"We're going to be early, aren't we?"
Nathan couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to his daughter not to simply just be excited about her party that she wouldn't notice the time. Apparently, Ally noticed everything, including the fact that he had given them more than ample time to arrive at the Amaryllis for her party.
Glancing over his shoulder, Nathan met Ally's curious gaze as she sat in the back of the wagon. The weather had gotten colder today and all of them had donned their winter jackets, and gloves. Ally had refused to put the hat on, not wanting to risk upsetting the hairstyle that Elizabeth had done for the party. Elizabeth had pinned up the top layer of hair, leaving it a bit puffy while the underneath layer had been braided with dark blue ribbons through it that matched Ally's party dress. The style was a compromise that satisfied both father and daughter.
"We are," Nathan replied. "However, there is a surprise waiting for you that I decided to give you before your party."
"Ooo, what is it?" Ally asked, giving her father a pleading look.
"You will find out when we get into town," Nathan told her as he looked back in the direction Cosmo was pulling the wagon.
"Is it the reason you went into town by yourself earlier?" Ally asked.
On the seat beside him, Elizabeth chuckled. "They do not stop with the questions even when they get older, do they?"
"No, they don't."
"But you say you learn by asking questions, Mama," Jack piped in from his spot next to Ally.
It was Nathan's turn to chuckle. "He has got you there, teacher," he kidded gently. "As for your question Ally, I went into town for both stuff related to your party and to talk to Mr. Coulter about business today."
"I wish you did not have to go away so long on business," Ally replied.
"Me too," Nathan told her. "But at least this time you know exactly where I am going and when I will be back. I can guarantee you I can make some calls home while I am gone. Also, you have your Mama and your brother with you while I am away this time," he reminded her. Being able to finally refer to Elizabeth as Ally's mama felt right somehow. Nathan knew that Colleen would be happy that there was finally someone there to fill that void in her daughter's life.
"We can play games and help Mama with the chores," Jack piped in looking adoringly up at Ally. "I know it won't be the same as reading with Dad but you and I could read together before bed until Dad gets home," he added.
Nathan looked over his shoulder again to see Ally hugging Jack close. "I would like that, Jack," she told him.
Nathan looked from the children to Elizabeth. She was watching the children as well, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Holding the reigns in one had, he reached out for Elizabeth's hand with the other. Elizabeth looked from the children, to their hands and then up to him.
"Are you sure you are going to be all right while I am gone?" Nathan asked
Elizabeth squeezed his hand. "The kids and I are going to miss you, but yes, we'll be fine. I lived alone for a few years after Jack senior passed remember. Granted, the neighbors are not quite a close as back then, but I have no doubt that Bill, Lee and Gabriel will all be checking in on me, even without you have asking them too, which you probably have already done."
"My Dad will be checking in as well," Nathan admitted.
"I think the kids and I will be well looked after in your absence," Elizabeth told him.
"Lee will actually be doing some work in the wood shop while I am gone. He's going to do some work on some of the other projects while I am gone. I just hope Rosemary doesn't get mad at me for Lee having more work to do."
"I am sure it will be fine," Elizabeth said. "I remember her giving up her spot in the backyard at the row house so he would have a small space to do some small projects with wood. I have a feeling Lee is going to enjoy helping you out. Maybe you two will become more equal partners in this venture."
"Maybe," Nathan said. "Right now, I have a business meeting in Hamilton I need to figure out. I have always found that handling one thing at a time, works for the best."
"One thing at a time, huh," Elizabeth commented, with a thoughtful look. When she didn't say anything else, Nathan left her to her thoughts as he concentrated on driving the wagon. Behind him, Nathan could hear Ally and Jack talking now. Jack must have inquired what Ally was hoping to get for her birthday as Ally was naming some things that she would like. "A horse of my own would be very nice, but that is not likely to happen," Nathan heard Ally tell her little brother.
Nathan glanced again at Elizabeth. There was merriment in his wife's eyes now. He was sure she was seeing the same in his own. They were going to have one very happy teenager when they got into town.
