So this story was as a result of reading some stuff online. So this is Gina Marie and Chrissy Sengle, this is for you. I wrote this little one shot last night based on your comments/posts
This is just a fun little fluff piece for everyone to enjoy. ~ Hope
… … …
The Keeper of Memories
Nathan Grant walked into his row house having left the party at the saloon. It had almost been a perfect birthday. He had gotten to spend part of the day with Allie and the party at the saloon had been nice, even if he didn't like being the center of attention. Nathan had to admit that it had been fun to visit with people and the food had been good. He had gotten to go fishing and so he was okay with spending time with people. Nathan knew that the only thing that would have made the birthday perfect, would have been a kiss from Elizabeth, but he knew it was still a little soon for that to happen, but he could dream. There was always next year.
Nathan finished undoing the tie he had worn at Allie's request and took a seat on the settee. He closed his eyes and thought about the moment that he and Elizabeth Thornton had shared on the porch as the party had been winding down. There was definitely something there, but he was still being cautious. He wasn't sure he could handle a second or actually a third rejection from Elizabeth. He wanted more, but he also didn't want to ruin the friendship they had built. If he wasn't still trying to protect his own heart, he might have been bolder and kissed her when they had been so close. He could see the love in her eyes, but he wasn't sure she was ready and worked through the fear that had her back for so long.
As Nathan relived the moment with Elizabeth on the porch, a smile came to his face. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out two gold stars. One was the one he had pulled from Elizabeth's hair and the other was from the shoulder of her dress that he had picked up later. He held the two stars in his hand and thought about what it would be like to kiss Elizabeth.
Nathan instinctively licked his own lips as he thought about what it would feel like to have Elizabeth's on his. He wondered if they would be as soft as her hair had been when he pulled the star that had been stuck in her hair. He still couldn't believe he had done that. He had never been that bold in his life and touched a woman, even though it was mostly an innocent move. He had never initiated contact between them. Nathan admitted that he had been wanting to run his fingers through Elizabeth's hair since she had walked into the saloon with her new short hair do. He had been so gobsmacked when she had walked in with short hair. As much as he loved her long hair, he loved how her short hair bounced. He thought it just suited her better.
Nathan let out a sigh, got up and went to his desk. He carefully set the stars aside for a moment. He opened the drawer and pulled out his hidden leather bound journal. He slowly undid the leather strap that kept the journal closed. As he opened the journal, Nathan let the good memories wash over him like a warm, gentle spring rain. The pages contained mementos from all the good memories he had about Elizabeth Thornton, even if it had been an ordinary object, he had kept something to always remember the good times over the last five years. There were pine needles from that first Christmas when they went tree hunting together. There was a piece of scrap ribbon from Little Jack's Christening. There was a flower he had pulled from the bouquet that he had given her. There was a copy of the picture of him and Elizabeth from Clara and Jesse's wedding.
Nathan found the next blank page. He carefully added the two stars with some glue. He then picked up the blue fountain pen that Elizabeth had gotten him that first Christmas. He wrote the date and why the stars were important. He wrote about the moment they had on the porch. Once he was done, he closed the journal and hid it back in his desk. He then sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Night my sweet Lizbeth." Nathan whispered.
After sitting there for a few moments, enjoying a feeling of he just thinking about touching Elizabeth's hair again. Nathan had to stop himself before he threw caution to the wind and walked down to Elizabeth's row house. He sighed, got up and closed up the downstairs knowing that Allie was safely a few doors down at the Canfields as she was spending the night with Angela.
Nathan picked up his tie and headed upstairs. He was in a good mood so he didn't want to think about how the party ended and what it meant to have Bouchard back in town. Nathan just hoped and prayed that he and Elizabeth could find a way forward. He knew that she was going to have to make it crystal clear to him what she wanted. He wanted her to make the first move or at least tell him that she was all in with him.
Nathan said his prayers, which included those for Elizabeth. He prayed that they could find their way to making a family together. Nathan laid back on the bed, focusing on the good parts of the day. Including the moment with Elizabeth on the porch. He fell asleep dreaming of Elizabeth and a family with her.
… … …
Little did Nathan know that he wasn't the only one who was reliving that moment on the porch. As Elizabeth had been cleaning up, she was able to tuck a couple of the gold stars like what Nathan had pulled from her hair. She had folded them into a piece of paper and tucked that in her basket. She had also been able to get a few scraps of ribbon from the balloon that had been at the party. She had tucked those into her basket as well. Rosemary had seen her and gave her a knowing smile, but didn't say anything.
Now back at home at her writing desk, Elizabeth opened her journal and wrote about the day and evening. She wrote about how she had wished that Nathan would have kissed her when they had been on the porch of the saloon. Elizabeth brought her hand up and brushed her hair where Nathan and so gently pulled a confetti star that had been stuck in her hair, while caressing her new short locks at the same time. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he had put the confetti there just to be able to touch her hair.
Elizabeth then moved her fingers to her lips and for the millionth time wondered what it would be like for Nathan to kiss her. She wondered if he would be soft and gentle like he was with some other things. She wondered if Nathan could convey meaning with his lips like he did with his eyes. Elizabeth let out a contented sigh. She knew that she had hurt Nathan and he wouldn't make a move until she had made it clear that she was ready and still wanted him.
Elizabeth then shuddered as she thought back to the hurried and forceful kisses Lucas had given her. He had been anything but soft and gentle. He had been greedy and demanding in their kisses. She shook her head as she didn't want to think about that when she was so happy after having spent the evening with Nathan. She knew in the end that Lucas had been all wrong for her and he had made that perfectly clear that he never loved her and only saw her in a lustful manner. He had made that quite clear when he suggested there was nothing wrong with them being together together since they were engaged to be married. Elizabeth knew that she had made the right choice to break things off. Not only would Lucas never have had her heart, but she wanted more than the lustful things that Lucas was offering.
Elizabeth shifted her thoughts back to Nathan. She knew he had held back when they had been on the porch. She had seen the desire in his eyes, but she knew he would wait until she had made her intentions clear. She didn't blame him, she had hurt him badly. She loved Nathan and wanted a future with him. She wanted to spend her life getting to know that man that often occupied her thoughts. Now, she just needed to find a way to make that clear to him.
Elizabeth finished writing in her journal and carefully glued the stars onto one of the pages. She then tucked the scraps of ribbon in between the pages and closed the journal. She closed the journal. She also closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then kissed the cover of the journal and put it back on the shelf.
Elizabeth then closed up the downstairs and before heading up, looked in the direction of Nathan's row house.
"Good night, sweet Nathan." Elizabeth whispered.
Elizabeth turned down the lamp and headed up to bed, knowing that she was going to dream about a tall, rugged, dark haired Mountie that night. That thought brought an even bigger smile to Elizabeth's face.