"Edward has done business with Charles Kensington for years. One of the associates with Kensington Holdings recently moved to Benson Hills," Bill said looking through the papers on his desk.

"Really? Why would he do that?" Nathan asked.

"Officially, the company said he retired. But one of my contacts said he was let go because he didn't like the things that were going on within the company. I think one of us should go and talk to him."

"I can do that. I could go as a Mountie and check in at the office there. No one would question me being in town."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you should stay here and check on things with the people you know. I will need to find someone for Allie to stay with and I can leave tomorrow."

"Ok, give me a call if you find out anything. I'll find out the man's address for you. His name is John Weldon."

Nathan nodded and stood from the chair in Bill's office. He glanced at the clock in the office and saw that school would be ending soon. He needed to talk to Elizabeth.

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Elizabeth sat at her desk grading papers after the children left. She could still hear them playing outside but she was used to the sound so it was easy for her to concentrate on the papers in front of her. She felt a difference in the air which caused her to look up. It was like to could sense that her heart became whole as he walked into the room. She smiled as Nathan walked towards her, removing the hat from his head.

"Nathan! Not that I'm not thrilled to see you but what brings you here?" Elizabeth said as she stood and walked to the front of her desk.

"Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth's smile fell and her stomach dropped as he said her name. She knew something was wrong. She put her hands back and leaned against her desk.

"No, it's nothing like that," Nathan immediately said, taking her hands in his. He knew that her mind would immediately go to him leaving on a mission for the Mounties. "I need to go out of town but it's not a mission. Bill and I were looking into Edward Morton's business. There is someone in Benson Hills that may know something and I need to go there to talk to him.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and stood in front of Nathan. She was relieved that it wasn't an assignment but she knew anything could be dangerous. Jack had been training recruits when he died. She looked up into his eyes and put her hands on his chest, the fabric of his Mountie uniform rough beneath her fingers. She didn't want to tell him now in the school house but she wanted him to feel her love. Elizabeth grabbed the fabric in her hands and pulled him closer to her.

"Go to Benson Hills and talk to whoever you need to. But be careful and you come home to me, do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am." Nathan said with a smile. Elizabeth kissed Nathan as he wrapped his arms around her. After their date last night and both of them realizing their unspoken feelings, the kiss went deeper than it had before. The sound of children outside caused the kiss to end sooner than they wanted.

Nathan pulled back and asked her, "Elizabeth, would you mind if Allie stayed with you? Normally I'd ask someone else but she has such an ease with you."

"I would love it if she would stay with me. I think it would be good for both of us."

Nathan smiled, "I am going to leave at first light. Would it be ok if I bring Allie over tonight?"

Elizabeth nodded. Nathan gave her another quick kiss before putting his hat back on and walking towards the door. When he got to the door, he turned back and saw Elizabeth still standing there with a smile. He could see tears starting to form in her eyes. He knew she was worried about him and he hated to leave her. Nathan tipped his hat and turned to walk down the steps. He would talk to Bill before heading home to ask him to check on Elizabeth and Allie while he was gone.

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Nathan walked out of his row house just as the sun was starting to rise. He had taken Allie to Elizabeth's last night as planned and he had packed a small bag in case he had to stay overnight. He wanted to get everything done in one day but he wasn't sure how long it would take to find Mr. Weldon. Nathan started to walk past the other row houses and towards the stables. He could see someone sitting on the steps of one of the other houses. As he got closer, he saw Elizabeth sitting on the steps with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

Elizabeth stood as Nathan got to her house and he set his bag down next to her steps. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked her.

"I wanted to see you before you left," Elizabeth said.

"I'll be careful, I promise."

"I thought you didn't make promises."

"I can make this one. I have a lot to come home to."

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He held her and put his chin on her head. After a couple minutes of just holding each other, Nathan whispered, "Sweetheart, I need to go." Elizabeth looked up at him in shock. "What?" Nathan said.

"You've never called me that before."

"Is that ok?"

"It's definitely ok."

Nathan kissed her, "I'll be home soon." Nathan picked up his bag and started to walk away.

"Nathan!" Elizabeth ran after him. As he turned, Elizabeth pulled him towards her and gave him a kiss that he would think about for the entire ride to Benson Hills. Nathan put his hand on her cheek and kissed her softly before he walked towards the stables. He wanted to get this over with to get home to her as soon as possible.

