Nathan had gone out early to finish his rounds. He couldn't sleep last night, thinking about Elizabeth. He had heard Rosemary and Elizabeth drive by his row house as he was putting on his boots this morning. He thought he saw Elizabeth look towards his row house, but maybe he had imagined it. Nathan wished that he could have gone with Elizabeth to Union City for the reading. He had called the hotel after talking to Lee yesterday. Lee mentioned that the women were planning to have lunch at the hotel before the reading. Nathan hoped that their plans had not changed but when he called the hotel, the owner told him he would call today and let him know about the payment. He wanted to do something nice for Rosemary since she had offered to go with Elizabeth on this trip.
After rounds, Nathan went to the Mountie office with a sandwich for the cafe. He had rode for longer than usual trying to clear his mind. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone which is why he decided to eat in the office. He also wanted to be there for the call from the hotel. He was grateful that the owner had been willing to take payment after the lunch. Nathan had a feeling that was due to him giving his title when he called. The phone rang a couple of minutes after he sat down.
"Constable Grant, I have Mr. Burton with the Union City hotel on the line for you."
"Thank you Fiona, please put him through. Mr. Burton, hello."
"Constable, good afternoon. I am calling to let you know that the ladies had come for lunch this afternoon. The figure we discussed should cover the amount of the lunch. The ladies were confused that it had been paid for and from what the waiter had said, they were very grateful to whoever had paid for it."
"Thank you sir. I will go to the bank this afternoon and have the funds transferred."
"My pleasure. If you would ever like to come stay with us or have lunch in the hotel, please give me a call. I will arrange everything. Have a great day constable."
"Thank you Mr. Burton. Have a great day as well."
Nathan hung up the phone. He smiled thinking about Elizabeth's and Rosemary's surprise at having the lunch paid for. He looked at his watch, seeing that they were currently in the reading. He hoped that Elizabeth enjoyed it and that they could talk about it when she returned. Nathan began to think about the date they had talked about. He wanted to take Elizabeth on a date, maybe he could ask Rosemary and Lee to travel with them to Buxton for the day. Maybe he could think of something in Hope Valley but he wanted it to be special.
Nathan was thinking about too many things and put his elbows on the desk. He decided it might be a good idea to chop some wood this afternoon. He could use some outside the Mountie Office and he could check at home. He walked outside behind the Mountie Office. He took off his serge and hung it up on the door handle. Nathan started to chop wood and laid it in a pile against the back of the building.
Bill was walking down the street and he heard the sound of chopping wood. He heard it all the way from his office to where he stood in front of the Mountie office. He walked around the back of the office, following the sound. He saw Nathan there with his Henley soaked in sweat. He had been at this for awhile and the pile at the back of the office had enough for two winters. Bill didn't want to surprise him so he waited until he stopped putting the ax in the stump in front of him.
"You just suddenly felt the urge to chop wood today?"
Nathan looked up, pushing his hair back. "Can I help you with something?"
"No. But I think you might need to talk."
Nathan didn't answer Bill and he started to pick up the wood around where he had been chopping. He went to the stack and started to move some of it on the other side of the door as the stack was getting too high.
"Nathan, what is going on?"
Nathan stopped and stood still. He looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. After a minute or two, he looked over at Bill, "Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were afraid you were going to do something to sabotage it?"
"Are you talking about Elizabeth?" Bill asked. Nathan nodded. "How do you think you are sabotaging it? Rosemary told me that you had bought the tickets so they could go to the reading in Union City today."
"I knew Elizabeth would enjoy it."
"That was kind of you. I guess I don't understand."
Nathan looked around. "Why don't we go inside, I made coffee earlier and I should change my shirt." Bill nodded hoping that Nathan would open up if they were more comfortable. Bill walked inside after Nathan, going to pour coffee for each of them while Nathan changed. He came out of the back room after a minute with his hair pushed back and a dry shirt. Bill handed him a coffee cup and they sat down on either side of the desk. Bill was just about to ask a question when Nathan started talking.
"I am concerned about asking Elizabeth to take a chance on me. On loving another Mountie. I have been told before that someone couldn't be a relationship with me because I was a Mountie. It was hard to hear but I knew it was the best to find that out before things got serious. Things with Elizabeth- well my feelings for her are deeper than I have ever felt for someone. Then there is Elizabeth's history with the Mounties. The story of her and Jack was talked about among the Mounties at headquarters. I can't imagine the pain she went through when she lost her husband. I can't promise her that nothing will ever happen to me."
