Allie called out, "It's coming! The train is coming!"

Elizabeth looked at Nathan, her eyes wide. "Are you ready for this? We're about to be joined by practically everyone we know and love." She hugged him tightly.

Nathan turned to her. "I'm ready for anything. But once the crowd gathers I may have to steal you away to the barn once in a while to do this." He put his finger under her chin and kissed her.

"It's not stealing if I'm willing, you know," Elizabeth said softly.

Julie came up behind them. "If you two can take your eyes off each other for a second, you might want to move back a little. There's a very big train coming!" The noise was almost deafening now, and Elizabeth and Nathan smiled and stepped back with Julie.

Not surprisingly, Rosemary was leaning out of a window calling to them. "Elizabeth! Nathan!" She spread her arms theatrically. "We are here!"

Elizabeth leaned up and said in Nathan's ear, "And so it begins... "

The next hour was filled with so much commotion that Elizabeth could hardly keep it all straight. In all, twenty-four people with all their excitement, baggage, stories, camping gear, gifts and good wishes came off the train in the space of about ten minutes. Nathan and Elizabeth were hugged, kissed, congratulated, and jostled so many times that Elizabeth was very grateful she had left Jack with Rebecca. They were surrounded by noise and joy and love, and Elizabeth doubted the Airdrie Train Station had seen anything like it in all its days.

Not one person from their list had bowed out, and in fact, there was an extra they hadn't expected.

"Lucas!" Elizabeth said happily. "I thought you weren't coming!"

Nathan shook his hand and said, "Welcome, Lucas!" Then he remembered what Lucas was supposed to be doing and looked a little concerned. "Wait. Who's watching Hope Valley?"

Bill stepped down off the train right after Lucas. "I called Patrick O'Reilly in Elwood Ridge and asked him to do me a favor." He slapped Lucas on the back. "This one was looking a little forlorn over our card game the other night and it just didn't seem right to keep him from coming."

"Relieved of duty before I got to serve one day," Lucas said. "I hope I'm not throwing off the guest list, but Bill thought there would be room for me at the boarding house."

Nathan smiled and said, "Absolutely! It's a very fluid guest list. We're glad you're here."

Nodding, Lucas said, "Once Bill told me about the replacement, I found I did want very much to come. Of course, the combination of Florence, Molly and Gustav pushing me out the door to the saloon was very compelling."

Elizabeth was about to step forward and welcome Lucas when Julie moved smoothly in front of her.

Lucas looked at Julie and smiled. "Miss Thatcher, it's good to see you again. Lucas Bouchard, at your service," he said, making the slightest of bows.

Julie had to get used to the fact that Jack's Christening had made her a bit of a celebrity in town. Everyone knew her, but she had only been able to speak to some of them. She certainly knew who Lucas was, but didn't recall ever hearing his voice. And it is a very nice voice, she thought. But she had moved in front of Elizabeth because of those brown eyes and his sophisticated air.

Putting out her hand, Julie said, "Mr. Bouchard, so glad you could come. And please," she said, "You must call me Julie."

As Nathan and Bill got the bags down, Elizabeth was watching this exchange with some amusement. She was thinking it might not be so difficult to get Julie to consider Hope Valley after all.

"Then you must call me Lucas," he said, taking Julie's arm. "And how was your train trip from Hamilton? Did you arrive yesterday?"

Elizabeth laughed softly to herself. Nice to see you too, Lucas. Don't mind me, I'm just the bride...

"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Nathan asked, coming up behind her and speaking softly in her ear.

Elizabeth turned and smiled at him. "Yep. That's going to be a battle of who's more charming, I imagine. And to think that I was wondering if Julie would take a shine to either Hickam or Kevin." She shook her head. "Never employ me as a matchmaker. I don't think I'd be very good at it. So, what's next?"

"Well, right now, we have some wagons to fill." He put his arm around her waist as they walked. "What's protocol here? Do you and I ride together, or do we split up to spread ourselves around?"

And in that moment, the decision was made for them.

"Just wait until you see your dress, Elizabeth. We added some extra pearls to the skirt, and you're just going to love how it looks!" Rosemary took Elizabeth's hand and led her over to the large dress boxes being loaded into Charlie's wagon.

Bill came up to Nathan and said, "I hope you're okay with me calling Patrick and freeing Lucas up. I started thinking it really wasn't a great idea to put a civilian in charge, especially with that bank robbery in Aldergrove last week..." And off they went to Nathan's wagon.

The third wagon was being driven by Seth, one of the ranch hands, and he was taking the families out to their campsites.

Allie ran up to Elizabeth and said excitedly, "Emily and Opal want me to come with them to watch them set up their tents. Is that okay? Hi, Mrs. Coulter!"

"Thanks for telling me, Allie, and yes, of course you can," Elizabeth said.

"Can I bring Emily and Opal to dinner at the ranch?" Allie said.

"Only if their parents agree. Just let Seth know when he should bring the wagon back. Dinner is at 6:30."

Allie hugged her tightly. "Thanks!" And she was gone to find her friends.

Elizabeth looked at Rosemary, and she was frowning and pouting at the same time. "What?" Elizabeth said. "What's wrong?"

"Elizabeth," Rosemary said sternly. "You're getting married tomorrow. You should be having milk baths and sipping tea and having your hair done. Not organizing campsites and fetching and carrying people in wagons!"

Elizabeth laughed. "Rosemary, I've never been happier. All our friends have come to our special day, Julie is here, you've made these beautiful dresses for Allie and me... " She frowned suddenly. "What is a milk bath anyway? Is it actually milk? That seems like a terrible waste!"

Rosemary shook her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Uh-huh," Elizabeth said, laughing. She climbed up into the wagon and sat next to Faith and Carson. Rosemary joined her on the other side. Fiona and Kevin were across from her, and she was thinking she hadn't been paying much attention because those two seemed to be pretty chummy too.

