Author's Note: This is a little more steam then I would normally write for a story set in 1920, but it is mostly flirty banter, just be aware if that is not your thing. It is mostly the end of chapter 1 and most of chapter 2.
This is a short two chapter story for the Sunday Night Serge Fanfic challenge about Nathan singing. I hope that you enjoy it. I wrote while at the hockey games this weekend. Just a quick little break before getting back to my regular stories. Enjoy.
Chapter 1 – A Ride
It was a nice late spring day, still a little crisp, but overall looking towards a nice sunny day. It was the kind of day that people wanted to be outside and not stuck inside working. Nathan was no exception. Granted, he got to spend more time outside than most people, his desire to be outside that day was even stronger. Nathan had left the house for rounds when he got the urge to swing back by the house. He stopped by the office and left a note for Bill.
Nathan then headed towards the house on Newton. He knew Allie was still sleeping so he quietly went to his room and found what he wanted. Once he had retrieved his desired item, he left a note for Allie saying he was going for a longer ride and to not worry he planned to be home by supper. Once outside, Nathan got things settled in his saddle bags before swinging up on Newton's back and clicking to him. Newton happily obeyed his master and started on the familiar trail.
While still trying to be observant to his surroundings, Nathan was thinking about everything that had happened in the last number of months. Lucas had been elected governor and moved to Capital City, well after he recovered from the beating he had taken from some of Belfour's goons. Nathan's friendship with Elizabeth had improved greatly, especially after Lucas was gone and not trying to interfere. Despite having broken their engagement, when Lucas came back to recoup, he had guilted Elizabeth into helping to care for him since he argued he never would have gotten beaten up if she had been with him. Nathan had been upset when he heard that, since Elizabeth could have been injured or worse if she had been with Lucas.
Nathan still loved Elizabeth, but he was still unsure of where her heart was. He knew that she had been spending a lot more time out at Jack's grave so maybe she was finally working through that grief he knew she had just tried to push away for the last five years. As much as he wanted a relationship with Elizabeth and to be a father to Little Jack, the last thing that he wanted was to risk the great friendship he and Elizabeth had finally found. They were comfortable and much less of the push and pull it used to be. They were more relaxed with each other and could talk to each other. Nathan was still cautious with Elizabeth because he knew she was still struggling coming to terms with following her heart. Nathan also knew he was in her heart. He had accidentally overheard a conversation that Rosemary was having with Lee about how Elizabeth knew what was in her heart but was still afraid of moving forward because loving a Mountie was not without risk. According to Rosemary, Elizabeth was still struggling with the fear of losing Nathan. Nathan understood her fear, but he had offered to leave the Mounties. Not that was a guarantee to safer living, since they had all seen any job could be dangerous over the last number of years. Nathan also knew that Elizabeth would never ask him to leave the Mounties because it was such a huge part of who he was.
As he rode, Nathan was thinking of everything that had happened with Elizabeth in the previous five years. As much as he loved her, there was still a part of him that was scared to trust her with his heart, especially after she had shattered it almost beyond repair before. Nathan was also worried about Allie. Even though her relationship with her teacher had improved greatly since everything had happened, the last thing Nathan wanted was for Allie to get hurt again.
So it was all these thoughts that consumed Nathan as he rode rounds that morning. He was glad that Newton was so sure-footed and knew the way because Nathan looked up and realized they were almost to the Campbell farm and he realized he hadn't known how they got that far. After waving to Jeb who was working a field, Nathan turned Newton and headed in the direction he had come. Nathan wasn't ready to go back to town and needed to think.
About five minutes after leaving the Campbell farm, Nathan turned down a trail that wasn't used much but led to a beautiful piece of property. When he first arrived he had wondered why no one had built a house on the property because it was one of the best views in the valley. Then he learned it was the property Jack Thornton had bought for his new family. Initially, Nathan had felt guilty about being on the property but soon learned that it was a wonderful place of solace. In the five plus years he had been in Hope Valley, the only other people he had ever seen up there were Bill and Elizabeth. He had found the log with their initials carved and had since steered clear of that immediate area, he tended to stay more along the tree line or just over the slight rise on the property.
That morning, Nathan once again found the place empty. He headed to his favorite spot – just along the tree line, but where he could still see if anyone was coming. At one point over the years, he had moved another fallen log to that spot. He had even craved his and Elizabeth's initials similar to what Jack had done years before. It was where Nathan had wanted to propose to Elizabeth to show her he was fine with the past and it didn't scare him, but then she had said those words basically calling a Jack replacement and shattered his heart almost beyond repair. The next day. Nathan had come up to this exact same spot and yelled at Jack and God both since he didn't know what else to do. Since that day Nathan had come up many times to think, pray and just talk. He was sure if anyone who had heard him they would have thought he was crazy. He had had many "conversations" with Jack in the years since while he had been in that spot.
