As they rode home, Elizabeth began asking questions about the ranch. "Well, the ranch is located in a little town known as Silver Falls. There are a few shops, but most of the time, people end up coming to Aberdeen to get the majority of what they need. Once you get settled, I can teach you to use the wagon, so if you need to come in, you'll be able to."

"Nathan, would you be willing to teach me how to ride?" Elizabeth asked excited at the prospect.

"I would absolutely be willing, and it is something useful to know living in the frontier. There's a couple of good horses at the ranch that would be perfect for that."

On the drive home, Allie fell asleep in Elizabeth's arms, feeling safe and secure. Something that he and his mother were shocked by. Nathan's breath caught seeing Elizabeth gently nuzzling Allie's hair against her cheek. Her eyes closed in contentment as she savored her scent before cuddling her closer. It went a long way towards helping him relax about how Elizabeth could fall in love with her because that is exactly how he always felt whenever he was cuddling with Allie.

When Elizabeth caught him looking at her, she blushed and said, "Nathan, Allie is so precious I could just cuddle with her all day."

"She appears to be enjoying herself too," he said as Allie let out a sigh of contentment in her sleep. Since they were alone, Nathan decided to talk about how things would move forward.

"Um..., Elizabeth ..., Umm," Nathan said, clearly struggling and embarrassed. "We never got to talk to each other like Gabe and Faith have, and I um ….," He suddenly wished the earth would open up and swallow him up to spare him the embarrassment.

Elizabeth saw that Nathan was struggling and became amused. "You want to know what my expectations are in our marriage?"

"Yes," Nathan said, visibly relieved.

Now it was her turn to blush. "Well, I suppose I pictured that, um… we would have a real marriage," She said awkwardly, then hastened to add, "Once we get to know each other better, of course. I believe in the sanctity of marriage, so that means we'll be married for a long time. I want to be able to have more children."

Nathan let out a sigh of relief. "Of course, I would like that for us as well. I promise I will be a good provider and a faithful husband and never mistreat you." It didn't escape his notice that she said more children meaning she considered Allie hers.

"I will be a loving and faithful wife and partner, Nathan," Elizabeth assured him, smiling softly.

Nathan smiled and said, "Well, I need to tell you something that I'm not sure if you already knew, but we will have to share a room." He went on to say, "However, I would never disrespect you. I think we should wait until we get to know each other better before moving forward as husband and wife too."

They both saw that the other was blushing. Nathan said, "I'm glad we have gotten that awkward conversation out of the way."

"Oh, me too, Nathan," Elizabeth said, giggling. It amazed her how comfortable she already was with this man she barely knew. Even the thought of sharing a room with him didn't scare her. There was something about him that made her feel at ease.

"I think I can trust you, Nathan. It may take some time to get used to it, but I think we will be fine." Elizabeth said.

As they arrived at the house with the wagon, she noticed that Gabe and Faith had begun taking Faith's things to a cottage nearby. Anticipating Elizabeth's confusion, he whispered, "Our foreman used it as a residence, but now it's a guest cabin. It only has one bedroom in it." She blushed and gave him a shy smile. Gabe stayed there until his orders came through for his new posting. He has lived there since right after Colleen passed. Our Foreman married a widow with two small children, so it was too small for them.

Moira had come out with Catherine at their arrival. Seeing Allie sleeping peacefully cuddled in Elizabeth's arms warmed her heart. As Nathan stepped down, she could see that Elizabeth reluctantly let her go. Nathan handed her over to his mother, then turned to Elizabeth to help her down. As Catherine and Moira saw the couple's smiles and ease, they knew it would be another love match.

"Lizbeth, let me show you where our room is so you can freshen up and get settled in," Nathan said, giving her a soft smile.

"Thank you, Nathan. I would appreciate that," Elizabeth said, beginning to show weariness. The women noticed that, once again, it appeared that the couple had already worked out how they would go on, and that was more than most did the first night. As he walked into the quaint farmhouse, he took her down the long hallway, pointing out rooms. "This is my mother's at the beginning of the hallway. The one at the end of the hallway is ours, and Allie's will be the one in between. We will at least have a bit of privacy at the back of the house." This caused both of them to blush like adolescents, and they broke out into laughter at the awkwardness,

"Really, Nathan, being married is just a whole new level of awkwardness," Elizabeth said with a giggle.

"I know you would think we were still in school the way we are being." Nathan teased. "I made room in the dresser and the closet for you to put your things away. If you need more, we can figure out a solution."

"I'm used to sleeping close to the door, so I cleaned the other nightstand for you. I hope that will be okay for you." Nathan said.

"I'll be fine, Nathan," Elizabeth said as she sat next to him. Their gazes locked for a moment, and then it was interrupted by Allie running into the room.

"Aunt Lizbeth."

"Hey, sweet girl," Elizabeth said, helping her scramble up on her lap. "Did you have a good nap?" Allie just nodded.

"Why don't I give you a quick tour?" Nathan asked. "What do you say, Allie?" Allie smiled and nodded.

Everyone had finally settled in after the wedding. Nathan and Gabe had gotten a call that they were needed back in town. Knowing that Catherine needed to check in with Elizabeth, she asked Faith to help her.

"Mrs. Grant, if I wouldn't be in your way, is there something I can help with?" Elizabeth asked. Moira smiled at her new daughter-in-law.

"Not tonight, Elizabeth. I think your aunt would like a bit of time with you. Besides, there isn't much to do."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "All right, but please don't hesitate to ask me if there is something you need me to do."

"I will, don't worry," Mora said with a smile heading toward the kitchen. She paused and turned back to Elizabeth. "But there is one thing that you need to do?" Moira said.

