Ch 8: But No Apples

Nathan woke with the dawn. He could hardly wait for the day to begin with the thought of a ride with Elizabeth consuming most of his dreams.

He threw off the covers and quietly changed into his henley, serge, and jodhpurs. There were no other sounds yet in the row house except for some soft snoring on the other side of Allie's door. Her sound sleeping was just another reminder that his little girl was growing into a teenager. Nathan grabbed a quick cup of coffee—mostly out of habit over necessity this morning—before stepping out into the chilly sunrise.

Nathan practically floated to the livery— pausing only once to wave at Ned who was accepting an early morning delivery. Town was quiet. It was the perfect time for a man to think and process how much his world had changed in the last 48 hours.

Reaching the livery, Newton recognized his partner and whinnied and stomped a greeting. Nathan walked over and patted his mane and ran a hand down the horse's jaw. The Mountie checked over his shoulder to make sure the coast was clear before whispering hoarsely, "Newt, we need to talk. No more apples!"

Newton snorted.

Nathan laughed. "You're a true partner, you know that? Thank you. Lucas broke it off with Elizabeth so you can knock it off now."

Newton nickered and bobbed his head in a nod.

"Thank you. I think all of that is over now. I think she finally sees me." Nathan whispered to his companion.

The horse nudged him with his head.

"Thank you. You're a good one too. I owe you one."

Newton snorted and stomped.

"NO APPLES. I don't owe you apples. I'm serious."

Newton sighed and shook his mane.

"No." Nathan pointed at him with a teasing glare. He turned and grabbed the carrots in his back pocket. "Here. Your diet has changed. Don't get any funny ideas or the carrots will be gone too."

Newton whinnied and bobbed his head and then gobbled up the snack. Nathan shook his head to himself. He grabbed the tack saddling up Newton for early rounds with only an occasional amused snort from his partner.

A few hours later, Elizabeth rang the bell and ushered in the children as she waved to the parents who turned and headed home. Rather than retreat, Nathan stepped forward with Newton to his back a few steps behind him. With his hat in his hand and mischief on his brow, he cocked a lop-sided grin.

"Constable?" Elizabeth nodded with a twinkle in her eye and light blush on her cheeks.

"M'aam." Nathan nodded. With a gleam in his eye, he removed his hat from covering his canteen with a handful of blue asters. They were in the familiar shade of lavender she often wore.

Amused at his familiar hat-hiding flower trick, a deep blush crept across Elizabeth's cheeks as she remembered the circumstances surrounding his last hat trick.

"These reminded me of you." Nathan offered her the bunch as he timidly looked up at her. Catching her deep blush and soft eyes, the same memory returned to him as well—suddenly warming his insides like the blazing furnace from her living room.

Nathan's face flushed deep red as he tugged at the neck of his serge.

"Getting warm Constable?" Elizabeth teased with a smirk of her own.

"I've been warmer." Nathan quietly responded in a soft raspy voice as he handed her the flowers.

Elizabeth blushed all over again before teasing, "Hate for you to be cold this morning. Stay warm out there. See you after school." She winked at him from behind the bouquet, and turned on her heel marching inside and closing the doors with her eyes full of light and mirth as she disappeared inside the little white schoolhouse.

Mesmerized by this woman, he blushed deeper and cleared his throat turning back to his nickering partner.

Just inside the door, Elizabeth touched her cheeks. She cleared her throat and got the class's attention. The students quieted down from their conversations and found their seats. Allie smiled to herself as she sat in her chair after silently taking in the exchange from the side wall of the classroom.

Nathan returned to town with a flower-soiled canteen, but a spring in his step. He tied Newton to the front step of the office and took a bucket and refilled the water trough for his horse.

He glanced up at Bill's office at the distinct sound of whistling. At least Bill was in a good mood, Nathan thought. He had some business to discuss.

Knocking once at the door, Nathan pushed it open and stepped inside. He stood to his full height with his arms crossed. He saw Bill standing next to his desk rifling through papers.

"Bill..." Nathan started sternly. He closed the door tightly behind him.

Bill stopped suddenly and turned to see Nathan—panic rising a bit in his chest as he took in the Mountie's posture until he noticed the creases at the corners of his eyes. Creases which revealed a laugh—though Nathan's mouth didn't show it.

