Elizabeth was healing faster than anyone could have hoped. Carson thought it was due to pure happiness, because it certainly wasn't anything he was doing. He'd stopped checking her incision from the surgery and she was clearly having no trouble feeding two growing babies, even living in a cramped automobile.

For the first day of driving Elizabeth had spent most of her time lying down in the comfort of the padded backseat bench of the Pullman. Thomas had worked out the best way to close in the usually wide open sides of the station wagon by rigging canvas held tight with snaps, offering warmth and privacy on the road. Carson was usually in the front seat with Thomas, and Nathan and Elizabeth used the back bench to sleep and the middle one to care for Jack and the babies. The far back trunk of the wagon had only the things they needed for the week-long trip, as Lucas and Julie had taken everything else with them on the train.

Thomas had been true to his word and was able to drive sixteen-hour shifts, only stopping when his passengers requested it. When he finally needed to sleep, he would move to the back bench while Carson or Nathan drove for a few hours.

Thomas and Carson spent much of the time deep in conversation. When Thomas was a young boy he had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but his father died early and school was out of the question. Instead he learned to repair automobiles in order to support his mother and sisters.

"It's not that much different," Carson said, holding out his arms to take Becca from Nathan after a diaper change. "It's a matter of moving parts that break down, and we fix them," Carson said, smiling. "Doctors and mechanics are pretty much the same."

Thomas laughed softly. "I suppose that's true," he said, nodding while keeping his eyes trained on the dark road ahead of him.

"You're still a young man," Carson said, "How old are you? Thirty?"

Thomas nodded again, "Thirty-one last November," he said.

"Veterinary school isn't out of the question, is it? You said your mother remarried?"

"Yes," Thomas said, "To a good man. He supports the family now."

Carson smiled, settling Becca into his arms and rocking slowly side to side. "You have your whole life ahead of you. It will be happier if you find a thing you love to do."

In the back seat, Elizabeth smiled and leaned forward a little. She was feeding Nate and Nathan was in front of her, holding a sleeping Jack on his chest. "Carson is such a good person to talk to," Elizabeth whispered. "He's interested in everyone."

"He's especially interested in people's hopes and dreams, have you noticed? It's like his dream of being a doctor was almost lost to him, and he doesn't want that to happen to anyone else."

Elizabeth looked at Nathan and touched his cheek in the darkness. "I love how you notice things." She raised her eyebrows. "You always have."

Nathan let his lips graze across Jack's blonde hair. "I'm starting to notice what kind of a big brother this one is going to be," he whispered, grinning at Elizabeth. "Aren't you?"

Jack had shown himself to be a natural protector with Violet, but where Nate and Becca were concerned, he was obviously considering it his full-time job to make sure they wanted for nothing. Almost before a cry or a soft whimper left their mouths, Jack was looking with concerned eyes to his mother and father, and if they didn't respond fast enough, he would tug at them, saying "Mama, milk," or Dad, baby." He had Nate's name down already because it was so close to the name he'd used for Nathan for so long. He'd tried Becca's name with a little more difficulty, and had simply settled on "baby."

Nathan and Elizabeth were fascinated watching Jack negotiate his new big brotherhood from the confines of an almost perpetually moving vehicle. He seemed always to know where the twins were, gazing over his perch on the middle bench of the wagon with his toys around him. He would check to be sure they were safely held when they were too quiet, and cared for immediately when they weren't.

And of course, being an active toddler, there were times when Jack simply had to get out and use up some of his energy. He would find a way use his growing vocabulary to make his needs known. "Stop" was direct and to the point, and when elaboration was needed, it was "Stop. Ball," or "Dad play." Nathan was always grateful to be able to get out and stretch his long legs, and would toss a ball with Jack while Elizabeth walked gingerly with Carson, trying to get her stamina back. All four of the adults learned to do nearly anything with a twin in their arms, and Thomas was always ready and willing to hold them when he wasn't driving.

So the early days of the Grant twins were spent without bedding or cribs, but instead in the warm and loving arms of everyone around them. And Nathan laughed, wondering if they would find it difficult to adjust to a world that wasn't constantly moving.

At each stop, a call would be made to Hope Valley, and part of that call was for Thomas to get the information for the next stop from Fiona. She was researching small towns away from the railroad that had a phone and a petrol station. She would talk with the operator in each town and let them know the Pullman was on its way and arrange for a place for Elizabeth and Nathan to wash diapers, purchase food and get gas. The little troupe of travelers had no idea how they would have negotiated their journey on back roads without Fiona's help.

So, in this way, the first four days of their trip progressed. They were on a path parallel to, and just south of, the train lines that led from Hamilton to Hope Valley. On the third day their usual phone call to speak to Fiona and either Archie, Allie, Rosemary or Bill, was joined by Lucas and Julie. They had stepped off the train and been subjected to all the tests Faith had performed on each visitor to Hope Valley. They'd followed Carson's instructions to the letter, and it had paid off. They were given a clean bill of health.

Rosemary had let the travelers know about Frances and the bittersweet news that Violet was now completely theirs. Maggie, the nurse in Brookfield, currently had Harold quarantined due to his contact with Frances. He seemed to be healthy with no evidence of fever, but Maggie still wouldn't allow him to work at the General Store for at least a week. The truth was, he was grieving badly for his daughter.

