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000

Jack stood outside the salon waiting impatiently for Elizabeth to finish her class. Slowly by slowly the children began to emerge from the room and it felt like an eternity until he could get her to himself.

He loved spending time with her and more often than not he found himself standing outside the salon waiting for her to appear. He had gone over and over what he would say to her, where he would say it and even had a debate as to whether it would be better to ask her first thing in the morning or later in the day and at some point he'd even discarded the whole idea of asking her but he knew he would not rest until he'd asked her out.

He remembered the look on her face when she'd came to station to tell him about the painting hidden in the back of the mural and while it had gone someway in showing her that he was interested in her, he knew from past experience that when it came to women and matters of the heart it was better to be direct.

So he was, in the saloon, making his intentions clear. Very clear.

"I've come to ask for your hand," he told her and almost regretted the choice of words. He hadn't meant it to sound like a proposal of marriage…not yet anyway.

Elizabeth reluctantly gave him her hand and he began on his carefully rehearsed speech.

"Miss Elizabeth Thatcher, I would like you to join me for supper this Saturday night…The pleasure of your company will be truly appreciated."

He was so glad when Elizabeth agreed to dine with him and he had meant what he'd said to her. Supper was going to be an act of courtship, he was going to show her how romantic he could be and attempt to win her heart.

It was good that he'd already began on his plans for the date because the arrival of Julie, Elizabeth's little sister and his replacement Constable Patrick O'Reilly certainly put a damper on his plans.

000

"I don't want to put you to too much trouble," Jack said.

"It would be no trouble at all," Abigail assured him.

"But I would be putting you out," Jack said, regretting his decision to involve her at all, "I'll just take her to the saloon, it isn't like there's any other place around for miles and a picnic at night wouldn't work at all."

"Jack, listen to me," Abigail told him, "I said that it would be no trouble at all to prepare the meal unless you're worried about my ability to keep it a secret from her."

"Of course not." He was affronted that she would think such a thing.

"Well then, I said that I would cook the meal and I will," Abigail reminded him.

"Thank you," he hugged her.

"And since you want to make it romantic and it is an act of courtship then I suggest you get some tips from Julie."

"Julie?" Jack had barely spoken to Elizabeth's sister; he had to admit he was sort of scared of her, she was so forthright. In their last conversation she had all but grilled him about his relationship with Elizabeth and warned him against breaking her heart.

"She knows Elizabeth," Abigail told him, "her likes and dislikes, and she would be of tremendous help if you ask me."

Jack nodded. Abigail was right, Julie would be very helpful in making this date a success especially since his transfer had finally come through and he had to leave Coal Valley.

000

"You're not going to wear that red coat are you?" she teased him.

"Of course not," Jack replied, "I do own other clothes you know and this is my uniform."

"I know," Julie laughed at him. "So what exactly is the plan, apart from asking Abigail to cook?"

"I'm going to give her a corsage," jack told Julie.

"Great," Julie enthused. "I don't know about the flowers that you have here but Lizzie loves carnations and yellow and pink are her favourite colours."

"Okay."

"You really do love her, don't you?"

"I … I, uhm…" Jack stammered. He knew that he felt something, more than something actually for Elizabeth but he wasn't ready to give it a name.

"I get it," Julie laughed at him, "you're still at that stage when you're not ready to talk about it. So, about this date, what else?"

"You, Abigail and the children are going to turn Abigail's café into the most romantic location on Saturday night, aren't you?"

"We know what we're doing and have already got everything ready, don't worry it will be perfect, in fact more than amazing."

"I thought we could dance," Jack suggested, "or maybe that's too ordinary, you know, dinner and dancing." Ever since the Miner's Ball Jack had wanted to dance with Elizabeth but no opportunity had ever arisen until now.

"Elizabeth loves dancing and that fact that you've thought about it even makes it more perfect."

"I know where I could get a record player," Jack told her, "but I was wondering about the song, do you have any suggestions?"

Jack left the café a few minutes later knowing although he had to leave Coal Valley soon, his date with Elizabeth on Saturday would be perfect.

000

Jack and Elizabeth slowly circled the room; she couldn't believe how happy she was, it was hands down the best date she'd ever been on and even just thinking about it made her break out into a smile.

"I think the food's getting cold," Jack whispered to her.

Elizabeth was reluctant to get out of his arms but they needed to eat the food before it got cold, maybe they'd have another chance to dance again before the night ended. She sincerely hoped so.

"I don't think I've ever had as much fun on a date as I having now," Elizabeth said.

"Really?" Jack couldn't believe. "I guess I could teach the men in Cape Fullerton a thing or two, huh?"

"Actually a man once asked me to a date which began with an open carriage ride and ended a walk along the beach," Elizabeth told him. "There may have even been violins and roses."

"How can supper in a café, just below your room I might add, compare?"

"He was a dreadful bore," Elizabeth told him, "and you have a much nicer smile."

"So you would be content to live here in Coal Valley, forever?" Jack asked. He had tried twice to bring up the topic of his imminent departure but somehow Elizabeth's words and smile had distracted him.

"I have been happy; I should say that I am happy in Coal Valley," Elizabeth replied, "happier than I ever thought I'd be."

Here's your chance to tell her, Jack thought to himself, but instead he picked his glass and took another sip of wine.

"And you are happy too, don't pretend that you aren't," Elizabeth told him, "in spite of the fact that you were brought here under false pretenses."

"I am happy," Jack conceded and he was; he only wished he didn't have to leave Coal Valley especially now that they had finally had their date.

"And you've also resolved yourself to the fact that Mounties don't have to assign you a wife," Elizabeth teased him, "that you are actually allowed to find one on your own."

"I don't think I actually used the words assigned," Jack protested.

"Yes you did," Elizabeth told him. "You somehow suggested that I was throwing myself at you yet Mounties did not marry unless a wife was assigned to them, probably as part of their work."

"I did not."

"Do not argue with me, I am a teacher," Elizabeth reminded him. "I have good recall."

"I'm a Mountie, and therefore have a more excellent memory than yours," Jack said. "Besides you fail to see things that are right before your eyes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Jack just continued smiling at her.

"If you are taking about the town mural," Elizabeth told him, "I know that you painted it."

"And how long did it take you to figure it out?" Jack asked her.

"It took me a while," Elizabeth admitted, "but as I left the station after telling you about the hidden painting of us, I figured it out."

"How?"

"You're the detective not me."

000

"I really had a great time tonight," Jack told Elizabeth. They were slowly circling the floor again. They both knew that their date had to end as the candles were almost spent and they didn't want to burn down another building in Coal Valley.

"I wish I didn't live right about the café," Elizabeth murmured.

"I know," Jack agreed, "then I would have had the pleasure of walking you home."

"Yes."

He took her hand in his just like he had when he'd asked her to dine with him and kissed it.

"Goodnight Elizabeth."

"Goodnight Jack."

000