While Nathan hitched up the wagon in preparation for the ride into town, Elizabeth finished their dishes and tidied up the bedroom. As she made the bed, a pillow fell to the floor, and she bent to pick it up. As she did, she spied the matching robe to her peignoir under the bed where it had fallen. Instantly she recalled how Nathan had untied the string and gently pushed it off her shoulders to puddle at her feet, followed shortly after by her nightgown. During the events that followed, it must have accidentally been shoved underneath the bed. Just the thought made her blush even as a fire began to stir back to life within her. She was holding it up as Nathan walked into the room and caught her with it.

Nathan was immediately assailed by memories of her standing there in it, and passion rose within him. He slowly and purposefully moved toward her, just like the night before, and she was enthralled and stood there waiting and watching.

"Nathan!" She said, finally able to regain some control though it was tenuous. From the look on her husband's face, he was in the same condition.

"Yes," he gasped.

"As much as I would like to, currently, we don't have time to explore that look in your eyes, remember?" Elizabeth said.

"Are you sure about that, Lizbeth?" Nathan whispered huskily in her ear. Elizabeth closed her eyes, and every objection that she had disappeared as the temptation to give in began to increase at his nearness.

Suddenly, Allie's giggles and the voices of Catherine and Moira calling Allie's name interrupted their moment.

Elizabeth just giggled and said, "Pretty sure we don't, Mountie Nathan." Then she kissed him deeply one last time, allowing some heat to enter it before stepping away with a sassy smile.

But Nathan didn't let her get too far, and before she could leave the bedroom, he pulled her back into his arms. "What you may not know is that Ma just left with Aunt Catherine and Allie in the car. We are bringing the wagon so that we can bring the luggage back and hide their arrival from inquiring minds. The door is locked, and we are all alone here, so Mrs. Grant, it would seem that, in fact, we do have time to explore what my Mountie instincts are telling me is one of mutual desire."

Then he just raised his brow, asking for her decision. She knew that if she said no, he would accept it without question, and they would have been on their way. But the temptation to revisit last night was too strong, and with a sultry smile, she captured his lips in a fiery kiss even as her hand moved to the buttons on his shirt. No more words were spoken as they rediscovered the delights of marriage.

A little later, Elizabeth had left the bedroom, and Nathan spied the robe that had started it all still on the floor. Picking it up, he inhaled his wife's scent for a moment before laying neatly across the foot of the bed. He silently thanked God for the gift of his wife and walked out to join Elizabeth, feeling very blessed and the luckiest man in the world. As his wife saw him come out of the cabin and smile, she felt the same way about her husband.

A short time later, Nathan noticed that his wife seemed to be a bit distracted and had a feeling that now she was beginning to worry about her meeting with her father. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Oh, Nathan. I'm just nervous about how the meeting will go with my father." Elizabeth said. "I've played out all the scenarios, and it all ends up badly,"

"Are you saying, in all those scenarios, there wasn't one of them ended positively?" he teased. He was rewarded with a giggle.

"I know what you are trying to do, and I appreciate your efforts," Elizabeth said. "I realize that I am probably worrying for nothing, but no matter how much I try to be hopeful, it doesn't last."

Nathan shifted the reins to his other hand and put an arm around his wife. "I can understand why you are so worried, sweetheart. But I want to ensure that as you pictured them, you are also picturing me there standing beside you, supporting you, and if it comes down to it, in front, protecting you and our family."

"I do, Nathan," Elizabeth said, closing the distance to kiss him on the cheek.

Arriving in town, they headed right to the train station. It would be two hours before the train arrived, so Nathan checked in at the Mountie office, and Catherine, Moira, Allie, and Elizabeth went to see Helena.

He had the misfortune of running into Alice; it would be more correct to say she ran into him. "Nathan, how could you marry that horrid woman? She was so rude, and no one likes her here in town. Everyone is talking about her boorish manner and questionable background."

"Let them," Nathan said. "But given how many compliments and kind words I have had about MY WIFE, I think that it is you and your group that don't want her here. Also, in the future, as I stated before, unless it involves official Mountie business, please refrain from approaching me or anyone in my family." Nathan took a few steps away but thought of something else he had wanted to say. Turning, he said, "I want to thank you for showing your true colors because if you hadn't, I wouldn't have found the love of my life. In hindsight, I now realize I dodged a bullet. Before you spread any more lies, you should know that Gabe and I already heard about what happened at the dress shop, and let's say you, your friends, and your mother didn't come out smelling like a rose in the retelling of it. Have a good day."

Walking away from her, Nathan suddenly couldn't wait to get to his beautiful wife, who, as he looked at his watch, should be at the train station. As he approached the terminal, he allowed himself to stand back and watch her from afar. He couldn't help noticing that others were admiring his Mrs. Grant.

Hearing the approaching train, he moved toward his wife. Stepping up to her side, he placed an arm around her and whispered, "Relax! I love you, sweetheart, and you belong with Allie and me, and no one will interfere with that, I promise you. I bet your father is more nervous than you are and will be no match for Allie's cuteness."

