Chapter Thirty-Four: Going Home

"Well, I'll be! If the Constable didn't go to Montreal!" Bill whistled shrilly taking his feet off his desk. "I knew it! As soon as I saw those two together, I knew it! But no turtlin' around here. My Boy's done good! In record speed, too! Engaged in less than a week? My hat's off to you, Son! And wow! Just wow!"

Well technically, the desk belonged to Nathan, as the Judge had shamelessly set up shop in the Royal North-West Mounted Police Office since the Constable had been gone.

The excuse he was giving the town this time, was that his office was being painted, but there hadn't been a painter sited in Hope Valley, well, for at least several months, if not longer.

Now, what excuse he was planning to give the Constable was another matter entirely! But he'd think of something when the time came...

The Judge, at least knowing when something was meant to be seen and something was not, locked the stack of Montreal Sunday Newpapers away in Nathan's top middle desk drawer.

"After all these years of plain ole boring stuff, Old Claude's newspapers have finally come through with a winner!"

Claude Jacobs was a Judge from Union City, and a dear friend of Bill's, who like Bill, liked to be in the know.

Therefore, he collected every important Sunday newspaper from all the big cities of Canada, reviewing them faithfully!

Bill had been in his office once when the sheaf of papers had arrived by train on a Monday and had not so subtly suggested that when Claude was through with them, to just put them back on the train the next day, and send them on to Hope Valley!

It was a lot to ask, but poor Judge Jacobs had been doing it for years, all for his colleague, who was much too tight to buy his own!

Bill got up from Nathan's chair, yes, the one at Nathan's desk, and headed out to peruse Main Street, looking as determined as a man can look.

The Judge was on a mission!

"Where is that Rosemary when you need her?" he mumbled.

He looked up and down the street, then finally caught sight of her coming out of the Café!

The Judge, not willing to take any chances at not being seen, ran across the street, flailed her down, and quickly grabbed Rosemary's arm.

Before she even knew what was happening, Judge Avery was dragging Rosemary LeVeaux Coulter back to Nathan's office.

"Bill, what are you doing? If you don't stop dragging me all over this town, I'm going to make a formal complaint…"

"Well, that would be to me, so my advice is, don't bother! Besides we have important business to discuss. And there's not that much time! Get on in here and sit down!"

"Yes, Sir! Couldn't you at least be a little nicer about it? I tell you, Bill, sometimes I think you're the most couthless man I know!"

"Yeah, yeah! This is serious, Rosemary," while Bill looked around frantically for Nathan's Bible.

"And you don't think I'm serious?" she asked incredulously.

"No time for lectures on my manners, or lack thereof, today!"

Finding the Bible, he grabbed it and held it out before him, in a most formal position.

"Do you solemnly swear that what I'm about to show you, never leaves your mouth, not even to Lee?"

"Not even to Lee?"

"Not even to Lee! And I mean it, Rosemary. Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you solemnly swear?" he bellowed, so loud most of the town probably heard.

"Oh, alright! If it's that important, I swear! Now show me and stop wasting my time!"

He slowly unlocked the desk drawer.

"No, I better have you sign this, too!" momentarily changing his mind, he quickly scribbled out a legally binding document that once again swore Rosemary to secrecy.

"What is this? For Heaven's sake, Bill Avery!"

But knowing Bill, she signed the hastily drawn document without further complaint, as it would have been useless anyway since the Judge was not one to take no for an answer!

"Whatever is this all about," she asked none too kindly, with an air of exasperation.

Bill had a way of doing that…quickly making those around him reach their highest level of exasperation without warning!

When he finally pulled out the papers, her eyes got big and she screamed with happiness!

"He did it! I knew it! Right before Millicent left, you could just tell they loved each other and didn't know it! When are they coming back? We have to throw the biggest Engagement Party ever!"

"Tonight, but Rosemary, you can't call it an Engagement Party. Allie doesn't know. So, we have to keep this a huge surprise! That's why nobody can know!"

"And just how am I supposed to get the whole town together when I can't tell them what they're coming to and why?"

