AN: In light of NaNoWriMo, you are getting a shorter chapter than usual. What i had planned for the next section of this chapter will just be in next weeks chapter. Enjoy everyone. My App is still telling me about your reviews so please keep reviewing despite the site's problems.

While her dad went to discuss a lumber order with Jesse at the office, Ally hurried toward the Mercantile to pick up the mail. With both Grandpa and Uncle Gabe living in Hope Valley now, it wasn't their letters she was looking for, but Robert did write when his schedule allowed. Jack was beside her, having tagged along with their dad to pick her up from school.

"Good afternoon, Miss Grant and Mr. Thornton," Ned said formally, seeing the two children enter the store.

"Good afternoon," Ally replied, feeling grown up at being called by her last name.

"I'm not Mr. Thornton. I'm Jack," the little boy countered, getting a chuckle from Ned, Ally, and a couple of other customers.

After the chuckle, Ally tried to explain addressing people by their last names out of respect. Instead of clearing things up for Jack, the little boy looked more confused.

"But why don't we have the same last name?" Jack asked, looking at Ally.

"Because we have different birth fathers," Ally said. "Up until recently my last name was Parks instead of Grant but I took Dad's last name when he adopted me."

Jack pouted. "He adopted me. My name should be the same."

Starting to feel overwhelmed, Ally looked to Ned for help. Despite the panicked look on the teen's face, Ned shrugged his shoulders. He was at as much of a loss as to how to explain the situation as Ally was.

"Maybe that is a question to ask your mom and dad, Jack," Ned suggested, looking down at the little boy. To try to change the kid's focus, Ned reached for the jar of peppermint sticks on the counter. Taking off the lid, he pulled one out. "How about a peppermint stick, on me," the store owner said, leaning over the counter and holding the treat out to the child.

The pout was replaced by a smile as Jack took the sweet. "Thank you, Mr. Yost," he said, before sticking the candy in his mouth to suck on.

"You're welcome," Ned replied. He turned his attention to Ally. The teen mouthed a silent thank you to him. Ned just nodded. Out loud he said, "did you come in for the mail or something else?"

"Just the mail today, please," Ally replied.

Ned nodded. "I do believe your family got a couple of things," he said, turning to retrieve them. Finding the Grants' mail, he picked up three envelopes before turning back to face Ally. "And one of them is for you from Robert," he said, holding out the envelopes. "I do hope he writes to his mother again soon, though. She's been in here every morning for the past week hoping to hear from him. She even asked me to send a telegram to Mountie Headquarters in Union City so she could be sure nothing had happened to him yesterday. Their reply was that they had no reports of any incidents and to reassure her that if they did, she would already have been notified."

Ally nodded. "I remember the first Fort we were stationed at. Despite staying with another Mountie's wife, who was very kind, the first multi day assignment my dad went on, I would ask every Mountie I passed if they had any information on the group he went out with. The not knowing is hard, especially at first."

Ned nodded. "I can only imagine."

"Perhaps there are things in this letter I could share with her," Ally said. "I'll read it on my way home and if there is, I can ask for permission to ride Cinnamon over after supper."

Ned beamed. "I think she would appreciate that. Just knowing you've heard from Robert might help calm Mrs. Wolf's nerves."

Ally nodded. "I'll go see her after supper," she affirmed. "Have a good day, Mr. Yost."

"You too, Ally," Ned replied. He reached into the nearby jar for another peppermint stick. "You deserve a treat as well," he said, holding it out to her.

Smiling, Ally took it. "Thank you," she said.

Having tucked the letters into her school bag, Ally held out a hand to Jack. Her little brother took it, still happily enjoying his peppermint stick. Going to the waiting wagon, the teen helped Jack into the back and then sat with him while they waited for their father. It wasn't long before Nathan joined them, finding both kids enjoying their treats.

"I hope you two didn't beg, Mr. Yost for those," Nathan commented, standing beside the wagon bed.

"I didn't even hint," Jack piped up. "He offered."

"And you said thank you?"

"Yes, sir," Jack replied before sticking the treat back in his mouth.

Nathan looked to Ally, who mouth "tell you later," to him. Nodding, the father climbed up onto the wagon seat and got Cosmo headed for home.

"You and Mom both got some type of letter today," Ally commented as she pulled out Robert's letter. "The one for you looks kind of official though."

"It is probably business related, which isn't necessarily a bad thing," Nathan said. "Although I hope it isn't anything someone wants quickly, or I might have to turn them down."

"Maybe you should have quit being a Mountie sooner," Ally commented, having unfolded the letter but looking at her father as she commented.

Nathan chuckled. "Maybe so," he replied.

Turning her attention back to the paper she held, Ally began to read.

