Chapter 116- When Comes the Spring

*Oh, we got a long one here today folks. Lots of ground to cover…

A catch up on what has been happening around Hope Valley, Sarge's birthday (complete with a ride to the meadow, the annual baseball tournament, cake), and then some spring fun.

A couple of the scenes I drew inspiration on for this chapter are from Kevin's other works. On Heartland, when his character, Mitch, buys a horse for the dude ranch and things don't go as expected (Season 10, Episode 1) AND a scene I've been wanting to do since we got a preview of 'Feeling Butterflies" last week. I wanted to get my interpretation written before the movie comes out tomorrow which has spurred me to crank out almost daily chapters this week to get the story to this point. Since we don't get the whole scene in the preview… Hope you don't mind how I chose to finish the "writing prompt".

As the months rolled from the dead of winter to the birth of spring, the landscape of the valley shifted. The last snow of the season came the first of March. Bringing with it a blanket of white that melted quickly with the next chinooks and the first sunny days above freezing.

Baby Patricia was growing rapidly and had received a clean bill of health at her follow up appointment with Dr. Gates in Buxton, a little over a week after she was born. The Coulters surprised the Shepherds when they picked up Carson and Faith at the train station upon the couple's return from Niagara Falls. Both doctors stood agape on the platform when they saw Rosemary carrying a little pink bundle to meet them. The first Sunday in March, Hope Valley celebrated her christening after church services. For their role in bringing Patricia into this world, including one very sore hand, Minnie and Joseph were chosen as the little girl's godparents.

Upon his arrival to town, Carson's final belongings were moved from the apartment above the infirmary to the newlywed's living quarters in the hospital. After a bit of a rearrange and clean of the apartment, Archie and Maise moved from Nathan's old row house into their new home. It was small and simple, but the perfect place for the elder Grants. Charlotte loved seeing Archie's grand plan come together for him and Maise. On Wednesday nights, Nathan, Allie, and Charlotte would join them for dinner together as a family, and on more than one occasion, Allie spent the weekend with Maise and Archie, making up for missed time with them both.

Spring had come to Brookfield as well. The Stewart Ranch was busy with calving season, which made Tess quite upset when Chuck told her he had decided to travel with Grace to England. Tess tried to convince him to stay, but like his mother, once Chuck made up his mind about something, there was little anyone could do to change it. Lillian and Gabe had begun to plan for their wedding. Choosing the date of August 27th for their backyard ceremony at the orphanage. They had also asked Bill to officiate the wedding and of course for Nathan to be the best man.

Lucas was still in London with his father's business. At least once a week new packages arrived at the mercantile for Elizabeth and Jack, full of extravagant gifts that he had purchased in stores on Bond and Regent Streets. Material presents in exchange for his presence in their life.

Charlotte found out, soon after their return from Calgary, that Elizabeth had, in fact, taken her advice and been meeting occasionally with Joseph. The pastor's influence seemed to be helping, at least, repair Elizabeth's relationship with Jack. Charlotte often saw them playing in their yard, visiting the Coulters, or spending time in the library together. When Nathan came to the school to teach his 'art class', he had Charlotte's students all create a picture depicting their best day. Jack had chosen to draw a scene where Elizabeth was reading to him on the settee in their house. The cover of the book displayed in Jack's hands was the one Charlotte had given to them before leaving for Calgary.

Other than helping the Benson Hills Mounties with tracking an escaped prisoner and working through a few cases with Bill, Nathan's job had been uneventful, which he wasn't complaining about. It gave him more time with his girls and an opportunity to help draw up the plans for the Coulter's new house. Rosemary had just signed off on the final design and Archie and Joseph were able to start ordering supplies, while Lee began getting the lumber milled.

Nathan, Allie, and Charlotte had all received individual letters from Constable Tremblay. With only a few setbacks he had made it to his posting in Cadotte Lake. To Charlotte, he wrote about the few buildings in town, his living arrangements, and some of the people he had met so far. Most of the area residents were from the Woodland Cree tribe. While they were all friendly, very few spoke English. Most of his discussions revolved around the little Cree words he knew and a lot of gesturing.

To Nathan, Warren detailed a handful of the cases he had worked on so far and talked about some of the Mounties from the surrounding area, including Travis McKenzie from Peace River. The Mountie Nathan had told him about in Calgary. Because of how much further north he was, there was still an abundant amount of snow on the ground and Tremblay had to quickly learn how to use a dog sled team to make his rounds. One training area, he told Nathan, needed to be improved upon for the Mounties at Fort Clay.

