Author's Note: Hello hearties :) Sent another tweet to Erin Krakow today of my Halloween costume from yesterday looking like Ms. Thatcher! I was surprised she saw it- I know she is quite busy! Made my Halloween better! I got chocolate, got a favorite,reply, and a retweet from Erin Krakow, and I got pictures of When Calls The Heart- good way to spend a Friday! Sorry I didn't update "The Thornton Family" as promised... :( Got busy again... I wish life wasn't so busy... :/ I hope to finish the chapter so I can post Monday hopefully- maybe before then. In the meantime- would you like a Treat or a Trick? I have provided the Treats, a chapter and a wonderful ending to this chapter...or am I tricking you? ;)

~Angelica

Meanwhile, some of the children had discovered their teacher's new dog, and were petting her and giving her lots of attention.

"Why don't we throw them a ball or something?" Bradley asked.

"Sure! But I doubt Rip will do anything."Emily laughed as she threw a ball for Lily to fetch. "Go get it girl!"

Lily dashed off after the ball, she couldn't understand why Rip wasn't doing anything. And Rip was feeling a little left out, now what was Lily going to think? He got up and nudged Bradley's leg.

"I think Rip wants to play." Bradley looked at him.

"I think he wants to impress Lily." Jolene giggled.

Rip just looked at them, they were right but he wasn't gonna admit it.

"Alright then boy, go for it!" Bradley said tossing him an extra ball.

The kids laughed and played for a while with the energetic dogs until Jack rode by.

"Rip?!" He exclaimed.

"We threw a ball for Lily and he wanted to join in too." Rosaleen replied bending down to pet Rip.

"Well, thank you for playing with Rip…" Jack said as he rode away and looked back at the kids playing with the dogs.

"Oh Jack, I've been waiting for you." Mr. Yost said as he handed Jack a telegram.

"Thank you." Jack aid as he dismounted and took the telegram.

Jack opened it up, and quickly read it.

'Jack, how are you my sweet baby boy? I am coming for a visit on Thursday, and I can't wait to see you in your serge once again. Much love, Mum.'

Jack started blushing, he loved his mom but felt quite embarrassed when she called him her 'sweet baby boy'. He saw Elizabeth carrying some groceries for Abigail, and quickly rushed over to help.

"Here, let me help." Jack said as he took one of the baskets.

"Thank you, I usually can carry two, but I think Abigail got some extra goods today…"

"Ah I understand." Jack walked alongside Elizabeth. "When did you say your parents were coming?"

"Thursday." Elizabeth replied.

"Like as in this Thursday?"

"Well yes, why?"

"My mother's coming too…just got a telegram about it."

"Oh goodness Jack this is wonderful! Then we can all spend time together and everything!"

"And have discussions." Jack said as he opened the door to the Café.

"Oh discussions hmm? What kind?" Elizabeth giggled.

"Ah you'll find out when it happens." Jack winked.

Later on, Rip came back to Jack and was tired, he plopped on the floor next to Jack's feet.

"You have a good time with Lily?" Jack asked.

Rip just closed his eyes to go to sleep, he wasn't used to so much running around.

"Look at Lily, she's still awake and energetic." Jack noticed as he watched the dog run circles around Elizabeth. Rip just gave him a look like he refused to do any more running around, which gave Jack the message to not push his luck to get Rip any more active.

When Thursday finally came rolling in, Elizabeth was worried where Lily disappeared to, until she saw she was on the jailhouse porch with Jack and Rip.

"Jack!" Elizabeth said running over. Jack stood up and went down the stairs and was there to catch her as Elizabeth tumbled forward.

"Hey are you alright?" Jack asked.

"The stagecoach is coming!"

Jack looked over, and saw Mr. Thatcher helping Jack's mother, and Mrs. Thatcher out of the stage coach. "Correction, the stagecoach is here!"

"And there's my little boy!" Mary exclaimed as she raised her hand to wave to Jack, who was still holding Elizabeth.

Jack could feel himself blushing, and he politely took a hold of Elizabeth's hand and walked with her over to their parents.

"Oh Jack, look at you, so handsome!" Mary threw her arms around Jack in a hug.

"Mum…." Jack whispered in his ear.

"I have to agree, and there's our daughter." Kate smiled and hugged Elizabeth.

"It was interesting talking on the trip over, quite a discussion." William hugged Elizabeth close. "Is he treating you well?" He whispered.

"Of course, Daddy." Elizabeth looked into his eyes.

"Oh, Elizabeth, a friend wants to surprise you…" Kate gave a small giggle.

'Oh no…'Jack thought. He wasn't ready to face this, but if he wanted Elizabeth's heart he was ready to face this fourth guest.

Elizabeth waited, hoping this person would come out of the stagecoach, but she was surprised and was hugged from behind. Jack was jealous as he looked at the man hugging Elizabeth and spinning her around.

"Lizzie, it's been forever."

"Nicholas!" Elizabeth giggled as she allowed herself to be spun around,

Jack just watched as this man hugged Elizabeth, he couldn't wait any more.

"And who are you?" Jack asked.

"Nicholas Brook." He said as he looked into Elizabeth's eyes.

"And Nicholas, this is Constable Jack Thornton, we're currently courting." Elizabeth proudly said.

Nicholas quickly let go, he didn't know she was in a relationship with a Mountie.

"Come on Elizabeth, lets go get our parents things into the rooms above the Café." Jack said as he put his hand around Elizabeth.

"Yes, lets…" Mary replied as she felt the anger in Jack rising from this guy touching Elizabeth.

"I didn't think it would be a problem…" Kate frowned and whispered to William. William just shrugged, he knew how a man was if he was courting a woman and another guy came around.

"Talk to ya later Lizzie." Nicholas smiled. He had an offer and he knew Elizabeth would have to accept.

Meanwhile, everyone had settled down, and Nicholas exited his room above the Saloon as soon as he saw Jack head off for his rounds, and quickly went to talk to Elizabeth.

"So Lizzie, are you happy?" He asked as he looked into his coffee.

"Yes I am. Why do you ask?"

"In this place? How is a dog even happy?" Nicholas pointed to Rip.

"It doesn't matter what a place looks like, as long as there are people that care and friends around you. And Coal Valley is the place for me."

"What about the lights? The money? The shows?"

"I don't really miss all that." Elizabeth replied and reached down to pet Lily.

"Would you like to go back forever?"

"No, I go when I visit my family and that's enough, I prefer here in town thanks." Elizabeth smiled.

Nicholas looked at her, he was quite frustrated now. This was not the Elizabeth he used to know, and he immediately knew that Mountie had to have changed her personality…

The Thatchers had brought him along because they were visiting Elizabeth, and he came along to see her again, and little did they know that he was going to try to bump Jack out of the way to try to steal our teacher's heart…

Tee hee XD