Just a forewarning that my story is a little bit of a crossover with WHC. I didn't really want to label it as such because it is only a smattering of scenes in Brookfield for the next few chapters. I hope you like what I have planned. I'm also introducing a couple of original characters.

Chapter 2—

"Have you seen my blue striped tie?"

Rosemary stood there, arm outstretched, with the sought-for tie laid across her forearm as she watched her husband chaotically tossing things out of his accessory drawer. A smirk crossed her face as she looked at the clock, wondering how long it would take him to glance in her direction.

"Rosie, I asked if you…" he began and stopped midsentence as he looked at her and saw that Rosemary held the answer to his question. Slowly walking in her direction with a sheepish grin, he gently took the tie from her arm and leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek. "Thanks, honey," he said, placing the tie around his neck and beginning the knotting process.

"Lee, you are dreadfully untidy and, dare I say, messy, this morning."

"I didn't sleep well last night and I'm running late for a meeting," was his reply as he untied his tie and started over.

"Yes, you tossed and turned all night; I barely got any sleep myself. Who is your meeting with?"

Turning to look at his wife, his smile turning serious. "Mr. Walden…"

Rosemary's eyes went wide. "Lee! Why whatever does he want to see you about?"

"I'm not exactly sure, thus the rough night," he responded as he finally completed his Half Windsor after the third try. "But I'll be sure and let you know." He leaned in and kissed her quickly, "I'll see you later," then turned for the door.

"Lee," Rosemary said, stopping him in his tracks. "I want us to talk soon about a baby. I have some things in mind to discuss."

"Very soon, Rosie. Right now, I need to get to this meeting. I love you," he responded as he flew down the stairs.

"Just be careful. I don't trust that man! I love you too!" Rosemary shouted down the stairs, wincing as she heard the door slam.

Looking around the room and shaking her head, Rosemary picked up the things Lee had strown around. "Now, what could Wyman Walden want with my husband…"

###

Elizabeth squinted at the bright sky this sunny morning. As she made her way towards the school, she pulled her scarf up to her chin trying to keep out the brisk wind.

Watching the tug-of-war the tree branches played with the breeze using the leaves as a rope caused her to stop walking and stand still with the sun on her face. Before long, the trees would lose the annual game and winter would be upon them. "It certainly feels a bit like winter today," Elizabeth said out loud, tightening her scarf as a shiver went through her. With all that had happened, fall seemed to rush by running towards a colder season coming up.

She quickened her pace and saw Nathan at the edge of town raising his head up to meet her gaze as she passed by. A slight smile crossed his face as he lifted one hand in greeting. Elizabeth returned the wave with a head nod and a smile of her own, hopeful that things would soon be normal between them again. Her heart pricked in her chest as she remembered his passionate exclamation of love just a few short months ago when her emotions were still quite muddled.

The truth was, she had wanted to love Nathan. Many times, she kept a conversation with him going or sought him out, hoping to spark something between them. That day at her house she realized that it was the serge she was drawn to, and she finally made the connection between Nathan and Jack in her mind. When she looked up into his face after warming his jacket, the spell was broken- she wasn't looking into the eyes of her first love, but of an impeccable Mountie that deserved much more than she could give him.

Elizabeth cared deeply about Nathan. His love for his niece was appealing to her as a single parent, but her attraction to him went no further than friendship. Her heart had been pulled in another direction, seemingly against her will. Being with Nathan would have been so much easier as she knew how to be with a Mountie, however, Lucas was uncharted territory. A relationship with him both excited and scared her.

Blushing as she thought of their fiery kisses only a week ago, Elizabeth dipped her chin to hide the involuntary smile that lit up her face. Her heart had fallen hard for the handsome man whose patience rivaled that of Job himself, and she looked forward to seeing what the future had in store for them. Busyness had consumed both the last several days and they hadn't been able to spend any quality time together, but that would change this evening when Lucas came over for dinner. Elizabeth wanted to prepare Little Jack but at the same time wasn't exactly sure how to do just that. So, she would just tell him they were having a guest and see what transpired. Jack knew Lucas in passing, but they had never had personal time together and Elizabeth was very curious how their rapport would be.

"Enough daydreaming…for now," she said out loud as she entered the schoolhouse. "I will find out soon enough."

###

Quickly rolling out of the bed, Lucas looked at the clock on the wall. "How in the world…?" he asked out loud, not finishing the question.

He had overslept. Something that was a rarity in his life.

Lucas was a man that valued the schedule of others, so he was always early to meetings and to work. The problem was that someone had been taking way too much of his time the last week and it wasn't the person he wanted it to be.

Wyman Walden.

