By the time Ally and Elizabeth had ventured back downstairs, tears had been dried and Nathan had dinner just about finished. Ally had assured her father that she was not upset with him and accepted a hug from him. Elizabeth let Ally find comfort in her father's embrace while she set the table and made sure dinner didn't burn.
The rest of the evening was a typical one for the Grants although Nathan was talked into reading an extra story to Jack, as he was going to be away for so long. He spent some extra time reading with Ally. The teen also talked a bit about the situation with Robert with him as well, for which Nathan was grateful. Even if he couldn't protect his daughter from certain things, he did hope that she would never shut him out of those situations.
By the time he left Ally's room, Elizabeth had changed into her nightgown and was reading in bed. Nathan got ready as well and as it had been a busy couple of days with an early morning, the two retired as well. As she nestled in Nathan's arms, Elizabeth brought up the subject of Ally's birth father, sharing with Nathan what little Ally had said about him and letting Nathan know that when he felt ready to speak about the subject she would appreciate him sharing what he felt comfortable sharing about the subject. To Elizabeth's surprise, Nathan opened up quite a bit to her. He told her about what Dylan was like when he was married to Colleen. Elaborated on his 'after Colleen passed her father just left' comment. She had shared with him what little Ally had said, and Nathan filled in the missing information from Dylan's visit to Hope Valley. The assurance that the man was still in jail made her feel relieved as did the assurance that the Mounties would be sure to alert Nathan when the man was released.
The following morning started early for the Grants. Reminded that Nathan was leaving for the business trip at the breakfast table, Jack broke down into tears. Elizabeth found herself holding her breath. Lucas had always dealt with Jack's emotional meltdowns with yelling and sending the boy to his room. If Jack did not go willingly, Lucas would pick the boy up and deposit him in the room.
Nathan's response was to pick the boy up and settle him in his lap as he calmly talked to the boy, allowing Elizabeth to let out the breath she had been holding.
"I need to go to Hamilton to settle a business deal and then I will be back. The time will pass quickly. Ally and your Mama will be here with you."
"But you will be lonely. I can keep you company if I come," Jack reasoned.
"Your Mama will miss you, Jack."
"Won't she miss you?" Jack asked.
"I am sure she will," Nathan replied, glancing over at Elizabeth. "If you come with me, she will miss us both."
"But then Mama will know neither of us is alone," Jack reasoned.
Now Nathan silently pleaded to Elizabeth to bail him out, not knowing how to counter that response.
"And who would watch you while your Dad is in his business meetings, Jack?" Elizabeth asked her son.
"Grandma Thatcher," Jack supplied. "Or Aunt Julie. They would like to see me too," Jack told her.
Elizabeth sighed. Sometimes trying to reason with a child was more exhausting than reasoning with an adult.
Jack looked up at Nathan with pleading eyes still filled with tears. "Please?" he implored.
Nathan wanted nothing more than to tell the boy yes. This wasn't like one of his trips with the Mounties. Yes, there were dangers. Life was dangerous. However, the boy would be in no more danger with him than if he stayed here with Elizabeth and Ally. This was not just his choice though. Nathan had no idea how Elizabeth would feel about Jack being away from her for so long.
Nathan's eyes met Elizabeth's again. This time he tried to silently let her know that he was okay with it if she was.
"I am sure my parents would like the extra time with him," Elizabeth consented. "What about the train trip, though?"
"Jack is right. He would help keep me company. Mr. Mansfield has me in a private compartment for both lengths of the journey, so it is not an issue of whether there is room or not for him on the train. Can you pack a bag for him in time?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "It might not be neat, but I can have a bag packed. Jack come sit with me for a minute," she requested.
Nathan helped Jack slide from his lap and the boy went to Elizabeth. Picking her son up, Elizabeth looked Jack in the eye.
"Jack, you do understand that going with Nathan means a about two weeks away from me, right. Most of the trip will be spent on the train. Nathan is only staying three nights with Grandma and Grandpa before coming home. Once you get on that train, you will not be able to change your mind and come home early."
"So it would be kind of like when you went away with Lucas after your wedding and I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. This time I would be with Dad though."
"Yes, it would be like that," Elizabeth assured him.
"I would miss you Mama but I don't want Dad to be alone on the train," Jack told her. "May I please go with him?"
