Chapter 136. A Nurse and Mother

On Monday morning, Nathan and Julia went for a last walk around the magnificent grounds of the Glenbow Manor Hotel. Later in the day, they would ride back to Airdrie, and to Aisling Ranch, so Nathan wanted to make the most of the time left. He led Julia around the gardens, across the terrace, and down toward the stables.

As they strolled along, he stopped under a big maple tree. "Have you enjoyed our time here?" He asked his wife, with his crooked smile.

Julia looked down at their hands, intertwined and threaded so very tightly together - a representative picture of their two persons now - closely and forever intertwined, as one. The image made her breath catch, and she brought her eyes slowly back up to his. "Immensely." Nathan realized where her gaze had been, and seemed to understand. "It's been so wonderful."

Nathan exhaled long. What an understatement. "Yes, so far, our honeymoon has been…incredible." He gazed down at her. "Life-changing." And as he drawled it out, he leaned down ever so slowly, and brought his lips to hers. The anticipation of that kiss was strong, and made even stronger by the long time he took to get there. By the time he felt the softness of her lips on his, his heart was racing fast.

He kissed her sweetly. He brought one hand up to her cheek and gently caressed it with his thumb. When he pulled back, he noticed the pulse throbbing in her neck, matching the rhythm of his own. He kissed her once more on the cheek, and then pulled her into his arms. Julia burrowed into her place, pressed against him, next to his heart. And he held her close as the rhythm of their heartbeats slowed.

As they stood there holding each other, out of nowhere, a commotion rang out behind the stables. The sound of rushing hoof prints, and yelling rang out loud and clear. "Help! Help!" The words were unmistakable.

Julia glanced up at Nathan, and they hurried towards the commotion. "Someone get a doctor!" The cry rang out as feet came running from multiple directions. An older man, one Nathan and Julia had seen in the stables, helped a young girl, about Allie's age, down from the arms of a younger man, mounted on a horse. The younger man had once been introduced to them as a riding instructor. As he handed the injured girl down, he explained. "Mr. Chandler, she fell from Daisy, I don't know what happened."

Mr. Chandler took one look at the young, frightened girl in his arms, and made the same call. "She needs a doctor." He set her down gently on a hay bale.

Without missing a beat, Julia pushed her way forward and offered her help, with Nathan right behind. "I can help, sir, I'm a nurse."

The men responsible for the frightened young girl nodded their agreement, so Julia got down on her level, and spoke directly to her. "Hi, there. What's your name?"

The young girl held her injured arm tightly, as tears silently fell. "Tabitha."

"Tabitha, I'm Julia. I'm a nurse, and I'd like to take a look, if you'd allow me?" And Tabitha, nervous and scared, looked up at Mr. Chandler. Julia reassured the young girl. "I'll do my best not to hurt you."

Tabitha looked Julia over for a moment, then nodded her agreement. Julia began her examination; she spoke softly, and worked carefully, all the while doing her best to put the injured girl at ease. Julia kept Nathan close and the two worked together, just as they had when Joseph had been injured.

Finally, Julia straightened and reported her assessment to Mr. Chandler, and the younger riding instructor, Tim. "She will need a doctor. Her arm is most definitely broken, but it's not serious." At that point, Tabitha began to softly cry.

Julia sat down beside her and took her hand. She spoke to her as a friend would do. "Tabitha, please don't worry. You arm will heal up just fine. And Nathan and I will take good care of you, until you can see a doctor."

Julia once again lifted her gaze to the men. "Sirs, her arm is an easy set, if you have something we can employ for a splint?"

Tim disappeared into a tack room. He returned with medical materials intended for horses, but more than adequate for the task. Julia and Nathan worked together, set the arm quickly, and put the splint in place. Julia wrapped it up securely, and once that was done, young Tabitha seemed relieved, and a whole lot more comfortable.

In fact, the young girl was calm now. Julia put her arm around her, and spoke to her gently. "You are so brave, Tabitha." She wiped the young girl's face with her embroidered handkerchief.

After speaking with Tim over on the side, Mr. Chandler quietly told them. "I'll fetch the car around, and Tim and I will take her to the hospital directly."

When Tabitha heard that, she glanced up at Julia, with a slight look of panic. She obviously didn't want to go without her. "You're going to be just fine, Tabitha." Julia told her, though she didn't let go of the girl.

When the car was brought around, Julia helped Tabitha walk there, and get settled in the back seat. Nathan watched his wife and Tabitha together, and one thing was clear: the young girl didn't want to let go of Julia. And even more so once Tabitha was seated in the car.

Julia must have felt it too, because when she turned toward Nathan, the look on her face said it all. Nathan stepped forward and whispered inaudibly. "Go."

And that was all it took. Julia climbed into the backseat of the car, and sat next to Tabitha. Julia put her arm around the young girl once again, and held her. Tabitha, who had been holding her breath, finally exhaled, and sank into Julia's arms.

