A/N: Hi friends! I just wanted to give you a little update on my fanfic posting schedule. I've "caught up" with posting Strength, so have no extra chapters written at this point. Serge is complete and New Dawn is going to continue for a bit. The plan is now to post Strength on Mondays and New Dawn on Thursdays. I might post an extra chapter here and there on other days if I get them written, but there will definitely be at least one chapter for each story each week. And now onto the story...:)

September 1920

School started again as the leaves began their annual change from green to golden. The summer had been long and fun, with Elizabeth's parents visiting for a full two weeks after the honeymoon at Lake Erie. There had been plenty of hiking and fishing trips and picnics before the school year commenced. Jack wanted more than anything to follow his big sister to school, but he wouldn't be able to start for another year. Nathan knew Elizabeth was thankful for one more year with him at home. She wasn't quite ready for her little boy to hit that milestone. Nathan didn't blame her. He wasn't sure he was ready for Jack to be old enough for school either. The fact that their son would soon be five was already hard for him to wrap his mind around.

Nathan was going to take Allie to school on the first day. He kissed his wife and children goodbye, then headed out the door with his eldest daughter.

"Dad, I'm fourteen. You don't have to walk me to school, you know," Allie said, looking up at him with a slightly exasperated expression.

Looping an arm around her shoulders in response, Nathan looking at his precious girl. "Maybe I don't have to, but I want to," he said. "Far too soon for my liking, you're going to go away to college and leave us all behind. I want to have as many memories with you as possible, Allie-girl."

She all but rolled her eyes. "Da-a-d!" she said, squirming away from him with all the indignation of a teenager. "My friends will see!" She continued to walk beside him, but kept some space between them. "Besides, there are still four years before college starts. That feels like forever."

"For you, maybe," Nathan muttered under his breath. It seemed like only yesterday he'd taken Allie in as a little four-year-old. Then he'd blinked and that four-year-old was now a blossoming teenager. He knew he'd blink again and his little girl would be married with children of her own. The very thought made him shudder.

He kept up a steady stream of conversation as they made their way to the school. Allie was more than happy to talk about being with her friends again and having Miss Yost as her teacher. Before he knew it, they were on school grounds. Anna, Emily, and Opal waved to Allie. She grinned, waving back.

"Bye, Dad!" she said, taking off at a run to join her friends.

Nathan stood in stunned silence for a moment, feeling dismissed. He knew not to take it personally, but it still stung a little. "Bye," he murmured, watching as his daughter hugged her friends tightly. They talked together excitedly until Katie Yost rang the bell for class to begin. Nathan waited until everyone disappeared into the schoolhouse before slowly making his way to his office.

"Teenagers," he said ruefully, shaking his head. He could only hope Allie wouldn't get to a point where she didn't want to spend time with him at all. Their fishing trips were one of the highlights of his week. He silently prayed that, at least, would continue.

His day was relatively uneventful. Nathan knew that would make Elizabeth happy. While it was slightly boring for him, at least he was safe. That was becoming ever more important to him. It worried him that he had a dangerous job when he had a wife and three children at home.

By four thirty, he had finished his work and afternoon rounds. He tidied his desk, then went to the peg by the door to retrieve his hat. Before he could place it on his head, the phone rang.

Nathan looked at the phone, then at his hat. A moment's indecision nagged him. He could put off the call until tomorrow. If it was truly important, Florence would come find him. With a sigh, Nathan knew that wouldn't be the responsible thing to do. He rehung his hat and made it to his desk in time to answer.

"Hello?"

Florence's voice greeted him. "Constable Grant, I have Inspector Sullivan on the line."

Nathan's brow furrowed. He hadn't had any interaction with Sullivan since…

He pushed the thought away as a sense of dread filled him. "Thank you, Florence. Put him through." The line clicked. Nathan fought to keep control of his emotions. "Hello, sir."

"Hello, Grant," Sullivan said. "It's been a while."

"Yes, sir," Nathan replied. "Four years, to be exact." Sullivan had been involved in Nathan's last case before transferring to Hope Valley. The fact that the man was calling him now didn't sit well with Nathan.

"Indeed," Sullivan said. He cleared his throat. "I suppose you're wondering why I called."

"I have a bad feeling it's related to the Mueller gang," Nathan replied.

A grim silence met his words before Sullivan spoke again. "Yes, it's related to the gang," he said, his words clipped. "They escaped, Nathan. Two days ago."

Nathan's stomach clenched and he almost dropped the phone. Dread and anger poured over him simultaneously in waves. "How?" he managed to choke out.

