And the greatest of these is Love

Chapter 33

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Dee made sure that Christopher was sound asleep and that Archie and Emily were laying down on their beds for their usual afternoon nap. Dee's parents, Bertie and Ted, were still awake but they offered to stay and promised to rest too, so they laid down on Dee and Nathan's bed upstairs next to Christopher's bedroom.

Dee let out a sigh of relief and arrived just as the baseball game was beginning sitting next to her sister Dorothy and husband, George, and niece and nephew Roberta and Robert. She glanced over at Allie with Robert, Karen, and Harper all sitting and laughing. She was glad that Nathan was out on the field focusing on his team.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" Dorothy asked her sister.

"Oh, they stayed at the house and offered to listen for Christopher. I asked them to stay in my bedroom so they'd be close to their grandson," Dee explained.

"It's a shame that Emily is somewhat restricted now, but Archie is lucky she is there. Mom and Dad enjoyed Emily so much as she was such a good woman taking care of Nathan and Colleen by herself," Dorothy shared. "It must've been hard for her to take Archie under her wing after all the time she was left alone."

"You know, Dorothy, I've really gotten to know Emily well and she's a sweet, kind, and forgiving woman. I only wish I could be so loving as she," Dee said wistfully.

"I see Allie has a boyfriend now."

"Yes, they've been writing to each other this past year. He's been in Mountie school and doing remarkably well. He was on the train when Nathan was chasing down the robbers. Robert did everything right and was a big help Nathan told us. That helped Nathan not to be so hard on Robert for his interest in Allie," she laughed.

"So, what's Allie going to do now that she's finished with school here?"

"Dorothy, she hasn't said much, so I don't think she knows what she wants to do. For right now, she's working at the switchboard in the Mercantile. I don't think she wants to go anywhere as her best friend, Karen is a year behind her and will still go back to school this coming fall," Dee explained.

"Has she said anything about college?"

"Only that if she goes, she wants to go where Karen goes so they can be roommates. I suspect she's waiting to see what Robert is going to do. The two of them started as good friends from school, then last year it was more like puppy love, but now I think it's becoming more than that. They've already kissed," Dee shared with her sister.

"No wonder Nathan is watching her like a hawk. He's making sure she stays a sweet young lady, like his sister, Colleen would want. Gosh, Dee, I sure miss my best friend," Dorothy sighed.

Dee gave Dorothy a hug, but little bun gave her a big kick for bending. "Oh my, the baby let me know that she didn't want to be squished and gave me a big kick in my ribs!"

"She?" Dorothy laughed.

"It just comes naturally for me. I mean we already have an adorable son, it just would be fun to have a daughter this time. Here, you want to feel the baby kick?"

Dorothy grinned, "Of course," she didn't have to wait long, "oh, there she is!"

"You, see, it's so easy to say she. Even Nathan calls the baby she once in a while. Although most of the time we refer to the baby as bun, like we did with Christopher. I just don't want to think only one way," Dee admitted.

George looked at the two sisters and asked if they were going to watch the game or just chat, "Ladies, the workers are already scoring 2 runs in."

Dorothy and Dee quieted down, even though Dee felt a bit uncomfortable sitting on the ground. She should have brought a pillow she thought. Then she saw that the workers had 3 men on base and who was up to bat? None other than Big Will, the lumberjack.

"All right, men, get way out in the field and be ready to throw back to second base so we can stop these guys from scoring too much more!" Bill hollered.

Gunther was pitching and Andy was the catcher, making a good team with their signals. Nathan, Gabe, and Rory were in the outfield with Christopher, Jim, and Stephen at the bases.

Will swung at the first pitch but missed – strike one! Andy nodded at Gunther. Gunther was nervous, knowing Will would probably hit a grand slam, and everyone on his team was counting on him. Gunther wiping his brow, pitched a ball, so now the score was 1 ball, 1 strike.

Andy gave Gunther a signal to pitch low, Gunther nodded, and Will swung, and missed. 1 ball, 2 strikes. Will was standing at home plate so big and tall, that Gunther was having to really concentrate on where exactly to pitch. He said a quick prayer like his mother, Hannah reminded him before he left for the game. Looking at Andy for a signal, he knew to pitch a fast ball this time. He wound himself up and let out the fastest ball he could. THUNK! Will hit that ball and sent it sailing far into the outfield.

Rory called, "I got it," but he didn't. He fell on the grass because of his shoes that weren't made for running.

Nathan called, "It's mine!" and went running over to Rory's area. Just as the the ball came down Nathan snatched it. Thrilled that he had saved it, he looked quickly and determined he had a long hard throw to 3rd base. He threw that ball with all his might right to Gabe. Gabe caught it and tagged out the last runner, leaving their final count at 2 to 0, the Workers team in the lead.

