Martin Sommersby was just sitting down to supper when Nathan rode up at a gallop. Nathan called out from outside the small house without even getting down from Newton, and Sommersby stepped onto his front porch with his napkin still tucked into his collar. It wasn't the first time his supper would get cold, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Got three patients for you, doc," Nathan said, "Gunshot wound to the knee is the worst, but he deserved it. Blow to the back of the head on a seventeen-year-old male, may be concussed, but he seems to know who he is, and an eight-year-old boy with a possible broken nose. All out at the Bickley's farm. I'm heading over to see about Allie and then to get ice and Tom's wagon from the saloon. Charles Spurlock is the gunshot wound and he's headed for my jail cell. Then," Nathan said, his voice turning cold, "to prison. I just need you to patch him up enough to get him there."

Martin was already heading back into the house to get his medical bag. "I'll ride out now, Nathan."

"And Martin..." Nathan called out before Sommersby could go through the door, "Very thorough notes, please. This will be questioned by Henry Gowen and we want to have as much information about the injuries as possible." Sommersby nodded, understanding completely.

Turning Newton quickly, Nathan went to Abigail's. He calmed himself on the doorstep so he wouldn't upset Allie, and then he spoke softly to Abigail, giving her a shortened version of what had happened.

Abigail started to take off her apron, "Should I..."

Nathan put his hand on Abigail's shoulder. "Thank you, but no. The best thing you can do is care for Allie, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all, but Elizabeth...?"

Nathan nodded. "...will be very glad to see you when we get back into town."

Nodding, Abigail said, "Yes, you're right, Nathan." She looked around her kitchen. "Is there anything you need? Bandages...?"

"Mavis has everything we need out at the farm, and Martin is riding out now." Nathan gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Just didn't want you to worry if we weren't back for a while."

"And Spurlock?" Abigail whispered, her anger barely concealed, and only for Allie's sake.

Nathan smiled. "He's chained to the wood stove, whimpering like a baby." Nathan shook his head. "Funny how the tougher they are, the more they snivel," he whispered. He walked over to Allie who was holding her doll and trying on and taking off the apron she and Abigail had made.

"Gin-am," she said, holding it up. "Blue gin-am."

In the way that a near loss can make everything seem more precious, Nathan gazed for just a moment into Allie's eyes. "It's very pretty, sweetie." He kissed her on the cheek and then did the same for her doll. Allie laughed, and Nathan said, "I'm going back out, but you'll stay here with Abigail, okay?"

Allie nodded and said, "Okay," and started again to untie the small apron.

"We'll be back as soon as we can," Nathan said to Abigail, going out the door.

Nathan rode over to the saloon, and Tom volunteered to take the wagon out to the Bickley's so they could transport Spurlock back to the jail. After getting a bag of ice, Nathan took off at a run back to the farm.

If Albert's nose didn't hurt so much, he might think that this was a pretty good place to be. Sitting on his mama's good settee and she wasn't even worrying about the blood. But the best part was that Miss Thatcher was sitting next to him and she had her arm around him. Albert thought it might even be worth the broken nose.

"Are you feeling better?" Elizabeth said softly, brushing his hair off of his forehead.

Albert thought his voice sounded pretty funny. He tried to say "I'm fine," and it came out "I'b fide." At least it made Miss Thatcher smile.

"Albert, you were so brave. Even with your hands tied behind your back, you came to protect me. Thank you."

Thinking it might be better not to try to talk, Albert simply looked up at her and smiled. Except smiling made his nose hurt.

"Hey, Squirt," Benjamin said, bending down so his eyes were level with Albert's. "You gonna have a couple 'a good shiners there. Other boys are gonna be jealous."

Elizabeth frowned at Benjamin. "I never would have taken you out there if I'd known…"

Benjamin smiled. "Nah, don't think nothin' of it, Miss Thatcher. Wish I coulda done more. Shoulda seen that comin'."

"And how's your head?" Elizabeth asked.

Benjamin looked down and laughed. "Mama says it was the best place he coulda clocked me, 'cause it's sure enough the hardest."

When Nathan reached the farm, Elizabeth was sitting on the porch swing in front. He went straight to her and she stood and went into his arms. The bag of ice was dripping and he kissed her quickly and said, "I'll be right back."

In moments, he was back at her side sitting on the porch swing, and Elizabeth leaned in next to him under the protection of his arm. "I tried not to be foolish," she said softly.

Nathan pulled her closer and kissed her head, "You did everything right. I don't know what Spurlock was planning to do with Albert, but whatever it was, you saved him from it." Nathan turned and looked at her, smiling. "Two children in a month. I'll be surprised if they don't put up a statue in the square."

Elizabeth laughed softly and then shook her head. "Oh, Nathan. If you could have seen Albert's eyes. He was absolutely terrified. I will never understand how anyone can hurt a child..." Her breath caught and she encircled Nathan's strong body with her arms, laying her head on his chest.

