Chapter 83- Take A Ride With Me
*We are kicking off the Christmas special for my version of WCTH! Since this chapter was getting a bit long, I'm breaking it apart into two postings. Hopefully I'll have the next one ready for tomorrow. This chapter we get a little fill in on what has been happening in Hope Valley over the past few weeks and setting up for not only the rest of this Christmas movie, but also into my next "season".
Christmastime had arrived in Hope Valley. Garland, ribbons, and bows seemed to hang from every available banister and doorway possible, filling the town with yuletide cheer.
It had been almost two months since Nathan was released from the hospital. Carson and Faith were pleased with the tremendous amount of progress he had made in his recovery. Charlotte was strict with his physical therapy sessions, not that Nathan complained. "Nurse" Thompson always seemed to find ways to temper any discomfort he felt during the exercises. Sometimes with a gentle touch, other times with a funny joke, and sometimes with playful, sweet kisses; his personal favorite.
While Nathan found he missed his daily rounds and other Mountie tasks, taking this extended leave from work to recover, it had also seemed to be a blessing. He was able to spend more time not only with Charlotte and Allie, but also his parents.
With Archie staying in town, at least into the new year, Charlotte and Nathan had discussed not wanting him to stay at the saloon for that amount of time. Instead, a few adjustments had been made between the Grant-Thomspon row houses. Allie moved into Charlotte's room with the help of an unused cot from the old infirmary. The space was tight, but Nathan knew neither of his girls minded the new arrangement. Many nights he could hear them giggling together through the paper-thin walls of the row houses. A sound that always led him into blissful dreams of their future together.
Archie, now staying with Nathan, had become such an unforeseen blessing of the accident. Archie was always there to help Nathan when he needed something during the recovery. Making up for all the years he had been less of a father to his son. They too, had filled many late nights with important discussions. About the past, the present, and the future. On weekdays, while Charlotte was busy with her students, Archie and Nathan would take a wagon with supplies out to the special project and work most of the morning with Joseph and other various townspeople who were lending their help to the Grants.
Before noon, Archie would return Nathan to town in time for lunch with Charlotte, Allie, and the children at the school. Then after a short nap back at his row house, Nathan spent many afternoons with Maise. Talking about the wedding, the project, Christmas, or sometimes nothing in particular. Both, just happy to have this time together and memories to share.
While Rosemary, in usual Rosemary Coulter fashion, was spearheading the wedding planning, she also had made sure to include both Charlotte and Nathan in the decision-making process. It would be a simple affair, their wedding, but a special one. Not a show of big extravagance. For Nathan and Charlotte, it would never be about the glitz and glamor of an opulent wedding. What they cared about was that they would be surrounded by family and friends and at the end of the day, they would finally be husband and wife. They both believed the most important part of the wedding ceremony was promising your life to one another and not how big of a spectacle could be made.
The only part of the planning Rosemary had pressured Charlotte to reconsider was her gown. Charlotte had mentioned in passing that her intention was to marry in her best dress fitting of a Christmas wedding; in her mind the cream-colored lace blouse and burgundy skirt she had worn to the Christmas dance in town and to Fred's adoption ceremony. While Charlotte had been earning double the income this school year with Elizabeth away on her book tour, she wanted to be practical with the extra money coming in. Her childhood on the ranch and her past with Beck had taught Charlotte to save for the unexpected. There certainly had been plenty of unexpected events in her life over the last couple of years, and Charlotte wasn't naïve enough to believe that there wouldn't be times in the future that would cause her and Nathan to be thankful for the extra funds they saved now.
Especially when Charlotte started thinking about their future together after the wedding. Nathan's row house was close to both the school, Mountie office, and mercantile for their jobs. It would fit the newlyweds and Allie comfortably, but it could be a tight squeeze if one day they would be blessed with more children. Charlotte wanted to make sure, if the opportunity ever presented itself and Bill was willing to sell his piece of land to them, Nathan and Charlotte would be able to afford it and then also have enough money left over to start building a house on the property. Maybe not one as beautiful as she had dreamed up in her mind that afternoon with Nathan, but a house that would still be a home for them into the future.
This Saturday morning, the town was bustling with activity. Charlotte, Allie, and Maise were finishing shopping for ingredients at the mercantile to begin their Christmas cookie baking. Everyone who came through the front door of the store wanted to ask Charlotte about the wedding plans and how they were coming along. The clothing, the food, the flowers, the music. It appeared to Charlotte that no detail was too small for the residents of Hope Valley to want to know more about.
Finally, with some tactical assistance from Maise and Allie, Charlotte was gracefully pulled from her various investigators and onto the front porch of the mercantile.
