Ned heard a sigh coming from behind the shelves in the mercantile. He saw Allie walk in a few minutes ago and he asked if she needed any help. She said no, but Ned noticed that she looked a million miles away. He wasn't sure what she was looking for but he decided to give her a few more minutes before offering help again.
Elizabeth walked into the mercantile with her basket in hand. She stopped by on her way home from school. Elizabeth needed to buy something for dinner tonight. She had been busy with school, Jack, and working on getting the library ready for the opening. Elizabeth said a quick hello to Ned and saw Allie over at the side. She didn't have anything in her hands and kept looking between the jars and cans on the shelf.
"Allie, are you looking for something? Can I help?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh, hi Mrs. Thornton. I am not sure. I wanted to make dinner for Uncle Nathan. He said he would be going out on rounds late so he could visit some of the houses outside of town. I thought it would be nice if he had dinner when he got home but I have no idea what to make."
"Allie, you are so sweet. I'll tell you what. I was in here to get something for dinner as well. Why don't we make dinner together at my house and we can leave a message for your uncle on his desk in the Mountie office."
"That would be great! What should we make?"
"What are some of your uncle favorites?"
"He isn't too picky. I think he would like anything we made. He loves dessert though. Do you think we could make something or get dessert from the cafe?"
"I think that can be arranged. We can get a roast and potatoes. There are some vegetables over there if you want to pick one. I can get these canned peaches and we can make a peach pie too."
"This will be the best surprise ever!" Allie said as she threw her arms around her teacher's waist. Elizabeth was taken back at first, but easily settled into the hug. After a minute, she pulled back.
"Ok, let's make sure we have everything. You can come with me and we can get started after we leave the note for your uncle."
Allie went to get the vegetables and Elizabeth looked over and saw Ned smiling. Elizabeth was happy and it wasn't only at the thought of seeing Nathan later. Elizabeth gathered all the ingredients in her basket and Ned put the charges on her account. Elizabeth and Allie walked out the door and down the steps. They passed a man as they walked by and he glanced back at them. When Elizabeth reached the street, she heard the man say "Are you Allie? You look just like your mother did at her age."
Elizabeth stepped in front of Allie before she could speak. "May I help you sir?"
"Are you Nathan's wife?" the man said.
"No, I am Allie's teacher. Do you know Nathan?" Elizabeth tried to stay calm as she asked the question. The thought of being Nathan's wife made her feel all warm inside. She wanted to tell this man yes she was. But Nathan and her hadn't even been on a date yet so it was too soon to be feeling that way.
"Archie Grant. I am Nathan's father."
"Grandpa?" Allie moved to Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth heard the question in Allie's voice. Nathan hadn't talked much about his family but the fact that neither Nathan's father or Allie knew each other meant something was going on and Elizabeth decided it would be best until Nathan was there to decide what to do.
"Nathan is currently on rounds. Do you know how long you will be in town?"
"I haven't decided. I came here to see my son and granddaughter."
"There are rooms above the saloon if you would like to check in there. Allie and I need to get going but we will let Nathan know you are in town as soon as he gets back. I'm sure he will talk to you then."
Archie nodded and smiled at Allie before walking away.
"Allie, let's go leave the note for your uncle. We can add on there about your grandfather coming to town. Have you met him before?"
"No, Uncle Nathan always said he lived too far away. Do you think he would stay in Hope Valley?"
"I don't know Allie, but I think you need to talk about this with your uncle when he is back in town." Elizabeth said, putting her hand on Allie's shoulder. Both of them walked to the office and Elizabeth put her basket on the desk. Allie walked around the office, sitting in the jail cells and looking at the posters on the wall. Elizabeth found a pen on the desk but no paper. She opened a couple of the drawers to find a blank piece of paper to leave a note.
When she opened one of the bottom drawers, she found paper, but on top of them was a small black box. Elizabeth gasped quietly. It looked like the box that held her engagement ring from Jack. It was definitely too small to be for a necklace or bracelet. Was this something meant for her? How long had Nathan had it?
"Mrs. Thornton?"
Elizabeth took the paper and shut the drawer quickly. "Yes, Allie?"
"Could we invite Grandpa to dinner?"
"Not this time Allie, I think we should give your uncle time to talk to him before inviting him to dinner. Plus, we don't know what time your uncle would be back and they probably have a lot to talk about it."
"Ok, you're right. Did you write the note?"
Elizabeth finished up the note, telling Nathan to come to her house for dinner with Allie and warning him that his father was at the saloon getting a room for the night. "Yes, we can go to my house now so we can get started on everything."
