Rosemary opened the door to her home and motioned Nathan and Florence in first. He watched as Lee looked up from his newspaper in surprise at the masse of people pouring unexpectedly into his parlor. Lee set his paper down, raising his eyebrows as Rosemary stated, "We're having a meeting tonight."

"I can see that," he remarked. "What for?"

"Elizabeth," she stated simply.

Lee gave her a sad, knowing smile and replied, "Well I suppose it's a good thing you were planning to invite her over for dinner, though I'm not sure you made enough to feed this crowd."

Florence piped up, "Oh I've brought over an apple pie and a chowder I'd made for the night."

Bill smiled, "Which would go nicely with the cheese biscuits I brought from the cafe."

Rosemary smiled, "Excellent. We have salad and pot roast."

Nathan felt uncomfortable coming in empty handed. He should have considered that before essentially requesting an unprompted invitation to Elizabeth's, but he'd been fretting over Tom's sudden appearance and behavior as well as some of the remarks Elizabeth made about her safety here and Bill had suggested he join, insisting that she wouldn't mind, though Nathan wasn't entirely sure that was true. He'd felt them drifting apart for months really, since she'd started showing an interest in Lucas, and that rift had only grown deeper in the last month. He knew he'd hurt her with some of his words, his actions; he hadn't meant to but sometimes he just lost his way with words around her and his emotions overtook him. Lately, he felt like near everything he did or didn't do seemed to cause her more pain. And with every passing day, as Squirrel Terrell continued to evade capture, the feeling of failure in the pit of his stomach grew. He didn't feel that she blamed him, but he certainly blamed himself for her emotional state. Elizabeth said that afternoon she felt the town's judgement; he felt it too, for his failure to protect her that day and in the days since, though nobody had said anything impolite to him about it. Hearing from Elizabeth today what some of the other parents were now saying about her had been a kick to the stomach. All of this was because of him; because of his inability to keep this town safe and the collective inability of the people sitting in this room as well as Carson, Laura, and the Flynns to come up with a logical explanation for why Lee had appeared in the saloon covered in blood that night, followed by his and Rosemary's quick trip to Union City with little Jack, as well as Elizabeth's injuries and absence from school for a few weeks. He knew nobody in this inner circle had disclosed details of that night; yet, the townsfolk had certainly made a lot of assumptions. The rumor mill had been circulating in full force and they'd not known how to stop it, at least not without disclosing details they all knew Elizabeth would rather not have broadly shared. The incident had been a revelation for him regarding the trustworthiness of this group. Lee, Carson, and Bill he'd never doubted, but he didn't know Clara, Jesse or Laura very well and wasn't sure how they'd handle inquiries on the incident, and he previously had lacked trust in Rosemary, Florence and Lucas to keep a secret. He was relieved he was proven wrong on that account, particularly with the ladies. He'd never known Florence capable of such loyalty to a person that she'd willingly relinquish the opportunity to be the center of attention in divulging details of an event, yet she had now, on a number of occasions. He's overheard Florence chastising dear friends of her for spreading falsities, only telling them they shouldn't speak on the topic if they didn't know details and ought not to disrespect Elizabeth's privacy by speaking on it at all. The women were not the only ones spreading the rumors or acting inappropriately though; Allie had told him on Monday that Hattie had asked Elizabeth in front of the entire class if she'd been raped and that Elizabeth seemed very upset by the question. Of course she was upset by it! He was upset just hearing about that, and having the unfortunate responsibility of explaining the term to his young niece, who cried fearfully for Elizabeth despite his assurances that such a travesty had not happened (though he couldn't, wouldn't disclose to her or anyone else how close it had come to happening). He knew he should have gone to speak with Elizabeth after hearing about that, but he didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to fix this situation, and it all just left him feeling guiltier and guiltier that he was failing in his efforts to apprehend Squirrel Terrell.

He swallowed, trying to focus on the impromptu dinner party as Rosemary seated him at the table, between Lee and Bill. Lucas sat across from him, next to little Jack in his high chair and Florence. Rosemary sat on the other side of little Jack, scooping small amounts of food onto his tray as she informed the group, "Whether she wants it or not, Elizabeth needs help to feel safe in this town again. And I dare say many of the other women in town could as well."

