It amazed Jack how fast the house framing went up once the foundation was completed. Wanting to learn all aspects of building, he had been working with the crew and learning all about the entire process. However, his favorite part of the day was when Nathan showed up and they spent time working side by side and talking for hours. After work, Jack would wind down by riding Newton and longing for the day he had a horse of his own. Some days he was joined by Sarah, when Robert allowed her to ride Lucky. He decided to only visit the cemetery once a week, but still hadn't told his mom he had been going and thought it best he only went alone.
Nathan spent most of his days crafting the house inside doors, cabinets, fireplace mantels, and the like. Lee had given him a section of the sawmill warehouse to build and store everything until the house was far enough along to need them. He also had a few projects he was keeping a surprise until Elizabeth and Jack were ready to move in and needed them. Most days, Nathan spent a few hours woodworking; then after eating lunch and resting, he went to monitor the progress on the house and make sure everything was to specifications. His leg continued to improve, and he started to have hope he would make a full recovery he never dreamed would actually happen.
Although Elizabeth was busy getting ready for the upcoming school year and Nathan was working constantly to get the Thorntons into their new house before winter, every morning they would get up early and walk to and from the pond together. They held hands while walking, but since their first official date had not kissed again. It wasn't that they didn't desire to show that affection, but both felt it was difficult to concentrate on building a strong friendship when they were distracted by physical desire. Even a hug goodbye made it difficult for either one to leave and go home alone. After having spent so many years by themselves, Nathan and Elizabeth were quickly discovering a renewed interest in sharing their lives with a loving companion. But after the hurt from their pasts, a small degree of caution plagued their budding romance.
On a hot Friday afternoon in the middle of July, Elizabeth and Rosemary met for lunch at the cafe while on breaks from their jobs. It had been a while since they had talked, due to the Coulters being out of town for a couple weeks on a business trip that doubled as a vacation in a city near the coast. They marveled that it had been nearly two months since Elizabeth began her journey back to Hope Valley. It was so hard to believe that within a few months a house would finally be complete on Jack's land, and the Thorntons would have a permanent home at last.
"Now, you must tell me all the news about you and Nathan finally being an official couple," Rosemary demanded. "It seems as if providence worked its magic and brought the two of you back together after all these years. You both deserve happiness following all of the tragedies you've both endured."
Letting out a sigh, Elizabeth swirled soup with her spoon while lost in thought. "We've been so busy lately, but every moment I spend with Nathan makes me realize how much he means to me. And he's so good with Jack; but somehow, we are still so guarded at times, even though we have shared so much the past several weeks. Maybe he's so stuck in his bachelor ways that he doesn't want anything more than friendship."
Rosemary shook her head. "I see the way he looks at you, and how you respond to him. I would say from what I've seen, it's head over heels on both sides. It's ok to take things slow and make sure before making anything permanent though. How is Jack feeling about you two?"
A smile spread across Elizabeth's face. "Jack couldn't be more thrilled about the prospect of Nathan becoming a father to him. He comes home so excited every night after working on the house. I worry about his hopes getting too high and being crushed if something goes wrong. I know Allie also has high expectations, especially since she has been a sneaky little matchmaker."
"You can't stress about the kids too much; just focus on what makes you happy." Rosemary then steered the conversation in a different direction, and the two friends laughed as they talked about memories together and all the recent news of the town. After finishing lunch, Elizabeth paid her bill then ordered dessert to take to Jack and Nathan, since she was meeting them to walk through the mostly framed house. Rosemary offered to drop her off on her way home, then she would get a ride back home in Nathan's car.
During his lunch break, Jack Jr sat on his mom's log and drew in his sketchbook. His dream was getting more frequent, so he tried to capture some of it in the only way he knew how. He closed his eyes to replay the vivid images before he continued sketching. He was so involved in drawing, that he didn't hear Nathan sneak up behind him and survey his work.
Jack Thornton Sr stared back at Nathan from Jack Jr's drawing. He looked older than other photographs he had seen but stood next to a strong horse with a Mountie in serge sitting proudly in the saddle. He tried to look closer, but suddenly Jack became aware of someone standing behind him looking at the drawing and slammed the book closed. Feeling guilty, Nathan tried to apologize; but the boy ran toward the partially built house and went inside. He debated whether to stay away and let him cool down, or immediately follow him and try to discuss what had him so upset. He decided Jack had lived too long not having a man to rely on or talk through things with. Nathan slowly moved across the land to what would eventually be the front entrance of the house and carefully stepped inside, doing his best to not trip and fall over loose lumber and tools lying around.