Mr. Chandler turned to Nathan, "Are you sure?" And he wasn't even aware that Nathan and Julia were supposed to check out today and ride back to Airdrie.

But Nathan nodded and assured the older gentleman. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

After stopping at the front desk to inform reception that they would not be checking out quite yet, Nathan returned to their room. He finished packing up their things, and put the room back in order. He had no idea of the distance from the hotel to the nearest hospital, nor how long it would take to see a doctor there. So, he read awhile, sketched a while, and then ordered coffee.

Julia came back just after noon. Nathan recognized her soft tap on the door, and answered quickly. "Jules. How did it go? How's Tabitha?"

Julia smiled shyly and shared the news. "She's doing very well, feeling much better." Then she gazed up proudly, at her noble, selfless, and capable husband. "We did a good job, you and I. We make a good team." Nathan smiled, he couldn't have agreed more. "In fact, the doctor didn't have to do much, once we got there. He put a cast on her arm, to keep it immobilized, but said it would heal up just fine."

Nathan exhaled. "I'm so glad to hear it. Did someone track down her parents?"

"Her father met us at the hospital. He knows this hotel well, and both Mr. Chandler and Tim seemed to know him quite well, too." Julia replied. "Tim is her riding instructor."

Nathan nodded, relieved. "So she finally let go of you, did she?"

Julia giggled softly. "Yes, once her father arrived, and the cast was in place, she let me come back to you."

"And Mr. Chandler and Tim?" Nathan inquired.

"They drove me back." She told him.

Julia looked around the room, aware of their scheduled ride back to Airdrie. They were supposed to be on their way, already. "Everything's ready to go?"

"Yes, but I informed the front desk. I told them I wasn't sure when we'd depart and they understood. So, if you are too tired, or would rather start home tomorrow, that's just fine with me." He offered.

Julia's thoughts went to Airdrie and the ranch. She had been looking forward to getting back there. There was just something special about that place, and still so much left to discover.

Julia stepped close and looked up at Nathan. "I think if we could have a quick bite to eat, I would get my second wind, for the ride back to Airdrie."

Nathan smiled down at her. He had been thinking the same thing, at least, hoping for it. "How about the café?"

"Sounds perfect." She answered.

And so, he led her down the stairs, to the cafe on the terrace, for lunch.

They were just finishing up lunch on the terrace, when a well-dressed gentleman approached their table. Julia glanced up and was stunned to see him there. She stood.

"Mr. Coleman, what are you doing here?" Julia asked, with a glance around, in the direction from which he'd come. "How's Tabitha?" A slight look of disappointment flashed across her face, when she saw that Tabitha was not with him.

Nathan stood, too, as the gentleman answered. "My daughter's feeling much better now, thanks to you."

Julia, still stunned, realized that an introduction was in order and rushed to make it. "Nathan, this is Tabitha's father, Mr. William Coleman."

Nathan shook his hand. Julia smiled and continued. "Mr. Coleman, this is my husband, Nathan Grant."

"And I'm told you are an inspector in the Royal Northwest Mounted Police?" Mr. Coleman inquired.

"Yes, sir." Nathan answered kindly, though he had no idea how this man had stumbled upon that information. But Nathan added one more piece, without really meaning to. "I'm also a father, of an adventurous girl, about Tabitha's age."

Mr. Coleman turned his shoulders, with interest, and eyed Nathan. "So you can relate."

"Yes, sir, I can." Nathan said with a reassuring nod. "Julia and I are both glad that your daughter's going to be okay."

"She's home now, resting, and doing just fine." He looked from one to the other. "I'm sorry to interrupt your lunch, but I just wanted to thank you both, personally." He turned his gaze to Julia. "Your service to her today was invaluable." He was deeply sincere. "Thank you."

Julia smiled, clearly touched by his words, and the fact that he would go through the trouble to track them down. "It was my joy to help. Especially Tabitha. She's a sweet girl."

Mr. Coleman continued, now with an amused smile. "She can't stop talking about how you stepped in and saved the day. I think she's now decided she wants to be a nurse."

Julia chuckled low. "Well, she has plenty of time to make up her mind." She glanced at Nathan, who was looking on proudly. In fact, he'd been full of pride for his wife, since witnessing the way she'd handled the situation, and so selflessly taken care of Tabitha.

"I'll let you get back to your lunch, then." He told them both, but not before he extended his hand again, first to Julia, and then Nathan. "Thank you for taking care of my little girl." He told them both, one more time.

"Please give her my regards." Julia made sure to tell him.

"Consider it done." He replied, with a courteous nod, before walking away.

Later on, as Julia waited in the lobby, Nathan went to the front desk to settle the bill. And he was stunned to hear that there was no bill to settle. Everything had been paid for. Their stay, their meals, the excursion, even the room service.