Florence noted, "Yes, I agree."

Nathan exchanged a surprised expression with Bill. He'd been so focused on finding Squirrel, on trying to ensure Elizabeth was alright, he'd rather forgotten about the concerns of all the other people he was charged with protecting here.

Bill cleared his throat, asking Florence, "So this is a universal concern?"

Florence nodded, "I know none of us are feeling it as deeply as she is, Bill, but speaking on behalf of the other single women here: yes. The mothers, particularly, are very concerned."

Rosemary agreed, "Indeed. And even those of us who are married have some concerns, Bill."

Lee objected, "Rosie, you know I'd never let anything like that happen to you."

Rosemary held her hand up, "Lee, you are not by my side twenty-four hours a day, nor should either of us feel you need to be. I think there are some reasonable steps we could take to help Elizabeth recover from this as well as to help all the women feel safer here, so we're going to have a bit of a discussion on those."

Bill puzzled, "Alright, Rosemary, what did you have in mind?"

She looked pointedly at Lee and replied, "Firstly, you know I told you that some of the children have been asking some highly inappropriate questions."

Lee contorted his face, "Yes, I know. That has been rather unfortunate."

Rosemary nodded, "Therefore, I am proposing that you and Carson speak with the boys, provide them sex education."

"What?" Lee protested. "Why me?"

She replied simply, "Because you're married."

He looked baffled as he replied, "Rosie, I am not comfortable discussing our relations with a bunch of school aged boys!" Nathan stifled a cough.

Rosemary gave him him a skeptical look, "Oh Lee, of course I don't want you doing that either! But Carson can give them the medical, anatomical explanation and you can talk about the more personal side, about how intimacy impacts relationships. I doubt he'd feel as comfortable discussing that." Nathan knew he'd lost his wife and didn't speak on it, so he agreed she was right about that. "You must know so many of her students do not have father figures to be asking questions of, and it's clear they have questions that Elizabeth should not be expected to feel comfortable answering, nor may she be the right person in the first place, given the gender difference. They need to learn about consent, Lee, as well as discretion. We need to put an end, now, to all these questions they have and rumors they are spreading."

Lee grumbled as Bill remarked, "Rosemary, I actually think that's a long overdue suggestion."

Rosemary smiled at him, "Well good, I agree." She turned back to Lee, "Some of those boys need a man around they can feel comfortable coming to with questions and I think you and Carson are perfect to take on those duties."

"Alright, Rosie," Lee acquiesced begrudgingly.

"So I'll talk with the girls. I know Elizabeth speaks with them about their cycles starting and reproduction and everything, but they probably could use more education on that actual intimacy aspect and the choices they need to think on in their relationships. So I'll discuss that with them, as well as consent, so Bill, I'd like to talk with you some legalities of that beforehand."

"Sure," Bill nodded.

Rosemary added, "Florence, would you care to join me?"

Florence scoffed uncomfortably blushing, "Oh my, Rosemary, I don't know. That's not a topic I'm particularly comfortable discussing publicly."

Rosemary nodded, "That's fine. I do not want to ask Elizabeth as she's been subjected to enough lately, but I think it's important to have another adult present, in case they misinterpret anything I said."

Nathan agreed, "Yes, trust me that happens from time to time. What about Opal's mother?"

Rosemary clapped her hands together, "Oh yes! I think she'd be perfect actually, it would be good to have a mother's perspective in case the girls have any questions about pregnancy." Nathan noticed that Lee's face looked saddened at the remark, and he found himself wondering, not for the first time, whether the couple struggled with infertility given their childlessness. Rosemary continued, "I will seek her out tonight and Lee, we can have her and Carson over for dinner tomorrow so the four of us can plan what we will cover. We'll inform the parents over the next few days and do this Friday evening. I'll keep the girls at school. Lucas, would you have space in the saloon Friday at say four o'clock for the boys? I know that's probably a busy night."

