Elizabeth Thornton was packing up her materials when Francois Dupont walked into the classroom, his silver tipped cane clacking ominously against the wood-plank floor. Elizabeth hesitated to turn. Ever since Lucas and Nathan had started to work together she knew that something must be wrong. She turned to see an elderly man, elegantly dressed in a finely tailored suit. He, himself, was a stranger, but his face was familiar.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Thornton".

"Good afternoon, Mr..."

"Dupont. Francois Dupont, I am a friend of your Lucas".

Elizabeth's throat tightened and she swallowed hard, her mouth going dry. That's why he looked familiar.

"I'm sorry, he's not here at the moment".

"I am well aware of this fact, Mrs. Thornton". His thick accent seemed to be laced with a threat. Dupont walked closer to her, the clicking and clacking of the cane was like a ticking time bomb. She had never felt more like a trapped animal than she did now. Neither Mr. Spurlock nor Billy Hamilton had ever made her feel so vulnerable, it felt as if this man's gaze would pierce her soul. But Jack had always been there to make her feel safe, the same way Nathan did. But neither Jack or Nathan were here.

"I-I'm sure when Lucas returns he will want to speak with you", she was now backed into her desk.

"I think, Mrs. Thornton, that we both know that Lucas will not be returning".

Elizabeth was about to scream when someone knocked at the door.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Thornton, is this a bad time to talk about Emily's grades"?

Elizabeth looked past Dupont to see a familiar, tall, blonde young man. He looked into her eyes, searching for any sign that she needed help. Her eyes were pleading.

"Of course not, Mr. Montgomery"...Montgomery...Gabe?

"Be sure to think about what I said, Mrs. Thornton", Dupont said, as he walked out.

Sighing heavily, Elizabeth fell onto a bench, shaking all over. The young man hurried over and took her into his arms.

"It's okay, Miss Thatcher, everything's gonna be alright".

Even as distressed as she was, she couldn't help but smile into the eyes of her protector.

"Gabe"?

Gabe Montgomery smiled and hugged her.

"Sorry I've been away so long, but i guess you know how difficult Mountie training can be".

She nodded.

"C'mon", he said, taking her hand, "let me take you home".

Elizabeth nodded gratefully and Gabe led her out to his horse.

"Sorry, we'll have to ride double".

Elizabeth took his offered hand and Gabe smoothly swung her up, behind him. As Gabe trotted them down the road she asked the first question that popped into her mind, trying to think about anything other than the terrifying man she had just met.

"You graduated, right"?

"Yes ma'am, you're looking at a newly minted, Constable Gabriel Montgomery".

Elizabeth laughed a quick, teary laugh and hugged Gabe more tightly.

"Oh I'm so proud of you Gabe. I know Sargent Thornton would be proud of you too".

"I hope so. I mean, he is the reason I became a Mountie in the first place".

"I just wish you hadn't come home when you did. I've got a bad feeling about that man".

"Actually, he's why I'm here. Things are getting tense further out west and there aren't a lot of Mounties to spare, that's why I'm here. I don't have a post and I'm to fresh to be any good out there, so they put me here to help".

"Well, when Nathan returns from where he is he'll want to talk to you".

"Nathan"?

"Oh, I mean Constable Grant".

"So, you two on a first name basis"?

Elizabeth blushed as Gabe wiggled his eyebrows.

"Gabe Montgomery, you still haven't changed".

Gabe chuckled, then got serious.

"Mrs. Thornton, things are going down soon, and there isn't enough time to get you out of town. I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help to convince everyone in town to agree".

"What are you talking about"?

"There's going to be a fight. The only real safe place for everyone to hide from the bullets is the mines".

The mines...that was one place no one in Hope Valley wanted to be.

"Gabe, are you sure? I mean, you of all people should have reason enough to stay out of those mines, let alone the whole town".

Gabe pulled the horse to a sudden stop, then turned to face her.

"Our men may have died in those mines, Mrs. Thornton, but not our spirit. Those mines hold no more power over me then Sargent Thornton's death".

"Gabe...what are you saying".

"Sargent Thornton pushed me out of the way during that landslide. He gave his life for me, and I'm willing to give my life for every single man, woman, and child in Hope Valley. It's the least I can do".

Elizabeth hugged Gabe closely.

"You are a great man, Gabe Montgomery, and I know that you will be a great Mountie. Just like Jack".

Gabe smiled.

"Alright, let's get you home before that creep shows up again".

Nathan rode back in to town late that night. The first thing he noticed through the darkness was a note tacked to the door of his office.

Dear Constable Grant

My name is Gabe Montgomery, I'm fresh out of Ft. Clay, I'm sure we both know what that means. I am keeping watch outside Mrs. Thornton's home. Meet me at your earliest convenience.

Swiftly, Nathan mounted Newton and took off at a racing pace for the row houses.

He saw the young man on the road, keeping his watch open on all sides.

"Are you Gabe Montgomery"?

"Yes sir, you're Constable Grant, I presume".

"I wasn't expecting any back up", Nathan said, dis-mounting.

"Sorry I'm not much, there's a lot of trouble out west. Our boys pushed the gangs out of the north, but they just sprouted elsewhere".

"I figured. Still, I'm glad to have you. How well do you know the area".

Gabe grinned.

"Well enough to get you lost Constable. What do you need"?

It was just before dawn when Elizabeth crept down the stairs of her row house. She found Gabe snoring on the couch, his long legs stuck out beyond the armrest. She smiled and went outside, her robe tied and her shawl over her shoulders, to find Nathan sitting on the steps, his rifle in his lap.

"I've never had a security detail before, Constable Grant, it's rather flattering".

Nathan simply chuckled coldly and kept watch. Elizabeth frowned and knelt beside him. It's morning, Nathan", she said, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, "why don't you come inside for breakfast"?

"I'm fine. Let Gabe sleep till he wakes up, he took most of the night watch. He really cares about you".

"It's not surprising. When I first got here, back when this was Coal Valley, Gabe was one of the toughest coal boys you'd be able to find. If it wasn't for Jack, I never would have been able to get through to him. It took both Jack and I to bring him out of his shell".

Nathan sighed and lowered his head.

"Nathan...what's wrong".

"It's just, I...I'm still wrestling with what I could have done, I know I shouldn't, but I just can't help it. I don't want to fight with a memory".

Elizabeth firmly grabbed his face and turned it to face her.

"You listen to me, good and proper, Nathan Grant. Jack's memory is important, and he will always have a place in the heart of this town, but that doesn't mean that there isn't room for you there. Or with me for that matter".

For the first time since she had met him, Elizabeth was witness to tears as they flowed from the blue eyes of Nathan Grant.

"Elizabeth please...don't say that if you don't mean it".

To answer him, Elizabeth leaned in and placed a gentle, but firm kiss to his lips.

"There, now you know I mean it, because I don't go around kissing men I don't love".

This time, both Elizabeth and Nathan could hear the excited scream of Rosemary Coulter, as an early morning coffee outdoors had made her witness to the pair's first kiss and reciprocated declaration of love.