Chapter Three

Elizabeth was trying to get the children's essays graded before school, but had only made it through a few. She tensed when she heard a knock at the door, mentally scolding herself as Laura came in.

"Good morning, Mrs. Thornton," Laura called cheerfully. "These were sitting on the doorstep. I assume they're from Mr. Bouchard?"

Elizabeth took the bouquet of wildflowers, thankful to see a note tucked into the ribbon around them. She sighed with relief when she recognized the handwriting. "Actually, Mr. Bouchard and I won't be seeing each other anymore."

"So they're from Constable Grant?" Laura asked, a smug smile on her face.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because I know he's been sweet on you pretty much since he moved to town." Laura shrugged, still smiling. "And because I saw him riding away. He usually rides out the other direction to start his rounds."

Elizabeth smiled back, her cheeks flushed. "Yes, they are from Constable Grant."

"Do you want me to put them in a vase for you? I'll try to keep Jack away from them."

"You know, I think I'll take them to school with me. My desk could use something more than textbooks and pencils." She also wanted to read the note when she was alone, and since the children weren't due for nearly an hour…

"We had a late night, so Jack is still asleep. Feel free to help yourself to some oatmeal—there's plenty for both of you." She had made extra, just in case Nathan and Allie stopped by. "I have some essays to finish grading, so I'm going to go in a little early. Give Jack a kiss for me when he wakes up!"

"Of course!" Laura promised.

"Thank you!"

Elizabeth hurried down the path to the school, smiling softly as she held the flowers up to her nose. Once inside, she set them carefully in a vase on her desk and took out the note.

Dearest Elizabeth,

I pass a field of these every day on my rounds and always think of you. Perhaps you will think of me as you look at them?

I awoke this morning afraid to find that yesterday was merely a dream, but Allie assures me it was not my imagination. I look forward to making all of your dreams come true.

I love you.

Nathan

Elizabeth grinned, hugging the note to her chest. "I love you, too," she said quietly. She tucked the note back into its envelope and placed it in her desk. She was willing to share the flowers with her students, but the accompanying sentiments were for her alone. Settling into her chair, she got to work, finishing a few more papers before the children started to gather outside. She rang the bell to call them in, and they were soon engrossed in their history and literature lessons.

"Mrs. Thornton, are we going to get our essays back today?" Emily asked just before lunch.

Elizabeth sighed. "About that," she replied apologetically. "I had something unexpected come up last night, so I haven't finished grading them yet." There were several sighs of disappointment and a dramatic pout from Opal. "I was thinking," Elizabeth continued, "that if you all take a little extra time at recess today, I should be able to get them done so you can have them first thing this afternoon. Does that sound fair?"

The children cheered as she rang the bell and they rushed to gather their lunches and things for recess. Everyone hurried out the door except for Allie, who slowly made her way up to the desk.

"Was Uncle Nathan and I coming to dinner the 'unexpected' event?"

"No, of course not!" Elizabeth quickly assured her. "More what happened after dinner." She studied Allie's face carefully. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. Are you alright?"

Allie nodded. "Uncle Nathan and I talked when we got home. He said he thought he'd have a few more years before he had to tell me about courting and stuff, but he wanted me to know that whenever I do start going out with any boys, I can always say 'no' if they want to hold my hand or kiss me or whatever." She was quiet for a moment before she asked, "Are you okay?"

Elizabeth forced a smile. She'd been careful not to let on how sore her arms were, and had intentionally worn a dark blouse instead of her usual white or pastel to avoid anyone seeing the marks. Accidents happen, but she didn't think Nathan would see it that way. "I'm fine. And I'm glad you and your uncle were there. Thank you."

Allie grinned as she nodded towards the flowers on the desk. "Now I see why he was in such a hurry this morning. He never leaves that early."

Elizabeth grinned back. "I will be sure to thank him for the extra time and effort as soon as I see him," she promised. "Now go or I'll never get these finished!"

Allie started to leave but then turned back. "Do you think I could come over to see Jack after school?"

"I have some things to pick up in town and a few errands to run before I go home," Elizabeth replied. "But I'm sure Laura wouldn't mind some company."

"Are you going to see Uncle Nathan?" Allie teased.