Now, the Mounties were up to bat. Stephen was the first to bat. With Mark as their pitcher word was out by the boys' team that he threw fast and hard. Stephen was ready. He watched Mark like a hawk and we he saw him wind up to pitch he ducked.

Bill yelled, "What the heck was that Mark?" shaking his head.

Mark didn't know what got into him, so he took a couple of deep breaths and waited. This time he hit the ball, but they called him out before he could even make it to first base.

Now, Andy was up and boy was he ready! Patting the home plate with his bat and staring down Stephen he hit his first pitch. It was a fast grounder that went right between Hickam's legs and out to right field where John was running up to grab it He threw it to second base, but Andy was already on third and ready to go for home when Bill held up his hand to stop there.

Gabe was next. He was disciplined and steady as a rock. He missed the first pitch but hit that second pitch hard into the outfield. Pastor Joseph was right there and went to catch it, but knocked into Jesse. Jesse picked it up in one big swoop and threw it to the infield. Andy made it home, and Gabe to second base.

Now, it was Jim's turn. He bunted, made it to first base and Gabe to third base.

Coach Matthew yelled, "Be alert men!" to the worker's team.

Nathan stepped up to the plate. Looking at Stephen, the pitcher, his beautiful blue eyes turned steely, and his jaw was locked. He was confident but not overly so.

When Stephen pitched, Nathan hit the ball with all his might. No one caught it. It was way out of the field and Luke ran way out there as fast as he could. As quick as a bolt of lightning, he threw it to the infield who threw it to the catcher ready to tag someone out, but he missed it. That meant Nathan hit a grand slam! So now the game was 4 Mounties, 2 Workers.

The crowd was up and down on their feet clapping and cheering. The game went on like this for another 90 minutes. Rosaleen and Katie went into Billees and got a cold pitcher of water to fill the men's glasses knowing how thirsty they were. By the time the game ended, they were drenched in perspiration and so glad they offered to be dunkees for the dunk tank. The final score was a tie, but the Mounties had so much fun, they decided they'd join in a game again soon.

All the kids were ready to pay their pennies to dunk their coaches and Superintendent Malone. The workers were lining up to dunk their bosses, Henry and Lee. And the Mounties were in line too to dunk Andy and Gunther. These men were so glad that they volunteered to be dunked after the hot sun blazed down on them at the baseball field.

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The dessert table was open at Minnie's Cafe. All the delectable pastries were judged already by the men of Hope Valley's Royal Court with not one declared a winner, but all of them. Debbie and Kathy helped Minnie serve slices of the sweets for a penny. Although there were tables to sit at, some had already purchased theirs while watching the game and ate outside.

Fiona and James were walking around with James' family and enjoying the day meeting quite a few townsfolk. Carl, James' brother, asked him who the single ladies were and to be introduced to them when they came over to talk. Quite a few of them caught his eye. One of them was Lisa Peterson, James' secretary.

"She's off limits, bro," James warned.

"And, why is that?" Carl questioned.

"She works for me, and she is too good for you!" James ribbed.

"Oh, I bet she could tell me a thing or two," Carl said as he made a move to follow her.

Dee noticed, "Where's Carl going?"

James just shook his head and replied, "Hunting."

Nathan walked up to Dee and his in-laws asking what they thought of the game.

"It was a great game, Uncle Nathan!" Roberta clapped.

"Was it? I'm glad you enjoyed it!"

"Yea, we saw you out there catch that ball when Pastor Joseph fell. You were the hero!" Robert chimed in.

Nathan laughed, "Thanks Robert, but I don't think I was the hero. You know what, all those men are Mounties. They are all heroes in my book!"

Nathan reached down and helped Dee up, but not without a kiss. "Oh Nathan, you need a shower!"

"That's what the dunk tank is for!"

Allie walked over with her friends and joined her family, "Ew, that's nasty, Dad! How many of you are going to be in that tank? She asked disgustingly.

George spoke up, "We should take the fire hose to you all before!"

"Great idea!" Dorothy laughed.

"Well, I'm going to go home and pick up our parents and Christopher. Why don't you come with me and clean up?" Dee suggested.

"Not unless you give me a little persuasion first," Nathan taunted Dee.

With that, Dee started to run to their automobile. Nathan was laughing, and quickly caught up with her, but knew better so he let her win.

Walter excused himself and left to walk around with Lana Peterson and Trevor Donovan. He was very pleased that he could talk with them since they were all together in the war. Having that in common was like group therapy. Lana and Trevor were a couple and Walter respected that. He had hoped to accompany Lisa, Lana's sister who had helped with clerical duties in the war, besides then he wouldn't feel like a third wheel.

