The second and final chapter of the Road Trip cliffhanger is here! This is where the magic happens … again and again, in fact! It's a long chapter, but has many noted breaking points along the way for a half dozen quick reads. I hope you enjoy their family moments!
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Elizabeth's eyes flicked desperately around the driver's seat, searching for any hint to help Nathan regain control of the endlessly drifting car. "Nathan!" she said urgently, now gripping his leg. "The brake!" she shouted, pointing down at the pedal. "Hit the brake!" she cried more forcefully at his delay. But Elizabeth watched in horror as Nathan did precisely the opposite of what she would've chosen to do.
Although applying the brakes was the logical choice to stop a sliding car, especially when headed in an unknown direction with hidden hazards, Nathan intuitively opted for a different approach, drawing from his childhood love of physics.
First, he eased off the gas to prevent the wheels from locking up, as would happen with braking in these conditions. After maneuvering through some unexpectedly bumpy terrain, Nathan skillfully turned right into their slide, counteracting the drift and swinging the back end of the car to its properly aligned position. Only then, as the final step, did Nathan slow the car by pressing his foot to the brake.
When the car eventually came to a complete stop, albeit at a slight tilt, Nathan paused for a split second, staring ahead with his hands gripping the wheel. Then, a smile of relief spread across his face as he took what might have been his first breath in twenty seconds. He quickly glanced at the children in the back seat and then at Elizabeth. Absolute silence enveloped the car and its passengers for the first time in several hours.
"Is everyone okay?" Nathan asked with concern.
All at once, chatter exploded in the back seat.
"Wow! That was so fun!"
"I wonder how long we slid!"
"I mean, I was a little scared, but …"
"I'm glad we're okay!"
"Can we do that again?"
Following the explosion of suppressed opinions and feelings, Allie leaned forward and gave her dad's shoulder a few approving pats. "Nice driving, Dad!"
Though the atmosphere in the car was filled with elated relief, Nathan noticed Elizabeth's smile suddenly fade to tears, and she began to shake. Soon, she was sobbing. The kids fell instantly silent, unsure of how to respond.
After engaging the handbrake for added security, Nathan quickly scooted across the bench seat and enfolded Elizabeth in the safety of his arms. He gently stroked her back and whispered several times over, "We're okay," before pulling her snugly against him.
In a voice laced with worry, Little Jack asked softly, "Mama, are you all right?"
Hearing the worry in her son's voice snapped Elizabeth back to the reality of their miraculous safety. She sniffled a few times, and as Nathan held her tenderly with one arm, he pulled out his handkerchief, using its soft cotton fabric to soak up her tears.
"Thank you, Nathan," Elizabeth said sweetly. Squeezing his handkerchief tightly in one hand, she clung to Nathan with the other as she explained, "Yes, yes! I'm all right. I was just so scared!" she admitted. In truth, she'd been terrified, desperate not to lose this family she'd only recently gained.
Taking special care to connect with Allie, Elizabeth set the handkerchief in her lap and leaned back to grasp Allie's hand. With tear-streaked cheeks and a faint smile, she looked directly at Allie and said, "I just want you all to be safe."
Allie's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, in response to being both rattled by the danger and touched by Elizabeth's apparent concern.
Even so, Allie, wise beyond her years, comforted Elizabeth, saying, "We're safe now," as she squeezed her teacher's hand. "Thanks to Dad!" she added, casting an admiring glance his way.
"Yes, thanks to your dad!" Elizabeth exclaimed, returning fully to Nathan's arms in a loving embrace. Looking up at him, she wondered aloud, "I have no idea why you did what you did, but it definitely saved us from that slide!"
All three faces focused solely on Nathan, their eyes filled with awe at how this Mountie expertly handled all of his modes of transportation.
"It's just physics," Nathan replied modestly, deflecting the praise.
Turning his attention to Elizabeth, he searched her eyes for assurance, knowing he soon needed to assess their next steps. "Are you all right now?" he asked, kissing the top of her head. Elizabeth quickly nodded in response.
As Nathan moved back to the driver seat, all too aware of what it felt like as the car settled to a stop, he sighed into the reality of revised plans. It was as simple as fluid dynamics. Suction, to be specific. For the sake of the family, he'd try to get them on their way. After all, they had a beautiful family weekend planned. But, intuitively, Nathan already knew the rough night that likely lay ahead.
He put the car in gear, pressed on the gas, and there it was, as he expected – a deep, muffled roar, punctuated by a rhythmic slurping sound as the tires struggled to gain traction.
"I'll take a quick look outside," Nathan said, though guessing the worst. As he double checked the handbrake, Little Jack piped up, his blue eyes pleading, "Can I go, too?"
Nathan didn't need to interpret Elizabeth's expression to answer. The darkness beyond the car held too many uncertainties. Still, he appreciated the young boy's bravery and eagerness to contribute. "Not quite yet, Jack, but I know I'll need your help in a few minutes, though."
Jack beamed, obviously grateful to feel seen and valued.
As Nathan opened his car door, Elizabeth registered the steady rain. She placed a quick hand on his back to stop him. "Nathan?" she asked. When he turned back in response, she added, "Please, be safe."
Feeling the worry in her eyes, he leaned in, resting his head softly against hers, and whispered in her ear, "I'll always come back to you, 'Lizbeth." He then brushed a kiss across her lips as he retreated.
In full Mountie mode, Nathan peered through the open door, first assessing his surroundings before exiting the car. Through the persistent rain, there was little to be seen other than a lot of mud. With the slight tilt of the car, settled in a murky cascade of mud, he knew the risk of stepping out on the downhill angle – any movement to the unstable mud may bring the car right over the top of him.
He glanced back to discover three expectant pairs of eyes, all locked on him. Realizing what he was going to have to do, in front of the two smallest sets, his lips followed the familiar example of Elizabeth's and subconsciously tucked themselves in.
"I don't think it's safe to go out that way," Nathan reported, closing his door. "So," gesturing across to Elizabeth's side, "I'm going to need to see what it looks like out …"
"Oh!" Elizabeth said, looking surprised, pointing down at her seated position. "You need to …" realizing somehow they'd need to switch places.
The Chrysler 70 was roomy as far as a car goes, with the luxury of four to five seats instead of two. Yet, that added feature meant each row was already tight, especially for Nathan's 6'3 frame.
He scooted over beside Elizabeth, but somehow needed to get across. Knowing it would be impossible size wise to climb over her, he stretched out his arms instead. The silence from the backseat was deafening as the children's eyes attentively watched the show unfold. Nathan looked at Elizabeth, trying to express in his motions what their next steps might be to switch positions. "Uh, why don't we … hmmm …"
Elizabeth giggled, her lips pulling inward as she realized the intimate positioning required for their switch.
"Okay," Nathan said, determined to make it work. "We'll just have to—" He gently scooped Elizabeth onto his lap, their eyes meeting with smiles for the unexpected joy of the moment.
Trying to mask his reaction to their closeness, just inches away from their staring children, Nathan cleared his throat as Elizabeth, now more comfortably situated, wiggled off his lap.
Having seen these two together in a couple of intimate moments, Allie knew they weren't this awkward normally. She wasn't sure about Jack, but she was enjoying every single second of this switch-a-roo. Suddenly, a memory flickered into Allie's mind from the day of the Easter egg hunt. She'd come upon her dad and teacher standing unusually close and acting especially odd. Her dad later gave a simple explanation. Elizabeth slipped while hiding an egg. He'd caught her. And they were just straightening up from that unexpected fall when she approached.
Having witnessed all their expressions playing out just now, only inches from her eyes, brought it all together as to what really went on during that fall. No wonder her dad and teacher looked so flustered when she interrupted them. Allie smirked at the realization. When Elizabeth dropped into the strength of her dad's arms, they clearly loved every second of the surprise, and likely only separated on hearing her call out. Allie sighed with satisfaction, glancing back at her dad in the front seat. Only recently realizing that even her Mountie dad got flustered made him all the more lovable.
Now that Nathan was finally in a position to truly assess their predicament, he opened the passenger door. Mud, yes. A sea of mud, in fact. But at least the slope from this side was in their favor.
