"What is that?" Julie whispered.
Elizabeth opened one eye, which was no help at all, because it was just as dark with it open as it had been with it closed.
"It's a rooster, Julie," Elizabeth whispered back. "I'm hoping it doesn't wake Jack." She closed her eye and pulled her pillow over her head to block out the noise.
Julie sighed. "I know it's a rooster, Elizabeth. I'm talking about the smell. That amazing, delicious, tantalizing smell."
Muffled by the pillow, Julie could just barely make out her sister saying the words pancakes, maple syrup, bacon and biscuits.
"Ohhhh," Julie said. "That's what I thought it was." She sat up and said, "It's dark. Why is it still dark?"
"Because the sun isn't up yet," Elizabeth said, lifting a corner of the pillow. "And we shouldn't be either. Shhh. Go back to sleep."
Exhaling, Julie said, "I don't think I can. Do you remember Jane, our cook? She would do that. I think she was in cahoots with the nanny. Jane would make a breakfast that was impossible to sleep through, and then... Freida! That was her name, our nanny, she would put the plate right by the bed and I could never go back to sleep once I smelled it. It was the only way she could get me up for school."
"Our nanny's name wasn't Freida, Julie." Elizabeth rolled over and rubbed her eyes. "Our nanny's name was Freja. She was Danish."
"Yes!" Julie said. "Freja. She was the one who used to make those little round pancakes with the lingonberry jam filling. Ambelskeevers... ?"
"Ebelskivers." Elizabeth yawned hugely. "You're obsessed with food this morning."
"It's this fresh air! It energizes me. It's like coffee!"
"Shhhhh, You'll wake Jack!" Elizabeth whispered.
Julie sighed. "Sorry. But, oooh, coffee. Do you think there's coffee?"
"What a good idea," Elizabeth said, "Why don't you go and find out?" She rolled over, hoping that there was still the possibility of a few minutes of sleep.
Julie slid back down under the covers. "I'm not sure I can get out of this bed. It's the softest, warmest bed I've ever slept in."
"You're not sleeping, Julie. I'm not sleeping either," Elizabeth said, finally opening her eyes. She sighed deeply. "What time is it?"
Julie picked up her watch from the bedside table and held it in the very first slivers of light coming through the window. "5:26. I don't think I've ever been up this early before. But I've stayed up this late. Does that count?"
Elizabeth laughed softly, slowly waking up. She turned on her side and said, sleepily, "I'm glad you're here, Julie. It's been a long time since we've woken up together in the same bed."
"You remember how you used to say that you would stay awake and watch for monsters? And I used to come and climb in with you when I was scared?" Julie said softly. "You've always been my big sister, Elizabeth. You've always taken care of me."
"I always will," Elizabeth said, taking her hand.
The growing light was making their faces more clear to each other. Julie was quiet for a moment and then said, "Does Rebecca make you think about how our Mother was with us? The cooking, how sweet and warm Rebecca is?" Julie asked.
Elizabeth nodded, "It was one of the first things I thought of when I was sitting in her kitchen here. I realized that the only way Mother was ever in the kitchen was if she was directing the staff."
"It's still that way. I wonder sometimes if Mother's life turned out the way she thought it would," Julie said wistfully. "I don't think she's happy. It's like she keeps herself busy with charity functions and lunches so she won't have to think about anything else too much."
Elizabeth nodded. "I think you're right." She sighed, "I don't think any of our lives turn out the way we think they will, though. Sometimes they turn out better," she said, smiling. "Growing up in Hamilton, going to cotillion dances, dreaming of debutante balls... If you had told me that I would end up in a town like Hope Valley, I wouldn't have believed it. And now I'm happier than I ever could have dreamed back then."
Julie sniffled and sat up. "I don't want to end up like Mother, Elizabeth."
Sitting up too, Elizabeth said, "Julie, are you crying? Oh, sweetheart," she said, hugging her tightly.
Julie turned so that she and Elizabeth were facing each other, cross-legged on the bed. "I'm not silly, you know, even if most of my friends are. I want to do something that matters, something that makes a difference in the world. I know I wasn't a very good teacher when I came to help you, but it felt so good to do something." She wiped her eyes with the collar of her nightdress. "I don't know exactly what I want to do, but how do I find out, with Mother and Viola constantly telling me I can't do anything else but be a Thatcher?"
"Julie, if there's one thing I've learned it's that you can be whatever you believe you can be." Elizabeth paused. "I've been thinking about this for a while. When I read your letters, I wonder..."
"What?" Julie said.
Elizabeth stopped and then started again. "You know why I came to Coal Valley in the first place - to teach children. But there are children in need everywhere, Julie. Why do you think I came so far?"