"It was a prisoner transfer gone wrong," Sullivan replied, his voice heavy. "We're still not sure how it happened. They had some outside help. Our Mounties were ambushed. All three gang members got away. We thought we would be able to catch them again, but they vanished."

Nathan's stomach dropped to his feet as the man continued. "I'm planning on sending a team of Mounties to Hope Valley until these men are caught," he said. "Considering the Muellers' threat against you at their sentencing, I thought it might be the prudent thing to do."

Nathan remembered that day all too well.

Jeffrey Mueller turned after he and his gang members were sentenced to life in prison for years of horse thieving and recently murdering a civilian. He pointed at Nathan, eyes steely and cold. "I'll remember this," he growled. "You'd better pray I never manage to escape, Grant. On that day, you and your family will pay in blood."

Since he had been the one to both track and arrest the gang, Nathan had testified in the trial. His testimony had led to the gang's conviction. Jeffrey hadn't been happy about being arrested, nor was he happy with the sentence. After the trial, Nathan had received his assignment for Hope Valley. He'd been glad to leave behind that drama and start a new life in a new town, even under the circumstances that led to him requesting that transfer.

"Nathan? Are you still there?"

Shaking himself, Nathan responded quickly. "Yes, sir. Sorry about that. The Mountie reinforcements would be nice. Thank you."

"They should be there in two days," Sullivan said.

Nathan felt a tinge of fear inside. That would make it four days since the gang escaped. Plenty of time for them to make it to Hope Valley. "Two days?"

Sullivan sighed. "I'm afraid that's the fastest we would be able to send emergency reinforcements. I'll see if we can push for a faster transfer, but you know how it is with paperwork."

Closing his eyes, Nathan drew in a deep breath. "Yes."

Sullivan was quiet for a moment. "Is there someone in town who can help you until then?"

Bill came to mind immediately. "There is," Nathan said firmly. "The town judge is a former Mountie and a good friend of mine. I'll talk to him."

"Good," Sullivan said, sounding relieved. "Keep a wary eye out, Nathan. I hardly have to tell you, but these men are dangerous. It wouldn't surprise me if they were already on their way to Hope Valley."

"Me neither," Nathan said grimly. "I can only hope they don't get here before the Mounties do."

After hanging up, Nathan sat in his chair, his mind whirling. He needed to talk to Bill. Nathan felt too close to the situation to look at it objectively. Standing, he placed his hat on his head and walked out of his office, heading directly for the Office of the Judge.

Bill, as always, had a plan. Once Nathan related everything to him about the Mueller gang, Bill immediately began to outline a course of action. He would deputize trusted men in town and set up a watch around the Grant house.

"Go home, Nathan," Bill ordered. "I'll get things ready here." He paused. "Lock all your doors and windows tonight, and make sure your gun is handy."

Nathan listened to his friend. When he got home, he made sure everything was locked tight. Elizabeth watched him in confusion as he went back and forth to every window in the house, shutting them tightly and locking them in place.

"What's going on, Nathan?" she asked.

He went to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. He knew a very real fear that the Mueller gang would try to get to him by harming his family, and he knew from experience that men like them would not hesitate to use his wife to hurt him. Nathan's kiss bordered on desperate as fear pulsed through him. He clutched Elizabeth tightly to him. Even he could tell that he was shaking. When he finally pulled back, Elizabeth was gasping for breath and her eyes were bright with worry.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, reaching up to frame his face in her hands. "What happened today?"

Unable to answer yet, Nathan buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent and holding her as close as was possible. When he finally regained a sense of control, he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Where are the children?"

Her brow furrowed. "Aurora is napping. Jack and Allie are playing outside. Didn't you see them when you came home?"

He hadn't. Another shot of fear pierced his heart. Without another word, Nathan rushed onto the porch, calling for his kids. His fear grew when there was no response. He began to run, covering their property as quickly as he could.

"Jack! Allie!"

He became more desperate as time passed. The children were nowhere to be found. Gulping in deep breaths, Nathan ran to the barn. He hadn't seen them when he put Newton in his stall, but maybe they were playing in the hayloft. Bursting into the barn, he called their names once more.

"Dad?"

His daughter's voice was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. Nearly weeping with relief, Nathan made his way toward the back of the barn. Coming around a corner, he saw Jack nestled against Allie, sleeping soundly on some hay. Allie had a book in one hand while her other hand was resting on her brother's back. Dropping to his knees, Nathan pulled his daughter into a tight embrace. The motion woke Jack, and Nathan immediately brought him into the embrace as well.