When he heard Nathan start walking toward him, Jack wiped the tears from his eyes and tried to act normal. "Please don't tell my mom about the drawings. She really wouldn't understand, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her."
Sitting down on a work bench near Jack, Nathan stretched out his leg and mindlessly rubbed the soreness away. "Why would this particular drawing of your father upset your mother? She's stronger than that."
He stood and began pacing, hugging his sketch pad tightly against his chest. "I don't think she'll ever accept what this particular drawing means. I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a while, but I was afraid you would just tell my mom and neither of you wouldn't understand. You need to know I did not come to this decision lightly." He opened his book to the sketch he had been working on, and reluctantly handed it to Nathan.
Examining it closer this time, he noticed Jack Sr was looking at the young Mountie on the horse with pride. As Nathan studied the features, he shook his head when he realized who wore the serge. "Jack, please don't tell me you are thinking about becoming a Mountie; you are right to be worried that it would destroy Elizabeth. She's lost so much. But I want to hear where you're coming from and have a lot of advice if you insist on pursuing this course."
Sitting down next to Nathan on the bench, Jack searched for the right words to help his mentor and friend understand. "When I first heard stories about my father and grandfather dying in the line of duty, I swore to my mother that I would never go into that same profession that they both felt was their calling. I didn't think I would ever feel that way or entertain thoughts of following in their footsteps. But shortly after we arrived in Hope Valley and I visited my dad's grave, the dreams started. He came to me and told me he was proud of me but knew one day I would feel the call to serve as he and his father did. For several weeks the dream has gotten longer and more realistic. Riding Newton, getting to know you and Robert, and learning more about Mounties and how they serve and protect; it has made me realize it is my life's calling. I want you to help me join the summer after I turn 17 and I finish school."
Unsure exactly how to handle the situation, Nathan emotionally distanced himself as a potential father to Jack and entered Superintendent mode. "Speaking from experience, I think it is smart to finish your schooling before entering the academy to train as a Constable. Seventeen is young, but the same age as me when I joined. I would be happy to write letters of recommendation for you, and make sure you get the best trainers and postings to suit your needs."
A sob escaped Elizabeth as she felt betrayed by the man she thought she trusted with her heart and her son. Staying hidden from Jack and Nathan, she heard her son ask the man she had been dating to help him join the very line of work that had taken her husband, Jack's father, away from them. How could Nathan sit there and convince her son to put himself in danger? How could she endure any more loss at the hand of the Mounties? She stood frozen with tears welling up in her eyes, unable to move.
As soon as Nathan heard her emotional response, he immediately regretted giving Jack encouragement to do something he knew Elizabeth would not be on board with. Looking over, he saw her partially exposed behind some framing. As quickly as he could, Nathan moved to her and gently grabbed her hand. Much to his surprise, she ripped it away and stared at him, her eyes ablaze with rage.
"How dare you?" she seethed, barely noticing Jack coming up behind Nathan. "You know what we've both been through, not to mention you almost got yourself killed; but now you are ready and willing to sacrifice my son for the great cause of the Mounted Police? I don't think so."
Jack quickly tried to make his mother understand. "It wasn't Nathan's fault," he assured her. "I'm the one who told him being a Mountie is my calling, and I asked for his help in the future when I do decide to join. Please don't be mad at either one of us. I should have never kept this from you."
It was too much for Elizabeth, and she began running as tears now flowed down her cheeks. She could barely see in front of her from the moisture clouding her vision. "No, no, no…" she repeated to herself as she ran. Rosemary had just begun leaving in her car when she saw her friend running toward her. She stopped, and as soon as Elizabeth reached her, Rosemary let her get inside and drove her home to find out what was the matter.
When Nathan saw the two women drive off, he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and turned to face Jack. "We should probably let her cool off and talk to Rosemary before trying to tell her the whole story. Why don't we finish up a few things then clean up the tools before closing down this operation for the weekend?" Deciding it was about the only thing they could do, Jack agreed and the two worked in virtual silence until Nathan's car was packed and they were ready to drive back home.
Jack pulled the car next to the row houses and turned to face Nathan. "I'm sorry if I hurt things between you and mom. That's the last thing I would ever want to do. I didn't ask to feel this way, but I can't help it."
"Hey," Nathan firmly gripped Jack's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "Don't ever apologize for being honest. Being a Mountie is an honorable way to make your mark on this world, just the same as being a teacher…maybe just a bit more dangerous at times. You have to be true to the feelings inside of yourself, regardless of how that affects others. You still have time before you have to make a final decision, but your mother deserves to be a part of the conversation."