For a time they sat there, and Nathan pushed the swing gently with his boot. "I've had to think about this a lot, being a Mountie. It's easy to start thinking the world is a terrible place, and that people have no kindness in them, when you see only the bad things day after day." Nathan pulled away to look at her. "And then I see someone like you, who will always choose good, and you put yourself in danger in order to make sure others are safe..."

Elizabeth's eyes were filled with tears, in part because she was so glad it was over and that everyone was safe, but also because of the love she saw in Nathan's eyes. She put her hand on his cheek and said softly, "I love you. Thank you for always being there..."

Nathan wasn't sure how appropriate it would be to kiss Elizabeth the way he wanted to right now, considering the harrowing ordeal she'd just been through. But he couldn't stop himself, and he leaned down to press his lips to hers. At first it was tender, but strong feelings bring on strong feelings and it had been that kind of day.

Elizabeth was always surprised by the heat she felt from Nathan when he kissed her this way. That a man so used to controlling himself, a man who could have the steel in his eyes that she saw today with Spurlock, but could also offer this level of passion and tenderness, was a revelation.

And just as Elizabeth was thinking they might escape interruptions, the screen door opened, and she and Nathan quickly moved apart.

Of course, Martin Sommersby, as town dentist and hence town doctor, had pretty much seen everything, and he knew what flushed cheeks and darting eyes meant. And he'd also been young once, so he smiled.

"Well, the good news is, they're all going to live. And you're right, the biggest baby in that room is Charles Spurlock." Then he raised an eyebrow and looked at Nathan. "Shot him in the knee on purpose, did you? He won't ever forget you. That knee will never be the same."

Nathan nodded. "That's one way I don't mind being remembered," he said. "Not that he'll ever get out of prison after a combination of arson, kidnaping, attempted assault of a woman and battery of two minors, but I'd like Spurlock to always be reminded of how he got that bum knee."

Martin nodded. "Gowen will try to fight this. Don't know how, but he will. And you're not going to be very popular with him, you know?"

Nathan laughed. "Believe me, that horse has already left the barn."

By the time they'd handled everything and had Spurlock locked up tightly in the jail, it was nearly ten at night. Nathan had no deputy and he wouldn't put anyone in Coal Valley at risk, so he would spend the night in the Mountie office, making sure that Spurlock stayed put.

"Allie will love spending the night," Elizabeth said. "With Abigail baking constantly for the miners, there are always cookies or muffins or cupcakes to get ready for the next day. And pies! It smells like a bakery in that house!" she said laughing.

Nathan nodded. "I grew up with one of the best cooks there is, and don't tell my mother, but I think Abigail is just as good. I know half the town would like to be invited for one of her dinners," he said. Then he stopped and said, "It's too bad Abigail isn't interested in opening a restaurant in Coal Valley. I shudder to think how many men in this town live on nothing but Tom's chili and beer."

Smiling, Elizabeth said, "It's funny you should say that. One of the men at the building site asked her to open a café. And Abigail repeated that comment to me with a bit of a sparkle in her eye."

Nathan said, "You think she would consider it? That would be a step up for the growth of this town."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know Abigail is a woman who likes to stay busy, and since she lost Noah and Peter, she's been looking for a purpose for her life. I don't know if a café constitutes a purpose in life, but it certainly would keep her busy."

From inside the Mountie office, they heard a loud groan. "Morphine's worn off," Nathan said.

Martin had given Spurlock morphine when he'd taken the bullet and the bone fragments out of his knee, and he'd left a few ampules with Nathan so he could get through the night. Tomorrow Spurlock would be transported to the hospital in Buxton where he would also be under arrest.

The groaning was growing in volume and intensity. "I'd better go put him to sleep again," Nathan said. "I don't expect I'll get much rest tonight anyway. I've wired Buxton to send a wagon and some men, and they'll be here in the morning. Then I'll probably sleep tomorrow for a while in my own bed while Allie is at school."

Elizabeth heard another moan from inside and kissed Nathan softly on the cheek. "Go," she said. "Put him out of his misery."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "After what he did to you today..."

Elizabeth smiled. "Leaving him in agony won't change what happened to me today." She started to walk up toward the path to Abigail's. "I don't like to see anyone in pain, Nathan. Even people I don't like."

Nathan smiled. "I love you, Elizabeth," he said.

She stopped and blew him a kiss and Nathan said, "Hang on, I want to ask you something. Spurlock can wait one minute."

They were now in the middle of the street, and they could see the moon overhead, nearly full. Nathan looked up and down the street, and seeing no one, leaned down and kissed her quickly. "So, Elizabeth..." he said softly. "Just so I know, since it's all kind of new to me... how do you think this courting thing is going so far?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Since I've never courted before, I'm no expert, but I would say..." She paused, thinking, and Nathan decided to help her.

"You're a teacher, maybe it would be easier to give it a grade," Nathan said, giving her the crooked smile.

Laughing, Elizabeth said, "An A, Constable." Leaning up, she kissed his cheek and started walking again.

Then she turned and said, "But you get extra credit for today, so you're at an A+."

Another loud groan came from the jail.

Nathan grinned at her. "'Night, Lizbeth."

She turned and smiled back at him. "'Night, Nathan."