Lucas nodded, "Absolutely, Rosemary. This is more important than my business. I'll shut it down for an hour. I could do two if you need it."

Lee piped up, "No, please no. Not two!" Nathan felt bad for the man; he certainly wouldn't want to be asked to handle such a meeting himself.

Rosemary laughed, "One is fine but Lee, I'm going to expect you to tell those boys that they can come to you anytime with questions."

Lee rolled his eyes, "Yes, alright Rosie."

"Good so that's settled. Next thing, there are a number of women who want to learn how to defend themselves and I think, Nathan, you might be the right man to lead those sessions."

"Me?" Nathan replied, coughing on the water he'd been sipping. He may know how to defend himself but he'd certainly never trained women on how to do so and he'd never felt that comfortable around their gender to begin with.

Rosemary nodded, "You're well trusted given your occupation."

Bill offered, "Don't worry, Nathan, I'll help."

"Great," Nathan muttered, not thrilled to have been volunteered for the task.

Rosemary added, "I can give you some tips." She moved on, "Elizabeth has also expressed to me that she hasn't practiced shooting since before Jack died." She looked at Bill, remarking, "And you know how truly terrible her aim is, Bill. Jack should've been more insistent she improve but I think he rather foolishly found her lack of skill there endearing." Nathan tried to suppress a soft smile, thinking there wasn't much about Elizabeth that wasn't endearing.

Bill nodded, "Rosemary I'm not sure there's much hope of improvement. I can try but I have tried before, you know."

Rosemary scoffed, "Well that is not the instructional attitude one should approach with this, Bill! She's lacking the confidence to protect herself and this would certainly go a long way in improving that." She turned to Lucas and remarked, "Lee told me you have exceptional aim, Lucas, so I'm assigning you. I'll watch little Jack on Saturday morning and you'll make time."

Nathan restrained himself from rolling his eyes, wondering if the two of them had schemed this plan together but Lucas looked a bit flummoxed when he replied simply, "Sure." Nathan sighed, realizing that he, at least, wasn't behind that orchestration, but it did leave him wondering a bit why Rosemary had chosen Lucas and not himself for that assignment.

Bill, clearly put out, muttered, "Rosemary I didn't mean to imply that I'd just give up on her! I don't mind trying again."

Rosemary shook her head, "No, you're right, Bill. I think she requires a different instructor. You're too impatient."

Nathan suggested, "Well maybe I could try. She could join these general self defenses lessons you've volunteered me for."

Exasperated, Rosemary replied, "Nathan, she's still recovering! It would be unwise for both her body and spirit for her to be practicing anything even resembling what she's just experienced. And while she may need or want further self defense instruction, it would be highly inappropriate to ask her to do that with spectators around." She looked at Lucas pointedly, remarking, "She's likely to be fearful or apprehensive about this and I expect you to be both respectfully cognizant of that and patiently persistent in whatever instruction you provide."

Lucas looked at her intently and nodded, "Alright, Rosemary." Nathan had the distinct feeling he was missing the subtext of their exchange and it made him both irritated and uncomfortable.

Rosemary looked at him, remarking, "Nathan, a few of the parents are concerned that if this criminal were to go looking for her and find her at the school, that the children could be endangered."

He swallowed and nodded, "Yes. She just made us aware of that today."

"So what are the options there? Can you and Bill check in on them a few times a day? Should we see if Pastor Zeke could watch over them for a bit?"

Florence scoffed, "Rosemary, I don't mean to be impolite but Pastor Zeke scarcely looks like the kind of man who could defend himself from an angered tomcat."

Nathan smirked as Lucas started coughing on his water. Rosemary scowled at Lucas slightly and remarked calmly to Florence, "It he can fire a weapon, he can defend that schoolhouse. He's there much of the day anyway. I don't think this is asking too much of him."

Nathan nodded, "I'll talk to him, Rosemary. And if Elizabeth is amenable, he, Bill and I can come up with a plan so one of us at least checks in on them every hour or so."

Florence mumbled, "And you better test his aim as well."