Nathan dismount, grabbed his saddle bags and then let Newton graze. Nathan loosened his gun belt and undid the top couple buttons of serge before settling on the ground with his back to the fallen log. Nathan had set his guitar aside and opened his journal first. He needed to work through all the things running through his head. Not only was he thinking about Elizabeth and what a potential relationship with her could be like, if he was willing to risk the wonderful friendship he already had, but he was also thinking about his sister, Colleen. It was days like that morning that caused him to miss his sister just a little more. The morning had started with what Colleen used to call the perfect day to paint because of the color of the sky. Nathan could play guitar and sing, he could do some drawings and was amazing at woodworking, but when it came to picking out colors and putting them together, he was horrible. Maybe that was why Allie always insisted on picking out his clothes to make sure they matched. He had loved to watch Colleen mix paints and create an absolute masterpiece.
After about twenty minutes of writing, Nathan set his journal and Bible aside and picked up his guitar. He had taken care of it over the years, even if he didn't play it. He kept the strings tight and maintained, so it didn't take him long to tune the guitar. After tuning the guitar, Nathan just strummed it, getting used to the feel of it under his fingers again. Slowly, Nathan started to play old Irish folk tunes that he had been taught growing up. Knowing that he was alone, he also slowly started to sing the words that he hadn't sung in years. The more he played, the more comfortable he became with singing and playing. He had struggled to play after he had lost Colleen, because it had always been something that they did together. He would play and Colleen would sing. After she had passed away, it had become too painful to play. So in essence, he had put his music away hoping to protect his broken heart.
Knowing that Newton would alert him if anyone or anything approached, Nathan relaxed further against the log and drew up his knees a bit to better balance the guitar on his lap. After singing several of the Irish classic folk tunes that he had known since childhood, Nathan started to play a couple of hymns that he remembered. He hadn't played them much, so he struggled to remember the notes. The words came easily, but the notes were a bit more of a struggle. It took playing a wrong note and then backing up and using trial and error to find the right one. Then Nathan would play the verse again until the whole thing felt right. The more that he played, the better it got and the more relaxed he became.
Nathan had just started It Is Well with My Soul (1) for the second time when he abruptly stopped when he heard Newton whinny and another horse whinny in response. He very carefully set his guitar aside and pulled his pistol. It was then that Nathan heard her voice. He quickly holstered his pistol, stood up and took a few steps towards the sunlight.
However, Nathan was not prepared for the sight that was before him so when he saw her standing there giving Newton some attention he froze. Instinctively, Nathan locked his lips and tried to swallow a few times causing his Adam's apple to Bob up and down. Nathan closed his eyes and prayed for strength, given his raw emotions and slightly frayed nerves, he wasn't sure being alone with Elizabeth in the middle of nowhere was a good idea.
Nathan took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. Then he did the most ungentlemanly thing he had done since coming to Hope Valley and maybe ever. Nathan stared at Elizabeth and just drank in the sight of her. He didn't have to even try as Elizabeth knew that his eyes were on her, but it wasn't the same feeling that came over her as when Lucas would look her up and down. When he did it, it gave Elizabeth an uneasy feeling. When Nathan did it, she felt the love that she knew was radiating from him. If Elizabeth was honest with herself, she didn't mind Nathan checking her out, just as she never minded when she caught Jack checking her out. She had changed into this riding outfit that Julie had sent with Nathan in mind. She never would have worn this to go riding with Lucas, as Julie had intended. However, when Bill had suggested she take a ride up to Jack's land, Elizabeth had changed into the riding outfit hoping to run into Nathan. She had paired it with a long coat that she immediately shed once she was away from town.
Nathan's eyes started at her tan high riding boots, then moved to her beige riding pants. Nathan couldn't help himself as he thought about how they hugged her body. He let out a harsh breath and knew he had to keep moving, not that he expected it to get easier. He then let his eyes wander over her fitted blouse. It was tighter then she normally wore and once again hugged her body and accentuated her womanly curves. As Nathan continued to let his eyes wander over Elizabeth, he noticed that she, like him, had the top couple buttons open and he could see the delicate skin that was normally covered. All he wanted to do was run one of his calloused fingers over the skin and cause Elizabeth to shudder under his touch.
Staring at Elizabeth had set his body on fire and he once again worked his throat to try and rein his thoughts. When he saw her flushed face and kissed, windblown hair, his lip curled into the crooked smile of his. To him, Elizabeth had never looked more beautiful, not even that puffy wedding dress she had been trying on that Rosemary tried to stop him from seeing. He knew she was a beautiful woman, it was one of the reasons he fell in love with her, but it was and had always been more than just her physical beauty that drew him.