Hearing another car pull up behind them, Jack wasn't surprised to see his mother rush out of the Coulter's car and into the house without even noticing the two of them sitting in Nathan's car. "I don't know how to even face her right now. I'm going for a ride on Newton, then maybe when I get back, I can talk to her."
Closing his eyes to gather courage, Nathan resolved to take charge of the situation. "Go for your ride, Jack. I'll go talk to Elizabeth and try to help her understand. Tell Newton hi for me." Nodding and hopping out of the car, Jack started jogging toward the livery in town. Nathan slowly exited the car and walked up the stairs of the porch to the front door and knocked.
Wiping her eyes furiously, Elizabeth swung open the door to come face to face with Nathan Grant. "I have nothing to say to you right now," she barked, attempting to slam the door shut.
His strong arm kept the door ajar, and he made his way inside before allowing the door to latch with a bang. "Elizabeth, please talk to me. Keeping your feelings inside won't do anyone any good. Don't push me away." His eyes searched hers and pleaded for understanding. "I'm on your side, but overreacting will just push Jack to rebel and possibly do things he'll later regret. If he decides to join the Mounties, I could help make sure he is put in situations that would likely keep him away from the most dangerous assignments. Jack has become like a son to me, so please understand I wouldn't do anything to hurt him or you."
Not wanting his nearness to cloud her judgment, Elizabeth went into the kitchen and started boiling water to make tea. "What would ever start this notion of him thinking the Mounties were a calling? I can't lose him. He's all I have left. If I lose him, I'll be completely alone."
Trying to not be offended by her implication, Nathan wasn't sure if he could stay and face more rejection. "Jack went for a ride on Newton to help clear his head. He can explain to you where he is coming from when he gets back, but I suggest you remain calm, so you don't push him away like you are doing to me right now. Good luck." He turned to leave, but his words had struck a chord and Elizabeth became even more upset.
"You are the one who pushed me away and into the arms of Lucas before, because I begged you to ask me out; but you were too concerned about your Mountie duties to care how I felt about you." As soon as she said it, regret washed over Elizabeth; but she was too stubborn to admit she was wrong. "My only interest right now is keeping my son safe and getting us into our house before winter."
Swallowing hard, Nathan kept his hand on the doorknob as he turned slightly toward her. "I wanted nothing more back then to tell you how I felt, and to not only ask you out...but marry you, give Jack a father, and Allie her dream of a mother. I was in love with you, Elizabeth. I never got over you. Heck, I'm still not over you; but I refuse to be treated like the bad guy when all I was doing was trying to be a confidant and ally for your son. If all you want is a professional relationship where I work on your house, then you have your wish. Just promise me you'll be a lot more reasonable when you talk to Jack later, or he will be the one to pull away from you and you may never get him back." Not waiting for a response, Nathan hurried out of her house and into his where he went straight to his bedroom and locked the door, collapsing on his bed and sobbing like he hadn't done in quite some time. It felt almost the same as when he found out she had gotten engaged, right before he left Hope Valley and moved to Union City.
Elizabeth was so furious and flustered, she grabbed the tea kettle with bare hands and screamed in pain at the burning sensation coming from her fingers. She hurried and ran cold water over the burns, cursing her actions over the past couple of hours. Knowing that losing Nathan was the last thing she wanted at this point in her life, Elizabeth still couldn't bring herself to try and fix things when so many thoughts were swirling through her brain. He loved her and wanted to marry her back then? His dream had been for a blended family just like hers was, but they had both been afraid that they were dishonoring Jack's memory; not to mention feeling guilty for having feelings for one another for various reasons. After putting ointment on her burns and wrapping her fingers in gauze, Elizabeth went upstairs where she fell onto her bed and cried herself to sleep.
"Elizabeth, please don't be mad at our son. I am the one who encouraged him to join the Mounties." Jack Sr stood in front of her, pleading for her to understand.
"Jack, is that really you?" she asked, looking into his older, but still very attractive face.
Suddenly Elizabeth heard someone knocking and calling to her in the background. "Mom? Are you in there? Are you ok?"
Jack Sr started fading away as the knocking became louder. She tried to determine where Jack Jr was, since he seemed to be calling out to her.
Elizabeth woke up with a start and suddenly felt throbbing pain in her right hand. She heard the knock again and quickly smoothed her hair and skirt before opening her bedroom door. Her son stood before her, looking upset and a little scared. "Oh Jack, come here." She pulled him into her arms and hugged him tight, not wanting to ever lose her little boy. "I'm sorry I overreacted earlier, but I just wasn't prepared for that news. I guess deep down I knew this issue might arise someday. I've lost so many people; but you are the most important person in my life, and I'll never stop being a protective mother."
