Chapter 8: Called Away

During the next couple of months, Nathan and Faith found themselves spending more and more time with one another; they would dine together daily if their schedules allowed and Nathan started joining Faith on her weekly house calls on Thursdays when he did his own rounds. During these times, the two never seemed to run out of things to talk about whether it be current happenings, times growing up, sibling shenanigans, raising Allie solo or even broken hearts over the years. Allie, Nathan and Faith spent most Saturdays fishing and Sundays after church were spent with the girls trying out new recipes for dinner and dessert.

Faith and Nathan decided early on in their relationship to maintain some space to allow time for others or simply themselves as well. So, the two were on their own so to speak Mondays and Wednesdays. Faith tended to spend this time with Mei and Fiona having dinner and spending some girl time with them. On Tuesdays, the Grants would come over and join the roommates for a meal. Then, the three ladies would join the Grants over at their home on Thursday nights. Friday nights were nights carved out for the couple to spend time by themselves as Allie spent time with her friends.

One Friday afternoon, after the pair had lunch and Nathan had been on his rounds, he returned to the office to work on paperwork for the rest of the afternoon. He had been intently working a while when the shrill ring of the phone broke his concentration and he picked up the receiver and answered the call.

The caller on the other line identified himself as the Superintendent of the Hamilton office and informed Nathan that he was referred by his superior officer for a specific tracking job in Hamilton. The voice on the other end told Nathan that his services were needed as soon as possible and most likely for the next two to three weeks. Nathan listened carefully and when given the opportunity to respond, he informed the Superintendent that he needed a little time to make arrangements for his teenage daughter during his time away.

After several more moments, it was established that Nathan was to get Allie set up and be on a train to Hamilton as soon he possibly could. As he hung up the receiver, Nathan sighed and ran a hand over his face. He knew that he needed to speak to Allie first, then try to make arrangements for her after that, so he decided to speak

with her once his work was completed. He did his best to focus on the rest of his paperwork after that but his thoughts were easily distracted.

Nathan glanced over at the clock on the wall and saw that school had let out not too long before. He knew that Allie would either be delivering papers for the Valley Voice or working at the pharmacy and decided to try the pharmacy first and then go from there.

As he got up from behind his desk and stood to stretch, Scout's head popped up from the corner where he laid and he barked at Nathan.

"Oh, go back to sleep, I just need to stretch and try to find Allie." Nathan said to the dog.

At that point, Scout had risen to his feet, sauntered over to Nathan and was barking consistently at the tall Mountie.

"Seriously, will you ever listen to me? Or is it only Allie you do that for?" Nathan said to Scout as he rolled his eyes at him.

But Scout continued to stare and bark until Nathan finally gestured and called for the dog to follow him out the door and down the steps.

Before he got to the pharmacy, Allie came riding along on her bike coming from the direction of the Valley Voice.

"Hey Dad! Hey Scout! What are you two up to this afternoon? I was just getting ready to leave to deliver the papers." Allie said as she stopped her bike.

"Well, Scout decided to invite himself. I swear he knew that I was coming to find you. Anyway, I need to have a chat with you once you finish up this afternoon. Would you mind stopping by the office afterwards." Nathan asked looking at Allie waiting for her response.

Allie looked at her father, nodded and said, "Sure, but I suspect by the look on your face that you've been called away."

"Am I that predictable?" Nathan asked as he shook his head in disbelief.

Allie smirked at her father in response and said, "Well… kind of, you have to admit that I know you well enough to read you. You can tell me details later but go ahead and start making plans if you need to."

Nathan nodded thoughtfully and responded, "Ok, any requests of who I speak to first about where you can stay? Mrs. Weiss or Mrs. Montgomery this time?"

Allie thought for a few moments before she responded and then finally she said, "Would you possibly consider Faith if she's willing? If not, let's try Mrs. Weiss first."

Nathan looked at Scout and then Allie thinking about her question. Finally, he nodded his head and said, "I'll speak with Faith and see what she has to say about it. I'm open to have her do it, if she's willing. Now go get done so we can chat and I'll speak to Faith while you're gone."

