Chapter 93. The Big Swing
On Friday morning, Julia and Nathan met for coffee in their usual spot, on the porch of the Mountie office. They were deep in conversation about some wedding details, when Joseph Canfield walked by. He came over to greet them.
"Hello, you two." Joseph looked at both of them as he asked. "How are you?"
"Very well, Joseph. And you?" Nathan asked.
"I'm very well. Just on my way to the hotel." Joseph told him with a little hand motion, though they all knew he wasn't going into the hotel.
"When is Lucas leaving?" Nathan asked low.
"Tomorrow, I believe." Joseph told them. "Speaking of tomorrow, are we still on for lunch?" He asked. Nathan and Julia were set to have lunch at the Canfield's house tomorrow, for their second premarital meeting.
"Yes. I completed all my homework." Julia bragged. "And made a list of questions for you and Minnie."
Nathan looked sheepish as he remembered he hadn't finished his homework yet. He glanced at Julia and then at Joseph, with an oops sort of look. Julia giggled at the face he made and understood.
Joseph also read his face. "Well, you still have time, Nathan." He told him with a chuckle. "Nathan, I want to ask for your help with something. This afternoon, are you available to help me assemble a swing I made for the school?" He inquired.
"A swing for the school?" Nathan asked.
"Yes. It's pretty tall, so I need some help to set it up. Just next to the school over there." Joseph told him.
"What a great idea." Nathan told him. "Yes, I'd be happy to help. What time?"
"Around 4 pm?" Joseph asked. "Jesse is coming too."
"Sure, I'll be there." Nathan promised.
"Ok, great. Well then, see you both tomorrow, if not before." Joseph told them, and took his leave, toward the hotel's outside stairs.
When he was gone, Julia stood and went inside the office to put down her empty coffee cup. She came back out and stood next to Nathan, and gazed at him. He stood to see her off. "I'll see you later, Lawman. You know where to find me if you miss me." She told him playfully.
Nathan smiled, "That won't take very long, Miss Matthews." He added, "And, you know where to find me, if you miss me." He teased her back.
"That I do, Inspector." Julia raised on her tip toes and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Then she turned on her heels and crossed the street. Just before entering the infirmary, she glanced back once more, and when she did, she realized that he was still standing right where she'd left him, staring after her with that adorable crooked smile.
Nathan worked all day in his office, finalizing everything for the first week in the classroom with his trainees. In the afternoon, he called Chief Superintendent Collins and gave him a final update. His trainees would arrive on Sunday. Alex had nearly all the rooms at the hotel reserved, and Gustave was ready for the meals. Gabe would come over from Brookfield the second week, to help with some of the tracking simulations out in the field.
At 4 pm, Nathan left his serge hanging in his office, and headed toward the church. Nathan, Joseph, and Jesse got to work assembling the huge swing that Joseph had built for the school kids. The frame was nearly ten feet tall, and the design was a huge crossbeam connecting two a-frame structures. The swing itself was fairly simple, just a large 2x8 plank with ropes on each side. But, it was perfect for the school, and the kids were going to love it.
At around 6 pm, Faith and Julia decided to walk down and see Fiona, when they spied the men out by the school, working on the swing. Mike and Jake, who had obviously also joined to help, were holding two legs in place while Nathan and Jesse held the other two. Joseph stood on a ladder and was screwing braces in place way up high.
Julia and Faith entered the barbershop, but when Fiona heard what was going on down the way, she convinced the other two to walk down with her and check out the swing. Clara saw too, from the window of the dress shop, and joined them. When the guys saw four beautiful ladies arriving, they all tried to look strong and hard at work. It made for a cute little show, since they were each just simply holding a leg of the big swing.
By the time Joseph was finished doing all the work up high, he had picked up on the fact that the women were watching the men, and that the men were aware they were being watched. He just chuckled and shook his head.
Joseph let the swing drop down and teeter by the ropes that held it. "Would one of you ladies like to try it out?" Joseph asked with raised eyebrows.
Clara was the brave one. "Me!" She called out, and she approached the swing's simple wooden plank and got seated. She carefully and modestly tucked her skirts so they couldn't fly. And Jesse moved behind her and gave her a big push. Jesse sent her higher and higher into the air, and it looked like great fun. In fact, when the other three ladies saw how much fun Clara was having, they were all eager to take a turn.
When Clara stepped off, Nathan immediately moved behind the swing and smiled confidently at Julia, who took her place. She arranged her skirts and nodded her head. And she was off into the air, with Nathan's strong hands to propel her. She couldn't contain her giggles as she rose and higher and higher into the air. It was great fun. When Julia finally slowed and came to a stop, she was reluctant to yield her place to Fiona.
However, when Fiona moved to the swing, there was an evident dilemma. Jake, without thinking, took a step or two toward the back of the swing, but was cut off when Mike spoke up, "I'll push you, Fiona."
The disappointment that suddenly appeared on Fiona's face was unmistakable. Especially to anyone that was standing in front of her, like Faith, Julia, Jesse, Clara, and Joseph, for instance. Luckily, neither Jake nor Mike had seen that look, even if all the others possibly had. Jake, in his mild mannered way, yielded the place to Mike, and walked slowly around to the front of the swing, his brow undeniably furrowed.
