Chapter 52- New Chapters

Earlier that afternoon he had been unloading materials from the back of the supply wagon when the sound of thundering hooves drew his attention to the road that led into town. Even with the trees obscuring his view, he clearly could make out the Mountie's horse coming up the path. The tall, bay gelding was not only carrying the civilian-clothed Mountie, but also her.

They rode by at a fast pace, neither looking past the trail right in front of them. Her body was wrapped around the constable's. His arm caressing hers that was held at his waist. Her braided hair flapping behind in the wind as her cheek grazed into the Mountie's neck.

His vision flashed red. Every muscle in his body clenched.

How dare she? He always knew she was 'loose', but this. This was unacceptable actions for someone who was to be his wife.

Now back in his room above the saloon, he poured a glass of whiskey, finished it, and poured another before walking over to the window.

He pulled back the curtain and looked out over the town. Where were they? They had been gone for hours.

Just the two of them.

He gritted his teeth and peered into the dark amber liquid in front of him. He took a sip. Needing the warmth from the whiskey to seep into his bones. To numb his mind and emotions.

"Hello!" Rosemary's sing-song voice called out, as she waved vigorously.

Rosemary, Lee, Fred, Bill, Maise, Allie, and the Canfield's stood on the steps of the Coulter's office. Welcoming the wagon and riders entering town.

"Fred!" The children in the back of the buckboard clamored to the edge to see their friend.

The Brookfield clan quickly dismounted and began hugging their Hope Valley friends, while Rosemary introduced Maise and the Canfield family to their visitors.

"Where is Nathan and Charlotte?" Eleanor questioned, taking a step back out of Rosemary's hug.

"I'm not quite sure…" Rosemary stated, looking around them.

"There they are!" Fred answered, pointing towards the couple riding towards them.

Before Nathan had completely pulled Newton to a stop, Charlotte was swinging her leg over the horse's back and landing gracefully in front of the group that was gathered.

"I'm so sorry that we are late. The afternoon just got away from us and we lost track of time," Charlotte rattled as she came over to stand by Rosemary.

"Did it now?" Rosemary raised her eyebrows and glanced from Charlotte to Nathan, who had by now also dismounted Newton.

"It was my fault, Rosemary," Nathan spoke up. "It's been a busy few weeks and I wanted to take a ride with Charlotte up the mountain."

"And was it a good ride?" Rosemary asked, her eye's returning to Charlotte, trailing down the other woman's arm to see that her left ring finger was still bare.

Charlotte and Nathan looked at each other, bashful grins coming to their faces.

"It was good," Charlotte confirmed, heat rising to her cheeks.

"Well, you are not late. We weren't going to start the ceremony for about another hour. Give everyone from Brookfield a little time to settle in at their accommodations." Rosemary stated. "Are you still okay with the girls staying at your house?"

"Of course!" Charlotte answered. "Some of the others in town donated extra pillows and blankets so it will be like we are camping in my living room. How does that sound, ladies?"

"Yeah!" Sophia, Mary Louise, and Allie all cheered.

"Good," Charlotte smiled, "Since we have time, why don't we take your things to the row houses and get cleaned up before the ceremony while Nathan, Gabe, and Chuck untack the horses?"

"Sounds perfect," Nathan leaned forward and tucked a strand of hair behind Charlotte's ear, placing a tender kiss on her cheek where the curl had been resting.

They were back. Finally.

But who were all these new people in town?

All these children?

He watched as the group separated. The mayor, the preacher, the women, and all those children walked towards the row houses out of town. The judge walked towards his office. The Mountie and the two new riders led the horses across the street.

Wait!

He leaned closer to the glass of the window. Trying to get a better look at one of the two new riders.

It couldn't be.

The Mountie leaned over and shook the one rider's hand, laughing and joking as they walked towards the livery. He saw them clearly now and there was no mistaking who the Mountie's friend was.

Louis James

The man he had hired to head up security on the railroad starting later this fall.

He had been set up! The Mountie knew who he was. Knew where he lived and had sent in one of his buddies as a spy.

Well jokes on them. He sneered to himself, pouring another glass of whiskey. They don't know I'm here.

