The next morning, Elizabeth work up early to make breakfast. Neither one of them seemed to sleep much the night before. She didn't know why, but Jack seemed to toss and turn constantly in the night. Wherever she tried to ask why, he was back asleep. Or so it seemed.

Jack staggered out of bed and smiled at the smell of eggs and bacon from the kitchen downstairs. He was exhausted. He'd hardly slept the night before. It was more like it was while he had been away in the north. It was a problem he hadn't had since he returned to Elizabeth. Now being back at work and having to go through every little detail in his mind, plus Viola's harsh reminders of the tragedy that could follow him as a Mountie, he was struggling to find peace.

He felt bad, knowing Elizabeth was up a time or two as well. He heard her call to him in the night asking if he was alright. The first time she had, it was right after a dream. A dream where he lost her in the crossfire of the gun gangs. He was too upset to say anything, so he pretended to be back asleep.

"Morning love," Elizabeth smiled over at him as he entered.

"Morning. How'd you sleep?" He rubbed his tired eyes and took a seat at their table.

"Better than you, I think. You alright?" She walked over and kissed him softly.

"I am now." He pulled her down into his lap to give her a deep good morning kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too," she smiled. "Ready to eat?"

"Of course." She placed two plates on the table before grabbing the coffee and sitting down. Jack said a blessing before they began.

…..

Viola was in no mood the next morning to see her family. She waited in her room until after breakfast, claiming the baby needed more rest. While she hid, she tried to understand why she felt so angry. She was struggling to understand and couldn't seem to stop it.

Life was good in London. She had title and wealth, and the best part of all, she had a little baby girl that she loved more than anything. It scared her at times. She couldn't remember ever loving something to the magnitude of which she loved her daughter.

She loved Lionel. He was a good and kind man. Just busy. He was working harder at his job than ever before. It seemed like he was rarely ever home. When he was, he was tired and distant. So far the trip to Hamilton had been good for them. He was his old self again. Except for the fact that he was now disappointed in her behavior towards her sister and Jack. He'd asked her the night before to explain herself. If only she could, she would have loved to understand it for herself.

She loved Elizabeth, and wanted her to be happy. So why couldn't she just be happy?"

Once she knew that everyone would be busy about their day, she dressed and gathered her things, taking the baby into the sunniest room in the house. It took a mere five minutes for Grace to find her after that.

"Good morning, dear. We missed you at breakfast."

"Yes sorry. Chloe needed a bit more rest."

"That's understandable. She's been getting used to a lot of new things lately. May I have the maid fetch you some tea or coffee this morning?"

"That would be lovely, thank you."

Grace went off to put the request in with the staff, taking a little detour to grab something from her room before heading back. She had one more idea to help her daughters with their broken relationship. She prayed this would work.

"Viola, dear, may I speak with you?" she asked as she came back in the room.

"Depends, are you about to tell me what a horrible sister I am?"

"No. I don't see how that would be helpful."

"I noticed you didn't say that I wasn't one, though."

"I'll let you be the judge of that. You're a smart woman," Grace gave her a sympathetic smile. "I want you to take a look at this." Grace placed a large hat box on the table in front of her daughter.

"You want me to look at a hat?" Grace shook her head as Viola opened the box. "Letters?"

"Yes. Those are the letters Beth wrote to me going all the way back since she left for Hope Valley."

"Why do you want me to read these?"

Grace took a seat next to hear. "When Beth sent me a telegram telling me that Charles had proposed but she'd turned him down, I was shocked. I realized that the life she wanted wasn't the life we had tried to give her. I think honestly until that point, I just assumed in time she'd tire of teaching and come back."

"We all did."

Grace nodded. "After that, I took some time to read through these old letters, and really pay attention to all the ones that came after. I realized I wasn't really paying attention to the woman she had become, only the woman I thought she was."

"And you think that's what I'm doing?"

"I think it's part of it, yes. My hope is that maybe this will put you two on more even ground again. Maybe it will help you see that Jack isn't a bad man. He's actually quite wonderful. Not unlike Lionel."

"Lionel and I aren't like them," Viola spoke softly.

"Maybe that's part of it too. But let's start here." Grace patted the box and walked out to give Viola her space.