––––––––––
Nathan arrived at the Mountie office a couple hours later. He was tired and he had already taken Newton to the stables for the night. It was late but he was hoping he could talk Allie into a simple dinner at home. He didn't think he had the energy to cook or go to the cafe. He walked into the office to make sure Bill didn't leave him a note about anything going on in town that he needed to deal with before going home.
He walked over to his desk and he saw the paper with handwriting on it. Once he saw the lovely script, he knew it was from Elizabeth. He was thrilled to have dinner with her and the children. Nathan didn't feel so tired anymore. Maybe he could change before going over there. Then he read the next part of the note. His father? Why would he be there? He wanted to find out first before going to Elizabeth's.
Nathan walked to the saloon and up to the bar where Lucas was standing. "Hello constable."
"Hello Lucas. Has an Archie Grant checked in here?"
"Yes, he said he was your father. He is in room 4 if you want to go up."
"Thank you. And Lucas? Can you let me know if there is any trouble while he is here?"
"Should there be?"
"I hope not," Nathan said as he walked towards the stairs. He walked up and found the door with a "4" on it. Nathan knocked and watched as the door opened. The man he hadn't seen in over 15 years stood in front of him.
"Nathan, I'm glad to see you son."
"Why are you here?"
"Is that anyway to greet your father?"
"Now you want to be my father? Tell you what, stay away from me and stay away from Allie. I'm sure there is a train leaving for wherever you came from in a day or two." Nathan said as he started to walk away.
"I'm staying until you talk to me or until I get to know my granddaughter."
"That is not happening." Nathan said as he turned back, eyes like steel and pointing in Archie Grant's chest. Nathan walked down the steps of the saloon as Archie closed the door. Nathan knew this wasn't over. He tried to calm himself as he walked towards the door and out on the street. He knew he'd have to deal with him again, but for tonight he wanted to enjoy this dinner as he walked towards Elizabeth's house.
––––––––––––––
Elizabeth and Allie had worked together to make a peach pie that was on the counter cooling. Elizabeth had put the roast in the oven and Allie was helping to peel the potatoes. Both of them had cleaned the green beans that were on the stove. Everything was almost ready when Elizabeth heard a knock on the door. She wiped her hands on her apron and went to the door. Nathan stood there in his serge. Elizabeth took a breath seeing him standing there, looking very much like a prince in one of the storybooks she had read as a young girl.
"You got our note."
"I did. Thank you for inviting us Elizabeth. After rounds, I was hoping Allie would be ok with a simple dinner because of how tired I was." Nathan said before placing a quick kiss on her lips and walking into the house.
Before he moved too far into the room, Elizabeth asked, "you read the whole note?"
"Yes, we can talk about it later, ok?"
Elizabeth nodded as she took Nathan's hat from him and hung it on the hook by her door. Nathan walked in and removed his belt and holster, placing it on the hook as well. Elizabeth could see him hesitate so she said, "you can hang your serge there as well if you'd like."
Nathan smiled, amazed that Elizabeth could already read his mind. He was trying to determine if she would be uncomfortable with him just in his henley and suspenders with judpurs. He would do anything for her, even if that meant sitting in the uncomfortable serge all night.
"Hi Uncle Nathan, we made dinner!"
"I can see that. Whose idea was this? Not that it matters but I'd like to know who to thank."
"I wanted to make dinner for you when you said you would be out late. Mrs. Thornton saw me in the mercantile and suggested that we do this together. We even made pie."
"Well you didn't tell me there was pie," Nathan said, winking at Elizabeth. "Thank you to both of you. Where's Jack?"
"He is upstairs. He had so much fun playing with Allie when we got here that he fell asleep a few minutes ago. He might wake up later but I think he will be down for the night." Elizabeth said.
The three of them shared dinner and laughed all throughout. Allie did not bring up about her grandfather. Elizabeth told her that it was probably a conversation that her uncle would like to have with just her. After dinner, Elizabeth brought out the pie and they all had a slice- Nathan even had two. Elizabeth could tell that Allie was getting tired as it was quite late. Nathan wanted to stay and talk to Elizabeth but Elizabeth said it was ok and to take Allie home. Allie went to get her coat from the rack by the door.
"Elizabeth, I want to tell you about my father. Maybe we could meet for lunch tomorrow? I can come by the school house."
"Yes, we can talk then. I can stop by the cafe in the morning and pick up some sandwiches. If something changes, let me know, ok?"
"I will, thank you Elizabeth, for everything," Nathan took her hand and squeezed it. Nathan went to put on his serge and his belt. Allie took his hat down and held it as he put everything back on.
"Goodnight Elizabeth."
"Goodnight, thank you for helping me with dinner Mrs. Thornton."
"Goodnight, see you both tomorrow."