The next day, Nathan put the finishing touches on the table and remaining chairs for Charles Mansfield. By the time Lee arrived with the flatbed wagon to transport the furniture to the train station, they were ready to be shipped. Nathan had also left detailed instructions for Lee while he was gone. He had a round table and four chairs that would need to be sanded and stained and the measurements written out for pieces he would need to start fulfilling the other orders. Today though, Lee and Jesse were going to take care of the arrangements to make sure the furniture was ready to go east to Hamilton on the morning train. Nathan would make sure things got followed through in the morning as he would be boarding that same train.
After talking all the details out with Lee, who like his father the night before had promised to keep an eye on Elizabeth and the kids while Nathan was gone, Nathan helped Lee load the furniture on the wagon, tying them securely. As Lee drove away with the furniture, Nathan let out a sigh of relief. He had made the deadline for Mansfield. Yes, there were other orders to fill but nothing as big as that custom order had meant to his new career.
Feeling more relaxed, Nathan returned to the wood shop to get some work done while Elizabeth continued school lessons with the kids. Though he had intended to join them for lunch, Nathan loss himself in his work. It wasn't until Elizabeth came out with a sandwich, slice of pound cake and a mug of coffee. When he apologized for losing track of time, Elizabeth dismissed it.
"Just remember your family is looking forward to a horseback ride after school," she reminded him as she stepped toward the door.
"I will not forget," Nathan promised.
Nor did he. As Ellen, Opal and Vincent were leaving, Nathan was walking across the lawn toward the house. Though Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen, Ally and Jack were on the porch, Nate right at Jack's feet.
"Mom is filling canteens," Ally told him. "She said she knew you would insist."
"Then what do you say the three of us go saddle the horses," Nathan told her.
"I'll tell Mama to meet us at the barn," Ally said, disappearing inside.
"All right," Nathan replied.
While Ally hurried inside, Nathan reached out to pick up Jack. With the boy giggling, Nathan settled Jack on his shoulders. On the porch, Nate quacked his protest.
"Don't worry my little friend, we won't forget you," Nathan told the duckling, reaching out to pick him up. As Nate was now eight weeks old, the little guy was getting some of the bright coloring of a male Mallard. At least that was one conversation that would not need to be had with Jack. However, Nathan also knew that Mallards usually started to fly at about this age. Without another duck around Nate had not done so yet, but Nathan had seen the duckling testing its wings as of late. Perhaps a reminder to Jack that the duck might choose to go on its own way might be in order, even though Nathan's gut told him that Nate would not go anywhere unless other ducks came along. As far as Nate knew, they were his family.
Handing the duckling up to Jack, Nathan turned his attention back to the house. Ally did not take long to come hurrying back outside and the trio headed for the barn. Nate was placed in his crate to keep him from getting underfoot. While Ally went about saddling Cinnamon, Nathan and Jack went into Sargent's stall. Though too short to really be useful in the saddling process, Jack watched intently while stroking the horse. When Elizabeth joined them, Cinnamon and Sargent were saddled. Elizabeth tucked two canteens and a package of dried fruit and nuts into Sargent's saddled bags, leaving the third canteen on a shelf for Nathan who had turned his attention to Newton.
Soon, all three saddled horses were being led from the barn. Knowing that Nate would try to follow them, Nathan had decided to leave the duckling in his crate as he would never keep up with the horses.
"Who are you riding with, Jack?" Elizabeth asked as Ally mounted Cinnamon. The huge grin on the girl's face told Elizabeth that she was already in love with her horse.
"On Newton!" the boy replied without hesitation.
"Can you hand him up to me?" Nathan asked Elizabeth in response to the boy's declaration.
"Yes," Elizabeth said, handing Sargent's reigns to Ally. She waited for Nathan to mount and get settled. She then ushered her son closer to Nathan astride Newton. As Nathan reached down for the boy, Elizabeth lifted him up. Soon her son was situated securely in front of Nathan, looking just as happy as Ally. "At least he chose the horse he wanted to ride and not the person," Elizabeth said softly. She had not intended for Jack to overhear but the boy did.