Allie stared at Nathan, knowing something was wrong. "What is it?" she asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

Standing, Nathan pulled his children to their feet. "We need to get to the house and stay inside," he said. "I'll explain later, okay? For now, I just need you to trust me."

The three came out of the barn. Nathan looked at the house and froze. Though all was quiet, something felt wrong. The front door was shut, the door he had left open. There was a movement at the window. He quickly retreated, pulling Jack and Allie into the barn once more. His mind sprang into action. It might be nothing, but his instincts were telling him danger was at hand.

"Come with me," he said, his tone firm.

Jack obeyed without question. Allie looked scared, but she followed as well. "What's going on, Dad?"

"I don't know, Allie," he said. Reaching the back of the barn, he pushed open a door. If someone was in the house other than Elizabeth, they wouldn't see the children leaving from here. "I want you to go to the Coulters," he instructed. "Go as fast as you can, but stay out of sight of our house. Do you understand?"

Allie nodded. She took Jack's hand in hers, clutching it tightly.

"Once you're there, call Uncle Bill. Tell him to come to the house, armed, preferably with some other men." He hesitated, hating to worry his daughter. "Tell him the Muellers might be involved."

Allie jolted, eyes widening at the name. "The Muellers?" she whispered.

Nathan nodded, his throat constricting. Allie's eyes welled with tears. "What are you going to do?"

Closing his eyes briefly, Nathan wrapped her in another embrace. "Your mother and sister are in the house," he said quietly. "I'm going to do whatever I have to in order to make sure they're safe." He kissed Allie's forehead, then looked into her eyes. "I love you, Allie."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I love you too, Dad," she whispered, a little sob choking her. Nathan repeated the gesture with Jack, telling his son he loved him. Jack looked confused, but he must have sensed the urgency at hand. He followed his sister without question when she led him from the barn. Nathan watched them for a moment as they quickly made their way to the Coulters' house. He could only hope Bill would make it here in time.

Turning his attention back to his wife and younger daughter, Nathan strode purposefully from the barn. He kept a hand on his belt, near his gun, but he walked as if unsuspecting anything amiss. The movement from the window caught his eye again. Whoever it was, it definitely wasn't Elizabeth. He began to walk faster. Before he reached his front porch, the door opened.

Jeffery Mueller stood there, eyeing him maliciously. "Well, well, well," he drawled, toying with a long knife in his hands. "If it isn't Constable Grant." Stepping aside, he gestured inside with mock formality. "Please, join us."

Nathan cautiously made his way up the steps, his gun trained on Jeffrey. The gang leader simply laughed. "I don't think you'll need that," he said. "After all, we wouldn't want anything happening to your pretty little family, now would we?"

It was in that moment that Nathan saw Elizabeth sitting on the settee, holding Aurora tightly to her chest as Jeffrey's cronies held them at gunpoint. Without thinking, he took a step toward them, but Jeffrey blocked his path. "I don't think so," he said icily. "We have a debt to settle, Grant. Those two are insurance that you don't try any funny business." Holding out his hand, he stared Nathan down. "Give me your gun."

Aurora whimpered. "Daddy," she cried, her blue eyes wide with fear.

Jeffrey grinned again, the gleam of evil in his eyes chilling. "Give me the gun, or I order my man to kill your daughter."

Nathan obeyed, fear for his little girl and his wife nearly paralyzing him. "Please," he choked. "Let them go. It's me you have an issue with, not them."

"Oh, I have no intention of hurting them," Jeffrey sneered. "Not unless you fight in any way." He jerked his head at his right-hand man, Simmons. "Lock the woman and child in the bedroom," he barked. "Wedge a chair under the door handle so they can't escape."

Simmons jerked Elizabeth up. She teetered, nearly losing her hold on Aurora. The man pulled her roughly. "Let's go, woman!" he said.

Elizabeth's eyes were wide with terror. "Nathan!" she cried, struggling against the man.

"Wait," Jeffrey commanded. He walked to Elizabeth, grabbing hold of her chin with a rough hand. "I suppose since this is the last time you'll see your husband alive, I'll allow you a moment together." He let go and then pushed her in Nathan's direction. "You have one minute."

Tears were streaming down Elizabeth's face. She stumbled into his arms, gripping him desperately with one hand while holding tightly to their daughter with the other. "Nathan…" she said again, choking on sobs. "Don't let him do this! You have to fight…"

"If he fights, you and the girl die," Jeffrey called out in a mockingly sing-song voice.

Nathan felt tears burning his eyes. He hated that he was causing Elizabeth such pain. With no other choice, he framed her face in his hands, kissing first her and then Aurora. "I love you both," he whispered, his throat on fire as he tried to control his emotions.