Harold was absolutely in agreement with Frances' wishes for the Coulters to have Violet, but he'd expressed a desire, once he knew he was free of the virus, to come to Hope Valley for Violet's christening and adoption ceremony. Since both Lee and Rosemary's parents were gone, Harold would be her only grandparent, and they were anxious to welcome him once Maggie had determined he was well.

Losing Margaret Cooper was difficult for the town, but she had lived a long life. Frances' death, and the daily news of rising cases, had pulled everyone up short. It made folks feel vulnerable, and they redoubled their efforts to keep Hope Valley safe. Relatives were told not to visit for a while, trips were cancelled, and Faith's word held the same weight as Bill Avery's as far as the laws of the town were concerned.

Beyond having missed the integral puzzle pieces of their schoolteacher, their Mountie, and their doctor, the town of Hope Valley missed Elizabeth, Nathan and Carson deeply. Each day, news of their progress traveled throughout the town, with Fiona as the hub of the wheel. Stories were shared - at Abigail's and the saloon, at the Mercantile and after church - of their latest stop and how Jack and the twins were faring cooped up in a vehicle together. A minor replacement of a spark plug by the side of the road produced solemn looks and grateful nods toward the one person of mystery on the journey, Thomas. The Thatcher chauffeur's bravery and good heart were widely celebrated for volunteering to shepherd the travelers safely home.

They had reached the tiny town of Coaldale, only about twenty hours from Hope Valley, when a phone call to Rebecca yielded the sad news about Charlie. While with the Blackfeet, he had followed the natural life cycle into death, peacefully and surrounded by his people.

"I knew it, Nathan," Rebecca said on the telephone from the Airdrie Post Office, her voice strong and clear. "I cried when he left, and I put him in God's hands. I knew I wouldn't see him again." Nathan was finding himself more distraught than his mother, because although he'd understood the odds, he'd been too full of joy about the twins to fully take in all the possibilities.

"The Blackfeet don't handle death the way we do," Rebecca continued softly. "They brought him back and we needed to return him to the earth right away." Now she did allow herself a small quaver in her voice. "We laid him underneath the white willow up on the hill yesterday, just as he wanted. He's next to..." Nathan heard his mother take a deep breath, and he found he was taking one with her, "...next to Sarah and little Nathan. Just the hands and me, and Pastor Grady. Charlie would have liked it, I think... he did like it..." Her voice trailed off, and Nathan said brokenly, "Mom, can you hang on for a moment? I'll be right back."

Nathan covered the receiver with his hand and looked at Elizabeth, who was standing next to him. She had been listening with him, and he simply raised his eyebrows and she nodded. "Absolutely," she said, her voice muffled by the mask she wore.

"We're coming up, Mom. It'll probably take us about six hours to get there. You and the hands have stayed away from the train station and have worn masks in town the way we told you, right?"

"Yes," Rebecca said. "The stationmaster took ill last week, and folks are beginning to catch on that this is serious." She took a breath, "Nathan, I can't ask you to delay getting home..."

"You're not asking. We're coming up. We're so close. No argument, Mom."

"I don't have the strength to argue," Rebecca said softly. "I want to hold those babies more than I want my next breath."

"We're on our way. We'll be there as soon as we can," Nathan said. His voice broke slightly, "I'm so sorry. I love you, Mom."

"Love you too, Nathan. You be safe with that sweet family of yours and I'll put the stew on. You must be ready for a real supper and a feather bed right about now."

Nathan laughed softly, "You have no idea how good that sounds. See you soon," he said. He hung up the receiver and leaned his head against the wall. They never brought the babies in with them when they made phone calls, just to be safe. Elizabeth was in the rare position of being able to circle her arms around his waist and lean her head on his back.

Nathan sighed deeply. "I'm going to do everything I can to get her to come home with us," he said softly. "We'll just have to make do with everyone until we get the house built out back." He turned around and folded Elizabeth into his arms. "The plans are all ready and Lee even has the lumber set aside now that it's coming up on spring."

"It's a wonderful idea," Elizabeth said against his chest. "Nate and Becca will give her new life, Nathan." She turned and looked up at him. "You okay?"

Though she couldn't see him smile, she could see the corners of his eyes crinkle slightly. "Charlie and Sarah next to each other again." Nathan nodded. "Yes," he said, holding Elizabeth tighter. "I'm okay."

It actually only took them five hours to reach Airdrie and another fifteen minutes to get to the ranch. Carson, ever vigilant, went to Rebecca first and spoke to her while he checked her temperature. Not until he determined that she was as healthy as ever did he allow Elizabeth and Nathan to take the babies up the steps to the porch.

Carson and Thomas carried their things into the house, preparing for the first night with a hot meal and sleeping in a soft bed since leaving Hamilton nearly five days ago.

Nathan, Elizabeth and Jack joined Rebecca on the porch swing and they all huddled together around the twins. It was close to sunset, and none of them even bothered to wipe away the tears that glistened in the soft yellow glow that lit their faces. Whether they were tears for the loss of Charlie, or the fact that Rebecca again had twin babies in her arms, or happiness at seeing each other, didn't really matter.

What mattered was that they were all together again. And Rebecca knew, looking at this sweet family, that there was nowhere else she'd rather be.