Hello again, Hearties! The season two finale stirred my vivid, overactive imagination and this came out. This story has nothing to do with my previous fanfiction stories "Faith, Hope, and Love" and "Hearts in the Right Place." This picks up as the season two finale ended- at the school. I hope you enjoy it!

Follow Your Heart

Chapter One

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

~Shakespeare

His first thought was to march inside and knock Charles Kensington's lights out.

But, as he stood outside the Hope Valley School doors in his best suit, Constable Jack Thornton tried to shove that thought aside and get his emotions under control. Anger had almost instantaneously replaced his initial shock and his face was tightening in response. He was furious that Charles would show up in Hope Valley with a proposal of marriage for Elizabeth Thatcher.

His mind replayed he and Elizabeth's conversations just days ago in the coal mine. They loved each other. They'd said it out loud and he had no doubt about it. She'd confessed her fears about the dangers of his job as a Canadian Mountie, especially her very real worry that he would be killed in the line of duty as his father had been. Over the course of that afternoon, she'd finally realized that she was, as Jack knew, brave enough to face those fears. They'd talked about taking on their challenges together. And they'd even discussed spending their lives together. They'd resolved their argument and made up.

That happy thought of Elizabeth forced him back to the present predicament. He'd planned to propose to her this afternoon. He had the ring in his pocket and had been rehearsing his proposal much of the afternoon. It now occurred to him that had he not changed to this blue suit, upon his dog Rip's barked suggestion, that he might've arrived at the school before Charles. He silently cursed himself. Then, he suddenly realized that there was no sound coming from inside the school. After Charles' proposal, neither he nor Elizabeth had said anything.

He inched closer to the open door. Though he still really wanted to walk inside and flatten Charles, he decided he should allow Elizabeth time to answer. However, there was only silence. She wasn't answering. As much as he didn't want to take in the sight of Charles on one knee holding a ring up to Elizabeth again, Jack decided to look. He slowly leaned toward the door opening and craned his neck to look inside.

Inside the school, Elizabeth stood frozen. Her eyes were locked on the ring box that Charles held up to her. Everything seemed suspended in time. She had no thoughts or voice for several moments. After her initial shock had forced her mouth wide open in a gasp, it had closed into a flat line. As her brain began to process what had transpired, her stomach lurched as her anger began to build.

Before she'd left Hamilton, she'd tried to kindly tell Charles that she only thought of him as a friend, but he'd stubbornly told her that he would decide when he was ready to consider other options, as he had phrased it. They'd never spoken of love or marriage as she had with Jack.

Jack.

Her gaze fell to the floor as she thought of Jack. Her thoughts became clear and she knew what she needed to say to Charles. However, before she could say anything, Charles implored, "Elizabeth, please be my wife?"

She inhaled deeply before replying, hoping to calm her anger so she could speak calmly. She focused her eyes sharply on Charles and firmly told him, "Please get up Charles."

Charles' face had been filled with desperate hope that Elizabeth would answer his question affirmatively. Now, confusion washed over his face. He stammered, "Wh... What?"

"Stand up," she repeated, her gaze falling to the floor again. As he slowly rose, she continued without looking at him. "Why are you doing this? I told you that you're a friend but..."

"Elizabeth, you and I have always been so much more than friends," he pleaded, the ring box now dangling in his hand by his side. Elizabeth's face tightened as he continued. "I have always loved you, Elizabeth."

She looked at him, not smiling. "Charles, please don't do this," she said emphatically.

He plodded on. "It's what your parents want. Elizabeth, please! It's time for you to come home."

"This is my home," she countered, "I told you that I've found my purpose here."

Charles shook his head and chuckled. "I would certainly allow you to continue to teach back in Hamilton, if you want," he cajoled.

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly open. "Allow?" she whispered angrily. She shook her head and told him a strong voice, "Charles, my answer is no. I am not in love with you."

"That will come," he replied, undeterred. "I love you and that will be enough for now. But, it's time for you take your place in Hamilton society, as your family expects."

"I have no intention of doing that!" she replied, her voice rising as her anger increased. "My life is here in Hope Valley. This is my home," she repeated with conviction.

Charles looked at her, incredulous. "What then? Are you going to spend your life with Jack? Is that it?" he asked, his voice becoming shrill as his anger grew. "Elizabeth, his job is dangerous! You'll likely be a widow before you're even thirty!

She inhaled sharply before replying, "There are no guarantees in this life, Charles. None of us knows how long we have. But, we can't let that stop us from living our lives." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Or from being with those we love."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't be silly," he scolded. "It's what is expected. This is what your father wants." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "And it's what your mother wants, too."

"Perhaps they do, but I do not," she assured him. She realized his determination and that he wasn't accepting her answer, so she decided to try another tack hoping to make him see how wrong his proposal was. "Charles, you and I have only been friends. We've never even courted," she pointed out in a calm but strong voice.