"I might look and see if he's in his office," Elizabeth taunted back. "But I really do need to go to the Mercantile, so that's going to be my first stop." Once Allie left, Elizabeth took out and read the note from Nathan again, gathering strength from it. She also needed to stop at the saloon to see if Lucas was ready to talk.

Nathan leaned against the post in front of the jail, surveying Main Street. His head was still spinning from everything that had happened the day before. Elizabeth admitting her feelings for him and the amazing dinner they'd with the children. Young Jack falling asleep in his arms, just like Allie used to do. Lucas. As a man, Nathan knew Lucas deserved to hear the entire story from Elizabeth. As a Mountie, he felt compelled to protect her from the other man's anger and any subsequent fallout. And as a man in love who happened to hold the keys to the jail, he wanted nothing more than to lock Lucas up and throw away those keys.

He and Allie had a long talk when they got home last night. He asked if she had any questions about what she had witnessed, and promised that they would help Elizabeth deal with any accusations from Mr. Bouchard. He wasn't sure which of them was more embarrassed when he'd tried to explain courting and kissing, but Allie had hugged him tightly when they were done, thanking him for always watching out for her. That alone made his discomfort worth it.

He'd wanted to check on Elizabeth this morning before his rounds, but didn't want to be too forward. She had been a little shaky when he and Allie left last night, but promised she just needed some quiet time with little Jack, sleep, and the promise of seeing Nathan after school the next day to make her feel better. He thought some flowers would help cheer her up, so he left the house early to gather and leave a bouquet, a feat Allie thought both totally sappy and completely romantic. Now that Elizabeth was finally ready to hear the words, and return them, Nathan he saw no reason to stop expressing how much he loved her.

He watched Faith leave the café and head to the infirmary, stopping to talk to a woman in a red blouse. He wanted to ask for her help with something, and started to make his way down the street. He couldn't help but glance over at the saloon as he passed, noticing Lucas in his usual place in the shadows of the balcony, holding a tea cup. Who drinks that much tea?

"I want to hear all about your dinner last night!" Faith said, smiling as Elizabeth blushed and grinned sheepishly.

"How did you know…?"

Faith laughed as they reached the infirmary. Since there were no patients waiting, they went inside to talk. "I was in the café yesterday when Nathan and Allie came in. He was trying to be subtle, saying it was a thank you dinner for helping with Jack, but Allie was so excited she was literally bouncing. She insisted that they get his favorite dessert to celebrate." She waited expectantly for an explanation.

Elizabeth's face glowed. "It was incredible," she sighed happily.

"Pardon me for asking, but how did Nathan and Allie end up invited to your house for dinner? Last I heard, you were letting a certain saloon owner court you instead of the Mountie…"

Elizabeth flushed, her eyes dropping to the table. "I supposed I should explain my sudden change of heart."

Faith laughed. "Sudden? Elizabeth, everyone in town has known for ages that you are in love with Nathan, except perhaps you and Lucas. Although, I think even he suspects. That's probably why he's been fighting so hard to win you over."

Elizabeth looked up, startled. "I certainly made a mess of things, didn't I?" she said resignedly.

"Maybe a little, but I think everyone just wants to see you happy. They'll understand."

"I'm not even sure I understand," Elizabeth admitted. "I thought I was moving on, but I was just stuck in the same cycle of fear and doubt. I was so afraid of losing again that I thought I could settle for less than complete love. And I hurt so many people in the process."

"Are you happy?" Faith asked pointedly. "Is your son happy? Then everything else will work out. Do you want to talk about it?"

Elizabeth took a moment to gather her thoughts. "I loved Jack with my whole heart and I have no doubt that if he had lived, we would have had our happily ever after. But I always knew that no matter how much he loved us, our family would come second to his sense of duty to the NWMP, and I accepted it-then. Losing him taught me that I can't do that now, and that's a big part of what made me run from my feelings for Nathan. It took me a long time to realize that while he wears the same uniform Jack did, they aren't the same. For Nathan, his family comes first. Our children and I come first. He was even willing to resign if that's what it took for me to be with him."

