Chapter 132: Meanwhile, back in Hope Valley

On Saturday morning, Jake was busy getting all three horses saddled, when Fiona wandered into the livery. She sat down her basket and watched him a minute, before he realized she was there. He was meticulous - checked and rechecked the cinches of the saddles, and the tack, on both Ranger and Ginger. For a silly fleeting moment, Fiona wondered why he didn't give Newton the same attention? But then she realized - he was, of course, saddling Ranger and Ginger for her and Allie, which for him, was cause enough for a re-check.

Fiona continued watching him, he had all of her attention now. Dressed in plain clothes, he'd rolled up his sleeves, which accentuated his muscular arms. And his shirt was open at the collar, which only drew her eyes in even more. He straightened and walked around Ranger one more time. Then he spoke to his horse gently and gave him a good petting.

Jake walked around Newton, placed a few more items in his saddlebags, and looked up. That's when he finally realized Fiona was there. His face lit up and he smiled. "Fi." He took a step toward her. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in."

Fiona walked right up to Jake, stood on her tip toes, wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, and kissed him. He couldn't hide the surprise on his face, but it instantly changed to delight, then happiness. When Fiona finally set back on her heels, she stayed close and looked up at him. He asked her cutely, "What was that for?"

Fiona tilted her head and challenged, "A girl can't kiss the man she cares about?"

"Yes, indeed, you can." He rasped with that one dimple. "I was only asking what I did right, so I can do it again…everyday."

Fiona chuckled softly, searched the depths of those green eyes, and told him the honest truth. "I just missed you, Jacob. That's all." Jake had been busy most of the week, with Auntie Elle. Of course, Fiona had been invited to accompany Jake and Elle a few times, and she'd enjoyed getting to know Jake's aunt. But Fiona had also wanted Jake to make the most of the limited time with his Aunt, so she'd mostly given them space. And then, on Thursday morning, he'd been called away to Brookfield to assist Gabe on a case.

Jake had only come home from Brookfield late yesterday evening. Fiona knew because he'd come straight and knocked on her door, to let her know he was home safe. And then, he'd gone to spend a last evening with his aunt.

Elle had left early this morning, by train, for her long voyage home. And Jake had seen her off. And then straightaway, he'd come here, to the livery, to get ready for their fishing trip.

Jake kept hold of her around the waist, and gazed down at her. "I missed you, too."

"Did your aunt get off okay?" Fiona asked.

Jake nodded and smiled. "She sure did. She had a great time here."

Fiona was glad to hear that. And, she was grateful that Jake had managed to make it back in time to see her off on her train. And she was even more thankful that he'd managed to make it back in time to keep their fishing date with Allie. Otherwise, he would have had one disappointed niece to contend with. This fishing trip was just about all Fiona had heard about this week, every time she'd run into Allie.

"Did you solve the case?" Fiona asked him.

Jake smiled and told her proudly. "Of course! The Mounties always get their man."

"Well of course, they do." She proudly smiled up at him. And she asked, though it didn't sound very smooth as it came out, "No one…was…injured?" She looked him over, didn't see a scratch. This was also a criteria to measure success now, at least in Fiona's estimation.

"Not one bit." He reassured her, with a gentle smile. She was glad to hear it.

Jake glanced at his pocket watch. Nearly time to pick up Allie. He looked down at Fiona and asked her. "Ready to go?"

She turned around and went to her basket. "I just need two minutes to load my things."

"Fi, would you like to ride Ranger?" Jake asked her.

She moved to Ranger's muzzle and started petting him. Jake watched them, as Ranger nuzzled in close, and became putty in her hands. She replied. "Oh yes, Ranger and I are old pals now."

Jake just smiled, it was a little more than that. Ranger adored her and knew Jake did too. He watched the two of them together, and then Fiona loaded her things.

"I'm ready, Constable." Fiona told him, as she held the lead rope, ready to follow him outside.

Jake looked her over, and put his hand out. "Wait. There's just one more thing." So Fiona didn't move, as Jake walked up to her, placed a hand gently on her cheek, and kissed her one more time.

When he pulled back, she just gazed up at him. "Thanks for being worried about me." He rasped.

Fiona swallowed hard. And she replied softly. "Thanks for being careful."

Jake smiled. "You are darn good motivation…to be careful."

Fiona smiled back. "They'll always be a kiss, waiting here for you."

Jake looked at her beautiful lips and replied softly. "That's quite a reason to come home." He leaned down and gave her one more soft, tender peck on the lips.

When Jake and Fiona rode up to the Grant's row house, Allie was sitting outside waiting for them, fishing poles in hand.