"What's that?" Elizabeth said, eager to help.

"You can stop calling me Mrs. Grant. You are my daughter now, so you can call me Moira or Ma like Nathan does but no more Mrs. Grant, especially since there are two of us now, all right?"

Elizabeth smiled and "I'd like to call you Mom if that's okay?"

Moira smiled and went over to embrace Elizabeth, her eyes glistening. "I would like that very much, sweetheart. It's actually what Allie's mom always called me, and I miss hearing it."

Elizabeth gave her a squeeze, her own eyes threatening to well up. Moira moved back and then headed toward the kitchen.

Elizabeth turned to look at her Aunt Catherine. Her aunt had a peculiar expression on her face that looked like one of wonder.

"What is it, Aunt Catherine?" Elizabeth asked.

"I love how you and the Grants are connecting. Something tells me that you will be the best match I have ever made, sweetheart. I only wish Agatha were here to see what I have." Catherine answered.

"Oh, Aunt Catherine, I am so glad that you brought me together with them. It's strange, but I feel like I am home where I'm supposed to be. Remember on the train when I thought I would be nervous?" Elizabeth asked.

"I do," Catherine said. "How do you feel?"

"I feel so at ease with Nathan. It's like we have known each other for a long time. I have to say too that it's nice being seen as just another person and not because of what family I belong to. Nathan has reassured me that if I want to teach, he will do whatever he can to support me. That we would find a way for Allie and any other children that may come to be cared for." Elizabeth blushed as she said it.

"Oh, so you have already managed to have that discussion, have you?" Catherine was surprised and pleased that they appeared to find their ease quickly.

"We talked about it on the way home from the station," Elizabeth said. "It was a bit awkward at first, I must admit. Then somehow, knowing that we were in the same boat made it funny and easier to talk." Elizabeth chuckled.

"That is a promising start to a marriage when you can find your ease so quickly with one another, especially under these circumstances.

"Yours and Faith's marriages are the only matches where I have seen the couples at ease with each other so quickly. As I said, I think yours and probably Faith and Gabe's marriages will be my best matches yet."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "I feel like our match was providential, Aunt Catherine. Does that make any sense to you?"

"After seeing how you and Nathan were and then you and Allie, it makes perfect sense. You needed a place to go away from Hamilton right at the same time he needed a wife. Since God is a master at fixing multiple problems in one act, I can't see that this wasn't one of them."

"Thank you, Aunt Catherine, for everything and for this. I can't imagine not being happy here." Elizabeth said. "I wonder how Father took the news of where I am?"

"Why don't we call your aunt and let her know we arrived safe and sound? I think it will help her to know that you are so happy. I'm sure she will want to update us on that." Catherine said as they stood up. "Frankly, I'm dying of curiosity myself."

The call to Aunt Agatha was wonderful and full of news. After hearing how happy Elizabeth was, Agatha quickly told them about William's reaction.

"Surprisingly, he didn't really say much about you not being at dinner though he frowned at me the whole time. I was shocked that he didn't try to get me alone and ask where you were. There was a moment I thought he might, but he refrained." Agatha said.

"Your mother was a different story and wanted to know what was wrong and then spoke of coming over and checking on you. But Julie intervened. So I was spared from having to speak up. Your letter arrived two days after you left, and needless to say, your father was livid and stormed over to my home, wanting to know why I allowed such a thing."

"Oh no, what did you say?" Elizabeth asked.

"I simply said that it was your decision to make and that we had taken precautions to ensure your safety. Then I turned the tables on him by reminding him that he was the one who practically threw you out on the street, so what concern was it of his what you did?" Agatha said.

"What was his reaction to that?" Catherine said as Elizabeth was speechless.

"There wasn't much he could say, and he just stormed out. Julie and Grace stopped by and said that he had locked himself up in the library and hardly said anything. Of course, Grace has taken his side, that poor William is being tormented by his wayward daughter, and I need to get you to come home right away." Agatha scoffed.

"Well, I am married now, so that won't be happening, and you can feel free to tell them that, Aunt Agatha," Elizabeth said hotly.

"I intend to do that as soon as we get off the phone. You caught me on my way out to their dinner party. This party may get interesting after all." Agatha mused with a laugh.

Hearing Nathan's footsteps on the porch, she said, "I should go, Aunt Agatha, but please write to me?"

"I will, sweetheart," Her aunt said before disconnecting the call. They saw Nathan and Gabe walk in from outside as they went into the hall.

"The cold air blew in behind them, causing Elizabeth to shiver. Catherine saw them lock eyes on each other and saw the eagerness for Gabe to find his wife displayed on his face, so they left Elizabeth and Nathan alone and went to the kitchen.

"Hello, Nathan," Elizabeth said softly. "Did you get everything accomplished?"

He moved closer, and his smile sent her racing and her thoughts scattering. She could smell balsam, cedar, and the crisp outdoors. "We did. We are expecting another heavy storm, so we had to prepare for it."

Nathan struggled with the urge to caress her cheek to see if it was as soft as it appeared. He was beginning to feel an attraction building, urging him to see if her lips were as soft as they looked. He couldn't help wondering what her kiss would be like. He heard her quick breath in and realized he was very close to her, so he stepped back.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Nathan said. "I got carried away by my thoughts for a moment."

Elizabeth smiled nervously and said, "That's all right, Nathan. I have been known to do that myself a time or two."

Allie ran into the room and said, "Uncle Nathan!"

Elizabeth was glad for the interruption because she needed time to think about what had almost happened. If his thoughts were anything like hers, then it appeared they would be finding their way quicker than anticipated.