December 1922

After a whirlwind three-month courtship, Robert and Anna announced their engagement. Allie was crushed. Nathan watched helplessly as his daughter put on a bright face around her friends, but took to her room at home. Though he knew Robert had never led her on, his fatherly protectiveness took over. One day, he "accidentally" locked Robert in one of the jail cells while the younger man was cleaning it, slipping out the door of the Mountie office before Robert realized what had happened. It might have been a petty move, but it made him feel a little better. He came back after half an hour to let Robert out, suppressing a smile as his young counterpart scratched his head and muttered to himself about self-closing jail doors.

After a couple weeks went by, Allie seemed to recover enough to be cheerful again. Nathan knew it would take some time for her to heal from a broken heart, but he vowed to be there for her. Elizabeth, too, was particularly supportive. Nathan noticed Allie tended to confide more in Elizabeth about matters of the heart. It didn't bother him. They were both women, and he had a feeling Elizabeth could handle things much better than he could.

Still, he knew one thing that never failed to excite his daughter. One afternoon, after she came home from school, he met her on the porch with fishing poles. She eyed the poles with a gleam of interest. "Are we going fishing?" she asked.

Nathan nodded. "If you want to."

Her eyes lit up. "I want to! Let me put my things away. I'll be right back." She darted into the house. Two minutes later, she was by his side again.

They trekked to the stream on their property. The cold weather usually meant they wouldn't catch anything in the icy waters, but Nathan knew that wasn't important. What was important was spending time with his daughter. Allie found a spot she liked, and they cast their lines into the water.

A peaceful silence remained between them. Nathan knew better than to push Allie to talk. She was like him in a lot of ways, one of which being she would talk when she was ready to do so. His efforts eventually paid off.

"Dad?"

Nathan looked her way. "Yes, Allie?"

She kept her eyes on the stream, but he could see the reflective look in them. "If my heart was broken, shouldn't it hurt still?"

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Allie faced him then. "I thought I was in love with Robert. When he began courting Anna, it broke my heart. It hurt worse when he announced his engagement." She was quiet for a moment. "But now I feel fine. I don't know if it's because I know he's getting married and therefore completely unavailable, or if it's because I never really loved him in the first place." She pursed her lips. "What do you think?"

Nathan didn't respond right away. He mulled over her question before answering. "You and Robert were good friends for a long time, Allie. I think it was natural that your feelings for him turned into first love."

"You do?" Allie asked.

He nodded. "Yes."

She frowned. "Then why did I get over him so fast?" Waving a hand, she looked at the water again. "It's almost like my feelings for him simply snapped."

Nathan nodded again, though he couldn't deny the rush of relief that filled him to know she was no longer hurting. "You spent several months getting used to seeing him with Anna," he said gently. "I think deep down, you knew what was coming. Maybe you still held out hope that it wouldn't work out, so their engagement announcement sent you into a dark place for a time, but when you came out of it, you realized you were letting go all along."

Allie studied him, a small smile on her lips. "Maybe so," she agreed. "That would explain a lot."

Nathan came closer, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "Robert wasn't the man for you," he said, looking into her brown eyes. "Someday, when you're older, the right guy will come along, and this heartache you suffered now will be a distant memory."

Allie chuckled. "I hope you're right." She sighed. "I might have gotten over him faster than I expected, but the sting of rejection was pretty awful." Her face became slightly pensive. "I'm not sure I want to experience that again. Maybe I just won't get married."

Nathan smiled. "You're only sixteen, Allie. It's a little soon to despair of finding the right man."

She wrinkled her nose. "But then I can stay with you and Mom and watch all my siblings grow up," she said, a smile blooming on her face.

Nathan laughed. "Well in that case, I'll chase off all your potential suitors with my rifle," he joked, grinning.

That made Allie laugh too. She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I love you, Dad. Thanks for everything."

Nathan's heart swelled in his chest. He pressed a kiss to his daughter's cheek. "I love you too, Allie."

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Elizabeth watched as her husband lifted an ax once more, bringing it down expertly over a block of wood. It split in two easily. Nathan set the pieces aside, then repeated the process. She admired the play of his muscles as they strained against his Henley. It might be freezing outside, but he had clearly worked himself into warmth. His coat was laying on the ground beside him, unheeded. He lifted the ax a third time, and Elizabeth began to feel warm herself. She fanned her face, her eyes glued to her husband as he worked.