"Thank you both for that," Charlotte let out a breath. "I wasn't sure if Florence was ever going to stop talking about food. And it wasn't just questions about what we were serving at the wedding. Why in the world did she want to know what I usually make for Christmas dinner? And breakfast?"
Allie and Maise tried to disguise their sideways glances to one another, before Maise spoke up and looped her arm through Charlotte's.
"You know Mrs. Yost," Maise began. "She's always wanting to know more about people. I hope you realize though your secret recipe for buttermilk pancakes is now going to be the talk of the town with anyone she connects on the switchboard today."
Charlotte chuckled. "I imagine you are probably right. Although I'm not sure how interesting that will be to most people."
"You'd be shocked to know some of the conversations this town finds interesting on the phone," Allie rolled her eyes.
"Allie, I don't believe you are supposed to be eavesdropping on others' conversations when you are working the switchboard," Charlotte turned towards the girl, but as soon as she did, she noticed Allie's eyes grow big as something caught her attention down the street.
"Look!" Allie pointed over Charlotte's shoulder. "It's Dad on Newton."
"Allie," Charlotte's voice was firm. "Don't think you can get out of talking about this by distracting me with your dad on a horse."
"No, Mom," Allie took hold of Charlotte's arms and turned her to face the direction she had been looking. "Dad is riding Newton!"
Charlotte's searching gaze found the pair coming towards them from the livery. Her emotions shifted quickly between disbelief, to exhilaration, to feeling the need to scold Nathan for riding so soon after his injury, to ultimately the now familiar sense of fervor that washed over Charlotte whenever Nathan approached.
Along with the cowboy hat she had given him before their trip to Brookfield, Nathan was wearing his deep burgundy shirt, a cream Henley clearly visible under the unbuttoned collar. His brown jacket did little to hide the muscles he had begun to hewn again over the last few weeks of his recovery. The sight of him astride Newton, quickened Charlotte's heart rate in a way she already knew she would never be able to steady. It was an out of control feeling like rolling down a hill, the objects and world around her stationary, but spinning all the same.
Charlotte felt the magnetic pull to him and found herself floating down the steps to stand in front of the mercantile as Nathan halted Newton beside her.
"Ms. Thompson," Nathan tipped his hat in her direction. A lopsided smile draped across his face. "Lovely day, isn't it?"
Charlotte couldn't help but grin at Nathan's obvious happiness from being back in the saddle, even though she had to shake her head slightly. "Mr. Grant, who in the world cleared you to start riding again."
"My doctors. I had an appointment yesterday afternoon and they said I could start saddling Newt here," Nathan leaned forward in his seat to run his hand over his gelding's muscular neck.
"I said you could ride, but you had to take it easy, Nathan," Carson added, coming to stand beside Charlotte after seeing the scene unfolding from across the street. "You both know how many muscles are used on the back of a horse. I thought it would be a good next step in your therapy. Just promise me you will be careful."
"I promise," Nathan answered, lifting his hand as if he were taking an oath.
Carson, seemingly satisfied, turned, and started walking back towards the hospital.
"Are you sure this is the best idea?" Charlotte questioned, placing a hand on Nathan's leg, she leaned slightly into Newton's side.
"Charlotte," Nathan's voice was husky as his sapphire blue eyes looked down at her with intensity. "Take a ride with me?"
Heat crept up Charlotte's neck, and her skin tingled all over as Nathan caressed her with his smoldering gaze. She remembered the first time he had asked her the same question, the day of Fred's adoption ceremony when they rode out to Bill's property and dreamed of their future together.
"Is there a reason for this ride?" Charlotte noticed the flutter in her voice from the unsteadiness she felt when Nathan looked at her in this way.
Nathan seemed to notice the effect he was having, and he smiled at her reaction.
"There is," he simply nodded before removing his foot from the stirrup and extending his arm towards her. "Now come on Charlie, you're burning daylight. Swing on and let's go for a ride."
Before she could second guess their actions, Charlotte interwove her forearm with Nathan's as she placed a boot into the now empty stirrup. After a few small hops to gain momentum, Charlotte swished her leg and skirt over Newton's back, settling into the space behind the cantle of the saddle.
"Are you okay?" Charlotte leaned forward into Nathan as she ran her hand along his sides. "I didn't hurt you when I got on, did I? Are you in any pain?"
"No pain," Nathan glanced back over his shoulder at Charlotte. "Actually, this feels pretty good."
Charlotte tried to control her breathing as Nathan grazed his hand over the top of hers.
