Chapter 118- The Bear

"Are you telling me there's a bear behind me?" Bill's voice trembled as he tried to hold still. "Is she big?"

Nathan slowly nodded his head. "The biggest I've ever seen."

"Grizzly?"

"The grizzliest."

Bill squinted at Nathan as if the Mountie had grown three heads and it was with that look, Nathan couldn't keep a straight face any longer and burst out laughing. The ruse was over.

"What?!" Bill stood agape for a moment before turning to look over his shoulder to see that it had all been a joke devised by Nathan. There was no angry momma bear to be found.

"I'm sorry, Bill," Nathan stood. "I just had to do that and get you back for scaring me. Did you realize you actually squeaked? When you said, 'Are you telling me there is a - bear - behind me?' I'm surprised I was able to keep the joke going after that."

"Ha… ha… ha…" Bill mocked and scowled at Nathan. "I hope you're happy now."

"Oh, I'm happy." Nathan patted Bill on the shoulder. "Very happy."

The jovial moment had seemed to make the men forget about the original reason they were in these woods until suddenly a small growl came from beside Nathan and Bill causing both men to yell and hold onto one another in fright.

"What was that?" Bill asked, still clinging to Nathan before both men realized how foolish they were acting and parted. Clearing their throats and brushing their jackets as if that moment of fear had never happened.

"I'm guessing, that was what we came looking for," Nathan again crouched down and pushed aside some branches. At first, he didn't see anything and then suddenly something wet brushed across his fingers and he naturally reacted by jerking his hand back.

"What?" Bill said, seeing Nathan jump again. "What is it?"

"I think it just licked me."

"Licked you?"

Investigating further, Nathan pushed back a few more branches, this time revealing the fluffy black and brown body of the sweetest looking puppy he had ever seen. Instantly, Nathan felt himself soften as he looked into the young dog's soulful brown eyes, set below expressional brows, and two furry ears he knew most likely would one day be upright and alert, but as a pup, they flopped over, this way and that, on top of its head.

Upon seeing Nathan, the puppy was overcome with excitement and instantly began wagging its tail, bounding out of the underbrush, wiggling all around Nathan's legs, knocking him slightly off balance. Nathan sat down on the ground and the puppy began climbing all over his lap and limbs, jumping up to place wet kisses anywhere it could on Nathan with its sticky red tongue.

"A dog?" Bill spoke up. "We came into the woods for… a dog?"

"Don't sound so gruff, Bill. I know deep down, under that tough exterior is a pretty big softy." Nathan scooped up the pup and roughed its wooly back in a playful manner that excited the dog even more.

Bill tilted his head. His mind flitted between thinking Nathan had gone mad with the way he was playing with the dog to actually thinking the fluffy round ball with sparkling eyes was one of the most adorable things he had ever seen. Not that he would ever admit the fact.

"On New Year's Eve, Charlotte and I were just talking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a dog at the ranch. I mean, it would be company and-"

"You want a dog?"

Nathan didn't hesitate but answered Bill with the same intensity with which he had asked his incredulous question.

"Yes."

"But they are messy and chew on things and…" And looking into the puppy's eyes Bill found himself running out of excuses.

"Allie has wanted a dog for years, but when we were moving around all the time or when I had to go out of town on assignments, it just wasn't practical. With her being older now and all of us living out at the ranch, it makes more sense."

"Did you even have a dog growing up? Do you even know how to train one?"

"No, I never did. Colleen and I always wanted one, but…" A forlorn expression came to Nathan's face. "It never seemed to work out. Charlotte had a dog though, and if I remember right, this little one probably looks like the pup she had growing up. Her dad trained it to help on the ranch."

"I'm not sure this one is going to be much good as a working dog." Bill tried to keep up his defenses that were quickly crumbling.

"Well, even if it only decides to be a house dog, it might make Allie and Charlotte feel- well, less alone- and more secure when I am away."

