As soon as Commissioner Collins had brought the proceedings to an end and announced a start time of ten a.m. the next morning, Hargraves began gathering his things quickly. Nathan wanted to emulate him. More than anything he wanted out of Bill's office. Not only had they gone through botched prisoner transfer of the previous fall but Hargraves had started going through his service record, bringing up every disciplinary or complaint there, though in Nathan's estimation he felt it was probably about average. No one did this job and managed to ruffle no feathers. There were always going to be people who felt you hadn't done right by them.
However, Bill had cautioned him not to appear eager to escape. He said it could make it appear as though he was running from something—and therefore guilty. So instead he remained seated, in no hurry to be anywhere else. When Bill started speaking, he stopped watching Hargraves and turned his head to look at the older man.
"I'll ride with you during rounds, so we can talk. I know you'll want to get home to Allie and I don't want to unnecessarily take up more of your time."
Nathan noticed the judge was not bothering to keep his voice low enough not to be overheard, which meant Bill was purposely choosing words to poke at the other Mounties in the room. Nathan had to suppress a smile as he nodded in response. He had a few things he would like to say to his superiors as well but he knew it would not help his case any.
Standing slowly, Nathan instead gave a polite salute and farewell to his superiors before moving to the door to retrieve his hat from the peg. Hargraves had already left the office. Footsteps behind him told the Mountie that his friend was behind him.
"Please lock the door behind you when you all leave," Bill said. Nathan didn't miss the dismissive tone to the words and he doubted Collins, Phillips, and Eiser would be either.
Opening the office door, Nathan walked casually through it, but despite his outward demeanor, the simple act of leaving, made the invisible weight on his shoulders slip away. Hargraves was striding up the road toward the Queen of Hearts, for which Nathan was relieved. Even seeing the man again tomorrow was too soon. Only when he heard the door shut behind him, noting that Bill had done so with a little more force than was necessary,
A hand came to rest on his shoulder before Bill spoke quietly to him. "Let's go get the horses and give you a chance to clear your head before going home to Allie and your date."
"It is just supper with Elizabeth, not a date." Nathan knew the protest sounded weak. He was just trying to not think of it as a date so that he wouldn't get nervous about it, like he seemed to get every time he got the courage to speak sentimentally with the pretty schoolteacher.
Beside him, Bill snorted. "If you need to fool yourself so you don't chicken out tonight, then call it whatever you want."
"I'm not thinking about backing out!" There was a slight pause after the protest before Nathan continued a little less animated. "I am nervous though. What if she gets up and walks out of the café in the middle of the meal?"
"I can sit outside and stop her if that happens," Bill offered.
Nathan shot his friend a look. Bill's expression was a mixture of mixture and innocence, which looked comical on the gruff, older man. It was enough to make him realize he was acting like a nervous teenager and a small smile came to his lips. "That won't be necessary."
"Good," Bill said, as he looked toward the livery. "You and Elizabeth need to stop this awkward dance the two of you have been doing, and realize that you will all be happier together. The rest of us can see it."
"I realize it too."
The admission was soft but Bill's abrupt stop told Nathan it had been heard. He only took a couple of more steps before turning to face the older man.
"I came to Hope Valley to look out for a fallen brother-in-arms widow and child. The Mounties look after their own. Is falling in love with her a betrayal to that loyalty?"
Bill reached out and rested a hand on Nathan's shoulders as he looked directly into the other man's eyes. "Pursuing another man's wife is a betrayal, not falling in love with a widow. Jack would have wanted Elizabeth with someone who would cherish and love not only her but be a father figure to little Jack. Who would not ask her to let go of his memory to make place for a new love? A man who would raise little Jack as his own son, while keeping his birth father's memory alive for him. You are that kind of man, Nathan. Don't ever forget that."
The words touched Nathan, as he knew the deep affinity Bill felt for Jack Sr. Having Bill's blessing in pursuing a relationship felt much like he had gotten the fallen Mountie's blessing as well.
"Thank you." Nathan knew the words did little to express his full gratitude but was unsure there were any words to convey what he was feeling.
Bill gave a curt nod and dropped his hand. "Let's get going. We have things to discuss before tomorrow and I refuse to be the reason you are late for your date."
As Bill led both Newton and Hero toward the livery, Nathan took the steps of the mercantile quickly. It was time to pick up Allie and get ready to pick Elizabeth up for their date. He was done trying to think of it as anything else.
Only a few steps into the store, Nathan found himself enveloped in Allie's arms. Closing his eyes, he hugged his niece back. This kind of love and devotion was what was important in life—not a job. No matter what the outcome of the inquiry was, he was going to be okay because he and Allie would still have each other. And perhaps, in the near future Elizabeth and Jack would be a part of their family.
"Is the inquiry over?" As his niece had yet to release her hold on him the words were muffled against his serge.
"Not quite but I am done thinking about it for the day. I want you to try not to worry about it either. You and I are going to be all right no matter how it turns out."
Releasing him, Allie took a step back and looked up at him. "But it isn't fair. You always try to do what is right. You put others before yourself. I know you feel responsible for what happened during that transfer though Judge Avery says it wasn't your fault. Why do they have to put you through more?"
"I don't know, Allie," Nathan told her honestly. "We can't control others' actions, only our own. We'll get through this though, just like we have so many other things life has thrown at us."
His niece nodded consent.
"Now, how about you help me decide what to wear tonight . . . but no tie."
"But the tie would look sharp."
Nathan chuckled at Allie's protest as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "No, tie," he said again.
"Fine." The exaggerated sigh told Nathan Allie though it was a huge concession she was giving him.
"We do need some flowers though," Allie continued, clearly undaunted by the previous defeat. "Both so you can give a bouquet to Mrs. Thornton and if you won't wear a tie, then we need a flower in your pocket button hole."