Good instincts were not required to know this was going to be bad. As Nathan stepped out into the rain, he immediately sank six inches into the slushy muck, dragging his feet slowly with each step. The problem was clear: a heavy mudslide had washed out the road.
Although he was, of course, grateful they were all safe, he closed his eyes in frustration. Their first family road trip, and they drove right into a trigger from Jack's death. His heart ached for Elizabeth as he accepted there was no way around telling her.
Once Nathan settled back into the car and announced the problem, Elizabeth clung to Nathan, not at all caring about their backseat spectators or his wet clothes or his muddy legs. Leaning back just enough to see Nathan's face, she kissed each cheek, still wet from the rain, and then his lips. "Thank you, Nathan," she said, squeezing him tightly to her. She spoke the truth when she added, "You really did save us," knowing she'd have handled the car in a way that only would've worsened the situation.
Although all he wanted to do was hold her, he recognized this as an increasingly dangerous situation, not knowing what else might break loose with the rain continuing to fall.
"So what now?" Little Jack asked.
"Well, now the adventure begins … our first family camping trip!" Nathan announced.
"Yay!" the blue-eyed boy responded, most definitely the only one enthused with this revised location.
Nathan hid his concern, seeing little point in panicking anyone. Instead, he made quick work of removing the two kids, carrying Allie piggyback and Jack in his arms through the sludge, well beyond the path of destruction. They huddled together under one of the large pines, which helped to block at least some of the rainfall.
As Nathan returned for Elizabeth, easily lifting her into his arms, she fortunately remained oblivious to the threat still looming as she playfully teased, "You seem to be making this a habit, Constable" referring to their date in the schoolhouse.
Nathan answered quickly as his feet attempted to do the same. "I like the practice," he said breathlessly, both from the effects of exertion and from Elizabeth, herself.
Once Nathan settled Elizabeth safely on solid ground, he paused to catch his breath, his heart rate gradually slowing. Now that his three favorite people were out of danger's way, he quickly gauged the slide and assessed whether it was worth the risk of going back for the luggage. Considering their wet clothes, and the cooling night, he slogged back through the mud.
Although Nathan had been distracted that afternoon packing up the car, he'd still registered the canvas rolls, and luckily, he'd tossed in his entire saddle bag, since he'd run out of time to sift through what he might need to take. Draping that over his shoulder, he then slung the canvas rolls across his chest, and tucked Little Jack's tote under his arm, leaving his hands free for Elizabeth's suitcase and his and Allie's. Fortunately, they'd combined their things into one.
Now, with the luggage and passengers cleared of the slide, they each added a couple more layers to ward off the damp chill. Nathan, wet through, opted to wait, surprisingly warm from his traipses through the mud. Even still, anything he added on would be soaked in seconds merely from his dripping base layer. He decided he'd change once they all got settled.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Allie, always one for the practical questions.
"I have some ideas," Nathan offered, "but I'll need Jack's help," he added, looking first at the little boy, then glancing back at Elizabeth for visual approval of his request.
For a moment, Jack sat in stunned silence, eyes wide that his Mountie Nathan was needing his help. Once the realization settled, he popped up and wholeheartedly smiled. "Sure thing!"
To acknowledge the strength of the women in his life, Nathan added, before setting off, "Now, I know you two could be out here with us, but I'm afraid it's a matter of practicality," he said, gesturing down to Elizabeth's shoes. "This mud is sticky and without the laces like Jack and I have, it's unlikely they'd stay on your feet."
After giving both Elizabeth and Allie a little squeeze, he said, "Besides, we want you to stay comfortable and warm … Well, as much as possible considering the circumstances," he added with an apologetic smile.
"I only have a few candles from my saddlebag, so we'll need to use them sparingly. But I'll leave one with you just in case." He handed a candle and a few matches to Elizabeth.
At that, Nathan announced, "Ready, Jack?"
The little boy sprang to action, jumping from a nearby log, ready to leap into their night of adventure. For speed, Nathan hoisted Little Jack onto his shoulders.
Elizabeth's mama heart pounded, mostly with pride, seeing her son's confidence rise by the minute in how deliberately Nathan drew him in as a problem solving member of his team. A tinge of worry still unavoidably surfaced, but she deeply trusted Nathan's instincts. Plus, she knew he dearly loved Jack and would keenly watch out for his safety.
As Nathan and Jack set to work, erecting a makeshift camp for the night, Allie and Elizabeth revisited Christmas caroling, discussing what mutual songs they knew, and also thought through other traditions they might enjoy, including fishing. Allie was already offering a few pointers to Elizabeth, a shift they both appreciated – Allie, the teacher, and Elizabeth, the student.
Eventually, two drippy boys returned, even muddier than when they'd left. As Nathan opened his mouth to debrief his crew, Little Jack interrupted, excited to spill the news, "Allie, this will be so fun! We have tents and everything!"
Allie's eyebrows raised, registering the wet, muddy conditions all around. Still, trying to match his enthusiasm, she responded, "Wow, Jack! I'm sure it will be quite the adventure!"
"Tents?" Elizabeth asked with a questioning smile. "You just happened to pack tents to go to Vancouver?"
"No, actually," he admitted. "That was sheer luck. Lee keeps a couple of old canvas tents in his trunk for when he's out with the loggers. They aren't in the best shape, but at least they'll keep us out of the rain!"
Nathan's eyes bounced back and forth between Elizabeth's and Allie's, both of which looked skeptical. Apologetically, he offered, "I'm afraid it's our only choice." Then, with a happier tone of praise for his little helper, he said, "But I think Jack and I managed well, considering one of the poles was missing. Don't you think, Jack?"
Jack's face lit up with a clear sense of accomplishment. "Sure do!" he answered quickly, eyes wide with excitement. All at once, the sudden pangs from their delayed dinner hit. "I'm hungry, Mama. When can we eat?"
"Well," Nathan started. "Here are some of the plans we talked about, Jack. Why don't you tell us which order you think works best?"
They could all see Jack's little analytical mind gearing up as Nathan listed off their tasks for the evening. "Eat, which you just mentioned. Settle into camp. Go to sleep. …" Nathan wondered how many ideas Little Jack could handle. He added one more, just for good measure. "Brush our teeth."
"Okay," the six-year-old began, rubbing his tiny chin as he methodically arranged an order in his head. "Settle into camp, to get out of the rain," he explained. "Then eat," he added next, happy to see that step fell naturally into their near future. "Brush our teeth. And then sleep." He looked over at Nathan expectantly, waiting to hear if his plan passed muster.
"Sounds excellent, Jack!" Nathan said, patting him on the back. "Everyone agree?"
At that, Allie and Elizabeth chimed in their support.
"Thanks, Jack!"
"Good thinking, Honeybear."
Initiating the first step in Jack's itinerary, Nathan led his three favorite people by the light of one candle, placing his feet carefully in the least muddy path for the others to follow. Once the tents came into sight, Little Jack grabbed Allie's hand, leading her away to proudly show her the tent that would be his and his mama's for the night.
"Jack, take off your shoes in the tent," Elizabeth called out, though as she glanced at Nathan, she realized there was likely little point.
Momentarily, that left Nathan and Elizabeth alone in the dark, soggy night. As she eyed Nathan up and down, she noted the need to add another "look" of Nathan's to her growing list. Although she imagined his current condition was far from comfortable, she couldn't help but appreciate how Nathan looked distractingly good, soaked to the bone. In fact, if the temperature had been fifteen degrees warmer, she'd already have been in his arms.
Drenched and tousled, Nathan's hair hung in damp strands over his brow, while his shirt clung tightly to his muscular frame. The muddy earth had splattered up to his knees, mixing with bits of twigs and leaves, a testament to his effort in protecting and looking after his little family.
Elizabeth was only slightly damp, but there wasn't a single dry spot on Nathan. He must be miserable, she thought. Knowing exactly what might cheer him up, she covered the few steps between them. After a silent exchange of sapphire warmth, she lifted her hands to his shoulders and glided them down his soaked shirt. Nathan shivered in response, and with her hands firmly against him, she could feel him beginning to shake. Channeling her thoughts away from her preferences and instead toward his health and safety, she accepted what was necessary. "You'd really better change," she advised, kissing his wet lips. "We can't have you getting sick."