Panic entered his wife's eyes. "No," she said, her face convulsing. "No, Nathan, no!"

"Time's up," Jeffrey said. "Take her away."

Simmons grabbed her again and began dragging her toward the bedroom. Elizabeth screamed, fighting him every step of the way with one arm, but he was too strong for her. Nathan watched in helpless defeat as they disappeared down the hall.

"And stand guard until I'm done in here!" Jeffrey called after Simmons. He then looked at his other gang member, Pollack. "You get the horses. This won't take long."

Pollack nodded, going out the front door. Nathan and Jeffrey were left alone in the living room. Nathan's heart clenched in pain as he heard Elizabeth's screams of desperation from the bedroom. His name sounded again and again as she pounded the door with her fists. Jeffrey made no move to do anything, simply letting the emotional pain of Elizabeth's screams torment Nathan. Eventually, she quieted. It was then that Jeffrey slowly approached.

"You took four years from my life," the man growled. "I figure I'll return the favor by taking yours completely."

"You'll hang," Nathan said through his teeth. "Killing a Mountie in cold blood is a capital offense."

Jeffrey sneered. "They'd have to catch me first."

"I caught you before," Nathan said, meeting the man's cold eyes head on. "Someone else will next time."

Jeffrey threw a punch, hitting Nathan square in the stomach. Doubling over, Nathan grunted, only to feel his head snap back as Jeffrey kneed him in the face. Stumbling, Nathan fell to the ground. Before he could recover, a searing pain sliced into his side. It was soon joined by a pain in his other side. It registered in his mind that Jeffrey was using the knife to cut him, time and again. Pain soon filled his entire body. The knife wounds weren't shallow, but they weren't deep enough to kill, at least not yet. Through the haze of pain, Nathan realized what the man was doing.

Jeffrey was going to ensure that Nathan bled out slowly and painfully until he succumbed to his injuries.

Darkness pulled at him. Nathan could feel his life ebbing away. Tears slipped from his eyes as he thought of the pain his family was going to endure after his death. The pain in his body continued to grow, but all he could think of was his wife and children.

I'm sorry, he thought, his eyes rolling back. I'm so sorry.

The darkness overtook him.

After being locked in her own room, Elizabeth screamed Nathan's name, terrified of what was going to happen to him. She'd seen the dead look in the eyes of the man who came into the house soon after Nathan left to look for the children. He'd pulled a gun on her and asked when Nathan would be home. Aurora had chosen that moment to wake up, much to Elizabeth's dismay. The man ordered her to calm her child. One of the men had followed her while she got her daughter, presumably to make sure she didn't find a weapon. The men had made her wait in the living room. The silent minutes ticked by, and Elizabeth hoped fervently that her husband would somehow be able to outwit these men.

The terror she felt when he came into the house was unlike anything she'd known before. Jack and Allie weren't with him. Elizabeth hoped their children had found shelter somewhere. When the man threatened her and Aurora, Elizabeth felt fear inside, but the fear was compounded by the fact that Nathan would die if he didn't fight back. That brief minute with her husband had been a cruel mind trick by the man with the knife. She'd fought Simmons as hard as she could, screaming Nathan's name, but he overpowered her. She had tried to open the door, but it quickly became clear he had followed instructions to secure it with a chair.

Her cries eventually came to an end. Her mind began whirling with options. She glanced at the window, but it wouldn't lead anywhere. Nathan needed help now. With a little gasp, Elizabeth remembered the bathroom doors. The bathroom connected with their bedroom, but it also led to the hallway.

Looking at her daughter, Elizabeth placed her on the bed. "Aurora, Mama needs you to be very brave, okay? I need to go help Daddy. You stay here, baby. Promise?"

Aurora nodded solemnly. She crawled under the covers. "Stay hewe," she said.

"Good girl," Elizabeth replied. "I'll be back soon, sweetie."

She crept toward the bathroom, peeking in. It was empty. She rounded the corner that led to the other door. It was open. Cautiously, she peered into the hallway. Simmons was facing away from her, looking down the hall toward the living room. Elizabeth took that moment to slip from the bathroom into the hall. Quietly, she walked in the opposite direction of Simmons until she came to the kitchen. Looking around, she wondered what would serve as a weapon.

A cast iron skillet caught her eye. She lifted the heavy pan from the wall, then crept back down the hall. Simmons was so absorbed in the sounds coming from the living room that he didn't hear her coming. Elizabeth raised the skillet and swung it hard. Simmons went down without a sound. With one threat neutralized, Elizabeth made her way to the living room.