"At the time, I had no idea why you had to go almost all the way across the country," Julie said.
"It's very hard to make big changes and have a new life if you're completely surrounded by the old one. I was afraid if I stayed in Hamilton, that I would fall back into old habits and lose sight of my dream," Elizabeth said. "Mother, Father and Viola were not going to be supportive of the changes I wanted to make in my life." Elizabeth took Julie's hands in hers. "And they probably won't be for you either."
Julie said, "What are you suggesting, Elizabeth?"
"Come stay with us for a while. You know so many people already in Hope Valley, and now you know Nathan's family. We all love you and want you to find out what it is that makes you happy."
Julie frowned. "Live in Hope Valley?"
"You can call it a visit... with a possibility of living there. Our town is growing so fast. Abigail started her café. Dottie Ramsay started a dress shop. Lucas has changed the saloon completely. Rosemary still wants to build a theatre. There are opportunities there. We don't even know what we need right now, but maybe there's something that would fulfill your dream and fill a need for the town."
Julie thought for a few moments. "So, on this visit, I would live with you?"
Elizabeth smiled. "You could, but it's going to be rough for a while because the house isn't finished yet. But I have another possibility." She moved closer to make sure she wasn't whispering too loudly. "Nathan and I have two houses. He could let go of his, but I could keep mine. I'm still in that little row house. It was perfect for me alone, and it would be for you, too."
There was full light in the room now, and Jack was stirring. Elizabeth stood and went to the crib. "Hi, my sweet boy," she said, lifting him up and bringing him over to the bed.
Julie had spent the whole afternoon and evening saying her name to Jack, and she did it again. Pointing to herself, she said, "Joo-lee."
Jack looked at her and smiled. She kissed him and said, "Oh, it's okay, Jack. You'll get it when you're ready." She turned to get her watch from the table and Jack said, "Doo-ee." Julie's eyes widened and she gasped.
Elizabeth said excitedly, "Did you hear that? He said your name!"
"It's a sign," Julie said solemnly. "You know what else is a sign? The smell of those pancakes!" She smiled at Elizabeth. "Can we get up now?"
"Yes. And Julie?"
"What?" Julie said.
"Please think about it. I would love to have you close. I miss you," Elizabeth said softly.
"Oooh, I miss you too." She hugged Elizabeth, with Jack in between. Getting up, Julie looked out the window. Then she looked back at Elizabeth. "I'm closer to Hope Valley right now than Hamilton, you know. It certainly wouldn't make sense to go all the way to Hamilton and then come back. So," she said firmly, "I'll decide before the train leaves on Sunday."
Now Jack wouldn't stop saying her name, "Doo-ee, Doo-ee!"
Julie laughed. "Okay, Jack, your vote has been counted!" She hugged him tightly and said, "Do you want pancakes? I want pancakes!"
They washed and got dressed quickly and made their way out to the kitchen. Allie was sleeping still, but Rebecca was at the table making lists while Nathan dictated.
"Kevin, Hickam and Jesse can stay in the caretaker's room above the barn. They'll be sleeping rough, but they say they'll be just fine there," Nathan said, checking his notes.
"Good morning," Elizabeth said. Rebecca immediately stood and put her arms out for Jack, who went happily to her. She got him a plate of pancakes and syrup and he seemed as hungry as Julie.
"Good morning," Nathan said, grinning. He came up behind Elizabeth, wrapped her in his arms and whispered, "One more day..." She laughed softly and put her arms around his, smiling contentedly at Julie and Rebecca.
With his chin resting on Elizabeth's shoulder, Nathan said, "How did you sleep, Julie? Did you two talk all night?"
Elizabeth said softly to him, "No, but she got me up with the rooster this morning."
Julie sighed. "I slept so well, and then I smelled those pancakes, and bacon, and... biscuits."
Nathan smiled. "Well, we'd better get you some, then. There's plenty." He released Elizabeth and started to fill a plate for Julie. Elizabeth stood next to him and started to fill her own. They made the mistake of looking at each other, however, and their progress on the plates slowed dramatically. Elizabeth was contemplating whether Nathan's eyes were always this blue first thing in the morning, and Nathan was wondering how she could look so perfectly beautiful after just waking up.
Julie and Rebecca watched this happen, and then looked at each other and smiled.
Gently, Julie took the plate out of Nathan's hand. "Don't trouble yourself. I can get my own breakfast. You just keep doing... what you're doing."
He hadn't really heard her. He was focused on the curl that had escaped Elizabeth's comb...
Nathan took a deep breath and came back into the present. He smiled at Elizabeth, took her hand, and said, "Excuse us. We need to check on... something. Be right back."