It was nearly impossible to leave a dripping Nathan behind, but it was a must. "I'll leave you to it, then," Elizabeth said, in a tone far lower than she'd anticipated. She then followed the dim glow and childlike chatter to the tent that would be hers and Little Jack's for the night.
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The first stage of Jack's itinerary was complete – settling into camp. The family gathered in the Thornton tent for the second phase, though the parents approached their dinner differently considering the circumstances. Of his two sandwiches, Nathan ate only half, and Elizabeth mirrored his restraint, aware of the uncertainty surrounding their next meal. They left their fruit and veggies untouched, but they did so discreetly, ensuring that both Allie and Little Jack could eat their fill without noticing their parents' caution.
Fortunately, just in time for the third step of Jack's plan, the rain had minimized to only a drizzle. Out in the darkened forest, by the light of one candle, two Thorntons and two Grants silently brushed their teeth. The youngest cut his time unusually short, and began chattering away, while the two oldest regularly stole glances at each other, caught up in the sense of home created by passing through this simple bedtime task together.
In one of her glimpses of Nathan, Elizabeth newly considered the idea of a toothpaste kiss, realizing they'd naturally not had the chance to kiss immediately following this morning and evening ritual. She loved all the tastes of Nathan, and eagerly anticipated their first minty kiss.
With that thought in mind, Elizabeth casually mentioned, loud enough for all ears to hear, "Do you know what really sounds good right now …" Three heads swiveled, wondering what that might be … a hotel? A bathroom? A bed?
"Apple juice."
Allie almost rolled her eyes at the obvious cue, but transferred the energy instead to an amused smile.
"But we just brushed our teeth," Jack responded logically, repeating a phrase he'd often heard from Elizabeth when questioning about snacks or drinks at bedtime.
"Right," said Elizabeth, unable to hide her disappointment. "But, as it turns out," she admitted, hoping Allie's intuition wouldn't require the physical drink to be present, "I forgot to pack any apple juice."
As the daughter of a Mountie, Allie quickly caught the repeated clue. She lowered her head toward Little Jack and suggested an irresistible scenario. "Let's go get you set up in the tent. Then maybe we can tell each other some stories before bed."
"That sounds great!" Jack shouted with even more than his usual enthusiasm. As he took Allie's hand, both Nathan and Elizabeth sent her looks overflowing with love and gratitude for her sweet assistance.
"That's a special young lady you've got there," Elizabeth said, watching their two children walk away, hand in hand.
"She's one in a million," Nathan openly acknowledged, his eyes shining with pride.
Then, once the kids were out of sight, he reached his hand to cup her cheek, his thumb resting against her soft skin, and his fingers brushing into her hair. "As are you," he added, pulling Elizabeth to him. In no time, their minty mouths found one another, readily exploring a new taste of their deepening intimacy.
During a natural separation, Nathan softly chuckled. "So, remember my 'solid plan?'" he smiled, clearly amused at their new circumstances.
Elizabeth laughed, gesturing around to the two canvas tents surrounded by goopy mud. "I'm guessing this wasn't a part of it?"
"No," he answered, suddenly lost in the sparkle of her expressive eyes, lined with lashes that extended her delight. "No, it was not."
Embracing their ever messy lives, Nathan decided to make do. "But this was …" Despite the growing chill and the deepening darkness, illuminated by a single wax candle held fast in the sticky mud below, Nathan gently lifted Elizabeth's hand to his shoulder. In one intentional movement, he slipped his hand around her waist, drawing her in, as he led her other hand to his heart, assuming the same intimate dance position from their first dance together.
Nathan began to sway and hum.
With eyes only and ever for Nathan, Elizabeth couldn't help teasing, "I didn't say yes." Her playful smirk quickly gave way to a fully smitten smile.
"Yeah," Nathan whispered back, nuzzling his head against hers, "but you were gonna."
The rain began to fall softly around the slowly moving couple, taunting them with reminders of what the night could've been as Nathan explained his foiled surprise to take her dancing.
"Well," Elizabeth answered, noting his disappointment, "There's no place I'd rather be."
A sleepy smile spread clear up his face, crinkling the edges of his blue eyes. "We don't need Vancouver," he said with confidence.
Pulling herself in as close as possible, Elizabeth spoke the feelings of her heart, "We just need each other."
"I couldn't agree more," Nathan added, frugal in words, but not in touch. He filled every space possible between them.
While their locked blue eyes held steady as the only fixed point, their melded bodies swayed to Nathan's quiet hum.
"I have a guess," Elizabeth murmured, her voice heavy with both sleepiness and love.
His eyes waited for her lips to name the song he'd been humming, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." But, instead, she surprised him, as really, she so often did, and began singing to him:
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Nathan softly joined in.
Let me hear you whisper
That you love me too
Keep the love light glowing
In your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Nathan couldn't possibly quantify his love for Elizabeth. The mud, the rain. This was their story, and it was messy. Yet, in absolute truth, there's no place they'd rather be, as long as they had each other. Though cold, wet, and dirty, Nathan felt indescribably happy and fulfilled. He needed Elizabeth. She was the sunlight to his storm. Clearly. Had it just been him out in this muck as a Mountie, he would not be humming, nor would he be smiling. And he definitely wouldn't want this night to last forever.
Fully acknowledging his smitten heart, Nathan took the liberty of a final twirl and then lowered Elizabeth into a dip.
Elizabeth was mid-swoon with their dance in the rain when out squealed a high pitched, "Oooop!" as her foot slipped out from under her in the goopy, slick soil. Luckily for Elizabeth, Nathan was not only tall, but strong, and held her weight easily. In fact, he was rather pleased with the mud at that moment. Gently, he lifted her to a standing position, one conveniently close to his warmth.
Although the rain was picking up pace, their eyes and lips took little notice as they engaged in their own dance. All the events of the night faded away in their few final moments before their necessary goodnights.
In the midst of their kisses, Nathan's lips separated from Elizabeth's, as his momentarily stretched into an amused position.
"What is that smile about, Constable?"
Whispering, so as not to be heard by the little pitchers with their big ears, he said ever so quietly, "I thought of Little Jack and his disdain for wet kisses."
Elizabeth giggled, shaking her head in delight at her precocious son.
With renewed passion, Nathan pulled Elizabeth snug against him, as his other hand tangled through her hair. After delivering several deep, intimate kisses, he gently withdrew, placing his forehead to hers and said, "Just to be clear, 'Lizbeth, I love all your kisses …" Then, he demonstrated that truth as he kissed her three times in succession, placing one loving kiss between each heartfelt word. "Every. Single. One."
Elizabeth shivered in response, though the worsening weather might've been to blame.
Nathan brushed his hands up and down her arms with intent, trying to warm her up quickly. With a tilt of his head, he gestured toward the tent. "Go in. Get warm, okay?" he suggested, reluctantly accepting the inevitable separation.
"I could say the same to you," she added, running a hand through his wet hair.
Nathan drew her in again, holding her close, wishing he could be the one to warm her tonight.
"What are we going to do, Nathan?" she asked anxiously, the reality of their surroundings settling back in.
Nathan inhaled deeply, taking in the mingled scents of rain, earth, and his clear favorite — Elizabeth's floral perfume. "I wouldn't worry," he reassured her, tipping her chin up for a kiss. "I've been out in plenty of nights like this. We'll be fine tonight and make a plan in the morning."
Nathan's presence here meant everything to Elizabeth. Despite the mess and uncertainty, she still felt remarkably safe and comforted. "I love you, Nathan. Thank you for looking out for us."
"Always," he whispered with his endearing half smile, further cementing the proven promise with an extra tight squeeze. "I love you, too."
After sharing in one last lingering kiss, Nathan's arms released Elizabeth except for a gentle hold of her hand.
"Goodnight, my love," Nathan said, the rain picking up and signaling it was time to part.
Goodnight, sweetheart," Elizabeth replied with a glowing smile.