"I'll ride with you next time, Mama," Jack told her. He then craned his neck to look up at Nathan behind him. "When do I get my own horse like, Ally?" the boy asked.
"First you need to learn to ride by yourself, Jack. I think Mr. Campbell has a pony. I will ask if he will let us borrow it for lessons in the springtime."
"Why a pony?" Jack asked. The questions surprised Elizabeth who had thought for sure her son would ask why they had to wait for spring.
"Because when you fall while learning to ride the pony there is less chance of you getting hurt," Nathan told him.
"I won't fall," Jack declared.
Astride Cinnamon, Ally laughed at the comment. "Oh yes, you will. Everyone falls off a horse eventually."
Jack looked pensive, as if he wanted to believe his sister but didn't quite. "Even you, Dad?" he finally asked, looking back up at Nathan.
Nathan chuckled. "Yes, I have fallen from a horse more times than I would like to mention," he told the boy. "Especially, when I was first learning."
Jack looked to Elizabeth. "What about you, Mama?"
"Yes, Sweetie, I have. It is part of the learning process even when you are much older when you start learning. Your Daddy Jack is actually the one that taught me to ride."
"And Daddy let you fall off the horse?"
Elizabeth chuckled. "No. I never fell when your Daddy was at my side. He made sure of that. However, the first time I went to mount a horse without his help, I fell twice before I got up on that horse."
Jack looked down at the ground. "This is kind of high," the boy admitted. "Starting with a pony would probably be best."
"I am glad you are convinced," Elizabeth told him, patting his arm. Turning, she reached out for Sargent's reigns. Taking them, she mounted the black horse in on smooth motion. Though she doubted she made it look as easy as Nathan did, she was glad that no one had been there to witness that attempt to mount Sargent before her visit to Rosemary's a couple months ago.
"Would you like to lead the way, Ally?" Nathan asked.
"Oh, yes," Ally replied, turning her horse and starting off at a walk. Behind her, Nathan and Elizabeth fell in beside one another.
Yes, Elizabeth decided, Ally having her own horse was going to give them something else to do as a family.
Robert spent much of his time that afternoon at a pond not far outside of the cluster of buildings that made up Hope Valley. It had been a favorite fishing spot of his and Cody's when they were younger. Later, she had brought Ally here to fish. Back then, Ally had simply been a friend. The fact that she was not scared by critters and like to fish and catch frogs had made her easier to hang out with than the other girls. Spending time with Ally had been easy until other feelings had started to develop. Wanting to keep his friendship with Ally, he had attempted to turn those feelings toward Anna. That had not worked as he had always thought Anna a bit snobbish. She had also hinted that she expected him to go to college and not join the Mounties. Robert had known he could not be with someone who wanted to dictate his future. Besides, he had enjoyed spending time with Ally a whole lot better than spending time with Anna.
Yes, there was a few years between them. Robert use to think that would not matter. That he could patiently wait until Ally was finished with school here in Hope Valley. His six months at Depot had opened his eyes to a lot of things, including of how unfair it was to Ally to expect her to simply finish school herself and then come to join him. She deserved a chance to be exposed to things beyond their little town. Robert did not want to be the reason that Ally did not do just that.
Though he had told Ally he would stop by her house at four thirty, it was earlier than that when he started walking in the direction of her house. The simple fact was, he wanted to get this over with. Not telling her before her party had been one thing. Now that Ally had been able to celebrate her birthday, Robert did not see any advantage to putting it off further.
It was around three when he arrived at the Grant home. The place was quiet. Several knocks later, Robert determined that none of the family was currently home. Instead of leaving and coming back, Robert decided he would simply wait rather than leave and come back. Like at the pond though, he found, he could not stay still. He would sit for a bit, get up and pace, try sitting somewhere else and then repeat the process.
He wasn't sure how long she had been waiting when he heard approaching hoof beats. Looking in that direction, Robert saw all three Grants approaching on horseback. Stopping his pacing, Robert rubbed his hands on his pants, not wanting anyone to know how sweaty his palms currently were.
