You're reading chapter two! That's awesome. Leave a comment if you like it. Or if you don't. Either way, I want to hear from you.
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Chapter 2: Fall Feels
Morning Breaks
Nathan came back from his early rounds to find her sitting on the front steps with two cups of coffee. He could see the steam rising from the liquid and was amazed yet again at her ability to time his arrival just right. He dismounted Newton, tethered him lightly to the porch, and then took his place next to his wife.
"Coffee?" she asked, "It's starting to get cooler in the mornings. I thought you'd appreciate the warmth."
Nathan grinned and kissed her lips twice, a brief brush and then a slow hold. It was all the warmth he needed.
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Daylight
The cafe was bustling, but Nathan was thrilled Elizabeth had been able to take her lunch break with him. They sat there over fried chicken, talking about the mundane things of life - what they needed to pick up from the mercantile, Allie's plan for a sleepover, the floorboard that was squeaking in the kitchen. Nathan finished off his glass of water and asked Minnie to put the lunch on their tab before standing and offering his hand to Elizabeth to help her from her seat. As she stood, he met her lips with his.
"I'll see you at home, sweetheart."
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Eventide
"How does it feel?" Elizabeth asked him as they swayed together on the dance floor of the saloon, her hand held closely to his heart.
"Impossible," Nathan responded, glancing across the room at his daughter, who was looking radiant in her dress. "Where did the time go?"
"Time is a funny thing," she said.
"Bill once told me it's a finite resource," Nathan replied with a chuckle, then turned more serious, bending forward to take her lips with his, allowing them to linger as he pulled her closer until Allie's teasing voice interrupted.
"You two know it's my wedding, right?"
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Nightfall
Nathan stood with his arms around Elizabeth outside the door of their son's room. The boy hadn't been too keen on going to sleep, so they expected him up again at any moment.
"I know you've had a long day," Nathan said as he pressed a kiss to her forehead, another to the tip of her nose, and then a third to her lips, "I'll stay with him if he gets up."
"Are you sure?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm sure," he replied. "You go to bed." And he kissed her lips once more - just because he could.
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Dark before Dawn
Nathan woke to the sound of his wife crying out beside him and quickly reached out to fold her into his arms.
"I'm here, sweetheart," he said softly as he felt her hot tears land on his chest. He didn't need to ask what was wrong, so he just held her tightly until he could feel her shoulders loosen.
"I want so much to help you," he whispered, as he ran his thumb across her cheek.
"You're hurting too," she replied, and he leaned forward, kissing her lips with purpose - further fusing their souls as they faced the pain together.
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