"Why is that attractive?"

The slightly disgusted question made Elizabeth turn. Allie was peering out the window as well, brow arched as she looked at her mother. "Dad is sweaty and gross right now, and you're fanning yourself like he's arrayed in his dress uniform."

Elizabeth chuckled, turning her eyes back to her husband. "I couldn't say," she admitted. "But from where I'm standing, your father is extremely handsome right now."

Allie made a slight gagging sound, but Elizabeth caught a small smile on her daughter's face as she went back to the fireplace to play with her siblings. Elizabeth looked at Nathan once more, watching as he brought the ax down with precision. She slipped away from the window and went to the front door. Shrugging into her coat, she went outside and rounded the house until she was at Nathan's side.

He smiled at her. "Did you need something, sweetheart?"

She nodded. "Yes, actually."

Nathan set down the ax, swiping an arm across his forehead. The movement left a streak of dirt on his brow. It only added to his rugged charm. His crooked smile was all for her. "What is it you need?"

Elizabeth moved closer. "You."

His eyes widened in surprise, but then he chuckled lightly. Elizabeth slid her hands up his muscled chest before letting them rest on his strong shoulders. Nathan grinned down at her, his own hands coming to rest around her waist. He glanced toward the house, then looked at her once more. "The children are watching."

"Let them watch," she murmured, lifting herself on tiptoes to brush her lips against his. "It's good for them to see their parents kissing."

Nathan didn't argue. He leaned down, capturing her willing lips in his and kissing her quite thoroughly. Heat built inside of Elizabeth, warming her much more effectively than her coat did. When they pulled apart, both were breathing at an accelerated rate.

"You still turn my knees to jelly," Elizabeth managed to gasp out, smiling up at her husband.

He smiled back, leaning his forehead against hers. "And you still make my heart race," he whispered, teasing her lips with his once more. He straightened. "You're cold, sweetheart. Why don't you go inside? I'll just stack the wood and be along shortly."

She didn't feel cold, but she nodded and turned for the house. Once inside, she began the process of making cocoa. Nathan came in soon afterwards, heading straight for the shower. By the time the cocoa was ready, he had showered and changed, coming out of the master bedroom with damp hair curling around his forehead. Elizabeth smiled at him. He returned it before heading into the living room where their brood of children were playing. Elizabeth poured the cocoa into six mugs and carried everything carefully on a tray into the living room.

Allie was reading a book to Aurora and Mia. Jack was playing with the twins, coaxing them to crawl. Ella seemed content to remain on her stomach, but Nate had a determined look in his eyes as he tried to copy his big brother's movements. Millie was curled up beside Nathan on the sofa, head up and eyes alert, looking for all the world as if she were presiding over the children to make sure they stayed out of trouble.

Elizabeth placed the tray on their coffee table. She handed one mug to Nathan and took one for herself before curling up on his free side. "There's cocoa whenever you're ready," she announced to the room. The children smiled at her. Jack immediately took his mug, while Nate squawked in annoyance that his brother left his side. Ella cooed, pushing herself across the floor on her tummy until she reached her mother, looking up with large, pleading eyes until Elizabeth set her mug aside and lifted her daughter into her lap. When Allie finished the book, she helped Aurora with her mug while Mia selected one for herself.

Watching her children, Elizabeth shook her head slightly, amazed. They were a family of eight. That thought still stunned her at times. It didn't feel like she had six children, yet the proof was right before her. Somehow, life with six was easier than her life had been with just one. Leaning against Nathan, Elizabeth sent up yet another prayer of thanks for the wonderful man in her life. They were perhaps the most unconventional family in Hope Valley, but it was a beautiful family nonetheless.

Nate began moving across the floor. Elizabeth all but held her breath, gripping Nathan's arm. "Look!" she whispered. "Nate is crawling!"

Their son was moving slowly but steadily. Halfway across the room, he face-planted into the carpet. He pushed himself into a sitting position, lower lip trembling as if he might let out a mighty wail.

Jack immediately crouched in front of him. "Good job, Nate!" he exclaimed. "You crawled!"