"I thought you said four thirty," Ally ventured as she reigned in her horse not far from Robert. Nathan and Elizabeth were right behind her.
Robert said a quick hello to her parents before turning his attention to Ally to answer her question. "I did say four thirty. However, I was impatient so my feet led me here,"
"I am sorry I wasn't here," Ally told him.
"No need to be sorry," Robert told her. "I have a feeling even now you would technically be early. If you need until four thirty, I can wait," he assured her.
"Well, I have to take care of Cinnamon," Ally began.
"I can take care of the horse this time, Ally," Nathan told. "Why don't you and Robert take a walk?"
Robert thought at first Ally was going to decline the offer and insist on taking care of the horse herself. He knew that if she did he would patiently wait for her to take care of the horse. To his surprise though, Ally thanked her father for the help. She slid off of the bay roan mare, and handed the reigns to her father. She then turned to him.
Before he had left Hope Valley, Robert would have reached for her hand. This time though, given what he wanted to say, he wasn't sure if that connection to her would make the words easier or harder to take. He chose to simply motion her toward the path that led to the river.
The two young people were quiet as they walked across the yard. Robert saw Ally cast a glance in the direction of her family. He had a feeling she would rather be with them than him right then. He supposed he couldn't blame her.
As the tall trees surrounded them, Robert took courage from the solitude they created. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. Though he kept his steps going in the direction of the river, Robert decided that the silence was accomplishing nothing.
"Ally, I have missed you while I have been away. Your letters were a great source of comfort during my months of training. Whenever I was feeling down, and like I could not go on, I would reread one of your letters and be reminded that my parents gave me a fairly sheltered life compared to some others. You are one of the strongest people I know Ally and the last thing I would want to do is to hold you back."
"Did you meet someone else while in Regina?" Ally asked.
Robert gave a little laugh. "I would not have had time to meet someone new even if I wanted to," he told her. "I think you are well aware of that," he said, looking over at her.
Ally was looking down at her feet but she nodded at the comment. "I do. I guess, I just thought that if you had met someone new it would make you not wanting to pursue a relationship with me a little easier to take." Ally looked up at him then. Despite the unshed tears making her eyes sparkle, there was a steely determination in them. It was a look that reminded him of her uncle when Constable Grant had dealt with serious situations over the years. "That is where this conversation is going, isn't it?"
Robert felt a little wave of relief wash over him. At least he was not going to have to explain everything though there were still things he wanted to make clear. "No, Ally. There is no one else. With the training these past few months the only new people I have met were the instructors and my fellow trainees. Not that I would have even considered a relationship with another girl with how we left things. Your Dad was right when he told us that now was not the time to be making any commitments."
"I hate to admit it, but he usually is right," Ally muttered.
Knowing that he had already had time to work through his own emotions, Robert did not try to talk Ally out of her annoyance now. Instead he continued to try to explain himself to her.
"Being away from my parents and outside of Hope Valley for the first time made me understand what your Dad tried to explain about being exposed to a broad range of experiences when you leave home. Even with training taking up so much of my time, I still experienced that though exploring Regina in my few free times and through talking with those I was training with. My fellow trainees came from all over the country and their experiences growing up were much different from mine. Those experiences along with the training have changed me and when my parents and sister came for my graduation."
"I could tell the difference last night," Ally admitted. "You seem more mature," she said quietly ducking her head.
Robert smiled. That was a compliment as far as he was concerned.
"Well, you should have the opportunity to experience that broadening of your horizons as well and I am afraid that if we try to keep a long distance relationship going it may affect you doing just that. I mean, look how far away this first posting is. It will be quite some time before I can come home to visit my family and friends here in Hope Valley. Neither of us knows, who you will meet in that time nor how we both might change. You have said you wanted to be a nurse, Ally. I do not want to get in the way. I do not want you to be tempted to forgo those dreams just to come be with me at wherever I might be posted at the time."