"I guess it couldn't hurt to try and understand why she acted so unreasonable…" she sighed and picked up one of the letters dated back during the first few months Elizabeth was in Hope Valley.

In the letter Elizabeth explained that she was gaining a better relationship with the students and their families. She always explained the hardships they were facing and her empathy for the children and widows.

"It's very clear to me why God has sent me here. Not just to be a helping hand and a listening ear, but to learn. I'm learning so much about the world and what a person is capable of when God calls them to do the hard things. These people are amazing, and the strongest I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing."

Viola read on, finding herself quickly getting sucked in as if it were her favorite novel.

"Then there's Constable Thornton, I'm still not sure what I think of him. At first he thought it was comical my being here. He even went so far as to call me a princess! He will just have to learn that people are more than what they appear to be. Especially me. It's quite infuriating. Who does he think he is standing there in that handsome uniform anyway?"

A giggle slipped from her lips. "Was it the uniform or the man you found handsome, dear sister?" She shook her head and finished the letter before picking up another.

"After all these women have suffered, now they are at risk of losing their homes. I understand from a business standpoint, I suppose. These homes belong to the company, but couldn't they at the very least help make this transition smoother? It was in those mines that their husbands perished after all. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach."

Viola looked over at her sleeping daughter, imagining what her life would be like if something were to happen to Lionel. She would feel utterly lost. At least she'd have her parents to fall back on.

"I did something today, Mother. I'm hoping you can find pride in what I did, and that it will dismiss the worry I'm sure you will feel.

I went into the mine today along with the courageous women trying to fight for their homes. I could not sit idly by and watch the minutes tick away on a clock. These are my students and their families, after all.

Jack was not pleased at first. He seems genuinely concerned for my well being. I will say however, there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes when I emerged from the mine, covered in coal dust and tired at the end of the day. He gave me a ride home on his horse and helped me to bandage the open sores on my hands. I may have been wrong before when I referred to him as a pompous country annoyance. He has a good heart, and the softest green eyes I have ever seen."

An hour passed and Chloe awoke in the bassinet near the sofa. Viola lifted her up and fed her as she continued reading through the letters. She simply couldn't put them down.

"I arrived back in Hope Valley yesterday. The townspeople were so wonderful. I was given a welcome home celebration at the saloon. Many of the mothers asked how you were feeling and asked me to pass along their warmest wishes.

I am also very excited to tell you, I am no longer going to be teaching in the saloon. Oh Mother, you should see the church and school that Jack has built. It is beyond anything I could ever imagine. We took a walk out to the pond where there is a perfect view of his craftsmanship. It's the most meaningful gift I believe I have ever received. He donated his reward money from when he saved Julie and I to do this. He could have used it for anything. I've heard from many of the townspeople that he worked tirelessly to complete it "for me". He is truly an incredible man."

"He built her a school. He gave all his money to it." She carefully folded the letter and moved on to the next and then the next.

"I hope the holiday has been well for you. As I mentioned in a previous telegram, Charles recently traveled to see me and proposed. Given yours and father's thoughts on Jack, I do hope in time you can forgive me for not accepting Charles. He's not the one for me. I also pray that you will accept Jack as the man I have chosen to keep in my heart. He is a wonderful man. I know he is nothing like you expected but he has my heart, and is very deserving.

This New Years, we've made a promise to work past the problems that arose in our relationship this past year. Charles and my life in Hamilton being two of the big ones. I will always be from Hamilton, but I am also from Hope Valley now. I am proud of both.

Charles was a good friend, I do care about him and wish him all the happiness in the world. I tried not to lead him to think of our friendship as anything more than that. Abigail had brought to light during her visit in Hamilton that I may have encouraged him more than I was intending. I did what I could to clear the air and make him understand before my leaving. I guess I didn't do as well as I had hoped. Please know that I never wanted to hurt him.

In the end, I hurt both him and Jack. Jack saw Charles propose that day and thought I would accept. My action over the past few months had made the way for doubt to take up in his heart. I will do what I can to show him that he is the only one I want. He deserves that and I am grateful that he has not given up on us.

