It was late, later than Allie ever stayed up, but there was no way she could fall asleep. Not with her dad out in the wilderness somewhere. This always happened. Her dad would get called away and he wouldn't return when he'd expected. And Allie would be left worried at home. Alone. Always alone.
Allie stopped pacing her room for a moment. Glancing out the window, she could barely see the moon shining behind the high clouds. She stared across the meadow, almost as if she stared hard enough, she might catch a glimpse of her father. That she might just see that red serge coming home in the darkness.
She hated this. She'd never liked the waiting, the wishing, the praying, but that wasn't what Allie truly hated. It was the loneliness. It was the ache in her chest and the ever present knowledge that if her dad didn't make it home, she would be on her own. She would be all alone.
Allie shivered, the fear growing stronger by the minute. She'd endured countless nights like this, some worse than others, but it never got easier no matter how many times it happened.
Allie grabbed her shawl from the foot of her bed and snagged her journal before making her way downstairs. She set her journal down on the settee before walking to the kitchen. She made herself some tea and then lit two candles. One went on the side table next to the settee and the other she put in the kitchen window. It might have seemed silly to some, but that candle was Allie's way of calling her dad home. It was her way of telling him how much she needed him to be OK.
Mug of tea in hand, Allie folded her legs under her as she sat down. The shadows in the room loomed in the darkness and the house felt empty due to its missing occupant. Another shiver worked its way through Allie's body. She pulled her shawl tighter around her as she picked up her journal and began to write. She'd spent many nights pouring her feelings out onto these pages. More often than not, her tears crinkled the paper and smeared some of the words. Tonight was no different.
I've never felt more lonely in my life than when my dad is away. I'm so so proud of him and I know that he will always do everything in his power to come back home, but just once, I wish I didn't have to face it alone. I wish someone knew what it was like to be a Mountie's daughter. I wish-
Allie heard a knock at the door and instantly looked up. Please be Dad, she begged. The door slowly opened and a stab of both disappointment and relief rushed through Allie when she saw who it was.
"Allie?" Elizabeth stood in the doorway, her hand still on the doorknob, when she spotted the teenager across the room.
"Mrs. Thornton," Allie managed to say, but in the glint of the candlelight, Elizabeth saw the tears trailing her cheeks.
"Allie, what's the matter?" Elizabeth inquired, quickly shutting the door behind her and setting the spare key she'd used on the end table.
"Dad had to ride up to Benson Hills right after dinner," Allie explained as Elizabeth crossed the room. Allie blinked rapidly as she tried to clear the tears from her vision. "He said he'd be back before dark, but he's still not home."
"Did he say why he had to go?" Elizabeth sat down on the other end of the settee.
"Something about a band of robbers that had escaped from Cape Fullerton, I'm not really sure," Allie admitted. "He had to leave so quickly that he didn't even have time to come tell you. He told me to say that he'd be back soon in case you came by."
"Are you waiting up for him?" Elizabeth asked gently. Allie just nodded.
"I thought he would've been home by now, but he's not." Allie ducked her head and pulled her knees into her chest. When she lifted her head again, there were tears coursing down her cheeks. "What if something happened to him?" The sheer terror on Allie's face broke Elizabeth's heart.
"Oh Allie. Come here." When Elizabeth opened her arms, Allie didn't hesitate. She practically launched herself into the comforting embrace of her teacher and just started sobbing. Elizabeth held her close, gently rubbing Allie's back and slowly rocking side to side. As she glanced around the room, she caught sight of Allie's journal laying open on the cushion and a one sentence seemed to jump off the page. I wish I didn't have to face it alone.
Elizabeth's mind flashed back to the conversation she'd had with Nathan a few mere weeks ago.
"Sometimes, I just feel so, so alone," he had said. Alone. That word repeated itself in Elizabeth's head as she hugged Allie tighter. How many times had Allie gone through this? How many nights had she sat in her room alone, praying that she'd see her father again? How many hours had she spent waiting up for him? How many tears had she shed over him? Allie might only be a teenager, but she'd had to grow up so fast, faster than any girl ever should. But she'd done it. She'd done it because she loved her dad.
"I didn't realize how good I have it," Allie hiccupped. "Not until I ran off and tried to see Dylan last year. When Dad came after me, even after I hadn't listened to him, I realized that he loved me more than anyone I've ever known and that he would always love me no matter how I messed up. But, if I lost him-" Allie's voice broke at the thought. "I don't know what I would do. Life as a Mountie's daughter isn't an easy one."
No, it isn't, Elizabeth agreed silently, her heart hurting as she thought about all the pain her beloved Mountie and his incredible daughter had endured over the years.
"Oh, Allie." Elizabeth ran her hands through Allie's hair slowly, methodically. "I'm so sorry." Now, Allie eased back and she looked up at Elizabeth.
"What do you mean?" she questioned, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion.
"You've gone through so much," Elizabeth said, holding the girl's gaze. "You've had to grow up so fast." Elizabeth reached up to brush the tears from Allie's cheek. "I can't imagine how hard that's been." Hearing this, Allie bit her lip as if holding back a sob.
"I know I haven't always been here for you, Allie," Elizabeth continued. "And I'm so sorry for that, but I want you to know that I am here for you now and I always will be."
"Do you mean that?" Oh, how she'd longed to hear those words. Allie's eyes glistened with tears once again, as if she couldn't quite believe it. Elizabeth's words seemed to mend the broken pieces of Allie's heart back together again.
