"I suppose we should have known they'd be like two peas in a pod," Nathan said, leaning back on the sofa with his arm around Elizabeth.
"They do have a lot in common," Elizabeth replied, as they watched Rebecca and Charlotte in the kitchen, laughing.
Allie was engrossed in her dollhouse, which now had much more room after the removal of the Christmas tree. Nathan's house was back to normal, or at least as normal as possible, considering Rebecca had cleaned it to within an inch of its life, and had begun rearranging Nathan's boots and fishing poles and other often-used items away from the front door and into corners where he could never find them.
It had been nearly two weeks since Nathan had given the terrible news to Rosemary.
Charlotte had arrived in Hope Valley on New Year's Day, then Tom Thornton by train from Hamilton three days later. Jack's body had been escorted from Cape Fullerton with all the honor and ceremony due a Constable of the North West Mounted Police who had fallen in the service of his country, and the escorts had stayed for the funeral the next day.
In those first few days, Charlotte and Rosemary had been inseparable. As Rosemary had first fled into Charlotte's arms, she'd sobbed against her chest, choking out, "I'm pregnant," before even saying hello. Charlotte's face had gone ashen, and then flushed as she smiled, and she'd whispered over and over, "Thank God, thank God..."
Rosemary, Charlotte and Tom had all agreed that Jack would want to be at rest where Rosemary was, and where his child would be born and grow up. So it was decided that Jack Thornton would be buried in the cemetery beyond the meadow, the one that had grown by forty-seven graves back in July of last year and now seemed unnaturally expansive for a town as small as Hope Valley. The miners' graves were dusted with snow, but underneath were the seeds of wildflowers just waiting for spring to bring them to life.
The ground was frozen solid, and it required some of Lee's equipment to break the soil for the grave. It was done respectfully and carefully, and it was just one of the many things that Lee handled that Rosemary never even knew about. It began to be clear to everyone involved in the arrangements that Lee Coulter would drop whatever he was doing to make one minute of Rosemary's life less painful. The rare times she had truly smiled since New Year's Day had been at something surprising he had said, or in response to a kindness he'd shown her.
The funeral had been filled with more red serge than most townspeople had seen in one place, and the rifle salute, ringing out and echoing back from the mountains, was a glorious demonstration of precision and time-honored ceremony. The day stood in stark contrast to the bleak progressive services that had been held as the miners were found week after week back in July. But there was peace on the widows' faces as they stood next to their men's graves and silently offered them the same honors being given to Constable Jack Thornton - appreciation of their courage, and an acknowledgment of a life that, though far too short, had been well-lived.
Tom Thornton had to get back to work, and left the day after the funeral. The Mountie escort rode out of town, leaving silence behind - and the town did as it always had and always would; it went back to work. Back to the day-to-day struggles and joys of raising growing children and watching as Hope Valley grew as well.
Charlotte and Rebecca had stayed, knowing that grief can be a tricky and unpredictable process. Both had lost a child, and they clung together in that unique sisterhood with Abigail, at the same time they cared for and protected Rosemary. The truth was, Charlotte and Rebecca weren't at all anxious to leave.
Nathan and Elizabeth loved having them in Hope Valley. Allie was getting the benefit of two grandmothers, and Nathan's kitchen had never smelled so good or been so fully utilized. The only drawback was that with Rebecca sleeping in Allie's room upstairs, and Charlotte staying at Abigail's in Rosemary's room with her, there was hardly a moment that Elizabeth and Nathan could find alone.
They took rides on Newton and Sarah, and found stolen moments at the church and in the Library after hours, but they found themselves often daydreaming of the house on the meadow, unbuilt but fully realized in their imaginations.
More than anything else, Nathan and Elizabeth wanted to be married as soon as possible, but they were realizing how deeply the town depended on them. Bill was wrapping up his testimony at Henry Gowen's trial and would be back in town in the next day or so. He would be able to cover Nathan's Mountie duties for a quick wedding and a short honeymoon over a long weekend. School was back in session and Florence and Molly could be called in to cover a Friday or a Monday.
But they also wanted to feel they weren't deserting Rosemary in her grief. It had felt too soon for them to opt for happiness when their friend was so terribly sad. They were waiting for the time it felt right.
