p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"12/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"th/span/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" December, 1910/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Mrs. Rosemary Thornton/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"General Delivery, East Cape Fullerton/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"British Columbia/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Dear Rosemary,/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I don't know when, or if, this letter will get to you. I'm handing it off to a rider very soon who looks as dead on his feet as I am, so this won't be very long. I did get your letter of the 9/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"th/span/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" and have read it so many times the ink is starting to wear thin./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I think of you all the time, Rosie. Life is terrible up here, and I've never been so cold, sleeping rough on the frozen ground in a tent that can't keep a breath of air out, much less a gale force wind./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"But I keep going because of you, and the life we'll have together when we've won this fight. That's what gets me through each day./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I hope I'll be home soon, but probably not for Christmas. I can't see any way the fighting will be over by then./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I must say something, and I'm glad for once that we are apart, because you would never let me say this otherwise. I know how strong you are, Rosie./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Yesterday, a man died in my arms on an icy field, and his last words were for his sweetheart. I've just finished the letter to her in which I told her that he wants her to open her heart and love again, and not to pine after him. As I sealed her letter, I realized I needed to tell you the same thing./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Men are falling all around me, and though I expect to come through this fight and be back with you soon, I must say this. If something should happen to me, I hope you will take your big heart and give it to someone else. It would be like dying all over again to think of you spending your life alone out of some misguided loyalty to me. If I don't come home, go out and love again, and I'll be smiling down on you. Know that, Rosie./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I love you, Mrs. Thornton. As I lie in this tent at night and listen to the storms outside, I wonder how I ever left you./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Jack/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and Elizabeth moved from the chair to the sofa so she could put her arm around her. Rosemary had asked Elizabeth to stay while she read the letter that Ned Yost had just brought to Abigail's./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rather than trying to speak, Rosemary simply handed the letter to Elizabeth. While Rosemary sniffled, Elizabeth read it through and then looked at her friend./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""He's a good man, Rosemary. And he loves you very much. That's clear."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary took a deep breath. "He thinks he's going to die, Elizabeth. /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"That's/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" what's clear." Another tear made its way down her flushed cheeks. "And I knew it, too, when I said goodbye to him. I knew..."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth took Rosemary into her arms. "You can't lose hope. I know the fighting is bad up there, but Jack is a good Mountie, well-trained. You have to pray for the strength to get through this."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The last letter he got from me was two weeks ago. He doesn't even know he's going to be a father..." Rosemary looked at Elizabeth, her eyes a little frantic. "Oh, I should have known better than to marry him..."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth gasped. "Rosemary! You can't mean that."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary sighed deeply and brought the handkerchief back up to her eyes. "Only because I know Jack, and I /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"knew/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" he would always leave me to go fight the... /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"fight,/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" or whatever it was he said. I've always loved him, but how much can he love me if he went straight up there after we got married?" Her eyes began to fill again and she said softly, "Nathan would never do that to you, would he?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth was taken aback by the question, and for a moment she simply stared into Rosemary's eyes. "I know... that he..." she started, slowly. "I know he would do his duty," Elizabeth said, nodding. "Wherever he was assigned."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary smiled sadly. "Jack wasn't assigned, Elizabeth. He /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"volunteered,"/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" she said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"For a moment, Elizabeth was speechless, and it was impossible for her to hear the pain in Rosemary's voice without wondering if Nathan /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"would/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" ever do such a thing. The realization came quickly with a flood of love and gratitude, as Elizabeth knew that Nathan would do everything humanly possible to stay near her and Allie. Volunteering for dangerous duty would never be his choice./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary could see her answer in Elizabeth's eyes, and she was suddenly more weary than she could ever remember being. She laid her head on Elizabeth's shoulder and closed her eyes as her tears calmed./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't know how I would manage this without your kindness, Elizabeth. If I was reading that letter in a cold flat, alone..." Rosemary's voice trailed off as she imagined herself in Cape Fullerton instead of here in Abigail's warm sitting room, being held and kept safe, surrounded with the aroma of fresh-baked bread and cookies./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth squeezed Rosemary's shoulder. "And you're staying here until Jack gets home," she said firmly. "You're not going back to that cold flat. You're staying in Coal Valley."