to Margaret. Spotting him, all three children rushed to him as he dismounted. After hugging Ally, Nathan squatted down so that he could greet the two smaller children on their own level. After a few minutes, he encouraged the kids to go back to their game.
Taking Newton's reigns he led the horse over to the porch. Viola was sitting in one of the Adirondack** chairs that had been in Nathan's back yard of the row house he shared with Ally. It was clear the woman was keeping an eye on the children while sipping her tea.
"Calling it an early day, Nathan?" Viola asked as her brother-in-law came up the steps.
Nathan shook his head. "Just a little detour on my rounds," he told her. "I was just talking to Dylan. He is willing to accompany you and Margaret to Hamilton. He said he can be ready to go at any time after we get the Coulters and the Randalls settled in their respective new homes."
Viola let out a sigh. "It is a relief to know I won't be traveling on my own. I will plan on going into town tomorrow so I can check train schedules and let my parents know I am ready to come home. Hope Valley was what I needed to recover but I am starting to miss the city. Nor do I want to keep encroaching on your hospitality. I doubt a sister-in-law staying with you was in your summer plans and right after your wedding."
"It has been a pleasure having you and Margaret Viola. Elizabeth and I already had two children in the house. It wasn't like we would have gotten much alone time anyway."
"Well, perhaps before I leave, I could take the kids with me for an overnight at the hotel and give you and Elizabeth a night alone."
"You do realize that Hope Valley's hotel is above the saloon."
"I do. If Elizabeth could teach school there when she first came west, surely I can survive one night there, though I might stick to the hotel room."
Nathan chuckled. "A night alone with Elizabeth would be a welcomed occasion," Nathan said. "Though perhaps if we get the Randalls relocated, Lucas might be willing to let me use that cabin for one night with Elizabeth and you can stay here with the kids."
"That does sound more pleasant for me," Viola said.
"Let's see how the next week or so unfolds," Nathan said. "I am going to go spend a few moments with my wife before going on rounds."
Viola nodded, her attention back on the children.
Walking into his home, Nathan found his wife sitting on the settee in front of the fireplace. She held Gilbert in her arms, an enchanted look on her face as well as a bit of longing. Elizabeth was singing a lullaby to the infant and had not seemed to notice his entrance quite yet. Nathan stood there watching and listening while Elizabeth finished the song before walking toward the settee. The sound of his footsteps caused Elizabeth to look up.
"Avoiding actually working, Constable?" Elizabeth teased, as she titled her head up to look at him.
"Just taking a break to check in with my family," Nathan replied, as he approached the settee. Leaning in, Nathan pressed a kiss to the upturned lips. He let the kiss linger for a bit, until Gilbert started crying.
Breaking the kiss, Nathan peered down at the infant. "Geesh, what a harsh crowd," he said lightly.
Elizabeth chuckled. "I don't think it is your kissing skills that he is upset about. I know I sure am not. However, it is about time for a bottle. Here, hold him while I get it ready."
"Ah," Nathan said hesitantly, as Elizabeth placed the infant in his arms. Straightening up, Nathan held the baby stiffly, unsure of what he should do, especially as Gilbert seemed to start crying louder. "Am I doing something wrong?"
Elizabeth glanced back at her husband. "You are holding him correctly. Maybe walk with him a bit. It might help or he might cry until he gets his bottle."
Nathan did as Elizabeth suggested and started slowly pacing the room as Elizabeth went about getting the bottle out and placing it in a pan of water on the stove to warm it up.
"Didn't you ever hold Allie when she was that little?" Elizabeth asked.
"Held her, yes. However, when she started to scream like this I was always quick to hand her right back to my sister," Nathan informed his wife. "I may have more years of parenting experience but when it comes to infants, you are the expert, Elizabeth?"
"Then I guess this is good experience for you," she told him. With the bottle warming on the stove, Elizabeth moved in Nathan's direction. When she placed a hand on his arm, Nathan stopped pacing. Gazing up at him she added, "especially as there is a chance I could be expecting."
The information felt like a bit of electricity had shocked him. Nathan suddenly found himself wondering if he was ready to try being a parent to a newborn. Allie had been four, and Jack was two before he started being their father.
"A baby of our own?" he asked, his voice quiet. Nathan watched as his wife nodded in response, a huge smile on her own face.
Elizabeth nodded. "It is too soon for Carson to verify I think, but I missed a cycle and this morning while making your coffee I got nauseous. I couldn't stand the smell of coffee when I was pregnant with Jack."
With the still crying infant cradled in one arm, Nathan reached out and cupped his wife's cheek with his other hand. "I'll make my own coffee for awhile," he told her softly, before kissing her again.
Breaking the kiss, Elizabeth smiled at him. "I would like to keep it between us until Carson can confirm."
"As you wish," Nathan told her, still in awe at the thought that he might have helped create a life.
Elizabeth turned from him to go check on the bottle. Nathan turned his attention back to Gilbert. He began swaying as he talked to the infant. Though it didn't totally quiet the infant who still wanted fed, the cries became less enthusiastic.
Soon, Elizabeth was returning with the bottle. "Have you ever given a baby a bottle?" his wife asked.
Nathan shook his head.
"Time to learn a new skill, Constable," Elizabeth told him, leading him over to that settee.