"No, son you can't. But Elizabeth is stronger than you think. She is the kind of person who looks before she leaps. She will have considered all of this before even deciding to go on a date with you," Bill told Nathan.
"That's not all Bill. There is also the day of her kidnapping at the saloon. It was my fault."
"Your fault? How was it your fault?"
"I knew that there was chance that the men were headed to Hope Valley. We had been on the lookout around town for weeks. Elizabeth came to warn me about seeing Lucas leave town and I just let her walk out of the office alone. I was so concerned with everything else and calling headquarters that I didn't even consider the danger she would be in. I didn't even notice she was missing when they were holding her. How could I ask her to be with me if I can't protect her?"
"Nathan, listen to me. None of that was your fault. Amos Dixon would have found a way to get the town's attention one way or another. Maybe they would have kidnapped someone else. Elizabeth is so strong. I know it was hard on her, how could it have not been. But she made it through it and I think it made her realize that you can't wait to live your life. If she is willing to take the chance, can you?"
Nathan was still looking down at the desk when Bill talked.
"I think you need to talk to Elizabeth when she gets back. After church tomorrow. How about I take the children to lunch at the cafe and you can take a picnic to talk with Elizabeth. You can walk out to a spot where you can be alone and talk through all of this. Then you can make a decision how to move forward."
"Thank you Bill. I think we do need to talk."
–––––––––––
Elizabeth and Rosemary walked out of the ballroom talking about the reading. Both of them had a wonderful time and each one had a different favorite poem. They both talked about their favorites and how good the speakers were. It was still early enough for them to do some shopping before heading back to Hope Valley. Elizabeth wanted to visit the bookstore to see if she could get a new book for herself and maybe one for Allie. Both of them wanted to visit a dress shop as well. Elizabeth was hoping to find a new dress that she could wear to church tomorrow.
"Elizabeth, where would you like to go first?" Rosemary asked.
"Let's go to the bookstore down the street first. Then we can take as much time as we want to look for new dresses," Elizabeth said. She knew that Rosemary could spend hours looking at dresses, not that she minded at all.
The ladies walked down to the bookstore. Entering the shop, Elizabeth looked around at the shelves all around the room. There were chairs in the middle where people could read with plush carpets around. Rosemary headed for the mystery section to find a book for herself while Elizabeth walked over to the fiction section. Elizabeth wanted to find the new LM Montgomery book for Allie. She was hoping to find a couple new books for herself as well.
When both of them had a stack of books, Elizabeth and Rosemary made their purchases and the store keeper volunteered to keep them in the store until they were done shopping. Both of them agreed saying they would be back in a couple hours. Rosemary had a favorite dress shop that she wanted to take Elizabeth too so Rosemary led the way down the street. It was only a couple of doors down from the bookstore so they walked over.
The store owner recognized Rosemary as both of them had talked on the phone before and Rosemary had come to Union City before. The owner, a woman named Anna Linwood, went to the door and switched the sign hanging there to show closed. She motioned for both of them to follow her and she showed them some of the newest designs that she had gotten in the store. Rosemary fell in love with a dark purple dress.
Elizabeth looked through the dresses, not exactly sure what she was looking for. She wanted something different from what she already had but nothing that didn't look like her. She wanted a new dress to wear to church tomorrow and hopefully for the conversation that Nathan and her would have, as long as he agreed to the picnic. Elizabeth pulled one of the dresses aside and there it was. A blue dress with short sleeves. It was a little cold outside still but she could wear a jacket with it until the summer. The blue reminded her of Nathan's eyes when he looked at her so she thought it would be perfect.
"Oh Elizabeth, that dress would be lovely on you. You should go try it on."
"Yes, I think I will. That one would be perfect for you! You always look great in jeweled colors."
Both of the ladies took the dresses into the changing area and came out shortly after to look in the mirrors. Elizabeth looked at herself and she could picture everything- the picnic after church, Nathan holding her in his arms, and all the things she wanted in their future. "This is it."
Elizabeth purchased both dresses, telling Rosemary that it was a thank you for coming with her and a wonderful afternoon. Both of them were eager to get back to Hope Valley so they found a small cafe where they could get sandwiches to eat on the ride home. They stopped by the bookstore to pick up their purchases and then back to the hotel to get the car. Rosemary and Elizabeth packed up everything and started the trip back home. Elizabeth talked with Rosemary on the ride about her plan for a picnic with Nathan. Rosemary offered to watch Jack after church and she said she would also offer to watch Allie if she didn't have plans with friends. Elizabeth was nervous and excited about the next day.