With that insufficient and totally transparent explanation, Nathan led Elizabeth out to the porch and into the early sunshine. When the door closed behind them, he said, "I couldn't wait another second to do this." He bent to kiss her, and she happily met him halfway.
Inside, Julie looked at Rebecca with wide eyes. "What just happened?" she said.
Rebecca was smiling broadly. "Oh my goodness, those two are crazier in love than any two people I've ever seen." To share her joy, Rebecca reached out and squeezed Julie's hand affectionately. "I'm so happy for them."
Julie nodded and squeezed back, a little overcome herself. "I am, too!"
When Nathan and Elizabeth returned five minutes later, Nathan had forgotten all about Julie's breakfast, Elizabeth's cheeks were pink, and that curl still hadn't found its way back to the comb.
By the time Julie and Elizabeth finished their breakfast, Allie was up and had eaten. Rebecca still wouldn't let Elizabeth do any work, so she just sat while Julie and Allie did the dishes and Nathan and Rebecca finalized their lists.
Nathan was checking off names. "Lee and Rosemary can have the smaller room over the cellar stairs, because there are only two of them. Carson can take my bed and I'll sleep on the couch out here. Elizabeth, Julie and Jack are in the front bedroom. And Fiona, Clara, and Faith can have the big back bedroom with Allie on the floor."
Rebecca said, "And in the boarding house in town?"
Nathan said, "Bill, Ned and Henry have rooms reserved. They'll have breakfast there in the morning, and they'll have our third wagon so they can come and go. They'll also bring Pastor Grady in tomorrow for the ceremony." Nathan looked over at Elizabeth, and they were in danger of falling off the same cliff, so Rebecca called him back quickly.
"What about horses?" Rebecca asked.
Nathan pulled himself reluctantly from Elizabeth's eyes and looked back at his mother. "Bill said he'd like to ride back and forth from Airdrie if we can spare a horse. I thought I'd give him Nugget if that's okay?"
"No problem," Rebecca said. "Just be sure to tell Charlie."
Nathan continued, "And lastly, the Montgomerys, the Hayfords and the Tuckers are going to camp out in the long pasture so they'll be close by, but they're handling their own meals. I've had the hands stack three good piles of firewood and kindling out there for them."
When Nathan finally took a breath, Julie looked at Elizabeth and said, "I'm exhausted just listening!" Elizabeth couldn't answer because she was absolutely astonished that so many of her dear friends would be here from Hope Valley.
Nathan pushed back from the table. "We'd better get going. This morning we're going out to the pergola for one last look before tomorrow. We'll be back at lunchtime."
Rebecca snuggled into Jack's neck and kissed him before giving him back to Elizabeth. "Have fun out there. Charlie and I pulled all the weeds we could see, and the hands are putting up tables and chairs for us today," Rebecca said.
Nathan looked at the clock. "The train comes in at 3:30. We'll have room in the three wagons for us to go greet them, but Mom, do you need any of us to stay behind and help with dinner for... he counted on his fingers... um..." He looked at her a little sheepishly, "...nineteen?"
Rebecca grinned. "Seems to me once you all get back I'll have more help than I need."
Nathan laughed and gave her a warm hug. "You love this, don't you, Mom? A house full of people to cook for?"
Rebecca reached up and kissed his cheek. "I'm in heaven, Nathan."
"Oh, Mom. I want to make sure we don't forget your birthday tomorrow. Is there anything you want while we're in town?"
Rebecca smiled up at her son. "I tell you what, Nathan. For my birthday, you marry this beautiful girl who is perfect for you in every way, and have all your friends here to celebrate with us, and let me cook the way I love to cook, and then you can all clean up."
Nathan laughed. "It's a deal, Mom."
Twenty minutes later, they rode out. Nathan and Elizabeth were in the lead, but this time Jack wouldn't rest until Nathan put him in the saddle with him. Julie and Allie rode a little behind. They all rode slowly for Jack, but it was a beautiful day and no one minded the pace.
Nathan looked over at Elizabeth. "You're quiet. Everything okay?"
She looked back at him and smiled. "I am overwhelmed with how blessed we are. I don't think I can fit any more happiness in," she said, laughing.
Nathan said softly, "I know exactly how you feel."
They rode on for a moment and Nathan said, "My mother is right, you know."
Elizabeth said, "Your mother is almost always right. You'll have to be more specific."
"You are beautiful, and you're perfect for me in every way," Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled tenderly at him. "And Julie thinks you're devastatingly handsome and that we're adorable together, and I happen to agree with her."
Nathan took a deep breath. "When we ride like this, I always remember when we went to pick up Allie's horse. I wanted so much to tell you I loved you then. But right now, I want to say something that I could only dream of on that day."
"And that is?" she asked.
He said softly, "Elizabeth. We're getting married tomorrow."