When Nathan was seated, Elizabeth sat next to him. Moving the sleeve of his serge out of the way, she let him feel the temperature of the formula on his wrist, before wiping it away. She instructed him how to hold both the baby and the bottle. Gilbert quickly latched onto the bottle, hungrily drinking its content while both Nathan and Elizabeth, her head resting against Nathan's shoulder, watched him.
By Saturday evening, the Coulters were settled in their new home. Allie and Bridget were ecstatic to be neighbors. The two girls kept going back and forth between the houses. Ivy seemed a little less enthusiastic about the whole ordeal. She looked at the new house with wide eyed, and Lee had to pick her up to take her inside for the first time. She hid her eyes while the Grants, Bridget and Ivy got a tour of the new home. She burst into tears when Lee pointed out that the girl had her own room. Bridget quickly saved the day by assuring her sister that she could sleep in her room for a while until Ivy got use to the idea of sleeping alone.
Reaching the room at the end of the hall, Lee opened the door for the last bedroom. It simply had a full sized bed, writing desk and wardrobe in it. Looking at his two daughters, Lee told them, "this room has been set aside for Brian. When he comes to visit you two, he will have his own place in our home."
"No staying at the hotel in town?" Ivy inquired.
"No hotel," Lee told her. "Your Mom and I wanted to make sure even Brian had his own room in our new home."
"Does he know about it?" Ivy asked.
"I thought you and Bridget might like to write to him about your new home, including the room."
Ivy squirmed to be let down. "Let's go write to him now, Bridget," the girl said, grabbing her sisters arm.
Rosemary moved to Lee's side. The couple wrapped their arms around each other's waist as the two girls hurried from the room. Allie, still holding Jack by the hand, followed them.
"At least she is excited about some aspect of the house," Lee commented.
"This will soon feel like home to her," Elizabeth tried to assure him. "Remember how shy Ivy was when she first came to you. Always hiding behind Bridget. She came out of her shell as she felt comfortable and as this house becomes familiar, Ivy will feel comfortable again."
"I will take your word on that, Elizabeth," Lee said. "Half the time I don't feel like I know what I am doing with this parenting thing," he said, getting a chuckle from everyone.
"I have been told that all parents feel like that at some point," Elizabeth said. "Especially with their first kid. I know I have with, Jack."
"If Gabriel hadn't shown up to help me, those first weeks I had Allie on my own, I don't know what I would have done," Nathan told him. "I for one, am just happy to finally have neighbors up this way now. I will worry less when I am away from home, knowing that Elizabeth has the two of you right across the yard."
Rosemary put on a fake pout. "Still won't be quite the same. I won't know your plans without asking, Elizabeth," she said, making a joke about the thin walls of the row house.
"There will be plenty of times I will be happy for that," Elizabeth told her friend with a laugh.
"Me two," Lee said.
"Me three," Nathan added.
"Spoiled sports," Rosemary said, trying to maintain the pout but failing miserably. "Let's go downstairs. I want to test out my new kitchen and you are all invited to supper. Viola and Margaret as well. What about Dylan?"
"Dylan was having supper at the café with pastor Zeke," Lee informed her, having already inquired about the man's meal plans when they finished moving the belongings into the house.
"Zeke wanted to make sure Dylan had contact information for a few of his fellow seminary colleagues who are in Hamilton before he leaves," Nathan said. "He wants Dylan to know where to find support in Hamilton even if he only stays a few days."
"Do you think Dylan will simple escort Viola home and move on?" Lee asked.
"Father has already offered Dylan an entry level job with Thatcher shipping and Dylan said he would consider it. Apparently, Father heard something in the way Viola talked about Dylan and then called me to ask if there was something more between them. I told him that there might be, but that even they didn't seem sure about their feelings. Father then said something quietly about making sure the man at least had a job."
"Given the things Jack had said about your father after first meeting him that sounds like a good reaction to the idea."
Elizabeth chuckled. "It really is." She looked up at Nathan. "My father is not as rigid about who is and who isn't suited for his daughters these days. I was very happy with how welcoming they were to Nathan and Ally when we visited." Elizabeth looked back to her friends. "I think they will be just as welcoming to Dylan as long as he can stay sober."
"From what I have seen while he was working for me, he is committed to that. The fact that he is up front about the problem is a good sign. I think by telling people about the addiction, it forces him to be accountable for his actions."
"Well, I am happy that Dylan is able to be a part of Allie's life. She is still mine, and I don't plan on giving her up until I give her away at her wedding, but she deserves other family besides me. I am glad that coming to Hope Valley allowed that to happen, in more ways than one."
"You and Ally are family now, Nathan and there is no getting rid of us," Rosemary told him. She slipped her arm from Lee's waist. "I am going to go start supper."
"I will help you," Elizabeth said starting to following. Looking back at Nathan she asked, "can you let Viola know we're eating here."
Nathan nodded. "I will."
Nathan and Lee followed the girls out of the room, and while Lee went to check on the kids, Nathan headed downstairs to get his sister-in-law and niece for supper.
*Publish in "Poor Richard's Almanac."
**The chair was invented by Thomas Lee between 1900 and 1903 in Westport, New York, but was patented by his friend Harry C. Bunnell, who added some minor adaptations to make it more suitable for convalescents. (from Wikipedia). AN: Now whether or not they would have been known in Alberta, Canada by the time of this story, I am not sure but they do at least exist!