In Allie's letter, he relayed some of the new Cree words he had learned and about how he helped take care of a young boy who had an accident with an ax while chopping frozen logs for firewood. Warren cleaned the leg and then sutured the wound, and it appeared the boy would make a full recovery. Tremblay lamented about how much he missed a beef steak compared to all the game meat he had been eating and mentioned how much he missed all of their company from Calgary. He stayed busy with his job, but the evenings in his cabin did have a way of becoming lonesome. He didn't know how often he would be able to send letters, because everything would be mailed out of Peace River as Cadotte Lake did not have its own post. Although he promised to continue writing as long as the Grants cared to read his letters.

All three Grants immediately set about writing Warren heartfelt messages in return and included a care package. While they couldn't send a beef steak through the post, with Nathan's guidance they were able to put together a box of supplies he thought would be of use to Warren in the North. A pair of leather mittens, spices, dried fruits, nuts, and a can of fresh coffee. They included weeks' worth of old newspapers from Calgary and Hope Valley, hoping Warren would appreciate word of what was happening in the rest of the world and their community.

Charlotte also piloted a pen pal program with her class for Tremblay. She called it 'Where in the World is Warren', a clever name she was chuffed about coming up with that Nathan mercilessly laughed at and teased her over. Regardless of her husband's playful ribbing, he fully supported the endeavor and assisted in any way he could.

Charlotte loved that the project helped teach her students about geography, history of the territory, the native peoples and their language, the livelihood of those who lived in the north, as well as the weather, vegetation, and animals of the region. To begin the project, the class was asked to improve on their writing lessons and construct letters to Constable Tremblay, introducing themselves to him. While Charlotte knew Warren most likely would never have enough time to respond to all her students, she hoped hearing from all the children would help stave off some of the loneliness he may be feeling in his new posting.

By the time Nathan's birthday arrived in the middle of March, the land was clearly awakening with the coming of spring. That morning he and Charlotte had decided to take an early morning ride up to the meadow. They tried to convince Allie to join them, but the teenage girl grumbled and groaned in her bed, turning over and burying her head under the covers, telling them to go on without her. She'd instead have breakfast ready by the time they got back.

While it seemed Newton and Realta were eager to get out and stretch their legs, feeling frisky in the early morning chill and wanting to run, Nathan and Charlotte kept them reined in. Choosing instead to take their time and meander up the snow free trail for the first time in months. Happy to have a quiet moment to talk and enjoy the landscape around them that seemed to be coming more alive by the minute.

The forest floor was shifting from the brownness of winter for the more favorable green as new grass sprung from the ground. Birds were happily singing their return and Nathan and Charlotte had seen several flocks of geese pass over. When they came to the meadow clearing, they marveled at the splashes of pale blue and lavender from the blooming prairie crocuses that dotted the south facing slopes. As they rode closer, they could even see that the lake was almost completely ice free.

"I've missed being up here," Charlotte commented, taking a deep breath, and filling her lungs with the fresh air, before swinging down off Realta's back.

"Me too. We haven't been up here since our date right before I left for Potter's Creek." Nathan dismounted and followed Charlotte across the meadow to tie up the horses.

"Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? So much has happened in just a few short months. At least this time we remembered to tie up the horses, so they don't wander off." Charlotte teased. "That way we won't have to explain to Bill why we are late to the town baseball game later."

"I still can't believe that you and I are on different teams this year," Nathan pulled Charlotte into his arms, giving her a small pout.

Charlotte rose to place a quick kiss to Nathan's lips, turning his sullen expression into a grin. "You know I told Bill last year that I'd be on his team this time."

"I know… Still, I wish I had you on my squad. It could be my birthday present from you." Nathan wiggled his eyebrows, earning a giggle from his wife.

"Look on the bright side. You still have Allie on your team, and she has been practicing all week. She had some great hits the other day at recess." Charlotte took his hand, and they began to walk towards the lake. "And this way… no matter if your team wins or mine, the Nathan Grant - Hope Valley Baseball Tournament trophy will still come home with us."

"All very valid points." Nathan chuckled.

Although spring was obviously coming, the early morning in the meadow was rather brisk. Nathan wrapped his arm around Charlotte's shoulders, pulling her closely into his side as they walked and talked along the lake shore. Discussing their baseball game strategies, what she had planned for his special birthday dinner with their closest friends and family back at the house later, Allie and her schoolwork, the garden they were planning, and Warren's special project.

