Thank you all for the reviews that have been written for my story. I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to get this chapter up,I'm been so busy. I started my own buisness so I that has been taking up most of my time but he is chapter 62!

Chapter 62

"Jack this ring is really beautiful, thank you so much." She watched the diamonds sparkle in the moonlight. They were taking their time walking back to town, it was such a beautiful spring night out."When did you get it?" Jack only smiled.

"About 2 weeks after I met you:)She responded by reaching up and giving him a kiss on the cheek. I knew that you were special a nd someday I knew that I would have you as my wife." By this time, they had gotten back to town and had just come to the jail.

"Well I guess this is goodnight my love." Jack pulled away to head inside, but wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

"Would you like to come to the house for a little bit since it's not too late?" Elizabeth didn't want to say goodnight to him either.

"Of course I will, as long as it's just for a "little bit"." Jack laughed and put his arm back around her. They continued their walk back towards her house, looking up at the stars as they walked.

As soon as they arrived, they were about to sit on the swing for a little bit, but of course Scout heard them outside. Shaking her head laughing, she unlocked the door, and Scout came running out and just about tackled Jack. He had been trained since he was little, so now as he was about 6 months old, he was such a good boy. There was absolutely no problem with leaving him out when she was gone, so she allowed him on the furniture to snuggle with her. Even though she had bought him a bed, he could still be found sleeping with her in her bedroom every night.

"Hey buddy, how are you? Did you miss me? Look who I brought home with me." Scout wasted no time running over to greet Jack once more, but this time he had to wait. Elizabeth had taught him not to jump up on people, so he patiently sat, and waited until Jack had sat down on the couch. He started to do his wiggle dance as Jack started to pet him. As he sat, scratching his ears, Elizabeth just watched them both. She was now engaged to this wonderful man, he was so loving and kind. She wasn't sure why she thought this, but she could picture Jack being the perfect father to their children when they would be blessed with a child.

"Um Elizabeth, I've been kind of putting this question off because I wasn't sure how to ask you, but I think that it's time. I wasn't sure how you would feel about it, but there is something that I was wondering. Would it bother you that our first home would be on the ranch that I'm building? I have just had the dream for so long, and then you came into my life. I never thought of asking you and for that I am sorry. It's true that I have saved for a long time but I could never be happy if I knew that you weren't." Elizabeth could see that Jack was being sincere. He just sat there petting Scout, he was doing his best to show that it wouldnt bother him if he had to give up his ranch. However, he was the kind of man that would do whatever he had to do, whenever he had to do it, in order to make someone else happy.

"Jack " standing up and coming to sit beside him," I would be happy living in a shack with you, just as long as we're together. Besides you asked me for help designing the inside of the house, so we'll just make sure that our house have all the comforts of a home. Really I promise, I will be happy as long as you're by my side. Won't we buddy?" She reached down to pat Scout on the head and was rewarded by a face full of kisses.

"I know we just got engaged, but have you given any thought to when you would like to get married?" Jack would do all and anything that he could to give her the wedding that she wanted. " Anytime that you want is totally fine with long as we get to say"I do" to each other, I would wait for as long as you need. Although let's not make it too long:)"

"Well, I know that it seems kind of soon, but do you think that we could get married this October? I've always wanted to have a fall wedding, but I don't want to wait until next yr. Also I think it would be nice to have our wedding outside, what do you think?" Elizabeth was so happy and excited to start planning and a fall wedding brought so many possibilities.

"Sweetheart of course, whatever you want, it's your day." Jack leaned over and covered her lips with his own.

"Jack, it's OUR special day." Elizabeth interjected.

"Ok ok,"Jack couldn't help but laugh," You will make me the happiest man in the world no matter when or where we get married. Hey, I think that it's about time that I got going." He stood up and covered the distance between them, bent down and whispered in her ears." I can't wait until the day when I don't have to say goodbye to you."