Nathan, flabbergasted, drilled the front desk clerk. "This can't be right, sir. Who on earth paid our bill?"

From afar, Julia noticed the look of surprise on Nathan's face, and came closer. She overheard the rest.

"If you want to know who paid your bill, you'll have to ask the owner of the hotel." The front desk clerk informed him.

"The owner of the hotel?" Nathan asked, even more unsettled now. "Well, where can I find him?"

"I can take you right to him." The clerk answered.

"Please do." Nathan replied, determined.

The young man led both Nathan and Julia across the lobby, down a long hallway, and around a corner. He stopped in front of a big fancy wooden door, and knocked.

"Come in." Came the response from inside.

The young man opened the door, and low and behold, seated behind the desk, was William Coleman, the man they had just met on the cafe's terrace.

Julia's mouth fell open. No wonder Mr. Chandler and Tim had been so worried about young Tabitha. "Mr. Coleman?" She said, from Nathan's side, stunned once again.

"Yes, that's me." He stood.

Nathan was also taken aback. "You own the Glenbow?"

William smiled. "Yes. Yes, I do." He motioned to the chairs on the other side of his big wooden desk. "Please have a seat." And only once they were seated, did he sit down.

Nathan spoke first. "Mr. Coleman, it really wasn't necessary to take care of our bill."

The older businessman sat back in his chair, folded his hands together, and looked square at Nathan. "I wholeheartedly disagree. I think it was entirely necessary." He glanced at Julia and then brought his gaze back to Nathan. "You see, I lost my wife a few years back. It's just me and Tabitha now." He grinned, though not without a hint of his deep, lingering sadness. "Tabby's all I have."

Nathan softened. Once again, he could relate, because for many years, it had just been him and Allie. How many times had he thought to himself, that Allie was all he had? Of course, all that had changed now, but it was easy enough to remember.

Julia's face was somber. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Coleman." She grinned sad and said softly. "I'm very sorry for your loss."

Mr. Coleman cleared his throat, and swallowed the emotion right down. Then he fixed his gaze on Nathan. "Inspector Grant, I'm told you two are newlyweds. So I'm assuming you also know what that's like, if your daughter is my Tabitha's age."

"I know exactly what it's like to be a single father, to a wonderful, spirited daughter." Nathan grinned proudly and sympathetically, at the same time. "Though, Allie is my adopted daughter. She was my sister's and came to live with me nine years ago, after my sister died."

Mr. Coleman nodded understanding. "So you do know something about loss, and how important it is to hang onto what you do have."

Of course he did. Nathan related to it all, but still didn't want the gentleman to pay their hotel stay. "Yes I do. But what we did for Tabitha is completely normal, part of our calling as a nurse, and a Mountie." Nathan motioned back and forth between them. "It's really not necessary that you pay our bill."

Mr. Coleman looked them both over, still firm. "I insist, Inspector."

Nathan paused and looked at Julia. "And if I insist on paying? We are perfectly capable of paying what we owe."

"I'm sure you are, inspector Grant." He said determined, and with no sign of budging. "But do you mean to deprive me of the honor of repaying the kindness, that you so generously bestowed, on my beloved daughter?" He paused and looked at Julia. "Your wife jumped in the car with her and accompanied her all the way to the hospital. Not to mention that the doctor there barely had to do anything, since your wife had already done it."

In that moment, it was impossible for Nathan to argue, even if he was still uneasy about letting anyone take care of their bill. And even if he did want to argue more, his face belied him. It was now impossible to hide the pride, for his most capable and caring wife, that was so clearly written on his face. He sat back and calculated a moment, then he looked at Julia, who nodded just enough, so that only he would notice. "I would not deprive you of any honor, Mr. Coleman. But it's too much, honestly."

"It's up to me to decide how to repay your kindness." The older man told them both. "And this is how I choose to do it." He looked them over. "Now please, consider it a gift. And make your plans to come back to the Glenbow again, perhaps next time, with your daughter."

Julia glanced at Nathan, imagining how much Allie would love it here, in this hotel. The grand staircase, the stables, the waterfall, the riding. She would love it all, as much as she had. Nathan stood and answered. "We will certainly do that, sir. On one condition: you let us pay our bill next time."

Mr. Coleman stood and smiled. Nathan negotiated like a businessman. "I can certainly accept those conditions."

Nathan extended his hand. "Thank you, sir."

Mr. Coleman shook firmly and replied. "No, thank you, Inspector."

Julia shook too, and offered her thanks. But Mr. Coleman offered his right back, more insistent. "No, thank you, Nurse Julia." He smiled grateful. "Thank you for taking care of my Tabby."

"Please tell her good-bye for me." Julia said low.

"I will." He replied, as he walked them out of his office.

Then Nathan and Julia, still stunned and slightly overwhelmed, headed to the stables. They secured their bags, mounted their horses, and started the long ride back to Aisling Ranch.