Eventually the reached town. Approaching the front of the Amaryllis, Archie came into the view. The man was standing in front of the hotel holding the bridle of the bay roan horse. Behind Nathan, the kids made comments about the horse as they approached.
"Did you get a new horse, Grandpa?" Ally asked as she climbed carefully down from the wagon bed.
"Not exactly," Archie replied as Ally walked forward to greet her grandfather.
Nathan secured the reigns before helping Jack down from the wagon bed so he too could go to his grandfather. With Jack greeting Archie, Nathan turned to help Elizabeth down from the wagon. He wasn't sure if he was imaging it, but Elizabeth's actions toward him seem to have a softness to them that wasn't there before. Like perhaps, certain events had allowed Elizabeth to accept certain feelings instead of fighting them. Nathan found that he like the change in her. He refrained from commenting on it, not wanting mar it in anyway.
With Elizabeth's hand tucked in his arm, Nathan led her over to where Archie stood with the horse and the kids.
"So if she isn't yours, whose horse is she Grandpa?" Ally inquired.
Archie looked from the girl to Nathan, deferring the question to the latter.
"I think I see a tag by that bow," Nathan commented, referring to the red ribbon that he had been tied on the bay roan's bridle. The bridle and lead were the only tack the horse currently wore, though Nathan had made sure that by tomorrow Ally would have everything she needed to tack and care for her horse.
Casting a curious glance at her father, Ally stepped forward. The gentle mare watched her but made no move. Reaching out, Ally gently stroked the mare's neck as she reached for the tag with her other had. Holding the tag, Ally read out loud.
"Happy Birthday Ally, from Dad, Mama and Jack." Ally looked from the tag to Nathan. "You mean she is mine?"
"Yes," Nathan replied. "I thought it was about time for you to have your own horse. Her care is going to be your responsibility though."
Ally nodded and looked back at the horse, her expression a mixture of wonder and disbelief. With tentative strokes, Ally brushed her fingers through the black mane.
"She's beautiful," Ally said.
"You got your birthday wish, Ally," Jack chimed in happily from his grandfather's side.
"I did," Ally said. As her grandfather still held the horses's lead, Ally moved from its side so that she could throw her arms around her father. "Thank you," she told him, the words muffled against his shirt.
"You are very welcome, Ally," Nathan told her, embracing the teen as Elizabeth had released his arm.
When Ally finally moved back from her father's embrace, she turned to hug Elizabeth, thanking her as well.
"When can I take her for a ride?" Ally asked.
All three adults chuckled at the enthusiastic question but it was Nathan who replied. "You have a party tonight but I was thinking all of us could go for a ride tomorrow after your school lessons are done. It will give us a chance to spend some time together before I leave for my business trip."
"That seems like a long time away," Ally said looking back to her horse.
Nathan chuckled. "It will come soon enough," he assured her. "Especially once you start hanging out with your friends."
"What are you going to name her, Ally?" Jack asked.
Ally contemplated the question for a few moments. Smiling, she finally replied. "I am going to call her Cinnamon. She is close to the color of cinnamon."
The horse whinnied, as if indicating that she approved of the name, causing all gathered to chuckle.
"I believe she approves," Archie commented. "Ally, how about you help me get Cinnamon here settled back in her stall before your guests arrive."
Nathan was about to protest that he could get the horse settled when he caught a silent communication from his father. Archie clearly wanted a few moments alone with his granddaughter, so when Ally agreed, Nathan did not protest. Instead he put an arm around Elizabeth's waist, held a hand out to Jack, and led the rest of his family out of the cold and into the Amaryllis.
As she walked to the livery with her grandfather, Ally had only eyes for her horse. Aware of that, Archie was looking out for his granddaughter as they walked, keeping all other dangers from her. He had thought giving her a huge party was going to be the best part of her birthday. Up until this point, it probably had been, but the horse from her father was clearly going to overshadow all other gifts. Which was as it should be, really.
Archie fingered the small metal object in his pocket. By itself it wasn't important. It wasn't even useful these days. However, its significance had been important to him over the years and he hoped Ally would understand that significance. He hoped that it would take on a significance for her as well.