The dog in his arms yipped and licked his face. Seeming to signal its approval to Nathan's plan. Its response caused him to reach over and tussle the pup's fur and floppy ears. It growled playfully and pawed at his hand.

"I'm sorry to be the one to put a damper in your dream here, but what do you even know about this dog? Where did it come from? What if it already has owners and it just wandered away from home?"

Nathan's heart dropped. Bill was right. This beautiful and good-natured dog would most likely already have an owner. They hadn't passed any houses along the road since crossing the river, but he knew of some just a little further down the path. Before he became any more attached, he needed to try and find the dog its rightful home.

"I know of some farms and houses just up the road between here and Buxton. We'll stop at them and see if anyone is missing their dog or if they know who this one may belong to. If they don't, when we get to town, we'll stop at the mercantile and the Mountie office. The store should know who in the area may have had a litter of pups or Constable Parker would know the same thing based on his regular rounds in this part of the country."

"And if someone claims the dog is theirs?"

He sighed as the pup settled and burrowed into Nathan's lap, pawing at his hand wanting more pets and attention than what it was currently getting. "Then it wasn't meant to be."

Charlotte was starting to get worried. Nathan had told her this morning they would be later than first expected, but he would hopefully be home by dinner time. Dinner time was over an hour ago. The beef roast she had made still braised slowly in the oven and she was sure the mashed potatoes would need a little more cream and butter to bring them back to life after sitting for so long on the stove.

As much as she tried not to think of it, all the worst scenarios had already played out in her head. She even noticed Allie seemed to be slightly anxious about Nathan not being home yet. Charlotte attempted to keep their minds off the unknown. They ate some of the cookies they had baked for Nathan's return. Then once their portion of dessert was consumed, they turned to working on some of Allie's extra math problems and planning her project for the science fair coming up at the end of the school year.

Even after completing those tasks, Nathan had not arrived home yet. It was dark now and they were both hungry. Charlotte knew Nathan wouldn't mind if they went ahead and ate without him, but when she suggested it to Allie, the girl agreed with Charlotte's feelings. They both wanted to share a meal with Nathan since he had been gone for the past few days and decided to wait a little longer.

Since the weather outside was mild, Charlotte poured herself and Allie a glass of tea and they took their drinks out to the front porch to wait for Nathan on the steps. They passed the time naming all the constellations they could, much like Charlotte and Nathan had done on New Year's Eve. When all the patterns had been identified, Allie began sharing with Charlotte all that she had learned from Warren's book on how the Mounties use the stars for navigating at night.

Charlotte wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders. With the loss of the sun's warmth hours ago, the chill was beginning to settle into the air. She was about to suggest to Allie that they go inside when the sound of a car engine in the distance made her heart skip. She listened closer. Allie heard it then too, turning towards Charlotte, her eyes sparkled for the first time in hours. "Dad?" She questioned.

"I believe so," Charlotte said, running a reassuring hand up and down Allie's back.

Nathan barely had the car in park and engine shut off when Allie came bounding up to the vehicle's window to scold him. "Why are you so late? You told us you'd be home by dinner time. Mom was getting worried."

"Just Mom?" Nathan teased, coming around the front of the car.

"Well, me too, I guess." Allie pulled him into a big hug. As Nathan embraced his daughter, he glanced over to Charlotte. His wife stood still on the top of the steps with her shawl wrapped around her arms and a soft light from inside the house illuminating her from behind. It made it hard for Nathan to read her features, but he could tell enough that while she had been worried, she was happy to see him home.

He was sure she wanted her own moment to welcome him back, but she also wanted to make sure Allie had her time with Nathan first. He smiled at her and mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' for his tardiness. She nodded in understanding. She knew he wouldn't be this late if not for a very good reason. She was just thankful he was finally home, and safe.

"You haven't answered my question," Allie's voice broke through her parents' shared thoughts.

"Why I'm so late? Bill and I had to make a few unplanned stops along the way. I tried calling when we stopped in Buxton, but we were unable to get through. The line was busy."