"Never courted? What were those lunches and dinners in Hamilton? That picnic in your parent's parlor?" he asked, his voice rising.

She shook her head. "That was two old friends spending some time together while I was there to take care of my mother," she explained.

His jaw tightened and his eyes flashed with intense anger. He shook his head and looked around the schoolroom. Then, he suddenly reached forward and, before she could step away, grasped her arms. Her body tensed when he touched her. "Elizabeth, think about this. It's what your parent's want. They'll never accept a... a Mountie!" he spat the last word out as though it left a bad taste on his tongue.

"That's none of your concern! That's between my parents and I," she replied, her voice rising in anger, as she tried to wriggle her arms from his grasp, but he wouldn't let go.

"Your father needs an heir for his company. Who will that be?" he asked, his voice strained. "Sir Lionel is no businessman. And Tom Thornton is a joke! Jack Thornton isn't much better."

Her eyes narrowed at the slander against Jack. "Stop talking and let me go!" she ordered.

"I won't let you go! You have to reconsider!" he begged, his face inches from hers. "This makes no sense at all, Elizabeth!" His grip on her arms tightened as his anger gave way to rage. "It's time to give up this ridiculous adventure and grow up!"

She moved her face away from his as she continued to try to pull away from him. But he held fast, his fingers pressing into her skin. "Charles, you're hurting me! Stop!" she cried.

"Let her go, now!"

Jack's stern voice startled both Elizabeth and Charles. He was quickly approaching them, his face revealing his intense anger.

Charles didn't immediately follow Jack's order. Instead, he taunted Jack, "Do you think they'll ever approve of you?" Then, he turned to Elizabeth, "They'll never approve of him!"

"I said to let her go," Jack repeated as he stopped next to Charles, his voice thick as he struggled to control his rising temper.

Charles looked at Elizabeth and, instead of releasing his grasp, he squeezed harder. "Don't do this!" he growled through gritted teeth.

As Elizabeth winced in pain, Jack quickly shoved Charles, sending him hurtling backwards. Elizabeth fell forward before Charles released his hold on her arms. Jack gently steadied her, holding her shoulders as he stepped between her and Charles.

He glanced back and saw that Charles lay in a heap on the floor next to the front pew. He turned back to Elizabeth. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and filled with concern. His eyes searched her face and when he saw the tears in her eyes his jaw tightened. She nodded and his gaze fell to her forearms. His expression filled with pain as he saw the red marks Charles' fingers had made in her pale flesh. He hands slid down her arms and very gently massaged her forearms, as though trying to erase the marks.

Elizabeth watched him rubbing her arms for a few seconds. Finally, she found her voice again and whispered, "I'm fine, Jack." Jack met her gaze as he continued to caress her arms.

"You're turning your back on your family, Elizabeth. Your parents will never accept him!" Charles provoked Jack as he pressed up from the floor. "Never!" he repeated when he was standing again.

Jack looked over his shoulder at Charles as he continued to hold Elizabeth's arms. Elizabeth looked at Charles and instructed him in a very cold voice, "You need to leave now."

"Elizabeth, your family will shun you! Your father will cut you off! They'll never accept him and you will be out of proper society!" Charles yelled. "Don't do this!" he begged.

Elizabeth looked down and shook her head slowly. "Charles, please stop," she ordered. "You're just being hurtful."

"I'm telling you the truth," he countered. "This makes no sense, Elizabeth. Your life will be harder than you know."

Elizabeth looked away.

Jack had heard enough. He released Elizabeth's arms, balled his hands into fists, and prepared to take care of Charles once and for all. However, before he could do so, Elizabeth's hand grabbed his forearm. Jack looked back at her as her hand slid down his arm and forced his right hand open. She intertwined her fingers with his. Jack's eyes questioned her. She straightened to her full height and Jack felt her amazing strength as she tightened her grip on his hand. He saw the determined look in her eyes and immediately understood what she intended to do. He tightened his grasp of her hand, sharing his strength with her. He stepped back so they were standing side-by-side.

"Charles," she began in her strong, teacher voice, "You have my answer to your question. It's no. You need to leave now and leave Hope Valley as soon as you can. If you have to come back here for business, then you will only speak to me in greeting, nothing more."

Charles opened his mouth to protest again but didn't have a chance to speak.

"Goodbye, Charles," Elizabeth said forcefully.

Charles seemed to want to protest again, but the look Jack gave him made him wither. His body hunched over in defeat, he plodded down the aisle and out the doors of the school. As the sound of his footsteps faded down the stairs and onto the path, Jack felt Elizabeth's body slump next to him. He turned and caught her in his embrace. Neither said anything as they held each other.