It wasn't until Cinnamon was settled back in the stall she had been staying in and they were walking out of the livery that Archie spoke up. This was something that he wanted to give to Ally without an audience.
"Honey, can I speak to you for a moment," Archie said, his voice shaky with uncertainty much they way it had been when speaking to her his first time in Hope Valley.
Ally stopped walking and turned to him. She looked up at him with a perplexed expression. "Is something wrong, Grandpa?"
"No, not really," Archie told her. "I just wanted to pass along something to you that has been special to me over the years. I know that you have a few years yet until you will set off on your own, but I wanted to give this to you now."
"All right," Ally replied, her voice still hesitant as Archie pulled at the metal object from his pocket. "That looks like a cuff link," Ally commented. "Shouldn't there be two?"
Archie smiled. "Yes, and there was at one time. Not sure exactly where I lost the second one, though I remember the occasion."
"Then why did you keep that one?"
"Because these were a gift from Colleen and Nathan. Those two did odd jobs for months leading up to Christmas to buy these for me. They wanted me to have something to remind me of them while I was working at the bank. What made them special, was that my kids had gave of themselves to buy them for me. That was the last Christmas we had before my trouble with gambling landed me in jail. I was wearing them the day I got arrested. That is when its mate got lost, but still I hung onto that one. Along with the picture of those two, this cuff link was my connection to my two kids. My reminder that I had done something right at one time which eventually led me to wanting to put my mistakes behind me and makes amends with your Grandmother and your Uncle."
Ally reached out for the cufflink. Archie could see the connection she was making with the objects past. It was a link to both the mother that she had lost and the uncle who had become her father.
"I want you to have it now, Ally. When the time does come for you to strike out on your own, I hope that you can keep that with you and remember how much you are loved by your family. Even your Mom and Grandmother, who are watching you from heaven now."
Ally closed her hand around the cuff link before throwing her arms around her grandfather. "Thank you, Grandpa. I will keep it with me always," she told him.
"Good," Archie replied, his voice thick with emotion. "Now, your guests are probably starting to arrive. We should get you inside so you can celebrate. You only turn fifteen once. Happy Birthday, Honey."
Ally held onto them for a few more moments before pulling back. Then hand in hand, they headed toward the Amaryllis. They reached the boardwalk outside of the hotel at the same time as the Wolfs. The whole family wished Ally a Happy Birthday and then Richard and Mary Wolf took Sara inside.
Ally watched the Wolfs go inside, as she searched for something to say. Nothing came to mind. She knew Robert had wanted to talk to her in person but she wasn't sure she wanted to hear it tonight.
"I should go check with the kitchen staff to make sure everything is running on schedule," Archie said, breaking the silence that had fallen on the group of three. No one commented further as Archie followed the Wolfs inside.
"You are not wearing your uniform," Ally commented, not sure what else to say. She suddenly had a feeling she knew what her Dad had been feeling when silly things had come out of his mouth when talking to Elizabeth.
Robert shrugged. "I did not want to draw any attention away from the birthday girl tonight," he replied.
Ally smiled. "You said you wanted to talk."
Robert nodded. "Tomorrow afternoon. I will stop by around four-thirty. We can go for a walk before supper. Tonight, is about you. We should go celebrate with the others," Robert told her.
Ally nodded, relief falling over her. Tonight things could be just like they had always been.
The sound of an approaching wagon drew their attention. Seeing the Kinslows in the stopping wagon, Ally reached for Robert's hand. "Come meet my Uncle Gabe and Vincent," she told him, pulling him with her. Robert came easily.
After the greetings and needed introductions, Gabriel pulled out an awkwardly wrapped package in a pretty paper.
"Did you get me a saddle for my horse, Uncle Gabe?" Ally asked unable to resist guessing what was in the package.
"You, my dear, are just going to have to wait to find out," Gabe told her with a wink before heading for the hotel, Faith at his side.
"It's a saddle," Ally said with confidence to the two boys she stood with. "Let's go inside and see who else is here already. I'll introduce you to some of the other kids, Vincent."