What she saw made her stop in her tracks.

The leader of the group was stabbing her husband without mercy. Nathan made no sound from his spot on the floor. Blood stained his serge and the ground, spreading out in a pool all around him. Elizabeth nearly dropped the skillet as a sob tried to escape. The man raised his knife again.

White-hot rage filled Elizabeth. She lifted the skillet like a bat as she advanced on the man. He caught sight of her and tried to adjust, but it was too late. Elizabeth swung with precision. The skillet cracked hard against the man's skull. His eyes glazed as he slumped to the ground, falling on top of Nathan. Elizabeth let out a guttural cry, not wanting him touching any part of her husband. With a strength beyond her own, she pushed him away. Another cry escaped her as she turned her attention to Nathan.

There was so much blood. Too much. She whimpered as she tried to unbutton his serge, but the buttons were slick and her hands quickly became so as well. Elizabeth eventually managed to get it open, then immediately wished she had left it on.

Nathan's Henley was no longer white. It was stained crimson and torn in all the places the knife had pierced. Sobbing, Elizabeth placed her hands on Nathan's body, futilely trying to stop the bleeding.

The door burst open. Bill came in with several men from town. They all stopped dead at the sight of Nathan on the floor and Elizabeth crying as if he were already gone.

"Get the Shepherds," she cried. "Find Carson and Faith!"

Carson was already there, pushing his way to the front of the group of men and dropping to his knees beside Elizabeth. He began barking orders to those nearby.

Elizabeth didn't hear any of it. Her hands remained on Nathan's body, her sobs coming harder and harder as Carson began his attempt to save her husband's life.

All three criminals were arrested and placed in jail by Bill, where they would await transfer by the Mounties who were sent by Inspector Sullivan. Jack and Allie were safe with Rosemary, and Lee took Aurora over to the house as well. Carson and Faith worked feverishly to stop Nathan's bleeding. Eventually, they did, but by that time he had lost so much blood, he wouldn't survive without a transfusion.

Elizabeth immediately offered her own blood. Faith prepared the transfusion materials, and within ten minutes Elizabeth had a needle in her arm, watching as her blood filled a bag that would then be transferred to Nathan.

Faith worried her lip once she had finished. "We can't take any more of your blood," she said. "This will help, but we need more from another source."

"I'll do it."

A voice at the door made them all turn. Allie was standing there, tears spilling from her eyes while determination lit her face. She was supposed to be at the Coulter's, but Elizabeth had a feeling her daughter needed to see Nathan despite his injuries. She'd come just in time.

Allie moved into the room. "Give him my blood too," she said, quietly sobbing as she took in her father lying still and pale on the bed.

Faith glanced at Elizabeth, who nodded her consent. Carson began to administer Elizabeth's blood to Nathan while Faith siphoned some of Allie's blood into another bag. The process was then repeated with transferring the blood into Nathan's body.

Elizabeth held Allie close to her side. Mother and daughter stared at the man who had shown them both what it meant to be loved unconditionally. He lay at death's door, the only hope for his survival whether or not their blood meshed with his. Carson had warned Elizabeth that the wrong blood could cause a reaction in Nathan that had the potential to be more life-threatening than his injuries. Elizabeth understood the risks, but they had to try. Nathan would die without the blood.

"Mom, what if he doesn't make it?" Allie asked, her body shaking with sobs.

Elizabeth held her daughter close. "I don't know, honey," she replied, tears of her own slipping onto her cheeks. "I don't know."

That night was the longest of Elizabeth's life. She watched her husband carefully for any sign of an adverse reaction to the blood he had received. She held his hand and talked softly to him, praying the entire time that he would pull through. In the morning, she was slightly heartened to see that a little color had returned to Nathan's cheeks. He was still unresponsive, but his breathing sounded uninhibited and his wounds were clean.

Carson told Elizabeth that Nathan would need another blood transfusion. She offered hers once more. The doctor hesitated.

"That could lead to you feeling faint, Elizabeth," he said. "We took a lot of blood from you yesterday."

"I don't care," she replied at once. "If it will save Nathan's life, do it."

Carson did, then instructed her to drink lots of fluids, specifically juices. Elizabeth listened, mostly to keep his mind at ease. She did feel lightheaded soon after the second round of blood giving, but it was worth it to know it was helping her husband's chances of survival.

