It had been far too long since Nathan had held wagon reins in his hands, and Hickam didn't have a chance at them before Nathan jumped up onto the driver's seat and motioned for Elizabeth to join him. Allie had been glued to Nathan's side since the moment they'd stepped off of the train, so she sat between him and Elizabeth, alternating laps when she got restless.
That left Rebecca, Hickam and Clara in the back with the trunks, and not surprisingly, Rebecca was using the time to find out as much as she could about Hope Valley's newest resident. Mike mostly sat back and listened, but his gaze told Clara that he was completely engaged with the conversation.
"My goodness, so you went from Cape Fullerton to Hamilton and now all the way back here," Rebecca said. "That was a piece of luck that you ran into Nathan and Elizabeth, wasn't it?"
Rebecca didn't miss much, and that fact was becoming increasingly evident to Clara. Nathan's mother had a way of narrowing her eyes slightly when her skepticism crept in, and as the conversation continued, Clara became more and more uncomfortable with beginning a relationship in a new town on the basis of a lie. She hadn't yet told a falsehood, but she knew she was being very sparing with the truth.
Clara had debated whether to take off her wedding rings, but as she tried to imagine herself meeting Abigail for the first time, she wanted to be wearing them. Now, talking to Rebecca, she was aware that the older woman was looking at her hand.
"He died," Clara said suddenly, looking down and turning her rings self-consciously on her finger.
Rebecca frowned and reached forward to put her strong, warm hand over Clara's. "I'm sorry. How long ago?"
"July of last year," Clara said quickly. Then before she could stop herself, she said, "In a mining accident." She blinked a few times and realized that she wanted to tell the story. These were good, kind people, and it wasn't a dirty secret she had to keep. So she swallowed and said, "In Coal Valley."
Mike was sitting across from her, and for the first time she saw him react. His mouth opened in a silent gasp and then closed again as he studied her. It wasn't a look of recrimination, but one of sympathy. Clara got the feeling that Michael Hickam had seen more of women's grief than he'd ever expected to. His eyes were soft and she thought she saw the hazel color turn warmly to green as he listened.
Clara realized that they were both keeping silent in order to give her a chance to find the right words. And find them, she did, as they all spilled out. It was the same catharsis she'd felt when she'd told Nathan and Elizabeth; the freedom of telling the truth. It was something she and Peter had never had the chance to do, and now she felt almost as if she was doing it for both of them.
"I know Peter led me to Nathan and Elizabeth. I feel it so strongly," Clara said, finishing her story and leaning back against the wagon bench. She exhaled deeply and realized that Rebecca was holding both of her hands in her own. She felt the power there; the strength from a woman who had lived through her own grief and pain and had come out the other side.
"So Abigail has no idea?" Rebecca finally said softly.
Clara simply shook her head and she felt tears begin behind her eyes. Rebecca saw them and pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve. It was surprisingly ruffled with lace for a woman as homespun as Rebecca, and it smelled of something sweet from the kitchen, like vanilla and honey.
Dabbing her eyes, Clara said, "I'm so afraid she'll be angry with us for not telling her. Peter wanted to make something of himself, to make his parents proud..."
Rebecca squeezed Clara's hand gently. "Honey, you have no idea how much time I've spent talking with Abigail Stanton." Clara's eyes went wide and she took a deep breath. She realized that she probably should have determined who she was speaking to before she'd bared her soul this way, but it had just... come out.
"Oh," Clara said softly. "You're a friend of Mrs. Stanton's..."
Rebecca laughed, full-throated and infectious. "In Hope Valley, friendship is pretty hard to escape." She nodded. "Yes, I'm Abigail's friend. And I would be very surprised if she doesn't welcome you with open arms." Leaning forward so that she could speak a little softer, just in case Nathan could hear, Rebecca said, "I've lost a child, Clara. Any part of my daughter that I could have back this very minute, I would take. Any story, any word, any bit of laughter that was new to me, I would hold like a treasure. You have stories of Peter that Abigail has never heard. You will be a gift to her from God, sweet girl."
The relief that coursed through Clara opened the floodgates, and she fell forward into Rebecca's arms, sobbing. She hadn't realized how afraid she'd been.