Looping one arm through each of the boy's arms, Ally led them toward them toward the hotel. Tonight she was going to enjoy her party and not worry about what tomorrow would bring.
Archie had arranged the tables for dinner in two groups. One group was for Ally and her friends. The other was for the adults there celebrating and the younger children. Though he had a chair of his own, Jack had ended up eating dinner in Nathan's lap. Elizabeth had started to try to persuade him to sit in his own chair but Nathan had stopped her. Ally was going to start needing him less and less. That process had already started and Nathan knew there was no stopping it. Nor would he want to. However, having Jack wanting to share his dinner plate with him made him feel the sting of that a little less.
Bill had made a beautiful cake for the birthday girl. After the cake, Ally opened her presents. Gabriel and Faith had indeed gotten Ally a saddle for her horse. Lee and Rosemary had gotten the girl a saddle blanket for the horse. Bill had provided the brush and other items she would need to care for Cinnamon. Vincent had made a birthday card for Ally and included a picture he had taken at his parents wedding of her and Jack with Nate. Ally was touched by the gift from her newest friend.
The other gifts were an assortment of dresses, novels, and hair accessories all of which Ally gushed over. Opening the dark-green journal that Robert had gifted her, caused Ally to think briefly of the impending talk. It was quickly forgotten though as Jack handed her a clumsily wrapped flat package.
"I made you something, Ally," Jack told her. "For your first birthday as my sister."
The comment drew 'awws' from those gathered as Ally accepted the gift. "Thank you, Jack," she said.
Pulling the paper away, Ally found a simple picture frame. Each side of the rectangle was a different color - red, peach, green and sky blue.
"Dad cut the pieces but I glued them and painted them. Red is for Dad. Peach is for Mama, as I love her peach skirt. You love the color blue so that side is for you and green is my favorite color," the boy explained.
"I love it, Jack," Ally said, giving her little brother a hug. "Thanks to Vincent, I have the perfect picture for it," she added.
After gifts, Gretchen and Rosemary organized a few games for the children. While the games were going on, Gabriel helped Nathan get the gifts outside in the wagon. After the games, people started going home. Nathan offered to stay and help his father with the clean up but Archie would not hear of it.
"I think Jack needs to get home to bed," the man told Nathan, nodding toward where Elizabeth sat with Jack on her lap. The little boy was struggling to keep eyes open as Elizabeth chatted with Faith and Bill.
"Yes, it does look that way. Are you sure you will be fine?"
"Gretchen and I are staying to help him," Mike piped up from where he helped his fiancé clear the tables.
Archie leaned in closer. "They will also probably sit at the bar and enjoy one last drink alone before locking up but with all Gretchen does around here, who am I to complain."
Nathan chuckled. "Fair enough," he said. He gave his father a quick embrace. "Thank you for doing this for Ally, Dad. She clearly enjoyed herself."
"It was my pleasure, Son," Archie assured him. "Don't worry about your family while you are away. With Bill, Lee and Gabriel's help, I'll look out for them."
Nathan took a step back. The irony of his father looking out for his family, when he had fought the idea of a family of his own due to his father's actions, was not lost on him. Still, it felt right somehow.
"Thank you, Dad," Nathan told him again.
Nathan rounded up the rest of his family. At Jack's request, Elizabeth sat in the back with him. As Nathan helped Ally up onto the wagon seat, Jack snuggled with his mother. By the time the wagon was leaving the little town, Jack had already fallen asleep.
"This was the best birthday ever," Ally told him, slipping her arm through his and leaning her head against his arm. With the party over, she had consented to putting a hat on for the ride home. "And Cinnamon is the best gift ever. Thank you for her."
"You are welcome," Nathan assured her. "I figured it would be nice for you to be able to go riding without asking to use someone's horse. Maybe you should have had your own horse before this."
"You have done your best over the years to take care of not only my needs but my wants," Ally told him. "I could not have asked for a better father," she added before placing a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Ally," Nathan said, the praise making him feel warm despite the chill of the night.