Allie nodded and rode off as Nathan watched her until she was out of sight down the main path of town. Then, he looked down at Scout and called for him to follow, but instead the dog ran ahead. Nathan simply shook his head and made his way to see Faith. When Scout turned and caught on that Nathan wasn't returning to the Mountie office but in fact was heading to the infirmary, he turned himself and came up alongside Nathan.

"What am I going to do with you Scout?" Nathan asked as he shook his head and rolled his eyes again.

Nathan slowly walked in and found Faith sitting at her desk working on paperwork and Molly at the cabinets taking inventory. Nathan greeted both ladies and then asked Faith if she had some time to come talk to him. She looked down at her schedule to see that she was free and asked Molly if she could look after things during her absence and Molly assured her that she would be fine.

Nathan and Faith walked quietly hand in hand as Nathan led her to the swing overlooking the pond by the schoolhouse. As they sat down, Nathan turned to face Faith still holding her hand but before he started to speak, he placed his other hand on top of their joined hands and gently stroked the hand that he held as he looked out into the water.

He took a deep breath and then finally spoke, "I received a call from a superintendent in Hamilton this afternoon. My superior officer referred me for a tracking job there and they need me to join them as soon as I can. I told them that I needed a little bit of time to find care for Allie and settle things here before leaving."

Faith listened intently and with her own free hand, she placed it on their already joined hands too. She looked at Nathan, searching his face to see where he was emotionally with the whole situation.

"From what I'm observing, you seem at peace with this news. The job they are calling you in for doesn't concern you? You're just focused on making sure that Allie is taken care of while you're away?" Faith asked as she caressed the hands that she held tightly.

Nathan glanced at her, smiled and nodded as Faith sat thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.

"Nathan, I don't want this to seem too forward of me because I know how new we are to one another, but if you're both willing, I'd be more than happy to come stay with Allie and Scout while you're away. That way Allie can stay at home since school is in session and there isn't much disruption to her usual routine." Faith said as she shyly smiled at him.

Nathan smiled in return, moved one of his hands from their hold and reached out to touch her cheek.

"That isn't too forward at all because that's exactly why I came to find you but was still working up the nerve to ask you for your help." Nathan said with a bit of a chuckle.

Faith smiled at him and said confidently, "I'd be honored to help you both out. Besides, it will give Allie and me more time to work on our cooking and baking skills. Although I will miss you greatly."

Nathan chuckled once more, stroking her cheek and replied, "Thank you and I will greatly miss you as well but I couldn't think of anyone more fitting to stay with her than you, the other love of my life." He leaned in and kissed her gently.

"Really, you two are worse than a couple of courting teenagers!" Allie teased from behind them.

The pair broke apart and turned back to see Allie standing there with her arms crossed but wearing a big smile on her face. They laughed and Faith gestured for Allie to join them on the swing as she scooted closer to Nathan and patted the seat next to her.

Allie smiled and eagerly joined them. Nathan quickly filled her in on what they had just discussed and Allie squealed with delight.

"We are going to have so much fun! I can't wait! Dad, when do you have to leave?" Allie responded as she leaned over and looked at her father.

"Once I leave you ladies, I'll walk over and purchase my train ticket to Hamilton for tomorrow. Allie, do you mind not spending the night at your friend's house tonight so that we may have some time with you?" Nathan commented.

Allie nodded and the three of them talked a little longer there on the swing. When all details were worked out, Allie excused herself to go start dinner as Nathan walked Faith back to the infirmary and then he continued on over to the train depot. When he returned to the Mountie office, he phoned the Superintendent in Hamilton to let him know that he'd be leaving on the first train out the next morning.

The three of them had a nice quiet dinner together at the Grant house that evening. When it came to an end, Nathan walked Faith home with promises to pick her up before heading to the train depot. On his way back to his own rowhouse, he ran into Bill who was just leaving Elizabeth's home.

The two men walked together for a few moments in silence when suddenly Bill stopped in his tracks and turned towards Nathan.