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"There was a soft rap on the side door, and both women looked up as Nathan stuck his head through. Even from across the room he could see the tear-stains on Rosemary's pink cheeks. "Sorry. I can come back later..." he said, starting to back out./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""No, Nathan, come in," Rosemary said, sitting up straight. "I was just going upstairs. She took a deep breath as Nathan came inside and quickly closed the door to keep the cold out. He brushed some snow off of the shoulders of his heavy coat before taking it off and hanging it on the coat rack./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Allie's all settled at Emily's. I'll never understand why they call it a sleepover, because I don't think those two will be getting much sleep tonight." Both Rosemary and Elizabeth laughed softly, remembering the long nights of whispering in the dark with friends, telling ghost stories and talking of boys./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary raised an eyebrow. "Just wait until Allie wants to have friends over for a sleepover at /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"your/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" house," she said, smiling./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nathan nodded and looked over at Elizabeth. "By that time, there will be someone else helping me," he said softly as Elizabeth smiled back at him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary had meant to go upstairs, but instead, she lifted the one-page letter from Jack and held it gently in her hands. When Nathan sat down in the chair opposite them and removed his heavy gloves, Rosemary held it out to him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I would appreciate it if you would read this, Nathan, and tell me what you think." Nathan could tell that Rosemary was upset, but she gave him no indication of what she thought he might find in the letter./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He took it and his eye went immediately to the bottom of the back page and the name there. "Oh, good, you got a letter from Jack," he said, nodding to Rosemary. "I know you'd said you were waiting..." When Rosemary didn't speak, Nathan bent his head and began to read./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The only sound in the room was the soft crackling of the fire, and the intermittent creaking of the stove's metal as it cooled slowly from the long day's cooking./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary gave Nathan the time to read the letter twice, and then he finally looked up. She stayed silent and he realized she was waiting for him to speak./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""This is very common, Rosemary. To see a man die in front of you makes you come face-to-face with your own mortality. That's why he said that. It's not good to go into the fight with unfinished business." Nathan looked at Elizabeth, his eyes soft. "I would probably write the same thing."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As Nathan and Elizabeth's eyes met, they did what many had been witness to in recent months – they began a silent conversation. Rosemary smiled and said genuinely, "Thank you, Nathan. That does make me feel a little better."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nathan was still in his uniform and Rosemary gazed at him, her eyes glistening as she laughed softly. "You Mounties. You just don't know what that uniform does to us, do you?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The crooked smile returned to Nathan's face and he said, "We have an idea. But..." He looked over at Elizabeth and finished his sentence, "...we hope it has more to do with the man inside..."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary nodded, and then she turned to Elizabeth and patted her hand. "I'm going to bed." In her eyes Elizabeth saw Rosemary's thoughts clearly, almost as if she had spoken them. /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"You be with your Mountie, and appreciate every second you have with him./spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Rosemary picked up the letter from the table where Nathan had placed it. "I'll be a good Mountie wife and get a cheery, hopeful letter off to my husband."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth stood and hugged Rosemary tightly. "I'll be up in a while," she said, softly. Rosemary turned to Nathan where he was standing to wish her goodnight. They were good friends now and had hugged before, but Rosemary simply put her hand out, looking at the buttons on Nathan's red serge. The sadness in her eyes told him she couldn't bear to feel that jacket under her cheek or to have his arms around her. So he took her hand and squeezed it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Jack will be fine, Rosemary," Nathan said, with all the confidence he could muster./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Rosemary smiled softly. "Thank you, Nathan," she said gratefully. Then she tilted her head. "But you can't know that." She turned to Elizabeth once more and then released Nathan's hand and walked upstairs./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once she was out of sight and they heard the boards creak upstairs, Elizabeth moved quickly into Nathan's arms. They held each other tightly for a time, each grateful for where they were, together and safe./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth pulled away and looked up into his eyes. "Would you ever volunteer to go up to the Northern Territories?" She tried to keep all of the emotion out of her voice, but the intensity of her question was clear./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nathan reached his hand up and moved his thumb across her cheek gently, much the way he had done to comfort her when they'd stood just this way as the teacherage burned down. His voice was sure and quiet. "No. And I would refuse them if I were reassigned."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""And if they wouldn't let you?" Elizabeth said, gazing into his eyes, which even in the lamplight, were very blue./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nathan moved his hand up to push a soft curl away from her forehead. "I would resign."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth couldn't keep the shock from widening her eyes. Nathan could see that she hadn't expected this answer. "Elizabeth," he said softly. "Could you ever imagine that the Mounties are more important to me than you and Allie?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He took her hand and led her back over to the sofa. It was warm in the room, and he unbuttoned his red serge and removed it, hanging it on the rack next to his coat. Then he sat down next to her and she snuggled under his arm, feeling the solid strength of his chest beneath her cheek. As he spoke, she moved contentedly into the vibrations of his voice in her ear./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I don't think I told you everything Jack and I talked about when we met in Union City," he said, his fingers curling through her hair. "When he talked about volunteering, I told him that I was grateful he wanted to do that, because men are needed up there. But I said that I thought smaller. That to me, being a Mountie had to do with protecting those I love, those in a town like Airdrie, or like Coal Valley. There's important work for me to do right here."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth murmured softly to let him know she was hearing everything he was saying, and she tightened her arms around his chest./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nathan continued. "It wouldn't make sense for me to be a Mountie if that work took me away from you and Allie and everyone else in this town. That would assume that those in the Northern Territories were more deserving of my help than all of you are." Nathan took a deep breath and Elizabeth felt her head rise and fall with the power of it./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"She heard a low laugh escape his lips. "I'm not heroic, Elizabeth. I never have been."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth sat up and looked into his eyes. She loved him so much in this moment, she could hardly speak. "Oh, but you /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"are."