March 1921

Elizabeth sat in bed, her muscles aching. She plucked yet another tissue from her nightstand, blowing her nose before dissolving into a fit of coughing. From the spot beside her, Millie whined, nudging her nose into Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth leaned back against the headboard with a groan. She let her fingers sink into Millie's soft fur as she closed her eyes. "I guess this illness isn't going away anytime soon," she murmured, taking comfort from the presence of her furry companion. Normally she would not allow the dog on her and Nathan's bed, but these were extenuating circumstances. From the moment Elizabeth came down with the flu, Millie refused to leave her side.

A knock sounded at the door. "Come in," Elizabeth called.

Nathan poked his head into the room. "Hey, sweetheart," he said. "Did you sleep last night?"

She smiled at him a little sadly. "No. I think I miss having you sleeping beside me."

Nathan came into the room. "The feeling is mutual. You know, I don't mind sleeping in here…"

"No!" Elizabeth said, shaking her head sharply. The motion set off another coughing fit. Nathan hurried forward, taking the glass of water from her nightstand and pressing it into her hands. Wheezing, Elizabeth sipped the water until she felt she could breathe again. She leaned back, looking up at her concerned husband. "I don't want you sleeping in here until we know I'm past the point of being contagious. I don't want you getting sick too."

Nathan placed a hand against her forehead. "You still have a fever," he commented. "I'm going to heat up some of that soup Carson brought over."

Her stomach rumbled in response. Elizabeth nodded, glad to have some appetite. "That sounds good. Thank you."

When Nathan returned with the soup, he insisted on feeding her. Too tired to argue, Elizabeth let him. Between sips of soup, she talked with her husband.

"How was it sleeping in Jack's room?"

Nathan chuckled, spooning another bite into her mouth. "He loves cuddling as much as his mother does," he said, winking at her. "The difference is that he kicks in his sleep. I have several bruises on my legs from them, though they're fading now that he is sleeping at the Coulter's. That boy is strong."

Elizabeth smiled. "He is. Maybe he will be into sports as he gets older. He's got a strong arm too."

Nathan nodded. "I've been tossing the ball around with him. He can throw it quite far for one so young. Yesterday afternoon he and Allie were playing baseball with some children from town. Jack held his own with the older kids."

"That's good to hear," Elizabeth murmured. She swallowed another bite of soup before continuing. "How are the children doing?"

"They're fine," Nathan said gently, knowing it pained her to have them away from home. "Lee and Rosemary are taking good care of them. I think Rosemary is happy to have Allie's help with Reagan and Danny, and it also helps that Jack and Aurora are around the same ages as the Coulter kids. They keep each other entertained."

Elizabeth sighed quietly. "I hate that we had to send them away, even for a little bit."

Reaching out, Nathan took her hand in his. "They are fine, Elizabeth," he said as he looked steadily into her eyes. "Them being away will keep them from getting sick, and the quiet and ability to rest will let you recover more quickly."

Elizabeth automatically nodded, though she felt increasingly sleepy. When Nathan tried to offer her another bite, she shook her head. "I can't," she muttered, her eyes closing as she leaned against the headboard. Millie whined and nudged Elizabeth with her nose. Elizabeth absently worked her fingers through the dog's soft fur as she edged toward sleep.

She heard Nathan stand. A light thunk sounded as he placed the bowl on the nightstand, then Elizabeth felt his strong hands pushing her down until she was lying on her back. He tucked the covers up to her chin. Elizabeth felt his lips brush against her forehead.

"Rest, love," he whispered.

She smiled with her eyes closed, thanking him with softly murmured words that were barely audible. Moments later, she fell asleep.

Elizabeth improved over the next two days. Nathan was thankful. It pained him to see her sick, even if it was a common illness. He felt a little ill himself one day, but it passed by nightfall. This morning he had left Elizabeth sitting in the living room, wrapped in a blanket on the recliner, with a book and a glass of water on the table beside her. Millie was curled at her side, refusing to part with her. Nathan was glad. At least his wife had a constant companion while the kids were at the Coulters' and he was at work. Rosemary had graciously brought her work with The Valley Voice home to keep an eye on the children while Elizabeth was recovering.