He just needed to stay out of sight until the Mountie's friend left town so he would not be spotted. This new discovery did change his timeline though. He would need to implement his plan sooner rather than later. Before Louis James was scheduled to be back in Potter's Creek. He couldn't take the risk of James showing up early and alerting the Mountie to something being off.

Nathan had helped Gabe and Chuck unhitch the team and get the horses settled into the livery. The men then returned to the Grant house to freshen up and change before going to meet the rest of the group at Bill's office for the adoption ceremony.

As soon as Nathan walked through the door, Allie reached over and grabbed his hand and pulled him further into the crowded room. Nathan instinctively searched for Charlotte. The rest of the world faded from view the moment his eyes landed on her. Charlotte wore the same cream-colored lace blouse and deep burgundy skirt she had worn for the night of the town Christmas dance. Her chocolate waves pinned into an elegant up-do that accentuated the simple pearl drop earrings she wore.

Charlotte smiled across the room as Allie and Nathan came near. The air was physically knocked from Nathan's lungs at the sight of her.

"Judge Avery. Mr. Canfield. We can begin now," Allie declared. "Everyone's here."

Allie directed Nathan into place. Putting him right in between herself and Charlotte.

Charlotte touched Nathan's arm and turned him slightly towards her. Reaching forward she adjusted his shirt collar that had bunched under his suit jacket.

"You look exquisite," Nathan whispered into Charlotte's ear.

"Thank you," Charlotte purred, running her hand from Nathan's collar to rest on his chest. "You're not looking too bad yourself, Mr. Grant,"

Nathan reached up and removed Charlotte's hand from his buttons, dipping his head he brought his lips to her knuckles and gave them a gentle kiss before weaving their fingers together and turning back towards the room.

"Dear family and friends," Joseph began. "We are assembled here today to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter. Gathered here are people who share a common bond of love for a very special boy. Before Judge Avery takes over for his part of the adoption ceremony, Lee, Rosemary, and Fred want to take a moment to recognize that God is also here. Blessing this occasion and all the people gathered today."

Joseph then directed his attention to the Coulter family. "Lee. Rosemary. As this child is placed into your care, it is done with the confidence that God will give you his grace to sustain and inspire you. Trusting that you will provide a home for Fred in which he will grow in love, health, and peace."

Nathan squeezed his girls' hands. Allie on his left side. Charlotte on his right. Being here took him back to memories of Allie's own adoption ceremony two years ago. While it was one of the happiest days of his life, officially becoming Allie's dad, it had also come with awkwardness and pain. Allie had brought him and Elizabeth together that day. Hoping it would show Elizabeth the beautiful, blended family they could become together.

Allie was what connected him to Elizabeth that day. She stood between them, holding their hands. Playing matchmaker. Allie thought, and Nathan had too at that point, that Elizabeth would be their missing piece. Their happy ever after.

But she wasn't. Elizabeth was the author of her own story, just like Nathan had to be the author of his.

Elizabeth had been a chapter in Nathan's life. Not his beginning. Not his ending. A chapter.

Now Charlotte. Nathan wished with all his heart he could write their stories together. Interweaving their lives as effortlessly as their fingers were entwined right now. Prelude to epilogue, and every sentence in between. Because looking back Nathan knew from the moment they met, on the stagecoach platform, that Charlotte was it for him. There were no reservations or second thoughts. Nathan had seen her, road dusted and heart weary, and knew. Knew deep down into his bones, that his soul had known her soul lifetimes ago.

Nathan believed wholeheartedly that meeting Charlotte had been fate. Over time they had become best friends by choice. But falling in love, that was one thing Nathan believed neither of them had any control over.

"Are you ready?" Charlotte asked softly, pulling Nathan's thoughts back to present.

"Lee. Rosemary." Joseph's deep voice filled the office. "Have you chosen godparents for your child?"

"We have." The Coulter's said with conviction.

"Please come forward." Joseph directed as Nathan and Charlotte stepped behind Fred, reaching forward with their free hands. Placing them upon Fred's shoulders in reassurance.

"Nathan and Charlotte," Joseph continued. "With the help of God, will you aid and assist Lee and Rosemary in raising their son?"

"We will." Nathan and Charlotte answered in unison.

"Will you be upstanding examples for Little Fred?"

"We will."

"Will you walk with him through the way of Christ?"

