Chapter 105- The Mountie Life

"Forgive me." The tall Mountie removed his campaign hat and ran a hand through his jet-black hair. "Where in the world are my manners? I should know better than to call out to a woman, I've never met before, in a very public place. My mother would die of shame if she ever found out I just did that."

Suddenly the man in front of Charlotte seemed self-conscious. Gone was the confidence he exuded only moments earlier and she softened as he continued rattling on.

"In my defense, I already feel like we've met before. With everything that Grant told me about his beautiful, kind, smart, and did I mention beautiful, fiancé."

"You know Nathan?"

"I really am fumbling this first meeting, aren't I?" The Mountie twirled his hat in his large hands, the same way Nathan did when he was nervous. "I should have started with an introduction and my name. Like any other gentleman would."

Charlotte raised her eyebrow, urging the Mountie to continue, but before he could, Nathan's exuberant voice boomed from beside her.

"Tremblay!" Nathan seized the man's hand and shook it vigorously as his left hand came to clasp the other Mountie's upper arm. "I had no idea you'd be here!"

"Neither did I, sir. I just received my orders for my next permanent posting and since I had to travel through Calgary, I somehow earned an invite to this year's Mountie Ball. Didn't think I'd ever be important enough to come to one of these events, so I jumped at the offer. Then when I heard that you and Kinslow were being honored, I was hoping I'd be lucky enough to finally meet your Charlotte."

"Charlotte, let me introduce you to Constable Warren Tremblay," Nathan directed. "He was a part of a training group I led at Fort Clay and then he was one of the Mounties posted at Potter's Creek when we were there right before Christmas."

"Yes, of course!" Charlotte reached out a hand in greeting to which Tremblay took eagerly. He was ever so slightly taller than Nathan. With broad shoulders, a strong, though not stubborn, jaw, and a tanned complexion. He had a clear, clean-cut look, though one would certainly never consider him a "parlor-gentleman". Tremblay had a certain masculine ruggedness about him that suggested confidence and capability, but not conceit. His smile was good-natured, and Charlotte could see he had an easy friendliness and an appreciation for a good joke. His eyes sparkled with humor and light, even though they were the darkest shade she had ever seen.

So much of Constable Tremblay reminded her of Nathan. It was easy to see why they seemed to be friends as well as comrades. The biggest difference she noted between their initial features was the look of innocence on Tremblay's face. He hadn't been bruised and beaten by the word in the same way Nathan had when they first met. The mauve shadows under Nathan's eyes that dueled with the sapphire shade of his pupils had told her of the nights and nights of lost sleep and worry he had felt. The prematurely deep lines around the corners of his mouth and eyes, as well as the furrow between his brows, had spoken of the silent pain Nathan had experienced over his lifetime.

Tremblay had none of those worries carved into his features. While Charlotte knew, he most likely had served with the Mounties for a few years by now, he had not seen the ways of the world in the same way that Nathan had. At least not yet, and that realization hit her square in the chest. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Constable Tremblay."

"Please, call me Warren, ma'am."

"Well then, Warren, you should go back to calling me Charlotte and not ma'am." She gently smiled. "Nathan was happy to find out it was you and Landry who had been assigned to Potter's Creek."

"Speaking of Landry," Nathan interrupted. "Where is he?"

"Mounties officially commandeered the old sheriff's office in Potter's Creek and put him there in a permanent capacity."

"That will be a good place for Caleb. He'll do well there."

"I think so too. He was excited to get his own posting and it seems since you all were there, that town is starting to turn things around. Did you know that someone fixed up that old church's plaque and renamed it The Lyndy and Mary Bartlett Memorial Church? Seems old man Bartlett was so touched by the gesture; he's spearheading the clean-up of that town. He found a new pastor and has all these other ideas for improvements."

"You don't say?" Nathan could feel Charlotte's intense gaze upon him. He had never told her about his gift to John Bartlett. It now seemed as though his wife had pieced together the evidence. "So where is your next posting, Warren? Is it too much to hope for maybe Benson Hills or Buxton? I could use a few more well-trained Mounties in the area."

"You're the one responsible for most of my training, sir," Tremblay laughed. "Seems the higher ups have found out I learned from the best tracker in the territory and want to send me up North to a place called Cadotte Lake. It's just northeast of Peace River. About halfway between Fort Edmonton and Fort Vermilion."

"A solo posting?"

Charlotte caught the furrow in Nathan's brow when he asked the question to Tremblay. A fleeting look of concern that went unrecognized by Warren, did not slip past her.

"Yes. My first one up North. A Constable Withers is in Red Earth Creek and there are, I believe, three Mounties posted in the Peace River area, if I need back up."

"Do you know who is in Peace River?"

"Not off the top of my head, but I think one is McKenzie?"

"If it's Travis McKenzie, he's been up in the North for a few years. He'll be a good contact for you. I know he served in Grouard, on Lesser Slave Lake for a while."

"That sounds correct."

