Author's Note:
With this one-shot, I am introducing "Righting by Writing," a place to post one-shots and short stories that are glimpses into the life of our Grant family. Each posting will have its own title, so in FanFiction it will appear as a chapter although it is not in sequence nor directly connected to any previous story.

This one-shot is meant to envision the conversations that immediately follow the photo of Nathan's surprised look shown at the dinner table in episode 10. Please excuse any errors as I am posting this with minimal proofing on the same day I've written the story which is extremely rare for me! Inspiration sometimes just surprises me… I hope you enjoy! Eilie

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Righting by Writing
By Eilie Hunter

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Important Questions Answered

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"Dad?"

After dinner cleanup and seated beside Nathan with her head on his shoulder, Allie tilted her face towards him as she sought his response to her question at dinner. "Can you answer my question now? Jack's in bed and…"

Elizabeth's footsteps could be heard descending the stairs when she suddenly stopped.

"Elizabeth? Please join us?" Nathan leaned his head back to catch her eye, "You need to hear this too."

Resuming her descent, Elizabeth joined Nathan and Allie in the parlor, choosing the arm chair opposite father and daughter.

Drawing strength from Elizabeth's presence, Nathan looked into Allie's face and began, "You asked how your mother could marry a man like Dylan Parks?"

Allie nodded, waiting.

"This may be difficult to hear, Allie, but your mother was beautiful, yet gullible. Dylan had been hired as a ranch hand and, although the men ate meals in their quarters, Grandma cooked and either a couple of the men came to our kitchen door to pick up the food or we delivered it to their bunk house. Your mother was very pretty and Dylan noticed. He would wink or flatter her or make sure he was one of those that came to the door, trying to engage her in conversation."

"Grandma told me later that she tried her best to keep them apart, but her efforts were fruitless. One night, she caught them kissing on the back steps and warned Dylan that Colleen was way too young. She told him he was too old for Colleen and that she was off limits. Mom threatened that if she found him sneaking around again she would have him let go."

"I recall a heated argument when Mom followed Colleen upstairs, and I believe that it was after that conversation," Nathan paused, shaking his head.

Allie interrupted, "How old were they?"

Glancing at Elizabeth, he lifted his eyebrows and widened his eyes before answering, "Dylan was twenty and Colleen was…" Nathan coughed, "She was sixteen."

"Oh…" Allie looked down, staring at the handkerchief in her hands.

"I think they continued their trysts, Colleen sneaking back into the house late, because Mother and she argued frequently. Colleen claimed she was old enough to make up her own mind and she loved Dylan. My father returned from prison during this time and set strict limits, getting Dylan removed from the ranch and watching Colleen carefully, which resulted in the arguments including both our parents."

"The added interference of Dad's presence and the absence of Dylan came to a head, because one morning I awakened to find an envelope had been slipped under my bedroom door. From downstairs I heard the sounds of my mother sobbing and my father pacing the floor. The letter told me Colleen had run off to marry Dylan and not to worry because she knew what she was doing. She promised to write when they settled."

"Dad took off to search for them, but didn't return. We eventually received a letter from Dad who was incarcerated in Calgary apologizing for not being able to track down Colleen. We later found out that in his searching, Dad had tried to win in a card game and lost his timepiece, horse, and all but his wedding band and the clothing on his back, ending up in prison for robbery."

"We didn't hear from Colleen for many months and, because by then she was seventeen, the Mounties couldn't treat her as a runaway child. When your mother wrote, she said Dylan had found another ranch job, they were staying together on the ranch, and she was helping with the cooking and chores. Our next letter, months later was posted near Lethbridge which is when Colleen told us she was expecting a baby and then one arrived from Airdrie where you were born. It wasn't long after that when Colleen asked if she could move back home to live on our ranch and help however she could. That's when Colleen returned, with a babe-in-arms but no husband."

"Over the next few years Dylan visited a few times, but didn't stay long. When he left for good, Colleen stopped using the name Parks, although she wore her wedding band until her death."

"By the time she passed, I had joined the Mounties so I was only around when you were a baby, Allie."

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Allie mumbled another question, "How did my mother die?"

By now, Nathan and Elizabeth were both weeping, and Nathan spoke huskily, "She developed an infection and never recovered."

Elizabeth rose and crossed to kneel in front of Nathan and Allie, enfolding them in her arms as she silently prayed. 'Dear God, how much they have suffered…'

Once Allie's crying stilled, Nathan questioned her, "Allie? Do you have any more questions now?"