"We waited for dinner so we could have it with you. We made roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. We did go ahead and eat our share of the cookies that were going to be for dessert."

"Well, I'm sorry I'm late, but I hope you didn't eat my share of the cookies, too," he tickled Allie's sides.

"No…" Allie giggled, squirming in his arms. "We saved you… some."

"Good," Nathan turned towards Charlotte who now had made her way to stand beside him and Allie. He took her hand and winked, causing Charlotte to furrow her brow; sensing her husband was up to something. He tilted his head towards the car and without dropping eye contact with his wife he said. "Hey Al, would you mind getting my travel bag out of the back seat?"

"Sure."

"What have you done?" Charlotte whispered in his ear as she leaned close.

"Just…"

But before Nathan could finish his sentence a shrill squeal of delight rang out from Allie.

"A puppy!" Allie picked up the knapsack she had been sent to retrieve out of the back seat, and tucked inside, with only its furry head protruding was the little black and brown dog.

"Nathan!" Charlotte gasped.

"I know we haven't talked about it since New Year's Eve, but when we did, I think we were both in agreement that a dog would be a good companion to have out here on the ranch."

Charlotte didn't know what to say. She watched as Allie set the knapsack down at the base of the porch steps. The pup suddenly seemed to no longer like being confined and wiggled and squirmed and whined and yapped.

"I didn't have a leash or anything and I didn't think it would be a good idea for him to be roaming all over the car while I was driving, so I emptied out my bag into the back seat and stuck it in there."

"It looks like it was a bit of a tight squeeze," Charlotte said.

"Yeah, it's a good-sized dog already. I'm guessing maybe around three months old."

"Did you buy it in Buxton?"

"No, it crossed in front of Bill and I on the road between Buxton and the river. Something told me I should stop and check it out. That's why I'm so late. Even though I took a shine right away, Bill was the voice of reason. He reminded me that the right thing to do would be to make sure it didn't already belong to someone in the area."

"And it didn't?"

Nathan shook his head. A bit of a wistful look came upon his face. "We went to a couple houses and farms nearby, asking if the dog belonged to anyone, but they all said no, it wasn't theirs. One of the last places we stopped, the gentleman said that he had heard a rumor that the local constable had a couple days prior found a…" Nathan worked to swallow the lump that had grown in his throat. "A bag of puppies down by the river that someone had… dumped there."

"Oh, that's horrible!"

Nathan nodded. "Unfortunately, I've heard of it happening before."

"How evil can a person be to want to hurt an innocent animal in that way?"

"I don't know, Charlie. But we both know evil exists." Nathan pulled her to his side and kissed her forehead. "Bill and I then went to the RCMP office in Buxton and confirmed the story with the constable there. He had been the one that found the other puppies, but it was too late to save any of them."

A tear escaped down Charlotte's cheek. "Heartbreaking. Absolutely heartbreaking."

"Constable Parker said that this one looked just like the others, so he assumed that they were litter mates. He was glad that one of them somehow made it."

"Me too."

"So, can I take that as you are okay with us keeping it?" Nathan dipped his head slightly to read Charlotte's expression.

"Yes, Nathan. I think it will be the perfect addition. Just another member of this family who seems to have beat the odds when they were all stacked against them."

"You know I hadn't thought of that." He reached out and pulled her into his arms. He smiled into her eyes as he stroked back the wisp of hair forever tormenting her by curling about her cheeks and refusing to stay combed into its proper place. "But you are right. It makes this all seem as though it is part of His plan, doesn't it?"

He kissed her then. A slow, methodical movement of his lips across hers. It was heart racing and heart stopping, all at the same time. The perfect welcome home.

A small yip at their feet finally parted them. Nathan smiled and picked up the puppy. Although it didn't seem like it would stay a puppy for long. It already looked quite large in Nathan's strong arms.

"Sorry about that," Allie said, coming to stand beside them. "When I finally got it out of the bag, it ran over here."

"That's alright," Nathan said, fondly scratching behind the dog's floppy ears. "We should all head inside and eat anyway, it's getting late."