"Mom, I never even wanted to be a Mountie because I didn't want you to worry about me," Jack explained. "I need to tell you everything I've kept from you, because you deserve to hear all of this from me. I feel bad Nathan got in the middle of what should have been our fight. He makes you happy, and I don't want to be the cause of anything going wrong in your relationship."
Rubbing her son's back, Elizabeth forgot about her hand for a minute and winced. Ignoring her discomfort, she instead focused on reassuring Jack. "Anything that happened between me, and Nathan is not your responsibility. We are adults who both love you very much and probably didn't handle that situation in the best way. Let's go down and find some dinner, and you can tell me everything."
It was then Jack caught sight of the bandage on her hand. "What happened? I think I will just warm up leftovers for dinner so you can rest."
"I burned myself on the tea kettle earlier, but I'm alright. Leftovers are just fine. Thank you, son." She sat at the kitchen table and listened as Jack excitedly talked about his ride with Newton. As much as she wanted to deny it, she saw in him the ability to be the kind of Mountie that would make his parents proud. She smiled as he set their dinner on the table and poured her a glass of water.
After saying a blessing on the food, Jack handed his book of sketches to Elizabeth. "This is one of the things I've been keeping from you. I got more than looks and a desire to be a Mountie from Dad. I've also been going to the cemetery to visit him sometimes when I go out on Newton. And I have feelings for Sarah Wolf. According to Nathan that isn't much of a secret, but I don't want you to feel like I'm hiding anything from you."
Elizabeth thumbed through the perfectly sketched portraits, her mind drifting back to all the drawings Jack Sr had done for her through the years. "Jack, these are beautiful," she complimented him. As she flipped to his most current picture in progress, she put her bandaged hand over her mouth. It was a portrait of Nathan holding her in his arms, their eyes closed as her head was against his chest and his chin was nestled just right on the top of her head. Both wore smiles on their lips, completely content to be together. A lump formed in her throat, as she felt remorse for being so hard on him earlier.
As if he could read her thoughts, Jack held out his hand to take back the book of sketches. "You need to work it out with Nathan. He's your perfect match, even when you fight. I promise that no matter what I decide about my future, you will be involved in my decisions from now on; but I want Nathan involved in our lives as well."
"I promise I'll go see him tomorrow, but my hand is bothering me and I'm tired. Thanks for sharing all of this with me. I won't promise you that I will ever be ok with you joining the Mounties, but I do promise to always support you in whatever you decide." Mother and son embraced, and Jack offered to do the dishes so she wouldn't have to get her burn wet. She went upstairs feeling exhausted, with a lot to think about as she dressed for bed.
After getting permission from a reluctant Jack, Elizabeth took Newton for a ride Saturday morning and felt nervous as she reached her destination. Since getting back to Hope Valley, she kept telling herself she was ready but hadn't yet made the short trek for this visit. She found some flowers growing outside the gate and pulled a few to put on Jack's grave. She ran her good hand over his name carved in stone and knelt down on a small patch of grass.
"Hi, Jack," she almost whispered, laying down the flowers. "I'm sorry I haven't been to see you for so long, but for some reason I just couldn't. What do you think of our son? He's so strong and handsome, just like you. I tried to raise him well, but it just wasn't the same without you. Luckily, he now has some wonderful men in his life who are helping guide him into manhood. He is so strong yet tender hearted. Jack, how can I let him go do what got you killed? I'm not strong enough." A strong gust of wind blew the flowers off his grave and her hair got caught in her face. As soon as the wind stopped, the sun broke through the clouds right above where Newton was grazing. "Is this your sign to let me know I can move on with Nathan? I know he wants what is best for me and Jack Jr." She sat and pondered for a while, seeking answers to her current dilemmas. Feeling a measure of peace, Elizabeth concluded, "Thank you for everything, Jack. We will always love you. I know you have been watching over us. I forgive you for leaving me now, and I'm finally moving on with my life; but please help protect our son."
With greater resolve to make things right, Elizabeth stood and made her way to Nathan's trusty sidekick for the short ride into town. But instead of taking him straight back to the livery, she led Newton to the row houses. She tethered him and instantly heard the familiar sound of wood cracking nearby. Her instincts led her to the backyard where she had to catch her breath when she saw Nathan chopping wood for the first time since his accident. His shirt was unbuttoned further than usual and untucked with his suspenders hanging down haphazardly. His hair was messy, a single curl insisting on resting in the middle of his forehead. Sweat was pouring down his head, neck and back causing his Henley to cling to his muscular chest and arms. His strength made splitting the logs look easy, but pain and anger was written all over his face. All she wanted to do was take him into her arms and kiss the hurt she had caused away.