They didn't stay long knowing Allie would be up soon, so Nathan and Charlotte decided to head back for breakfast, before changing to head into town for the baseball game. When they got closer to where the horses were tied, Charlotte slowed to a stop.

"What is it?" Nathan questioned, noticing the change in his wife.

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing. You always do that little head tilt thing when you are thinking about something, but unsure if you want to say it out loud."

"I do not," Charlotte scowled.

"Yeah, ya do, love." Nathan chuckled, hooking his arm around the back of Charlotte's neck to bring her closer. "And then when I call you out on it, you get all flustered and these cute little wrinkles show up right here." He ran a finger across the lines that appeared between her brows when she frowned.

"Alright. Alright." She playfully swatted his hand away. "I get it. You can read me like an open book."

He kissed her forehead in the spot he had just been teasing. "So, tell me what you're thinking."

She let out a sigh. "When Tess brought Realta here, did she say anything about her past?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… Do you know where she came from? Or do you know anything about her history?"

"Tess just said her foreman, Lucy Clay, gave her the name and contact information for a local rancher who raised some quality horses that would fit what I wanted for you. Why?"

"No matter," Charlotte dismissed and began walking towards Realta.

Nathan caught her arm, stopping her advancement. "No, obviously something is on your mind. Spill, Charlie."

"Have you noticed Realta is kind of heavy?"

Nathan glanced over at the horse in question. He had noted the mare seemed to have packed on a few extra pounds over the winter, but so had Newton and Bandit. With the Grants driving the car more, the horses hadn't had the same amount of exercise over the past couple of months. "It's just hay belly."

"Maybe."

"All horses put on a little extra weight in the winter. Heck, so have I." Nathan grinned. Since his recovery from the gunshot wound and with Charlotte's cooking, he had put on a few pounds as well, but with him still staying active with chores and in his workshop, they seemed to have transitioned into more muscle than anything else. "We can slim her down, no problem. She just needs a little more exercise. With the days getting warmer, that shouldn't be hard to do."

Charlotte ran a caring hand along the mare's side. "I'm not a vet, Nathan, but I don't think a change in diet or exercise is going to fix Realta from being on the heavy side."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is… I think Realta is pregnant."

"She's pregnant?!" Nathan's eyes grew large, and he took a step back to inspect the horse. "No, she can't be. Are you sure?"

"I've questioned it for a while now. Part of me already wondered on Christmas Day when you gave her to me. But as the months have gone on, I can clearly tell she's gotten bigger. And today I had to adjust the cinch and billet to even get the saddle to fit correctly for our ride."

"I didn't know." Nathan looked almost disappointed he hadn't recognized the horse's condition sooner.

"No, you probably couldn't have. Especially without having complete knowledge of her background. And we still don't know for sure. But what I do know, is that Realta's changed over the past few months since she's been ours. I wish there was a vet close by to look at her and confirm my suspicions, but if she is pregnant, it would probably be best if I stop riding her for a while. It can't be comfortable with a baby in there and then carrying me too."

"Are you disappointed?"

Charlotte glanced over at her husband. He seemed genuinely concerned that she would no longer love her Christmas present from him, because she wouldn't be able to ride anymore. Or that she was disappointed that he had chosen the 'wrong' horse for her.

"Oh, Nate," Charlotte wrapped her arms around his back and tilted her chin up to look into his eyes. "This isn't a bad thing. While yes, we probably can't go riding as much as we have in the past, just think about it. If Realta has a foal, we can keep it and train it up for our own babies. Remember, you put extra stalls in the barn for that very reason."

Nathan's eyes shifted from his wife's to the horse beside them. An almost wistful expression on his face. "I've never seen a horse foal before."

"Well, you may finally get your chance, cowboy," Charlotte grinned, her dimple becoming more pronounced. "We had a few colts delivered on the ranch growing up, but if this baby is anything like its momma, we are going to have a heck of a horse on our hands."

"Allie will be so excited."

"Won't she?! Should we tell her our suspicions now or wait until we know for sure? I don't want to get her hopes up if my assumption is wrong."

"Since the closest vet I know of is in Union City, I don't know if we will ever have a chance to find out for sure, and Allie will start to question why you aren't riding Realta anymore."

"You're right. Do you want to be the one to tell her the good news then, birthday boy?"