As he walked up to the group, he noticed another man talking to them. He wasn't sure who he could be. "Hello, guys! Pretty good game, huh?" he asked.

Trevor answered, "Yea, I was glad it ended in a tie. It could've gone either way!"

"Some dang good hits way out there too, almost too far to see," Walter added.

Lana looked directly at Walter, "Walter, this is Carl Scholl, King James' brother, and Carl, this is our good friend, Walter Gleixner, Dee Grant's brother."

They both shook hands and greeted the other politely, but now there were five of them and Walter did not like that.

Little Jack was on his Uncle Tom's shoulders so he could see all the games that were getting ready. He couldn't wait to play some of them and was thrilled when his uncle showed him his pocket full of pennies.

"Can we do the wheelbarrow race together, Uncle Tom?" Jack asked.

"Sure, but it's not ready to go yet. First, is the dunk tank and then Uncle Tom has to play a game."

"You do? What game?"

"The pie-eating contest, remember? That's why I didn't eat any dessert."

Fiona announced that the dunk tank was ready and so were the dunkees. There were already lines formed waiting for their 'target'.

First up is Mr. Leland Coulter proprietor of Coulter Lumber!"

"Woot-woot!" his workers called out. As Lee climbed up on the suspended platform he was face-to-face with "Big Will" his lumberjack!

"Oh NO!" Lee uttered and before he knew it he was spitting out water!

"Ha-ha," Will laughed, "I'm not done yet, boss. I paid two pennies!"

"The water is cold, please miss!" Lee begged.

"Not a chance," Will roared.

Down went Lee, but Rosemary had a towel ready and waiting for him. "Oh Lee, you are such a good sport, my sweetheart."

Lee grabbed the towel, wiped down and laughed. "Rosemary, they're not done yet."

After a few more employees dunked Lee, he was practically drowned, but it was all in good nature and he took it like a champ.

Henry was next. After watching Lee, he was not too happy that he accepted Lee's challenge to participate.

When he got settled on the perch, he too came face-to-face with his son, Christopher. "Hey, son, be nice to your old man."

"No way, Dad, you're going down!" and Henry did.

Several others followed after giving Henry a good soaking. Yet he wasn't finished. The last one up was Dottie, just like last year. He certainly wasn't expecting her again and she never let on, but Rosaleen encouraged her.

Just like last year, he begged her, "Dottie, I love you, and you know it!" blowing her a kiss.

Dottie blew him a kiss and threw that ball straight and hard knocking him down to the tank! Dottie jumped up and clapped with Rosaleen, giving each other hugs.

Henry stood up in the tank and shook his head spraying the ladies and laughing.

Next came Superintendent Malone. Elizabeth and Tom each had a penny as well as several school children. Even though Elizabeth tried her hardest, she missed, but not Tom. He got two shots and knocked him down both times. Elizabeth giggled with Jack but covered her mouth not wanting to show her delight. Tom was elated, he felt he did it for his brother, little Jack's daddy. Tom still wasn't sure he liked seeing Elizabeth being wooed by another man.

One by one the children tried, and a few dunked him, but Will Malone was a good sport and laughed each time. Elizabeth admired him for that.

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The festival was in high gear and the townsfolk were milling about as the children were running to join in the games. Nathan, Dee, Christopher, Emily, Archie, Ted and Bertie all joined Dorothy, George, Robert, and Roberta at the pie-eating contest.

Walter feeling disappointed that Carl Scholl was already occupying Lisa Peterson's attention, bowed out of the Hopeful's group to join in the pie contest that he had signed up to compete against his childhood friend, Nathan. Those two were always together as kids and constantly teasing their sisters.

Even though Nathan joined in the fun of picking on Dee, or Chickadee, as she was called by her father, he did it out of admiration. He just enjoyed her company as if she was a sister until he was about thirteen. He played along not letting on that he thought she was cute and nice, tickling his fancy. When Nathan went off to Mountie school, he focused on his training and Dee went to college to study music. Walter stayed to work on the farm and then later went on to the war as a medic. Dorothy being the oldest of the group, fell in love with George, her childhood sweetheart, and now they were all there with their parents, everyone except Colleen. Sometimes, they all thought about her, especially with Allie around.

"There you are!" Nathan said as Allie and Robert walked up to join her family.

"Hello Robert," Dee greeted him with a warm smile.

Robert nodded, "Hello! It's been a great day!"

"We couldn't miss you and Uncle Walter chowing down on those pies," Allie giggled.

"Where's Karen and Harper?"

"They're coming. Karen wanted to check in with her family. Benjamin wanted to sign up him and his dad in the 3-legged race first," Allie said.