"You'll figure somethin' out. But Rosemary, I've got a feelin' Millicent will be coming back with him to tell Allie, so make it real nice. None of this halfway thrown together stuff!"

"I beg your pardon, you old goat! As if I'd ever do that!"

Rosemary was livid, but she quickly forgot, going back to pour over the delicious pictures.

"These are amazing! So very romantic. I could look at these all day!"

"Out! No time for that! You've got a top-secret party to throw. Tell the girls at the Café to do whatever you need, and tell Lucas you need Gustav for tonight. I want it real nice!"

She got up and instead of killing Bill, hugged him!

"This is going to be so much fun! It's going to be an extravaganza! But, I think maybe they'd like it to be a casual one. Although, stellar nonetheless. I'll have to think about it. Oh, and Millicent will stay with Lee and me while she's here!"

"No, she won't!"

"And why not?"

"Well, they don't exactly know it yet, but I'm stayin' with them as their official chaperone!"

"What?"

"And Rosemary, make sure you get the whole town there! They just can't know why! Make up somethin' and make it so they believe it! Have some kind of food they can't refuse that will get them all there. But, don't forget! Only the two of us can know…"


In Hamilton, at the Thatcher manse, Elizabeth decided to get up early this particular morning.

It was unusual, as she had been sleeping in quite late since her arrival from Hope Valley, allowing herself to be pampered by the Staff who adored her when she finally did awaken.

Today, her Father got the Sunday papers in from the larger cities of Canada, and she was anxious to look through the fashion pages.

She needed some new things for her stay in the big city, especially if she was going to be seen out in Society with her young Gentleman Callers.

"Good morning, Miss!" called Bertram cheerily, happy to see her up with a smile for a change.

"Good morning, Bertram. It's a beautiful morning!"

"Will you be taking breakfast, Miss?"

"Yes, I think this morning I just might! Let's make it Eggs Benedict with French Toast. Oh, and can Libby make some of her delicious Cherry Syrup?"

"May I help you with anything else? I know that look, Young Lady, and you're on a mission."

"Has Father gotten his papers yet?"

"No, Miss, they're on the front hall table where he always picks them up when he's ready for them. And now, if you don't need me, I'll get your breakfast ordered, and then go see what's keeping the Master."

"Thank you, Bertram."

Elizabeth smiled, and began the long trek from the elegant Thornton staircase, down their Main Hallway into the part that served as their rather grand main entrance.

She made it to the ornate hall table and reached for the stack of papers she was so anxious to flip through, as her mother came up behind her.

"Oh, good to see you up, Darling!"

"Good morning, Mother! Nice to be up for a change!"

But as Elizabeth glanced down at the paper on top, a paper from Montreal, she felt deathly ill and thought she was going to faint.

Instead, she gripped the edge of the front table, placing all her weight on it, allowing the marble to support her.

"Oh, Millicent Bradford's engaged! How delightful! She's such a beauty and the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet!" exclaimed Grace, peeking over her shoulder. "That's one lucky young man!"

"You've met her?"

"Yes, several times, Dear. Love her mother, too. Why Victoria Bradford is only the doyenne of all Canadian Society! Oh my, Millicent's young Gentleman is quite handsome! They make such a striking couple!"

As her mother walked on down the hall, oblivious as to what she had just seen as it related to her daughter, Elizabeth first fell, then slumped into the closest chair, breathing heavily in order to catch her breath.

She had a million feelings, and not a single one of them was good.

Surprisingly, anger wasn't one of them.

Thankfully, her pastor had at least helped her with that.

She now knew deep down this was on her, and only her.

Not Nathan and not Millicent.

Reality had set in, and she was finally owning it.

She even expected this eventually.

Yet she wasn't at all ready for it.

Certainly not now!

How could she have been so foolish?

This is the man she loved, and if truth be known this was the man she still loved, and probably always would love, but then the horrible memories came flooding back…

She had no right.

They had jointly agreed to break off what never was.

And what never was, was on her.