"Are there many families in Cadotte Lake?" Charlotte asked. The "North", as the Mounties referred to it, fascinated her. Hope Valley was the farthest north she had ever lived or traveled. Nathan had told her about one of his short-term postings he had up around High Prairie early in his career, but even then, the Mounties knew his skills were best utilized elsewhere and sent him to places like Fort Clay to help train new recruits.

"I'm afraid not," Warren answered. "A few maybe, but it's mostly trappers and indigenous. There is a Cree reserve nearby. Mounties are far more than just law enforcement to the people of the North. We are the only dentists, doctors, coroners, arbitrators, advisors- and clergymen that many people have. They depend on us, not just to bring justice, but to bring hope and help."

"That's quite a noble sentiment, Warren. 'They depend on us, not just to bring justice, but to bring hope and help'. I didn't realize you were so philosophical and poetic."

The corner of Warren's eyes crinkled in a smile as he glanced to the floor. "I'm not ma'am- I mean Charlotte- those are words I stole from your husband. He taught us that on one of our first days of training in Fort Clay."

"I may have taught you that, but I certainly didn't teach you how to be a dentist, doctor, or clergyman. That was a few other instructor's specialties." Nathan quipped. "When do you leave for Cadotte Lake?"

"Train leaves for Edmonton on Sunday. Doesn't give me much time to find a wife here in Calgary, before I head North, does it? You didn't happen to bring another fine, single lady, like Miss Charlotte, with you from Hope Valley on this trip, did you?"

"The only single lady that came with us is our daughter, Allie. First off, she's far too young for you," Nathan mockingly scowled. "And secondly, I believe it was you who said, 'don't boys know better than to mess with a Mountie's daughter?'."

"Darn it. I think I did say that." Tremblay's warm laugh washed over them. "Where is Miss Allie? I haven't seen her since she was about this big." Warren posted his hand about hip height.

"Well, she's a bit taller than that now and still getting taller!" Charlotte explained. "That's one of our tasks tomorrow while we have time here in Calgary is to go shopping since she seems to keep outgrowing anything and everything these days. Allie and the rest of our group went up to their rooms to get settled before meeting back down here in the lobby for dinner at the hotel restaurant. Speaking of… while we may not be able to supply you with that wife you're looking for, we would love it if you could join us for dinner. If you're not otherwise engaged. That way, you can see Allie and meet the rest of our friends and family from Hope Valley, while you and Nathan catch up and talk further about your new posting."

"If you really don't mind…"

"We would be honored for you to join us," Nathan said as he placed a hand on Tremblay's shoulder. "We are all meeting down here in the lobby a little before six. Please join us."

Warren's face brightened at the invitation. It was one that Charlotte had seen numerous times in her relationship with Nathan. The Mountie life appeared, for many, a solitary one. Being someone that many people relied on, but seldom, it seemed, a Mountie got the recognition and true friendship they deserved and craved in return. A longing to be seen as more than the serge.

Charlotte saw a lot of Nathan in Warren Tremblay.

"In that case," Tremblay said. "I better get checked into my hotel room and made more presentable before meeting everyone else this evening."

"Wait," Charlotte turned towards Nathan. "Did you ever get our room situation figured out?"

Nathan chuckled slightly. "Yes, but it wasn't what we were expecting."

"So, a luggage room in the basement, is it?"

"Not exactly."

"Are you sure this is right?" Charlotte asked, stepping foot into their hotel room. Or rather their penthouse suite. "How in the world are we going to be able to afford this?

"I guess the Mounties wanted to give their Order of Merit recipients first-class accommodations," Nathan answered. "They changed our original reservations and are footing the bill for us."

"Did Gabe get a suite?"

"He was offered one on this floor too but turned it down. Seems he believed it was too big for only him to be staying in and he wanted to be closer to Lillian."

"It seems a little big for only the two of us."

"If you want, I can go back down to the front desk and see if they can find us something else."

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I'm very appreciative of the room. It's beautiful. Almost like we get a second honeymoon in a month." Charlotte smiled as she moved about the suite ducking in and around the different corners of the space. "The only thing I'm concerned about is I'm going to get lost somewhere between the door, the coat closet, the sitting room, the bathroom, and this huge bedroom."

While Charlotte rattled on, Nathan had circled around through a different way and when she stepped into the bedroom, his arms playfully encircled her waist as he drew her to him. Her gasp of surprise, followed by the softening of her body into his, was Nathan's undoing and he turned her in his arms to place a passionate kiss to her mouth as his hands moved along the curves of her sides.

Nathan felt Charlotte's lips curl into a smile against his. "I should know better than to be concerned about getting lost. Seems my husband is the best tracker in the territory."

"You know what else I'm good at?" Nathan raised his eyebrows.

Charlotte beamed a smile at his suggestion. She didn't need any extra encouragement. She took hold of Nathan's suspenders and pulled him with her as she slowly walked backwards towards the bed. The moment her legs touched the brass frame, she released his suspenders and sat at the edge of the mattress, crossing her legs in a tantalizing fashion that made Nathan's mouth go instantly dry.

