And the greatest of these is Love
Chapter 37
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Fiona and James were going over the photos that Carson took during the Family Festival and enjoying every one of them. Some were so funny, like the ones from the pie-eating contest or the dunk tank and others were just fun to see like the parade with the new fire pumper and ambulance, or the international buffet, and even the dance with photographs of James singing with Dianna Starr.
"James, I've got a box of photographs that I've collected of various town activities and I think it's time we take them out of the box and create a Hope Valley Scrapbook! What do you think?" Fiona asked.
"Good idea. That would be something that should be kept in a special place so everyone can see it, maybe the library?" James suggested.
The two of them thought about it and since they didn't have a town hall building, the library or maybe even Judge Avery would hold onto it.
"I don't know if Bill would like people in his office though, you know, he likes his privacy," James advised.
"Yes, you're right. I'll have to talk to Rosaleen about storing it at the library. I think it would be a good place because then more people might be visiting the library too," Fiona nodded.
"Does the Mercantile have a scrapbook to purchase?" James asked.
"If Ned doesn't he would order one. Now, who should I ask to put this together?" Fiona looked puzzled thinking maybe Rosemary or Elizabeth, or perhaps Dottie, Flo or Molly, they've been around the longest..." Hmm"
"Just bring it up at your Tuesday Bible Study and see if anyone offers," James said.
"Yes, darling, I will," Fiona smiled.
As James poured a nightcap for the two of them he sat down next to Fiona, handing her her drink. Putting his arm around Fiona he looked at how beautiful she was and sighed taking in the vision before him. He reached over and brushed a loose curl away from her eye and stared into both eyes.
"Fiona, we need to have our engagement party soon. It's been delayed because of the thunderstorm plus we haven't talked to Pastor Joseph yet to choose a wedding date. I don't know how much longer I can wait!" James was seriously pouting.
Fiona's eyes twinkled as a huge smile came across her face, "You're right, I always seem to put personal things on the back burner. It's so hard to be a mayor, run a business, and plan a wedding," she sighed.
James cleared his throat, gave Fiona a teaser of a kiss, and then shocked her by suggesting, "Maybe, now that we're getting married, you might want to step down from your position of Mayor."
Fiona's smile left as she stared at James, "Oh James! Are you serious? Is that what you want me to do?"
James felt a little uneasy with Fiona's reaction but kept pursuing it. "Honey, wouldn't it be nice not to have to worry about the town for a while. I'm sure there is plenty of good folks ready to take over."
Fiona got up and walked away from the sofa shaking her head in bewilderment. "I can't just quit and leave all the plans for someone else to manage. The townsfolk are counting on me, James!"
James put down his drink and walked over to Fiona. "Honey, if it means that much to you, forget I ever mentioned it. I just hoped that once we were married, I could have your undivided attention, that's all," he comforted her as he put his arm around her and drew her close.
As James reached down to kiss her, Fiona pulled away. "James, you have my attention all the time. I love you, I do. But..."
"But, what?" James was concerned.
"I don't know, I just enjoy being the Mayor, and quitting was the furthest thing from my mind."
They both stood there in silence. James didn't know what to do. He never expected Fiona to take his suggestion the wrong way.
"Why don't we sleep on it for a while," Fiona finally asked.
"There's no rush Fiona, we can still plan our engagement party and talk to Pastor Joseph to choose our wedding date, can't we?" James was hoping to make things less tense.
Fiona's smile slowly crept back across her face, "Of course, James. I agree, we need to make our plans. No more delays." With that, she walked to the kitchen and took her calendar off the wall, and brought it over to James so they could choose their dates.
As the two of them looked through the weeks ahead, they chose the engagement party for three weeks later.
"That should work," James said, "I'll telephone my folks and make sure my parents are able to make it and talk to my brother and ask him to be my best man."
Wasting no time, James called his folks and gave them the date and they assured him they had no other plans and were available. He asked Carl to be his best man and Carl asked what took him so long to ask. Next, he telephoned Benson Hills Clubhouse and confirmed the date. Everything was falling into place.
"Whew! One date is done and now the big one to plan, our wedding day!" James grinned.
"January! The week after New Year's," Fiona reminded James.
"So, tomorrow we can make an appointment with Pastor Joseph!" James swept Fiona back in his arms and danced her around the room, "May I have this dance, Mayor?"
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It was a family dinner when Flo brought up the idea she had been mulling around in her head ever since her son, Paul Jr., had come for a visit with his girlfriend, Darcy. She knew they were getting ready to return to her father's farm where Paul went to help his grandfather shortly after Flo married Ned. It was a Godsend for the grandparents to have a brawny, strong teen, now a young man helping them. Actually, it was a win-win situation for both Paul and Flo too.