"Is that my gift from you this year?"

"Among other things." Charlotte captured his mouth with hers in a hard kiss. Rough, yet tender. Invigorating. When she drew back, her eyes twinkled with the look of hunger that was not the appetite of an empty stomach, but rather a craving only a man and woman could feel for each other. One for which there was only one single remedy.

"Shall we go see what Allie made for breakfast?" Nathan's voice was low and breathless. "Before we decide to make pancakes for ourselves here in the meadow?"

"You know, Bill thinks you threw the game." Nathan said, setting the baseball tournament trophy back on the shelf in the living room where it had been earlier that morning. All their guests had just left for the evening after enjoying Nathan's birthday dinner and cake up at the ranch.

"I don't understand why he believes that." Charlotte turned away, unable to look Nathan directly in the eye. "It's like he thinks I meant to strike out in the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded and the game on the line."

"Did you?" Nathan's eyebrow raised.

"You know I'm too competitive to just let someone else win."

"Even if that someone is your very handsome husband, and it just so happens to be his birthday?"

"Especially then," Charlotte's eyes twinkled with mischief, and he knew that Bill was probably correct in his assumptions about the game. Nathan playfully grabbed Charlotte by the hips and spun her to him, pressing her back slightly against the bookshelves he kissed her sweetly at first and then with a little more passion as his tongue gently parted her lips.

"Dad!" Allie called from across the hall. Her voice causing Nathan and Charlotte to instantly part only a moment before the girl entered the room. She gave them a quizzical look, but decided it was probably best not to ask. Instead, she lifted up Nathan's gift she carried in her hands. "I just realized that Mom and I haven't given you your present yet."

"My present, huh?" He came over and took the small box from his daughter's hands.

"It was my idea, but Mom helped me find and order it."

"Can I open it now?"

"It is your birthday," Allie mockingly rolled her eyes. "Isn't it?"

"So, I've been told," Nathan chuckled, opening the box to reveal a Ty Cobb baseball card. He audibly gasped in surprise earning a laugh from his girls.

"I take it, you like it?"

"Like it? Allie, I love it!" Nathan pulled his daughter into a hug. "I've always wanted a few baseball cards like all the other boys I went to school with had. And you got me one with my favorite player!"

Charlotte looked at the scene in front of her and tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. While she knew Nathan would love any present, he was given, when Allie approached Charlotte months ago about her idea for the baseball card, Charlotte knew that most likely this would be her husband's reaction to the gift. Surprise and little boy wonderment plastered on his face. She relished any opportunity to give Nathan back a piece of his childhood he had long believed was out of reach.

"I'm going to put it right here beside the baseball trophy. Hopefully it helps bring me luck next year, so I don't have to rely on your mom striking out on purpose to help win the game."

"I thought you weren't going to tell him!" Allie playfully smacked Charlotte's arm beside her.

"I didn't," Charlotte laughed. "But if he had any doubts before, I don't think he does now."

Allie's cheeks turned red, and her hand came over her mouth.

"Don't worry, Allie." Charlotte pulled the girl into her side. "I'm pretty sure your dad had it already figured out. He's a pretty good Mountie after all and can piece together the evidence."

They all laughed.

"This has been the best birthday I've ever had," Nathan said, looking over at his girls. "And it's all because of you two. I don't know what I'd do without you both in my life."

"Thankfully you never have to know." Allie answered as she and Charlotte enveloped him into a hug. "Happy birthday, Dad."

As Nathan got ready for bed that evening, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off, he sat down at the edge of their bed. Looking over at the pictures that lined his side table, Nathan thought back on the day. The time he had spent with his wife, their daughter, their family and friends, and the community of Hope Valley. He was truthful with Allie and Charlotte earlier; this had been his best birthday ever. A year ago, he never knew what could top his first birthday spent with Charlotte, but somehow it happened. And he had a feeling that a year from now on his birthday, he would be in the exact same place, thinking the exact same thing at the end of the day.

"For some reason I think every birthday I get to spend with you is going to become my favorite."

Those were Charlotte's words to him when they were in her backyard following her birthday this summer. In the past year, Nathan had grown as a father and a son. Solidified friendships. Watched his community strengthen. And felt secure in his skills as a Mountie and a man. But most of all he had found the love and support of a woman who not only helped him build a home but was his home.

At that moment, he heard her footsteps coming up the stairs and then down the hallway past the other bedrooms. She stopped and leaned in through the doorway, suspiciously holding something behind her back.