"Actions speak louder than words, Constable."

"Quite the view, isn't it?" Charlotte said from the window to their room as she looked out over the city and surrounding areas to the northwest of the hotel.

"Beautiful." Her husband agreed, although his eyes only saw her as he came back into the room from changing into a clean shirt.

"You can see the Bow River and then even the mountains to the west. I swear if I look hard enough, I could probably see all the way back home."

Nathan came up behind his wife and put his hands around her waist, resting his cheek beside hers as they looked out the window taking in the sights of an ever-growing city rising out of the prairie. He brushed Charlotte's hair aside and kissed her neck causing a soft sigh to escape her lips as she tilted her head to the side, granting him better access.

"Nathan," her voice rasped. "If you keep that up, we are going to be even later to dinner than we already will be. I still need to braid my hair, so it isn't… obvious what has kept us… preoccupied."

"I would hate for it to be obvious." Nathan gave a short husky laugh as he continued nuzzling into her neck. "But do you want me to fix your hair for you?"

Charlotte smiled, remembering back to the first time Nathan braided her hair. It was their first official date up at the meadow on the anniversary of her attack. She had been shocked when he originally offered, but the act, and ultimately the symbolism of him untying that single string that held her frazzled hair, and self, together, only to gently work his fingers through her messy unkemptness, bringing her braid, and life, back together through his relentless pursuit to make her feel whole again, was not lost on her. The simple intimacy of the moment had left her breathless and charged with desire.

"Please," she agreed. "If you wouldn't mind." Charlotte handed him her hairbrush before taking a seat on the bed. Nathan sat behind her and slowly began running the brush through her silky locks.

After a few moments, Charlotte broke the easy silence that had settled between them. "Why did you have that look on your face when you asked Warren if it was a solo posting he had up North?"

"You caught that?"

"Not much you do, goes unnoticed by me, Nathan. So, what has you concerned?"

Nathan released a heavy sigh before beginning to plait Charlotte's hair. "I'm not quite sure. Warren is an excellent Mountie…"

"Well, he learned from the best in my opinion."

Nathan grinned. "It's just that the North is an unforgiving place. He won't have the support like he has had in the past."

"What about that Travis McKenzie you mentioned?"

"Travis eases my concerns a bit. I know the Mounties are implementing more use of automobiles, but the infrastructure of quality roads is farther behind in the North. Horses and dog sleds are more widely used for good reasons. And McKenzie being in Peace River is still almost two days horseback from where Warren will be located. Two days is a lifetime if you are in a bad situation and need assistance. I'd feel better if he had someone else with him at that post. I just can't shake this… feeling I have…"

Charlotte could detect the tension in Nathan's muscles where her back was leaned into his torso. She placed a hand on his thigh beside hers as he tied off the finished braid. "Nathan, something I've learned from you is that if you can't follow your instincts, that's when you're in real trouble. Maybe you can voice your concerns to Chief Superintendent Collins while we are here this weekend?"

"I don't want Tremblay to think he can't do it without supervision. The last thing a Mountie needs when going up North is to start doubting himself or his training."

Charlotte turned then to face Nathan, so they were both sitting cross-legged on the bed. She reached over and took his work-roughened hands into hers. "You'll figure it out, Nathan. I know you will. Just like always."

"You have a lot more faith in me, than I do myself most days."

Charlotte gave him a sweet smile. "Do you remember what you told me the other day when I had my questions about Elizabeth?" She took Nathan's hand and placed his palm to her chest, directly over her heart. "You said that I could take what I felt I lacked, from you. To let what you have, make up the difference. This goes both ways, Nathan. I have enough faith in you for the both of us. So anytime you feel the need, take what you lack from me. Let what I have make up the difference. What we have together is a partnership, remember?"

"A very good partnership." Nathan leaned in to kiss his wife, pouring his thankfulness and gratitude into the gesture. "I love you, Charlotte."

"I love you, Nathan." She cooed in return, gliding her fingers along the evening stubble of his jaw. "We should go downstairs; I'm guessing everyone is wondering what is taking us so long."

"I'm sure they can figure it out," Nathan wrapped his arms around Charlotte and pulled her across his lap into a hug.

"Nate?"

"Mmmhmmm…" he hummed along her cheek where she cradled against him.

"Before I forget, I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For John's gift."

"You figured that out, huh?" He smiled into her neck as he placed a sweet kiss above the collar of her blouse.

Charlotte twisted slightly in his arms and cradled Nathan's face in her hands. The tenderness in her eyes melted his insides and caused a stir of heavy emotions. "You are a good man, Nathan Grant. Loving, thoughtful, generous. God broke the mold when he made you. You're one of a kind and I'm so thankful I get to call you mine."

"Forever and always." He murmured against her lips.

"Forever and always." She whispered in return.