When Flo joined Ned working the Mercantile and with both Debra, Flo's daughter, and Katie, Ned's daughter off to college, it left Paul alone. He didn't mind as he had good school chums but he wasn't too keen at first having his mother marry another man. He knew Ned Yost was a good man, but he wasn't Paul Blakely, his father. When his dad died in the mining accident, it was a tragedy that Paul struggled with by himself. Even though his mother grieved, Flo wasn't sure how to handle a teenage boy who lost his mentor, the one he looked up to.
Flo had turned to Ned for counsel while working together, in which one thing led to another and that's how they fell in love. Flo's father suggested Paul come work with him and it would help both of them. It took Ned to be ill before he finally proposed and soon they married.
Shortly, Flo and Ned found themselves to be empty-nesters until Katie returned from college as an accountant, now working for the Mercantile, and Debra home from college with a broken heart when her fiancé left her alone, but was now working for Dottie at the Apparel shop.
It was such a nice change to have another man at the table so Ned was hoping that Paul would accept him now as his mother's husband. It seemed to be happening. Paul working on the farm aided him in growing into a more mature young man from the heartbroken teenager he was when he left. Not only the hard work, but the wisdom he gleaned from his grandfather and the caring from his grandmother resulted in Paul looking for his own future, possibly with Darcy.
"Paul, honey, I know your grandfather misses you at the farm, but he told me he was thinking of selling it. Has he talked to you about it?" Flo asked while she passed around the potatoes.
Paul looked up from his dinner plate and shrugged, "Yea, Grandpa has been getting tired earlier and his arthritis is getting the better of him, Grandma told me. I don't know though if he's actively looking to sell it or not."
"I know they miss you, but he's mentioned to me that if he sells the farm, he doesn't want you to be without work. I think he's hesitant in retiring and selling because he doesn't want you to leave," Flo said slowly watching Paul closely.
Paul sighed and shook his head, "I don't know what to do. I certainly can't buy the farm, but I know he can't leave the farm for me either, he needs the money."
Ned caught on right away and knew he might have to help Paul out financially. As he listened to the conversation, he came up with an idea too.
Flo mentioned, "Well, Paul, there is a farm up for sale near here, that is smaller. It's mainly a dairy farm with some crops. They are retiring as soon as they have a buyer and they are really good people. You'd like them."
Ned jumped in looking at Flo, "The Henderson's, right?"
Flo smiled broadly, "Yes, Ned. You read my mind!"
Ned continued, "I hope I'm still reading your mind, Flo, because I think Paul, if he wants to, can get a loan now easily with the money from the storm, and I could co-sign for him."
Paul's eyes widened and looked at Ned, then at his mom, then at Darcy. What did he just hear?
Debra joined in, "That would be great Paul! We would love to see you more. You'd be close by and we'd have holidays together!"
"Whoa, what about grandpa and grandma? Where will they go if they sell?" Paul was worried.
Katie spoke up then, "There's a home for the elderly just opening up next to the hospital in Clearwater if need be."
Flo didn't know if she liked that idea. She had hoped maybe they could find a smaller home to live in at Hope Valley. "That's a thought, but it would be nice to find Grandma and Grandpa a little cottage so they'd be close by. You know, the Henderson's are doing this very thing right now."
Ned nodded, "Yes, they are. They were in the Mercantile just this week asking if I knew anyone who was going to sell. I told them not off the top of my head, but they could post a notice on the community bulletin board.
Debra mentioned, "There's not much available right now with all the families from tent city moving in the second row of houses. Maybe Katie and I can find an apartment to move into. Then, you'd have a room for grandma and grandma here."
"Wait, how big is the Henderson farm?" Paul asked. "Suppose I bought it, isn't there enough bedrooms for grandma and grandpa?"
"Come to think of it, there are several bedrooms in that old house," Ned replied.
"That would work! Oh Paul, now to talk your grandparents into it." Flo was beaming.
Paul looked at Darcy, "Darcy, what do you think?"
Darcy didn't know what to say. This was about Paul's family and she wasn't a part of it. "Paul, it doesn't matter what I think. This is for your family to work out" she said quietly.
Paul put down his fork, turned to Darcy at his side, and put his arm around the back of her chair. "Darcy, wherever I am, I want you with me."
Everyone stopped and put their forks down watching intently what was happening.
"Darcy, will you be willing to move with me here? Will you be my wife?" he gulped but was never more serious than he was right then.
Darcy's eyes began to tear up. "Oh Paul, yes, I'd love to move here, but more importantly, I'd love to be your wife!"
Flo grabbed Ned's hand and began to cry herself. Katie and Debra clapped. I'm sure you know what Paul and Darcy were doing!
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After the storm, most of the repairs were accomplished in the first week. Then the big projects that loomed ahead of them needed to be tackled.
The Jack Thornton School was a big priority with the townsfolk as it was almost time to start up the new school year. Superintendent Malone was over at the school site making sure everything was going as planned. He shocked some by wearing his overhauls and getting busy in the actual building. The more they got to know him he was no longer referred to as Superintendent, but just Will Malone.
