The Truth Will Set You Free

Nathan took two more steps forward. He couldn't help himself. He had to know. Had seen her face when Lucas made the announcement. Could feel the uncertainty radiating off of her, could read the doubt on her beautiful face.

"Elizabeth." Her name came out on a whisper…then, "What. Do. You. Want?"

The question hung there for a good long minute, lengthening the distance between them, illustrating the chasm that was still in their way, that one that always left him feeling cold and alone.

"I don't know." Her answer. Barely audible. A truth she seemed barely able to admit. Did she know anything for certain anymore? "But one thing I do know. I don't want to leave my home. Hope Valley."

Well, that was a start. "Have you told him that?" Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked. Making it evident that she hadn't admitted that truth, certainly not to Lucas, maybe not even to herself. "You have to tell him. Because knowing that…" Nathan's voice cracked. "If he loves you…if he truly loves you...he would never ask you to leave."

Her nod was so slow and so barely noticeable, he might've missed it if he wasn't so in tune to her. So in sync with her every breath. "I'll try." Another centimeter in the right direction.

But. Still. "Please, do more than try." He wasn't above begging, not when it came to her happiness. "You have to do more than try. Promise me."

Why did his voice sound so strange? As if everything he'd always wanted to tell her culminated in this moment. Suspended here in this space between them.

A single tear made a lonely track down her cheek.

Gosh, he wanted to reach out and touch her. To make contact. To wipe away her tear. Even for the briefest of moments, but integrity and honor wouldn't let him. She still belonged, at this moment, to another.

Another nod and Nathan exhaled. Sighed, really.

It seemed enough for now. All he was going to get. But then she added. "Okay. I will."

He clung to that, because when Elizabeth gave her word about something…

Before he gave any more away, belied any more of his heart, which really, was already hers, completely and utterly, he nodded his head and turned for the door. Acquiesced. Gave up this small skirmish. For now. But his fight was far from over, this battle was far from through.

Because he was never. giving. up. on. her.


"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Dang it.

If one more person asked Elizabeth that question, she might just scream.

Rosemary, who sat just across the table, gently, silently set her tea cup down. "I ask the question because I love you. I care about you, Elizabeth. And I'm sure that whoever else asked you that question…feels the same."

Elizabeth's heart clenched. Hard. Because no, it hadn't been Lucas who had asked her what she wanted. He'd barely asked her anything the last few days, and certainly hadn't asked anything related to the possibly of her uprooting her entire life and giving up every one of her childhood dreams.

No. It hadn't been Lucas.

But it had been...Nathan.

What do you want?

His barely audible whisper reverberated through her even now.

"We just want you to be happy, Elizabeth." Rosemary's words sunk in, found her bones. And she knew, in those same bones, that was Nathan's motivation too.

Oh, sweet Nathan. Handsome, wonderful Nathan. Would she ever get over him? She couldn't let herself think too much about his perfect face, or his broad shoulders, or his sexy, crooked smile. Or his character, who he was, his person. It all just hurt too much.

"I know." Elizabeth said instead. "And it's sweet." Really, it was. But still.

"So…what do you want?" Rosemary, apparently, wasn't giving up.

"I don't know." A little honesty. For once. But just a smidge. "I honestly don't know." But…well, the same thing she told Nathan. "I know I don't want to leave Hope Valley."

"Then don't." Rosemary made it sound so simple. Way too simple. Did she even realize how deep Elizabeth was in this thing now? How could she not go with the man she was engaged to? Supposed to marry? In six short weeks? "Tell Lucas you don't want to leave your home."

Her home.

And that led to another question. What about it made it her home, really? The row house next door? The one she'd insistently told Lucas she never wanted to leave?

Even though…with Jack, she'd been more than willing to leave it? To build a house together, on his land?

Was it the row house that made Hope Valley feel like home? Or was it something else entirely? The schoolhouse? The cafe? Main Street?

The Mountie office?

Her heart thundered against her rib cage as she contemplated that one simple thought. The Mountie office. What it represented. Who it represented.

