A couple days after the kiss, Nathan went to Elizabeth's house to drop off a casserole dish. Rosemary informed him that Elizabeth made an impromptu trip back to Hamilton and that she would be back before Winter Break was over. Nathan had a feeling that the impromptu trip had been to avoid talking about the kiss.
Nathan and Allie celebrated New Year's together. It was a quiet celebration as they were both still mourning the death of Archie and Colleen. But they both made promises that the New Year would be better.
As Allie had spent her winter break with her friends, Nathan spent most of his time with the lawsuit. He went through subpoenaed records and answered different types of motion. Lucas had hired Nathan's old firm in Toronto to represent him. They were expensive and a formidable opponent. But Nathan had the upper hand; that firm taught Nathan everything about property law.
It was the Sunday before Allie had to go back to school. After church, Allie spent her last day with friends while Nathan went into to town to mail documents.
"Hi Ned. I just need to mail these off." Nathan said.
"Sure, thing Nathan." Ned said. Nathan smiled and looked around the mercantile.
"Nathan, would you like to enter the poker tournament for this Friday?" Ned asked.
"I thought gambling was illegal?" Nathan said.
"It is. But this isn't gambling. There is one time admittance fee. The money will go to the Orphanage in Brookfield. We give out fake chips that have no value. It Is just a bunch of people playing cards. Winner gets bragging rights." Ned said.
"I don't know." Nathan said.
"Don't bother Ned. He probably doesn't even know how to play." A voice said coming around the corner. It was Lucas.
"It's not that. I just never liked the game." Nathan said.
"What would you like us to play? Old maid?' Lucas said.
Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Probably for the best. I will be winning the tournament." Lucas said proudly.
"My father used to gamble and wiped out our savings. I swore I would never gamble." Nathan said.
"Sounds like your father didn't know when to fold." Lucas said. Nathan clenched his fist inside his jacket pocket.
"Way to kick a dead man when he is down." Nathan said. Nathan pulled his hand out of his pocket and was ready to punch Lucas. But over Lucas's shoulder, he saw Elizabeth walking down main street. Nathan unclenched his hand.
"Ned, sign me up for the tournament." Nathan said walking past Lucas.
Nathan ran down the stairs and quickly walked over to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth." Nathan called out. Elizabeth stopped and turned to face Nathan.
"Nathan." Elizabeth said.
"I came by your house to drop off your casserole dish but Rosemary said you went home to visit with your folks." Nathan said.
"That is true. I thought it would be a good time to let Jack see his grandparents." Elizabeth said.
"The timing seemed suspicious with our kiss and all." Nathan said.
"Nathan." Elizabeth began.
"Look before you say anything. Let's have din-"
"Yoohoo." A voice said. Nathan stopped midsentence. He knew that voice from anywhere. Nathan turned around and his eyes went wide. It was Suzanne at the stagecoach platform.
"Nathan, darling, hello." Suzanne said as she started walking over to Nathan. Nathan turned back to face Elizabeth who had a small smirk on her face.
"Nathan, dear, how are you?" Suzanne said hugging him.
"Suzanne, what are you doing here?" Nathan asked.
"Now that's no way to greet a woman." Suzanne said. Suzanne saw Elizabeth standing there.
"I'm Suzanne, but my friends call me Suzie. I'm the woman that Nathan is courting." Suzie said.
"We are not courting." Nathan said.
"We have been on dates." Suzanne said.
"Date. One date and I ended up in the hospital with a broken rib." Nathan said.
"Such a jokester. And who might you be." Suzie asked Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth Thornton. My family lives in Hamilton, the Thatcher's.' Elizabeth said.
"Yes. I have spent time with your sister Julie. She is such a hoot!" Suzie said.
"I'm going to let you two get reacquainted." Elizabeth said giving Nathan a frown.
"Elizabeth." Nathan said. Elizabeth walked away.
"She seems lovely." Suzie said.
Nathan turned around to Suzie.
"How did you know where I was?" Nathan asked.
"Funny story. I talked to your assistant, Gertie or something. She wouldn't let me know where you went. So, when she was away from her desk, the phone rang and I picked it up. I pretended I was new. It was a law firm asking where to send documents in Hope Valley. I told them that I was new and that I would get back to them. I have a map of Canada back at my house. I opened it up and looked for Hope Valley. It was in such tiny writing but I found it. I planned my trip and ended up here today." Suzie said.
Nathan was dumbfounded and angry.
"You need to head back home." Nathan said putting his hand on her back and guiding her toward the Stagecoach.
