Elizabeth sipped her hot chocolate and realized how lucky she was to have a little boy who effortlessly charmed everyone he met.

Right now, the group being entertained in Abigail's was made up of Allie, Rosemary, Clara, Bill and Lee. It started out as just Allie and Elizabeth, but as usual, Jack was collecting people around him - no one seemed able to walk past him without stopping. Elizabeth smiled. She absolutely could not love him more.

She'd kept Jack up past his bedtime, and Elizabeth was very happy there was no crankiness happening right now with her energetic boy. His eyes were bright, and he was rewarding everyone with regular giggles.

Elizabeth was sitting facing the door, and for a good reason. When it opened and Fiona poked her head in, Elizabeth was standing up in one second flat.

"It's time!" Fiona said. She was the perfect telephone operator because she was just as excited as the person receiving the call. Fiona had come back to the switchboard tonight just for Elizabeth and Nathan.

"I just talked to him, Elizabeth, he's at the Murrayville Mountie Office, waiting for us to call him back."

Elizabeth's heart filled and she exhaled, releasing all the tension she'd been holding since she'd seen Nathan ride off this morning with three other Mounties and William Dean in chains.

Both Rosemary and Clara were suddenly on either side of her, hugging her.

"You see?" Rosemary said. "I told you he would get there safely."

Clara had tears in her eyes. "Well, go on! Go talk to him!"

Elizabeth went around and bent down to hug Allie and Jack. "Please leave Jack here and come to the office in about five minutes, okay? I won't be long."

Allie grinned, "It's okay, you two can get mushy. I know you want to talk."

Elizabeth and Fiona walked together through the fresh night air to the Mercantile and then parted ways as Elizabeth started for the jail and Fiona turned back to the switchboard.

Fiona said, "It's a little noisy there, Elizabeth. He's not alone in that room. But you can hear him, clear as a bell."

Elizabeth took both of Fiona's hands in hers. "Thank you," she said fervently. "It really is a miracle to be able to talk to him when he's out on an assignment. I could never..." Elizabeth stopped herself.

"I know," Fiona said, hugging her. "Now go! I'll ring you when I have him."

Elizabeth ran to the Mountie Office and sat down in Nathan's chair. Her heart was pounding, but she managed to still her breath a little while she waited.

The phone rang.

Elizabeth picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

She heard Fiona's voice, professional but with a great sense of joy in it. "I have the Murrayville Mountie Office for you. Go ahead."

"Elizabeth?" It was Nathan. He wasn't here but hearing his voice made her feel he was right in front of her.

"Nathan!"

"I'm sorry it's so noisy here. I can't seem to find a quiet place," he said, nearly shouting.

Elizabeth raised her voice too. "Can you hear me?" she asked.

"Yes," he said. "You sound good, Elizabeth. So good."

"So do you," she said, but she had dropped the level of her voice. Truth was, she was a little choked with emotion.

"What? I didn't hear that," he yelled.

"You sound good too!" Elizabeth yelled back. They were both laughing now, in delight and at the silliness of what they were saying.

"How was your ride?"

"Long. It's about eight hours at a walk. But it was easy, and companionable," he said. "I had a good talk with one of the men I was riding with. I'll tell you all about it when I get back."

"I'll look forward to it," she said. "And Dean was no trouble?"

"Docile as a lamb. He's locked up tight here and will be on his way again tomorrow."

"Where are you staying?"

"At a boarding house. They're putting all four of us up."

"Is it nice?"

"Nope," he said quickly, and Elizabeth laughed. "The food is terrible, and the bed feels worse. We're all in one big room and one of the men looks to be a snorer," he said.

"Sounds like fun," Elizabeth said, giggling.

"Which is why I'm heading out at first light." Nathan's voice went as soft as it was possible for him to do. "I want to get back to you, Elizabeth."

"I want you back here too. So do Allie and Jack. He's going to miss his story tonight."

"I have a surprise for Jack. A little present I think he'll like. I'll be home by one o'clock tomorrow. I'll stop by your house to let you know I'm back, and then I can get cleaned up and we'll have time for a long walk with Allie and Jack before dinner if you want."

"I'd like that, Nathan." She held the phone tightly, so amazed that she was talking to him. "Oh! Nathan! I almost forgot! I caught a fish!"

"You did? Good for you!"

"And... I cleaned it!" Elizabeth said proudly. "We had it for dinner."

Nathan laughed. "A proper frontier woman. If Hamilton could only see you now."

"I miss you, Nathan. I know it's only been a day, but I do."

"I'm glad, Elizabeth. I miss you too. I won't spend a minute here that I don't have to," he said. "Thanks again for being with Allie. Is she okay?"

"We had such a good time today at the lake. I love spending time with Allie. She's waiting to talk with you."

Nathan's voice lowered a little. "There's a lineup of men here to use the telephone, Elizabeth. I should probably talk to Allie and go." She could hear clearly that he didn't want to. Elizabeth felt she could stay on the line all night, telling him about the lake and fishing and how Jack had touched the scales on the fish she'd brought home and giggled.

"I understand," Elizabeth said. Allie peeked in the door to the jail and Elizabeth smiled. "There's a short lineup here, too." She motioned for Allie to come in.

Nathan said, "I'm probably going to take some ribbing for this because I'm having to say it pretty loudly, but... I love you, Elizabeth. I'll see you tomorrow."

Elizabeth laughed, hearing the catcalls in the background. "I might take some ribbing here too," she looked over at Allie, who was predictably rolling her eyes, "I love you too, Nathan. Be safe. Take your time. Just get home."

"I will," Nathan said.