Nate sat a little straighter. The tremble vanished as he gazed up at his big brother. Jack smiled encouragingly. "Try again, Nate. Come on. You can do it." Jack got onto all fours, crawling around the baby in a circle. Nate laughed, clapping his hands together, then once more mimicked Jack. This time, he made it all the way to Nathan. A six-month-old had never looked prouder of his accomplishment.

Nathan chuckled and bent down to pick up the baby. He bounced Nate on his lap, grinning. "Well, aren't you growing up fast?" he asked, nuzzling his son's neck. Nate squealed and chortled, grabbing Nathan's cheeks in both hands.

Jack plopped onto the couch, startling Millie. The dog jumped off, looking at Jack with narrowed eyes. Jack rubbed her ears, contrite. "Sorry, Millie. Didn't mean to scare you." She licked his hand as if accepting his apology, then turned three circles and lay down at his feet.

Elizabeth put an arm around the boy. Tears pricked her eyes. Jack was seven years old today. Where was time going? Everyone had already chorused their happy birthdays to him when he woke up that morning, and tonight they were having a birthday celebration with just Bill and the Coulters. Tomorrow's Christmas celebration would involve all the families in their little neighborhood, but Jack had asked to keep things simple for his birthday. Elizabeth was happy to comply. Most of today would be about their family spending time together.

She must have been holding him too close, because Jack began to wiggle in her grasp. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before letting him go.

"Mo-o-om!" he groaned. "I'm not a baby anymore!" She pointed to Ella. "Kiss her."

Elizabeth kissed her daughter's cheek, then grinned at Jack. "You might not be a baby, but you can rest assured I will kiss you forever, son."

He groaned again. Looking at Nathan, he pleaded with him. "Dad, can't you make her stop?"

Laughing, Nathan shook his head. "Definitely not. Mothers are wired to kiss their children. Besides, one day you'll realize what a blessing it is to have an affectionate mom."

Jack all but rolled his eyes, sliding from the sofa to go play with his sisters. Elizabeth sighed. "He's growing up so fast, just like the rest of them. I can't believe he's seven."

Nathan nodded. "Neither can I. Before we know it, he'll be off exploring the world and…"

Elizabeth clamped her hand over his mouth. "Shhh!" she said, shaking her head. "Don't say that! It's going to come all too soon, and I don't want to think about it."

Her husband's eyes were twinkling when she pulled her hand away. It was immediately captured by Ella, who decided her mother's fingers would make the perfect teething toy. Nathan smiled and leaned back, letting Nate crawl over his lap as if eager to explore the sofa. When the baby tried to leap out of his father's arms, Nathan's hold on him tightened.

The rest of the day passed in leisurely family time. Elizabeth had made Jack's birthday cake yesterday with Allie's help, and Rosemary had volunteered to make dinner for everyone. Elizabeth couldn't remember the last time their entire family had been together for a full day, but she savored every moment. She played dolls with Aurora and Mia, built an elaborate castle with Jack, read with Allie, and cared for the twins happily. She and Nathan played several rounds of backgammon, Millie at their feet, each of them winning two games before their company arrived.

Jack's birthday celebration was just as laid-back as the rest of the day. Her son was not particularly fond of attention. He reminded Elizabeth of Nathan in that sense. Jack usually preferred someone else to be in the middle of things, but since it was Bill, Lee, Rosemary, and the two Coulter children, he seemed happy. Rosemary had made his favorite dish, a delicious cottage pie that was warm and savory. Elizabeth had made a chocolate cake. When dinner and dessert were done, Jack was given several presents. He exclaimed over each one, thanking the gifter with sincerity.

Elizabeth leaned against Nathan as they watched Jack's excitement. She surveyed the room. The various Grant children were scattered around their guests, along with the Coulter kids. Rosemary had Mia in her lap, while Lee sat beside Allie and Danny. Bill had Aurora and Reagan beside him. The twins were sleepy in their parents' arms. Jack was in the middle of it all, looking very grown up.

Happiness radiated inside of Elizabeth. Christmas was always her favorite time of the year, but it had become more so when she was given the gift of her son. She felt the warmth of family and friends around her, and she let out a contented sigh.

Life was very good.