Hearing that one word from Elizabeth's lips struck Nathan's heart, igniting a warmth within him that he knew would linger throughout the night. He loved how her sweet term of endearment tied them together to this dance in the rain, when regardless of their surroundings, they found light and comfort in each other. The love woven into her calling him "sweetheart" made it impossible for Nathan to resist leaning in for one last kiss—a kiss that left her breathless and longing for the morning, when they could share even more minty kisses.
Nathan opened the tent flap for Elizabeth, who slipped in and readied herself for bed. Then, as if doing rounds, he gathered Little Jack from their tent, and made certain his three favorite people each had one of the three blankets he'd fortunately brought along in his saddlebag. Following a cycle of goodnights tossed through the canvas between tents, they were all settled in for the final phase of Jack's itinerary – sleep.
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Despite the late night hour, Rosemary voiced some stern words at her droopy eyelids, knowing she was only minutes away from meeting an important deadline. The streets of Hope Valley had quieted hours ago, which allowed her a level of focus difficult to reach at home. Just as she removed the final page from the typewriter, Bill stormed past the newspaper office, sending Rosemary into a panic. Naturally, she was far more jumpy since being held hostage.
Half angry, half curious, Rosemary stomped out the door. "Bill!" she hissed. "What are you doing out this late?" Even though Bill glanced over, upon hearing her familiar voice, Rosemary hadn't halted his trajectory, so she jogged ahead to catch up.
Knocking rapidly on the Mercantile's door, Bill turned now, to share the news with Rosemary.
"I just got a call about Nathan."
"Oh no!" Rosemary exclaimed, grabbing a hold of his arm. "Is he all right?" Her mind started spinning. Despite her concern, she wrapped her arms around herself, realizing she'd forgotten her sweater in her abrupt exit from the office.
"I don't know," he replied, a clear look of concern on his face. He pounded the door again to the Mercantile. "It was the Mountie office in Vancouver. Nathan hasn't checked in for his assignment." Even as a seasoned Mountie himself, Bill could feel the emotion rising, fully aware of what the family's delay could signify.
"Well, it's nearly two, Bill! They left at four!" Rosemary's voice escalated in volume with each word, her anxious heart racing.
Just then Ned opened the door, naturally disheveled at this late hour. In his slower, sleepy pace, Ned didn't even get a chance to say anything before Bill pushed past him and into the shop.
"Ned, I need to grab some supplies," he announced brusquely. As Bill quickly swept the aisles, he explained, "Nathan's with Elizabeth and the kids. They didn't make it to Vancouver. I'm driving out to see what happened."
"I'm coming with you, Bill," Rosemary insisted, placing a firm hand on his arm to hold him in place. "I'll swing by home first. What can I bring?"
"Blankets. Food. I'm grabbing another lantern and some medical supplies here. Faith's up in Buxton," he explained with obvious frustration. "Fifteen minutes, Rosemary," Bill urged, clearly in a rush. "I'll pick you up."
Then, as his eyes lingered a moment on her blue, velvety business suit, he flung his hand around in the air, gesturing at her with some annoyance. "And wear something that makes more sense. Borrow something from Lee if you have to. We don't know what we're going to encounter."
Maximizing time, Rosemary only nodded, and left.
Now in their silent preparations, both turned off their investigative minds out of necessity, too pained by the worry for their friends.
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Elizabeth startled awake to the sound of pummeling rain, thinking that was the culprit of her sudden arousal. Then, as she sleepily registered the pressure of a growing number of soft plops, she looked up to discover the leaky roof. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and quickly assessed this was not just one singular leak. Clearly, the waterproofing had worn over time. There were drips falling everywhere, and as the canvas sagged under the weight of the accumulating water, the droplets were rapidly increasing in size.
At the disturbance, Little Jack, too, stirred awake.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, each second punctuated by a dozen rhythmic drips of rain. With no other choice, she reached for Little Jack's hand and walked into the dark, rainy night.
Wrapped in their blankets, the they slipped into the second tent, relieved to find it dry inside. Despite Elizabeth's grogginess and their current predicament, the sight of a sleeping Nathan stirred her heart, especially as she recognized his selfless sacrifice – clearly, there'd only been three blankets.
In the frosty night, he lay there on his side, no added warmth, only dressed in a two-piece pajama set of soft blue cotton. At least it was long-sleeved, she thought, observing the cuffs at the wrist, lined by a thin darker blue ribbing. Her heart beat faster as she noticed he predictably left even his sleep shirt unbuttoned by a count of two. Apparently he'd used his serge as a makeshift blanket, since it lay open, crumpled at his side. Elizabeth knelt down and tenderly tucked it around him.
She felt helpless. This man deserved to be warm, snuggled, and held close. The only thing holding her back was a silly piece of paper. In her heart, she'd already promised herself to him forever. Elizabeth debated far too long, but figured it was likely only a few hours until sunlight. Besides, he didn't look too cold. He was asleep, afterall. In the time she'd spent reasoning, Elizabeth quickly realized the children were the complicating factor in this situation. Had it been only her and only him, there was no question – they'd be warm in each others' arms, married or not. She doubted they would've even bothered with the two tents in the first place. It had to be acknowledged that sometimes practicality trumped propriety.
"Mama?" Little Jack asked quietly, wondering why they were only standing in their new tent and not sleeping.
Almost forgetting her purpose, Elizabeth now forced herself to wake up her sweetheart.
"Nathan?"
Although only a whisper, the sound of Elizabeth's voice immediately drew Nathan out of his sleep.
"What is it?" he asked, sitting up right away. "Is everything okay?"
"Our tent is a mess. It's leaking all over."
Nathan blinked, adjusting his eyes to the darkness. Standing there huddled, wrapped up in blankets, were Elizabeth and Little jack.
Nathan made a quick and sleepy assessment. He was already at one edge of the tent. Allie had sprawled more toward the middle. "Why don't you and Little Jack sleep by Allie," he suggested.
"Hey, kiddo?" Nathan said, nudging Allie. "Can you scoot over toward me? We need to make room."
Still half-asleep, Allie wriggled over against Nathan.
Although these were clearly unusual circumstances, out of propriety, Elizabeth still intentionally settled Jack in beside Allie, and then, on the other edge, she tried to make herself comfortable.
"Here, 'Lizbeth," Nathan whispered. He lifted his makeshift pillow from his dry clothes and handed it across the sleeping forms of Allie and Little Jack. As she started to resist, he gestured more forcefully, but still said softly, "I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."
"Thank you, Nathan," she said meekly, touched by his neverending selflessness. In the darkness, Elizabeth first hugged the bundle to her chest, and then nestled her head into the coziness of where he'd just been resting his.
The lull of the steady rain quickly settled them all into a restful sleep, even as they occupied a tent designed only for three. Thankfully, the presence of one small person made the snug fit manageable.
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An hour or so passed before Allie awoke, unable to sleep. "Dad?" Allie whispered. Nothing. "Dad!" she tried a little louder, poking him this time.
"What is it kiddo?" Nathan murmured.
"The tent's dripping," she said with a frustrated whine, desperate for some sleep. Nathan looked up at the canvas ceiling. Though he couldn't see the building condensation in the darkness, he now clearly heard the "thunk" of droplets landing at precise intervals.
"Can you move your legs to the side?"
"I've already tried that," she said, her whine becoming more exaggerated with each word.
Nathan inwardly sighed. This was only one night. What was a little moisture? He'd certainly experienced worse out in the field. "Why don't you switch me spots?" he offered.
Allie's lanky form climbed across Nathan without much grace in her sleepy state. She settled into the warmth he left behind, and promptly fell asleep.
Now awake, Nathan glanced around, though the darkness enveloping the tent allowed him only to see within a few feet. Beside him, a tuft of soft blond hair peeked out from beneath the blanket, revealing the gentle rise and fall of Little Jack's peaceful sleeping form. He took in the comforting sight of his new location, feeling a sense of peace at how seamlessly their family of four was coming together.