"But I just got here." Suzanne said.
"This was pretty much all there was to see." Nathan said.
Suzanne stopped in her tracks.
"I should probably eat before I go. Maybe Lucas Bouchard has some food?" Suzie said raising her eyebrow.
Nathan sighed. She had him in a corner. Nathan put on a fake smile.
"Why don't you stay with my Niece and I?" Nathan said.
"Wonderful!" Suzie said.
Suzie was not fit for the country. She refused to ride Newton. Not realizing how far the walk would be, she finally broke down and Nathan helped her ride, Newton. She pinched her nose to the smell of the horse. As they walked, Nathan explained that he came to Hope Valley because his sister had died. He also explained how he would have to stay in Hope Valley until June.
"You poor thing." Suzie said over and over.
When they finally reached the house, Nathan helped Suzie down from Newton.
"I don't know how you live with that smell." Suzie said.
"You get used to it." Nathan said.
The front door opened and Colin ran outside.
Suzie shrieked and ran behind Nathan.
Colin greeted Nathan.
"This is Colin." Nathan said.
Suzie came out from behind Nathan and patted the Colin's head.
"Good doggie." Suzie said. Allie wasn't too far behind Colin.
"Allie, this is my friends Suzanne from Hamilton." Nathan said.
"Aren't you precious. My friends call me Suzie." Suzie said.
"Hello." Allie said.
"She will be staying with us until the next stagecoach comes." Nathan said.
"Or longer." Suzanne said. Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Can you show Suzie her room please?" Nathan asked Allie. Allie nodded.
Suzie went over to Allie and hugged her.
"We are going to have so much fun. I can teach you to do your hair and make-up. We can have some girl time." Suzie said as Allie walked inside. Allie turned her head and mouthed help me to Nathan.
Nathan shook his head and led Newton back to the stables.
Nathan put Suzie's bags in the spare room. Nathan and Allie went through Archie's stuff and put some in storage for safe keeping. The bed had been stripped and new bedding was put on. After all of Archie's belongings were gone, the room felt different to Nathan. It just felt like a spare room and not his father's room. For only being here for a short period, Archie's absence left a hole in this house.
Allie and Suzie were in the living room talking. Nathan overheard the conversation.
"Your Uncle and I are taking our courting slow. But hopefully one day, I can be your aunt." Suzie said.
"Let's show Suzie around." Nathan interjected. All three of them went outside. As they were walking toward the stable, Suzie shrieked as if she was being murdered.
"What happened?" Nathan asked.
"My shoe. I accidently stepped in cow dung." Suzie said.
"I forgot to tell you about that. You need to watch your step." Nathan said.
"My shoe." Suzie said taking it off.
"There is a bucket over there that you can wash it in." Nathan said.
"Nathan! These shoes were expensive. Now they are ruined." Suzie said.
"I lost a few pairs myself." Nathan chuckled.
"This is not funny. I want to go back inside!" Suzie said angrily. Nathan took her hand and guided her back to the house. Suzie left her shoes outside. Suzie went to her room and slammed the door.
"I have never seen anyone get upset over shoes." Allie said.
Nathan shrugged.
Nathan made dinner for everyone but when it was time to eat, Suzie didn't come out at first. After dinner was almost halfway done, Suzie came out to the dinner table and sat down. Nathan made her a plate.
"I just wanted to apologize for my actions earlier. This is all new to me. But I want to embrace the country lifestyle." Suzie said. She took a bite out of the chicken.
"This is good. Did you make it?" Suzie asked.
Nathan nodded.
"You cook? You are so rustic now. I find that extremely attractive." Suzie said with a wink at Nathan.
"I just lost my appetite. May I be excused?" Allie asked. Nathan nodded and Allie went into the kitchen and cleared her plate and washed it off. After cleaning her plate, Allie went into her room.
"She is going to be a heartbreaker." Suzie said.
Nathan smiled.
"I know. Just like her mother." Nathan said sipping his hot chocolate.
Suzie continued eating.
"I meant what I said. I want to embrace this lifestyle." Suzie said.
"I don't know. It is a lot of work." Nathan said.
"I'm up for it." Suzie said excitedly.
"Okay. I know Colleen has some old clothes that you can borrow. And I'm sure you two wore the same size shoe. You can't wear your nice clothes when you do chores." Nathan said.
Suzie clapped excitedly.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Suzie said.
Nathan told her where the old clothes were and Suzie went to go look at them. Nathan sat back in his chair and just shook his head.