Allie had given Elizabeth some details during the night about the Mueller gang, and Bill finished the story that morning when he came to visit. Elizabeth sat holding Nathan's hand, growing paler and paler. Her throat worked. "Do you think Jeffrey would have harmed me or Aurora after killing Nathan?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Bill took her free hand. "While he was an evil man, from all accounts he had a strange habit of telling the truth, considering his line of work. If he told Nathan he wouldn't harm you or Aurora, he meant it."

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "So Nathan sacrificed himself so that we would live." Sobs choked her again. Bill wrapped his arm around her, and she leaned into him, grateful for his strength in her weakness. Once again, Elizabeth began begging God to heal her husband. Nathan had sacrificed so much for her. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that he might have made the ultimate sacrifice for her.

She was determined to do whatever it took to help him get better. As Bill held her, Elizabeth prayed hard.

That evening, Elizabeth still hadn't left Nathan's side. The Coulters had promised to keep the Grant children with them as long as necessary so Elizabeth could nurse Nathan. All was quiet in the house. Carson and Faith had returned home to their two-month-old son, Theo, who had also been with the Coulters while the doctors worked on Nathan. Bill had gone to check on the children.

In the quiet, Elizabeth felt tears welling up yet again. Nathan had not woken at all. His wounds needed to be cleaned. Faith had shown Elizabeth how to properly care for them to prevent infection. Knowing it was time and needing something to do, Elizabeth began to minister to Nathan, talking to him while she worked.

"We're all waiting for you to wake up, Nathan," she said. "Allie is terrified of losing you. Jack knows something is wrong with his daddy, but he doesn't know the details. Aurora even seems to sense something is different. Rosemary said she's been crying for you." One of her tears fell onto a wound in Nathan's chest. She gently dabbed it away as she continued to clean his broken body. "I miss you, my love. All I want is for you to open your eyes so I can tell you how much I love you. I do, you know. You are my strength and have been for quite some time. You've done so much for me. I feel like I've given you so little in return." She sniffed, resting a hand against his cheek. "You are my lifetime, Nathan. Wake up so we can continue to live that lifetime together."

She finished cleaning him and then re-bandaged his wounds. They were deep, but not deep enough to have struck any vital organs. Carson had told her Jeffrey strategically injured Nathan so he would suffer a slow death. Thankfully, that meant Nathan had no internal injuries to worry about. It would take him some time to heal since his body had been through an enormous shock and lost too much blood, but if he woke up, the chances of him making a full recovery were good.

As she was tucking the covers back around her husband, Elizabeth heard a sound at the door. Bill stood there, a light smile on his face. "Come with me," he said, motioning for her to follow him. "There's something you need to see."

Elizabeth looked at Nathan. She couldn't leave him alone, even for a moment. Bill saw her look and softened. "You go out onto the porch," he said gently. "I'll stay with Nathan."

Curious, Elizabeth did as her friend asked. She went through the open front door, then stopped as she took in the sight before her.

A mass of people stood or knelt in her yard, holding candles in a silent vigil. Joseph was at the very front, standing before a small cross he had planted in the yard. Evening had descended on Hope Valley. The twinkle of candles created an otherworldly glow.

A lump formed in Elizabeth's throat. Seeing so many of their friends and neighbors here, holding a vigil for Nathan as he fought for his life, touched her deeply.

Joseph looked up, seeing her on the porch. He smiled gently and made his way to her. "Elizabeth," he said, giving her a hug. "How are you?"

She almost broke down again, but she managed to keep her emotions together. "I'm scared. I'm sad. My husband is lying unconscious in our bed, and I don't know if I'll ever see him awake again." She did crumple then. Joseph caught her, holding her up in a hug.

"We're all praying for Nathan," he said softly. "There will be several people out here at all times lifting him up to God, until he wakes up or…well, until the end."

Elizabeth appreciated Joseph's realistic approach to pastoring. He didn't give false hope. He knew the situation was dire. He didn't tell her everything would be okay. He simply let her know they were there and that she would have support no matter what.

"Thank you, Joseph," she whispered.

He patted her back, then released her. "Go to him, Elizabeth," he said. "We'll bathe him in prayer from here."

She nodded her thanks, then went back into the house.

For two more days, Elizabeth stayed by Nathan's side. As Joseph had promised, there were always people in the yard holding constant vigil, usually more than five at a time. People were storming heaven on Nathan's behalf. Elizabeth was thankful. Her prayers had become a short but constant refrain throughout the day: Please let him wake up.

On the afternoon of the third day, Elizabeth was reading out loud to Nathan from the book of Psalms. Her voice trembled as she read one of Nathan's favorites, Psalm 23.

"'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.'"