However in that moment he was completely lost in physical beauty and her standing there, giving his horse attention did things to him that she had never stirred before. He knew if she asked, he would agree to pretty much anything at that moment. Try as he did, he couldn't school his features to a neutral expression like he normally could, so when Elizabeth looked at him, she saw the pure love and desire that was reflected on his face and in his eyes.
Nathan wasn't the only one having a hard time, Elizabeth noticed that his henley seemed tighter than normal, almost to the point where she could make out the outline of his well defined chest muscles. Nathan seemed completely unaware that she stood there in his jodhpurs and extra tight henley. He had forgotten that he had slipped his serge off while he had been playing. He had no idea of the effect that he was having on Elizabeth standing there looking scrumptious and with a look of raw desire in his eyes and pure love on his face. Having seen the look on his face Elizabeth decided to have a little fun. She gave Newton one last scratch and then clasp her hands behind her back and slowly sauntered over to Nathan.
"I hope you didn't stop playing on my account." Elizabeth said.
"You heard that?" Nathan managed to get out just above a whisper.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "As I was coming up the trail. You have a beautiful voice. You should sing more often. I mean the pitch and timbre are amazing and your lyrical tenor just washes over you in a warm and calming manner."
Nathan stared at Elizabeth not sure what to say. He was still struggling to put a coherent thought together after seeing the way she was dressed.
"I am so glad that Bill suggested a nice long ride after he took Jack this morning." Elizabeth continued as she stepped into Nathan's space. "He said he felt I needed a nice long ride up to Jack's land. He then suggested that I take my time and have a morning to myself so he could spend it with his godson. After he took Jack, I decided to take his advice and changed into the new riding outfit I had been sent by my sister."
"You look amazing." Nathan whispered.
Nathan made a mental note to thank Julie for the outfit when he saw her again. He wasn't sure if the outfit had been sent with his mind, but he didn't care, because Elizabeth appeared to be wearing it for him.
"You look pretty good yourself there, Constable." Elizabeth said, tapping his chest as she spoke.
Her touch sent shivers up and down Nathan's spine. It took every ounce of control he had left not to kiss her until they were both breathless.
"However." Elizabeth said.
She ran her finger across his chest and hooked the front of his suspender and pulled it in a teasing manner.
"I suggest you wear your serge before heading back to town." Elizabeth continued. "Or Bill might just throw you in jail again. This time for causing a scene."
Elizabeth took another half step toward Nathan, bringing her within inches of him. He looked down at her as her scent of vanilla and lavender assaulted his senses.
"Is that so?" Nathan eked out in a horse tone.
"Definitely." Elizabeth said, tapping the center of his chest again.
Nathan reached up and captured her hand, sending sparks shooting through the both of them. Elizabeth looked up at Nathan, a desire burning in her own eyes. Nathan tried to take a breath, but all he got was the scent of Elizabeth. Nathan was frozen in place. He wanted to kiss her and then take her to Bill to have him marry them that very morning. How could he think she didn't love him, when it was clear as day as he stared up at him. To Nathan there was no doubt where her heart laid when he was staring into those pools of blue that were Elizabeth's eyes.
At that moment, Nathan didn't care that Elizabeth could read him as well as he could read her, because he was done hiding his love for her. He was even willing to risk the great friendship they had built, because standing there, there was nothing Nathan wanted more than to have Elizabeth to himself. He knew that if she rejected him again, he would leave and put as much distance between the two of them that he could. It had been easier to keep his feelings in check when she had been with Bouchard, but since Elizabeth had broken off the engagement, Nathan had found every interaction leaving him wanting more. It had been a hard couple of months. Even though they had rebuilt their friendship and were in a great place, his desires had been harder and harder to keep at bay, especially when she once again sought him out and wanted to always be around him. Nathan had loved Elizabeth pretty much from the first day she had walked into his office over five years before. Without him even trying she consumed most of his thoughts and invaded his dreams to the point that he would wake physically aching for her touch. He hated to admit it but he had dreamt of what it would be like to kiss Elizabeth more than he knew.
The thing was that Nathan wasn't the only one struggling. Elizabeth had found that Nathan had taken over her dreams, especially in the last couple of months. She had woken more than a few mornings with a physical ache for him. She dreamed about kissing him and running her fingers through his luscious locks. She always thought they would feel silky soft, based on the way they so casually fell over his forehead. More than once, it took an amazing amount of restraint to not do it while they had been talking one place or another around town.
(1) "It Is Well With My Soul", also known as "When Peace, Like A River", is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. First published in Gospel Hymns No. 2 by Ira Sankey and Bliss (1876)