So close, within his reach, was the warmth of his love, Elizabeth. Although her back was turned facing away from him, Nathan closed his eyes and took an extra long inhale, trying to soak in her proximity. He couldn't help wondering what pajamas she wore beneath the blanket, what the fabric might feel like against his fingers. With a smile only the darkness could see, he guessed they were probably pink.
"Plop." Ah yes, Nathan thought. The drip. "Plop." Only now, he realized, it made a new sound. As his leg registered the cold, damp moisture, he quickly realized the reason for that new sound wasn't a good one. Allie's blanket had acted as an added thick layer, absorbing the small droplets of water. Now, his much lighter cotton was doing little to keep the moisture off his skin. "Plop." Nathan sighed. This was going to be a long night.
But, he happily thought, at least a sleeping Elizabeth was within his sight. So, his tired eyes sought out her beautiful, blanketed figure. He watched the gentle movement of her body, intentionally matching his breath with hers, as if drawing her in beside him. In that blissful unified rhythm, despite the soft plopping of droplets and the growing dampness of Nathan's pants, he eventually drifted off to sleep.
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As the rain eventually cleared and the night air grew crisp, Little Jack twisted and turned in his blanket, unable to find the necessary warmth for sleep. Poking his head out from as cozy of a cocoon as he could create, he noticed his mama sleeping soundly, her back turned away. Naturally, Elizabeth would be the one to pull him in and double wrap him in her blanket and her love. Yet, now, within his view was another option – his Mountie Nathan … sleeping, yes, but always inviting, always reliable, and always safe to his Mountie Jack, as long as the little boy could remember.
"Mountie Nathan?" whispered a tiny voice.
Although enticed to stay within his exquisite dream, Nathan knew that voice anywhere. He forced his eyelids open to see Little Jack's alert blue eyes, front and center, peeping right back.
"Hey, Jack. What's the matter?" he mumbled, trying to rouse himself awake.
"I'm cold," he said helplessly, his small voice trembling slightly, reaching for Nathan's warmth. "Will you snuggle me?"
The seasoned dad in Nathan sighed with tenderness, feeling the weight of this sweet boy's vulnerability. "Come here, Mountie Jack," he whispered in a deep, compassionate tone, opening up his arms, "Let's get you warm." That little voice, Nathan thought. This boy could melt any heart.
As Nathan pulled Little Jack's blanketed body against his chest and draped his serge over the both of them, the comforted young boy nestled in even more, loving the security of being held so close by the very man who made his world turn. Mine is the life of a father, he thought, the statement ringing true for Jack as well as Allie.
When Nathan first became a Mountie, he felt that was his calling, to stand for the honesty his father so often chose against. But not long after, when he unexpectedly became the guardian of a sweet but sassy four year old, he soon realized that family was where his heart would always be first.
He knew there was something healing, too, about loving this little boy in his arms. Knowing exactly what it felt like to go without fatherly love, he knew precisely what to give. Nathan's heart swelled as Little Jack fell deeper against him, heavy with the weight of sleep. His sweet boy, Nathan thought, pulling him in tighter. He could feel it in his bones how much this mini Mountie was already his own. He affectionately planted a kiss in Jack's tousled blond hair and whispered, "Goodnight, son."
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Nathan's eyes fluttered opened in the glow of the early dawn. He blinked several times, trying to remember his surroundings. Yes, the tent made sense now. But with a small gasp, he settled into the remarkable reality that the warmth that had once been Little Jack snuggled up against him was now Elizabeth. His entire soul cartwheeled at this unexpected truth.
Nathan's initial reaction was one of astonishment. How was he waking up beside Elizabeth, her face only inches from his? And together, under one blanket?! He quickly reasoned he'd figure that out later. In the meantime, he didn't budge, careful not to stir her awake.
Despite his wonder, Nathan first thought of Little Jack's whereabouts, needing to assure his safety. After only a moment of attention, he was confident that Little Jack was somewhere in the tent, as he could hear the boy's soft whispy exhales.
Now … returning to the intoxicating warmth of Elizabeth nestled beside him. Unable to resist the temptation, Nathan lifted the blanket slightly, driven to know what she wore to bed. A pink silk nightgown gently hugged her curves, with lace framing the neckline and edges of the sleeves. Reluctantly, he lowered the blanket, taking care to tuck her back in.
'When could this be their reality?' he inwardly groaned. 'Please, God, let it be soon,' he thought. It took every ounce of his will power not to shape his body to hers and run his hand along the length of her silky nightgown.
For a momentary distraction, he tried to piece together this puzzle. With the vibrant shades of amber and crimson, fall had also ushered in cooler nights. So, naturally, seeking out body heat on an unavoidable night in the forest without adequate gear made sense. But he'd been the one without a blanket. Had he cuddled up to her? And what about Little Jack? This was going to be one interesting puzzle to solve.
Deliberately turning off his brain for now from solving the mystery, Nathan instead turned his full attention to etching this moment into his mind and heart, enraptured by what this beautiful woman looked like sleeping. He'd recently opened his eyes to a similar view. But, considering it came after a dangerous jump during the most terrifying night of his life, there was no comparison to what was within his gaze now on this crisp fall morning.
Elizabeth's chestnut hair rested in a messy golden halo across the makeshift pillow he'd passed her in the night. A peaceful smile graced her lips, and he wondered if she was dreaming, clearly hoping it was about him. Considering they were in their current position, perhaps there was truth to that thought. He felt the gentle rise and fall of her chest, noticing how their breathing had naturally fallen into the same rhythm.
Hearing the beginnings of bird chirps in the distance, Nathan figured it was likely around five in the morning. As much as he wanted to hold this moment forever, he knew they'd need to part before the kids woke up. I mean, they'd only just talked with Allie and Jack about a hand hold or a kiss. This was clearly well beyond that spectrum. Nathan softly stroked Elizabeth's hand, but she remained still. With hesitation, he shook her gently, not wanting to jolt her awake.
Unexpectedly, rather than stirring, Elizabeth just snuggled in closer against him.
Well, he thought, feeling a little helpless, though clearly happy, 'Here we are.' If he spoke or really nudged Elizabeth awake, it was also likely to wake the kids, which would defeat the purpose. Plus, if this was the image they were all going to awaken to, it might as well not be at 5am. So, he reasoned on leaving Elizabeth as is for now, not a reality he minded in the slightest.
Surely there was a logical explanation that the children would understand, considering all the unusual circumstances of the night. Jack wouldn't think anything of it, he knew. It was one big slumber party to him. But, he wondered about Allie's perception, though only for a moment, before being drawn back into this precious experience of sleeping beside Elizabeth.
Since they were in fact hidden under the blanket, he felt free to rest his hand gently on Elizabeth's, now firmly positioned in this life with her and the kids, a life he considered his home.
Exhausted from all the interruptions of the night, Nathan slowly drifted back into sleep, naturally settling into some beautiful dreams.
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As a more cacophonous group of chirping birds called in the morning and the brighter rays of sunlight illuminated the canvas, Elizabeth opened her heavy eyelids, groggy from the broken sleep caused by the rain. She'd felt especially cozy, and now she was stunned to realize why — she was cuddled with her back against Nathan, with his arm wrapped around her waist. For a moment she panicked. Clearly there had to be an explanation for this. How had this happened? There'd been two children between them!
One of the clear culprits was right in front of her, still snoozing. Why had Little Jack changed sleeping spots, she wondered? And Allie? Where was she? Knowing she'd have to figure out what to do about this and soon, she couldn't help but settle in … just for one indulgent minute. She wished she could've seen Nathan's sleeping face in front of hers, but then again, she'd been gifted that view for a moment before. So, she appreciated all the more being cocooned in his warmth from behind.
Immersed in the moment, she indulgently slipped her hand around Nathan's and pulled him just a little tighter to her. An elated smile stretched slowly across her face. The rain wasn't such a bad thing after all, she thought, drawn in more and more by the rise and fall their two bodies followed in unison.
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Jolted awake by a sudden jostling, Elizabeth faced a close up pair of needful blue eyes. "Mama," Little Jack whispered, "I'm hungry."
Instantly aware of what her position had been when she'd unintentionally fallen back asleep, Elizabeth sat bolt upright, and Nathan quickly followed suit, before leaning back on his hands to make himself appear less physically aligned with Elizabeth.
