Chapter 2—

Lucas had been driving for a short time and the further he got from Hope Valley, the more his heart sank. He had always been a man that didn't sit still for long, so it wasn't necessarily the town that brought the feeling. Although he would miss the small-town life and the friends he had made while he was gone. He had never felt at home anywhere else.

He thought of her blue eyes and long hair and it brought a sad smile. Elizabeth Thornton had certainly taken firm control of his heart the last few years. And he had tried his best to be patient with her, hoping that one day she would love him in return. The last few months he had become more confident that soon she would choose him. He wanted nothing more than to make her dreams come true for the rest of their lives, but it seemed that would never happen.

When Lucas spoke to Elizabeth on her porch a few weeks ago, he was hurt to find out that Nathan had told her again that he loves her. Not because he didn't understand the Mountie falling in love with the beautiful schoolteacher, because he certainly did, but about her lack of response. Lucas had spent a lot of alone time with her prior to that day, and although he had trouble reading Elizabeth, he knew that they were drawing closer. That day in his office when he was troubled over Christopher's accusations Lucas had used all the restraint within him not to kiss her.

Oh, how he longed to place his lips on hers, believing that would take away any doubts in her mind about his feelings for her, and hopefully reveal hers for him. But he knew as long as she wore her husband's rings that she wasn't ready for physical contact. At least not that kind. He had held her soft hands in his more than once and kissed her fingers that day- it was all he would allow himself. He felt her hands gently tremble as his lips caressed her ring finger and he noticed her breathing had increased. He had to be honest with himself, so had his. Being so close to her was painful. The not knowing whether she loved him was excruciating.

Then he saw her holding Nathan's hands out of the window.

The same hands he had held- and kissed. And it hurt.

The more he sensed her inner struggle to figure out what she wanted, the more he backed away, wanting to give her the space she needed to decide. He would never rush her into a relationship she wasn't ready for, nor push her to choose him over the constable. Lucas so wanted Elizabeth's happiness over everything else even if it didn't mean he would be the one she preferred.

Since that day at the wedding, Lucas had observed a few occasions with Elizabeth talking with Nathan. She seemed more at ease with him than she had in a long while. Perhaps that is why Lucas hadn't been able to read her very well- he was looking through the lens of love and his vision was clouded. So, he decided to get away from Hope Valley for a little while. He wasn't feeling jealousy, far from it. He just wanted Elizabeth to be able to figure out what she wanted. He left her a letter at the saloon that should have been delivered by now so she would know where he was going and how long he would be gone. He didn't want her to feel pressured, especially by him, so he thought distance would be a good idea. And yet everything within him was telling him that leaving was the wrong thing to do. And he already missed her terribly.

Selling the saloon to Bill had been a decision he had been mulling over for some time. There were a few things he had in mind that he would like to dabble in and honestly, he needed the cash. Trying to keep two businesses running had been a struggle lately.

Lucas drove for close to an hour but the heaviness he continued to feel made him finally pull over. He thought maybe he should walk around a bit and clear his head, so he parked the car on the side of the road and did just that.

Yes, maybe a short walk was exactly what he needed.