"We'll stop by the field and pick some flowers." Though he wasn't quite convinced he needed a flower for his own attire, he was more than happy to present Elizabeth with a bouquet.
"Mama, pretty!"
Her son's exclamation brought a smile to Elizabeth's face as she walked down the steps. She had chosen to wear the dress she had worn at the graduation ceremony for the children, having seen Nathan's admiring eyes that day. She felt pretty in it as well. The swept-up hairstyle that Rosemary had done, her own hands shaking too much to do her own hair, looked elegant and allowed the pearl teardrop earrings she wore to be clearly visible.
"Thank you, Jack," Elizabeth said, stepping off the final step. She glanced down at her left hand. Her late husband's rings still adorned her ring finger. Lifting her hand, she looked at them, wondering if perhaps it was time she took them off. As she waged the internal debate, she was grateful that both Lee, holding Jack, and Rosemary remained quiet. This was a choice that she had to make on her own.
Reaching out with her right hand, she grasped the diamond first and slid it off. Next, she slid the gold band off, feeling like at least for this evening, this was the right thing to do. Perhaps they would be back on her hand when she went to bed tonight but for her first date with Nathan, she would leave the rings behind.
"This is a date, isn't it?"
The softly spoken question made Elizabeth realize that she had been hesitant to label this outing as a date. It was though. This wasn't like the contrived attempt by Lucas to create an atmosphere of a date after she had turned him down. She had agreed to have supper with Nathan knowing full well how he felt about her. How she felt about him.
She met Lee's smiling gaze as he spoke. "It is and not only are you ready for this, Jack would want this for you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth nodded, a lump in her throat preventing her from speaking. Not that she would know what to say if there wasn't.
"Enjoy yourself tonight," Lee told her. He looked to the little boy he held. "Jack and I are going to have fun building things, aren't we? And Allie was going to join us. You'll like that, won't you?"
Jack nodded, a huge grin on his face.
Lee looked back at her. "We should go. Don't want Nathan feeling like he's meeting the parents on his first date."
"Lee!" Rosemary scolded, from behind Elizabeth.
The exchange caused Elizabeth to giggle. However, as Rosemary took a step toward her husband, Elizabeth reached for her friend's arm.
"Please stay?" There was a bit of a plea to the request as Rosemary looked at her friend. "I'll be a nervous wreck waiting by myself."
Rosemary nodded. "I'll stay."
"Jack and I will just go start dinner," Lee said. He encouraged Jack to blow a kiss to his mama before saying good-bye and leaving.
"Shall I take the rings for you?" Rosemary asked as the door shut behind Lee and Jack. "I'll tuck them safely in your jewelry box once you leave for your date."
Elizabeth looked down at the rings. There was a piece of her that didn't quite want to let go but she knew she didn't want to wear them either. With a nod, she surrendered the precious items to her friend, surprised that she didn't feel a sudden desire to ask for them back.
Placing the rings safely in a pocket, Rosemary led her friend to the settee, already chatting about trivial things that had happened during her day. Elizabeth welcomed the distraction as the minutes ticked by. Before she knew it, there was a knock on the door.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth wiped her hands on the skirt of her dress.
"Just enjoy yourself, Elizabeth," Rosemary told her.
Nodding, Elizabeth got to her feet. Rosemary followed suit though she hung back. Reaching the door, Elizabeth was sure that she opened it so Nathan could tell that Rosemary was in the house as well.
Holding out the bouquet, Nathan greeted her. "Hello, Elizabeth. You look lovely."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, taking the flowers. "You don't look so bad yourself." Her eyes took in the light blue shirt, grey vest with a single white flower placed in the small pocket, and black slacks. He wore no tie, and the collar button of his shirt had been left undone.
"Are you ready to go?"
Elizabeth nodded, as Rosemary stepped forward for the flowers. "I will place these in water before I leave."
"Thank you, Rosemary," Elizabeth said.
"You're welcome. Both of you enjoy yourselves tonight."
"I think we will," Nathan replied, his eyes still on Elizabeth though the words were for Rosemary. "I appreciate you and Lee including Allie for supper tonight."
"It'll be nice to have another lady to talk to. Now, you two get going." The last words were said with a shooing motion.
Not needing any more encouragement, Nathan offered Elizabeth his arm. Still feeling a little bit nervous, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and allowed him to lead her from the house.
She was on a date with Nathan Grant. She had labeled her feelings and knew there was no retreating from her feelings this time. As they walked toward town, Elizabeth realized that she didn't want to run.
"Open your heart to love again, Elizabeth."
Those words from Jack's last letter to her echoed in her heart and mind. Elizabeth glanced over at the man next to her. Her eyes met Nathan's blue ones and she felt a fluttering in her stomach.
Yes, it was time to follow Jack's last wish for her.
"What's on your mind, Elizabeth?" The question was softly spoken in the gentle way that was distinctly Nathan.
"You once told me to let you know when I figured out what was in my heart." Elizabeth saw the little nod from Nathan as he brought them both to a stop on the path. "Well, I've figured it out. It's you, Nathan. It has been you since the night you helped me hang the cardinal on Allie and your first Hope Valley Christmas tree."
"I'm glad," Nathan told her. "What I said by the pond, still holds true. I love you, Elizabeth, and I will do whatever I need to do to keep you in my life and we can take this at whatever pace you want to."
"Thank you."
For a moment Elizabeth thought that Nathan was going to kiss her, but then he glanced around and a blush came to his cheeks. Without another word, he gently urged her to continue their walk toward town. Though she let it go for now, Elizabeth was determined to find out what Nathan's lips felt like against hers before he went home that night.