"Hang on, darling," Nathan said a moment before he dug his heels into Newton's side. Urging the horse forward at a pace Charlotte was certain wouldn't be approved by his doctors. But instead of scolding Nathan to slow it down and take it easy, Charlotte did as Nathan directed. Wrapping her arms about his waist; holding on for dear life as they took to the path leading into the mountains.
"Well, this is a surprise," Charlotte stated as Nathan slowed Newton at the entrance to the meadow. "The last time you asked me to take a ride with you, we went to Bill's property, and you showed me the swing you made. That's where I thought we would be going today."
Nathan was thankful in that moment Charlotte couldn't see the expression that crossed his face at her mentioning Bill's property and the swing. With the way small towns were and Rosemary Coulter helping with not only the wedding plans, but also… the wedding plans, he was somewhat shocked that the surprise for Charlotte remained unknown.
Not that they hadn't had several close calls over the past couple months. The closest came just a few weeks ago when Lee had been helping Jesse on the project. Nathan didn't see what happened, but Lee and Jesse, both found themselves in a clinic room of the hospital. Jesse for a small puncture wound to his hand, Lee a badly swollen and bruised foot.
His girls had been walking home when the men were coming out of the hospital and Charlotte questioned what had happened. Both men had not crafted a believable story yet and were fumbling, making Charlotte ascertain that they were hiding something. Thankfully Allie had been there and was quick thinking.
"Mom, Mr. Coulter told me before school, Mr. Flynn was going to help him install a part on his car today. They may have had a small accident while fixing it. Wasn't that right, gentleman?" Allie quickly created.
"That's right!" Lee nodded in agreement. "It was the radiator."
Unfortunately, at the same time Lee said, "It was the radiator", Jesse said "It was the tire."
Which caused each man to switch their answer to what the other had said, resulting in bigger problems.
Concern glazed over each man's face as they turned towards one another, trying to figure out what to say as Charlotte looked on with her teacher-expression that secretly said, 'One of you better start telling me what really happened'.
"It was the radiator and the tire," Allie interjected, trying to stop the men from digging a deeper hole for themselves. "That's why Mr. Coulter and Mr. Flynn are both here. Two jobs. Two separate injuries."
Charlotte softened the furrow in her brow. Seemingly satisfied with Allie's answer, she turned to address the men. "Maybe you both should STEER clear of mechanic work on cars from now on."
Allie rolled her eyes and tried to hold back a small smile that threatened to show at Charlotte's punny jokes she had started picking up on from Nathan. Allie shook her head and continued down the street in the direction they had been walking before coming across Lee and Jesse at the hospital.
"Come on… That was pretty funny," Charlotte called out after Allie.
"We gotta work on your jokes," Allie flatly stated. "They are starting to be as bad as Dad's."
"That was funny!" Charlotte tried to plead her case as she quickened her stride to catch up to Allie. "My jokes are so much better than your dad's!"
"We still gotta work on them," Allie answered. "Just because they are better, doesn't mean they are good."
"We'll go there the next time I take you for a ride. I promise," Nathan finally answered Charlotte's question about choosing the meadow for their date today. "I've never been up here this time of year and was curious how it looked with the change in seasons."
The snow in the peaks hadn't reached this far down the mountain yet, but it seemed to be getting closer by the day. The usually verdant green grass of the meadow was now the same shade as a wheat field before harvest. The dry stems still ruffled in the gentle breeze of the day, but it didn't have the same flow and luster as it did in the spring and summer when the grass was tall and lush.
Nathan pulled to a stop as he deftly swung his right leg over Newt's neck and slid down the horse's side, his boots landing softly, stirring up a cloud of dust. Before he had time to turn back to help Charlotte, she had already done the same move and joined him on the ground.
"Sorry, constable," she stated after seeing the look of disappointment from Nathan. "I don't think lifting a lady down from the back of a horse is what Carson had in mind when he cleared you for riding."
"Oh, come on. You're not that heavy," Nathan joked.
"That heavy?" Charlotte's eyes squinted for a moment before she playfully poked Nathan's side in the spot where he was most ticklish. The action caused Nathan to squirm for a moment before she stopped her onslaught.
"Ms. Thompson, I would suggest not starting a fight you cannot win," Nathan challenged. Taking a step closer to Charlotte.
Charlotte also advanced, shifting towards Nathan, erasing any open space that was between them. She couldn't help hiding the grin on her face as she looked up into his twinkling blue eyes. "And if I did start a fight… Would you have to arrest me, constable?"
"No," Nathan moved his hands to frame Charlotte's face. "But I would have to do this."