Faith caught her reference to "our children" and wondered if Elizabeth realized what she'd said. "One little kiss on the boardwalk and you finally saw the light, huh? So you invited him to dinner and…"

Elizabeth shrugged. "I had lots of dinners at my house with Jack while we courting, and two after we were married, but this was the first time I've ever had a family dinner. I know that Jack would have been a great father, but I never got the chance to see it. To feel it. Last night with Nathan and Allie just seemed so…right. Allie and I talking and cooking. Nathan showing Jack how to put his little Mounties in formation. All of us sitting down to eat together…"

"Sounds like it was the perfect evening. "

"It was, until it wasn't." Elizabeth said cryptically. "While Nathan and Allie were putting Jack to bed, Lucas showed up. He was very upset when I asked him to leave and he realized Nathan was there."

Faith put her hand on Elizabeth's arm in sympathy, pulling it away when her friend winced. "How upset was he?" she asked quietly. "Did he do this?" When Elizabeth nodded, Faith pulled out one of the partitions and insisted on examining her.

Nathan knocked and let himself into the infirmary. "Faith?" he called out.

"Just a minute!" she replied from behind a curtained off bed. "I'm with a patient."

"Take your time," he replied. "I'm just here to ask a favor. I need of your steady hands and delicate surgical skills."

Faith and Elizabeth shared a look of concern, and Faith looked out around the curtain. "Are you hurt?"

"Not for me," Nathan assured her. "For a couple of Jack's toys. They belonged to his dad, so they can't be replaced, but I'm hoping you can repair them. I tried, but my fingers are too big."

Faith smiled and gestured for him to wait. Returning to Elizabeth, she explained, "You can use this salve every few hours to help numb the pain, and apply warm compresses as often as you can to help break down the bruising."

"Thank you," Elizabeth replied, watching the curtain warily as she reached for her blouse.

"You might has well tell him," Faith encouraged softly. "He's going to figure it out pretty quickly."

"And then he'll try to fix everything for me," Elizabeth argued back as quietly as possible. "I need to do this for myself. I'm not some helpless damsel in distress."

"Elizabeth?" Despite her attempt to hide, Nathan recognized her voice and rushed over, standing just outside the partition. "Are you alright?"

Faith watched her expectantly. "No one thinks of you as helpless, and you certainly don't need anyone to rescue you. But you have a wonderful man out there in red serge shining armor who wants to take care of you. It's okay to let him." Faith gazed at her, unblinking, until Elizabeth relented and quietly beckoned him in.

Nathan hurried around the curtain, stopping short when he realized she wore her chemise and corset, her blouse crumpled in her lap. He blushed and started to avert his eyes, until he caught sight of the bruises. Stepping closer, he traced the angry marks on both arms, his fingers never quite touching them. Elizabeth watched as his anguish turned to anger, his face going hard. She grabbed his hand before he could storm out.

"Stay with me."

Nathan's eyes were dark with fury. "Say the word and I'll have him in a jail were cell."

"That will just make things worse," Elizabeth reasoned. "He'll accuse you of being biased."

"He attacked you!" Nathan exclaimed, startling Faith as she stood on the other side of the bed. "I was there, Elizabeth. I heard you ask him to leave, repeatedly. I saw him try to kiss you. You pulled away and he wouldn't let you go. And I saw you flinch when he held your arms. I just didn't realize…"

"It was an accident," Elizabeth insisted. "We were arguing, yes, but I don't believe he meant to hurt me physically. The insults and threats to my job, I think those were serious." She paused, placing her hand on the side of his face. "You saw him. Lucas was so focused on you that he didn't realize he was still holding me."

Nathan reached out to caress her cheek. "It kills me that I couldn't stop him from hurting you last night. Let me protect you now."

Elizabeth leaned into his touch, smiling softly. "I need to talk to him," she insisted.

"Not alone you don't." When Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest, he silenced her with a quick kiss. "I'm going with you. I don't want you alone with him. I don't trust him."

They stared at one another for a moment until Elizabeth finally sighed and looked away. "Regardless, it will have to wait," she replied, glancing at the clock. "I need to get home to Jack."

Nathan nodded, stepping back around the partition so she could dress. While he waited, he showed Faith the broken Mountie figures. "Think you can save them?"

Faith studied the toys. "I'll give it a try, but these guys are going to have to be retired from active duty. I think they'd do better guarding Jack's room from atop the dresser or the bookcase."

Elizabeth joined them, thanking Faith for both her medical and personal advice, and both of them for taking care of Jack's toys. Nathan held the door for her as they left, and they walked back to the row houses with hands intertwined. It wasn't a conscious gesture for either of them, just a natural instinct. When they thought about it later, they realized it didn't seem a surprise to anyone they passed in town, just another sign that they were meant to be together.