"Hey, Kiddo." Jake greeted Allie, as he dismounted.

"Hi, Uncle Jake!" She stood and came down the stairs. "Good morning, Fiona." She smiled, unable to hide her excitement.

Jake untied Ginger's lead rope from Newton's pommel. He led her over to Allie, who started to fill her saddlebags. "I thought Saturday would never get here." Allie told Jake with a big smile.

"Me, either, Kiddo." Jake agreed, with a wink over at Fiona. "I was in Brookfield, helping out Gabe. And I thought he'd never solve that case, so I could come home." He told her with a joking tone.

Allie laughed and looked up him. "But you caught the perp?"

Jake chuckled at her vocabulary. "Yep. We got the perp." He assured her.

Jake held Ginger's bridle so Allie could mount. "You're a good Mountie, Uncle Jake." She told him.

"Thanks, Kiddo. I'm glad you think so." Jake told her with a smile, as he made sure her feet were well placed in the stirrups.

He moved back to Newton and mounted again. "Lead us out, Allie." He smiled at his niece. "We're following you, remember?" He told her, with a simple hand gesture.

Allie smiled, pulled Ginger's reins, and turned her towards the mountains. Jake let Fiona go next and he brought up the rear of the group. And Allie led them up the mountain. Jake had asked her to lead them, because he had long since realized that Allie Grant was the keeper of all the best fishing spots, around Hope Valley.

When they arrived at Allie's favorite fishing hole, Jake took care of the horses, while the girls carried the gear over next to the stream.

It was a good spot, lots of little pools, with access from the bank on either side. Trees hung down low over the water. As Fiona's dad would've said, it was a spot that just looked fishy.

"This is a great spot." Fiona told Allie as they set everything down under one tree.

"My Dad and I usually do pretty good here." Allie replied with a smile.

Jake walked up and picked up the first fishing pole. "Shall I get it set for you?" He asked Allie.

"Nah, I can do it, Uncle Jake." And she pulled out one small can of worms, and took off downstream.

Fiona did the same and took off upstream. So, Jake set his hook and stayed in the middle.

By lunchtime, Allie had caught two fish, and Fiona and Jake had each caught one. But, the fishermen were rather hungry, so they met back in the middle, for a picnic. Jake laid out a blanket, and all three pulled out their offerings for lunch.

"How's school going, Allie?" Jake inquired, as he passed a sandwich to Fiona.

"Good, I guess." Allie said with a shrug. "It's the first few weeks, so always slow to get started." She told him, as she took a bite of her sandwich.

Fiona asked. "Any fun projects this year?"

"We always do science projects, which are interesting." Allie told her. "I haven't decided what I'm doing this year. But maybe something about biology, since Dr. Carter is going to come and teach anatomy."

Jake replied. "That will be interesting."

Fiona smiled. "Yes, very interesting."

Allie piped in. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Guess what I got yesterday?" Allie didn't wait for anyone to guess, she was too excited. "A letter from my parents, from their honeymoon."

"You did?" Jake asked, interested in the news of his sister and brother-in-law.

"Yes!" She told them. "They wrote me as soon as they got to Airdrie."

"And?" Jake asked, smiling and impatient to know.

"They are having a great time, of course. The train ride was long, but they arrived safely." She smiled up at Jake. "And the weather is nice."

Jake nodded and smiled at Fiona. "I'm sure the weather is great there this time of year."

"I already wrote them back." Allie told Fiona and Jake with a giggle. "Though, there wasn't much news to tell them, not from Hope Valley, in a week's time."

Fiona replied. "I'm sure they will be happy to hear from you, regardless."

Jake smiled at Allie. He picked up a cookie and took a big bite. "I think they are at some fancy hotel now."

"Yea. Dad told me he had some surprise weekend planned." Allie told them. "And if I know him, it's probably really nice."

Fiona looked at Allie. "I'm sure it will be." She paused. "Though I'm sure the family ranch is fun, too."

"Oh, yes it is." Allie told them. "It's beautiful, and well, what's not to love about riding horses all day?"

Jake agreed wholeheartedly. "I'm inclined to agree with you, Allie."

Allie looked at him. "Though, I'm looking forward to seeing Peggy's Cove in the summer."

Fiona asked Allie. "Oh, I've been wondering about Peggy's Cove. Did you find any books in the library? I looked and couldn't find anything mentioning that area."

Jake coughed and nearly choked on his last bite of cookie. His gaze came around to Fiona. She was looking for information about Peggy's Cove?

Allie answered. "There is one book, but my Dad has it checked out. I think it's probably due back soon, so I can give it to you when we get home, if you'd like."

"Are there pictures?" Fiona asked. "I would love to see some pictures."