"Of course I do," Elizabeth told her, her smile soft. "I mean it with all my heart."
"Thank you," Allie sniffed, embracing Elizabeth tightly once again. "You have no idea how much that means to me." They two held on to each other for several moments and after a while, Allie could feel her pulse slowly returning to normal. "How did you even know to come over here?" she questioned. Allie leaned back slowly now, her face almost seeming shy. "How did you know I needed you?"
At her words, Elizabeth's heart completely melted. She couldn't fathom how she had let herself push this wonderful, sweet, and selfless girl away. As much as Allie needed Elizabeth, Elizabeth realized then how much she needed Allie.
"Rosemary came over for a late night chat," Elizabeth explained. "She mentioned seeing a light coming from your window. I haven't seen your dad since this morning and since it's so late, I wanted to make sure that everything was OK. Rosemary stayed with Jack while I came over to check." Elizabeth tucked a strand of Allie's hair behind her ear. "I saw the candle in the window. I know it's you and your dad's special signal." Elizabeth smiled tenderly and her gaze was full of love for the girl in front of her. "I used the spare key that you keep hidden under the flower pot." Allie swallowed hard, giving herself a moment to process all of that information.
"But, do you need to get back to Jack?" Allie questioned, remembering what Elizabeth had said about her son. "I'm sure Mrs. Coulter probably wants to go home too. I'm OK. You-" Allie tried to swallow past the lump in her throat. "You don't have to stay."
"I'm not going anywhere, sweet girl," Elizabeth promised with a slight shake of her head. "I'll be right here for as long as you need me, even if it's all night."
"But-" Allie tried to protest. It wasn't that she didn't want Mrs. Thornton to stay. She did, but she felt guilty taking so much of her time, especially when Jack was back at home. Mrs. Thornton was his mom, after all, not hers.
"Allie." Elizabeth slowly raised one eyebrow and the rest of Allie's protest fell silent. "This is exactly where I need to be," she said, her voice holding no hesitation. "Right here, with you." Now, Allie's eyes swam with tears. No one had ever said that to her before. No one had ever come to comfort her when her dad was away. She'd always been left to deal with it herself. Alone.
"You're not alone anymore, Allie." It was as if Mrs. Thornton read her mind. And at the realization that what Elizabeth had said was true, Allie couldn't help but sob. Again, Elizabeth didn't hesitate wrapping her arms tightly around her.
"I love you, Mrs. Thornton," Allie whispered, her face buried against Elizabeth's shoulder. Elizabeth just smiled softly, even though Allie couldn't see.
"I love you too, Allie." Elizabeth gently pressed a kiss to the top of the girl's head. "Always."
The rowhouse was silent for several moments, but Allie could still feel the tears trailing down her cheeks.
"I just want him to come home," she couldn't help whispering.
"Me too, Allie. Me too." Elizabeth held her close and gently rocked back and forth. It comforted Allie to know that Elizabeth wanted Nathan to be home just as much as she did.
"Is there anything that I can do to help you?" Elizabeth asked, after a couple minutes. Allie lifted her head to glance up at her teacher.
"Can you tell me a story about when you first came to Hope Valley?" she requested and Elizabeth just smiled.
"Of course." She and Allie cuddled closely together, their arms still wrapped around each other as Elizabeth started her story. She was in the middle of telling Allie how she had accidentally let Jack's dog, Rip, escape the jail during a thunderstorm, when the sound of the doorknob turning echoed across the room. Instantly, Elizabeth's voice faded as both she and Allie caught their breath and turned towards the door, anxiously waiting to see who would walk inside. A tall man, hair all out of place and boots covered with mud stepped through the doorway, his red serge impossible to miss.
"Dad!" Allie cried out, the tears already flowing. She flew across the room and catapulted into her father's arms, not even wondering for a second if he would catch her. She already knew he would. Nathan dropped his Sam Browne belt and campaign hat in an instant so he could wrap his daughter in a fierce hug. He buried his face in her hair and squeezed his eyes shut, almost as if he was trying to memorize the moment.
Allie couldn't help the tears that fell freely down her face, now soaking her father's serge. There were so many things that she wanted to say to him, but there was only one thing that truly mattered. Only one thing that she needed him to know.
"I love you so much, Dad," she whispered, her voice so thick with emotion that she almost couldn't get the words out.
"I know, Allie-girl," he muttered, still holding her close. "I love you too."
Elizabeth felt herself getting emotional watching them, but wanting to give the two of them a moment, she planned to quietly sneak out the door. But she should have known better than to think that she'd be able to leave without Nathan noticing. He was a Mountie, after all. Right as she tiptoed past him, he reached out and caught her hand squarely in his.
"Come here," he said before pulling her over to him and Allie and into their hug. Nathan kissed Elizabeth's head as he wrapped one arm around her and kept the other around Allie. There was no doubt about it, Nathan loved his girls.
The life of a Mountie's daughter was still difficult and unpredictable, but now Allie knew that she would no longer have to face it alone. And that was one of the greatest gifts she had ever received.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! If you haven't read the first part, "Life of a Mountie" make sure to go check it out! Also, a huge shout out to journalingheartie and wcthaesthetics. This story wouldn't exist without the two of them and if you don't follow them on Instagram already, definitely check out their profiles. They are both super talented!