"Close your eyes, Sarge," Charlotte instructed. "I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" He grinned but followed her request. "Okay, they're closed."

He heard the door to their room close and then felt her presence as she neared. The mattress beside him dipped under her weight as she sat down.

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Yes." He could hear the smile in her voice.

"Chocolate cake!" Nathan grinned at the large piece setting on a plate between them. "But we already had some after dinner."

"I know, but I remembered last year after your party when we shared a piece in my backyard. It was such a special memory for me… and I'm hoping for you too. I was wondering if we shouldn't make it a tradition of ending your birthday by sharing just one more piece."

"I can get behind this tradition."

"Good, because I brought two forks." Charlotte offered him one of the utensils in her hand. As he began to move toward the cake, she stopped him, her hand catching his wrist. "Wait, not yet."

She shifted, bringing her legs up to sit cross-legged on the bed facing him, before directing him to do the same. From her pocket she withdrew a single candle and placed it in the middle of the slice, before expertly lighting it with a match. She took the plate and lifted it between them, the flickering light of the candle causing her dark grey eyes to sparkle.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday dear husband.

Happy birthday to you.

As Charlotte finished singing, he took a deep breath prepared to blow out the candle, when she pulled back the plate and held up her hand. "Hold it there, partner. You have to make a wish first."

Nathan's face scrunched slightly.

"Don't look at me like that, Sarge. I don't make the rules for these sorts of things."

"Fine." Nathan chuckled, shaking his head gently as she moved the plate back in between them.

"Do you have your wish?" Charlotte's voice was soft and intimate.

Nathan stared into his wife's eyes, and he knew. There was only one thing that was still missing from their lives. "Only if you make the wish with me. Like we did last year."

She smiled and slowly nodded her head in agreement. They both took a breath extinguishing the candle, and at the same time, igniting all their shared hopes.

"Happy birthday, Nathan."

A few weeks had come and gone since Nathan's birthday. Easter was celebrated at the end of March, and it had been a beautiful spring day full of sunshine and blue skies. Following Sunday services, the children partook in an Easter egg hunt around the yard of the church. During the week, Charlotte, and some of the other women, had dyed the eggs that were to be used. Then early on Easter morning, she and Nathan had snuck into town to hide them for the children and… the children at heart. She and Nathan especially had fun watching Bill 'help' Little Jack find a basket full of the hidden treasures. Judge Avery's competitive nature was no match for the other children in the hunt. Afterwards, the Grants hosted an Easter lunch back at the ranch for their friends and family. With a large, glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade rolls, fresh asparagus, and some fruit that had been canned the summer before.

With the coming of spring, Charlotte and Allie had spent hours upon hours in the evenings pouring through various seed catalogs that had come in the mail. Making lists, selecting, and ordering varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers they hoped to grow in the large garden they were planning. As soon as the frost had come out of the ground, Nathan asked Jed Campbell if he would bring his plow to the ranch and help till up the area Charlotte had chosen between the house and the river for planting.

To protect their hard work, Nathan decided to build a fence around the garden to deter the deer and rabbits from eating the tender plants before his family had the opportunity to. One weekend he set about constructing. He had purchased some lumber from Lee's mill and ordered a few supplies from the Yost's mercantile. By late Saturday afternoon, all that remained was the hanging of the garden gate, which he had made in his workshop that week.

Charlotte and Allie had helped Nathan most of the day on the project, but as Allie went to do the afternoon chores in the barn, Charlotte excused herself to the house to get them something to drink. When she returned, she stopped herself at the base of the porch steps. Feeling the strange stirring inside her as she watched Nathan work in the garden. The movement of his muscles beneath his shirt sent a rush of warmth through her. She remembered their nights together, when he would turn to her in his sleep, his strong body brushing hers. Memories of when he would make love to her- with sweet tenderness and passion, exploring her body in ways she never thought possible. The lightest touch from Nathan made her senses spin and when he looked up at her, her mouth went completely dry.

"Hey, looking good." She stated, coming up beside him in the garden, setting their water glasses on two of the fence posts.

"Yeah, I'll clean all this up later, you know." Nathan leaned easily against a shovel he had been using to dig a hole for the posts, pointing in the direction of some extra lumber and supplies on the ground. "I think all we have left is the gate."

