Chapter 17- The Lost and Found

The rain was coming down heavier now. Beating against Nathan and Bill as they continued to ride up the mountain. Thankfully, the lightning and thunder had lessened, but with evening setting it, the muddy trail in front of them was getting treacherous.

"Nathan we should turn back. It is getting too dark to see anything tonight. We may ride right past them and not even know." Bill logically brought up.

But Nathan wasn't thinking logically at that moment. He wasn't really thinking at all. The only feeling he could muster was one of dread. Something had happened. Something bad.

"Nathan?"

"No, Bill!" Nathan challenged as he pulled up on Newton's reins to stop the horse. "No. I can't go back. Not until I find them. I know something bad has happened and I can't return to Hope Valley without my girls."

Nathan could barely make out Bill's reaction in the low light, but he could see enough to tell the older man had agreed with him, so they both continued up the path.

"Wait!" Bill's hand reached for Nathan's arm to stop them again. "What's that?"

The two men stared off into the distance. There was movement just around the bend in the road. Nathan and Bill both urged their horses forward to investigate.

As they neared the turn, the landscape blackened with ash. Embers still danced in protected pockets of grass and downed trees where the heavy rains hadn't quite penetrated to extinguish the flames of the fire that had passed through this area. This was Nathan's meadow. His quiet retreat darkened and almost unrecognizable.

Nathan's eyes scanned his surroundings before they fell on what he and Bill had seen moving earlier.

Bandit and Danny.

He and Bill rode closer. Nathan dismounting and handing Newton's reins to Bill so he could inspect the horses. They were understandably skittish, but other than some minor burns along their legs, they seemed to be okay. Someone had obviously taken the time to unsaddle them and remove their bridles, so Bandit and Danny had a chance of making it out of the blaze.

Charlotte.

It had to be Charlotte. And she must have found Allie since the two horses were together and both untacked. But where were the girls now?

"Allie! Charlotte!" Nathan began circling. Calling out frantically into the post-apocalyptic world that surrounded him.

Think Nathan. Think!

Charlotte is smart. If you were her, the flames coming towards you, where would you go?

The canyon!

Nathan took off in a dead sprint towards the charred trees on the other side of the meadow. Leaving Bill with the horses.

As the walls of the cliffs came into view, Nathan started calling out again.

"Allie!"

"Charlotte!"

His boots skidded to a stop at the edge of the canyon, sending pebbles and ash falling into the river below.

"Uncle Nathan?!"

"Allie!"

"We're down here!"

It was then Nathan could see that on a ledge by the waterfall were his girls. One frantically waving. Allie. The other; lying on her side. Not moving. Charlotte.

Nathan's legs threatened to give out at that moment, but instead he willed them forward until he came to the spot above where Allie and Charlotte waited below.

"Allie!" Nathan called to her, now laying on his stomach at the canyon's edge. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but… but Ms. Thompson's not." Allie cried up. "She fell, Uncle Nathan. She's in pain and has lost a lot of blood. Please help her!"

"I will. I'll get you both out of there okay. Just give me a minute." Nathan looked up and saw Bill riding towards him, Newton trailing behind.

"Did you find them?" Bill called out as he neared Nathan.

Nathan got up and went over to where Bill stopped. "Yeah. They escaped the fire by climbing down to a ledge by the waterfall. Allie is fine, but she says that Charlotte is hurt. We are going to have to lower a rope to Allie and bring her up with your horse. Then I'll need you to lower me down so I can help Charlotte."

Bill nodded as he handed one end of his rope to Nathan. Nathan took it over to the edge before calling down, "Allie, loop this rope around you and then Bill and I will pull you up."

"But what about Ms. Thompson?" Allie called. "I can't just leave her here."

"Once I get you up, Bill will lower me down and I will bring Charlotte back up with me.

Allie nodded in agreement and looped the rope around her, before quickly being pulled to safety. The moment Allie's body cleared the edge of the canyon, Nathan reached and pulled her into his body. Her face and clothes dirty and blackened with soot, her hair reeking of smoke, but she was alive and safe.

"Dad. I'm so sorry." Allie cried, tears causing streaks to form paths across her cheek.

Dad

Nathan's heart swelled at the sentiment. That was the first time Allie had ever called him Dad. "Ssshhh… It's alright. I'm here now. You are safe."

Nathan squeezed Allie even tighter to him, before breaking away. He needed to get to Charlotte. He released the loop from around Allie and quickly put it around his shoulders as he lowered his body into the canyon. Bill was steady in his movements and soon Nathan had reached the ledge.

"Charlotte."

"Nathan?"

"Yeah. It's me sweetheart. I'm going to get you out of here, okay?"

"Nathan. I think I'm losing the baby."

The sterile smell of the infirmary combined with the smoke clinging to Nathan's wet clothes was going to cause his already nauseous stomach to empty their contents sooner rather than later.

