Chapter 1

Allie was struggling to concentrate on the paper in front of her. Editing the Sewing Circle's advice column was not what she had envisaged doing when she left college but as Mrs Coulter kept reminding her "it is by doing such seemingly mundane tasks that one truly learns the basics of journalism".

Normally she would just put her head down and get on with it but this afternoon she was too excited. Her family was arriving on the afternoon train and Uncle Bill would be here any minute to pick her up to go to the station. But she needed to get this finished first and concentration was not coming easily today. When the door opened and Rosemary came in holding little Victoria she was surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here again this afternoon. Don't you have to get the boys from school?"

Pointing down at the desk Rosemary laughed. "Well, just as I expected, your mind is somewhere else and not on that. Don't worry, Lee is picking them up and I am here to take over from you. Off you go, I know how excited you are."

Jumping up with a squeal Allie gave her a quick hug before taking Victoria from her mother and twirling her around the floor. "Just you wait until Colleen is here, you two are going to have so much fun together." With that she grabbed her bag and skipped out the door, giving a final wave as she left.

Rosemary bent down to pick up her daughter and tucking her on her lap she whispered in her ear "I certainly hope you are that excited to see me when you are 20 years old!"

In the Mountie Office and upstairs in the Training Centre there was a lot more activity than normal for a Monday afternoon. For possibly the tenth time in the last hour Jim Buchanan checked the straightness of the sheets on the cots in the cells and that everything else was spic and span for the Superintendent's arrival. Despite the fact that this had been happening every summer for the past four years and that the first thing he was always told was "Relax, I'm not here to check up on every little detail of how you do things. Part of my visit is to go through the next year's training programme with Ed and the rest is to have a holiday with my family. So unless we are in a formal situation I want you to remember to call me Nathan!"

That didn't stop Jim wanting everything to be right and upstairs Ed Harter was doing exactly the same. He was confident that he had all his paperwork up to date and had already set out his proposals for the coming year, based on what had worked best over the past twelve months and what he felt was lacking. More than anything he was excited to be seeing his friend and mentor. When he thought of how good his life was now there was one person to whom he owed so much. He knew he had been in need of guidance as a young Mountie when Nathan took him under his wing and taught him that it wasn't just what you put into something that determined what you got in return but how you went about it.

Coming from a large family, especially one with so many boys, meant that you always had to battle to be noticed. It was after two of his brothers had been killed when they were caught up in a store robbery that he adopted a completely black and white approach to life, stringent in his belief of what constituted right and wrong. It was an attitude he had taken out into the world with him. Only under Nathan's guidance did he learn how important it was to view things from other perspectives as well.

When he first met Fiona he had only seen the fragile side of her, almost broken by the murder of her friend Mike and worn down by the troubles that had pervaded Hope Valley for the previous few years. Understanding all of that and then watching as she shook off that burden and blossomed back into her true self had been the most wonderful thing. He loved the way her eyes creased up when she laughed and the mischieviousness that she tried unsuccessfully to curtail now that she was a respected member of the community, a description that was quickly followed by much laughter from her whenever she heard it.

He certainly couldn't be more proud of or in love with his wife. She was the most natural mother and so smart it amazed him. She found great satisfaction in making Hope Valley a better place for everyone living there and again it was something for which he knew much credit lay with Nathan. It was his belief in both of them that had made a huge difference. So having the Grant family here for the summer was a special time for the whole of Hope Valley but even more so for The Harters.

Outside The Mercantile chaos was the order of the day. After insisting that any wilting flowers in the planters be replaced so that they all looked as fresh as possible, Florence now stood with her foot firmly positioned on the bottom of the ladder. Poor Ned was balanced precariously on the top as he tied up the first end of the banner she kept carefully folded away throughout the year to be brought out for this special day.

Florence could still remember the relief they had felt at the sight of Nathan standing in the middle of Main Street four years ago, like a beacon that would lead them out of the darkness that had engulfed their town for so long. And he had done just that. When he had decided that there were too many bad memories still associated with Hope Valley to settle back there the whole town had been disappointed but understanding. He and his family deserved to be where they would find the most happiness.

But how excited they all were when Ed announced the following year that The Grants were coming for the summer. There had been a flurry of suggestions of picnics and fetes to entertain them until Bill stepped forward and reminded everyone that this was Nathan and his family, not The King of England. They wouldn't want to be treated differently, they were here to spend time with their friends and for Nathan to do some work.