After he'd escorted Elizabeth home, Nathan went next door to the Coulters to see if they had observed or if Elizabeth had shared any of the events from the previous night. Rosemary had, of course, heard nearly everything, and what she hadn't been clear on had asked Allie when she came to see Jack after school. Nathan was beside himself with guilt. "It's my job to protect her, to protect this town, and she got hurt standing right in front of me! I should have intervened sooner. I should have stopped him. I…"

"You did what you thought was best at the moment and no one, especially not Elizabeth, will blame you for that," Lee insisted. "And I'm certainly not defending him, but Lucas doesn't have a history of being violent. If Elizabeth thinks it was unintentional, I would believe her."

"I can still arrest him for assault," Nathan replied.

"Why don't you try talking to him before you do anything that jeopardizes your career," Lee reasoned. "Maybe now that he's had time to cool down he'll be more rational. As a member of the town council, I really don't want to have to start any official inquiries."

"I'll let you know if I need statements from both of you," Nathan told them as he took his leave. "And thanks for listening—now and last night."

Lucas stood behind the bar alone, surveying the unusually quiet saloon. He looked a little ragged and felt even worse, having consumed far too much alcohol the night before. He looked up and scowled as the red serge approached.

"I think you and I need to talk," Nathan declared.

"Let me be clear," Lucas sneered. "Elizabeth and I have a great deal to talk about, but you and I have nothing to discuss."

"Let me be clear," Nathan said coolly. "If Elizabeth has any trouble with the town council or the board of education because of you, I will make sure you are brought in an assault charges."

"You can't do that!" Lucas exploded. "I didn't lay a finger on you!"

"No," Nathan replied, his eyes heating. "You put your hands on her. I saw it. Allie saw it."

"What are you talking about?" Lucas argued. "I did no such thing." He didn't want to show it, but a chill ran through him as his confrontation with Elizabeth started to come back to him through the champagne fuzz.

Nathan stared at him a moment. "So you deny that you showed up, unannounced and uninvited, at Elizabeth's late last night?"

"It couldn't have been that late, since you were still there," Lucas retorted bitterly.

Nathan smirked. "I was invited. And I was chaperoned by two children. Even if I'd wanted to, it's kind of hard to get into anything improper with a three year old and a thirteen year old just feet away the entire time. So you admit to coming uninvited to Elizabeth's."

"You know I was there."

"Did you also push your way inside after she asked you repeatedly to leave?" Nathan waited but Lucas glared silently. "Did you grab her and try to kiss her, even after she said 'no'?" He leaned forward, speaking in a deathly calm hiss. "Did you squeeze her arms so tightly that she has bruises? Deep, dark bruises, in the near perfect imprint of a man's hands."

Lucas's stomach turned as he remembered. His hands. "It was an accident," he vowed, clearly shaken. "I was angry and I forgot I was still holding her…it was an accident."

"Accident or not, it landed her in the infirmary, so Faith has made note of it. If you cause trouble for Elizabeth, I will make sure those documents, as well as statements from Allie and myself, are shared with the town council, board of education, and anyone else you try to rally support from."

"I was upset and I reacted badly. It won't happen again," Lucas swore.

"It better not."

Author's notes: I kind of wrote myself into a hole in this chapter and have struggled to get out. The marks on Elizabeth's arms were never intended to be deliberate physical abuse, but rather a negligent accident. Proof that Lucas is too focused on himself to realize how his actions affect others. Elizabeth was never intended to be a victim. The bruises are supposed to be wake-up call, not a crime. Nathan overreacts a little (while Elizabeth doesn't react enough), but as a Mountie and a man in love, his first response is to protect/defend her. My sincerest apologies if what/how I wrote this triggered anyone.

Also of note- I realize that to be historically accurate, it would be inappropriate for a man to see a woman not his wife (yet) in a state of undress as shown in the infirmary scene; call it artistic license or chalk it up to twenty years in the medical field. Elizabeth wouldn't have told him she was hurt, so he had to see it. And as I picture it in my head, Faith is standing right beside her, so there wouldn't be any other improprieties.

And yes, Elizabeth will confront Lucas soon. I just felt the bruises needed addressed before his attitude.