I can't say I know what the future holds, but I hope it holds Jack and I together. We are taking our time for now, but I can wholeheartedly say I can't picture my life without him. I hope in time you can understand that."

"I really messed up, Chloe dear." The baby cooed in her mother's arms. "Yes, I did."

It was close to four when Viola heard someone coming down the hall. She wiped her tears as she closed the box. She placed Chloe in the bassinet and waited for whoever it was.

"Oh Viola, I'm sorry." Elizabeth looked uneasy. "I was looking for Mother."

"She's resting upstairs, I believe."

"Alright." Elizabeth rocked back and forth on her heels, still angry at her sister's actions from the night before, but trying to remember Jack's words. The words that told her her sister needed her. "Did you get a new hat?" She asked pointing to the box.

"No. That's mother's, and it's not a hat."

"Oh. What is it?"

"Perspective."

"Perspective?"

Viola was unwilling to talk more on it for the time being. "Yes. I'm going to change Chloe and maybe we can have some tea?"

"Of course. I'll be here."

….

Julie sat in her compartment staring out the window. The scenery had not changed in the last five hours. A sudden snowstorm had caused the train to stop while they waited for the snow and some fallen trees to be cleared from the tracks. A number of the men on the train had volunteered to help, including her husband. She was well past stir crazy as she sat there alone.

The compartment door slid open and in walked her handsome husband.

"It's official. I hate snow," he groaned as he dusted off the snow and began taking off his wet clothes.

Julie laughed. "Thomas Thornton, what on earth are you doing?"

"Jules, I'm freezing. I going to take off these icy clothes and climb into bed."

"I just might join you," she flirted.

"I'd like that," he smiled. "They said we should be on our way again soon. Should make it to Hamilton late tonight." He jumped into the bed pulling the covers over himself.

"What's the plan when we get there? Being late and all?" Julie took off her dress and curled up next to him, trying to warm him up as best as she could. He was very cold.

"Well I talked to the porter and he'll send a telegram at the next station to secure us a room at a hotel for the night."

"Really!" she said excited.

"Yes, you get one more night before facing your family."

"Now there's an answer to prayer!" she giggled.

"Tell me you didn't pray for a delay? Actually I don't want to know," he laughed, pulling her close. "We should have just told them, Jules."

"No, they would have tried to stop us. We've done everything right this time."

"Except not telling them…"

"That's a minor detail."

"Right. You can lead with that tomorrow when we see them."

…..

Dinner at the Thatchers went much better than the night before. Viola said very little, not to be rude but she was lost in thought. Constantly thinking of all she had learned in the letters from her mother. After dinner, she excused herself after dinner and retreated up to her room to read further. Before she reached the stairs, Elizabeth stopped her.

"Viola, we need to talk."

"Alright." She turned around, arms crossed. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Us. This battle we seem to be having. What's going on with you. You seem completely incapable of giving my marriage a chance."

"I don't know who you are," she blurted out.

"You don't know me? I'm Elizabeth. Your middle sister."

"The sister I grew up with was like me. We had dreams that were similar and had things in common." Viola smiled, thinking of a memory. "Do you remember the day you came home from school and told us you were going to go to teacher college and become a teacher?"

"Yes. Mother and Father were so confused. I believe Mother suggested that maybe I hadn't been sleeping well enough," they both laughed.

"Yes. That day, everything changed. You had this dream for your life that I just couldn't understand. With each passing day I felt like you and I grew further and further apart. I kept thinking one day you'd come back and be the Beth I knew."

"Then I went to Hope Valley…" It was beginning to make sense now.

"Yes. While you were off following your dream I stayed here. I had no idea how to do what you did. Not that I would have known what to run after, if I had. When you came back when Mother was sick, we all felt like we had one more chance to get you back. We were so afraid of losing you forever."

"All of you?"

"Well, not Julie." Elizabeth nodded. "You brought Jack with you…"

"I'm sorry. I never meant to create distance. I just never saw fulfillment in this life like you do."

"Funny thing, I'm not sure I do either.' She turned and walked up the stairs. Leaving Elizabeth with a lot to ponder.

…..