Watching and listening, Mike Hickam had felt himself drawn further and further into the memories of the suffering he had seen on the widows' faces for the past six months. Mike was a person who got things done. This had been something he couldn't solve, couldn't fix, couldn't rebuild – and the helplessness he'd felt suddenly overwhelmed him.
Before he knew it, he'd reached his hand out and placed it on Clara's shoulder as she cried in Rebecca's arms. In wonder, he felt a warmth slowly moving from his hand and up his arm, and it made its way slowly, inexorably, to his heart.
It was only a spoonful or two of soup and a piece of toast, but Rosemary felt as elated as if she had watched Lee eat a five-course meal at Delmonico's. She was talking to him the entire time she was spooning the soup into his mouth and offering him the toast for bites.
"I gave them the recipe for their famous biscuits at Delmonico's. They're still using it. And they call them their Rosemary biscuits, although most people think they're named for the herb..."
Lee's voice was low and thready, but his eyes were losing their dullness as he looked at her.
"Thank you, Rosie," he said, barely above a whisper.
Rosemary felt tears spring to her eyes as she leaned down and pressed her cheek against his and whispered, "I was so afraid I was going to lose you."
She felt his mouth move into a weak smile. "Not that easy... to get rid of..." The effort of speech caused him to cough, a deep wracking cough that the doctor had said was a good sign that Lee's lungs were clearing. Rosemary adjusted the pillows so that he could sit up a little, and Lee simply looked at her, his eyes softening as she gave him another dose of the cough syrup.
This time he whispered, not wanting the cough to start up again. "In the wagon...I had dreams..." he said, his eyes beginning to close again. "You said... you love me..."
Rosemary broke into a smile so beatific that the corners of Lee's mouth turned up as well. She leaned down and touched her lips to his. "It wasn't a dream." She put her warm hands on the sides of his face. "I do love you, Lee Coulter."
Lee managed a soft laugh, and though he wanted so much to look at her, he couldn't keep his eyes open. "That's good... good...because I... love you, too..." Rosemary could hardly hear the last words, but they made their way into her heart so completely that she found herself having a little trouble breathing too.
She'd already known it; that this feeling was real and mutual. She'd felt it when he'd kissed her in the shadows of the buildings. She'd even seen it as they'd talked over dinner and walked along the water in Cape Fullerton. But now, here by his bedside, after having almost lost Lee, Rosemary was filled with a feeling so absolute that she suddenly knew she'd never actually been in love before.
What she'd had with Jack moved into a place in her heart she now understood was born of years of deep friendship, of knowing each other so well that it felt like love. But this – she thought, as Lee fell back into sleep, still with a smile on his face, God love him - this was so much more.
Rosemary put the soup aside. She wiped the corners of his mouth and leaned in closer.
"Yes, you sleep. That's the best medicine. And when you wake up, I'll be right here."
From the doorway, Abigail couldn't hear what they were saying to each other, but she needed only to see them to know that what had happened on this trip to Cape Fullerton had been profound. She quietly stepped into the room, putting her hands on Rosemary's shoulders. They watched Lee for a moment, his face peaceful in sleep. Abigail squeezed Rosemary gently. "He'll sleep for a while now. I'll stay here with him and you go back with Bill and have a nice warm bath and get changed. There's stew on the back of the stove, and you should have some of that. You need to keep your strength up so that you can be here for Lee."
Rosemary turned and looked up at Abigail. "You're not angry with me?" she said, softly. She stood and faced Abigail, who put her arms around Rosemary and gave her a warm hug.
"Why would I be angry with you?" Abigail said, almost whispering. She took Rosemary's arm and led her out into the hall.
"Because... Lee..." Rosemary said.
Abigail laughed softly, leaning against the wall. "I don't have any right to be angry with you about how you live your life, Rosemary." She cupped her cheek with a warm hand. "Lee is a good man. And I'm not surprised. I've seen the two of you together."
Rosemary frowned. "But so soon..."
Raising an eyebrow, Abigail said gently, "There's no timetable for love. It happens when it happens. And people aren't meant to be alone."
Looking back at her, Rosemary finally smiled. "Not even you?"
Pulling Rosemary into a hug, Abigail laughed again. "No. Not even me."