Her voice trailed off before she could finish the Psalm. She closed her eyes, trying to find comfort in the words of Scripture.

"Thy will be done," she whispered brokenly. "Help me to accept whatever that is, Lord." She fought back tears, her throat working hard, then attempted to finish reading. Before she could, a familiar voice did so for her.

"'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.'"

Elizabeth looked up sharply. She let out a cry as she saw Nathan's blue eyes opened and fixed on her. He wore a small smile, the words of his favorite Psalm so emblazoned on his heart that he was able to finish the verse without needing to read it.

"Nathan!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She placed the Bible on the table beside their bed, then reached for his hand, holding it to her heart. "You're awake!"

"Yes," he murmured. Shifting slightly, he immediately let out a groan. "My entire body hurts, Elizabeth. What happened?"

She shook her head. "We'll talk about that in a minute. First, I need to get you some water. Wait right here, love." Hurrying to the kitchen, Elizabeth filled a pitcher, then grabbed a cup and brought them both to the room. She poured some water for Nathan, then gently slid her arm behind his shoulders, lifting him up slightly so he could drink. Nathan grimaced in pain, but he drank the water slowly. Elizabeth quietly apologized for causing him that pain. Nathan shook his head, taking her hand in his after she settled him back against the pillow.

"Don't apologize, Elizabeth," he said. "You're trying to care for me." He closed his eyes. "I'm just trying to remember why I'm in this bed…"

His eyes flew open, anger burning in them. "Mueller!" he exclaimed, the word a low growl. "He was trying to kill me." He looked at Elizabeth, swallowing hard. "He said he would kill you and our daughter…"

Elizabeth laid a hand against his cheek. "He's back in prison, Nathan, along with his two partners. Some Mounties came and transferred them immediately." She was quiet for a moment, fighting tears. "I thought I was going to lose you," she whispered, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips.

Nathan returned the kiss, reaching up to hold her, then groaned at the movement. He let his arms fall back onto the bed. "I guess I can't hold you for a while," he said ruefully.

Shaking her head, Elizabeth smiled through the tears. "No, I'm afraid not. You need to heal, Nathan. You have a lot of knife wounds all over the front and sides of your body. It's going to hurt for a while."

Drawing in a breath, Nathan nodded slowly. "I suppose I can handle that." He gave her his crooked smile. "At least the pain will be a blessing in disguise. It will remind me that I'm alive when I should be dead."

Elizabeth brought his hand to her lips, kissing it fervently. "I love you, Nathan Grant. I want you to know that. Never doubt how deep my love for you runs. You have been a pillar for me. I need you to know that your love has freed me from a life of misery." She kissed his palm. "I will tell you every single day for the rest of our lives just how much I love you." Blinking back tears, she smiled at him. "You have no idea how thankful I am that you are alive, sweetheart."

Nathan smiled at her tenderly. "I love you too, Elizabeth," he said softly. "I always will."

Leaning forward once more, Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "Forever and for always," she promised. Squeezing his hand, she stood. "I'll warm up some soup for you." She smiled again. "So many people have brought meals for us. Rosemary made her famous chicken noodle soup. She claims it's very healing."

Nathan chuckled. "Well then, I'll take a whole bowl," he said, giving her a wink. Elizabeth could tell he was weary and sore, but his playfulness despite that gave her hope.

Her husband was going to be just fine.

Over the next week, as Nathan continued to heal, cards and gifts began to pour in. The first few were sweet, brought to him by Allie, who said her entire class had made cards for him to send at the end of the week, but Opal and Emily hadn't wanted to wait. They'd sent theirs home with her. Nathan smiled, thanking his daughter for bringing them by. The next day, he'd received more cards, along with a gift. They continued to come in, with more piling up every day.

Nathan read each card. Every time he did, he had to blink tears from his eyes at the kind words and moral support from his Hope Valley family. Every single one included thanks for his service to their town as a Mountie, along with well wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery.

You are a blessing to this town, Nathan. Thank you for your service.

Hope Valley wouldn't be the same without you.

We love you and are so glad you protect us on a daily basis.

You are a hero, Mountie Nathan.

He swallowed back his emotion at the display of love and support. He was touched at the fact that people were thinking of him in his convalescence. People were also supporting his family. Meals were brought to the Grant household nearly every day. Jack and Aurora were cared for at all times while Elizabeth continued to care for Nathan. The children were watched at their house so they could be close to their parents. Jack in particular wanted to be near Nathan for most of each day. Minnie took over all counseling at the clinic, telling Elizabeth to take her time in coming back.