Charlotte took in the sight of her husband. His white shirt and dark tan trousers were grimy with dirt and sweat. His large hands coated in mud from working in the damp earth. Feeling playful, she caught Nathan's attention. "Hey, you ah… you got something on your…" she reached her own hand to her forehead. "Just up on your…"

"On my face?" Nathan turned towards her. "Up here?" His fingers brushing his forehead, leaving a clump of mud in its wake.

"Yeah? A little bit down?" Charlotte directed towards her own cheek.

"Here?" Nathan swiped at his face again. "I…" Then slowly, drawing his hand back he realized what his wife was doing. Sighing, he shook his head slightly.

'Here, I'll…" Charlotte took a few steps forward to try and help him. A smile growing across her face.

"Oh, yeah?" Nathan bent down, grabbing a fistful of mud into his right hand. "Here, let me help you."

"No. No, no, no!" Charlotte squealed, running around past him.

"Why not?" He asked, starting to chase after her. "Come here. I'm just helping you."

"Don't you dare!" She stopped a few feet away, turning back towards her husband and holding up her palms in surrender.

Nathan tossed his hair back and straightened. "Okay… Okay… Fine." He began to walk away from her and return to the task she had interrupted only moments ago. His eyebrow lifted and he held up his one palm that wasn't holding the mud. "Peace." He grinned before dropping the dirt back into the garden, but as soon as he turned away and was unarmed, a clump of mud hit him square in the back.

"Oo… oohhhh!" He swiveled back towards Charlotte; his mouth open in shock. "Okay, now I'm…" He took a stride towards her, but suddenly his foot slipped out from underneath him, and he fell flat on his back in a heap of soil.

"Oh no, are you okay?" Charlotte chuckled, taking a step closer to where Nathan lay on the ground. She reached her hand out to help him up.

"Yeah, now you're all concerned about me." Nathan teased. "You started this; you know?" He reached up and clasped her fingers into his and tugged her down on top of him. She gasped in surprise as his arms wrapped around her body and with quick, skillful movements he rolled her beneath him as their legs became tangled together. Tickling along her sides, laughter sprang from his wife's lips while she squirmed against his playful onslaught.

"Nathan!" She called out breathlessly against him.

Slowly, his frisky tickles lightened. Replaced by a delicious, tender caress up and down her ribs. His fingers tracing the curves of her sides from her hips to her chest, causing her body to instinctively arch into his, their thighs brushing against one another. Her hand caressed his chest and Nathan shuddered with her touch.

He leaned down and kissed her gently at first, then more thoroughly. Charlotte felt a quickening inside her, a soft, warm curling in her belly. He tasted of earth and sunshine. Of fresh, mountain air and the forests. And of something else. A farawat essence, familiar and yet somehow foreign too. When he drew back slightly, the dark ends of his hair brushed feather-light against her face and caught in her lashes. She saw the look in his eyes and her heart leapt against her chest.

"I should finish hanging that garden gate," he said huskily.

All Charlotte could accomplish was a small nod of her head in reluctant agreement. Instead of getting up though, Nathan turned and lay back with her in the dirt and grass. Both staring up into the spring sky above them, trying to control their uneven breathing. He subconsciously reached for her hand beside his and she took it. Entwining their mud-caked fingers easily, they connected themselves to one another. Realizing an essence of married life together neither of them had quite expected until that moment. A sharedness in their souls where his dreams had become her dreams. And her dreams had become his.

"What are you two doing down there?" Allie's voice came from above them as she appeared at the edge of the garden. "I leave you both alone for a few minutes and this is what I come back to? I hope you don't expect me to have to clean those clothes the next time we have laundry day."

Charlotte twisted her head to look at Nathan beside her. Their gaze met for a brief moment before he nodded in agreement at their shared thoughts and at the same time the pair sprung up from the ground and started chasing Allie across the yard. The girl shrieked in surprise before darting away.

"Oh, come on, Al!" Nathan called after her. "All we want is a hug from our daughter."

Laughing, Allie dipped and dashed between them. At one point, Charlotte came around one side of the front porch, and Nathan the other, thinking they had her trapped only for Allie to escape their grasp again. Ducking and diving around the house and the nearby trees until finally she was sandwiched into a muddy hug between her parents as they peppered her head and cheeks with kisses. Giggles and squeals of delight from them all, echoed off the mountain and drifted on the breeze. The happiness they shared as a family couldn't be fabricated. It was carefully crafted with love and mutual admiration for one another. The three of them and their faith in God were the foundation of the life they would create together in the many years to come.