He then sat back and watched as secret plans were made for "special" events to just happen to be scheduled during the time of their visit. On the day they were due to arrive he was walking across from the cafe when his attention was drawn towards The Mercantile. There strung across the front was a large banner reading "Welcome Back Grant Family". Standing in front of it was Florence and sensing someone was watching she turned and caught his eye. With a satisfied grin on her face she just shrugged her shoulders at him before shouting up to Ned that it wasn't quite right on the other side.

Cocooned in the compartment that had been their home for the past few days Cecilia couldn't believe that finally the rocking of the train had sent the little ones off to sleep today, just as they were about to arrive. Looking across to where Colleen was snuggled up on her father's lap she realised that maybe they weren't the only ones.

"I'm not asleep", he said opening one eye as if he could read her mind. "I know we're almost there and I need to sort the luggage but just five minutes more won't hurt. Besides, inwardly I'm practicing my delighted reaction to that awful banner Florence puts up each year." She gave him a whack on his shin with the flannel she was folding then couldn't stop herself from laughing. "It is embarrassing but if it makes her happy then it doesn't hurt for us to pretend that we are moved by it."

Nathan sat up then, carefully cradling his daughter as he brushed away from her eyes the one dark lock that seemed to have a mind of its own. Watching the tenderness of his action Cecilia thought that if you wanted to bottle love then this is where you would find the most plentiful supply. Never had she seen a man so utterly enamoured with his children as Nathan. That these two had come at a time when his working life mellowed may have explained it had she not known the relationship he had with Allie. To feel the depth of love he had for their eldest daughter when she was not biologically his said more about this man than any number of commendations or promotions ever could.

Now as they were almost at their destination she said her usual prayer that all would go well and no memories from the past would cast shadows over her family. She loved their time each year in Hope Valley but always there was a feeling that any minute the bubble would burst and they would find themselves tumbling back into the horrors they had known here before.

From under his eyelids Nathan watched Cecilia as she was gathering their things, seeing in her movement the nervousness that she always showed at the start of this holiday. He knew that it wouldn't last, that by the end of the week she would have forgotten all her fears and become herself again, relaxed and charming to everyone. For him the worry would never pass. No matter how many happy holidays they had enjoyed here he could never quite shake the feeling of foreboding, that somehow he was cursed in Hope Valley and like the Sword of Damocles some horror was just waiting to fall.

As the train came to a final stop at the station it was obvious to anyone observing the arriving passengers that the gentleman descending the front steps from the first class compartment was wealthy and a man of the world. Once on the platform he turned to extend his hand to the woman who had accompanied him from Hamilton, their tête-à-têtes in the dining car the subject of much gossip amongst the other travellers, and now the sight of her made all the women at the station gasp.

She was beautiful, quite a bit younger than the man she accompanied and yet somehow they looked right together. Her auburn hair was cut into the most fashionable style, the sides just below her ears from which hung the largest diamonds any of them had ever seen. Her outfit was modern, the fabric so rich and well cut that it was clearly from one of the couture shops of Paris or, at the very least, one in Hamilton that sold only the latest European fashions. In her hand she grasped a small reticule in black taffeta, embroidered in a solar rays design beaded with pearls and iridescent grey marcasite that ended in a grey beaded tassle. It was a work of art and probably would have cost more than many ordinary people would earn in a year. On her feet were the finest leather shoes, small pearl buttons attaching the straps at the side while matching beadwork adorned the heel and toe.

Hope Valley was not unused to people of high social standing visiting their small town. The Thatcher family and many of their acquaintances had spent increasing time here over the past few years as they enjoyed being part of the community for a short while. The local hospitality and clear mountain air had become so renowned amongst Hamilton Society that the groundwork had already begun on a newer, more luxurious hotel to accommodate extra visitors during the summer months. This time next year they hoped it would be full and with that the local businesses all had plans of their own to capitalise on this.

Of course, for William and Grace Thatcher their main purpose was to spend time with Little Jack and Patrick and make sure that they were happy, not that there was ever any doubt in their minds. Rosemary and Lee kept them well apprised of the boys' progress and the weekly letters written by their young hands were always greatly anticipated. With no other family of their own it had become the custom over the past few years for The Coulters and Charlotte Thornton to spend Christmas with The Thatcher family in Hamilton, where Julie and Tom would also join them.