Two weeks after he had woken up, Nathan felt healed enough to walk. Elizabeth hovered, worried that his cuts might open. She insisted that he try walking without a shirt first, so she could monitor the scabs and make sure none started seeping. Nathan obliged her. He thought he would be able to walk without much pain, but he found he tired quickly and could feel the scabs pulling as he walked. Elizabeth marched him straight back into bed and told him to rest for another few days before they tried again. After those few days, Nathan felt a little better. By the end of another week, he had no problems getting around.

On Sunday, Elizabeth asked Nathan if he thought he was healed enough for a trip into town. Thinking it over briefly, Nathan agreed. He was a little tired of the four walls of his bedroom. It would be nice to have a change of scenery.

Lee came to drive them into town. The hood was down, allowing them to ride in the open air. Even though it was the end of September, it was warm enough to ride like that.

At the thought, Nathan gasped out loud. Elizabeth was the only one who heard it. She glanced at him as they rumbled toward town. "What's wrong, Nathan?"

He took her hands in his, sorrow in his eyes. "Sweetheart, with everything that's been going on, I forgot to ask how you're doing this month."

Elizabeth tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

He paused. "It's been two years, Elizabeth…" There was nothing more for him to say. He remembered her reaction to last year's anniversary of her assault. Though she seemed fine, he wondered if she was keeping her pain to herself because of his injuries. It crossed his mind briefly that September did not seem to be a good month for their family. Two painful events had occurred in the span of two years.

Elizabeth's mouth formed into an O. "I completely forgot about that," she said, her eyes wide. She smiled slightly, taking his hand in hers. "I suppose that's one good thing that came out of this whole mess," she said lightly. "Though I think I'd have preferred dealing with the two-year anniversary than fearing I was going to lose my husband."

Nathan kissed her cheek, then looked into her eyes. "You're sure?" he said softly. "You're not just saying that because I was hurt?"

She shook her head. "No, Nathan. The thought never even crossed my mind."

He let out a small sigh, feeling a strong sense of relief. "I'm glad," he said softly.

Elizabeth smiled. "Me too."

As the car made its way into town, Nathan noticed Lee was taking the back road. "Is there a reason we're going this way?" he asked, feeling slightly confused. "The road going directly into town is faster."

Lee glanced back at him with a mysterious smile. "You'll see," he said cryptically.

Nathan eyed his friend, wondering what was going on. He then looked at his wife, who was also wearing a secret smile. That told him something was going on. "Alright, what is it?" he asked.

Elizabeth chuckled. "You'll just have to wait and see."

He didn't have to wait long. Lee turned the car at the cafe, bringing the main part of town into sight. As he did so, cheers and applause sounded in a loud outburst of noise. Nathan sat in stunned silence at the full street, lined on either side with throngs of people. Lee drove slowly through town. With each person they passed, Nathan heard words of support, encouragement, and love. Before they were a third of the way down the street, tears were spilling from his eyes. Nathan was unashamed of that fact. The support from the people of his town unleashed powerful emotions inside of him. He waved at them all, mouthing thank yous over and over again.

At the end of the street, Katie stood with her students. Allie was in the center, and Jack, though not in school himself, was beside her. At Katie's signal, the students began singing the national anthem, followed by a song about heroism that once again brought tears to Nathan's eyes. He got out of the car and thanked the schoolchildren personally. Allie and Jack both came to him and hugged him, careful to avoid his lingering injuries. With an arm around each child, Nathan turned to face the crowd on the street. Though he doubted they would all be able to hear him, he raised his voice as loud as he could.

"Thank you, my friends! I am touched by your support, and humbled by your trust. I promise you that I will continue to protect Hope Valley to the best of my ability for years to come."

More applause met his words. Elizabeth chuckled quietly by his side as she clapped too. Giving him a little grin, she tilted her head. "You always were economical with words," she teased.

Nathan laughed. "What can I say? It's who I am."

Elizabeth smiled tenderly, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "And I wouldn't have it any other way," she said warmly. "I love you exactly the way you are."

"So do we," Allie chimed in. She nestled closer to Nathan's side. "You can walk me to school anytime, Dad," she said. "I'll even let you kiss me goodbye."

Nathan smiled, chucking her gently under the chin. "Even if your friends are watching?"

She nodded, head held high. "Even if my friends are watching."

Nathan hugged her close again. "I'll take it," he murmured. Contentment swept over him. Surrounded by his family and townspeople, he felt blessed. Considering his initial welcome to Hope Valley, and considering the ups and downs since, Nathan almost couldn't believe how life had turned out.

It was better than anything he could have hoped for.