"We will give the two of you a moment. I will knock on the door when we see the transport drive into town."
"Thank you, all of you," Nathan said.
"Congratulations Nathan and Elizabeth," Henry said.
"Thank you Henry," Elizabeth said.
Bill and Gabe walked out of the office with Henry. When on the porch, Bill explained that they all would need to keep the wedding a secret from the transport as they did not want to put Elizabeth and the children in danger. Bill wasn't sure if they knew about the engagement, but no one would know about the wedding at least for now.
———————-
Nathan and Elizabeth stood in the middle of the Mountie office with their arms wrapped around each other and their foreheads touching. Just feeling each other's heartbeats, knowing that they would be parted shortly. Nathan was the first to pull back, wanting to memorize Elizabeth's face. He saw the love in her eyes and he vowed to keep this picture in his head as he traveled.
"I love you Mrs. Grant."
"I love you Nathan. I don't know how I will let you go."
"It is temporary, my love. All of this will be resolved and we will put it behind us. I promise."
"I thought you didn't like to make promises."
"Only when I am absolutely sure of the outcome."
Elizabeth was overwhelmed with the love she felt for her husband. She was honored to be his wife and she couldn't be happier about that fact. She was a little sad to give up their wedding and their wedding night, but if it meant that Nathan would come home to her she would do it again. She looked into his eyes and saw a difference in the way he looked at her. Maybe it was that he was leaving. Maybe it was the knowledge that they fully belonged to each other. Elizabeth wanted to make use of the time they had.
She pushed Nathan back against the wall of the office to his surprise. He raised his eyebrows with a question but before he could ask out loud, Elizabeth moved her arms behind his neck and pressed her lips against his. There was an explosion of love between them as he deepened the kiss. Nathan clasped his hands behind her back and moved her closer. Elizabeth moved her hands through Nathan's hair and she heard his reaction which only made her want to move closer. Nathan was thinking if he could move her over to the cot inside the cell when the two of them heard the knock on the office door.
The two of them pulled apart like teenagers who had been caught. Both of them stood slightly apart trying to catch their breath. Nathan leaned down and put a light kiss on Elizabeth's forehead. "I love you, no matter what."
"I love you, forever and always."
Gabe came into the office with Bill standing in the doorway. "I'm sorry about this Nathan put I have to put cuffs on you to walk you out."
"It's ok Gabe, I understand. Look after Hope Valley ok? I know you and Bill will look after my family too."
"We will. And we will get to the bottom of this Nathan," Gabe said as he lowered his voice.
Elizabeth was holding in all of her emotion as she watched Gabe put on the cuffs. Nathan walked out in front of Gabe and Elizabeth stayed in the office until she could see Nathan walk down to the Mountie transport. After the Mounties put Nathan in the back of the wagon, Nathan looked over to see Elizabeth walk out onto the boardwalk. He smiled her way and mouthed I love you. Elizabeth mouthed the words back to him when no one else was looking. The Mounties saluted Gabe and Bill and started to drive away.
Elizabeth thought that it would take longer. That she would be more prepared to see them drive away. She walked slowly down the stairs to watch the transport driving away. She couldn't see Nathan from where she stood but she waited there until the transport turned the corner. Once it did, Elizabeth fell to her knees in the middle of the street and cried. Her heart was breaking. It was the second time that a husband had gone away after getting married. She didn't think she was strong enough to go through this again.
She felt a breeze go through her hair and immediately she remembered the children. Allie and Jack. She needed to be there for both of them. Neither one knew that Nathan had left town or the reason for his leaving. She needed to go home, especially before Allie heard things around town. But first she needed to find out the reason her husband had been taken away.
Elizabeth stood from the street, not bothering to brush off her skirt. She walked over to Bill and Gabe with the tears still on her cheeks. "Ok, someone better tell me what is going on right now."