/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. "And the fact that you don't think you are makes you so much more of a man than those who do." She leaned up and touched her lips to his, and suddenly she felt Rosemary's loss and how lucky she was to have Nathan here in her arms./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"All of the longing she'd seen in Rosemary infused Elizabeth with a love that blended into quick passion, and Nathan nearly melted under it. Gratitude for their blessings took hold of both of them and the kiss deepened into that dangerous territory they'd explored out on the path in the cold night./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"But now they were inside, warm and wrapped together on the sofa, their breath rising and falling in unison. Elizabeth's fingers were threading through his hair while Nathan's caressed her neck, her shoulders.../span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We need to stop," Nathan said breathlessly, moving his lips to her cheek and feeling the fire there. For a moment they both let their breathing calm, and felt their hearts slow into a regular rhythm./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I love you so much, Nathan," Elizabeth said, moving her lips down to his neck and feeling his pulse throbbing there./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"He stroked her hair gently. "And that makes me the luckiest man alive," he said, his voice rough and low. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, glistening in the lamplight. Tracing her forehead and her cheek with his finger, he said, "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? Not just on the outside," he moved his finger to her lips and ran it across them tenderly. "Do you know how much this town already loves you? How much Allie loves you? How much I..." he couldn't bear it any longer, and he replaced his finger with his lips, pressing them gently and then parting them slightly to taste the faint sweetness of tea still there. "How much I love you?" he whispered against her mouth./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"They heard voices out in the main room of the café, and they knew that Abigail and Bill were coming back from their meeting with Lee and Henry Gowen. While they were very interested in what had happened, it was hard for Nathan and Elizabeth to move from this moment to the next. They sighed deeply and with great strength of will, moved apart on the sofa, still holding hands and looking so guilty that it caused Bill to laugh the minute he walked in the room./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You two are a sight," Bill said, shaking his head as Elizabeth tried to put some order to her hair. He turned to Abigail, whose smile was as wide as his. "Remember those days?" Bill said, raising an eyebrow./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Abigail raised her chin and smiled warmly at him. "They may not be entirely in the past," she said, coyly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Bill tilted his head. "Abigail. Are you flirting with me?" He gave her a combination of a smile and a frown and she simply shrugged and moved toward the stove./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Coffee?" she said, and Elizabeth thought she was very /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"definitely/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" flirting./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'd love some," Bill said, taking off his coat and adding it to Nathan's on the rack. He sat down in the chair opposite the sofa. "And how are we this fine evening?" he said to Elizabeth and Nathan./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The meeting must have gone well," Nathan said, grinning./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Couldn't have been better," Bill said, leaning back and moving his wet boots nearer to the fire. "The sawmill will open the day the mine closes down. Henry couldn't argue with the report from the Bureau of Mines, and he all but admitted that he figured his days were numbered in that business. He looked a little tired, to tell the truth." Bill looked back at Abigail. "Do you agree?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I do," Abigail said, bringing a cup to Bill and pouring one for herself. She raised the pot in a question to Nathan and Elizabeth, and they both shook their heads. "Henry said that mining was turning out to be a little more trouble than it was worth, and then," Abigail laughed, "he tried to talk Lee into a fifty-fifty split on the sawmill business. To which Lee said, 'are you planning on helping me run it from prison?'" Shaking her head, Abigail said, "Lee Coulter has some steel in him, for all that cheerful nature and good humor."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Bill laughed too. "Can you imagine the nerve of Gowen?" He looked at Nathan, "And because we're not heartless, we're letting him have Christmas. We'll arrest him on the 26/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"th/span/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""And how do you keep him from skipping town?" Nathan said, leaning forward./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Bill smiled and raised his eyebrows. "I told him I'd speak to the Judge and argue for leniency if he kept himself clean and came peacefully. I actually saw a sliver of remorse in the man, and that's something new. Believe it or not, I think this town may have gotten to his stone cold heart, and that's saying a lot, coming from me."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Abigail sat down in the chair next to Bill. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Henry might have some good in him. As we were leaving, he said he was sorry about Noah and Peter, though he knew I could never forgive him."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth took a deep breath. "And what did you say, Abigail?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Abigail took a sip of her coffee and looked at Elizabeth over the rim of her cup. "I said, 'Never say never, Mr. Gowen.' Then he told me to call him Henry." Abigail shook her head and gave a small laugh. "Will wonders never cease."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Elizabeth smiled at her. "Well, it /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"is/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Christmas," she said brightly./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Speaking of which, when is your mother arriving, Nathan?" Abigail said./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Tomorrow, three o'clock train," Nathan said, leaning back and putting his arm around Elizabeth again. He laughed and looked at her. "Coal Valley will never be the same, I fear."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Ah, that's another thing. As of January 1/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;"st/span/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;", this town will be named /spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Hope/spanspan style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" Valley. The Town Council voted it in," Abigail said. She turned to Bill. "And I have the answer to your question about who will be repainting the sign on the water tower."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Bill laughed and said, "Not that it's been keeping me up nights, but I can't wait to hear it. Who'd you rope into that sorry duty?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Abigail smiled and said, "Mike Hickam."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nodding, Bill said, "Of course. Who else? What would we do without him?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #222222; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" /spanspan id="docs-internal-guid-356d45de-7fff-4406-6023-6c0da1645c41"/span/p