"We will."

"And will you care for him and help him find his place in life"

"We will."

Following the adoption ceremony there was a large reception at the café in honor of Fred and his family. Many in the community stopped by to tell the Coulter's congratulations, officially welcome Fred to Hope Valley, and thank Lillian and Grace for taking such excellent care of the boy for so many years.

Nathan and Charlotte, after helping Jesse and Clara clean up the café following the party, were now walking back to the row houses, which were busting at the seams with the increase of visitors.

Since Elizabeth was out of town, the women of Brookfield had descended upon her empty house for their stay. Eleanor taking Little Jack's room, while Lillian and Grace shared the master. Tess said she would be more than comfortable to sleep on the couch as she had spent numerous nights on the hard ground in her life and was used to 'roughing' it.

Christian and Vincent were bunked in with Fred at the Coulter's. While Sophia, Mary Louise, and Allie were going to be camping out in Charlotte's living room.

With Allie vacated to Charlotte's house, Chuck was able to use her bedroom and Gabe was given Nathan's.

"Are you sure you don't want to sleep in my bed tonight?" Charlotte asked Nathan on their walk home. As soon as the words tumbled from her mouth, she caught their double meaning and instantly turned bright red.

"I mean… I… I was just thinking that you're so tall it would be better for you to sleep in a real bed," Charlotte stumbled through her explanation. "I could always sleep on the couch or floor with the girls in my living room."

Nathan's throat had gone dry with Charlotte's original offer of sleeping in her bed that it took him a moment to compose his thoughts. "That's very generous sweetheart, but I'll be alright. It's only for a few nights and I'm trying to be a good host. If it gets too uncomfortable, I can always sleep on the cot in the jail."

"But that's so far away…"

"What? Would you miss me?" Nathan joked, pulling Charlotte in closer as they shuffled down the path.

"Yes. I think I would," heat again rose to Charlotte's cheeks. "I've grown quite fond of you being right next to me. I mean... our houses being right next to each other."

Nathan was taking a little extra joy in Charlotte's stumblings tonight. Usually, it was him that said all the 'wrong' things when he was nervous.

"I've grown quite fond of my neighbor, too," he confirmed.

"Don't you think that Fred's ceremony tonight was beautiful? I loved how Joseph said it was a celebration of a new chapter." Charlotte's eyes twinkled like the stars above them. "Was that what it felt like when you officially adopted Allie?"

"Yes and no." Nathan paused to think about his answer. "Adopting Allie is the single best thing that I've ever done in my life. Officially becoming her dad. Officially knowing she will always be my daughter... my little girl… it felt like my heart may burst. Whether Allie felt any different afterwards, I'm not sure."

Nathan's jaw set. "And then there was the thing with Elizabeth."

Nathan felt Charlotte's hand tense in his and saw the color drain from her face. She didn't push him further, but Nathan felt the need to expand. To clear the air.

"When Elizabeth began courting Lucas, Allie was hurt. So much so, she had originally left Elizabeth off the guest list to her adoption ceremony. I had approached her, and we discussed that it wasn't very nice to invite everyone, but Mrs. Thornton. Allie was trying to protect me and while I appreciated her concern, I pointed out that Elizabeth was happy with Lucas and that was all we could want for the people we cared about."

'But she should care about you. And me.'

'She does care about us.'

Just not in that way. Nathan thought to himself, reliving those moments with Allie at the jail.

"Allie was so young when Colleen passed, and Dylan left. She never really knew what it was like to have a dad and a mom. So, when Allie envisioned her adoption ceremony, she thought it would be the perfect time to bring Elizabeth and I together. To show Elizabeth the family we could create. So instead of leaving her off the guest list, Elizabeth became the only invitee. Imagine my surprise when it was almost time to start the ceremony, and no one was there. Then Elizabeth shows up, Allie takes her hand and declares to Bill that he can begin as everyone she had invited was now present."

Nathan felt Charlotte bristle at the picture. He hated telling her about this. Giving her this visual of him, Elizabeth, and Allie together, but he knew he needed to continue. There could be no secrets between them, especially when it came to Elizabeth.

"I think the worst part came a few days later when Elizabeth felt the need to confront me about it in the middle of the street outside the jail, stating she was 'concerned about Allie'."