"Okay, Honeybear," she said sweetly. We'll see what we can do." Her heart ached a little when she remembered how Nathan ate only one half of his two sandwiches. "I think there's some dinner leftover."
"Oh, goodie!" Jack shouted, suddenly a bouncing ball of energy. He quickly acknowledged one of his favorite people who was also now clearly awake. "Hi, Mountie Nathan!"
Despite the long night, Nathan couldn't help but be enamored by his infectious enthusiasm. "Good morning, Jack," he replied, wearing a loving smile and tired eyes.
At the sound of Nathan's voice, Elizabeth turned from her son to face him, ready to piece together the mystery of how they ended up sleeping side by side. Yet, she wasn't prepared for the way her heart leaped at the sight of him, freshly awake, in his pajamas, and enveloped in the morning light.
Trying to make this less awkward, Elizabeth noticed Nathan leaning back on his hands to create some distance between them, which in turn flexed every muscle in his upper arms. His appearance emitted a sleepy, but sensual, inviting warmth. She swooned at his sweet smile and ruffled hair. Even after a calming exhale, she truly had to resist running her hand along the coarse stubble lining his jaw and showering him with kisses – perhaps later, though, she hoped, offering him a warm, good morning smile.
"Hi," she said, her eyes glowing.
"Hi," he answered back, matching her gaze.
With such an abrupt separation following Jack's wake up call, Nathan longed again for Elizabeth's touch. Under the blanket, he searched for her hand. As he wrapped his hand around hers, holding it tightly, their eyes met and exchanged loving looks that spoke of what this special night together had meant to each of them. Feeling that connecting warmth through their bare hands, Elizabeth wasn't sure she could possibly melt more with this morning's unexpected circumstances.
The teenager in Allie groaned herself awake. "Well, that was an adventure," she said groggily, summarizing the night with an especially expressive yawn.
With Allie stirring and starting to sit up, Nathan figured he'd better address their current situation quickly.
"It looks like we played musical beds last night," his eyes first falling to Allie so she could explain her departure, which was unknown to Elizabeth.
"Dad switched me spots. There was an annoying drip hitting my leg, and I couldn't sleep."
Elizabeth gave Nathan a sympathetic look, realizing he went not only without three quarters of his dinner and a blanket but also took on a pesky drip through the night.
Now, fully awake, Allie apologized. "I'm sorry, Dad," she mumbled. "I was just tired and wasn't thinking. But I shouldn't have made you suffer."
"You didn't at all, Allie," her dad lovingly reassured her. "I told you to move."
"And what about you, Honeybear?" Their heads all swiveled to Little Jack, the only bright eyed, bubbling face in the group. "How did you end up over there?"
If the children hadn't been present, she would've loved teasing Nathan, questioning him as to whether he'd told Jack to move as well. But, the current company considered, she naturally held her tongue.
"I was cold," he explained, looking momentarily miserable, "and I missed my bed," he added. "So Mountie Nathan snuggled with me."
Despite the morning chill, Elizabeth's heart melted into a warm puddle.
"And then I was cozy," Little Jack continued. "I still couldn't sleep, though. So Mountie Nathan rubbed my back, and I think that helped because that's the last thing I remember."
When it came to this blond, blue-eyed boy, Nathan openly wore his heart on his sleeve. The joy in his eyes and the warmth of his smile as he listened to Jack recount their night said it all.
"But, then …" Jack went on, taking a breath, clearly showing how stories could go on and on with young children. "You two kept scooting into me and I got tired of being squished. So, I moved," he explained matter-of-factly, having no particular thought about his mama waking up next to his Mountie Nathan.
As Elizabeth processed every single loving sacrifice of Nathan's over the last twelve hours – less dinner, less warmth, less comfort, and definitely less sleep – she hoped for a moment where she could pour all of her gratitude for this selfless man into her kisses.
"And what about this blanket?" Nathan asked, continuing his investigation. "How did it end up on me?" Trying to add some levity to the situation to counter the awkwardness Allie might feel, he teased Elizabeth, "Did I steal it from you in the night?"
"That was me," Allie confessed, suddenly embarrassed. Nathan and Elizabeth looked over at Allie in surprise.
Now, on the spot, Allie started to ramble. "Well, I woke up, and the water dripping on my leg was now dripping on my dad, on his pajama pants, and there was this big wet mark …"
Finally, Allie's thoughts settled, and she realized how her sleepy choice had created a compromising situation for her dad and her teacher.
Directing her apology to both, she explained, "When I noticed my dad's wet pant leg, I saw some extra blanket bundled near Elizabeth's feet. So I just pulled it over your legs. That's all. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to …"
Then, settling into a different position considering the cold night, she defended herself. "Someone has to look out for you, too, Dad. I mean, at least you were warm," she offered with a guilty smile.
"Allie," Elizabeth said, reaching over Nathan to pat the thoughtful girl's hand, "Under the circumstances, I think you made the right choice." She was about to elaborate when a familiar voice filled the quiet morning air.
"Nathan?"
"Elizabeth?"
As Bill crested the small hill, trudging through the sludge, he spotted two tents.
"Uncle Bill!" Little Jack shouted from the tent, ecstatic about their visitor. "Come see inside! Come see! We're camping!"
At the sound of his godson's voice, Bill directed his steps toward the tent on the right.
As Nathan and Elizabeth heard the slurping sound of Bill's footsteps approach, a sudden realization dawned on them both. They looked at one another helplessly. Elizabeth tucked in her lips and Nathan lightly shook his head, wondering what Bill might have to say about molasses now.
Just then, another voice chimed in, "Oh, Elizabeth! Nathan! We were so worried!" Another set of slurpy steps neared.
Rosemary! Nathan, thought. His eyes rolled up to the tent ceiling. This is so much worse than just Bill. They'd never live this down.
Nathan tried to slyly scoot the blanket off to the side to make it seem less like he was just cuddled under it with Elizabeth. But, then, again, he thought, why bother? Certainly the offense of sleeping side by side unmarried, even with your children in tow, was written solidly in every rule book of propriety.
Why, even with the leaky roof, had he not thought to switch to the other tent?
The fact is, by the time one tent became the best choice for all three of his favorite people, he was half-asleep and not thinking. Beyond that, he'd had no reason to believe anyone would've come up looking for them this early.
As the sound of Bill and Rosemary's feet stopped momentarily outside the tent, Nathan and Elizabeth gave each other one last knowing look as Nathan silently mouthed the words, 'Here we go.'
Bill was first to lift up the flap. "Hi, J–." Only a split second later, Rosemary was the second to peek her head in from the opposite flap, "Hello, Eliz–".
Through seconds of silence, a vast number of expressions did the talking.
The looks that bounced around that tent couldn't possibly be described – from surprise, to delight, to questioning by the pair of known interrogators.
Bill's eyebrows shot up at first glance, then he eyed Nathan with a side smirk and approving nod. Rosemary's red lips silently circled into a perfectly surprised "O" before they spread into a delighted grin, nearly blinding them in the dawn hour with her sparkling white teeth.
Catching their glances, Nathan lightly tilted his head in succession and darted his eyes over to Allie, willing them to temper their looks so as not to accidentally drop anything suggestive.
As all of these subtle face motions ensued, Allie easily followed every single one loud and clear while Jack and Elizabeth's looks remained unchanged.
Elizabeth only sat as an observer, her eyes jumping from Nathan to Bill to Rosemary and back, her lips perpetually tucked in.
Little Jack wore a look of sheer delight, anxious for Uncle Bill and Auntie Rosemary to share in the joy of this camping experience.
"So," Nathan said abruptly, and rather loudly, considering the small confines of the tent.
As he willed himself to think, Elizabeth saved him by suggesting, "Why don't you get our suitcases from the leaky tent, Nathan," she said, lightly squeezing his forearm, an affectionate gesture most certainly noted by the visiting duo. "Then, we'll go from there?"
"Right," he said, definitively nodding his head, grateful to have a plan. "That sounds great."