Finished with rounds, Nathan tethered Newton outside his office, then walked into his workplace. He smiled when he saw a steaming cup of coffee, a muffin, and a newspaper sitting on his desk. Bill always made sure Nathan had sustenance after rounds, whether he brought it by himself or sent Clara or Minnie to do so. The newspaper was for Nathan to peruse to keep updated on the happenings in their surrounding areas. As a Mountie, it was imperative for him to keep tabs on the news.

He hung up his hat, then sat at the desk and took a long swig of coffee. It was strong and black, just how he liked it. Silently blessing Bill's thoughtfulness, Nathan enjoyed another sip before opening the newspaper. He read through it thoroughly. When he got to the middle of the paper, he froze, a bite of muffin halfway to his mouth.

Slowly, Nathan lowered the treat onto his plate. Both hands gripped the paper as he stared at the small section that spanned only a fourth of the page.

Man Killed in Attempted Prison Break

Julius Spurlock's face was staring back at him. The article proclaimed that the man had been shot and killed when he attacked a prison guard in the hopes of escaping. The guard had shot him in self-defense. It then went on to detail Spurlock's crimes and the reason he had been in prison in the first place.

For a few moments, Nathan was unable to breathe. Then all at once, waves of emotion crashed over him. He felt no pity for the man who had caused Elizabeth such pain. In fact, he was relieved to know Spurlock was dead, much like he'd been relieved that Mueller was gone. He felt a surprising spurt of anger just from seeing Spurlock's face and seeing that the man had performed a final act of arrogance that cost him his life. But above and beyond all the other emotions, Nathan felt a sense of dread at having to bring up what happened with Elizabeth.

He knew she had largely healed from her trauma. Helping other women like her had contributed to her own continued healing. But this…what might this do to his wife? Would it bring up negative emotions for her? Would it make her revisit her assault? Or would she find relief in the fact that her assailant could no longer pose a threat to any living being?

The questions hung over Nathan for the rest of the day. He went about his duties mechanically, wondering how to tell Elizabeth the news. She deserved to know. This wasn't something he could keep from her, no matter how much he wanted to protect her from the pain it could stir up. He went about his afternoon rounds slowly. He knew it would only be him and Elizabeth this evening. The children were with the Coulters for one more night. By tomorrow, Elizabeth thought she would be strong enough to care for them again.

Nathan hoped this news didn't set her back.

When he got back to town, he picked up some hearty stew at the cafe, along with a scone that he knew Elizabeth loved. He wanted her to have something comforting with the information he was being forced to deliver.

When he got home, he was surprised to see Elizabeth sitting on the porch swing. Buried in a blanket, she held a book in her hands. She smiled at him as he climbed the steps. "Hello, love," she said warmly. "How was your day?"

He leaned down to kiss her, his heart thumping nervously. "It was…eventful," he said when he pulled back.

Elizabeth looked up at him. "How so?"

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. "Can we talk about that after dinner?" he asked. "I picked up some stew from the cafe." He smiled, willing his voice to remain normal. "I got you a scone as well."

Her eyes lit up. "A scone?"

Nathan nodded, handing her the bag. "I take it you'd like that first?"

She grinned, nodding eagerly. "This is the first time I've felt truly hungry in days," she said, taking a bite. "Mmm!" She smiled up at him. "Thank you, Nathan. This was thoughtful of you."

Placing the stew on a small table, Nathan sat beside his wife. He gripped one of her hands in his. "It was something I hoped would help you feel better once I tell you some news," he said, the words slightly choked.

Elizabeth sensed the seriousness of the moment. She placed the scone on the table as well, giving Nathan her full attention. He took her now-free second hand, holding both of her hands to his heart. She was looking at him intently. "What is it?" she asked quietly.

Nathan closed his eyes for a single moment before meeting her gaze head-on. "It's about Julius Spurlock," he said, keeping the words as calm and gentle as he could. Even so, he felt Elizabeth physically jerk at the name. Her breathing became shaky.

"Did he…escape?" she whispered, trembling.

"No," Nathan said immediately, pressing her hands tightly against his body. "No, Elizabeth. He did not escape. He will never be able to harm you or anyone else again."

She relaxed slightly. A sigh of relief slipped from her lips. Her head came forward, resting against Nathan's chest. Another long breath left her body. She laid against him for a few more moments. He was quiet, sensing that his wife was gathering up her courage. Finally, she lifted herself once more to look in his eyes. She didn't say anything, just waited for him to continue.

