Another two weeks passed before the barn and fencing were finally all the way completed. They moved Gypsy into her stall after Nathan had bought all of the hay, feed, and equipment needed to get her through the rest of her pregnancy. Deciding he couldn't put his trip to the city off any longer, Nathan invited Elizabeth to eat dinner on her land to break the news. Allie helped Nathan pack chicken salad sandwiches, carrot sticks, bottled sodas, and some cookies she had baked the night before.
It was a beautiful, but very warm Friday evening when Nathan packed the car before grabbing Elizabeth and driving to the mostly enclosed home that was only a few months away from completion. Elizabeth helped Nathan spread a blanket on the floor of what would be her new spacious kitchen, and they worked together to lay out their meal before saying grace. At first, they were lost in their thoughts and stayed silent as they began eating.
"Did you make all of this yourself, or did you enlist the help of your very pregnant daughter?" Elizabeth finally teased, flashing him an impish grin.
Taking a long drink of soda to wash down his sandwich, Nathan shook his head. "I helped. It's not my fault Allie is cooking and baking up a storm right now when she can't sleep." They laughed and kept the discussion light until the meal was over and they had everything packed back up in the basket before folding the blanket together. After dropping their things off in the car, Nathan suggested a walk to the barn. Hand in hand they admired the property and how far the construction was coming along.
When they reached the finished barn, Elizabeth went straight to Gypsy, who responded right away to her new owner. "Nathan, I was thinking that maybe Newton should stay here now instead of the livery. I feel like Gypsy could use the company, and you are here working every day anyway. It would save you a boarding fee; all you would have to do is buy hay and feed for him. Plus, he would have more room with plenty of fenced in area for him to roam and graze. Jack loves both horses so much, and it would be easier to have them both close."
"Are you sure?" Nathan ran his hand along the stall door next to Gypsy. "It's actually good timing to bring Newt over here. I have to go out of town, and it will make it easier for Jack to care for both animals."
Looking confused, Elizabeth studied Nathan's face for possible answers. "Where are you going? You are right in the middle of building, not to mention impending births for Allie and Gypsy coming soon."
Nathan put both arms around Elizabeth and looked into her eyes. "Are you only worried about the house and births? You don't have any other reason you are upset about me leaving?"
Putting her hands on the back of his neck, she toyed with the curls that were growing longer than usual. "It's just the first time you'll be gone since we've been together. I've just gotten so used to you being around." She looked down at the ground as her voice cracked with emotion. "How long will you be gone?"
Caressing her face with one hand, Nathan lifted her chin until she was once again looking at him. "I would invite you to come along, but I need you here to make sure everyone is ok until I get back. I'll only be gone a few days, a week tops, to take care of important business in Union City. I am going now so I don't have to worry about missing either birth, and my woodworking projects for the house are ahead of schedule. Lee promised to keep the crew going for me." He leaned down and with his lips next to her ear, whispered, "I'll miss you, too. More than you know."
Elizabeth buried her face in his chest, trying to conceal a few tears that stubbornly fell down her face. She breathed in his scent that had become so familiar to her and listened to the steady beating of his heart. Holding on tightly, their breathing became in sync as they soaked up being together. "When are you leaving?" Elizabeth was finally able to ask.
Wanting to rest his leg, Nathan led Elizabeth to a bench next to the horse stalls. "My plan was to leave after morning church services on Sunday, so I get to Union City at a decent hour. I'll need a good night's rest to try and get as much accomplished on Monday as I can. I'm hoping to be back by Thursday or Friday at the latest. I'm finally strong enough to drive my car that far, since I need to pick up a few more things from my house before someone else moves in."
"So, you are selling it then? Are you sure that is what you want to do?" Elizabeth squeezed his hand in support.
He shook his head. "No, I'm not selling. One of my Inspector friends has a daughter getting married to a Mountie. He is completing some of his training in the city for a year before leaving for another posting, and they need a place to rent. Since my home was so close to headquarters, and knowing I would give them a fair deal, he called me a few weeks ago and suggested renting. Besides, it is a good investment property; and there is a little cottage off the back that any of us could use when visiting Union City."
"You never told me there was a little cottage on your property. How big exactly is this city home of yours? I never imagined you were the type to have something lavish." Elizabeth had a hard time imagining that version of this humble and kind man.
Looking embarrassed, Nathan shrugged. "It wasn't too elaborate. As Inspector, and especially Superintendent, you are encouraged to host official gatherings at your house. I partially bought the property because of the cottage. My dad lived there after recovering from a stroke until he died, which gave us so much valuable time together."
Tears glistened in Elizabeth's eyes as they met his. "Oh Nathan, what a special and difficult time for you! I'm glad you got that after all that transpired between you two." She tilted her head, trying to imagine him in that life. "If only I had been able to see you all decked out in your uniform, hosting important people in your magnificent city house. I'll bet there were many women trying to catch your eye with that kind of influence."