They all found that they alternated between Abigail's and Nathan's house for suppers. Rebecca would cook every night if given the choice, but they noticed that Rosemary also enjoyed the bustle of the cafe and the contact with the people of the town in small doses.
Tonight they'd all had dinner at Nathan's, and had been treated to Rebecca's nearly legendary beef stew. Rebecca had needed to wield a pretty heavy hand to keep Charlotte from adding generous dollops of lard to the final stew, and the discussions had continued through preparations for dessert.
"Becky, you don't seem to understand how important lard is in cooking," Charlotte said, her face growing serious. "Truly, you can never add too much."
Nathan turned to Elizabeth and said softly, "My mother hasn't let anyone call her Becky since my father left home. She must really like Charlotte."
Elizabeth laughed quietly. "Charlotte doesn't really leave people much choice in the matter. She keeps calling me Lizzie."
Nodding, Nathan said, "Yep. And I'm Nate." He pulled Elizabeth closer. "She can call me whatever she wants. I'm glad to see her smiling."
Elizabeth and Nathan looked across the room at the large stuffed chair in the corner. Rosemary was curled up in it, sleeping soundly. Charlotte and Rebecca had wrapped her up in quilts and tucked pillows around her until she looked like a swaddled child. Rosemary slept a lot these days, and Rebecca and Charlotte knew it was as important to the baby's health as it was to Rosemary's healing.
"Between those two, and Lee, and the widows – Rosemary hasn't been alone since New Year's Eve," Elizabeth whispered. "It seems to be what she needs."
Nathan nodded, breathing in the hint of lavender in Elizabeth's hair just under his chin. "I wish I'd had this town after Colleen died," he said softly.
Elizabeth turned slowly so that she could look into his eyes. She gazed at him for a moment. "You talk about Colleen more and more," she said. "It feels like it's getting easier for you."
Nathan smiled. "It is. I'm watching Rosemary go through this and it feels like I'm looking behind me, if that makes sense?" Elizabeth nodded and smiled. Nathan took a deep breath and continued. "I'll always miss her, but I'm at peace with it. So is Mom." He looked over at the dollhouse in the corner. "And from the picture she drew, so is Allie."
Nathan turned and brushed a curl back from Elizabeth's forehead. "You've been a big part of it, for all of us."
Elizabeth frowned a little and said, "Me? I don't feel like I've done anything."
Closing his eyes, Nathan pressed his lips against her forehead and held them there, smiling. "I know you don't."
Elizabeth closed her eyes too, feeling Nathan's chest rise and fall easily. His arms were warm around her and with a small shiver, Elizabeth suddenly felt a wave of love wash over her. Frau Bustenhaller, the nanny that cared for Elizabeth, Viola, and Julie when they were little, had a name for it. Die luft. It was the same German word for breath and for wind, and she would say that when a person loves someone, it blows around them like the wind, and they can feel it when they breathe deeply. Elizabeth always thought it was a charming idea, but now she understood. Loving Nathan was like breathing.
Without thinking, Elizabeth turned her head and touched her lips to Nathan's neck as she tightened her arms around his chest. She snuggled even closer, tasting a trace of salt from his exertions this afternoon, chopping wood for the fires. That reminded her of how he had looked while she'd watched him, his hair lifted by the wind, his smile soft as he'd gazed back at her...
There was a small sound from the direction of the kitchen, and both Nathan and Elizabeth opened their eyes and turned.
Charlotte and Rebecca were standing there with identically raised eyebrows, and nearly identical smiles. Rebecca's was crooked, and Charlotte's was more of a smirk, but they had the desired effect. In a split second, Elizabeth was sitting up straight with brightly-colored cheeks, and Nathan was self-consciously running his fingers through his hair after having scooted sideways on the sofa.
At which point, both Charlotte and Rebecca laughed. Charlotte shook her head and turned to Rebecca. "Will you look at those two? Like they got caught in the Christmas chocolate."
Rebecca nodded and inclined her head toward the chairs opposite the sofa. She glanced at Rosemary and could see she was still sound asleep, and then at Allie who was happily pouring out imaginary tea for her dolls.
"So," Rebecca said, narrowing her eyes slightly, "What's the plan?"
Elizabeth had to smile as Nathan mimicked his mother's look almost exactly, and said, "What plan?"
