It's Saturday morning, and after some admiring looks at one another's rugged attire, Nathan and Elizabeth are off, headed toward their day of adventure. En route, they are unexpectedly weighed down by the final, unaddressed pain from their past. Nathan reflects on a series of heated journal entries in order to process his thoughts and navigate a much needed conversation with Elizabeth. But sweet and flirty moments still abound. This is a three chapter release, so after "Reflection of Time," read on to "The Smoldering Ember," and "You Matter to Me," to complete this grouping. Thanks for reading!
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Chapter 4: Reflection of Time
Saturday came both quickly and slowly. Time can do that, pass in an instant like a cheetah's pace or saunter by like the steps of a sloth. In awaiting Nathan's date, Elizabeth felt like she was constantly watching the minute hand at school, torn by the endless tug to return to Nathan's arms. Yet, during the chaos of their family mornings and the comfort of their family evenings, those precious moments together ironically passed like fleeting seconds.
As Elizabeth readied herself, she took another glance at the clock, knowing Nathan's knock was fast approaching. Indulgently, she stepped in front of her mirror for one last look, much as she'd done in that floofy, silly wedding dress. That afternoon, as Rosemary had dashed away for scissors, Elizabeth met reluctance and doubt in her reflection, evident in how she'd fiddled with her engagement ring.
But, today, though her ring finger was free of the past, her heart was deeply bound to an impeccable man who looked distractingly good in suspenders. Elizabeth eyed the woman in the mirror, wearing a newish chopped hairstyle and clad in riding pants and boots as instructed. Instead of being met by confusion and trepidation as had been the case the previous year, Elizabeth now saw in her reflection only giddy anticipation and excitement for their special day. She couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her eyes and how her lips curved naturally into a smile.
An entire day with Nathan Grant. She might just swoon. These blocks of time were priceless. They seemed to exist in a different universe. Time away with Nathan was time standing still. Yet, it was time that expanded, too, where every moment healed hours of the past and grew love typically gained only through years of committed sacrifice. Elizabeth's eyes darted across the room again to the clock. She couldn't help herself. At least of anything she knew about Nathan Grant, he was punctual. Well, unless unexpected Mountie business delayed him; but of all days, she pushed that thought away.
This Saturday was only about the man beneath the serge, and Elizabeth knew their greatest support was standing by, ready to protect that time today. Bill was on call, prepared to handle any urgent Mountie duties to ensure nothing interrupted their plans. He'd better be, she thought with a smirk, if he'd like to see anything different than molasses.
Elizabeth was jolted from her thoughts by a sharp knock at the front door, a sound she'd been waiting for all morning.
But, before she even walked past the sofa to open the door and greet Nathan, it was Rosemary who walked boldly into her home. Apparently, Rosemary's rapidly successive knocks had merely been announcing her arrival.
Before Elizabeth could hide her disappointment, Rosemary responded, "Well, how nice it is to see you, too, Elizabeth," she said with a pout, though her lips then immediately flipped to a wide grin as she channeled the emotions she knew were pulsing through her best friend's veins.
"I know, I know" she gushed with an air of romance, "You were hoping for your sweetheart."
Elizabeth shook her head in amusement. She should've known Rosemary would show up early, before Nathan even, eager to support as well as to ogle. In fact, as Elizabeth registered a chill settling in, she noticed Rosemary hadn't even closed the front door.
After solving that problem, the two longtime friends chatted away for the few remaining minutes before the clock struck seven. Well, Rosemary was the one bubbling over in words, and with her level of morning energy, it was safe to assume she was both a coffee and a tea drinker.
Outside Elizabeth's rowhouse, the autumn morning in Hope Valley wrapped the meadow in a soft haze, the fog settling like a veil over the dew-kissed grass. Tendrils swirled above the dirt path until eight hooves and two feet swiftly diverted the mist, trodding along toward their destination. The golden morning light cast a shimmering glow across the weathered coats of both Newton and Sergeant, whose white puffy breaths faded quickly into the crisp morning air.
Unfortunately, while Elizabeth was applying pink lipstick, just beyond her walls, she was missing perhaps the best view of her lifetime as Nathan emerged from the wispy fog. He wore muted tones that naturally blended into the landscape. His navy wool jacket hugged his muscular frame, its buttoned pockets a perfect match for the outdoorsman he was. Brown leather gloves warmed his hands, which firmly gripped the reins of both horses before he slung the lead ropes around Elizabeth's porch post.
Nathan walked up Elizabeth's stairs in boots that had seen their fair share of trails. In combination with the deep pockets of his contoured cargo pants, Nathan looked the part of a rugged adventurer.
Yet a few distinct elements suggested that this would not be a solo excursion, nor would it be one among men. Rather than sporting a head of tousled hair, Nathan's dark mane was perfectly combed into place, other than the stubborn curl that so often fell to his forehead. But, the tell-tale sign that this was more than just a day out in nature was his clean shaven face, the result of a ten-minute task that would've typically been abandoned. Instead, he'd taken the time, knowing the adventure ahead wasn't just about the wild but about the woman he hoped would soon become his wife.
Although Nathan was a seasoned Mountie, a veteran outdoorsman, and a man who'd loved the woman of this house for five long years, his heart still pounded with anticipation as he raised his gloved hand to knock on Elizabeth's door.
Inside, as soon as Elizabeth heard the first muffled tap, her heart leaped. She practically galloped to the door, flinging it open before Nathan had even completed his customary three knocks.
"Hi," she happily greeted her date, a smile lighting up her face before the words even left her lips.