The man was insufferably self-important. One would think he was the money man behind the planned factory and subsequent land grab with the way he carried himself, but Lucas knew that was not the case. Men like him always worked for someone with more power and wealth. Slimy was the word that came to mind when he talked to him. That, and nervy.

Lucas had tried to push Walden away by not signing the sales document last week, but he didn't want to take no for an answer. Every time Lucas turned around, the man was there trying to ingratiate himself into his day. He had tried to be nice but finally had told him to get lost- in the most gracious terms he could come up with, of course.

"My employer will be most disappointed at this turn of events. Good day, Mr. Bouchard," was Walden's final words late in the evening the day before. That statement is why Lucas overslept- he had mulled it over in his mind until the early morning hours.

Finding out who was behind all the changes going on was at the forefront of Lucas' mind. Well, maybe not his first thought, that was reserved for one person alone.

He hated that since the beautiful evening and morning after a week before- when they finally ended the question on everyone's minds- that they had barely spoken to each other.

Life was just too darned busy lately. And Lucas had had enough.

Stopping by the school yesterday afternoon and telling Elizabeth that he needed some time with her precipitated the dinner invitation for tonight. He couldn't wait to take her in his arms again.

As he pulled on his jacket, he took another quick look in the mirror and smoothed a stray lock of hair back into place before exiting his room and closing the door.

###

"Camille, can you give me a hand in the kitchen please?" Lillian called out, her hands full of flour.

Smiling as she walked in, the blue-eyed blond immediately went for the butter.

Lillian laughed, "It's like you read my mind. I think God himself sent you to me last month. Since Grace has been gone, I've had a hard time getting all my chores done. Have I told you lately how grateful I am that you are here?"

"A few times," Camille answered, placing her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "But I never tire of hearing it."

Things had been rough in the months that Grace had been away, and Lilian had hired part-time help several times, but no one seemed to want to stay for long. Then one day Camille Fitzgerald had shown up on her doorstep with a small boy.

"Didn't you get my telegram?" she asked in the sitting room after Lillian had brought some refreshments.

Lillian had not received the message that would tell her of the coming arrival. Apparently, the closest orphanage, which was over 100 miles away, had partially burned down and some of the children had to be placed elsewhere. That is why Camille had come here with Liam, a quiet 6-year-old.

The original plan to go back was changed when Camille saw how swamped Lillian was at the Brookfield orphanage. She fell right into place as a helper and a friend, taking over what Grace had left behind. As for Liam, he was a sweet boy who loved hugs and attention. He was very attached to Camille- being his only connection to his former home- and Lillian wondered how hard it would be to place him when the time came…if the time came.

For now, she didn't need to worry about it and was just thankful that she had help. And a new friend.

###

Abigail finished the dusting as she heard the knock at the door. "I wonder who that could be," she thought as she walked into the living area and opened it.

The debonair man standing on the stoop quickly removed his hat and shyly smiled. "Hello Abigail," Henry said, nervously twisting the brim. Her eyes filled with tears as the turmoil with Cody overwhelmed her at the sight of an old friend.

Henry's eyes went wide as she threw herself into his arms and began crying in earnest. Standing there for a moment unsure of what to do with his arms, he slowly wrapped them around the woman he loved and longed to be with. Something must be terribly wrong, and he needed to find out what it was.

###

"Please sit, Mr. Walden. What can I do for you this morning?" Lee asked, taking his own seat a moment later.

"I won't take very much of your time, Mr. Coulter. The fact of the matter is this- I am going to build a factory at the edge of town and I need materials to do so." He slid a piece of paper across the desk. "This is what I am needing and what my employer is willing to pay for it."

Leaning back in the chair, Walden waited silently while Lee looked over the offer. Raising an eyebrow at the sum, he looked up.

"This is a generous offer."

"My employer is a generous man. And you are convenient. So, do we have a deal?"

Lee exhaled, mulling over his options. Things had been a bit slow lately and he could really use the money. But he wasn't sure he wanted to do business with Walden. His wife would have a fit. "Can I let you know tomorrow? I need to think it over."

Walden tilted his head and narrowed his eyes staring straight through Lee. A few seconds later he stood. "Until tomorrow then," he announced before doing an about-face and walking out the door.

###

Henry placed his hand on Abigail's. A pot of tea had been finished during the hour that they sat there, Abigail doing most of the talking.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you, Henry. And I'm sorry I dumped my problems on you when you showed up. I'm a little embarrassed at my lack of composure." Abigail forced a smile, her eyes still swollen from the tears. She had never looked more beautiful.

"Abigail, you never have to apologize to me. I just feel bad for all you are dealing with. It's hard enough that your mother is sick, and now this situation with Cody. What can I do to help?" Henry asked, concern evident on his face.