Jake took a swig of water from his canteen, and watched Fiona now. She wanted to see pictures of his hometown?

Allie answered. "There are a few, and a really nice one of the lighthouse, of course."

Jake was fixed on her now. Fiona replied, "I would love to borrow the book, Allie."

Allie smiled at Fiona. "Consider it done."

Fiona nodded happily at Allie, and then looked shyly at Jake. He eyes were still fixed on her.

Allie plopped the last bite of cookie in her mouth, stood, and told them. "I'm gonna go see if they're biting better now." Jake nodded, and Allie picked up her pole and walked upstream.

Then Fiona did the same, though she went downstream this time. And Jake, well, he kept the middle section.

He fished a while between the two gals, but since Allie seemed fine on her own, he eventually ventured down toward Fiona.

He was having absolutely no luck at fishing, not even a bite. The only thing he seemed to be good at this afternoon, was being distracted by Miss Fiona Miller.

It became a dance between the two of them. Jake would move to the same side of the bank, in an effort to be near her. Then she'd move to the other side, in her determination to catch a fish. Did she not realize that he was trying to lessen the distance between them?

Finally, Jake stayed put and fished his way back up toward the middle. And low and behold, he caught one more. In a small pool where Fiona had been fishing a short time before, which didn't seem to please her. In fact, she became even more determined to catch another.

He was just baiting his hook again, when Allie called out. "Jake!" Fiona heard and glanced up too, in time to see Allie arrive, fishing pole in hand, with a fish on. "He swallowed it good!" Allie told Jake.

He set down his fishing rod and took hers. "I'm sure I can get it out."

Jake carefully put his hand over the fish to keep the dangerous fins down, and looked inside its mouth. "He sure did, swallowed it good." He looked up at Allie. He handed her back to fishing pole and let go of the fish. "I need my pliers Allie, I'll be right back."

Jake walked to his tackle case and grabbed what he needed. Fiona had come to join them, too. "I'll have this hook out in no time." He told them both.

But when Jake tried to take hold of the fish again, it flopped it's body violently, right as he brought his hand close. It finned him good, caught his hand with its fin, and dug in. Jake flinched but caught ahold of it anyway, and removed the hook with his pliers. But when he finally handed the fish to Allie, Fiona saw red.

She stepped forward and took his hand. Fiona turned it over. "Jake, you're bleeding."

"It's nothing, Fi." But she could see it wasn't, the bleeding showed no signs of stopping.

She looked up at him. "Do you have any antiseptic with you?"

Jake nodded. "There's a first-aid kit in my saddlebag." He told her.

Fiona stood and went to the blanket, where he'd left his saddlebags. She rifled through and pulled out his first-aid kit. Though once she held it in her hand, she recognized it. This was the same kit he'd used on her, when she'd been in the hole. Images came flooding back, of Jake, so tenderly washing her hands.

She carried the small sack back over to Jake, and pointed to a rock. Somehow, Jake understood and sat down opposite her, with an amused smile. Fiona kept his hand on her lap as she opened the kit and pulled out what she needed. Then she looked up and told him. "Might sting a little."

Jake just nodded, and watched her. She disinfected the wound, and cleaned it up. It wasn't as bad as she'd initially thought, but it needed cleaning all the same. So Fiona kept his hand in hers as she applied more antiseptic, and blew on the wound.

She gazed down at his big strong hand in hers - hands of a working man, worn and calloused. But his were hands that had always been tender with her.

Fiona found some gauze in his first-aid sack and she slowly wrapped it around. When it was all done, she didn't let go right away. "Should be all better now."

Jake tried to swallow but couldn't. "Thank you," was about all he managed to get out.

She gazed at him, could see the emotion suddenly written on his face. "I remember that first-aid kit." She rasped just above a whisper.

Jake nodded. He remembered, too. That moment he'd realized she was injured, and had been left in a hole. She noticed his eyes go dark, as he remembered.

Fiona told him softly. "I had a thousand reasons I never wanted to love again." Then she looked down at his beautiful hand, in hers. "But you tore them all down that day, completely disarmed me." She brought her eyes back up to his.

He swallowed hard. "I was in love with you, and didn't know any other way, than to care for you."

Fiona lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his palm tenderly. She raised her eyes to him. "You stole my heart that day."

Jake smiled shy and rasped. "And I'm never giving it back, you know."

"I would expect nothing less from you." Fiona smiled at him. "But, I'm perfectly okay with it."

At the end of the day, Allie had caught three fish in total, Jake two, and Fiona one. So, Jake added all the catch to Allie's stringer to make six in all.

