As the school day was nearing an end, Elizabeth Thatcher was beginning to assign homework to her students.

"Tonight, once it gets dark, I want you to find a place close to home, take a blanket with you and lay down on the ground. I want you to look up at the stars. Spend a few minutes quietly looking for the big dipper, or Orions Belt." Elizabeth gushed in excitement trying to get her class ready. "Think how all those burning balls of gas make you feel."

She then smiled knowing she had them trapped. "Then I want you to write a paper…" a groan emerged from her students, but she continued over them "on how the stars made you feel. What they made you think about, and what you would do if you could go up into the sky to the stars."

She moved around to the front of her desk "and with that class is dismissed." She finished as she rang her precious cowbell from her precious mounty.

The students were in a hustle and bustle and before she could make her way over to Becky she was running toward the door. Completely opposite of the way she had moved earlier in the day. In some ways this girl reminded Elizabeth of her younger sister Julie. So young and full of life, but unlike Julie Becky had a good head on her shoulders. Unlike most people from the city, Becky fit in just fine in Hope Valley. She didn't "society" get in her way. In fact Elizabeth wouldn't have known she was from the city of Abigail hadn't mentioned it earlier that day.

She watched as Gabe fought his way to catch up to Becky. Once down the stairs he had succeeded. Elizabeth watched them speak for a moment, and then Becky nod as Gabe took her books.

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. She had remembered all too well when Gabe had stood in front of the class and announced what "Coal Valley" meant to him. Elizabeth realized that Becky was the mysterious girl whom Gabe was set upon marrying someday.

She watched the two walk away and broke into a grin when she saw the familiar red jacket come into view.

"Good afternoon Jack," She said trying to remain calm as he made his way towards her.

"Elizabeth," he said smiling.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked

"Well, I couldn't help but overhear the children talking about their assignment tonight to look at the stars." He casually said. "And well, I would love to learn more about the stars tonight."

Elizabeth stifled a grin and stepped closer to him.

"Well Mr. Thorton, it is a very tough homework assignment, and I don't believe in showing favoritism.

"Of course, I would be surprised if you did."

"Well then, bring some blankets, I'll bring the hot coco. Pick me up at 7:00," Elizabeth explained in her most teacher-like voice possible."

She spun on her heels and began to walk back into the church when Jack grabbed her arm and gently spun her back around.

She nearly lost her breath with how close his face was to hers. She wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but she knew what she wanted to happen next.

Jack glanced down at her lips, then back up to her eyes, "well," he whispered "if I bring a few goodies from Abigail's can that at least get me some extra credit?"

Elizabeth knew that he had won this round. She playfully shoved him away and walked up the stairs.

Jack chuckled to himself, and was surprised when she turned back towards him before entering the church.

"You can ask my students Mr. Thorton, I'm not that easily swayed."

With that she closed the door behind her and left Jack grinning like a little school boy counting down the minutes until 7:00.

"C'mon Becky, it's perfect." Gabe's deep voice pleaded. "You know my parents Gabe." Becky replied sadly. "They won't like it."

"Then don't tell 'em." Gabe replied. He was in his final few months of school before he'd be off to work in the lumber mill. He had grown a few more inches and quite the strapping young man.

Becky turned to look at him in shock. "Gabe! I can't lie to my parents."

Gabe smiled his mischievous boyish grin. "Becky, I didn't mean lie to them tell them the truth. Miss Thatcher gave you an assignment to go find a place away from the town lights where you can see the stars. Look at them quietly for a moment, without saying a word, then write a paper."

Becky smiled shyly and waited for him to finish is plan.

"You just gotta leave me out of the equation."

"Gabe that's completely…. well you are completely mad!"

"You betcha!" his deep voice whispered, "mad about you Becky."

"Gabe wai…." He softly grabbed her hand causing her to stop mid-sentence.

"Think of it this way Becky, you are doing your assignment, and I am looking around for a quiet place away from the town lights to do my own, and I just happen to find a place next to you."

As much as she tried to resist, she couldn't help but smile. This boy made her feel like never before. Even more so than when they shared their first kiss a few years before. They had both grown more mature, but they seemed to have grown closer together too. Gabe had become a bit braver about pursuing her now that he was clearly become "a man" in societies eyes. She couldn't picture a life without him there each day sending her secret notes in school behind Miss Thatcher's back. The way his crooked boyish smile could cheer her up no matter what was wrong. He knew how to mend her heart that was hanging by a string as it was. Yet there was so much he didn't know about her, or about her family. "My family….." she thought to herself and the smile slowly faded.

Gabe knew he had to make his move quick. "Meet me at our spot tonight at 7:00" he said and glanced around to make sure no one was looking. He lifted her hand that he still held and gently kissed it. "7:00 Becky!" and with that he handed her books back, and skipped away as excited as she'd ever seen him.

Becky couldn't help but smile wistfully after the boy…man she'd come to love. The movement of a horse moving quickly behind her snapped her out of the stare and back into reality.

The happiness she felt for Gabe quickly disappeared as she made her way to her family's large homestead. He parents were strongly against Gabe. They weren't against her having a suitor by any means because she was becoming of age, but they were against her choice in Gabe. "He is a nobody in society," Her father's voice rang in her head. "It will ruin our families name darling." Her mother's soft weak voice followed. "You are the only Crawley left to continue our family, and I won't have you giving your life away to that rift raft. You will pursue someone from Hamilton, someone in the correct circles." He had once told her. She took everything he had said quietly. He had become a scary person once her brother Rick had passed away, and even more so now with her mother ready to die any moment.

She knew she couldn't be with Gabe, yet the excitement he had installed in her over their encounter tonight, it couldn't hurt to see him one more time in secret.

She made up her mind and continued home thinking about the blond man who had truly stolen her heart.