It was just after one in the morning when Viola finished reading the last of Elizabeth's letters. In the last of them she read all about the deep love Elizabeth had for Jack, and he for her. The joy of his proposal, only for it to be dampened by the pain of him leaving. There were many letters during the countless months he was away. Her heart broke for her sister.

Lionel rolled over, awakened by the crying baby.

"She really isn't one for sleeping in the night is she?" he groaned in tired frustration.

"No," Viola sighed. "I'll take her for a walk around the house, I suppose."

"Wonderful. Maybe then I can get some sleep."

She rolled her eyes. She had been getting much less sleep than him since the baby was born. He didn't mean to be insensitive, he just wasn't raised in a world where men helped. Then again, neither was she.

Downstairs Jack was sitting in the library of the Thatcher's home. Sleep was still evading him and he hoped if he read downstairs for a bit, Elizabeth would at least be granted a good night's rest.

He looked up from his book as he had the whimpering cry of his niece along with the patient, pleading words of his sister-in-law.

She walked into the library, trying to avoid waking the rest of the house and jumped at the sight of Jack.

"Oh dear, you scared me half to death!'

"Sorry Viola. Not much of a sleeper?" he said nodding to Chloe.

"No, well at least not lately. I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep since we arrived. She was doing a bit better in London and even more so on the ship. But here…" she shook her head in defeat.

Jack placed his book down on the table and stood up, walking towards her. "May I?"

"What? You want to take her?" Viola said in shock.

"You need sleep to take care of her. I don't sleep much these days anyway. I can take a turn."

Viola didn't know what to think or say. Her own husband had yet to help in this matter.

"Alright, if you insist." She carefully placed her daughter in Jack's arms. Chloe must have felt safe and secure in her uncle's care. She snuggled up and rested her little body against his chest.

"I don't believe it. Jack Thornton, you are a magician!"

"I've had a little practice." Jack smiled as he swayed Chloe in his arms. "My mother was a teacher but she also helped out the mothers in our town a lot. Seemed like there was always little ones around."

Viola nodded, taking in the man before her. The guilty feeling that had taken up residence in her stomach since she read the letters seemed to grow.

He looked up and immediately noticed a look on her face he had never seen. "What is it?"

"Nothing," she said quickly as she turned to leave. She was halfway down the hall when she stopped and headed back.

"Jack?"

Her use of his name for the second time caught his attention. She'd never referred to him as anything other than Constable Thornton.

"Viola, are you okay?" He asked with such care and concern, making the guilty feeling even worse.

"I'm sorry," she finally managed to say. "I never allowed you a chance."

"I get it."

"You do?" she questioned.

"I'm not what you expected for Elizabeth." He let out a small laugh. "I bet you never would have guessed she'd bring home someone like me."

"No. I didn't." She said taking a seat in the library. "But if I think about it, I shouldn't be surprised. She's always been different."

Jack nodded. "I do love her, Viola. With all that I am."

"I never doubted that. I just, I doubted she'd be happy. Or safe. I figured it wouldn't go over in our social circles and well…" she sighed.

"You thought Charles was a better match?"

"Yes… I did." She said looking towards the floor. "Though it appears that I was very wrong."

They stood silently for a few moments. "Mother shared with me the letter's Elizabeth wrote to her over the last few years. It let me see her life in a different light. I think I learned a lot about who you are through her eyes."

"I'm sure not all those letters were flattering," he laughed. "Our start was a bit rough."

"Even then, I could see she was already drawn to you."

"I was too. I just fought it for a long time. See, Mounties are encouraged not to marry. My heart had other plans." He smiled thinking back on all they'd shared over the years.

"Will you forgive me?"

"Of course. So are we friends now?' Jack asked with a dimpled grin.

"No. However, I think I have room in my life for a brother," she smiled.

"Sounds good to me. Now go. Sleep. We'll be alright here for a bit."

She leaned down kissing her daughter's head. "Be good for Uncle Jack, sweetie."

Viola headed down the hall, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She passed by one of the maids on her way and stopped her.

"Margaret, would you please bring Jack some tea? He's in the library with Chloe."

"Of course ma'am, what kind?"

"I… I'm not sure."

The maid smiled. "Mrs. Elizabeth usually requests peppermint for the two of them."

"Then let's go with that. Thank you, Margaret."