"I went out with a few women others tried to set me up with, but they weren't you," he emphatically insisted. "At first, I thought being with someone new would help me forget you. I started seeing a very lovely woman, but after our first kiss she informed me that she was a widow with a son named after her late husband. It hit way too close to home. From that point on I shut my heart off, deciding that being alone was preferable to being with anyone but you. Sometimes I would dream about you and Jack being in danger, but I couldn't save you. Other times my dreams were of all four of us being a family. Those times I woke up with a soaked pillow and pangs of regret that didn't go away for days at a time." Nathan cleared his throat to mask what the memories stirred up inside of him. "I very much want to take you to my residence in the city someday soon."
Trying to push aside the mental image of Nathan kissing someone else and feeling guilty for ever letting him walk out of her life, Elizabeth leaned in and kissed him like it was the first and last time all at once. At first Nathan was shocked and grunted in surprise as her lips communicated her past regret and fear of a future without him. He pulled her closer, longing for the day they didn't have to stop with just a kiss; then soon feeling overwhelmed, he pulled away and stood up to put distance between them. Looking outside of the barn, he could see dusk approaching. With another deep breath, Nathan turned as he felt Elizabeth touch him lightly on the arm. "We better get back before dark. I have a lot to do tomorrow to prepare for my trip."
"I'm sorry if I got carried away," she apologized timidly. "It's hard to hold back sometimes, now that you are back in my life." She felt a strong arm go around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly.
Kissing Elizabeth's temple and closing his eyes, Nathan let his head rest against hers. "One day…" he promised, letting the unfinished thought linger in the air. "Let's go home."
Instead of listening to the Pastor, Jack's eyes were peeled on the beautiful brunette just two rows ahead of him. He had scanned the crowd, and to his delight, Jimmy Davis and his entire family were not in attendance. Maybe he could talk her into going to see their completed barn and both horses who occupied it after their post-church picnic. He felt a jab to the ribs when everyone bowed their heads to pray, and he hadn't even noticed. He glared at Allie before closing his eyes and trying to focus on the words of the prayer instead of Sarah Wolf. With each passing day, he felt Allie becoming the protective older sister he always wanted. He wondered how long it would take for Nathan to make it official. His mom had been more moody than usual after learning about the Union City trip, but hopefully it would help things move along.
Saturday morning, Nathan and Jack got Newton settled in the new barn with Gypsy; then they stacked all of the feed and hay the horses would need for the next several weeks. They went over everything Jack needed to do to care for the animals, and the work he needed to focus on with the house building. Jack was excited to ride Newton and care for Gypsy as she prepared to have her baby; he felt honored that Nathan trusted him enough to bear the responsibility while he was away and was determined to prove how responsible he could be.
Coming out of his thoughts, Jack hadn't noticed Sarah stopping to talk to Robert and Allie right next to him. She looked in his direction and gave him a smile that sent flutters through his stomach. Jack had been trying to tell himself they were just friends and did his best to act calm when Sarah was around; but his attraction just got stronger the more time they spent together. She made sure he knew of her attachment to Jimmy Davis, but Jack hadn't noticed the two of them together much as summer was beginning to wind down.
"Why so quiet, Jack?" Sarah teased. "Did you enjoy the sermon this morning?"
His mouth went dry as he tried to think of something to say that wouldn't make him sound too foolish. "Of course, what was your favorite part? I know Allie was really excited about the closing prayer."
"Hey," Allie defended herself as they began walking toward the door. "When you are as big as a house with a child kicking you every five seconds, you would be very ready to get out of that uncomfortable pew and into the fresh air instead of the stuffy church in the middle of summer."
Robert entered the conversation with a chuckle. "Sarah, I think these two act like siblings more than us sometimes." Allie rolled her eyes and Jack just looked away, trying not to laugh. "Would you like to join us for a picnic, or do you have plans with Mom and Dad?" he asked his little sister.
"They didn't bring a basket today, so I'll ask if I can stay with you. I think they are just planning on eating leftovers. I would rather have some of Allie's pregnancy food she's been making."
Rubbing his wife's ever-expanding belly, Robert admitted, "Even though she's uncomfortable right now, I would say the nesting phase is my favorite. Our house is clean, the baby clothes are washed and put away, and every day I come home to delicious smells in the kitchen. I'm going to be the one gaining weight after all the heavenly food I've been fed."
"Don't get used to it," Allie barked, looking for a shady spot under a tree. All four of them were able to be shaded from the sun as they enjoyed the nesting-induced feast, complete with Robert's favorite brownies. They talked and laughed until the food was all gone. They quickly walked back home so everyone could say goodbye to Nathan, who was getting ready to drive all the way to Union City that afternoon.