"I can't wait either."looking up at him, their faces only inches apart." The day that you can hold me in your arms in our bed as I lay beside you. We can say goodnight, not goodbye, to each other each night and just close our eyes. The next morning, the first thing I'll see is you." She brushed her hand along his face, moving his hair out of his face.

They both walked to the door, his arm draped around her. She turned around a hugged him, looking into his eyes she asked."Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Actually, I have a meeting in Union City that I have to go to but I'll be back by sundown. Ok, I really do have to go now, let me give my fiance a kiss goodnight. You have fun with all of your student's tomorrow at school."

"I will Jack, as always, please be careful." Elizabeth had heard stories of the dangers that sometimes can happen to lawmen when traveling places. It was a challenge to not worry about him when he was away." Call me when you get home ok?" He nodded and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head.

"If I don't go now,I'm not going to ever go ha ha." He gave her a long, sweet and passionate kiss that left her breathless. As she watched him walk away, she realized that she wasn't saying goodbyeto her boyfriend but her future husband. How she couldn't wait for that day!

When she woke the next morning, she was surprised to see Scout laying beside her in the bed. He hardly ever slept in her bed with her, he would always sleep on the floor. Thinking for a minute, she realized that he would always sleep with her whenever Jack had to go away. It was almost like he knew that she needed extra love while he was gone.

A little later at school, she was just wrapping up her lessons and felt like she had run a marathon. Whenever the class spent the afternoon doing math, both her and the children were all extra tire by the time school let out. She looked at all her students from her spot at her desk. She again was hit with the realization of how blessed she was in her life. After dismissing them, she watch Opal, Emily and Anna hurry out, with plans to play hopscotch. Right behind them were Cody, Timmy and Robert. Elizabeth laughed to herself because she knew where the boys were headed. They played baseball everyday after school.

"Have a good day children, we'll see you all next week." Grabbing all her things, she headed outside and was greeted by the warm air. Walking into town, she waved at all her friends when suddenly she heard her name being called.

"Oh my goodness, Elizabeth Thatcher is that you?" She turned around and was surprised to see the woman, Fiona Miller smiling at her. Fiona had run the bed and breakfast in Union City and had taken such good care of them while she, Jack and Lee were there. Elizabeth gave her a big smile and a hug.

"Fiona or Miss Miller, it is so good to see you. How is the bed and breakfast going?

" Fiona please and I'm about to head over to the restaurant for some coffee, would you like to join me? I'll tell you what's been going on in Union City." Elizabeth nodded and walked arm in arm with Fiona to the restaurant.

"So how did you come to be in Hope Valley? They had sat down at a table and Clara just brought them coffee. Lee Coulter had actually told me the other day that he saw you get off the stage. I also saw that you put an ad on the board at the merchantile, that you were looking for work?" Elizabeth didn't want to pry.

"Well actually two reasons, one, business wasn't good and I couldn't make the monthly payments. I didn't get into any trouble, it was just to much for me to take on. Second, the city was getting to the point of feeling like it was just to big for me. I wanted to try to live in a smaller town and I remember the 3 of you saying what you thought of your Hope Valley." Fiona explained.

"Well then let me be the first to welcome you to our town. Have you had any luck finding work?" Elizabeth asked with her with a curious look.

"If you promise to keep it just between us, to be honest, I'm thinking of buying the building that the hotel was in. I've heard that Mrs. Sullivan runs a bed& breakfast her in town, so of course I wouldn't want to step on her feet by starting up another one. As long as the upstairs of the hotel is all set up for guests and I have experience in that line of work, I'm going to keep it that way. However, I think that I may turn the bottom portion into a bakery, because I love to bake. I think the town could use some good old-fashioned baked goods." Elizabeth nodded in agreement and they both laughed as they continued to drink their coffee.

Back out on main street, the sun was waiting to greet them. Fiona told Elizabeth that she would see her later, that she was going to find Mr. Bouchard to talk to him about renting the hotel building for her bakery. Elizabeth walked back home with joy in her heart and it was all due to the newest member of their small town.