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Nathan arrived in Benson Hills later that day. He went to the Mountie office first to check in with the Mounties posted there and find a place where he could take Newton to give him a rest. The two Mounties that were posted there, Constables Linwood and Doyle, offered to take Newton as they were heading to the stable to get their own horses for rounds. The constables also offered to meet him for dinner and the three made a plan to meet at the office.

After pulling the address from his pocket, Nathan got directions to John Weldon's house from Constable Doyle. The constable told Nathan that he didn't know much about Mr. Weldon and that he kept to himself since he had been in town. It wasn't far from the office so Nathan decided to walk.

After a short walk, Nathan stood in front of the house which was larger than all the buildings in Hope Valley. Nathan walked up to the front door and knocked. He knocked a second time after there was no answer but no one came to the door. Nathan looked in the window to the side and the room was dark. It looked like he wasn't home. Nathan decided to walk around town and try to come back tonight.

Nathan walked to the mercantile in town. It was similar to the one in Hope Valley but there was a section for books. He found a couple new ones that Allie had talked about. He also found a book of poetry that he wanted to get for Elizabeth. As he walked to the front with the books, he saw a small wooden truck on a table that he thought Jack would love. He picked up that one as well and paid for his purchases. He carried them all to the Mountie office, hoping he could leave them there before his dinner with the other Mounties.

After dinner, Nathan decided that John Weldon might be more willing to talk if he was not in his Mountie uniform. Nathan changed into the clothes he had brought with him in the Mountie office and walked to Weldon's house. He knocked on the door and a man answered, "Can I help you?"

"Mr. Weldon. My name is Nathan Grant. I was hoping I could ask you some questions."

"I don't know you Mr. Grant. Why should I talk to you?"

"Please Mr. Weldon. I am a constable in Hope Valley. There is a man there who has business with Charles Kensington. I am trying to figure out what type of business they are in together so I can protect my family and the town."

John Weldon looked at Nathan and he could see the sincerity in his eyes. John had always thought to himself as a good judge of character, which is why he had left Hamilton when he found out what Charles was up to. "Come in, constable. You and I will have a lot to talk about tonight."

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Elizabeth sat at home at her desk after Jack and Allie both went to bed. She had started working on her novel at night. The novel had taken a romantic turn and started to follow her and Nathan's relationship. She changed some of the moments and the names but it started to feel good to pour out her feelings in the novel that she didn't dare say out loud.

"Mrs. Thornton?" Elizabeth looked up seeing Allie standing at the bottom of the stairs in her nightgown.

"Allie, is everything ok?"

"I couldn't sleep. I always have trouble sleeping when Uncle Nathan is away."

"Why don't you come in the kitchen and I will get you a glass of water."

Allie sat down and looked at the glass of water in her hand. Elizabeth sat next to her and waited for her to talk. "I know Uncle Nathan is a Mountie and sometimes he needs to go away for work but it is hard. What if something happens to him? He is all I have."

"Oh Allie, you know that your uncle will do everything he can to be safe and come home to you. He loves you very much."

"Did you know that Uncle Nathan is going to adopt me?" Allie looked up at Elizabeth with a smile.

"I didn't but Allie that is wonderful! You must be so excited."

"I am. I have wanted a dad for a long time and Uncle Nathan has always felt like my dad." Allie looked down and whispered, "I have wanted a mother too."

Elizabeth wasn't sure how to respond. As Elizabeth got closer to Nathan and dreamed of a future, there was a part of her that thought of what would happen with her relationship with Allie. She didn't know how Allie would react to her being a mother figure in her life and Elizabeth would never want to force that role on Allie.

"I want you to know that I will always be here for you. If you ever need someone to talk to or need help. And if your uncle goes out of town and you want to stay here it is ok with me, as long as it is ok with him of course."

Allie wrapped her arms around her teacher's waist, "Thank you Mrs. Thornton."

"Ok, it is time for both of us to get some sleep. Your uncle will be home tomorrow and he wouldn't want us to stay up worrying about him." Elizabeth helped Allie stand and she walked up with her. Elizabeth pushed her own worries aside until she was in her room with the door shut. She sat on her bed and prayed for Nathan's safety. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.