"Oh please!" Charlotte scoffed at the idea and rolled her eyes. Her reaction caused Nathan to smirk.

"I then explained that I hadn't known Elizabeth would be the only person Allie invited and that I was probably just as uncomfortable with the whole thing as she was."

"What did Elizabeth say to that?"

"She accused me of not discussing the guest list with Allie, prior to the ceremony."

"Which of course you had," Charlotte frowned.

Nathan nodded his head. "I told Elizabeth that matter of fact, Allie and I had discussed it, and of all the names I saw on the list, hers had not been one of them."

"I'm sure that went over well."

"Well, now you're just being hurtful, I believe were the actual words that were chosen."

"Seriously?" Charlotte again rolled her eyes.

"Yep," Nathan confirmed. "I told Elizabeth, if that's what she thought of me, she didn't even know me."

Charlotte stared at the road in front of them. The pair had just turned off the main road that led into town to walk down the path in front of the row houses.

"Did Elizabeth realize her mistake then?" Charlotte asked, her voice low.

"Does Elizabeth ever realize her mistakes? No, she again circled back to claiming that we were 'talking about Allie'."

"What did you do?"

"Rode off actually. There had been an escape at Granville Penitentiary and a prisoner had been spotted in the area. I told Elizabeth that our discussion 'about Allie' would just have to wait."

"Good for you!" Charlotte said with a hint of pride in her voice.

Nathan and Charlotte had made it to the front steps of her row house.

"Nathan," Charlotte turned slowly towards him, the glow from an oil lamp inside cast soft shadows across her face. "Sometimes I look at you and I can't understand how someone before me didn't see what I see. How someone before me didn't notice a whole beautiful universe hidden within you. How someone before me looked at you and didn't find every single thing they'd been searching for in a man. But every time I look at you, I feel glad that they didn't. Because if Elizabeth had taken the time to look deep enough and see all those things within you, then I would have never been able to."

"Charlotte…"

"No, please let me finish. Our day today. It's been magical. Those things you said to me when I was on the swing. I feel the same way. I've come to realize that I think I've always wanted you. Even when I didn't know what I wanted. Even before I knew you. It was you."

Recognition of what she was confessing seemed to dawn across Nathan's face in front of her.

"You were the chapter of my life I didn't know the words to, but I always knew it existed. And when I finally found it. Found you and Allie and began to read the story. Our story. It was then I realized I was home. You two will forever be my home and I hope you know how much you mean to me. I don't need the big house or the beautiful property. I just need you."

Heat from Nathan's gaze seemed to warm Charlotte's entire body. His eyes so blue, Charlotte swore she would be able to swim in them.

Suddenly the sound of a snapping twig and the rustling of leaves startled Charlotte and her eyes darted towards the woods further down the road.

"What was that?" Charlotte's heart raced.

"I'm not quite sure," Nathan also stared off into the distance. A sense of unease rushing over them. "I'll go look."

Nathan took a couple steps away, before Charlotte reached forward and grabbed his arm.

"Wait," Charlotte pulled him to a stop. "It's just a doe."

Sure enough, a deer had jumped out of the thicket and stood staring about a hundred feet away. The deer sniffed the air and then darted into the woods on the other side of the path.

Nathan and Charlotte both let out a breath they hadn't realized they had been holding. Soon laughter and chatter from inside Charlotte's living room pulled their attention.

"I better get inside and make sure the girls get settled down for the night," Charlotte said, pointing over her shoulder at the house.

"Good luck with that. I think I saw mom feeding them all a large piece of apple pie with homemade ice cream earlier. They are probably on a sugar high."

Charlotte chuckled. "Wouldn't be the first time we've handled that."

"Nor the last, I suppose."

"Nor the last," Charlotte confirmed. "I enjoy having a house full of laughter. It's so different from when I first arrived over a year ago and that's all because of you Nathan. You've brought that light back into my life when I didn't think it would ever be possible again. Thank you."

Nathan pulled Charlotte into a hug and kissed her forehead before taking a few steps backwards towards his own front door.

"Goodnight, my deer," Nathan winked.

Charlotte laughed and shook her head at Nathan's pun. "Goodnight, Nathan, see you in the morning."