He soon became a worker, not just a supervisor.
Lee had split his crew between the school and St. James Church. They were working long hours and were grateful that there were plenty of sunny days allowing them to catch up on their building.
Over at St. James, Father Ricardo was working right along with the crew there too. He knew the stained-glass windows were expected in a few weeks and they needed to work The parishioners who were also farmers or ranchers would get up early to tend to their farm chores and then head over to the church. Their wives stepped up to the plate too helping with the farm chores. It made for very tired but content folks.
Nathan was out doing rounds when he stopped by St. James. Looking around he saw the progress and all the men diligently working together. Over under a group of trees, were a few benches where the men could sit and grab a bite to eat and relax. The Romanos who owned the restaurant in Brookfield usually sent over a huge delivery of leftover meals from their place to help feed anyone working either at the school or the Church.
"Hello," Nathan called out to Fr. Ricardo.
"Oh, hello there Sargent! Did you come to see how far we've gotten?"
"Looking good, Father!" Nathan smiled.
"Yes, well the good Lord is our general contractor and He certainly provides!" Fr. Ricardo laughed.
Nathan dismounted Newton and walked with Fr. Ricardo to survey the church closer. All the walls were up and they were finishing the roof. Soon the big cross would be mounted below the bell steeple.
"Once the stained glass windows arrive, a special crew will be provided for installation," Fr. Ricardo shared, "then when they are sealed, we will have the delivery of the pews, statues, the crucifix, tabernacle, and the altar."
"That sounds like more work than the outside," Nathan replied.
"Yes, you're right, we have to lay the hardwood flooring first before anything else is installed. We follow with the painting, doors, closets, confessionals, stations of the cross, baptismal font..., well, you get the idea."
Nathan shook his head, "It's a good thing you have a direct line to the supervisor," he grinned.
Father Ricardo laughed, "Well, I don't know about that, but I do know we are on target to getting the outside completed before we expect any cold weather to take over."
"One day at a time," Nathan nodded, "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
Nathan mounted Newton and they galloped out in the country to the O'Neil's farm. The barn was replaced with a smaller one and looked good and sturdy. Since Sean was no longer working the farm, the barn was used mostly now for storing outside equipment. The chairs and tables used in the barn at mass for the parishioners of St. James were damaged and couldn't be used again. So, that's why they were sharing the Community Church with Pastor Canfield's congregation.
There were no signs of anyone outside, and Nathan figured they were most likely working over at St. James now. There had been so many people he hadn't seen who all was there. His next stop was to check out the Henderson farm. He was surprised to see Paul Blakely there with Ned and Flo.
"Hello there!" he called out.
"Sargent Grant! Good to see you!" Paul greeted him
"Same here Paul. What are you up to?"
Ned looked at Nathan, "Paul's thinking about possibly buying the Henderson farm. We're checking out the farm and getting the details."
Mr. Henderson was ready to walk around the property with them, so Nathan left them to go about their business, "Have a good day everyone."
As he continued his rounds he waved at anyone outside and checked for anything that looked suspicious. When he heard some shots fired, he took off in that direction only to find a few hunters practicing their target shootings.
Farmers were off in the fields harvesting their crops that were ready. Ranchers had been watching their spring newborn calves grow and getting bigger and so were the baby lambs now looking less adorable as they grew. The horse foals at the Peterson horse farm were out in the corrals and pastures alongside their mothers still, but filling out and gaining more muscle.
To live out in the country was hard work but there was nothing like living on a farm. When Nathan reflected on his life growing up on the family farm in Brook Springs with his mother and sister it was with fondness. He knew first-hand the hard work, but he also appreciated the fresh air and working with his hands. Yet, farming wasn't for him. He worked the farm through high school, but when he graduated, he was ready for something new, to be a Mountie! Robert was following in his footsteps and he saw Robert with Allie and wondered if their friendship would be like his and Dees.
His last stop was out at the new Jack Thornton school. He was happy to see it practically back on schedule. Will Malone walked up to Nathan when he saw he arrived. "Good morning Sargent!"
Nathan tipped his hat, "Things are looking good here, Will."
"Yes, they are. The floor is almost completely installed. Next week, we'll be ready to paint, mount the chalkboard, and then bring in the desks, chairs, and other furniture. I'd be happy to take you through so you can see the inside next week," Will offered.
"That would be great. Will you be finishing the gymnasium afterward?"
"It might have to wait, depending on the weather. We'll have to see." Will answered.
Nathan and Newton finished their rounds so he took Newton over to the livery. Giving Newton water, and a good brushing, he walked to the RCMP office. Gunther was on the telephone. He looked anxiously at Nathan, then said, "Just one moment, Sargent Grant just stepped into the office, I'll let him talk with you. Please hold on."