Maybe that's the reason why
It's so hard to say forever, babe
I can see ten years from now
But tomorrow's unclear
I get so afraid sometimes
That I don't know what to do
But I'm not afraid to love you
-Curtis Peoples "Afraid"
"I don't think Joe quite believes me that I ordered the ring for you," Gabriel said as he and Nathan walked the short distance from Brookfield's Mounted Police Office to the Mercantile.
"Is that why you insisted that I be the one to pick it up from him?" Nathan asked.
"Yes," Gabriel replied. "I figured Joe would believe it that way. After all, the ride from Hope Valley to Brookfield is a bit of a long one to undertake just to perpetuate a ruse."
Nathan laughed. "How are things going between you and Lillian?"
"Slowly, but that's okay. We did have dinner at the hotel last Friday. However, I don't think either one of us are thinking about forever quite yet. I'm actually surprised you're at that point with Elizabeth."
"Yeah," Nathan said, looking off to the horizon. "Well, I'm having seconds thought about that," he admitted.
"Did something happen?" Gabriel asked, coming to a stop.
"No," Nathan said. "Not really."
"But..." Gabriel prompted.
"What if she says no, Gabe?" Nathan said, looking back at his friend. "I mean, she said she's willing to risk loving another Mountie but what if she comes to her senses when I ask and it becomes real."
"Then I guess you know how she really feels," Gabe replied seriously.
Nathan shot him a look. His friend was not being helpful right about now.
"Do you love her?" Gabe asked.
"Yes."
"Can you see the two of you celebrating a ten year anniversary down the road."
Nathan paused. The answer was easy. He could see Elizabeth by his side for years to come. She could picture her by his side when he gave Ally away one day. He could picture them together when Little Jack finished school. He hoped they might even have a child, or two, of their own.
"A future with Elizabeth is easy to imagine, but so is her telling me no when I ask her to marry me," Nathan finally replied.
"You're hopeless," Gabriel replied, even as he grabbed his friend's arm. "However, you did have me order the ring, which is waiting to be picked up, so we're at least doing that," he added, dragging Nathan toward Joe's store. "I'll work on convincing you to go through with it afterwards, though at this rate, I might choose to ask Lillian before you decide to ask Elizabeth."
"Funny," Nathan replied, wondering why he had gotten Gabriel involved in this in the first place.
~Because I didn't want the people of Hope Valley talking about me having a diamond ring and Elizabeth finding out that way before I get around to asking her the question,~ Nathan reminded himself.