Nathan watched as Elizabeth hugged the boy and placed a kiss on his head. Letting Jack go without her was going to be hard. Nathan knew how she felt. It was the same way he when he had to leave Ally in the care of someone else to go out on an assignment with the Mounties. The fact that Ally was older now made things easier. This time was even easier knowing he was leaving Ally in Elizabeth's care. Elizabeth did not have the practice he did with entrusting your child with someone, even someone you loved.
"You may," Elizabeth told him.
Jack gave her a hug. "Thank you, Mama," he told her quickly before squirming to be put down. "I am coming with you Dad!" the boy exclaimed. "I need to go pack!" he exclaimed hurrying for the stairs. He had not gone far when he turned to look at his mother. "Will you take care of Nate for me, Mama?"
Elizabeth smiled, as she got to her feet. "I will," she assured him. "Let's get you packed. We can't have the two of you missing the train."
"So, can I tag along too?" Ally asked.
Nathan looked over at his daughter who had finished her breakfast. Her arms were crossed on the table in front of her and the look on her face told Nathan she was just asking to see what he would say.
"You have school, young lady," Nathan told her. "Your Mama is already ending lessons early for the holiday break so we can all leave for Hamilton a little earlier."
"Can't blame a girl for trying," Ally told him. "Besides, I would feel bad leaving Mama home all alone," she said getting to her feet. "Finish eating, Dad. I will start cleaning up the breakfast dishes."
"Thank you, Ally. You and I will do something special when I get back. We'll have a father-daughter day," Nathan promised.
"I like the sound of that," Ally replied, as she gathered empty dishes. "Do you think Jack is going to finish his breakfast?" she asked.
Thinking of how excited the boy had been, Nathan had a feeling that food was going to be the last thing on the boy's mind. "Leave the muffin. We'll see if he eats it on the ride to the train station. Leave you Mama's plate for now though."
Ally nodded as Nathan went back to finishing his breakfast. He had a feeling Elizabeth wouldn't be eating much more this morning but he planned on trying to get her to eat a little more. He was thankful that Rosemary had already invited Elizabeth and the kids to dinner tonight. Though Jack would be with him, he had a feeling it would be good for Elizabeth and Ally not to be eating alone tonight.
Later that morning, Elizabeth hugged her son tightly as the first call for boarding the train was made. Part of her couldn't believe she was letting her son travel across country without her while the other part knew that she could not break his heart. There had been tears with other trips that Nathan had taken away from home while still with the Mounties. He had missed the man he had claimed as Dad but the boy had somehow understood those were trips he could not take. Jack knew this one was different. His plea to keep his Dad company had touched Elizabeth's heart. That was the bond she had wanted Jack to make. She did not want to discourage it, though she would miss both Nathan and Jack while they were gone.
"I will be back, Mama," Jack told her, his tiny hand patting her side as he hugged her.
The words made Elizabeth realize she had probably been hugging her son longer than necessary.
"I know but I am going to miss both you and your Dad very much," Elizabeth told him, finally releasing him.
"We'll miss you too," Jack responded, his voice full of sentiment but the smile on his face relaying the excitement.
"I know you will," Elizabeth replied. "You be good for your Dad as well as Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Julie," she instructed.
"Yes, Mama," Jack replied.
Elizabeth got to her feet. As Jack went to give Ally a hug, Elizabeth found herself enveloped in Nathan's strong arms.
"I appreciate you letting him come with me, Elizabeth. I can't put into words what it means to me and I promise I will look out for him."
"I know you will," Elizabeth said. "I just hate saying good-byes. To either of you."
"I will call the moment I reach your parents' house," Nathan promised her. "If there is time at a stop to make a quick call I will leave a message with Bill or Lee."
"Thank you," Elizabeth told him, her arms around Nathan as she rested against him. He made her feel strong. She would need to find her own strength while he was gone. "Ally and I will look out for each other while you are gone," she promised him.
"I know you will. My girls are stronger than they think. You will both be fine and before you know it, Jack and I will be home," Nathan told her.
Elizabeth waited for the soft kiss to her hair that was a customary gesture whenever Nathan said good-bye to her but it never came. Instead, she felt a couple of fingers under her chin. Gentle pressure encouraged her to look up. Gentle blue eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and compassion greeted her. She clearly was not the only one who was going to be missing someone.