She wouldn't let him in when he had simply wanted so desperately to be a part of her life and Little Jack's life.

All he wanted to do was love them and spend his life making them happy.

He had even offered to do so, placing his heart in her hands, giving her his perfect love, even offering to start a new life outside the Mounties.

She had rebuked all of it, stomped on it, and ran away from it.

It was pure insanity...

Just as was the fact that she loved him, but refused to acknowledge it.

It was even worse than that.

She had berated and belittled him as though he hadn't been quite good enough for a Hamilton Princess.

She had pushed him away, telling him she only saw Jack in him, not because she didn't love him, but because of her fear.

She realized now, it had been Jack who had sent him to her and Little Jack, but it was too late.

And here he had the Princess of all Princesses by his side, even more beautiful and much wealthier than she'd ever be, though Millicent seemed to care about neither, someone she could take a lesson from.

They looked positively jubilant together.

She had known the two were in love before either of them knew it, and she had realized it at the same moment she knew there was no coming back for her and Nathan.

It was just so devastating to know that she herself had loved him so completely and totally inside her heart, but never once allowed it to be shown; she in fact had spewed the opposite of that love.

She created her own fantasy world and it had blown up in her face, leaving her ultimately with no one.

And all the while he had simply loved her through it all.

He had still supported her, loved her through her rejection, her illness, and through his immense pain.

"How could he have ever trusted me to truly love him after all the pain I caused?"

"Look at what you've done, Elizabeth. This is what you've done!"

"You could have been standing there beside him!"

"You could have been the happy one…"

She started to cry, but finally, her tears were spent.

And it was as though a part of her had died along with them.

She garnered all the fortitude she had and collected herself, shaking her head.

Then Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton walked straight to the phone, and asked the operator to ring the number she knew by heart…


Nathan and Millicent had just returned to the Cabin Suite, from their breakfast, followed by a lengthy visit with Serena and Cookie.

"I still can't believe you did this for me. It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done. Thanks ever so much, Darling!"

"The happiness on your face is worth every penny spent and every second it took my parents to make it happen, Love! All of us were happy to do it! Sit with me?"

He led her to the curved banquette by the right windows, so they could look out over the beautiful countryside rolling by.

She tucked her legs up on the seat under her dress, turning to her fiancée with a smile.

"This is perfect, Nathan!"

"You know when I was traveling alone, I would look out the window, and I could actually see you with me. It was so clear, Mil! And when your flowers arrived, I could actually smell your scent," he laughed. "Although, truthfully, I could smell it so clearly even before they arrived!"

She smiled lovingly, lightly caressing his rugged jawline.

"I know I missed you every bit as much! It was so hard not to be able to immediately embrace you, kiss you, touch you! But just your words on the phone that night made my life complete. I was so shocked, because I was terrified that we would never be, and the very thought created such a struggle within me, that it's impossible to describe how I felt. And then you called, and suddenly there was an us! A you and me. Together. It was everything. Like I could finally breathe, and all of a sudden, my life made sense!"

He took both her hands, looking deeply into her brilliant green eyes.

"Forgive me that it took so long?"

"Nothing to forgive. This is right. This is our time. Besides we have all that loveliness from growing up together, that I wouldn't take anything in the world for!"

He put his arm around her and she nestled into him as they watched a herd of cattle scatter from the noise of the train.

"I can't wait to hug Allie! But, Darling, tell me about her. What's her temperament normally? What are her favorite foods? Her favorite colors? Her favorite things to do beyond the fishing, reading, and riding, I already know about?"

"She's very perceptive for her age. In lots of ways, she's an old soul. But sometimes, I think it makes her grow up too fast. She can be moody if she's working through a problem. But for the most part, she's a joy to be around. She's considerate of others. Although, with Robert on the brain, she sometimes forgets her own work schedule! It's a challenge, I can tell you that!"

"I'm sure it is! After all, Darling, you are doing it all! Is she pushing you to do things with him?"