Then the trio headed back down to Hope Valley. It had been a successful fishing trip, and a great time. Allie was very happy about her day with Jake and Fiona - she thought they were really cute together. She liked the way Jake was so attentive to Fiona, and Fiona became soft and tender, wherever Jake was concerned.

When they finally rode into Hope Valley, they went directly to the Grant's row house, to drop off Allie. Jake unhooked the stringer of fish, and helped his niece unload all her things from Ginger's saddlebags. Then, he followed her up the steps.

Allie opened and walked right in. "Grams! I'm home!" She paused and looked around. "Grams?"

Rebecca came in from the back yard. "I'm here! Sorry Allie, I was just…sitting out back reading." She looked them over. "Hi, Jake." She said happily. "How'd you do? Any bites?"

Allie brought the stringer of fish out from behind her back. "Ta-da! We caught six." Allie held the stringer out to her Grams.

Rebecca looked them over. "Nice ones, too." She glanced up at Jake. "Should I fry them up for dinner?"

"That would be lovely, but…perhaps not tonight." Jake told her. He still needed to stable all the horses and had been hoping for some alone time with Fiona, after the busy week. "How about tomorrow, after church?"

Allie smiled, she liked that idea. "Oh yes, Grams. Can you cook them tomorrow, after church?"

Rebecca nodded at both of them. "Of course, I can. Will you bring Fiona?" She asked Jake.

"I'm sure I can talk her into it." Jake told her. "She's out front, keeping the horses. I'll ask her straight away." He replied.

Rebecca laid the stringer of fish on the counter in the kitchen, and walked with Jake towards the door. "Thanks so much for taking Allie fishing. It's all she's been talking about all week."

"Well, it was really Allie who took me fishing." He told Rebecca with a cute glance at Allie. "As I'm sure you know, Kiddo, here, knows all the best spots." Jake bragged on his niece.

Rebecca chuckled as she opened the door. "Yes, that's very true. You won't find a better fishing partner in all of Hope Valley."

Jake chuckled and nodded his agreement. Then he looked down at Allie. "Take care, Kiddo." He told her.

Allie hugged him around the waist. "Thanks for taking me, Uncle Jake."

"Anytime." He told her, as she pulled back. "And poke your head in my office when you get the chance. Come see me, okay?"

Allie smiled and nodded up at him. "Okay."

Jake stepped through the door and onto the porch. Rebecca followed him and came down two steps. She smiled as she addressed Fiona. "Listen, Fiona, I'm gonna cook up these fish tomorrow, after church. Would you please join us?"

Fiona looked at Jake who nodded his head one small time, as if to say, he would be there. Then she looked at Allie who looked so hopeful, she would burst. "I'd love to." She told Rebecca and Allie. And that was settled. "See you both tomorrow, then."

"Great! Tomorrow, then." Allie called out happily, with a huge smile.

Once they got the horses all put up, Jake took Fiona's hand and led her home. But on the way, as they were crossing the street, he stopped right there and asked. "Fi, will you have dinner with me?"

Fiona looked at him. "Yes."

"Cafe or Gustave's?" He asked her, unable to hide his happy smile.

"Cafe." Fiona said resolute. She didn't want to deal with all the workers from the oil rig, who would certainly be in Gustave's.

So Jake led her down the street towards the cafe. However, as they walked past the Mountie office, Jake happened to glance over, and spotted a telegram taped to the front window.

Jake's cadence slowed to a halt. A telegram taped to his office window wasn't a good sign, and likely meant that he was being summoned. Something in his belly dropped, and he looked at Fiona. She read his expression, glanced at the door of his office, and immediately understood.

Jake let go of her hand, walked over, and slowly pulled the telegram off the window. He opened the envelope, pulled out its contents, and read. As soon as Jake's shoulders slumped, Fiona knew what was coming.

As Jake walked back towards Fiona, he slid the telegram in his pocket. And when he stood before her, he finally brought his eyes up to meet hers. "The guy we caught in Brookfield just came clean. He had an accomplice, who's still on the loose. Gabe needs my help, to catch him, too."

"When do you leave?" Fiona asked softly.

"Tomorrow morning." Jake replied.

Fiona nodded and looked down at her hands.

"I'm sorry, Fi." He exhaled. "I know I just got home."

Fiona looked up at him. "Don't be sorry." She tried a smile, her attempt to make him feel better. "It's your job, Jake, and your duty." She swallowed. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

Jake grinned sadly at her. "I promise. Always."

Fiona nodded slowly.

"Can you tell Mrs. Grant and Allie for me? And give them my apologies?" He asked.

Fiona nodded again.

Jake reached down and took her hand. He interwove his fingers with hers, and placed a tender kiss across the back of her knuckles. "Can I still buy you dinner?"