Elizabeth picked up her tea cup and took a sip, to cover the emotion threatening to bubble over now. Anything to wet her throat, suddenly a desert.

"What is it, Elizabeth?" Concern etched the lines of her best friend's face. It unraveled a bit of Elizabeth's stone-set resolve, as well as the web of mess she'd created. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"I know…I mentioned it before." When the dressmaker sent the wrong wedding dress. "I'm having…doubts."

Rosemary reached across the table and placed one, sweet comforting hand on Elizabeth's arm. And that was all it took for the dam to break. And break it did. Tears began to fall, unbridled, and Elizabeth confessed it all. Her doubts, her worries, and most of all, her fears. And surprisingly, not much had to do with Lucas. It was mostly about her.

And a whole lot about Nathan.

"Oh, what am I to do, Rosemary? I've made such a mess of everything."

But her friend, who wiped her tears of solidarity, only stilled. "You know, it's never too late. If it's meant to be." A soft, confident smile took over her best friend's features, sure as a sunrise. One thing she could always count on from Rosemary Leveaux Coulter, was honesty and truth. And confidence. "You know, I once ran into Nathan in the library, back when you were first dating Lucas. You were still a little bit on the fence, not sure who you were truly in love with." Elizabeth stilled at that, anxious to hear the rest. To have her friend's advice. "I encouraged Nathan to step aside, to give up on you. Maybe it was a mistake, but at that time, I thought you were in love with Lucas, and I didn't want to see him get hurt." She shrugged. "But do you know what he said to me? What his answer was?"

Elizabeth waited quietly for the rest. Rosemary didn't disappoint. "He told me that he wasn't giving up easily. That you…that love was worth fighting for." She smiled so softly, so warmly that Elizabeth felt the confidence that Rosemary radiated, down deep.

Then Rosemary stilled, serious. "And you know what I think?" A silent pause. "He's still fighting."


Elizabeth hadn't slept all night. Not a wink. Also, she hadn't packed a single thing. Sorry, no. She couldn't bring herself to pack a darn thing inside the boxes Lucas had dropped off the day before. And she wouldn't.

She just couldn't.

As soon as the sun was up, there was only one thing she wanted to do. And she needed to do it right away.

So when Jack was finally up, she dropped him off to play at Rosemary's. Then she walked into town. Straight to the saloon.

She bypassed the lobby, climbed the outside staircase to the second floor, and entered by the balcony. She passed boxes piled high in the hallway, then pushed into Lucas' office through the open door.

Whoah.

Her eyes went over the room in surprise - nearly all his shelves were bare, as was the desk. The room felt empty, barren. Void of his boisterous personality. Wow. This was truly happening. Lucas really was leaving.

"Thank you, Gustave." A commotion behind her had her turning, and just in time, Lucas entered the room in a hurry and very nearly ran her over.

"Lucas!" Elizabeth put both hands up and stepped back just in time.

"Elizabeth." He stood stark still, suddenly. Was she interrupting something? "Hi." He tilted his head a little. "Sorry. I didn't expect you. I have a very important phone call soon." He pulled out his pocket watch and checked it. "Do you need something?"

No hello, happy to see you. How are you doing?

Elizabeth squared her chin and smiled kindly, or as much as she could muster. "Yes. Yes, actually I do. Need something." She folded her hands in front of her, as she often did when she was nervous. "We need to talk."

"Okay." Lucas' one eyebrow went up, and he looked around the room, at the scattered boxes standing open, the chaos of his life being packed into crate after crate. He grabbed one chair and pulled it over near a second chair. Motioned toward them. "How's this?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath, jostled that ring on her left ring-finger. It felt way too burdensome now, entirely out of place, if she was honest.

So she sat down opposite him.


An hour later as she walked home, Elizabeth felt like she could breathe, for the first time in a very long time. Gone was the heavy weight. And in its place - a lightness. Which left her feeling feathery. Free. When was the last time she'd felt so free?

Better yet, why had it taken her so long to awaken from her slumber? To face the truth? To admit the way she truly felt?