Dear Ally,

I am glad that you enjoyed the Winter Fest Dance. Your grandfather and Mr. Coulter sure have changed the saloon into a great place for community gatherings. I do hope at some point I can return to Hope Valley to attend more of them. I am glad you went with Vincent. You are too pretty and nice to be standing or sitting alone at a dance. The two of you seem to be forming a strong friendship and I am glad. We can never have too many friends and he seemed like a good guy when I met him at your birthday party. Know that if it goes beyond friendship, then you do not need to try to hide it from me. I made my choice, and I will deal with those consequences and the emotions that come with them. More than anything, I want you to be happy.

I do have to admit though that lately I wish I hadn't kept how I was feeling about our future to myself like I did. Seeing Elias and Bethany interacting since she arrived has shown me one thing - a relationship isn't about one person's feelings alone but a mixture of them both. Elias broke things off with Bethany because he didn't think she, being a city girl, could handle such a remote post. He made the choice for both of them. However, in arriving and staying here at Ft. St. John these past weeks, Bethany has proven him wrong.

If I could go back and do things differently last fall, I do not think my own position would have changed. I still believe that you should be able to explore new things without any promises to me holding you back. You have so much potential, Ally. Pick your dream and shine. What I would do differently is instead of keeping those feelings to myself, I would have told you earlier and given you a chance to have a say in the choice. I am sorry that I thought I had the right to make the decision for the both of us. But then maybe that is proof I wasn't ready for a serious relationship with you.

The new couple seemed happy together today - well at least after Elias got through the ceremony. I am not sure he would have stayed if Sgt. Delaney hadn't been at his side. I have never seen a man so nervous.

However, both bride and groom got through the ceremony, even with the extra guests. Seems the locals were not about to let Elias get married without throwing a celebration. I never thought so many people could be crammed in the Mounted Police Office here. Granted, we had to open the two cell doors so that people could fill that space as well. Still, it was a show of the care and respect that the people of Ft. St. John have come to feel toward Elias. Kinda of like how Hope Valley had eventually come to feel about Constable Thornton and then your Dad. I can only hope that I am on my way to them feeling that way about me as well. I think that is the ultimate legacy for a Mountie to leave behind. Not how many arrests you made or rewards you win, but a community that loves and respects you even after you move on.

The surprise guests weren't the only surprise wâpanacâhkos had for the day. Along with the extra guests and celebration, she decided that someone needed to walk the bride down the "aisle." That someone turned out to be me. I have never been so nervous in life - not even when I had to confess that I had made the story about the bear that had scared Opal up, simply to keep myself out of trouble. However, Andy had made himself scarce and Elias looked like he might fall if Sgt. Delaney moved from his side so I didn't have much choice. I suppose I could have refused and made a scene but that would have spoiled the joyous feeling of the day.

I tell you Ally, I have new respect for the men who escort a bride down the aisle - whether they are her father or another relation. You are escorting a woman to her future and granted, maybe the only job you have to do is to make sure she doesn't trip on her way there, but with all eyes on you, that suddenly feels like a huge responsibility. You do not want to be the one to ruin this special day for the woman on your arm.

When the day comes for your father to escort you to your groom, whoever he might be, be sure to tell him just how much you love him and appreciate him. I've known Bethany for only a few weeks, but I wanted everything to go right for her that day. Your father has known you your whole life. What I felt is only a drop in the bucket to what he will be feeling.

If you're wondering, after we got to where Elias was waiting for his bride, Bethany thanked me and kissed my cheek. I have a feeling that my face was probably as red as my dress uniform serge, but I was glad that I had helped to make her day special.

Other than the fact that I will have Andy bunking with me for a little while longer, things got back to normal here after the wedding. He snores, and I will be more than happy to see him go back to his own cabin.

With the winter coming to an end, men will be returning from the trap lines soon. The trading post will be busy as men turn their winter's catch in for money that will get their families through the year. Sgt. Delaney has increased the number of patrols we do out in the trapline area and if a trapper comes into town with their catch then one of us Mountie's go over to supervise. There has been no trouble yet, but I have been told that prevention is better than trying to deal with a situation after it has happened. As with many things, I will take my fellow Mountie's word for that rather than hope to experience it myself.

How are things among my old crowd there in Hope Valley? I haven't heard from Timmy lately but then I didn't expect to. He hates any kind of writing even more than me. I've also had letters from both Opal and Cody. It was fun hearing about the Winter Fest dance from both of them. Not sure what you have noticed from being with Opal, but I think those two are going to be very happy together. If you see my mother, tell her I will be working on a letter to her next. Between you and me, this one was the easier of the two to write.

Your Friend,

Robert

Ally looked up from the letter feeling relieved. While there wasn't much she felt comfortable sharing from the letter, at least she had a message to pass along to the woman. Folding up the letter, she addressed her father. "Dad, could I go visit the Wolfs after supper. I have a message from Robert to pass along."

"Of course," Nathan replied. "So how is Robert doing?"

Ally relayed some of Robert's accounts about his fellow Mounties though she kept his feelings about escorting Bethany on her wedding day to herself.