But these people were different. Physically the man was like so many they had seen before. Tall, with a well trimmed beard, he too was dressed in European style. The cane he carried in one hand was embellished with a tortoiseshell pattern down its length and the round top was like a giant jewel. But there was something familiar about the way the man moved, his gestures reminding a number of those watching of someone, yet none could quite work out who. Perhaps it was just a combination of the actors they saw on the big screen on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon when the hotel was turned into a cinema for the newest releases.

Few could wait for Lee Coulter to finish building the theatre at the edge of town, somewhere more comfortable for the latest Hollywood blockbusters to be shown and where his wife could finally rediscover her passion for the stage, although these days she was not going to be treading the boards herself but running a local drama group in the hope that the next star of the screen might be discovered.

Now they watched as a large collection of expensive items of luggage were brought from the baggage car, brown monogrammed leather embossed in gold with the initials PSG on the top, signifying that they belonged to the couple whose hand baggage matched. There was money here but no-one seemed to know why it had arrived in their town. Nor who they were here to see.

From the far door to the compartment a familiar figure emerged down the carriage steps, his dark blue suit no disguise for the man whose arrival the whole town had been joyfully anticipating for weeks. Nathan looked around quickly in search of someone, raising his hand to wave at the other faces he recognised, before then turning to take his young daughter from her mother. Just as he was about to also help Billy down the steps the sound of running feet made him turn again and there flying through the station entrance was Allie, Bill Avery struggling behind her to keep up.

"Dad!", she shouted, all semblance of a mature young woman gone as she flung herself towards him. Nathan quickly adjusted his hold on little Colleen as he opened his other arm to his oldest daughter, drawing her close. Looking down at her he felt his heart grow in the way it had every day since he first saw her. Finally he thought, as he gazed across to where Bill had lifted his young namesake down from the train with his wife then following, my family is complete again.

Sometimes he found himself lying awake at night, listening to Cecilia's soft breathing as she slept, thinking how blessed he was. It was hard to believe that there was a time when he thought true happiness would always elude him. Having Allie had been the most poignantly wonderful gift but he knew he wanted more, that they both deserved the family that he saw so many other people enjoy. But even in his wildest dreams he hadn't imagined it could be this good.

Allie studied her father's face, noticing once again the fine lines that appeared around his brow whenever he returned to Hope Valley. She worried about him at these times but knew that at some point in the next few days they would have a good talk about it. He would start the conversation on the pretext of making sure she was okay but she knew that he needed it just as much, a moment when he could express the feelings that he couldn't share with Mum without adding to the fears she already held.

"Are you okay, Dad? You do know everything is going to be fine, it always is", she whispered as she stepped back.

He smiled at her then, wondering whether she sometimes regretted the times as she grew up when she carried a greater weight of responsibility than most of her peers. It had not been easy but they had always known that whatever they had to face it would all be okay as long as they were together.

"I'm good Allie-girl, just a bit tired. It's been a hectic few weeks making sure I have done everything I needed to so that we can enjoy our time here without interruption. Once we get settled at Uncle Bill's and we hear all your news then I will relax."

He let go of her then, the squirming body in his other arm making her presence known as she reached out for her big sister. She was such a quiet little one, rarely making a fuss but her excitement had finally been too much and she could no longer contain it.

"My turn!"

Allie laughed as she reached out to take Colleen but was almost knocked over as two arms wrapped themselves around her knees.

"Alleeee, we're here!"

She managed to keep her balance, crouching down with her baby sister in her arms as Billy's arms reached around her neck.

"We have lots of presents for you Allie. Mummy said that if I'm good on the train then I can help you open them and I promise I have been very very good!"

Smiling inwardly Allie nodded back at the sweet boy in front of her, trying to look serious. "Well, I guess I will have to wait to see what Mum has to say about that but if you have been as good as you say then I think it's only right that you open the first present for me."

Knowing that she couldn't forget the little one in her arms she quickly added, "and as the best little girl on the train I think you should help me with the next one!" Colleen snuggled her head into Allie's shoulder, her thumb in her mouth, not really caring about presents but just wanting to be as close to her big sister as possible.

Nathan had moved back across to where Bill was helping Cecilia gather the bags they had taken into the compartment with them, their old friend having sent a porter off to collect the rest of their luggage and arrange for it to be delivered to the house.

They greeted each other as only two men with the closeness of their shared past could do, their affection for the other clear for anyone to see. The wealthy traveller who had disembarked at the other end of the carriage couldn't help but notice and at the sound of the two men's names a strange expression crossed his face, then with a small nod to himself he turned towards the exit, ushering his lady friend forward as his driver led the way.