After dinner Elizabeth and Faith began cleaning the kitchen under Moira's supervision. Gabe and Nathan settled in the library where Catherine could talk with them privately. As they headed into the library, they could hear laughter coming from the kitchen, followed by Allie's giggles. They could also hear Elizabeth talking in between. The three of them stood listening for a moment enjoying the sounds.
"It's been a while since we've had laughter in this house," Nathan said with a look of awe on his face.
"Especially when it's coming from Allie," Gabe added with a smile.
"Elizabeth is probably telling one of her stories. She is an excellent storyteller and would always sit with her aunt and me when we had to attend social functions. Now come so we can talk before they are finished." Catherine said fondly.
After they entered and she closed the door, Catherine got straight to the point. "From what I can see and that I've heard from Faith and Elizabeth, they are happy with the matches. But what about the two of you?" Catherine asked.
Gabe spoke up first, "I think it is safe to say that we are very happy with our choices. When we saw them get off the train, we couldn't take our eyes off them."
"But then, when you got off the train, we thought that the other two ladies you were standing with were Faith and Elizabeth," Nathan added.
"That explains the looks you two had when I introduced you to them," Catherine said with a chuckle. "But since you two are married to girls that are like family to me, you may call me Catherine or Aunt Catherine. However, I have to say that you two are also special to me as well."
"I can safely say Faith and I will be a love match," Gabe said softly.
"I'm so happy to hear that, Gabe," Catherine said. "I think that both of you are perfect together."
Then she turned to Nathan. "What about you, Nathan?" Catherine asked pointedly.
"I couldn't have picked a better match for myself, Aunt Catherine," Nathan said, addressing her the same way Elizabeth did. "You found a wonderful woman who clearly loves Allie. It's safe to say Allie absolutely loves her too. Elizabeth and Ma seemed to be getting along as well," Nathan said.
"But what about how you feel about her for yourself?" Catherine asked. Nathan's blush told Catherine all she needed to know. It hadn't escaped her notice how those two were looking at each other or the instant connection that they had.
"I think that we will be very happy together," Nathan said shyly. That was all that Catherine needed to know.
"Then I will consider both of the matches successful," Catherine said. "Now I can just settle back and be Aunt Catherine and spend my time visiting."
Before long, they heard the others coming to join them. It was nice to see that the couples naturally gravitated together, and Allie followed Elizabeth, unwilling to be apart from her new aunt.
"Nathan," Moira said, recalling that they had to go into town earlier. "How bad are they predicting the storm to be this time? When is it expected?"
"They expect it to start getting heavy by around dinner tomorrow, but it will start falling by mid-morning. Gabe and I will handle Silver Falls and the outlying areas, while the others will stay close to town. I'll need you to do a quick check in the morning to make sure that we have everything we need. If there's something we will need, then we can make a run into town for it. I would plan for at least two days of being stuck inside, though." Nathan answered.
"Why don't I do rounds in the morning, Nathan, and you can make sure that things are set here at the ranch?" Gabe suggested.
Nathan agreed and said, "I'll chop more wood in the morning, stack it close to the house, and then go into town if we need something."
"Faith, can you ride?" Gabe asked.
"Yes, I can. Why?" Faith asked.
"I'd like to take you with me and introduce you. But there is also an older couple that hasn't been feeling too well that Nathan and I are worried about. Would you be willing to go with me?" Gabe asked.
"I would be happy to go along if I'm not in the way," Faith said with a smile.
"You wouldn't be in the way at all, Faith," Nathan assured her. "I think it would be good for you to examine them."
The couples talked for a bit longer, and then, looking at the time, Nathan realized it was time for Allie's bath and to get ready for bed. When he went to take her from Elizabeth, she said, "Want Aunt Lizbeth to do it,"
Elizabeth's eyes softened, and she said, "Okay, sweetheart, but I'll need Uncle Nathan to help me since I don't know where everything is. Can you ask him nicely if he will help?"
"Uh Huh, Unca Natan will you please hep us?" Allie asked. Elizabeth rewarded her with a kiss and nodded approvingly when Allie looked up.
"I would be happy to help, sweetie," Nathan said, smiling. "Why don't you and Aunt Elizabeth go get your pajamas, and I'll get the water ready."
"Okay, Unca Natan," Allie said with a giggle. She grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her out of the room.
"I think that we should also head over to the cabin, Faith. You still need to get settled in, and morning comes early when you have to do rounds." Gabe said shyly as he stood up and held out a hand to her.
Faith blushed as she took his hand and stood up. They said quick goodbyes and then headed for home. Nathan followed them out to get Allie's bath ready, leaving the two older women alone and amused.
"Catherine, I can't tell you how happy I am that you chose Elizabeth for Nathan and Allie. Watching her with the two of them has done my heart a world of good." Moira said.