"So even back then Dylan didn't want me or care about me?" Allie whispered, remembering she had been informed that he denied having a daughter when she had attempted to see him at the Granville prison.

As Elizabeth released her hug, she held both Nathan and Allie's hands while Allie continued her questions.

"He never tried to find me or see me?"

Clearing his throat, Nathan hung his head before responding, "I don't know about caring, Honey, but he never cared the way a father should. He did find you once though and…" Nathan gulped, searching for words. He saw Elizabeth nod and felt her squeeze his hand before continuing, "Dylan tried to extort money in exchange for leaving us alone. That was when he attacked me and when the Mounties arrested him and put him in Granville prison, Allie."

"He attacked you? He only wanted money and didn't want to see me?"

Elizabeth spoke softly as new tears escaped down Allie's cheeks, "Sweetheart, there is something wrong with Dylan to not care about his own flesh and blood. But," Elizabeth stroked Allie's cheek, "God gave you the most wonderful father you could ever have, a father that loves you so much he was willing to raise you, protect and provide for you, and to adopt you as his own."

"I know," Allie moved to hug Nathan tightly, as she sobbed out her heart, "I'm sorry for trying to see Dylan and not being satisfied with you. I know you are my real family, Dad. I love you."

"I understand, Honey. I'm just so sorry I didn't think you were old enough to handle all of this and I tried to keep you from finding out. I'm… I'm sorry…"

"You didn't want me to get hurt… I messed up and should have believed you…"

"Your Dad wanted to protect you from all this pain, Allie, but now that it is out in the open, we can appreciate his sacrifices and his desire to love you as only a true father can love. He was willing to be hurt himself to protect you…"

Whispering into his chest, Allie's voice was garbled, "Thank you, Dad…"

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Elizabeth hugged Allie once she calmed again, "Allie, would you like to stay here and sleep upstairs tonight?"

Shaking her head, Allie used the handkerchief then responded, "I don't think so. I need to be with Dad and I want to write in my journal for awhile. Is that okay?"

"Sure, Honey. Don't stay up too late though. After Elizabeth and I talk I'll check in with you when I get home." Nathan reached down to kiss the top of Allie's head, confessing, "I love you, Allie, and I will never forsake you."

"I know. I love you, Dad, and I love you too, Mrs. Thornton."

"Good night, Sweetheart. I love you," Elizabeth hugged the young woman before returning into the house to fetch a shawl and a blanket.

"I'll watch you from here," Nathan stepped into the lane as Allie walked home.

Waving as Allie entered their front door, Nathan turned towards the porch and saw Elizabeth set another blanket beside her and motion for him to be seated.

"What a day, Nathan," she whispered as she took his hand in hers and leaned on his shoulder.

"I know. I feel as though I have hit all the highs and the lows in just a few days!" Nathan let his head rest on hers and covered her hand with his. "Thank you for being there for me, Lisbeth. I don't think I could have gone through all of these challenges with Allie without you beside me."

"Oh, I believe you could have, Nathan, but God didn't want you to have to be alone. He brought us together for such a time as this." She caressed his hand and spoke softly, "I love you, Nathan Grant. I'm so in love with you that I can think of little else."

Adjusting his position to wrap his arm around her, Nathan took her hand and held it against his heart, "You are making me the happiest man alive, Lisbeth." He held her gaze for one of their longing stares before slowly bending to kiss her upturned lips. Their lips fit so beautifully together, as though meant to be. He tasted her sweetness and extended their kiss as she responded the same.

When they parted, Nathan confessed, "I love you so much, dear Lisbeth. It feels so good to hold you in my arms that I hate to have to go home."

"Maybe we could fix that?" Her voice was soft but hopeful.

Nathan straightened and searched her face. "Fix it? And get married?"

The joy of a million dreams coming true illuminated Nathan's smile, "Elizabeth, we'll get married! We don't need a fancy wedding. We can just get the children, and the Coulters, and Bill, and get married! Is tomorrow too soon? Or, maybe on Friday? I think I can wait that long… Oh, and we have to tell Allie and I have to ask Jack for your hand, right?"

"You know, I don't recall saying yes…" Elizabeth's eyes twinkled with mirth.

Leaning closer, his own eyes sparkling and full of love and joy, Nathan breathed against her lips, "Yeah, but you were gonna…"

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