Nathan tried to keep his face impassive as he saw Lee shaking in silent laughter. Rosemary gave him a genuine smile, "Thank you, Nathan." Then she asked the group, "Okay, so who has other ideas?"

Lucas cleared his throat and suggested, looking at Nathan, "Actually, I'd been meaning to talk to you to see if perhaps you'd be willing to come by on a regular basis, perhaps weekly, or monthly if you think that's too frequent, to review with me and my staff any new sketches you have. There are a few of us still feeling regretful about all this, and I, well I want to respect the privacy of my guests but we also want to ensure that we're doing our part to ensure this community is safe. And I want to ensure my staff feel safe; Katherine, particularly, is struggling with this. So if there were a way to improve our awareness of the criminal activity in the area, we'd be appreciative of that."

Nathan was surprised by the suggestion. Perhaps Lucas did really care about more in Hope Valley than just Elizabeth? He thought back on that day they'd inspected those rooms with the maid, Katherine. She seemed rather quiet, meek; he imagined now that she probably felt fearful knowing she'd been in such close contact with those evil men. She certainly didn't seem like the kind of woman who'd have the fortitude to fend off an attack as Elizabeth had been, and thinking on that, he resolved he'd ensure these self defense lessons he'd been tasked with were actually useful. He hoped she'd attend. "I'd be happy to. I think it's a good idea. Perhaps I could include Carson and Ned as well?"

Lucas nodded, "Certainly. I'd welcome owners or employees of any of the other high profile businesses in town. Would Wednesdays at 3:00 work? We have a weekly staff meeting then and I can give you whatever time you needed."

"Sure," Nathan answered.

Rosemary beamed, "Excellent! Sounds like Hope Valley may finally be heading towards establishing that Chamber of Commerce we'd discussed Lee!"

Lee smiled at his wife, "It does indeed, though the saw mill really doesn't see many actual customers, Nathan. I could certainly send someone over, but I'm not sure we'd be much help in this."

Nathan nodded, "No, I agree, Lee. I wouldn't want to waste anyone's time, but I think some staff of the cafe, the saloon, the mercantile, the livery and the blacksmith's shop, at least would make sense."

Lucas added, "And Nathan, if there's ever a really high profile target you're after, feel free to put up the wanted posters by the saloon. You don't need to find me for permission first."

Nathan bowed his head in thanks, pondering what other steps might be taken to improve general security in town.

Florence remarked, "When I visited my sister in Clarksville a few years back they had a neighborhood watch program running after their bank was robbed. A few men would take shifts patrolling in the evenings and there was an elected captain people would report to who worked with the police on these types of matters. Perhaps we could elect someone at the next town council meeting?"

"Oh that's a wonderful suggestion!" Rosemary enthused. She bit her lip, "Now what else can we do specifically for Elizabeth?"

Lee shrugged, "Well, you know I've been suggesting she get a dog."

Bill laughed, "Given how much Rip hated her, I'm not sure that's a great idea, Lee."

Rosemary sighed, "Unfortunately dear, I rather agree with Bill. She has her hands full already with Jack, teaching, her writing. I doubt she has the time to properly train or care for a dog."

"Yes, I suppose so," Lee pondered. "We could get one, Rosie. He'd probably be able to hear anything going on over there."

Rosemary contemplated, "Well, maybe...maybe, yes. I will agree to that. But it needs to be something cute, something manageable, nothing too large or ferocious looking. And obviously good with little Jack. What do you think sweet boy? Should Auntie Ro-Ro and Uncle Lee get a doggie?"

"Doggie! Woof woof!" Jack giggled.

The adults laughed as well, everyone looking affectionately at him. He clearly enjoyed the attention, giving them a toothy smile.

Lee added, "Rosie, I was also considering asking both of you about perhaps taking down our shared fence and joining our yards. It would give little Jack and this possible new canine addition more space to play and I'd be able to get over to her easier if anything like this ever happened again."

Rosemary clapped, "Oh I love that idea, Lee! Let's talk to her about it tomorrow!"

After a pause, Bill asked Rosemary, "What exactly should be done about Tom? Did Lucas inform you about their encounter this afternoon?"