Nathan's mind raced, replaying the events of the past few hours since finding Allie and Charlotte. Relief of knowing they had survived the fire, was followed quickly by absolute dread knowing Charlotte was hurt from the fall. The journey back into town had not been easy with Charlotte drifting in and out of consciousness balancing in front of Nathan in the saddle. The weight of her body laying against him, was a feeling Nathan was not sure he would ever forget. Charlotte's steady breath against the collar of his serge, provided Nathan a certain level of comfort. She was alive.

The streamers and banners that had been hung in preparation of Elizabeth's wedding on Saturday, now lay strewn on the street leading into town like the soggy confetti. The rain and wind from the storm tearing them from their appointed places on the various buildings.

"Nathan! You found them." Lee's voice called from the steps of the café.

"Yes. But Charlotte's hurt badly. Where's Faith?"

Lee had disappeared back into the café for a moment, returning with Faith, Joseph, Minnie, and Rosemary hot on his heels as the group all met in front of the infirmary across the street. Nathan gently handing Charlotte down into Joseph's waiting arms to be carried into the doctor's office.

And now here he sat. Staring at the blue and white walls of the infirmary, listening to the rhythmic tic of the clock on Faith's desk.

"Charlotte will be okay." Minnie's hand gently came to rest on Nathan's knee in a reassuring gesture.

"Faith will take care of her." Rosemary added.

Nathan just nodded his head and continued looking off into space. Going over all the what-if's that played out in his mind.

Just then Faith came around the corner of the privacy screen to join the awaiting trio. "Charlotte will make a full recovery with plenty of bed rest. She has some cracked ribs and a mild concussion from the fall. I've stitched up the cut on her forehead. The biggest thing is… she has lost the baby."

"Poor Charlotte." Minnie gasped.

"Can we see her?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes. She is awake now but will need some rest. With the concussion we will have to closely monitor her over the next couple days so I would like to keep her here."

Faith led Rosemary and Minnie around the partition. But Nathan was not sure if he should follow. Would Charlotte even want to see him?

Whether she wanted to see him or not, Nathan needed to see her. If only for a moment to confirm that she was in fact okay, so he followed the women around the corner.

The low light from a lamp in the corner illuminated the space around Charlotte in a soft glow. She was sitting upright; propped against a pile of pillows behind her. Faith had helped Charlotte change into a clean loose-fitting shirt and washed her face and hair of the blood and soot that had collected there. Her eyes were sunken, and features drawn. But she was alive. And because of that Nathan was not sure if he had seen a more beautiful site.

It was then though that Charlotte looked up at her group of visitors, tears springing from her eyes and starting to stream down her cheeks. Minnie and Rosemary instantly moving towards Charlotte on either side of her sick bed, bringing her to them in one large comforting embrace.

They understood the loss that Charlotte was experiencing. Of loving and losing someone you had never even met. The complete and unassuming love that every parent feels towards their child. No matter how long they had been a part of their lives.

Nathan broke then. He may not have been the child's biological father, but from the moment that Charlotte had told him about her baby, he instantly felt the protective love that flows over a dad. It was then that his legs drew him away. Out of the infirmary and down the street. The world around him was a blur. The calls from Lee and Joseph, who had been waiting outside, were muffled and ignored. He could not be there anymore. Charlotte had the support system she needed at the moment. And it was not him. Not right now anyway.

Thankfully he was able to open and close the door to his office before the first wave of emotions and tears crumbled him to the ground as he slide his back down the nearest wall and grieved for the child he would never be able to meet or raise. And for the baby's mother.

Those brief moments tonight when Nathan had seen Charlotte lying on the ledge motionless, possibly dead, he physically was not sure if he could move on in his life without her.

So this is love.

He thought to himself.

It was all a dream.

That was it.

It was all a horrible dream.

The abuse. Her attack. Losing her job. The fire. Her fall. The loss.

But then other images started to float into her memory. Erasing the bad.

Red serge. A friendly smile. Fishing. Piercing blue eyes. Horseback riding. Wildflowers.

Wildflowers?

Charlotte's eyes fluttered open and landed on a pitcher of blue forget-me-nots sitting on the table beside her bed. She took a deep breath, letting their calming presence seep into her soul.

She stared at them a moment longer until movement at the foot of the bed caught her attention.

"Hi," the friendly smile from her dreams mustered as he leaned forward in the wooden chair that was at the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

He was there! Charlotte did not know if Nathan would want to be around her anymore since leaving in such a rush the night before.

"Better." Charlotte said as she slowly adjusted her body in the bed. Gingerly pulling it into an upright position. "How long have you been here?"

"A few hours maybe." Nathan answered, shrugging his shoulders.

Charlotte looked out the windows then. Afternoon sunshine filtered in across Faith's desk. How long had she been asleep?

"Thank you for the flowers."

"How did you know they were from me?" Nathan asked, a lopsided smile forming across his features.

Charlotte just smiled in return. She knew.