Nathan tilted his head slightly so the brim of his cowboy hat didn't cause an obstruction as he skillfully leaned forward and captured Charlotte's lips in a kiss. Her hands snaked inside his open jacket, skimming along Nathan's abs until she found her target. Tightening her grip around his suspenders, Charlotte used them to her advantage, pulling Nathan closer into her body. Deepening the kiss between them.
After a long moment, they took a step out of each other's embrace, both a little unsteady. Nathan grinned and let out a deep breath. Removing his hat to run a shaky hand through his hair, raking the unruly locks through his fingers as he glanced down at the ground in what appeared to be disbelief.
Charlotte giggled at his reaction, "And you were worried I was the one who wouldn't win."
"If that's the result of our fights," Nathan's blue eyes deepened. "I think we are both winners, Charlotte."
"I think you are right," Charlotte reached up to run a hand through Nathan's hair, helping to put back in place what he had earlier disheveled, before taking the hat from his grip and setting it back in its rightful place.
"There," she stated, shifting the brim slightly. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"No agenda," Nathan reached over and untied the bag and blanket he had attached to his saddle. "Just thought that with us being busy with work, family, therapy, and wedding planning, we could both use a few hours to ourselves, so I packed us some sandwiches for lunch."
Holding the supplies in one hand, Nathan reached for Charlotte with his other. Pulling them towards the flat boulder at the edge of the lake. "With our wedding only a couple weeks away, I wanted to bring you up here and recreate…"
"Our first date," Charlotte finished his sentence. She squeezed his hand, her non-verbal way of showing him just how happy she was that he did this for them.
Nathan leaned into her side as they walked, tilting his head close to hers, he whispered. "I knew. Even then. That I wanted to be your husband."
Charlotte slowed them to a stop and turned to face Nathan. "I knew. Even then. That I wanted to be your wife."
"You did?" Nathan couldn't hide the surprise in his voice.
"I did," she nodded in confirmation. "Even when you asked me the first time to marry you and I turned you down. I knew then that I wanted to be your wife. I just couldn't… not with how I was. It wouldn't have been fair of me."
"I would have loved us through it. If you would have let me."
"I know that… now. It just wasn't as easy to see it then. I thought letting you into my mess of a life would only bring you and Allie hurt as well. I couldn't let that happen and that's why I had to say no. Not that I wanted to, but because I needed to. For your sake."
Nathan knew the expression that he gave Charlotte was slightly distant. He would be lying if he said the thought hadn't crossed his mind over the past year of where their lives together would be if Charlotte had only said yes to him all those months ago. He had prayed about it multiple times and each time he would be reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
That verse had given him guidance and understanding of the life he and Charlotte had experienced and shared since they met. It also reminded him of a verse in Proverbs, where it was written that no amount of human planning can deter from God's directed steps in one's life.
"That day we rode up here and had our first date was actually the second time I had wanted to propose."
"Really?" Now it was Charlotte's turn to sound shocked.
"Really," Nathan confirmed. "When I woke up from the thunderstorm that morning was when I dug your ring out of my bedside table."
"Is that what you wanted to grab from your room before we went riding? I did think it was strange that you wanted to change your shirt for no apparent reason."
Nathan chuckled. "Yeah. I faltered. That was the only excuse I could come up with at that moment. With Elizabeth coming down the road and you riding off, I just figured it would have to wait for another time. But we were always being interrupted or something else would come up. I think I lost count of how many times I almost dropped to my knee to propose to you before it actually happened."
"You're kidding me! I never realized."
"Yep. The day of our first date up here. Then when I built that swing for you, but we had to race back to town for Fred's adoption ceremony. After you had written that letter saying you were staying in Hope Valley and I found you in our backyard chopping wood, but Allie and Mom interrupted us before I could ask. And then there was that moment in the jail before you found out about Beck's investigation, where you were so confident and sure of yourself. When you had reached through the bars of the cell, grabbed my suspenders, and pulled me closer to you. All I could think about at that moment was seeing how far Joseph had made it down the boardwalk. I wanted him to pop back into my office with his prayer book in hand and marry us right then and there."
Charlotte tilted her head back and laughed, before again reaching forward, taking hold of Nathan's suspenders under his jacket.
"Who knew these things were so multi-purpose and useful?" Charlotte joked as she pulled him closer and placed a quick peck on his lips.
Nathan chuckled "Maybe it should be a new marketing strategy for suspender makers."
"Their sales would shoot through the roof if they had a certain Mountie as their campaign model." Charlotte wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Don't give me any ideas," Nathan winked before turning them back to the boulder to enjoy their afternoon together recreating the first date of Charlie and Nate.