"So, you're being called away to Hamilton I hear? I was told that you'd be gone for a few weeks and that they'd be sending a Mountie to cover you during your absence." Bill said matter of factly.

Nathan nodded at Bill as he put his hand on Nathan's shoulder and said, "Allie's in good hands with Faith in your absence. I've been watching all of you the past few months and you've been quite the little family. So, when are you going to ask that girl to marry you Nathan?" Bill asked gruffly but had a twinkle in his eye.

Nathan, slightly thrown off by the question, began to stumble over his words for a moment but then he stopped, took a deep breath, and began again.

"I have plans while I'm in Hamilton to visit her father and brothers. We spoke with them tonight about me visiting for dinner later in the week. What Faith doesn't know is that I intend to ask them, especially her father, for his blessing in asking her to marry me." Nathan said.

Bill smiled as he looked into Nathan's eyes and replied, "Good for you Nathan! I am proud of you for taking the proper steps with our good doctor. She deserves it and you both deserve this happiness that you have found in one another. I'll keep an eye on both of your girls and Scout while you're away."

Nathan returned Bill's smile and said, "Thanks Bill! I do appreciate that and your words as well."

The two men quickly embraced , as Bill patted Nathan on the back. Then Nathan headed inside his rowhouse as Bill made his way down the path back towards his own home.

Early that next morning, the three of them, Faith, Nathan and Allie headed to the train depot to see Nathan off. Once they got there, they walked onto the platform and Nathan turned to embrace Allie.

"You mind Faith while I'm gone, you understand. She is in charge, and you respect her the way that she deserves. Make sure you care for Scout too. I love you!" Nathan said as he pulled back from their hug.

Allie nodded her head and answered, "I'll miss you Dad, but don't worry because everything will be fine here. Faith and I will have a blast cooking together and I will look after Scout too. You'll see, it will all be good!"

Once more she hugged her father tightly and Nathan kissed the top of her head. She whispered before she pulled away, "Be careful, ok?"

Nathan smiled at her, nodded, and then turned towards Faith who was standing there patiently watching the father-daughter duo interact.

"Thank you again for doing this Faith! I do appreciate i! It makes me feel better knowing that Allie will be at home in her normal environment, with her regular schedule, while I am away." Nathan said as he searched Faith's crystal blue eyes.

"I am happy to help! Besides, I'm excited for all the things Allie and I will learn to make together while you're away. I hope that you bring back an appetite when you return." Faith said with a smile.

Nathan drew closer to Faith to close the gap between them and placed his hand on her cheek, stroking it ever so gently.

"I'm going to miss you Dr. Carter. It's going to be hard not seeing you every day." Nathan said in a husky voice.

Faith smiled as she gazed into his intense blue eyes and said softly, "I'll miss you too Constable. Be careful out there, ok?"

Nathan leaned down and captured her lips in his own. Then, he pulled away to catch his breath but keeping his forehead on Faith's.

Faith opened her eyes after a moment, smiling up at Nathan and said, "Now don't forget you have dinner scheduled with my father and brothers on Friday night."

Nathan smiled, nodded and replied, "I look forward to finally meeting them after only speaking with them over the phone these past few months. But, they won't hold a candle to spending time with this Carter family member that's standing here in front of me."

Nathan smiled, leaned down and quickly kissed Faith once more. They stood there holding one another until the call came for everyone to board the train.

The pair broke apart but held their hands for a moment longer and then with a quick squeeze, Nathan released his hand and dashed off to board the train.

Faith remained there watching the train as Allie walked up and put her arm around the young doctor. Faith glanced over, smiled at the teen and put her arm around her. They stayed there until the train took off down the tracks and was out of sight.

Faith took a deep breath, sighed and said, "Well, let's go and get this day started, why don't we? I'm sure Scout would love a nice walk."

Allie smiled brightly, nodded and held out her hand to Faith, who in turn took the young girl's hand. Then, they walked back to the rowhouses chatting about all the things they hoped to do during their time together.