Chapter 4: The Gift Exchange

Once the festivities had settled down a bit, Bill and Nathan excused themselves from the party and walked over to the Mountie office quietly together. When they got inside, Nathan went to the back room to retrieve his gift for Bill. While he was gone, Bill sat himself behind Nathan's desk.

When Nathan walked out and saw Bill in his seat, he chuckled and shook his head. In response, Bill laughed and said, "Bring back memories?"

"Yeah, you could say that." Nathan said as he laughed along with Bill.

Nathan took the seat in the chair across the desk from Bill. He held a medium-sized box in his hands and drummed his fingers on the box before he started to speak again.

"So, my grandma used to do this thing at Christmas where she would give me and Colleen three gifts each. Her reasoning was that it represented the three wisemen gifts that they presented to the Christ child. She would always read the Christmas story from the Bible to us first and then present us our gifts afterwards. I have tried to keep this tradition with Allie as well. This year, I hope to introduce Elizabeth and Little Jack to the concept too. But since it was you as the person that I was gifting as Secret Santa, I wanted to include you as well." Nathan shared as he looked intently at Bill with sincerity in his eyes.

Nathan put the box on the desk and passed it over to Bill. Bill took the box and opened it up only to three items inside labeled with the numbers 1, 2 and 3. He picked up the first box and opened it up. Inside, he found a hand carved wooden gavel with a matching block along with a wooden nameplate for his desk with "Judge Bill Avery" carved on it.

"You did this yourself, didn't you?" Bill asked as he thoroughly examined the workmanship of the gavel and nameplate.

Nathan nodded and then gestured for him to move on to the second gift inside of the box. Bill put the gavel and nameplate aside and took out the next package.

Bill unwrapped the present and found a wooden photo frame with exquisite carvings all around it. Inside of the frame was a photo of the two of them from the barbecue from earlier in the year.

Bill sat there looking at the frame in his hands as he moved his fingers along the etchings within the wood. He studied the photograph that it held and smiled to himself as he remembered the day that it was taken. So much had changed since that time. But the way that he felt about the young man who stood before him waiting had not changed one single bit. Tears began to slowly form in Bill's eyes at all the emotions that this gift brought to both his mind and his heart.

He put the frame down onto the desk carefully, cleared his throat as he sat back in the chair and finally looked up at Nathan who was smiling at him.

"You still have one more gift Bill." Nathan said as he pointed to the box.

Bill found an envelope and opened it up to find a letter inside. The letter simply said, "I have a question to ask you."

Bill read the letter and then looked up at Nathan puzzled.

"You have a question for me?" Bill asked, wearing a confused look on his face.

Nathan smiled in return, swallowed hard and said, "Bill, you were one of the first people that I met here in Hope Valley. We got off to a little bit of a bumpy start after you threw me in jail for trying to break up the fight between Jesse and Lucas.'

Bill just shook his head and replied, "Ugh, did you have to bring that up again? But didn't you a question for me? Seems like you're trying to tell me a story instead."

Nathan chuckled, held up his palms to Bill and answered, "Patience Bill! I am getting there, promise."

Bill sat back in the chair again, crossed his arms in front of him and looked over at Nathan.

"Basically, what I am getting at Bill, is that since that time, you have become so much a part of my life. You have been like the father figure that I never had in my own father. You are my mentor, my partner, my confidant… my friend. I can't imagine enforcing the law here in Hope Valley without you or living life in general without your friendship. Bill, as you know, I plan on asking Elizabeth to marry me. If all goes well, that will be tomorrow. When we marry, I would love it if you would stand up with me as my best man." Nathan said as he got up and walked over next to where Bill sat in his chair.

Bill sat there speechless and in shock, fighting back tears that threatened to spill out. Finally, after a moment, he slowly nodded his head and he wiped away the tears that had finally escaped down his cheeks. As he stood, the two of them embraced for a few moments expressing in their hug what their words could not. As they parted, they heartily patted one another's backs.

Nathan sat on the desk across from Bill as Bill remained standing. He reached out onto the desk and grabbed a manila envelope that sat there. As Bill stood there holding it in his hands, he took a deep breath and looked at Nathan's face and smiled.

"I thought long and hard about what to give you for this gift. It couldn't just be a regular gift because it was your name that I drew.' Bill said before he paused.

He looked over at the frame that sat on the desk with their picture inside and smiled.

"Nathan, when we lost Jack almost six years ago, I was devastated as much as I was when I lost my son Martin. Jack was like a son to me, and I never thought that I would feel that way again. But then, you came into town not long after." Bill continued as he fiddled with the envelope in his hands.

"Everything that you said a few moments ago, I feel the same about you. You have become not only a friend and confidant as well, but you have filled that place in my heart like a son that I never thought could be filled again. My heart overflows with happiness seeing you, Elizabeth, Little Jack and Allie coming together as a blended family because I love all of you as if you were my own flesh and blood." Bill said as tears filled his eyes.

Nathan smiled and reached out and put his hand on Bill's shoulder ready to say something. But Bill shook his head, took a deep breath and looked up regaining the composure he needed to finish what he had to say.

"And because I see you as my family, I give this to you now as my gift to you." Bill finished and handed Nathan the envelope that he had been holding in his hands.

Nathan took the envelope, looked at Bill once more and opened it. Inside was the deed to the land that he considered buying just a couple years prior and that had caused such drama just a few short months ago. He glanced back up at Bill, unable to speak.

"Merry Christmas Nathan! Go and make a life for your family. A life for our family." Bill said wearing a loving smile on his face.

"I…I…I don't know what to say Bill. This is an incredible gift." Nathan said as he stumbled over his words.

Bill placed his hands on Nathan's shoulders and looked deeply into his eyes and said, "You say thank you and you go ask our girl to marry you tomorrow like you planned. Then, create the home of both of your dreams on that land. It's all yours, son."

Nathan's eyes filled with tears as he mouthed the words thank you and embraced Bill in another hug.

When they broke apart, Bill stepped back and Nathan stood up from the desk.

"What do you say… let's get back to this party, huh?" Bill said and gestured towards the door. Nathan nodded and they walked toward the door and turned out the lights before they closed the door behind them and walked back towards the saloon.

This was a Christmas that they would never forget. They would treasure it deep in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Just as they had treasured one another over the past five years. This was a friendship made for a lifetime.