Bill quickly jumped in, "I'll be happy to help," clearly with ulterior motives. He stepped out of the tent doorway as Nathan slipped his feet into his muddy boots and pushed past the canvas flap into the morning son.
Once they were out of earshot and nearing the other tent, Bill casually started, "So …"
Nathan, still clad in his pajamas, immediately shot his friend a warning look, and answered only with, "Bill, no."
By the time he and Bill brought Elizabeth and Little Jack's suitcases to the tent, Nathan had collected his thoughts with a well-laid out plan. "Why don't you and Allie change first - take turns if you'd prefer, and I'll take Jack along with me." Turning his attention to his mini-Mountie, he announced, "Bill and I need your help breaking camp."
"What do you think, Jackaroo?" Bill asked, peering back into the tent.
"I'd love to!" he shouted, practically bouncing out of the tent.
Before Nathan closed the door flap, his eyes found Elizabeth's. "I'll see you soon," he said softly, already missing her warmth.
Once the girls were finished, the boys swapped, climbing back into the tent. Jack bounded out in a new outfit, not yet tarnished by the mucky mud. Bill had found a spot beneath some trees with a convenient stump, so he'd laid out food for the hungry campers, and Allie and Jack were happily digging in.
Now alone, Rosemary didn't waste a second to get the biggest scoop of her lifetime. She leaned in as Elizabeth began brushing her hair, "Elizabeth!" she exclaimed in an excited, but hushed, whisper. "What an adventure! The rain! The mudslide!" Then in a swoony, melodic voice, she added, "The romance!" Following a delighted sigh, she settled into her burning question, "So, how was it – snuggling through the night, with your sweetheart?"
Although Rosemary's animated voice was chattering away, Elizabeth was highly distracted, scandalously wishing she could see the motions through the canvas tent that were causing the various rustling sounds as Nathan changed.
Rosemary had been watching her friend's attention quickly slip away. She continued to look engaged with the strokes of her brush and an occasional one word answer. But, what Elizabeth didn't realize is how her gaze had become oddly fixated on a boring canvas tent. In addition, she'd also been mindlessly brushing the same strands of hair for at least ten strokes by now. A small giggle erupted from Rosemary and Elizabeth's eyes snapped over to her friend's, suddenly worrying whether Rosemary could read her mind.
"Oh, Elizabeth," Rosemary said softly laughing. "I think you should move on to the rest of your hair now, don't you think?" she suggested, gently tapping the brush.
Although Elizabeth cast her friend a glaring glance, she couldn't help but giggle herself.
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As Nathan stepped out from the tent in his white button-down shirt, he chuckled at how ill-suited the color was for their current location. But, in packing, he'd been thinking about attire for the city, not for this muddy mess.
Immediately, his eyes found Elizabeth's, and he gave her a small wave. His exit from the tent hadn't gone unnoticed. She paused midway through a brush stroke, soaking in Nathan's sharp, rugged look, his dark hair stylishly unkempt and his overnight stubble still untouched. Considering the setting, even Rosemary paused mid-sentence, captivated by how Nathan looked distractingly good in suspenders this fine, crisp morning.
Despite having his own grooming routines ahead, Nathan couldn't pull his gaze away from Elizabeth. She'd slipped into the same skirt from yesterday, wrinkly and crusted in dried, gloppy mud. Naturally, she wouldn't want to ruin another skirt, Nathan reasoned. But, peeking out beneath a warm woolen shawl, Elizabeth wore a fresh blouse, one of his favorites – both for the memories and for the way it highlighted her beautiful figure. He'd shared a dozen kisses with Elizabeth wearing that flattering top, a white v-neck with embroidered flowers.
As Rosemary picked back up her conversation with Elizabeth, the source of his attention smiled and waved back, her blue eyes eventually redirecting toward Rosemary.
As awkward as this all was, Nathan thought, particularly with their meddlesome, though well-intentioned visitors, Nathan wasn't going to let that deter him. In this rare opportunity, he'd been gifted a front row seat to all of Elizabeth's personal day to day tasks, the little moments he'd been fantasizing about since their first date. Though she may not be at home in her own bathroom, he was ready to be a part of whatever he could be.
So, he boldly walked over to the two women, kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, and said with a heart melting smile, "Hi, Beautiful." As if Rosemary wasn't stunned enough, Nathan gently took Elizabeth's barrette from her hand, and asked, "May I?" After a little gasp, Elizabeth glanced up at Nathan from beneath her long lashes. "I'd love that," she answered, her heart racing at the intimacy of the moment.
Rosemary, catching her cue to exit stage left, expertly delivered a parting line. "Excuse me," she said knowingly, patting Elizabeth's shoulder. "I'll leave you two alone," at which time she bounded away toward breakfast, her curls bouncing along in her delight.
Allie stood beside the makeshift breakfast table, nibbling on her muffin as she watched from a distance. Her dad somehow managed to open the tiny barrette with his long fingers. Then, when he brought it close to Elizabeth's hair, she gently took his hand to guide it to the perfect spot. Allie couldn't help but smile at how enchanted her dad looked as he gathered a few of Elizabeth's curls and secured the barrette in place. Allie lightly shook her head and rolled her eyes at the sight of the barrette hanging awkwardly. Although at a distance, she still heard her dad's laughter and noticed his determination as he made a second attempt.
They didn't even look around, Allie noticed, oblivious to everyone but each other.
Caught up in the romance unfolding before her eyes, she remained unaware of Rosemary's quiet approach until she was startled from behind, "They are so in love, aren't they?" Rosemary gushed, though quieting her excitement to only a whisper.
For just a moment, Allie pretended not to be watching, returning to her muffin. But, it was a lost cause, she quickly realized, trying to fool a trained actress.
So, instead, Allie responded with a sigh of happiness, a degree of bliss she'd only ever dreamed about. "It's really sweet, isn't it?" she admitted.
"There's nothing quite like it!" Rosemary exclaimed, with stars in her eyes.
Both Allie and Rosemary continued to secretly watch, though Rosemary was equally focused on Allie's reaction. Nathan had clipped the barrette in place once more. Now, Elizabeth rested her hand on Nathan's, clearly grateful for the tenderness of their shared moment. Just before they lowered their hands, which would reveal to the onlookers as to whether this attempt had been successful, Allie noticed her dad suddenly lean in and …
All at once, she wasn't sure what to do – a part of her needed to look away out of propriety and another part of her preferred to look away because it was her dad and her teacher. But she couldn't. She really couldn't.
Rosemary noted the hope in Allie's face as Nathan leaned in to kiss Elizabeth. It wasn't the briefest of kisses, either, Rosemary thought appreciatively. Despite being out here in the open and somewhat aware of other people milling about, including their own children, these two soulmates were entirely lost in each other, and she loved it, every single second. She saw that Allie loved it, too.
As Rosemary so often does, she was about to openly share her thoughts. But, sensing that Allie had something on her mind, Rosemary instead forced herself to bite her tongue and wait.
Although Allie looked hesitant, she asked quietly, trying, but not always succeeding in looking Rosemary directly in the eyes. "Mrs. Coulter, do you think they're going to get married?" She knew it was a question her dad wouldn't be pleased she'd asked. But she just needed to hear the answer she'd been hoping to hear for five years, from someone she really trusted.
Rosemary grasped Allie's hand and squeezed it gently. Holding Allie's gaze, Rosemary answered, "Absolutely," her voice filled with warmth and certainty.
"Really?" Allie asked, relieved at Rosemary's confidence. But then, still questioning this sudden reality, she wondered. "How do you know?"
"It's written in the stars, Allie," Rosemary replied, gesturing across the sky. "It always has been. For all of you," she added, giving the girl a loving squeeze. With Allie's muffin nibbled slowly away, Rosemary asked, "Shall we get packed up?"
As she walked on toward the tent, Rosemary settled into an awed delight at the pacing of her best friend's love story. That Lee Coulter, she smiled. He's sure to win! Two months to marriage, indeed. Her mind began whirling, ticking away in her mind at the list of plans to be made.