"A wedding, Nathan. You two are long past ready, and I want to know what's stopping you," Rebecca said. Charlotte leaned back in her chair, smiling broadly. It wasn't often that she could sit back and let someone else take the reins, feeling that her sentiments were being expressed adequately. She nodded silently, enjoying it.
Rebecca turned to Elizabeth and spoke more softly. "What kind of wedding do you dream of, honey?"
Elizabeth was taken aback by the question for a moment and then she blinked a few times, measuring her words. "I used to think I wanted a big white wedding like the ones I saw in Hamilton when I was younger." She turned to Nathan, her eyes soft, "But I'd never been in love. I didn't know how little all of that mattered."
Nathan smiled back at her and couldn't keep himself from reaching his hand up to her cheek. They got a little lost in each other for a moment, and Rebecca turned to Charlotte and shook her head, smiling.
Turning to Nathan, Rebecca said, "And you?"
Nathan raised an eyebrow and looked at his mother. "And me, what?"
Rebecca's voice softened. "What do you want?" she asked, her eyes very blue in the lamplight.
Nathan turned to Elizabeth and exhaled softly. "I'd marry her this minute. Any minute." Elizabeth smiled up at him with so much love that he had to close his eyes for a second just to catch his breath.
Charlotte rolled her eyes upward as if asking for strength. "So, what's stopping you?" she said, sounding like she was talking to a couple of five-year-olds.
Both Elizabeth and Nathan glanced over at Rosemary at the same time, and Charlotte nodded.
"You worry it's too soon?" She sighed and leaned forward. "I'd worry more about it being too late." Charlotte looked over at Rosemary and gazed at her peaceful face in sleep. "Do you know about if onlys? That girl has a lot of them. She had thirty-four days being married to my Jack before he left for the Territories. You think she wouldn't take more of them if she had the chance to do it over?"
Nathan and Elizabeth simply stared at Charlotte, and Elizabeth felt her eyes filling. She looked at Nathan and raised her eyebrows in a question. He nodded and leaned down to kiss her quickly, without a care for the others in the room. Then he looked at Rebecca.
"Can you bring Allie to Benson Hills so you can both be there? And then bring her back here so that we can have a short honeymoon?" His eyes were dancing, and Rebecca laughed.
"Wherever you want, tomorrow if you want."
Nathan found his breath coming faster, his excitement building. He looked back at Elizabeth, who was now wiping a tear from her cheek as she laughed too, her face bright. "Tomorrow?" she asked in wonder.
Nathan took her hand and held it to his lips, his eyes glistening. "Elizabeth Marie Thatcher, will you marry me tomorrow?" he said softly.
Elizabeth sighed and breathed out the word, filled with joy. "Yes."
Nathan bent to kiss her, and this time, it wasn't quick. Rebecca and Charlotte nodded to each other and smiled, each a little lost in their own memories. Charlotte leaned over and whispered, "Becky, I believe our work is done here," and she reached out to take Rebecca's hand. They stood and went into the kitchen to finish the dishes and start dessert.
And suddenly, it was all very real.
Elizabeth and Nathan were both thinking the same thing - at this time tomorrow, they would be in a room somewhere in Benson Hills, in each other's arms. It didn't matter where it was, or how any of it happened. What mattered is that they would belong to each other in God's eyes, pledged for their lives, one to the other, and beginning the journey that they'd dreamed of so often.
"I love you," Nathan said ardently against her lips. "So much…"
There was a knock at the door, and everyone looked at it, as if the mystery of who it was on the other side would be solved simply by the looking. Rebecca frowned and walked over to open it.
Ned Yost stood with a telegram in his hand. He looked apologetically at Rebecca and then at Elizabeth. "I'm so sorry to disturb you, but I thought you'd want to have this right away. Abigail said I would find you here…"
Elizabeth stood, her heart hammering in her chest as a reaction to the combination of urgency and sympathy she saw on Ned's face. Nathan stood with her, recognizing a need to stay close.
They walked together to the door and Ned handed the wire to Elizabeth.
She read it and fell back slightly against Nathan, who was ready to put his arms around her.
"It's from my father," Elizabeth said, turning and looking up at him. "My mother's taken ill. They want me home as soon as possible."