"All the time! It's Robert this and Robert that. He's a good kid, don't get me wrong. I just think they're too young to be so seriously fixated on each other. I've tried to give, as I take. But it's an ongoing effort. One, I'm not sure I'm staying ahead of very well."

"Do you have any specific issues?"

"The age difference. He's so much older than her and I see that as a potential problem, if not now, definitely later."

"That's fair, but it is generally true that girls mature a bit faster than boys, so that accounts for at least part of the difference. Have you discussed dating?"

"Truthfully, no. Except that she's too young to be thinking about that. I mean, they've danced together at events, as you saw at the Holiday Ball, but they don't go or leave together. They do fish together and get ice cream together. Things like that. I don't want to be a total ogre."

She wanted to laugh but knew this was serious.

"I don't think you could ever be an ogre, Darling!"

"I appreciate that, Love, but I'm not sure Allie would always agree! As far as activities, besides her favorites, the fishing, reading, and riding you mentioned, she also loves to be with her friends. She loves singing in the school choir, and has done solos beautifully."

"That doesn't surprise me, she gets the musical gene from both you and Colleen."

"I'd love her to have piano lessons."

"I can do that! In fact, I'd love to teach her!"

"Oh, Mil, I wasn't hinting. We don't even have a piano, but Allie would absolutely love that! She enjoys cooking when she has time to play with it but doesn't like to be rushed preparing a meal, although she's great at jumping in and helping me. She clears the table and I generally clean up, so she can get a head start on her homework. She usually has quite a bit, so during the school year that takes a lot of her time. She's in the excel program, which means a lot of independent work, too. She's an absolute whiz at math! But she still doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up."

"There's plenty of time for that; careers generally change several times throughout the teen years anyway!"

"Oh, she loves sleepovers, at our house and at her friends. It seems like those girls are always planning one or two at the same time! And believe me, I don't have a clue as to why they call them sleepovers, as sleep is the last thing they have on their minds! As far as food, she's pretty good about being willing to try everything, at least once, and if she doesn't like something, she's not afraid to tell you. As for food, her favorites are blueberry pancakes for breakfast, any kind of sandwich that can be concocted for lunch, and it's got to be Fried Chicken as her favorite for dinner, especially the legs. She gets both, by the way!"

"So noted!" laughed Millicent.

"But we're both always down for a good Fish Fry!" winked Nathan. "Let's see! Right now, Rhubarb is on her no-go list, along with Broccoli and Kale. And lavender is her color of choice. You know, it's funny. She hasn't wavered from that color since she's been four years old! Although, purple is a close second. Oh Mil, I just want my happy, carefree girl back!"

"Getting our happy, carefree girl back, is our number one priority, Love! But from everything you've told me, Allie seems to be a very decisive Young Lady. And that's a very good thing!"

He reached down to kiss her.

"I love you so terribly much!"

"And I love you so terribly much, too! Or should I say so wonderfully much?" she grinned. "I have to admit I'm a little nervous, though."

"Nervous? About what, Mil?"

"Well, of course, about telling her about us!"

"I give you my word, you can cross that concern off your list. She is going to be elated, Love! I promise you. I'm just worried about how we're going to get her to stop crying with happiness!"

She smiled and touched her hand against his cheek.

"But even more than that, how do I explain my family and all that involves? She's going to notice the Security Agents. It's just all hard to explain to a child. Especially when you don't want them to be enamored by wealth. Have you thought about that, Love?"

"I have thought about all of it. And I've prayed about all of it. A lot, actually. But truthfully, I still don't have all the answers, Mil. You know, I've always been straight with Allie, and I know you will be, too. I've always emphasized that family business stays with family. She knows she can ask me anything in private, but there are certain things that stay in the family. It's funny we had a talk on the phone this week about that very thing. And I don't want to hurt you with this at all, but you're going to be her mother. You have to know her thought process. She was upset that everyone was asking her about Elizabeth at school, and at other places, even with her being gone. I reminded her that no one in the public can make you say anything you don't want to say and that some things were meant to stay home. Discussion about Elizabeth being one of them. So, she decided to say, 'That's not something my Dad and I discuss in public but thank you for your concern.' It seemed to help, and I was so proud of her because she thought of that second part herself! But I admit I'm struggling on how to best tell her about the family wealth and the need for security without scaring her."