Catherine beamed. "I am so glad that you feel that way, Moira. I must admit that watching the three of them makes it easy to see what a perfect match they are. After speaking with both of them and seeing their ease with one another, I would venture to say they are well on their way to falling in love."
"From what I see, I would have to agree that both of these matches are love matches," Moira said. "Elizabeth reminds some of Colleen in her personality and ability to put people at ease."
"It may account for why Allie took to her so quickly," Catherine said. "But I was thrilled at how she responded to Elizabeth, and I think Nathan was as well,"
"Part of it may be that Elizabeth reminds Allie of her mother, but I think a lot of it has to do with Elizabeth herself," Moira said. "There's just something special about her that makes the room seem brighter just by her being there. I have never seen Nathan so taken by a woman as he is with her. It will be interesting to see Alice's reaction when she returns home and meets Elizabeth. I think Allie's and Elizabeth's genuine love for each other has definitely opened Nathan's heart to Elizabeth."
"I can't wait to write Agatha and let her know how wonderful everything turned out. When do you think the wedding pictures will be ready? I would like to get a copy of one and send it with the letter," Catherine said.
"I wouldn't be surprised when Nathan runs into town that they are ready," Moira said. I can't wait to see how well they turn out. Is Elizabeth going to need any clothing for here on the frontier?"
"Not at all," Catherine said proudly. "When we went through her things, most were good for everyday wear. She brought a couple of nicer dresses to wear to special occasions or church, but her fancy ones are still at home."
"What precipitated the early departure, Catherine?" Moira asked.
So Catherine told her about William's edicts and what had been planned for the next day. "Elizabeth would have been hounded all day by her parents and the Carringtons. So when she expressed that she wished it would be time to board the train, Agatha and I made it happen."
"Does William know that she is married now?" Moira asked.
"No, he just knows she came out west looking for a teaching position. She wanted to wait until they were married, and a bit of time has passed before she calls him and tells them she is now married with a child."
Before Moira could ask about that, Nathan and Elizabeth came in after putting Allie to bed after her bath. "Ma, Allie is all tucked in, but she would like you to come to kiss her goodnight," Nathan said.
"I'll go right now, and then I think I will turn in and maybe read a bit. Nathan, I think we will need to run into town, so maybe in the morning, you and Elizabeth could go?" Moira asked.
"Sure, Ma, just make a list, and we can go right after breakfast," Nathan replied.
"You know I'm going to go on to bed too, Moira. That train ride was tiring, and sleeping in a real bed for a change will feel nice." Catherine said. "Goodnight, Elizabeth, dear," she added as she kissed Elizabeth's cheek before turning to Nathan. "Goodnight to you too, dear boy."
Then it was just Nathan and Elizabeth alone. Elizabeth yawned, and Nathan held out his hand, "Why don't we call it a night too? I'll go change in the bathroom, let you change, and get settled. I have to bank the fires too." Nathan said before they quietly walked to their room.
Nathan indicated that Elizabeth should go first, and then he followed her in, shutting the door behind him. "Elizabeth," he said, reaching for her hand. "I know it will take us time, and I meant what I said about waiting. You can trust that I will never pressure you for more than you are ready for. I'm not quite ready for marital intimacy, either. However, the fact that we haven't stuttered through this conversation again is a good sign that we will get there." He chuckled.
Elizabeth giggled and was so touched by his consideration of her that she spontaneously gave him a hug which he returned. "Oh, Nathan, I want you to know that I have no doubts about your being a good husband or that I can trust you. In the short time, I have known you, I have seen what a kind, gentle man you are. Please don't be worried that I am afraid to share your room. I think it is probably a good thing that we start as we mean to carry on. If our marriage is real, then we need to be comfortable with each other. I can't think of a better way to bring that about than sharing a room. Can you?" She laughed and said, "Wow, I managed to get that out without a stutter or a blush."
Nathan laughed and went over to the dresser to get his pajamas. "I'll get changed, and then I'll knock before I return, okay?"
"That's fine, Nathan. Should I check on Allie before we get settled?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan's gaze softened as he saw the genuine concern in his wife's eyes. "No, I will do that before I come back. But she might come to find us in the middle of the night if she has a dream."
"That's all right," Elizabeth said. "I used to have my little sister do that all the time growing up."
"I'll be back soon," Nathan said, chuckling before he left to change.
Elizabeth made short work of changing and hanging up her dress. As she did, she saw her wedding dress hanging there and smiled as memories of the day returned. With a final smile, she closed the closet before heading to her side of the bed. She paused a moment placing her robe at the foot of it, and then slipped under the covers pulling them to her chin. Elizabeth lay there and caught the faint scent of Nathan in the blankets and felt comforted rather than anxious. She heard the knock, followed by Nathan softly asking if it was okay for him to enter. When Elizabeth told him it was, he opened the door entering with a shy smile on his face as he saw her lying in bed. She watched him put his things away and then shut off the light before slipping under the covers on his side.