Elizabeth stood poised in a pair of fitted riding pants, the soft tan fabric stretching smoothly over her legs, which were elongated by the rich brown riding boots that rose just below her knee. Her jacket, cut sharply at the waist, flared at the hips, accentuating her graceful figure.
Unable to even utter a responsive "Hi," Nathan's admiring eyes fell into a hushed stare. Elizabeth shyly struck a playful pose, pointing her toe and placing a hand on her hip, fully leaning into the role of being the source of Nathan's distraction in an outfit he wasn't accustomed to seeing.
But where Elizabeth expected Nathan to chuckle and greet her with a compliment and kiss, he instead stood still, transfixed within the door frame.
Watching this scene unfold, Rosemary well remembered that look—Nathan, captivated by the bride to be. What a different fate the stars had in mind. Now a year later, Nathan stood once again in Elizabeth's doorway, entirely struck by the woman who was always meant to be his bride.
In an unusual twist, Rosemary remained silent as she knowingly left the moment to the two lovebirds.
Eventually Nathan found his words. Still, with stars in his eyes, he spoke softly, his gaze never leaving Elizabeth's face, "'Lizabeth, you look …"
A wave of gratitude suddenly washed over Nathan at the realization he could finally choose a more fitting word than merely "great." Instead, he selected the word spinning in his heart. "You look stunning."
At Nathan's word choice, Rosemary nearly erupted in delight. Seeing a man in Nathan's rugged attire melting before her eyes was indeed a sight to behold. It was written in the stars, she thought, sighing happily.
Stunning. Nathan reflected back to the poignant moment the same word came to mind, though, in that instance, he'd been forced to settle on "great." Regardless of whether Elizabeth liked that wedding dress or not, she had indeed looked stunning. But the difference now, he couldn't help but notice, was that rather than standing there in self-doubt, Elizabeth radiated a quiet confidence, ready for their day ahead. Her blue eyes shone brightly, filled with a love that had long been reserved only for Nathan.
"Thanks," she said, unable to hide her appreciation for his praise. But a heartbeat later, her thoughts drifted to Nathan's striking appearance. Elizabeth subconsciously exhaled as she eyed him from head to toe, "Nathan, you look so …" She nearly spoke the word that first filled her mind. Instead, she held her tongue, though she knew Rosemary would've loved to hear her conservative best friend utter the word, "enticing."
A rosy hue instantly appeared on Elizabeth's cheeks. She momentarily drew her lips in as she racked her brain for a safer word. While she likely would've admitted that very word right to Nathan's face, her growing confidence with intimacy hadn't seeped into what she was willing to share with Rosemary.
Still, Elizabeth couldn't let a man named Nathan Grant stand there in her doorway, looking like that, and leave him unkissed. So, she quickly covered the distance between them. Placing her hands on the soft wool covering his arms, she gazed only at him and said, "You look dashing, Nathan."
Then, to Rosemary's delight, Elizabeth kissed him, long enough that Rosemary could no longer contain the squeal she'd been trying to hold back since Nathan arrived.
The couple reluctantly pulled apart, chuckling, reminded that an attentive observer stood only half a dozen feet away.
At the commotion, a sleepy Jack clomped down their stairs. "I needed to say goodbye to Mountie Nathan," he explained.
Nathan scooped the little boy up in his arms. "I'm going to miss you today, Jack," he said, placing an affectionate kiss in Little Jack's messy hair.
"We're going to ride tomorrow, right?" Jack asked.
"Just you and me," Nathan announced, confirming their plans.
"Yay!" Jack shouted, at a volume that startled even Rosemary.
After goodbye hugs were delivered all around, they all stepped outside as Nathan reminded Rosemary that Allie wanted to sleep in and would be by around nine. Though Rosemary was definitely one to talk, she knew her role well in this particular scene—to whisk Jack away so Nathan and Elizabeth could be off on their special day.
"Toodaloo, you two!" she cried out, waving a last goodbye. With a sly smile, she added, "Take as much time as you need!" And with that, she returned to Elizabeth's row house to help Jack get ready for the day.
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Nathan and Elizabeth's eyes silently met. Here they were. Finally. Just the two of them. A day of adventuring ahead.
In a matter of minutes, the morning fog had nearly burned off. In the clarity of the sun's warming rays, Elizabeth eyed their horses warily, seeing as they were ladened with a heavy load.
"Where exactly are we going, Constable?" She teased. "You do know it would be scandalous to take Hope Valley's teacher on an overnight date, don't you?"
Elizabeth's cheeky smile suddenly disappeared as a pang of guilt pierced her heart. With a pit in her stomach, she realized she'd just perfectly described how her excursion with Lucas to Union City had been seen by everyone but herself.
Nathan only laughed, so she figured he thankfully missed the connection. "Not to worry, 'Lizbeth. I'll have you back safe and sound, reputation and all, before the clock strikes midnight." To address the numerous bags tied up to Sergeant and Newton, Nathan explained, "One of the trunks is from you, and the rest? … Well, as I told you in my letter, we'd be adventuring." So, gesturing at the luggage, Nathan said with an air of mystery, "This is adventuring!"
"Oh my!" Elizabeth responded, trying not to count just how many items were stowed on the two horses. Was she ready for this? But the thought didn't even finish passing through her mind. She was more than ready for this, for Nathan Grant, for everything their life would be together, including whatever he had up his sleeve for them today.
Nathan watched as Elizabeth swung up onto Sergeant, appreciating the full length of her legs, which were otherwise typically concealed by a skirt. After mounting his own horse, Nathan led out, apprehensive, but also hopeful about what lay ahead.
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Author's Notes:
How much do we love interactions between Nathan, Elizabeth, and Rosemary? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thanks for reading. Chapter 5 and 6 are posted, so read on.