"Bill and I went up to the meadow this morning to bring back Bandit and Danny."

"They're okay?" Charlotte questioned.

"Yeah they're fine. A little skittish and both have some minor burns on their legs, but they will be okay. Thanks to you."

Charlotte's head fell back against her pillows in relief. She had hoped both Bandit and Danny were able to make it out of the flames alright. "So where did you find them? The flowers I mean." Charlotte again looked to the forget-me-nots. "I figured they would have all burned up in the fire."

"Me too. The fire went right through the meadow, but when I was up there, I just had to look and see if there were any flowers that had survived."

"And they did."

"And they did," Nathan confirmed. "For some divine reasoning the fire seemed to skirt right around the edge of the wildflower patch. Not a single petal burned. I have never seen anything like it."

Charlotte sighed. All a part of God's greater plan.

Her and Nathan had been through so much in the past year. But without those crushing blows would they have found their way to be here? At this moment. Together.

What would have happened if she hadn't run away from Beck?

Charlotte would not have come to Hope Valley. She would not have become a member of this loving community. Charlotte would not have Allie… or Nathan. Of all the losses she had experienced in her life, the thought of losing them too was more than she could handle.

And where would they be if a year ago, Elizabeth would have chosen Nathan. It would be his wedding tomorrow the town was celebrating instead of Lucas'. Charlotte swallowed.

"Nathan…" Charlotte started but was interrupted by the opening of the infirmary door.

"Charlotte. Oh. Hello Nathan."

"Elizabeth." Nathan nodded from his spot in the chair, but did not stand to welcome her in.

"Charlotte. Can we talk?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes downcast, unable to quite look Charlotte in the eyes. "Alone?"

Nathan stared at Charlotte then. Without words letting her know that if she wanted him to stay, he would. But Charlotte shook her head. Even given her current state, she did not need him rescuing her from Elizabeth. So, Nathan stood and excused himself from the doctor's office. Leaving the two women alone.

"Charlotte. I need to apologize to you. I was wrong with everything I said yesterday. So incredibly wrong." Elizabeth said moving closer to Charlotte's bed.

Was Elizabeth crying?

"What I accused you of is unforgivable. I don't know what came over me to say those words."

Charlotte raised her eyebrow. Elizabeth honestly didn't know what came over her to say those things to Charlotte? She was being dense.

"You're right," Elizabeth said, picking up on the cue. "It was jealousy. I just don't know why I felt it. Maybe because even though I love Lucas. Nathan had always been such a loyal friend. He was there whenever I needed him, except when he wasn't anymore. After you came to town I floated into the background in his life. And I guess I wasn't ready to let that go yet."

"And are you now?" Charlotte questioned.

"What?"

"Are you ready to let him go now, Elizabeth? Because if you aren't, you have bigger issues than what Nathan and I may mean to each other. You are getting married tomorrow. To Lucas. Does he know you still feel this way about Nathan?"

"I don't know what I feel anymore."

"Elizabeth. Do you love Lucas?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him?"

"Yes."

"Then it really isn't all that complicated, is it?"

Elizabeth's eyes raised then to meet Charlotte's. An unsaid understanding passing between the two.

"It doesn't seem right to get married tomorrow. Not after everything you've been through." Elizabeth's eyes lowered to where Charlotte rested her hands over her empty womb. "Plus, the storm really did a number to my wedding décor." A small smile crossing her face, trying to lighten the mood.

"Elizabeth, if you are ready to marry someone and spend the rest of your life with them. Why wait? Because if anything, what happened to me yesterday, it should remind us how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. And as for your decorations. Does that really matter? Shouldn't a wedding really be about the love between two people who vow their lives to one another and not the flowers and decorations?"

Elizabeth just nodded, mulling over Charlotte's words as she headed to the exit.

"Thank you for this," Elizabeth said, looking back over her shoulder as she opened the door to the street. "You should know I never did write that letter to Mr. Landis."

A shocked expression crossed Charlotte's face. She still had her job?

"I look forward to continuing teaching with you Ms. Thompson when I return from my honeymoon in a few weeks." Elizabeth smiled and closed the door behind her.

Charlotte could stay in Hope Valley?

Please know I did not take the choice of Charlotte's miscarriage lightly; it was a decision I went back and forth on for a long time. I know many of us come to WCTH to escape, but I also think it is important to tell real human stories.

One of the reasons I wanted to write about this is to break the stigma. 1 in 4 women have experienced losing a baby and yet it is still such a "taboo" subject that is rarely discussed. But what kind of support system could we create if we just talked about the topic more instead of creating this stigma of "failure"?

My second reason may be a little selfish, but there is a scene I have envisioned between Charlotte and Allie (quickly coming up) that I think will be incredibly special…. So, hold tight.

Thank you all for supporting my vision. I know it had been a tough ride so far, but I am going to be throwing so much fluffy stuff your way soon…. Hold onto the reins this is going to be fun!