Millicent looked deep in thought.

"But Milli," and he lifted her face to him, "I do seem to have a peace, though, that the right words will come to us when we need them."

"Do you truly believe that?"

"I do truly believe that. Perhaps it would feel more impactful if you take the lead on explaining your family situation. I know enough to help if you get stuck. All you have to do is look at me, and I'll step in. But you know, I honestly don't think you'll need me, Babe! Then I can take the lead on the Security part. She knows that's what I do. She even knows the lingo. So, she won't question that part as much coming from me. Knowing Allie, she'll want to make them honorary uncles!"

Millicent smiled.

"That's sweet. You know I've prayed a lot about this too. Maybe, this will work. Maybe, this is where we have to step out in faith and just do our best. But you do realize, an Agent is going to have to attend school with her, or at least stay on the grounds, right?"

"Yes, and believe it or not, I actually like that idea, both as a father, and the Constable of Hope Valley. It has always bothered me that if something big happened, the children would basically be sitting ducks for an abductor to swoop in to hold them for ransom. I wonder if maybe we could present it to the School Board as filling a need, of course with us footing the bill? Allie would be a whole lot more accepting if she felt it was for everyone's safety and not just hers."

"That's absolutely perfect, Nathan! I love that idea! I can't tell you how much that relieves me! Maybe this won't be as bad as we're thinking. I'll protect her from all this every single way I can, and I know you will, too. And I'm talking about both the wealth and the security. You do know I'm committed to that, don't you?"

"Yes, Darling, I know you are totally committed to that. And I love you even more for it!"

"Do you give her a certain amount of money to use as her own, like an allowance? Or does she have to work for everything like we did?"

"What do you think?" he grinned.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down there! She works for what she gets – check! But I am allowed to buy her the necessities of life, right?" laughed Millicent, making a skeptical face.

"And what would you deem the necessities of life for a twelve-year-old?" teased Nathan.

"Well, we women have to have our clothes, our shoes, hair baubles, occasional pieces of jewelry for a special occasion, etc."

"I'm just giving you a hard time. Mil, I know you won't spoil her. Of course, you buy her whatever you want to buy her. Oh, and her allowance is twenty-five cents a week. I know, inflation from what we got! Also, whenever I have to be gone, I make sure she has extra for treats with her friends. But, why do I get the feeling I'm going to be so outnumbered?"

"Because, you are, Darling! You now have two girls to love!"

"And that makes me the luckiest man in the whole wide world!"

He drew her to him, kissing the tip of her nose, then moving lower to the lips he couldn't possibly resist.

"I adore you, Millicent Bradford, and don't forget, we have a standing date after Allie goes to bed!"

She giggled.

"I don't know. My daughter might need me!" she teased.

"Your fiancé will need you to, just so you know!" he winked.

"It's nice to be needed. For your information, Constable, your fiancée might just need you, too!"

"Yep, it is nice to be needed," and he flashed that crooked grin of his till she thought she might lose her breath.

"Stop that," she laughed. "That grin is lethal!"

So, he flashed it again…


He held her close and they told silly stories and laughed with each other, occasionally looking out at the scenery flashing by, but mostly just enjoying each other's company.

"Oh, Nathan! We've got to get all of Allie's things together! Thank goodness, I brought an extra trunk for her! We just need to get all her gifts sorted."

"May I help?"

"I'd love that. It won't take us long. Do you mind carrying the smaller trunk out here, so we can sort through everything in all the light?"

"Of course not!"

"It's on the left, just inside my door," she called.

They had piled all of the family gifts on the low table in front of the Suite's sofa, and Millicent moved there to start sorting through them.

"One small trunk accounted for! Goodness, Millicent, do you think there's going to be room for all this?"

"You're talking to an expert packer! I do think it's going to be tight though, with all the gifts! I should have brought a larger one!"