Although it may not have been smart to push himself, Nathan couldn't help but do the one thing that had always been therapeutic when he was going through a hard time. It felt good to have enough strength in his leg to actually chop wood again. For whatever reason, he had extra energy and kept going until the corner of his eye caught movement. Nearly falling down from taking concentration off what he was doing, Nathan caught himself on the bench near the woodpile and took another look. Elizabeth. His heart sped up even faster than it had been with hard physical labor. She looked stunning in a simple blouse and riding skirt, her hair windblown, and staring at him with a look of…well, he wasn't quite sure.
When Nathan noticed her staring at him, Elizabeth felt her feet stuck to the ground. She tried to open her mouth, but nothing came out. She gulped as he slowly walked toward her. He looked confused and guarded, but swiftly closed the gap with his long legs. "Hey there," she finally vocalized, heart pounding the closer he got to her. "I'm glad to see your abilities coming back as you continue to get strong and fully heal."
Just wanting to pull her into his arms and kiss her soundly, Nathan pushed those desires aside as he remembered how hurt he felt from her scolding the day before. "Can I help you?" he asked coldly, trying to ignore the way being close to her affected him. "Well?" Getting agitated, Nathan began turning around to walk back to the pile of wood when Elizabeth reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Nathan," she murmured, pulling him back to her. "I'm so sorry about yesterday. I know you care about Jack and are trying to do the right thing. Please forgive me."
Letting go of her hand, Nathan wiped sweat from his forehead and ran his fingers through his tousled hair. "I forgive you. Is that all? I need to finish this up and take a bath."
Almost giving up and walking away, the Emerson quote from the plaque ran through Elizabeth's mind. Always do what you are afraid to do. She was determined to fight for love this time around. Not letting her mind get in the way, Elizabeth let her hands wander up his muscular chest until they reached his neck. Standing on her tiptoes and urging his head down to hers, she pushed her lips against his, intensity pouring from her in hopes of getting the same reaction.
Taken aback by her forcefulness, Nathan couldn't help but respond in kind, trying to let the anguish wash away and fill with something else. But he didn't want to just let it go without working things out, so he ended the kiss and hugged her instead. "Elizabeth, I need to make sure things are good between us before just kissing and pretending nothing happened. We should talk."
"Of course, we'll talk. But Nathan..." Elizabeth pulled back and looked into his piercing blue eyes. "Life is too short to stay mad at each other, and to not kiss and make up. Last night I had a long talk with Jack Jr where he told me everything, and this morning I went to the cemetery to work some things out with Jack Sr. Something happened that made me believe he wants me to move on and be with you. I guess what I'm trying to say is Nathan Grant, I'm in love with you. Nathan, I love you."
Hardly believing his ears, Nathan felt more ice around his heart melting as he picked up Elizabeth and twirled her around, until his leg gave out and they both tumbled to the ground. Laughing at the mishap, Nathan looked intensely into Elizabeth's eyes as he cradled her head in the crook of his arm. "I love you more than anything in this world, Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton. Even when I'm angry with you, I still love you. I have been trying to protect myself from being hurt for so long that I put up walls. Please forgive me." With that, he kissed her with a passion he had never experienced before, suddenly aware of the compromising position they were in as their bodies were intertwined. With a groan, he pulled back and tried to catch his breath as he slowly rose to a standing position and attempted to help her up.
"Why don't I get cleaned up and you can come over for breakfast so we can talk more?" Nathan suggested, needing an excuse to get a little distance so he could cool off. He noticed her bandaged hand for the first time and quickly asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I was distracted, or still mad, and burned it on the kettle. It feels a lot better today." She turned and focused on calming her racing pulse, and suddenly remembered: "I better get your horse back to the livery, then I'll clean up and be over soon."
Walking to the front of the house with her, Nathan rushed to Newton, hugging and scratching his neck as Elizabeth looked on tenderly. "Hey boy, I think next week I'm going to be strong enough to go riding again. I've missed you so much, my friend. I'm sure Elizabeth and Jack have been taking really good care of you on their rides." Finally aware of being watched in his exchange with his first lifetime partner, Nathan blushed. "Sorry, I've just really missed having time with this guy."
"Nothing to apologize for," she insisted. "Newton is such a good boy; he reminds me of Sergeant in so many ways. I really want to get Jack a horse once the house is finished and we can build a barn."
Nathan nodded and smiled, not wanting to give away his secret yet. He untethered Newton, handing the reins to Elizabeth. "See you in about an hour." He tucked a stray hair behind her ear and let his fingers linger on her soft skin. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, then backed away as she mounted and rode away. Nathan knew it was only a matter of time before his dreams of a real family came true.