Elizabeth looked down at the little girl clinging to her leg; just as Allie looked up and smiled up at her, she instantly felt better. Nathan was right; as long as she had the two of them and Moira Grant, she had what she needed and was happy.

It wasn't long after the train had come to a complete stop for Elizabeth to see her father and then, with his assistance, her Aunt Agatha as she stepped down onto the platform. Nathan noted the tall, stately man and knew immediately it was Elizabeth's father. Nathan picked Allie up as they moved forward through the crowd toward them.

"Father! Aunt Agatha!" Elizabeth said with a huge smile on her face.

"Elizabeth," her aunt called out, embracing her. Watching the two women interact, William quickly noted a sparkle in his daughter's eyes that he had not seen since she was a little girl. Then his breath caught as he saw the looks exchanged between his daughter and her husband when introducing her to Agatha. There was deep love reflected that convinced him his daughter not only found love with Nathan Grant but was loved just as much in return. He vowed then and there to do whatever he could to support this marriage from naysayers, even his family and friends.

"Father!" Elizabeth said softly. His heart hurt at the uncertainty in his daughter's eyes and knowing he was the cause.

Opening his arms, he was happy to see she willingly opened her own in response and returned his embrace.

"Hello, my sweet. Can you ever forgive me?" William asked, eyes glistening.

Elizabeth pulled back a bit, in awe at the look on her father's face, and nodded because she could not speak. She hugged him and then grabbed his hand to pull him over to where the others were standing. His attention was immediately caught by the sweet little girl that was watching him and Elizabeth. As soon as they approached, Allie immediately held her arms out for Elizabeth, who happily received her and cuddled her close.

"Father, may I introduce you to my husband, Constable Nathan Grant," Elizabeth said proudly, going to stand beside him. "Nathan, this is my father, William Thatcher."

"It is nice to meet you, sir," Nathan said, holding out a hand while his other arm went around Elizabeth protectively. Little did Nathan realize that by his actions, he had completely shown himself to be worthy in William's eyes.

"Please call me William, Nathan, since you are now a member of my family," William replied as he reached out to shake his hand.

"Welcome to Aberdeen, William," Nathan said with a smile. May I introduce you to my mother, Moira Grant, and…."

"This must be the little Allie that I have been hearing so much about and have been looking forward to meeting," William said with a smile as he approached her.

Allie giggled and nodded. Then she stuck out a hand to him, mimicking her uncle's previous action. Though surprised, William chuckled and shook it like he had Nathan's.

"William, if you show me where your bags are, we can get them loaded and be on our way," Nathan said. Then, noticing that the luggage would take a bit longer to unload, he turned to his father-in-law. "It looks like it will be a few more minutes. Allie started to get restless, so Nathan came up with an idea.

"If you don't mind traveling by wagon, William, the ladies can go on in the car, and we can have an opportunity to talk while we wait for the bags."

"I have no problem with wagons, son. I spent a lot of time in them as a boy and driving them as a young man." William said, smiling.

So that was how Nathan found himself, traveling in a wagon twenty minutes later with his father-in-law. He had seen how nervous Elizabeth had been and figured that it was best to face things head-on, and if there were any subplots, it was best to expose them now.

"Sir, I want you to know that I completely and irrevocably love your daughter, and I will devote myself to providing for her and our children and seek her happiness above mine," Nathan said.

William admired the brave man that Elizabeth had married. Most young men he knew in Hamilton would not have put themselves at his mercy and given him an opening like Nathan just did.

"However, as Elizabeth's husband, I felt like we needed time to talk in private because I will also do what I can to protect her even from you if necessary though I am hoping that it won't be." Nathan looked at him, and William didn't miss the hint of steel in his tone and eyes.

"Stand down, son," William replied with a chuckle. "I have no intention of causing any problems and will fully support the marriage. I can see how much she loves you, and I haven't seen that sparkle in her eyes since she was a little girl. Your protectiveness, both when we met and in the warning you gave me, speaks volumes of your character. But in fairness, I should tell you that I did have you investigated as I would anyone associated with my daughters. You should know that I have never held to that whole sins of the father affecting the child adage. A man's character should be based on his own, though my actions toward my daughter seem to prove otherwise."

"Fair enough, sir," Nathan said. "Why don't we use right now as the beginning and build from here?"

"I would like that very much, Nathan," William said. "Thank you for arranging this opportunity for us to talk."

"I figured if I was in your shoes and Allie had married an unknown man, I would want an opportunity to ascertain whether she was in good hands," Nathan said. "You should know that Elizabeth is anxious that you are a trojan horse, so to speak, but is willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. From everything she told me, she was hurt deeply by you and your wife, so I ask that you give her space when she needs it and let her lead the conversations."

"I appreciate you telling me that, Nathan, and promise to do just that. If you feel uneasy about anything, then please let me know. I always wanted a son and hope that our relationship will become a close one as well."

"I'd like that too, William."