Elizabeth quickly showed Allie how to wiggle the holder for the earpiece and said that when she did, Fiona would come back on the line to disconnect them.

"Uncle Nathan?" Allie said excitedly into the mouthpiece. "Wow, it's like you're right here!"

Elizabeth closed the door quietly and moved over to the bench outside the office.

She was a little weak in the knees, actually. A combination of worry, relief, love and wonder had taken over her limbs and she had to sit.

All those months, for years, waiting, wondering. Anticipating the mail coach. Not knowing whether it would be a letter from Jack or a wire from the Mountie Office. Or nothing, which it usually was. Instead, tonight she knew in just a few minutes. He's there, he's safe, he'll eat a hot meal and sleep in a bed tonight, and he'll wake up and ride home.

When Nathan had asked her how he was different from Jack in his work, she hadn't even dreamed of this - how different it could be from those terrible days of waiting and not knowing. Elizabeth sighed, feeling like it was a whole new world and she didn't need to be afraid of anything that had happened before.

A few minutes later, Allie came out of the jail. She was beside herself with excitement.

"Can I use this as my report? Talking on the telephone?"

"Of course you can, Allie. What a good idea!"

Allie said, "We can get some books out of the library and find out how a telephone works..."

Elizabeth was listening as they walked back to Abigail's, but a part of her was still hearing Nathan's voice; strong, steady and constant.

The next morning, Nathan realized he didn't have to worry about waking up at first light, because first light found him just fine. Right across his eyes through the curtainless window.

After getting all of about three hours sleep, he wished he hadn't been right about the snorer, but that man imitated a bear better than a bear.

Nathan turned and put his feet on the cold floor. He got dressed as quickly as possible, and though he was quiet, he realized it didn't matter. The bear was still snoring so loudly that no one would hear him in any case.

Downstairs, he went to the kitchen where the owner of the boarding house was baking. She gave him five fresh rolls, a slab of butter, a few hard-boiled eggs, some jam and a peach and sent him on his way with one canteen full of coffee and one of fresh water.

After picking up Bear at the livery, Nathan was off home. The sun was up, but out on the road, it was hiding behind the mountains, leaving it still a little chilly outside. Grateful for the coffee, Nathan pulled his heavy coat around him.

Because he was getting such an early start, Nathan had decided to make a small detour. He would take the Silverton road and meet the road to Benson Hills at the crossroads. From there, he could retrace the path he'd ridden with Elizabeth and it would only be about a half hour longer. He'd be in Hope Valley right when he said, or even earlier.

He wanted to remember that day, riding with Elizabeth. Their talks, running through the field, the cabin, and most of all how it felt to ride beside her for so long. It would make the trip go faster.

Bear seemed to be anxious to get home too, and Nathan wondered if the livery in Murrayville was as uncomfortable for Bear as the boarding house had been for him.

He chuckled to himself. One of the signs of getting old – being uncomfortable in unfamiliar places. Well, that was okay, Nathan thought. Getting old with someone sounded good. He'd started to wonder if it was ever going to happen for him.

These days Nathan hardly recognized himself. He talked more, felt more alive and relished the idea of putting down roots. His life before Elizabeth hadn't been unhappy – but now it had more purpose. And his relationship with Allie had blossomed. After recently feeling they were heading down a difficult path, Nathan now felt closer than ever to her.

You don't know until you know, Nathan thought, smiling and raising his face to the emerging sun. No one can explain love to you. You have to feel it for yourself.

Nathan had ridden for about four hours and was right on schedule when he saw a wagon off to the side of the road in a small ditch just past the Silverton crossroad. The man sitting in the wagon looked to be ancient. He'd unhitched his horse and it was standing nearby. Nathan thought the horse looked even older than the man.

The old man sat up with difficulty when he saw Nathan's red tunic and campaign hat.

"A Mountie!" the man said, "Saints be praised! I've waited here for hours!"

Nathan tipped his hat. "You look to be in some trouble, sir. I can pull you out of there. You're not hurt?" Nathan had already dismounted and was getting the coiled-up length of rope from its ring on his saddle.

"No, no," said the man, shaking his head. "Just an old fool. I looked away at the wrong time and she pulled me in there."

Using Bear, Nathan was able to help the man back up to the road, but it was a more arduous process than he thought it would be, and it took longer than he wanted it to.

He watched the man steer his wagon toward Murrayville and then turned himself toward Hope Valley, expecting to make up the time on his way.

Nathan wished now that he hadn't been so specific with Elizabeth about the time he would arrive. It was already close to noon and he had at least four hours' ride left. The thought of worrying her made him restless, and on top of only three hours' sleep, he wasn't at his best in the saddle.

He finished off the rolls and the peach as he rode, and he kept glancing at his watch. He would run Bear for a time and then walk him; he was ready for another run when he looked to the right and saw the field he'd raced in with Elizabeth.

He smiled and pulled Bear up the small hill. Just a touch of his boot heel was all it took, and Bear was off and running. In danger of losing his hat, Nathan pulled it off his head and anchored it under his right leg on the saddle.

He was remembering Elizabeth beside him, her hair flying behind her, the sound of her laughter. Nathan looked left and could almost see her.

If he'd been looking forward, he would have seen the large rock partially covered in grasses and wildflowers. Bear saw it, but just a split second too late. He swerved and lost his balance, falling hard on his right side. Bear wasn't hurt, but Nathan's right leg was pinned under his massive thigh.

Just before the agonizing pain hit and he passed out, Nathan was trying to place the sound he'd just heard. It reminded him vaguely of the ranch when his mother sent him out to fetch a chicken for dinner. Just as he lost consciousness, he realized it was the sickening sound of bones breaking.