Obviously, love is in the air, Elizabeth thought.

"We're so happy for you!" Faith said next to her, putting her arm around Elizabeth. Carson reached across Faith and took Elizabeth's hand. "We really are," he said, smiling. "And it was amazing to all be traveling together today. I had a great conversation with Lee, and one with Henry. We don't often sit down for that amount of time together. We're all so busy."

Elizabeth nodded. "We feel the same way. Of course Nathan and I just sit and watch Allie and Jack play together on the train, which is such a treat." She suddenly broke into a huge smile. "We're so happy you're all here!"

As they waited for all the bags to get on board, Elizabeth noticed that Nathan was driving the wagon that had Lucas, Bill, Ned, and Henry in it, and he was waiting for them to drop their bags off at the boarding house. He waved to her, and then stepped aside to show Julie sitting patiently in the wagon talking to Clara and Jesse.

Lucas won't know what hit him, Elizabeth thought. Or maybe Julie won't. She laughed to herself. Maybe it will be a tie.

Smiling as if he was reading her mind, Nathan nodded. Then he put his fingers to his lips and blew her a tiny kiss.

"Everybody settled?" Charlie asked. A chorus erupted from the wagon, and they were off. Elizabeth looked back at Nathan and put her fingers to her lips too.

Next to her, Rosemary sighed and hugged Elizabeth. "You are luminescent, my sweet Elizabeth. Lit from within."

"Oh, Rosemary. I can't wait for you to see the ranch and where we're going to be married, and oh, the Summer Cabin. And to meet Rebecca. She's so wonderful, and such a good cook!"

Rosemary laughed. "And we have two whole days to see it all. Don't we, Lee? Oh!" Rosemary looked to her right and suddenly realized her husband was missing.

Not missing, actually, just on the other side of the wagon, talking to Kevin, but when he saw Rosemary's look, he clapped him on the back and made his way over to sit next to her.

"This is a place of honor, Rosie. You got the spot next to the bride. Can I join you, or is this girl talk?"

Rosemary frowned and shook her head. "You can't do girl talk in a dusty old wagon, Lee. We'll do that later, sitting on that porch swing we've heard so much about." She took Elizabeth's hand. "And we hope you don't mind, but we spent some time last night sitting on your porch in Hope Valley. It was so beautiful and quiet out there, and we were imagining how it will be when both of our houses are side by side..."

Elizabeth was deliriously happy. Listening to Rosemary and Lee talk about the future on one side, and Carson and Faith talk about their future on the other.

And my future starts tomorrow, she thought. She had no bride jitters, not an ounce of doubt.

There was one part of the day that only three people knew about. Bill, Nathan and Elizabeth knew that Bill had brought an approved Petition for Adoption. It would become effective the moment Nathan and Elizabeth were pronounced husband and wife. So it would be a surprise not only to Allie, but to everyone else present.

"Elizabeth? What do you think about that idea?" Rosemary waved her fingers in front of Elizabeth's face. "Are you feeling faint? Brides do that sometimes..."

Laughing, Elizabeth said, "No, not faint, Rosemary. But I do seem to have a case of bride brain. Can't keep a thought in it for very long."

"Completely normal. I'd be worried if you didn't," Rosemary said.

"So what were you saying?"

"Well. I have Allie's little pillow, for the rings. It's covered in the same fabric from her dress, but I'm wondering if the ribbon holding the rings should be the same color or contrasting, and then which contrasting color... So I brought them all!"

Elizabeth hugged Rosemary. "At this point, I would say that whatever you choose will be perfect." She smiled at her. "You're such a good friend. Have I thanked you for everything you're doing?"

Rosemary laughed. "Not today, but that's because we just got here. Overall, I'd say you're up to about a hundred times!"

"And you know we decided on a shorter, less formal ceremony? And that we're not having any groomsmen, or a Best Man, or bridesmaids, or a..."

"Matron of Honor?" Rosemary said, raising her eyebrows.

Elizabeth smiled and put her arm around Rosemary. "No one. Just the four of us. Nathan, me, Allie and Jack. It just feels right."

"Oh, Elizabeth, it is right. I, for one, adore that you're including the children. Don't you agree, Lee? Oh, dear," Rosemary said. Because Lee may have moved next to her, but Kevin just moved right next to Lee and they were back to their conversation about logging equipment or some such.

"I know that Lee does agree, because we've talked about it," Rosemary said.

Elizabeth tried not to laugh, but then Rosemary saw the humor, and they laughed together. "Welcome to marriage, Elizabeth! Enjoy these early days when Nathan hangs on your every word!"

They were getting close to the corridor of trees that led into the ranch. Everyone in the wagon looked up as the afternoon sun sparkled through the leaves and made patterns on their clothes and faces.

Elizabeth took the opportunity to look back, and Nathan's wagon had caught up and was right behind them. She could see him on the front bench talking easily with Bill.

Nathan held the reins in his hands so naturally it was like they were created there, and every so often he would make a small sound to one of the horses. Hup, Sugar. He was more comfortable there than perhaps anywhere else in the world, even Elizabeth's arms.

If Archie Grant hadn't broken the law, Nathan might not have become a Mountie, and if not a Mountie, he might have become a rancher. It was probably safer, but Elizabeth probably wouldn't have met him.

One step and then another, and all of them had led to this moment. If Elizabeth tried to count her blessings right now, she would run out of numbers.

Nathan must have felt her eyes on him, because he looked up, directly at her. They were in the trees now too, and Bill was mesmerized just like everyone else.

Moving the reins into one hand, Nathan moved two fingers up to his lips and blew her another kiss. When she touched her own mouth, she could almost feel his lips on hers.