"Yes…" Bill grumbled in playful irritation.

"Need I remind you that it's a serious offense to tamper with Mountie-issued equipment? Stop feeding Newton apples."

Bill feigned offense holding a hand to his chest. "I will dismiss any charges you raise."

"Even if the charges are stolen property…from the saloon?" Bill's eyes flared briefly. "Allie…" he murmured to himself. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted her with this."

Nathan broke character finally and laughed. "Well, you made her day Bill. Thank you. She needed a laugh." He approached Bill's desk and took a seat.

"She's been through a lot. So have you." Bill said with sudden seriousness placing a hand on Nathan's shoulder.

"I think a lot of that is behind us now." Nathan stated with hope lighting his eyes as he looked up at Bill.

"I'm glad to hear it. Elizabeth swung by the cafe yesterday. It was good to have the old Elizabeth back….It's been a long time." Bill turned the corner of his desk and sat down. He looked Nathan over.

"How is Allie taking it?"

"Ok I think. She's…cautious." Nathan said honestly.

"She should be. I don't want to see her get hurt again and I'm sure you don't either."

Nathan shook his head as he sighed.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders. And she's got you. You're a good father Nathan. You'll find the way."

Nathan smiled up at Bill. It wasn't often his parenting was praised.

"Now get out of here. You've got a town to protect." Bill grumbled with a smug grin.

Nathan laughed as he headed for the door. He paused and turned back, "return the saloon shovel before Lucas files a report."

"He won't do that. There's a note on the door of the saloon that it's been sold. He's gone."

Nathan's jaw dropped. "What?! When?"

"He left yesterday morning. The saloon has been dark ever since. The cafe was a madhouse last night. It was good for business, but I'm going to have to hire more help." Bill reported with obvious irritation in his voice.

"No Gustave?"

"Haven't seen him."

"Keep me posted Bill if you hear anything about a new owner." Bill and Nathan nodded to each other as Nathan headed over to the saloon to see the note himself.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly in Hope Valley both in the RCMP office and in the schoolhouse.

At exactly 3 o'clock, Elizabeth rung the cowbell. Students streamed out the doors of the schoolhouse eager for their newfound freedom. Allie, Opal, and Emily skipped off towards the Weise's arm in arm.

Elizabeth straightened up the classroom and started erasing the chalkboard. Excitement filled her heart as she anticipated an arriving Mountie any minute to whisk her off on a horse ride. It had been hard to think of much else today and the students noticed that she kept drifting off mid-sentence daydreaming.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the sound of boots on the steps had Elizabeth turn.

There he was with a shy smile and an apple in hand.

"Bribing a public servant again, Constable?"

"Oh this? It's for Sergeant." Nathan teased with a twinkle in his eye as he pulled the apple towards his chest.

"Why are you bringing it inside then?" Elizabeth asked clearly amused.

Nathan paused for a moment. Caught. Elizabeth seized the opportunity to grab her basket before putting her hand on her hip and raising her eyebrow.

"Uh… You caught me. I wanted an excuse to see you sooner." He smiled timidly and scuffed his boot on the floorboard.

Touched by his admission, she smiled tenderly and then grabbed the apple from his hand. She took his other hand and gave it a light squeeze as they walked out to the front step.

Elizabeth held out the apple intending it for Sergeant. At the sight of the apple, Newton whinnied. Elizabeth turned instead and took a step towards the eager horse.

"Just don't give that apple to Newton." Nathan warned with his eyes suddenly flooded with concern.

"Why?" Elizabeth asked with a laugh.

"Ask Bill." Nathan muttered shaking his head.

Elizabeth's eyebrow crinkled as she shook her head, "okaaaay…" she responded with a laugh.

She fed the apple to Sergeant—much to his delight—before she tucked her items from her basket into his saddlebags. Elizabeth quickly mounted and looked to Nathan for their direction.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Elizabeth asked with a twinkle in her eye.

"Nope." Nathan quipped before urging Newton to a trot down the path towards the woods.

Elizabeth broke out in a grin and nudged Sergeant forward to catch up. Very well then, adventure it is. Sergeant moved into a canter and Elizabeth's heart sped up to match his gait. It was the ride she had longed for from deep within her heart.