Elizabeth's first view of Nathan's bedroom, now their bedroom, made her smile. Of course, Rebecca had spent the last month sleeping in here, but it was clear that any changes she had made had been put back to rights, because it was unmistakably a man's bedroom.
Setting down her small bag and taking off her coat, Elizabeth walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, feeling strangely as if she was trespassing, but fascinated to get this solitary look at Nathan's private space. He and Allie were across the hall, as the little girl excitedly took him on a tour through her dolls, telling him everything that had happened while they'd been gone.
The room was indeed turnip-colored, and Elizabeth had to smile again thinking of Nathan living in the opulence of the Aubergine Bedroom with all its velvet and brocade, deep mahogany, and curtain tassels. This room had a dear simplicity to it, with an oak table and a handcrafted cedar chest of drawers that still lent its sweet woody aroma to the room.
On the side tables on either side of the large bed were books piled on top of each other, and Elizabeth couldn't help moving them slightly to read their covers. Zane Grey's Wild Fire, Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden, Heart of Darkness, a volume of Shakespeare's sonnets and another of Twain's essays, and a book on medicinal plants. Elizabeth stood and went to the window. It needed curtains, and she was already taking a measure in her mind of the fabric she would need. Looking out, it reminded her of the view from her upstairs window at Abigail's, where she had stayed when she'd first arrived in Coal Valley. The same view of the meadow, simply from further down.
How far she'd come since those dark days. The handsome Mountie she'd been unable to banish from her mind for any length of time was now her husband. Elizabeth put her hand on her abdomen. And I'm carrying his child.
A wave of love passed through her that was so profound she needed to hold onto the windowsill for balance. She'd had no idea what was in store for her as she'd awakened so long ago in that bedroom after burning down the teacherage. It's always darkest before the dawn.
Strong arms came around her waist from behind and Elizabeth realized she hadn't heard Nathan come into the room. "You'll probably want curtains in here," he said softly, nuzzling her ear. "This is our bedroom now, so do whatever you want with it." He let his lips trail across her neck, causing her to shiver happily.
Closing her eyes, she said, "I was thinking eggplant..."
Nathan laughed, his warm breath tickling her skin. "Whatever you want. As long as you're in this bedroom with me, I don't care what it looks like." He turned her around gently until his lips could find hers, and Elizabeth let go completely into his kiss. Allie and Rebecca were just in the other room, singing songs, and Clara was downstairs with Hickam, trying to decide if she was ready to go to Abigail's right away.
Elizabeth leaned back against the window, feeling the coolness of the pane reach her skin through her cotton blouse. Nathan's hands were on her waist as he pressed closer, and she threaded her fingers through the soft curls at his neck. Their breath was coming faster, hearts beating in tandem, both wanting what came next, but knowing it would have to wait until tonight. Until they could walk up the stairs together, close the door, and find their way in this new room that belonged to both of them now.
Nathan moved his lips from hers with a sound of mild frustration, "This," he said, his voice rough and low.
Elizabeth turned her head on his chest so that she could hear his heartbeat strong and solid in her ear. "This... what?" she whispered, catching her breath.
"This is what I dreamed about in this room," he said, his voice muffled by her curls.
Elizabeth laughed softly and turned her face up to look at him. She raised an eyebrow and whispered, "Only this?"
Nathan looked at her flushed cheeks and took a deep breath. "No. Not only this..." And in an instant his lips were on hers again, his hands moving through her hair and pulling her closer. "More than this..." And Elizabeth had a fleeting thought that Nathan might just close the door and take her to the bed, no matter who was in the house. And she didn't think she would object...
"Kisses!"
The tiny arms came around their legs and Nathan and Elizabeth laughed as they held each other breathlessly, each reaching down at the same time to pull Allie up between them.
"You're married!" Allie said joyfully. "I threw the flowers." She put her arms around Elizabeth's neck. "You live here now."
Elizabeth hugged her tightly and looked into Nathan's eyes, their mountain lake blue almost translucent. "I do live here now. And I'm very happy about that, Allie."
"Mrs. Grant in school now," Allie said, snuggling into her shoulder. "My mom at home."
Elizabeth's eyes went wide at the same time they filled with tears. She knew she couldn't speak, so as Nathan smiled and pulled them both into his arms, she simply hugged Allie tighter.