"Does that mean…" Allie's eyes grew big. "We get to keep it? It's ours?"

Nathan glanced over at Charlotte, wanting to again confirm her approval. She beamed a smile at him and nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes, we are going to keep it," said Nathan. "I think every kid needs a dog of their own."

Allie lit up in front of them, squealed, and did a little happy dance, before reaching forward and taking the dog from Nathan's arms. She set it down and then she raced off up the stairs calling for the puppy to follow her, which it happily did. Although, it was a bit clumsy trying to traverse the steps up to the top of the front porch.

As Allie went to open the front door, Nathan called out. "Wait, Allie. That dog is quite capable of living outside. It doesn't need to be in the house."

Both of Nathan's girls turned towards him with flabbergasted expressions.

"What do you mean it's not going to live in the house?" Charlotte sharply questioned.

"Well, I didn't think most women wanted to have a dog underfoot or tearing up everything or causing messes around the house. It can stay on the porch or in the barn at night."

"Nate, since when have I been like most women you know?" Charlotte's eyes lightened with teasing. "Didn't we just say that dog was family? Family doesn't sleep outside on the porch. They sleep inside a home."

Nathan chuckled merrily and kissed her cheek. "I had hoped you'd say that."

"Allie," Charlotte turned her attention back to their daughter. "Go ahead and let it in the house. We will get it some food and a warm place to lay by the fire for the night."

Allie smiled and shook her head in agreement, opening the door to usher the puppy into the house.

"You have a good heart, Nathan Grant. Rescuing that puppy like you did, and I think you made our daughter very happy tonight with her surprise."

"I had my own motives for bringing it home. I've always wanted a dog, too. Remember?"

"I remember, and I'm happy you finally got your puppy. I like seeing you get these things that you missed out on when growing up. You deserve that happiness more than anyone else I know."

His heart gave a lurch and he leaned forward to give Charlotte another kiss with all his love wrapped up in it, before drawing out of her arms slightly. "Don't think I forgot to bring you something home, as well."

"I don't need gifts each time you come back from a trip. You and Allie are all I need, Sarge."

"Good to know." Nathan winked. "Still, I brought you something from town. I saw it at the mercantile in Buxton and I figured I should bring it home too in case I needed to 'warm you up' on the idea of a dog."

"Warm me up? Or flat out bribe me?"

Nathan just gave her a crooked grin as he took some items out of the back seat and handed them to her.

It took Charlotte a moment in the darkness to realize what they were. "Rosebushes?" She asked, twirling the thorned sticks partially bound in burlap between her hands.

"The man at the store swore they're red, but we'll find out for ourselves this summer. I'll plant them first thing in the morning. Just tell me where you want them."

On the ranch, Charlotte's mom was more concerned about growing food in her garden for the hired hands than worrying about flowers, but her father had one time brought home a rosebush from town for his wife. The reasoning behind the gesture, Charlotte never asked, but then again, Nathan didn't have much of a justification either. He may have joked it was because of the dog, but she knew the real reason. It was just to see her smile.

"Let's put one on either side of the steps and then one on each corner of the porch." She remembered the scent of roses drifting in through the windows of their house on a sunny day. "That way when we open the windows in the kitchen or living room or if we sit on the porch, we will be able to smell them."

"Sounds good to me."

Charlotte closed her eyes and leaned heavily into her husband as he wrapped her tighter into his arms, resting his cheek on the top of her head. Their hearts were so full.

"I forgot to ask," Allie grabbed their attention from where she was leaning out the front door. "Does the dog have a name yet?"

"No, it doesn't," Nathan smiled. "Why don't you do the honors?"

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

There was another small squeal of delight, before Allie shut the door and returned inside. But the silence was short lived as she was soon back.

"Dad," she hollered against the playful yap of the dog at her feet. "Do I need a boy-name or a girl-name?"

There was laughter in Nathan's voice as he called back. "A girl-name, Allie."