Allie took one last look, her heart swelling with dreams of a life filled with a dad, a mom, and even a little brother! With Elizabeth's barrette perfectly in place, her dad and teacher were now laughing and chatting. Their love was overwhelmingly evident – their faces mere inches apart, her dad gently holding Elizabeth's hand, and the look of forever in their eyes.
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Eventually, only out of necessity, Elizabeth tore herself away from Nathan to tend to Little Jack, recognizing this unexpected location was unfortunately not the best timing for a one on one date. As she and Jack set off for the tent, to ready their suitcases, Nathan moved on to his usual daily grooming routine.
Taking advantage of the alone time, Bill followed. As Nathan lathered up with soap to shave, Bill piped up, "I see you took my molasses comment to heart," slapping Nathan with a couple of congratulatory pats on the back. "Good for you," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Nathan momentarily stopped to deliver a warning look to his friend before he began to explain.
"Bill, there was a leak–
"Allie was getting dripped on–
"Little Jack moved–
With Mountie intuition, Nathan quickly gave up his attempt at an explanation, perceiving that Bill was "buying it," but not "buying it," at the same time. Bill was plenty smart enough to figure out the why that brought about Nathan sleeping side by side with Elizabeth. But, those weren't the details of interest to this inquisitive friend.
"Let's just say it wasn't planned," Nathan explained, making the intent clear. "But …" he confessed, a grin spreading across his face, "the night wasn't bad."
A rare smile passed over Bill's lips as he lovingly squeezed Nathan's shoulder. "That's what I thought," he replied, highly satisfied Nathan got to the point.
While Bill continued to ask for details, Nathan became visibly distracted once he noticed Elizabeth was watching him shave from a distance.
Remembering the barrette, an idea settled in his mind. He was nearly clean shaven, but help with a few more strokes might be appreciated. So, Nathan paused, holding her gaze.
He watched her willingness kick in as she started to walk over, much like she'd done at the dance for the choir festival. Nathan quickly elbowed Bill, who turned, naturally curious as to what provoked the unexpected gesture.
"Oh, Elizabeth," Bill started, instantly feigning surprise as she approached. "I just realized I need to go …" Clearly not one to win any acting awards, Bill landed on a viable excuse. "Now, where did that Jack run off to?" Despite hearing the little boy's giggles nearby, Bill looked back at Elizabeth and said with new purpose and a definitive nod, "I'll go find him."
"May I?" Elizabeth asked, holding out her hand and wearing a coy smile.
"How good are you with a razor," Nathan asked, eyeing her warily.
"Good enough," she answered cheekily.
Nathan handed over the razor, considering a little blood would still be worth the fire already coursing through his body.
Elizabeth firmly held the smooth side of Nathan's jaw as she ran the sharp blades of the razor over his remaining stubble in three successful strokes.
Nathan made do by splashing some water on his face from a mug he'd gathered from his saddlebag.
Elizabeth, engaged in his every movement, anticipated his next step.
Grabbing the towel slung over Nathan's shoulder, she gently patted his face dry, her blue eyes holding his gaze through every single dab. Her shallowed breaths warmed his skin as she softly brushed her thumbs across his smooth cheeks. Then, he did the same, assessing her work as he traced where his skin still tingled from her touch. Noticing the bulge in Nathan's pocket, she boldly dipped two fingers in, pulling out what she'd guessed would be a bottle of aftershave.
After opening the cap, she breathed in its woodsy scent, momentarily closing her eyes. Then, once she'd poured a small amount of aftershave on one palm, she placed the bottle back in Nathan's pocket and rubbed her hands together. Starting at the center of his face, she brushed her hands outward across his cheeks, and down across his neck.
Nathan clearly knew kissing was intimate, but somehow Elizabeth joining in on this routine morning task left him feeling kissed his entire body over.
"Perfect," he said, complimenting not only her touch, but the moment itself.
"My thoughts exactly," Elizabeth smiled, unable to resist Nathan any longer. Returning her hands to his chiseled face, she pulled him in for a kiss that drew attention from all within view … well, other than Jack, whose eyes were pinned to the ground, engrossed in the self-assigned activity of looking for frogs.
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With muddy tents rolled up and suitcases in hand, Bill and Nathan navigated the boggy conditions to pick the best path to the family's new ride home.
As they emerged into the clearing, the group of campers stopped in their tracks, stunned at the destruction now evident in the morning light.
The aftermath of the mudslide left the road a chaotic mess, thick clumps of mud and debris strewn across the landscape. As Nathan had anticipated, a fresh surge of mud had cascaded down overnight, further entrenching the car, which now rested at a dangerous angle in the sticky muck.
While Rosemary instantly launched into the drama of how lucky this family of four was to survive such a harrowing ordeal, Bill responded with his usual practicality, offering only the essential action plan.
"We'll call for a tow truck once we're back in town." Glancing back at the car's precarious placement, he added, "or maybe two or three."
Nathan felt terrible, "Rosemary I'm so sorry. I'll cover all the expenses, of course."
"I don't think Lee will mind at all, Nathan," she replied truthfully, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Despite Lee's love for his car, Rosemary knew he'd be delighted if the unexpected event accelerated the likelihood of his winning his bet. Naturally, if he won, he'd never let Rosemary live it down. But, still, all they really cared about was seeing their friends happily married. The sooner, the better!
Bill quietly looked past all the mud smearing into the floors and trunk of his car. This family of his was safe, and that's all that mattered.
"Jack-a-roo, why don't you sit up front here with me and Rosemary," Bill suggested, knowing it was going to be a tight squeeze.
"I can sit up front?" he shouted with delight, jumping into the car. "This has been the best road trip ever!"
That sparked a chorus of laughter from everyone.
"A memorable one, certainly," Elizabeth said, locking eyes with Nathan and exchanging knowing smiles.
With the luggage stowed and the front passengers settled, Allie climbed into the back seat, momentarily unsure of her place. As the child, should she sit in the middle, splitting up her dad and her teacher, or stay put in the window seat so they could sit together? Either way, here in the back seat, she felt a bit like a third wheel.
Luckily, with no awkwardness at all, the decision was made. On the opposite side, Nathan opened up the back door for Elizabeth, who scooted into the middle, followed by Nathan.
As they pulled out, leaving the mudslide behind, Nathan gently took Elizabeth's hand in his, squeezing it tightly. Allie glanced over, endeared by the loving gesture, and successfully hid a smile. Her home was materializing. She could feel it.
At that tender moment, Elizabeth extended her other hand, enclosing Allie's within her own.
With the lively chatter in the front seat, Elizabeth leaned closer and whispered just for Allie's ears, "I'm beyond grateful to have you in my life, Allie." To the motherless girl, it felt like the warmest "I love you" possible.
"I've always felt the same," Allie replied sincerely, her eyes sparkling with love at their growing connection.
Suddenly, Rosemary's exuberant voice filled the car. "Name that Tune? Oh, I love this game!" she squealed in delight. "I can go on for hours!"
Oh, no, Bill thought, sighing up to the heavens. Nathan and Elizabeth owed him one; they really did. And he knew exactly what he wanted: details. Tomorrow morning, a mandatory "Mountie meeting" with Nathan. Coffee included.
Before joining in the fun herself, Allie glanced around the car, memorizing every detail of this moment, down to the muddy floor Bill so graciously ignored. Firmly settling into her perfect family circle, she happily acknowledged, present company included, how the family she'd been longing for was even bigger than she'd known.
With her dad as her only family nearly as far back as she could remember, other than occasional visits to her grandparents, Allie felt overcome by the endless possibilities ahead of her, beginning with this game, in fact.
Mrs. Coulter and Name That Tune? Now that's a pairing! Allie knew she'd finally met her match. Her competitive nature kicked in as she thought, "Game on, Mrs. Counter!" and readied herself with a song.
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Author Notes:
Thanks to simplystories143 for the wonderful conversation about terms of endearment. I'm hoping in S12 Nathan and Elizabeth settle into some. I feel like we heard a hint toward "Hi, Beautiful," from Nathan, and we had an outright "Not so fast, Constable." But, what might they say for their closest moments? I'd love to hear your thoughts about terms of endearment or the story itself, or any other comments about these characters we love!