Fiona attempted another smile, though it still wasn't quite convincing. "Yes. Let's make the most of the time, before you have to go." She told him softly.

So Jake turned and led her into the cafe.

While that news did put a damper on the evening, Jake and Fiona still managed to have a good time together. They chatted over dinner, and Jake still managed to make her laugh. He wanted to know why she was so interested in Peggy's Cove, and teased her about it. But, she didn't mind. She just asked him a hundred questions about his hometown, and he answered every one. No woman had ever been as interested in where he came from, so he delighted in sharing that part of his story with her.

And at the end of the night, when it was late, and he just couldn't put it off any longer, he walked her home. He held her hand as they walked together, and they took their time getting there, making it obvious that neither wanted to part company.

When they arrived at her back steps, they stood and talked a while longer. Jake told her all about the case and the man they'd already caught, who'd robbed several families on the road to Brookfield from Clearwater. How the man had laid low by the roadside and been unkind, and sometimes even violent, in his treatment of his victims. Now that he and Gabe knew the man had an accomplice, and that it was perhaps this accomplice, who was the more violent one, Jake knew he had to go.

Fiona loved him for his sacrifice and his relentless commitment to uphold what was right. She thought his dedication to protecting and serving others, was beautiful. And she told him so.

Then Jake, unwilling to leave her just yet, pulled her into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, safe against his chest, right next to his heart. Fiona snuggled in close and listened to the rhythm of his beautiful heart, loud and steady against her ear. She stayed there as long as he would hold her. And in her heart, she said a silent prayer - for his protection, for his safety, and for his success.

When Jake finally pulled back, he did so only a little bit - just enough to lean down and kiss her. And he kissed her one tender, gentlemanly time, then opened his eyes to gaze at her a moment.

But Fiona searched his face, was overcome with emotion for this man who was leaving in the morning. She looked at his lips a moment, and then, she moved. She kissed him back, and longer this time. She made sure to convey all the sentiments that she wasn't quite able to say cohesively. Somehow, Jake just had that affect on her - scrambled her thoughts, so that all she could ever be around him, was honest. Cool as a cucumber Fiona, was all mush, when it came to Jake Matthews.

As her lips moved over his, at a certain point, he took over the kiss. And he brought a hand up to her cheek, and made sure she felt all of his sentiments, too. In fact, he kissed her so tenderly, she melted into him, had to lean on him. But he was a strong tower and he held her with that one rippled arm, strong around her waist. He broke contact with her lips just long enough to make a confession. And he rasped it softly against her mouth. "I love you."

Fiona answered back right away. Said it as her lips were on the way to plant a tender kiss on his cheek, "I love you, too." She kissed that cheek, then came back towards his mouth, kissed just next to his lips, and then hit the mark again. She kissed him one more time, long and loving, but tender. And then she pulled back. She looked into the depths of his green eyes, and implored him softly. "Please come back to me quickly."

Jake let his forehead rest on hers, as he nodded his agreement. "I promise I will." He told her, as he sucked in breath, tried to slow his breathing. She, too, was out of breath and gazed at him, close.

As hard as it was, he finally took one step back. But he kept ahold of her and let his eyes do the communicating now. Another step back, and though he still held her hands, he was making progress in leaving her.

Fiona took a step back now, and let her hands fall. She turned and went up the first step. The second, but then she turned back and watched him. Jake turned and began to walk away. But something in the way he moved, struck a chord, and she just couldn't let him go quite yet.

"Jake, wait!" She called out. And he turned on a dime, as soon as the words were out of her mouth.

Fiona came down the stairs and ran to him. She reached up, cupped his face and neck, and pulled his mouth down once again. And when their lips met, the kiss was emotional and longing. Shared by two people who didn't want to let go, who didn't want to be separated, even for a day.

This kiss was a promise - to tide them over in the absence - a promise of what was waiting, when they would be together again. Fiona reminded him to come home, and he promised to return.

And when they finally pulled back from each other, Fiona let her hands linger there on his face a little longer, and he gazed down at her. She memorized every line on his handsome face, then she finally let her hands fall. "Good night, my heart."

Jake smiled at her. "Sweet dreams, Fi."

And she slowly stepped back, kept her eyes fixed on him, as she walked to her steps. Only then did she turn, and slowly climb them, looking back over her shoulder, all the way. And he stayed glued to his spot and watched her all the way up. When she reached the top, she turned, brought her hand up to her lips, and silently blew him a kiss. And Jake, with a loving smile, pretended to catch it.

Then Fiona returned his loving smile, before she turned and disappeared inside her apartment.