Because Sarah and Robert's parents had planned to visit their son and daughter-in-law that evening, they told their daughter she could just go home with them at that time. As the foursome rounded the corner to the row houses, they saw Nathan putting his final piece of luggage in the car, as Elizabeth handed him a basket of food he could eat on his drive. Allie hugged her dad, tears spilling from her eyes and wetting his casual button-down shirt. Robert slapped his father-in-law on the back, admonishing him to be safe on the roads and take breaks when his leg was bothering him. Sarah just smiled as she watched Jack embrace Nathan with great emotion as he promised to do everything on the list for the horses and the house. They all left Nathan and Elizabeth alone to say their goodbyes before he left.
Once Allie, Robert, Sarah and Jack had gone inside, Nathan pulled Elizabeth into his arms and breathed her in, hoping it would sustain him for the days ahead without her. "I will call you when I get there," he whispered in her ear. "I love you so much."
"Be safe," she murmured, trying to keep from getting emotional. "I know it's just for a few days, but we've been apart for so many years that I don't want to be without you for even a day."
Nathan cupped her cheek with his hand. "I don't plan on going anywhere without you once I'm back from this trip. My leg has been holding up really well, so there is no need to worry about that. To be honest, I'm most worried about Allie. She's been having a lot of pains, and Millie says the baby could come anytime in the next few weeks."
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth reached for and opened the car door. "Then you better go so you can get back in time for your daughter to give you a grandchild. I promise we will all be fine. School also starts in just over a month; I have plenty to keep me busy preparing for that this week. Just remember how much I love you."
With one more embrace and a quick kiss, Nathan settled into his car and started the engine. As he began driving away, Allie appeared on the porch and waved, along with Elizabeth who was waving from the street. They watched until his car was finally out of sight. Elizabeth joined Allie on the porch, and they walked arm in arm inside the house. Jack embraced his mom, reassuring her that everything would be fine, and Nathan would be back very soon. After having tea together, Allie wouldn't stop yawning, so Elizabeth insisted that Robert take her upstairs for a nap while she cleaned up before going back to her house next door.
Jack invited Sarah along to care for the horses and to take Newton for a ride, after Robert gave them permission to use Lucky. Both teens chatted excitedly as they made their way to the livery. "I can't believe you are getting your very own baby horse to raise! Mr. Grant must really love you both to give you such an amazing gift."
"Well, he sure loves my mom; and just between us, I think this trip is about more than the business with his house." Jack closed his mouth before he gave anything else away as they entered the livery and approached Lucky's stall.
"What do you know?" Sarah questioned, with a teasing jab to his side. Jack instinctively grabbed her arm then froze, acknowledging the electric current that flowed between them naturally as they touched. He wanted to know if she felt this way with Jimmy Davis but pushed that out of his mind as he looked into Sarah's big brown eyes. Lucky nudged the back of her, and the trance between them was broken.
Clearing his throat and focusing his attention on the task at hand, Jack mindlessly began talking. "I just know Newton is now in our barn with Gypsy, so the odds of Nathan moving into our house when it's finished are probably pretty good. I don't see any real reason for them to wait too long before getting married, do you?"
"I guess," Sarah responded. "It's kind of weird though, isn't it? Thinking of your parents being all in love?" She brushed her brother's horse, while Jack worked to put his saddle on in preparation for their ride. They led Lucky outside and she quickly hoisted herself onto his back. Jack easily mounted right behind Sarah, his arms going around her as he grabbed the reins. Her pulse raced from the nearness of her "friend". Before she could explore her feelings, the large animal took off toward his destination.
For once, Jack wished it was a longer ride to their land. He had never been this close to someone he was attracted to before, and it didn't help that her hair, smelling like lilacs, was blowing in his face. As they reached the barn, Jack slid off Lucky and helped Sarah dismount. She quickly moved into the barn where she said hello to Newton, then quietly talked to Gypsy as not to upset or excite her. She pulled out some carrot slices she had saved from her lunch and fed them to the horses. Jack first filled up the water and food for both stalls, then brushed and saddled Newton while Sarah watched him and scratched Gypsy's neck.
Not knowing how to process her body's reaction to Jack's nearness, Sarah tried to distract herself with Elizabeth's very pregnant mare in the beautiful new barn. But when she looked up and noticed Jack Thornton Jr's broad shoulders and muscles tensing through his white Henley as he easily hoisted the saddle onto Newton's back, she had to catch her breath and look away, hoping he didn't see the color creeping up her neck. She mounted Lucky as Jack did the same on Newton, then they flew across the land going on their usual route around Hope Valley. Because it was a hot afternoon, the horses insisted on stopping in some shade near the river to take a rest and get a drink.