As she stood lost in those eyes, Nathan tilted his head down and with a feather light touch, pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was very brief, in deference to the fact that they were not alone, but it still made her heart beat a little faster.
"I love you, Beth. I will think of you often while I am gone," Nathan whispered softly to her, words only for their ears.
"Hurry back to me," Elizabeth replied. She knew the words were not the same as the endearment he had said to her but she hoped that he was aware of the emotion the prompted them. Emotions that her mind still refused to put names to.
"I will," Nathan told her, finally releasing her.
Nathan said a quick farewell to Lee who had driven them all to the train station. He then picked up Jack and the carpet bag that had what they would need for the train ride and headed for the train. Ally moved closer as Nathan walked away and Elizabeth reached out an arm to drape it across the girl's shoulders. Elizabeth hugged the girl to her as she reached up with her free hand to wipe some tears away. An arm across her own shoulders told Elizabeth that Lee had moved closer to offer her comfort. She was very thankful to her friend for that.
The conductor took the bag from Nathan while her husband boarded the train. At the top of the steps, Nathan turned. Both he and Jack gave another wave. While Nathan's expression had a sad face to it, Jack's face was one of pure joy. It told Elizabeth that despite how hard this parting was and how much she would miss her son, allowing Jack this trip with Nathan had been the right thing.
Elizabeth continued to watch the train after Nathan had disappeared from sight. She knew that she would not be going anywhere until that train could no longer be seen. The final boarding call was made. There was an increase in the bustle around her as passengers hurried to board the train at the last minute. Though she wasn't sure Nathan would have access to a window on this side of the train, Elizabeth still found herself scanning the windows for one more glance of her husband and son.
"There they are!" Ally exclaimed, pointing toward the train.
Looking in the direction Ally was pointing, Elizabeth did indeed spot both Jack and Nathan in one of the train windows about midway down the car. Both were waving and Elizabeth joined Ally in returning the gesture.
The little family continued to wave to one another as the train whistle sounded and then began to move. Elizabeth and Ally didn't stop waving until the train was out of the station and moving out of sight.
Elizabeth felt a gentle squeeze on her shoulders and looked toward Lee. "They will be back before you know it," her friend promised her. "In the meantime, you are going to find plenty of people checking in on you and Ally. I know you are already joining us tonight, but remember any other night the two of you want to eat dinner with me and Rosie, you just stop on by."
"Even if it is every night?" Elizabeth asked, already thinking about how empty the dining room table would seem without Nathan and Jack.
"Even if it is every night," Lee assured her. "Now where do you lovely ladies need to be next?"
"The Weise's," Ally supplied. "School lessons are there today."
"But we can walk Lee," Elizabeth added. "We have already taken up a lot of your time this morning."
"I will not hear of it," Lee replied. "I told Nathan I would look out for you two while he is gone, and I feel much better leaving you in the presence of another friend under the circumstances."
"Thank you," Elizabeth murmured, the two words seeming so inadequate for the gratitude she was feeling. Friends always made the absence of someone you loved a little easier to bear.
Despite his assurances to Elizabeth that Jack would be no problem, Nathan had harbored some doubts about a week long train trip with an almost five-year-old. He remembered some long trips with an impatient Ally at that age. However, Jack did better than he anticipated. The window offered quite a bit of entertainment for the little boy. When he bored of the sights moving by quickly, Nathan would entertain the lad. Elizabeth had packed Jack's farm animals in the bag and Jack would happily play on the floor of the compartment with them for long stretches of time. Jack's favorite books had found their way into the bag as did Ally's copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with a note.
Dear Dad,
This was one of the first novels I remember you reading to me during one of our long trips. I thought this would be a good time to introduce Jack to it. Have a safe trip
Love,
Ally.
The fact that the book had been suggested by Ally was all the reason Jack needed to be interested in the book.
So neither he nor Jack would go stir crazy, Nathan took the boy for walks through the train cars. Though Nathan had never been one for striking up conversations with strangers, Jack had no such hesitation. He started conversation with kids and adults alike, all of whom were charmed by the talkative little boy. On the first evening in the dining car, Jack walked up to an old man sitting at a table alone with a newspaper. The man was dressed in a suit and a bowler hat sat on the table next to him. Nathan noticed a NWMP insignia pin at the end of the man's dark blue tie as did Jack.