Rosemary scoffed, "Oh he sure did! That silly, selfish man! Now him, I just don't know. Jack was just about the only person who ever seemed to hold any real influence over him."

"Charlotte?" Bill wondered.

Catching up, Lee inquired, "Wait, Tom's here?"

Rosemary threw her hands in the air, "Oh my! I completely forgot to tell you! He showed up at the school house in one of his fits today!"

"Oh boy," Lee sighed.

"Lucas, Nathan, you tell him," she demanded.

Nathan bowed his head, deferring to Lucas' assessment of the encounter, which he gave in shorthand, concentrating only on the outrageous claims Tom made regarding Jack's death. Nathan was grateful Lucas left the rest of it out, as he had himself in his brief discussion with Bill earlier. Bill and Rosemary became reanimated about it and Lee repeatedly shook his head in frustration. Nathan wondered what the couple would think of Tom recounting that Jack and Rosemary had past indiscretions. He'd been unaware they were ever engaged or knew each other when they were younger prior to this afternoon. Rosemary recalled a few incidents Tom had when they were younger, being unable to hold his own with alcohol, once trying to bribe a cop to drop a charge of public intoxication, constantly losing jobs because of his drinking and poor work ethic, and roughhousing with other guys at bars. Nathan noted she didn't relay anything terribly alarming, as Elizabeth had attested, but he still didn't exactly like the idea of having Tom around. The man was clearly a threat to her sanity.

Lee and Lucas discussed which of them might be better suited to provide Tom with some form of temporary employment. Given the precariousness of the oil company's present position, it was agreed that Lee would hire him on at the saw mill for a bit and try to keep an eye on him. Bill planned to speak to Pastor Zeke and have him come over to Elizabeth's for dinner the following night so they could talk to Tom about his grief, and his drinking. In a surprisingly personal admission, Florence discussed her own childhood and how her father had a drinking problem. She said she'd visit with Elizabeth to give her some tips on how to manage Tom. Nathan knew he'd need to have a more personal conversation with Tom, at some point when the man had recovered his senses, about his assumption of Jack's job, and possibly more than that, but he found he wasn't prepared to entertain that idea fully just yet. He needed to let his own thoughts and anger over that encounter settle first.

He'd tried not to take anything that was said personally, but he'd found a lot of that alarming: Elizabeth's (understandable) reservations about loving a member of the Mounted Police, her family's expectations of her and disregard for her late husband, her concern regarding the town's judgement, and if he wasn't mistaken, his own judgement as well. There was a lot said this afternoon; a lot he felt he needed to sort through.

The near-shooting brought up a lot of questions for them both. Her admission that she'd thought of Jack when she'd embraced him in the street that day troubled Nathan, but he hadn't really asked her what precisely reminded her of Jack. Was it just the eerily similar circumstances of those two events? Or did she regularly see Jack when she looked at him in red surge? If it were the latter, Nathan was not sure how he'd reckon with that in his mind. How could he pursue someone, be with someone, who did not fully see him when they were together? He worried even a part of her might wish he were someone else, that he was Jack.

For the most part, the comparisons the townsfolk drew between him and Jack seemed to have lessened as Nathan's time in the post increased and they'd come to accept him; but he could not entirely shake the disquiet in his mind that this was not entirely the case for Elizabeth. Even if she did not often make comparisons between him and Jack, Nathan could not get around the fact that he had the same occupation as her late husband, the same occupation that took him from her. And given what she'd told Tom today, about her initial reservations in choosing to be with Jack because of his profession, Nathan wondered if she were really capable of fully loving someone who'd held that same occupation again? Seeing the fear distort her lovely features that day of their improper embrace troubled him. It was the reason he initially hesitated in his pursuit of her, after all. He did not want to hurt this lovely woman again by forcing her to relive the pain of her past. Yet, she told Tom today that it wasn't Jack's occupation that scared her but how he approached his work; that he wouldn't refuse any posts; that he wouldn't ever put her or their family first; that she'd always known she'd lose him one day. Nathan felt she'd said most of that for his benefit, wanting him to know that she did, in fact, recognize some differences between him and Jack, at least in this; that she knew Nathan prioritized Allie and that he'd prioritize her if they married; that she knew he'd be a devoted family man. But that day after the shooting, she'd also told Nathan that it was 'complicated' for her; their relationship was complicated. So since then and particularly after this conversation with Tom, Nathan found himself wondering how many similarities she found between him and Jack and how much whatever she found perturbed her.