He clasped both of her hands in one of his, still over his heart, allowing his other hand to reach up behind her neck. He gently caressed her skin as he delivered the news.

"He's dead, Elizabeth. Spurlock is dead."

She blinked, her lips parting. No words emerged. Her eyes silently asked him to go on.

"He was killed in an escape attempt. A guard shot him when Spurlock attacked him." He searched her face for a reaction. "He will never be a threat again."

Elizabeth nodded slowly. She looked slightly stunned. Nathan knew she would need time to process the information. He still didn't know how she would react in the hours and days to come. Rather than force her to speak, Nathan waited until she was ready to find words. When she did, it wasn't what he expected.

She leaned forward, kissing his cheek. "Thank you for telling me," she said quietly. "Now why don't we have that stew? It smells good." A small smile formed on her lips, though her eyes held a look that said she was in shock. "After dinner we can share the scone over some tea."

He searched her eyes. "That's what you want?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes."

He acquiesced.

The next week was a difficult one for Elizabeth. She felt a strange mixture of relief that Spurlock was dead and an anxiety that came with the opening of old wounds. The morning after she received the news, she had recoiled unintentionally when Nathan tried to kiss her. A look of hurt flashed over his face even as she began apologizing for her unplanned reaction. He told her he understood, and she knew he was telling the truth. When he returned home from work that afternoon, she met him at the door with a long, passionate kiss to make up for it. Even so, the two of them refrained from intimacy over the next few days, giving Elizabeth time to heal from the emotions that had been stirred up by Nathan's news.

She found herself a patient in her own clinic that week. Minnie gently peppered her with questions, probing into Elizabeth's feelings until every raw wound was exposed. She then helped Elizabeth through each emotion, letting her talk through everything as they worked through the effect the past was having on the present. Elizabeth was thankful for her friend and coworker. She wasn't sure what she would have done without Minnie.

Strangle enough, Aurora was Elizabeth's biggest source of healing. Every time she looked at her daughter, she was reminded that something good had come out of her trauma. Though she was nearly two years old, Aurora was happy to cuddle with her mother. Each night, Elizabeth rocked her daughter to sleep, holding her close and breathing in her sweet toddler scent. The warmth of her child and the innocence she possessed calmed Elizabeth's turbulent emotions. Once she put her daughter to bed, she joined Nathan in the living room, where they engaged in games or stories with their other two children. Once Jack and Allie were in bed, Elizabeth and Nathan retired to their own room, though they didn't sleep immediately. Elizabeth would lay in her husband's arms, telling him about her sessions with Minnie as he held her firmly but tenderly, his protective side on full display. They talked through her feelings, her fears, and her confusion. It always ended with her initiating a goodnight kiss before they fell asleep in each other's arms.

She had one nightmare that week, but it was short-lived. When she woke, she calmed instantly as she became cognizant of the fact that Nathan rested beside her, peacefully sleeping. That alone was enough to tell her she was safe. Moments later, she was able to fall asleep again. This time, her sleep was restful.

The first time she gave herself to Nathan after receiving the news of Spurlock's death, she was unable to relax fully. She knew he noticed.

"Elizabeth, if I'm hurting you…"

She shook her head to cut off his words, feeling a need to push through the discomfort and conquer the demons that were threatening to rise again. She had a feeling if she let them win now, it would set her back. "I need this, Nathan," she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I can't let him win."

He'd clearly been hesitant, but he honored her wishes. Though it wasn't the best experience, Elizabeth felt a rush of relief fill her when they completed the act, not because it was over, but because she had been able to overcome the memories and fear. They fell asleep with her resting against Nathan's chest. The next morning, she felt better than she had all week. She initiated intimacy with her husband when he woke, and this time she felt free from the chains that had tried to strangle her once more.

Though she still had moments of anxiety throughout the month of March, Elizabeth soon pulled out of it. After two weeks of processing what had happened, she felt able to move on more fully. The anxiety lessened and the relief increased. Through it all, she was grateful for her family and the love they showered on her in her short setback.

Allie brought her little chocolates and candies from the mercantile. Jack picked early spring wildflowers and brought them to her. Aurora was cuddly and surprisingly well-behaved for one so young. But Nathan was her rock. He gave her space when she needed space, and he gave her comfort when she needed comfort. Elizabeth thanked God daily for the gift of her family.

They were proof that beauty could indeed rise from ashes.