Placing her other hand on top of his, Abigail leaned forward, "I'm not sure there is anything you can do at this point. Cody hates me for taking him away from Hope Valley. And I've been so busy, I didn't even realize my son was pulling away until it already happened." Tears filled her eyes again as she spoke of the difficulty she faced with her son. "But there is no way I can return to Hope Valley with my mother so sick…"

Henry reflected on everything Abigail had told him and came to one solution. He leaned back in his chair, releasing Abigail's hands. "No, of course, you can't. But I have another idea.

"How would you feel about me taking him back home with me?"

###

Lucas stood on the porch and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. When it opened, he took in the beautiful lady on the other side. A simple gown of mint green and her hair pulled back into a ribbon, and she was still the most breathtaking woman he had ever seen.

"Won't you come in?" Elizabeth asked, gesturing with her arm for him to enter. Hesitating only a second, Lucas slowly stepped over the threshold for the first time, feeling a bit like Alice walking through the looking glass. It was almost a sacred moment for him.

Being raised in an old-fashioned home to be a gentleman, Lucas had never felt comfortable entering Elizabeth's house before they were courting. Things had changed a week ago and he now looked around at the cozy home that she had created.

He felt at ease here.

His eyes once again found hers. Glancing around for Jack and not seeing him, Lucas reached up and placed his hand on Elizabeth's cheek before leaning down for a kiss.

"No, Mama!"

Elizabeth felt the tug on her skirt and quickly backed away from Lucas, missing his touch already. Lucas immediately regretted the fast decision and not making sure the little boy wasn't in the room. Looking down, he saw an angry look on Jack's sweet face and wondered how he might have felt at the same age to see his mother in the arms of a man he really didn't know.

At least he didn't bite me, Lucas thought.

Bending down to Jack's level, Elizabeth gently touched his arm. "Son, you know Mr. Bouchard. He was just saying hello to Mama."

"Not hello. He kissed Mama. Not the same." Jack crossed his small arms across his chest and glared at Lucas. Knowing a bit how the boy felt he was sorry he hadn't been more careful; not understanding adult relationships, it made sense he would be mad. Lucas decided to get down on his level as well.

"Hi, Jack. I'm sorry I upset you. I wasn't hurting your mama. I like her a lot and just wanted to show her that," he said softly.

"She my mama," Jack said, wrapping his arms around her neck possessively.

"Yes. She is. And I know you love her very much and want to protect her." Lucas decided to try a different approach. "I see your toys over in the corner. Can you show me your favorite?" he asked, thinking distraction might be the way to go.

"No. I don't like you."

Noticeably cringing, Elizabeth removed her son's arms from around her neck and held his hands. "Jack, I know you don't understand what you just saw, but I will not allow you to be rude to Mr. Bouchard. Please tell him you are sorry."

"Not sorry!" the boy cried out, turning to run up the stairs. "No, no, no!" he hollered all the way up to his room and slammed the door.

"Jack!" Elizabeth called, then looked at Lucas regretfully as they both stood, his hand on her arm to steady her.

"Lucas, I am so sorry about this."

"Don't be. In fact, this is my fault for not being more cautious. Or perhaps it is yours for looking so irresistible," he teased. "It's been too long, and I was anxious to feel the taste of your lips again, my love," he said quietly, his voice stirring something in her. "As much as I hate to, I think I should go so you can talk to him."

Nodding, Elizabeth took his hands. "I can't stand for you to leave when we haven't had a moment alone, but it's probably best—this time."

Leaning up for a kiss, she was disappointed when Lucas lightly brushed her cheek and looked at her with a cheerless smile. Then he leaned in and whispered, "our time will come. Take care of Jack." Lifting her hand, he caressed the back with his lips, his gaze never leaving hers.

"I'll see you soon, Lucas," Elizabeth said as he stepped out the door, took one more glance, and walked to his car. As he drove away, Elizabeth watched him out of sight, then closed the door and leaned against it. Looking towards the stairs, she took a deep breath and exhaled then started walking in that direction.

"Jack, we need to talk," she called out as she began to climb, hoping he had calmed down.

Maybe he will come around soon, she thought- for all their sakes.

As for her, she was sorely in need of a proper kiss from the man she adored.

###

Walden stood at the phone in the mercantile, talking to the man in charge.

"I've spoken to Mr. Coulter. He is supposed to let me know tomorrow about the things we need. What would you like me to do if he rejects our offer?"

"We will deal with that when and if the time comes," the man on the other end replied. "That factory needs to be built, even if we have to ship the materials in. I don't think Lee Coulter would appreciate the fallout from that arrangement. Let me know what he says tomorrow."

The line went dead, and Walden hung up the receiver. Nothing else he could do other than have some dinner and go to bed.

Tomorrow was another day.