Both teenagers took off their shoes and waded in the river, joking and laughing like little kids. When Jack got close enough, Sarah splashed him with water and giggled as he retaliated. They laughed and splashed until Jack easily scooped her up into his arms and threatened to completely soak her. Her squirming caused him to slip, and both tumbled into the shallow water, getting them completely soaked. "Now look what you made me do," Jack complained.
"You did this yourself, mister!" Wringing out her dress and hair, Sarah sat on a rock in the sun to try and dry off a bit.
Jack untied the blanket on Newton's saddle and spread it out in the sun. "Come lie down on this," he encouraged her. "We'll dry off in no time with this heat." They laid on the blanket and closed their eyes to avoid the brightness of the sun. By coincidence, their hands touched as they adjusted their position. Instead of pulling away, their fingers intertwined naturally. After a few minutes, Jack opened his eyes and looked at a very peaceful looking Sarah who still had her eyes closed. "Are you really in love with Jimmy Davis?" he bluntly demanded.
"I don't think so," she quietly admitted, finally looking him in the face. "But I don't think I'm ready to risk losing your friendship by being more than what we have been." She searched his face, which seemed to be falling a bit at her confession. "I like you…a lot. I guess that scares me."
Elation at Sarah's admission of not being in love with Jimmy then turned into a sinking feeling as she disclosed her hesitation at being more than friends with Jack. He knew they were young, and it was probably smart not to get too romantically involved with each other. Wait, did she just say she liked me a lot? Jack asked himself. She hadn't pulled her hand away from his and they stayed that way for a little while longer, until both horses hollered to let them know it was time to go. Not all the way dry yet, they rode back in silence; wondering if their relationship would ever truly be the same again.
Elizabeth sat reading in the living room next to the telephone, not wanting to miss Nathan's call. Jack had come home from his ride with Sarah still partially wet from what he called a "mishap" in the river. After changing, he was more quiet than usual as they ate dinner together. He even left before dessert to supposedly read in his room, which was highly unusual.
When the call finally came through, it startled Elizabeth. "You made it ok?" she guessed, when Nathan was on the line.
"I did," he promised, recounting his mostly boring drive to the city. "Thank you so much for the food you sent with me. I was able to stop at a very lovely spot to eat a picnic and exercise my leg, so it didn't get too stiff. It hurts, but I packed some of my tea. Shirley made it for me when I arrived."
Confused, Elizabeth inquired, "Who is Shirley?"
Nathan chuckled. "She is my part-time housekeeper. She made sure everything was ready for my short visit and is going to help me prepare the house for renters."
"Nathan Grant! You've been holding out on me," Elizabeth chided. "How did I not know you employed people at your city estate?
Embarrassed, Nathan explained, "I only have a few part-time people who help me and who have been gracious enough to take care of things since I've been gone. They are all very good friends and are anxiously awaiting news of Allie's baby. They sort of helped me with her when we lived here."
"She was very tired today, but I think she is doing great for how far along she is. Don't worry, I will check on her regularly while you are away." Elizabeth made sure Jack hadn't come out of his room before adding quietly, "I think something happened with Jack and Sarah on their ride today. He's acting a little strange, even going to his room to read before eating dessert. I can't get him to talk to me about anything related to girls."
Thinking it through, Nathan finally gave her some suggestions. "If I were to venture a guess, he is probably drawing and thinking…possibly reading, but just give him some time to process whatever happened this afternoon. This is the first real romantic interest he's had. Nothing you or I say will mean much right now, I'm afraid. This is a normal part of growing up."
Elizabeth sighed. "I've never been through this stage of parenting. How did you survive this with Allie?"
"You must have forgotten the story of me interfering in Allie's love life by bringing Robert to her," he joked. "Jack's a good kid, just like Allie was. Mostly, they need to know they are loved and supported. Just keep the lines of communication open, and he will come to you when he feels ready. I can talk to him when I get home if you would like. I hate to cut this call short, but I need to drink my tea and go to bed early. I have appointments first thing in the morning. Please just know you'll be on my mind every single second of every day. Goodnight, my love."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Elizabeth replied, "Good luck. Please rest your leg and don't overdo it. Sweet dreams, Nathan."
After hanging up the receiver, she went upstairs to check on Jack and get ready for bed. His door was completely shut, so Elizabeth lightly knocked. After not getting an answer, she opened it and peeked inside. Jack was asleep in his clothes, holding onto his sketchpad. She walked over to put his things on the desk by his bed and gasped when she saw his drawing. It was a rendering of Jack and Sarah lying on a blanket holding hands near the river with both horses tied up in the shade. Oh boy, she thought. This might be more serious than I thought. Without disturbing anything, Elizabeth quietly left and went into her room, collapsing on the bed. She feared it was going to be a long week.