"What about us," Nathan asked, "aren't we going to join in?"

Allie sighed, "Dad, that's just for children."

"Oh, well, excuse me, I forgot you are a young lady now," Nathan teased as Allie rolled her eyes. Dee elbowed Nathan and gave him a questioning look.

"Let's see how you two do in this contest," Dee swiftly put her arms through Nathan on one side and her brother on the other.

Walter and Nathan had a lot of competition. Bill was already sitting down with a delicious cherry pie in front of him.

Nathan laughed, "Looks like someone finally made you put your hands behind your back!"

Bill chuckled, "All right wise guy, sit down. You'll get yours."

Flo was practically pulling Ned up to the table, "Show them how to do this right!" she cheered Ned on. Ned begrudgingly sat down as Flo pushed him on his shoulders into a sitting position. "Do we have bibs for the men?" she asked Teresa.

Teresa came bustling over with towels, "Here you go fellas!"

Marge and Brenda put the delicious pies in front of the men as they sat down.

The Hopefuls group was coming to watch, some coaches still dripping from the dunk tank, but luckily the sun was warm and bright, drying them with the wind. They wanted to cheer on Ben Carmon. Ben was kind of a loner, had taken Rosaleen out to lunch once, but kept to himself most of the time. Someone from the group had signed him up and he wasn't sure who, but he suspected it might be one of the newer ladies, Lucia Moretti. She had interviewed him about his job at the bank and they struck up a more than pleasant friendly conversation. Maybe, she was showing him that she was thinking of him. Ben politely sat down, but soon was being cheered and clapped for by the group.

Right next to him was Tom Thornton. Elizabeth and little Jack were laughing. Tom gave Jack a silly face which caused him to cheer, "Eat fast Uncle Tom!" Just then Will Malone joined Elizabeth and Jack after changing into dry clothes. Elizabeth handed Jack over to Will so he could see over the people in front of them. When Tom saw that, he lost his smile and instead watched as Jesse sat next to him.

Jesse Flynn challenged his good friend Rick O'Neill and the two of them couldn't pass this up. Both Christy and Clara looked like twins both holding their not-so-little ones and both pregnant with their next blessing, hoping one of their husbands would win.

Joseph had lots of practice eating Minnie's delicious pies so he was the one to beat. Fr. Ricardo couldn't let this happen, so he sat right down as they sat side-by-side chuckling in friendly competition.

Making sure all hands were behind backs and everyone had a towel, Teresa was ready to blow the whistle to begin when Pastor Joseph spoke, "We need to say grace," he laughed.

Fr. Ricardo roared, "Okay, Good food, Good God, whoever eats the fastest wins the mostest!" With that, the whistle blew!

Nathan looked up at Christopher with his mouth all covered with cherries and winked which made Christopher laugh heartily. Everyone laughed as each of the men looked up, but the silliest was Uncle Tom. He crossed his eyes and licked his lips around his mouth to Jack's delight. His Godfather, Uncle Bill was shoveling down almost faster than most, but he choked on a gobble, and had to take a drink disqualifying him from the contest.

Ned was not in the running at all, taking polite little bites and enjoying his pie. Jesse and Rick were neck-in-neck devouring their pies as fast as they could. Clara and Christy were rooting for their men, "Go, go, you can do it!"

Ben didn't want to be outdone, so he ate as heartily as he could. Keeping an eye on Lucia when he had a chance.

Joseph was gulping his pie, but he wasn't as fast as the younger men. When he looked up, he let out a large belch, which embarrassed him so he put his hands up and declared, "Enough for me!"

That made Fr. Ricardo practically spit out his mouthful, so he surrendered too. "May the best man win!" he encouraged the rest.

Nathan, Walter, Tom, Jesse, Rick, and Ben were still going at it. Nathan wasn't sure he should continue as he was feeling like Pastor Joseph and just had to let out a belch too.

"Way to go Sarge!" Gunther chortled. Andy was with him, and he wasn't saying a word. Nathan had surprised him by making arrangements for his parents to come for the weekend, staying at Billees. Andy hadn't seen them in a year, so this was a wonderful time

for them all. What Nathan didn't tell him, was that he knew it was Andy's birthday on Sunday, so his family was having a surprise birthday party at the Grant's home the next day.

Tom was too busy clowning around for Jack's sake, that he lost his momentum and gave up, leaving Walter, Jesse, Rick, and Ben. As they all ate faster and gorged the last of their pies Walter got pie in his eye. That abruptly stopped him. Ben just wasn't up to the powerhouses that Rick and Jesse turned out to be, so the fuller he got, the slower he got too.

Finally, Teresa blew the whistle and the only two left were Jesse and Rick. The Chickadees and the rest of the town looked and who do you think won?