She bypassed Rosemary's house, and sadly, the little boy who was there, most likely having the time of his life. Instead, she climbed her own front steps and entered her house.

When she emerged ten minutes later, she was dressed in her riding gear - dark trousers, riding boots, and long brown coat. Desperate for an escape, determined to clear her mind, there was only one place she wanted to be - in the saddle, on her horse. So she bypassed town, avoiding well, people, and made a beeline for the livery.


Nathan was lost in thought as he descended the mountain. He'd ridden Newton hard for most of his rounds, so now, he gave his trusty steed his head. Sat back in the saddle and tried to relax. To think of anything other than the woman who was packing up her house, intending to leave him - well, all of them - behind. Oh, how he wanted to stop her. To tell her how he truly felt.

Still felt.

Why hadn't he been able to move on?

It was a question he pondered, as he looked around him at the sunlight streaming through the trees, filtering between foliage gently blowing in the breeze. Above, the sun shone clear and bright; the sky, an expansive azure blue broken only by puffs of white. The only audible sound was the crunch of Newton's hooves, the occasional call of an eagle overhead, and the rustling of leaves in the air.

Nathan breathed in deep - the familiar scent of loam and earth and pine. Gosh, he loved this forest, this valley. How could Elizabeth consider leaving it?

He pondered that question too as he passed the turn off for Bill's land, rode around the long exaggerated bend, and down the windy path. Until the road slowly widened again, and he was almost to that one spot. Their spot.

The log.

The one where Nathan told her he loved her.

Wow, this spot stirred up emotion. Even though.

Even though she'd run away.

But as the log came into full view, he gasped. Stopped cold. Pulled Newton to a grinding halt. In one quick motion, dismounted and let go the reins.

For there she sat. His Elizabeth.

Looking a little lost. Or maybe, deep in thought? What was she doing here?

He approached her slowly, silently, unwilling to disturb her for the longest moment. Finally, though, he ventured. "Elizabeth."

Her gaze locked onto his and she stood. Something in her expression soft and way too inviting.

Huh.

"Nathan." His heart stopped.

Nobody could say his name like her.

He had to know. "What are you doing here?"

A breeze lifted a soft tendril of her chestnut hair and blew it across her lips. She lifted her left hand and brushed it away.

And. Oh. He noticed something - couldn't help himself, really - something very, very vital. Crucial even. His heart nearly leapt from his chest.

Her left ring finger was bare. Completely bare. As in, she wasn't wearing any engagement ring.

He took one step in her direction.

She blinked and- "Thinking." What question had he asked her?

Another step toward her. "Where's your fiancé?"

She shrugged one time. "Probably in his coach, already on his way out of Hope Valley." A smile tugged up one side of her mouth. Shy almost. But familiar. And wonderful. "But he's not my fiancé anymore."

Another step closer. And he stopped at a safe distance from her. Close enough to get caught up in her lovely scent of lavender, but far enough to keep his head on straight.

Nathan's heart pounded so hard, trying to escape his body. Trying to make its way home, though really, it already had - it belonged wholly to her, had for a long time now. "Is that so?" He felt the sides of his own mouth turn up into a smile of his own. He couldn't stop it, really.

She took a step in his direction, and he closed the rest of the distance. Couldn't help himself. He was a magnetic needle, and she was his true north.

"Oh, Nathan." This time it was a broken whisper and he just wanted to erase whatever had her down. Make it all better. "My sweet Nathan."

The words sunk in, found his bones, but lit him on fire.

My sweet Nathan.

Had she really just said that? But, yes, he was hers. Always had been.

But…what—

"I've been sitting here. Thinking of all the things I've done wrong. Of all the ways I've caused you pain." Her face contorted in all kinds of hurt, sadness and anguish and everything he never wanted to see there. Ever again. "I've been so blind, so unwilling to see what was right in front of me. What was in my own heart." She squared her chin and looked at him even. "Do you remember when you asked me that? When you asked me what was in my heart?"