"I can't see my feelings for you changing and maybe being a wife and mother is what I want to do. There is nothing wrong with that," Ally protested.
"There isn't as long as you are not just settling for that," Robert told her. He reached for her hand. "Ally, right now, I can't see myself falling for someone else but the one thing these six months have taught me, is a lot can happen that we can't see ever happening. I think the best thing for us is to remain friends and let life happen. If we are meant to be, then I believe our paths will cross later in life. Look at your Dad and Mrs. Thornton, or well Mrs. Grant now. They seem happy together now. Your Dad makes her happy just like Mountie Jack did. It was nice to see her happy again."
"I am happy for them," Ally said. "That doesn't make me feel any better right now though."
Robert gave the hand he held a reassuring squeeze. "I know," he assured her. He brought them to a stop and reached for her other hand, getting Ally to face him. "I also know that I have had time to think and process all of this and you haven't."
"I kind of had a feeling when you said you wanted to talk in person," Ally admitted, the tears that had been sparkling in her eyes finally spilling over. The single tears running down her cheeks felt like a knife to the heart for Robert.
"It isn't the same. I know right away, you may not want to even talk to me for a while, but I do hope eventually we can still be friends. I think for now though, that is all we should be. We should not expect one another to put our lives on hold waiting for the other. We are at different spots in our journeys, Ally. I want you to be free to explore your path without me holding you back," he told her, squeezing the hands he held gently.
"I don't think I can just stay in touch as a friend right now," Ally told him, more tears spilling over.
Robert nodded, letting go of her left hand so he could reach up with his right hand to wipe a few of the tears away.
"I understand. Take the time you need, but know that if you ever want to write to me I would welcome the letter. My mother would give you the address."
"Can you walk me home now?" Ally asked.
Robert nodded. As she didn't pull her other hand out of his grasp, Robert continued to hold onto Ally's hand as they retraced their steps knowing that this could be the last time he held her hand.
Back at the house, The horses had been taken care of and Elizabeth had headed inside with Nathan and Jack. She noticed her husband cast several glances in the direction Robert and Ally had gone with a sad and protective look on his face. She could tell that Nathan wanted to protect his daughter from what was coming but no parent could protect their child from the sting of a heartache.
"She will be all right," Elizabeth told him softly. "Heartaches are easier to bounce back from at her age from my experience."
Nathan looked back at her and forced a smile.
In the house, Elizabeth settled Jack in the living room with his building logs and farm animals. She then went to the kitchen where Nathan was already involve in dinner preparations. Though she wanted to offer him more words of comfort, Elizabeth wasn't sure there were any words in this moment. Instead, the two of them worked in silence until the front door opened.
"Is that you, Ally?" Nathan called out putting down the knife he was peeling the carrots with and moving to where he could see the front door.
Elizabeth followed. Though she had closed the door calmly, Elizabeth saw the tears on her daughter's face the moment she walked into the dinning room.
"Why do you have to be right about everything?" Ally accused, her gaze focused on Nathan. "At least you will be happy now," she managed before a sob escaped her and Ally made a dash for the stairs.
Nathan moved to follow her but Elizabeth reached out and stopped him with a touch of her hand. "Let me go. A moment like this a girl needs another woman. Trust me," she told him, gazing into her husband's stricken expression as a slamming door sounded from above them.
Nathan nodded. As she headed upstairs, she could feel Nathan's eyes on her. Though she knew both her husband and daughter needed comfort right now, Ally needed her more. Nathan would be better comforted by his daughter going to him for comfort.
Reaching Ally's door, Elizabeth knocked. Ignoring the 'go away', Elizabeth entered the bedroom anyway. Ally had thrown herself across her bed and buried her head in her arms which muffled the sobs. Closing the door behind her, Elizabeth walked over to the bed. Sitting down beside Ally, she placed a hand on her back.