Not much about Elizabeth perturbed him though, at least not until recently. Now his mind swirled with questions of her interest in him: how much of that was because of his own attributes and how much of it was because he reminded her of the past that she missed. Beyond that, though, he was now uncertain about what Elizabeth wanted for her own future. All that she'd disclosed about her upbringing and her parents and their expectations of her was new for him. Nathan was not raised in a family overly concerned by social conventions. His parents never put any expectations on him regarding his occupational or romantic choices; he wasn't sure how he would have handled it if they had. He wondered how Elizabeth would continue balancing those expectations with her own desires. And what exactly was it that she did desire? Who did she desire? Was it him? Or Lucas? Or perhaps neither of them? Maybe that was why she was taking so long to make a decision, maybe she did not feel either of them were right for her?

Nathan felt strongly that she was right for him though. He'd first fallen for her when he recognized her devotion to her students, through her diligence in ensuring Allie settled in to her classroom and into this town, and even before that, her consideration in trying to help him settling in as well. Elizabeth pushed him. She pushed him to be a better parent, a better son, a better friend, a better Mountie, by forcing him to be more open with and understanding of the people around him. Her involvement in his life, though rather unwelcome initially, made him realize he needed to grow in certain areas. He wanted to try to do that and he sensed he needed her guiding hand to help him do that. Him and Allie. She'd made Allie a better person as well. She was a better friend and a better student these days: engaged, joyful, friendly, kind and confident. Allie needed Elizabeth too. Having her come into their lives now shed light on Allie's deep need for a maternal figure a fact he'd ignored for too long. He had previously assumed asking any woman to be with him would have been a purely selfish and uncharitable thing to do, but hearing how Elizabeth spoke about little Jack today made Nathan reconsider that. It was evident that she viewed her son not as a complicating factor in her life, as he'd so long subconsciously viewed Allie when it came to establishing romantic ties with anyone, but as one of the best pieces of her life, as the hugest element that made her into the amazing person she was. Allie was like that for him too; raising her had made him a better man and she brought joy to his otherwise drab world on a daily basis. He knew Elizabeth was fond of Allie and that awareness, coupled with her comments about little Jack, made him wonder if perhaps, because of Allie, Elizabeth saw more to desire in his life than he'd originally hoped. Maybe wanting a woman's love and hand in his life, and Allie's, was not a purely selfish thing. Maybe he and Allie had more to offer a woman than he'd dared to dream before. Maybe there was a woman who would more than welcome them into her heart, as he had Elizabeth and little Jack. He just hoped Elizabeth would feel the same way: that she'd decide she and little Jack needed him as much as he and Allie needed her, as much as he'd come to realize they needed the good people of this town.

The evening had turned out far differently than Nathan had imagined. And yet, once again, Nathan found himself marveling at the fondness and resiliency shared by the community members of Hope Valley. He'd never before lived in a place where he felt that sort of kinship and comfort with a group of people before, even his own family aside from Colleen and Allie. He was truly grateful to have been stationed here, though at times, it weighed heavily on him that his good fortune had come at such a high cost to the woman he cared for most deeply who lived here. He wondered momentarily what her life would have been like if Jack had lived, and what his life and Allie's would be like now too. He'd probably have taken up that investigator position in Cape Fullerton. Probably would be spending his evenings alone with Allie or surrounded among other gruff men in red surge. Yet here, he was surrounded by people who truly cared for one another, and for him and Allie; even if people were disappointed he hadn't found Squirrel Terrell, Nathan felt their compassion and concern constantly. It was a humbling thing to experience for a man so accustomed to being on his own.