Of course he did, how could ever forget? How could ever forget even one thing he'd ever said to her? Or one thing she'd ever said to him? This woman was fifty-percent of his whole world. The other part, of course, was consumed by a much younger, much more rambunctious female - one with that had captured his heart when she was just four years old. His true love, Allie.

"Of course I do."

"You gave me the inspiration for my book, what I needed…to pull out of myself…what I truly wanted to write." He'd never heard that before. Was that true? "But there was also a truth that I wasn't willing to face. To admit." She lifted one hand and placed it ever so gently on his cheek. He didn't know how it happened, but the feel of her soft hand on the stubble of his cheek had him leaning into her touch. Savoring it.

At that small movement, her mouth fell just slightly open. Her eyes went over his face, and he was quite sure she could read every emotion he'd ever tried to hide. "You." The word came out so softly he scarcely believed his ears. "You were in my heart."

What? But the softness, the emotion in her eyes said it was true. "I'm so sorry I pushed you away. For so long." And that cute, awkward smile that she reserved only for him. "But I'd really like that dinner now. The one that I never got to go on, because of my ridiculous fears—" her voice cracked as she broke off and her eyes fluttered closed. A tear escaped from under one of her thick lashes. She sucked in a breath and opened her eyes, found his again and fixed her gaze. "I would really like to go to dinner. With you."

Wait. She was asking him out? Like…on a date?

Oh, no. That wouldn't do.

He lifted his own hand and tenderly placed it on her face. Caressed a moment with his thumb, unable to believe this moment. The honesty in her touch. The emotion in her gaze. The truth written so plainly on her face.

Oh, they were way past a dinner date. Sorry.

He leaned toward her and stopped just millimeters from her mouth. And he whispered his answer against her lips. "Yes."

Then he closed the distance and kissed her. He captured her lips with his - soft and gentle at first, but in seconds, a fire exploded - the fire that had always simmered between them. It ignited into a conflagration. Oh yes, he'd been right all those years ago, right here in this spot - she did feel the same way. That much was made evident by the way she grabbed onto him and pulled him closer.

He pulled her closer too but still caressed that one cheek. Tilted her head up a little more and when a soft moan escaped from somewhere inside her, he deepened the kiss. He pushed off from the shallows and let himself fall into the deep with her, their hearts so entangled now, he knew he'd never get his back. Probably never would anyway.

She tasted like hunger and emotion and everything she'd always held back, and he savored it all. Because though he'd always worn his feelings on his sleeve, he'd only shown her the tip of the iceberg. Now she was discovering the depths of his love. He might not be a gambler, but with her, he was all-in.

And she met him tick-for-tack. He was truly a goner.

And it was obvious he was going to have to be the one to exercise some common sense here. He mustered what little he had left and slowly turned the kiss sweet, tender and slow. And then, he tapered it, and then, slowly, reluctantly pulled back.

He realized something, though. Somewhere, there in the middle, forgiveness and absolution had washed over them, made them new. Given them a fresh start.

And he felt new.

He rested his forehead against hers and fought to catch his breath. She kept her lips close but looked at him. "You asked me what I want."

Oh yes, he had done that.

She pulled back a little more but held his gaze. "I want you. Just you."

And that had him moving toward her lips again. He captured her mouth and dove back in. Expressing all of the love he'd held back for so long. But-

He needed her to know. "I am yours. Wholly yours. I always have been."

He brushed his lips over hers one time. Ever so softly. Tender. And a shudder ripped through her. He pulled her closer still.

Then he found her eyes and fixed his gaze. Strong. Solid. For there was something he really needed to say.

"Welcome home, Elizabeth."

Her eyes widened. But not in fear. Oh, no. In realization. Recognition. Agreement. Surrender.

And he kissed her again. Every promise he'd ever wanted to make in the caress of his lips, every confession he'd held back, passing in the connection, deep, between them. And he felt all of her promises too. Her confessions. Her beautiful surrender.

They were exactly that…Home.

And he saw all their tomorrows spread out, in vivid color, across the horizon before them.