"I know you had feelings for Robert, Ally, but sometimes things just don't work out. That doesn't make the sting of rejection any easier to take. I know from experience. I locked myself in my room when my first suitor, Mortimer, broke things off two days before a dance he was going to take me to. I found out later that his father had asked him to be nice to me while he was trying to iron out a business deal with my father. Once the deal had gone through, Mortimer was told he could do whatever he liked about his relationship with me. Mortimer dumped me to take one of my friends to the dance."
Ally had turned her head to look up at Elizabeth. "That is awful. Robert says there is no one else. He just thinks we are at different places."
Elizabeth nodded. "He's right," she told the teen. "I know that is not what your aching heart want to hear, but it is the truth. Robert's first posting is hundreds of miles away. It really is not fair to either one of you to try to keep a relationship up in those circumstances. You are both going to meet new people and experience new things. Long distant relationships are hard to maintain and while you are going to be surrounded by family and friends for the next few years, Robert is going to a place where he is going to know anyone. He should be free to pursue any relationships that come his way, without having to worry about your feelings when you cannot be with him. Maybe a romantic relationship comes his way or maybe it doesn't, but do you really want him to be lonely because he is trying to be respectful of you."
"I guess not," Ally conceded. "It still hurts."
"I know," Elizabeth assured her. "It will for a while but any time you want comfort in that pain, know that your Dad and I are always willing to give it. Your Dad is not happy that you are hurting."
"I know," Ally confessed as she sat up on the bed. "I will apologize for that, but for now, can you just hold me for a bit?" she asked, looking at Elizabeth with plaintive eyes.
"Of course, Sweetheart," Elizabeth replied, reaching out to wrap her arms around Ally and pull the girl close. As Ally rested her head against her chest, Elizabeth stroked the girl's hair.
"Did you ever go to the dance that you should have gone with Mortimer too?"
"No," Elizabeth confided. "I refused to. I did not want to see Mortimer dancing with my friend. I was all set to spend the evening reading in my room alone as everyone I knew was at that dance. However, Edward, who was the son of my mother's friend and at the time I often thought a nuisance, came by. He said he did not want me spending the evening alone and did I want to come down and spend the evening playing chess. My mother told me that I should not throw the kind offer back in the 'young man's face' so I went down. We spent the evening playing chess and enjoying some refreshments our cook had prepared. At one point, Edward put some music on with the Victrola and we shared a couple of dances in the parlor. The next day, I found out that Mortimer spotted another pretty girl at the dance and spent more time dancing with her than my friend. I realized then, that Mortimer was not worth my tears."
"I believe Robert when he says there is no one else."
Elizabeth smiled. "I do too. I also think he does care for you, Ally. He cares for you enough to give you the freedom to finish growing up before making a commitment to him or anyone else. If you and /Robert are meant to be, then your lives will cross again when the time is right."
"Like you and Dad?" Ally asked.
Elizabeth smiled. "Exactly like me and your Dad," she told the girl. "I may have fought it, but despite the pain I caused him, your Dad and his love has been a steady influence in my life. I am so lucky that your Dad and you loved me enough to let me back in your lives."
"We're pretty lucky too," Ally replied. "I am glad I have a Mama to hold me after my first heartbreak. Dad tried to understand when Robert was hanging around with Anna a few years back but it wasn't the same."
"Just remember, that even when he falls short of you expectations, your Dad still loves you, Ally."
"I know. I have always known that. He chose to keep me when my own father chose to walk away. Even when my dad came back, he didn't come back to see me but instead to use me to get money from my Dad. I hope he serves out his full term in prison. It is where he belongs."
Elizabeth continued to stroke Ally's hair, though the statement brought up questions. All Nathan had ever said about Ally's Dad was that he had left. At the time, Elizabeth had felt that was enough. Now though, she felt she had the right to pry a little more into Ally's past. After all, the paper work for her to adopt Ally had been signed the night before at Ally's party, Bill having brought it to the party to make the girl's birthday wish come true. She would ask Nathan about Ally's birth father tonight but she would not demand. If Nathan was not ready to discuss the subject with her, she would give him the time he needed. Perhaps if she had done that all along she would not have made such a mess of things and hurt the people she loved.