And, Fiona's eyes watched him all the way. It was only when Mike put her into motion, with a push from behind, that Jake looked toward her and met her gaze. And, the gaze that passed between them, that held them, lasted longer than necessary, as Jake stopped just next to Jesse. Julia couldn't deny what she'd read on Fiona's face, nor what had passed between her and Jake in that gaze. And Julia was certain, right then and there, that the feelings between Fiona and her brother, were mutual.
When Fiona's turn on the swing was through, Faith stepped to the swing, and Jake went behind to push. He was a nice guy and a true friend, and would never leave Faith, or any of his friends hanging. So, Jake pushed Faith and she thoroughly enjoyed her turn.
Before Faith was done, Allie arrived from her shift at the mercantile. She had been on her way home and saw the crowd and the swing. So she'd headed right over to see what was going on. And, well, it looked like a lot of fun. She waited until Faith was through, and since Jake was still at the back to push, she couldn't resist.
Allie happily asked, "Will you push me, too, Uncle Jake?" That phrase made him chuckle, as it did a few others on the group. It was indeed true, Jake would soon be Allie's uncle. He and Julia, Nathan, Allie, and Archie had just seamlessly fit together, as a family, he hadn't really contemplated the formalities of it.
Allie adorably asked over her shoulder, "Is it okay if I call you Uncle Jake?" Julia looked happily at Nathan who was standing just beside her, and had also overheard. A knowing glance passed between them, of pride and sheer contentment.
Jake thought Allie was a cool kid. So, of course, he was happy about their family bond. He smiled and stepped up ready to push. "Sure you can, if I can call you Kiddo."
Allie laughed out loud. "I like that. Kiddo." She looked back at him, over her shoulder. "Fine by me. You've got yourself a deal, Uncle Jake."
"Should we shake pinky's or something?" Jake asked, as he put her into motion, and she laughed even harder, as she rose up into the air. In his short sleeve Henley, Jake's strong muscles worked, as he sent Allie higher still. None of this was lost on Fiona, whose gaze had been fixed on him, and Allie, for the duration of their cute interaction. She had seen and heard it all, and thought them both absolutely adorable.
When Allie was done swinging, Jake let her come to a stop, and helped her off. It was a fun swing. Allie spoke up, "Wait till all the kids try it out. It's going to be the hit of the new school year, Mr. Canfield." Allie told him. "And, Mrs. Thornton is really going to appreciate it."
"Well, that was my hope in building it." Joseph told them all.
The group began to disperse, though Nathan and Allie quickly headed to the livery, for an evening ride up to their land. Allie hadn't been up there yet, and was eager to see the progress on the foundation of their house.
And Julia and Jake went to dinner together at the cafe.
On Saturday morning, Julia met Allie, Nathan, and Archie at the stagecoach platform. It was hard to say good bye to Archie, but knowing that he was coming back soon, made it easier. The wedding was now only 34 days away, and he hoped to return in two or three weeks time. Nathan was depending on Archie to help with some of the house building oversight, especially in those last weeks leading up to the wedding, and while they were gone on honeymoon.
After they saw Archie off to Union City, Allie went to the mercantile for her shift at the telephone exchange. Julia accompanied Nathan up to his classroom, for a quick coffee. He had so much he wanted to show her, and a few things he wanted to get her opinion on, before his guys arrived the next day. Of course, true to his nature, Nathan had done a great job on all accounts. And, Julia couldn't wait to see him in his element with the young Mountie trainees.
Sunday, after church, Nathan went to the Hope Valley Hotel to make sure everything was ready. There were 16 guys set to arrive, from all over Alberta. Davis and Pendergrass would both be among them, as well as two guys Timothy Bedford was sending from Edmonton. It would be a good group.
Chief Superintendent Collins planned to come the last two days, and even distribute certificates of completion. Everything was on track to be a success.
In the evening, around 6 p.m., Nathan and Jake headed to Gustave's Restaurant together, to meet all the guys. Many were already assembled there, and getting to know each other. Forming bonds in true Mountie-brotherhood style, which tended to lend itself to loud razzing, enthusiastic jokes, and boisterous laughter.
In Union City, because there were so many guys on base, Nathan had been able to avoid these loud sorts of groups hanging out. But here in Hope Valley, it would be impossible. First, because these were his trainees and they were all looking to him. And second, because Hope Valley was a small town and there were only so many places where this group could hang out, and he intended to keep his eye on things.
"Ben!" Jake called out when he spotted his friend. The two men enthusiastically greeted each other.
Nathan shook his hand too, "Ben Davis, how's it going?"
"Very well. Excited to be here, Inspector." Davis said contentedly.
Pendergrass walked up next. "Hello, Inspector." He extended his hand to Nathan.
"Penny…welcome to Hope Valley." Nathan told him, with the slight eye. "You'd better behave yourself in my town."
Pendergrass held up his right hand, "You have my word, Inspector Grant." He said with a mischievous smile.
Nathan went around and introduced himself to all the other guys. They were happy to meet the new inspector, who was quickly becoming known for the new tracking program. Jake also introduced himself all around, to his fellow Mounties.
The men all ordered dinner and ate together, taking time to get to know each other. These times of camaraderie were important in laying the foundations of good working relationships, and friendships that would keep them safe later.
In fact, one of Nathan's old mentors used to tell him that camaraderie led to friendship. And once trust was built, friendship would eventually lead to brotherhood-in-arms. And, it was the brotherhood that bonded them so tightly as Mounties, and made them better, especially when they worked as a team. And so, Nathan championed the camaraderie, and the friendships, and would continue to do so, by making plenty of opportunities to spend time together.