Millicent first emptied the items in the trunk Essie had packed for Allie, so she could rearrange and fit everything in.

"You couldn't have known there would be so many gifts!"

"No, but I should have known everyone would want to welcome her into the family! Which is a wonderful thing. Let's see, the books need to go in first, then the other smaller boxes. We'll put her dress on top so the bow doesn't get smashed, along with your mother's box marked fragile."

"Shows how much I know – I would have put the largest in first!"

"Heavy in first, Love!"

"See, I'm learning!" he grinned as he crouched down on the floor over the trunk, helping her arrange all the boxes.

She smiled and leaned over the trunk to lightly kiss him.

"Let's see, books, charm, necklace, dress, and all the other gifts! You know, I think I'll take the necklace out and put it in my purse to give her when we get off the Train! Everything else we can give her when we get home!"

"Do you know how wonderful that sounds, Mil? When we get home! Where would you like me to put this now that it's all packed?"

"Why don't you just leave it there by the entrance, since we'll be arriving this evening?

He moved the trunk to the door leading into their Cabin Suite, then returned and sat down beside her.

"What's wrong, Darling? You look so sad."

"Oh, Mil…"

She wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm just going to miss you so awfully much. And truthfully, there really won't be a lot of private time for us this week, even though, thankfully, we'll all be together."

She placed her head next to his, and they just sat there quietly, realizing the enormity of being together, yet still apart in some ways, followed by being physically separated for almost two months after their week together!

"We'll have a wonderful week with Allie, though! Right now, let's hold onto that and deal with our time apart, later, as we have to face it."

"And make the best of the time we have?"

"Absolutely make the best of the time we have…with our daughter."

"Yes, our daughter. I can't tell you how much I love the sound of that! From 'my daughter' to 'our daughter' is exactly the way it should be."

"Truthfully, Love, I just pray that Allie is happy and excited for us to be a family. That means more to me than anything else!"

He played with her slender wrists as if he was memorizing every single detail about every part of her.

Then he tenderly moved to her hands and fingers, matching his longer ones to hers, then bringing hers to his lips to kiss.

As he kissed her hands, she bent over him and kissed the top of his head at the same time.

She adored him, gathering him to her as if he were a child who needed soothing.

Because she somehow knew he did need to be soothed.

He needed to know she was still there for him this coming week, but also for the period during which they would be separated. And she reassured him in a way that left no doubt!

"We'll make lots of calls, and I'll write as much as I can. But don't you worry about writing back, I know you'll be busy," she promised.

"Are you serious, Millicent Bradford?" and he held her chin up toward him. "I absolutely will be writing my fiancée back. You will have written words from your fiancé every single day, I promise! How can I be a good husband, if I can't even be a good fiancé?"

His eyes were searching hers, and she could sense, his fear of being apart from her.

Truthfully, she felt it too.

And it terrified her.

How was she going to function? There was going to be so very much for her to do. With the wedding, the holidays, and reorganization of both her work and her charities.

She was facing an enormous workload.

She would not only have to function, but at peak level, too.

With all her might, she was trying her best to think of these next couple of months, as the next step to cross off their to-do lists, so she could spend her life with this man she adored, as his wife forever.

He touched her face, gently running his hand along her high curving cheekbones, down the length of her face to her chin, cupping it with his long fingers, and then back up again, touching her forehead, ending with his fingertips following along the curve of her eyebrows…

His mouth went to hers without thinking.

It was automatic.

Yet the heat of their enmeshed lips was nothing less than profound!

It was pure fire.

Devastating to anything that had ever come before it.

But laden with intriguing anticipation and expectation of what was to come.

Crackling, electric, intense, sizzling, smoldering – it was all there, and the fire they shared seared their spirits as one.

They might have to be separated physically for a time, but they would never be separated emotionally or mentally.

That connection had already been well forged, both over their lifetime and then in confessing and nurturing their love over this last week in Montreal, and that connection would stay whether they were together or apart.

It was everlasting...