"Both my Daddies wore that pin on uniforms," Jack stated, gaining the old man's attention as the boy pointed to the insignia. "Were you a Mountie?"
Nathan was about to apologize for the disturbing the man before leading Jack to an empty table but the old man replied first.
"No, Laddie, I was never a Mountie. My son was the Mountie but he was killed a few years ago," the man looked down at the pin on his tie. "Probably shouldn't have kept this but I didn't think the Mounties would come looking for a missing insignia on the uniform."
"I am sorry, mister. My first Daddy was killed too," Jack told him before giving the older gentleman a hug.
Nathan saw the surprise on the older man's face right before a smile replaced it. The man hugged Jack back. The man then looked up at Nathan.
"Would you be this boy's second Daddy?" the gentleman asked.
Nathan smiled. "Yes," he replied. "I am sorry if he bothered you."
"No bother at all," the man said, patting Jack's back before releasing the boy. "Ralph Parker," he added holding out his right hand.
"Nathan Grant," he replied, taking the extended hand.
Ralph Parker looked up at him quizzically. "No rank?" the man inquired. "I thought the lad said both his Daddies were Mounties."
Understanding dawned on Nathan but once again, Jack spoke up first.
"Daddy Nathan stopped being a Mountie. The town threw him a party. He works with wood now."
"That about sums it up," Nathan told the man. "I decided I need to give my daughter more of my time than being a Mountie allowed for," he explained as he rested his hands on Jack's shoulders. "Then Jack and his mother came into my life and I knew I had made the right decision. I don't regret the time I gave the force, but I needed to put other priorities before it."
"I admire both your service to your country and your decision that it was time to put family first," Ralph told him. "I would like to think my Donald would have figured out a balance eventually. Of course, he was young still. Had a thirst for adventure. Was only twenty-one when he lost his life in the Northern Territories."
"I am sorry for your loss, sir," Nathan said. "We lost a lot of good men in that fight."
"Some were your friends. I can see it in your eyes," Ralph replied. "Are you and Jack traveling alone, or is the rest of the family waiting for you?"
"It is just me and Jack on this trip," Nathan told him. "I am going to Hamilton for business. Jack came along to keep me company and to see his maternal grandparents who live in the city."
Jack reached up to take one of Nathan's hand. "I didn't want Dad to get lonely."
"He is a very lucky man to have such a considerate son," Ralph told Jack seriously. "Would you like to share my table for your meal? I like to pretend I am grouchy enough to like eating alone, but to tell you the truth this trip west without my wife has been lonely but she was recovering from a fractured ankle and couldn't make the trip with me this time."
Jack's reply to the invitation was to climb up in the seat next to Ralph. Nathan chuckled. "I think Jack answered for us," he replied. "Thank you for the invitation," he added as he took a seat across the table from the gentleman.
For the next couple of days, any meal eaten in the dining car was eaten with Ralph. Nathan wasn't sure who was keeping who company but he did enjoy the time spent with the older gentleman until Ralph reached his destination.
Though there was never enough time for someone to go get Elizabeth, Nathan did check in at the train stops in which there was time enough to leave the train for a bit before it departing again. He would ask Florence to try Lee, Bill or Gabe and talk to whoever she happened to be able to get a hold of. At the stop where Ralph Parker had departed, it was midday and as soon as Florence heard his voice the lady squealed. The sound was followed by "Elizabeth is in the store shopping. Let me get her to the phone."
Though the conversation was brief, hearing Elizabeth's voice had a soothing effect on Nathan. The same could not be said about Jack, who Nathan held the phone for. Though happy while talking to his Mama, the little boy dissolved into tears heading back to the train saying he missed his Mama. Nathan retreated to their compartment to console the little boy in private. The bout of tears led to a nap.
All in all, the long trip was not too bad but Nathan was still relieved on the morning he woke up and realized they would be in Hamilton within the next couple of hours. He was tired of the train and he was sure Jack was too. He also had to admit, he was looking forward to taking a nap while someone else watched Jack. He had felt like he was on the trail, purposely making sure he slept light to make sure nothing happened to the boy.
No, the stay in Hamilton was not going to be long, but it would be welcomed.