She arrived a little past eight-thirty in the evening, past visiting hours but there by special invitation of Dr. Carson Shepherd; so, it was okay. It had been some eighteen weeks since she had last waved goodbye to him at the train station and he was faithful to call her every Friday night until he left the hospital. But then there had been nothing. She tried not to worry, but that proved an impossible task and so she committed it to prayer and tried to hold on until Providence would see them reunited. And now, he was there. And, while she was filled with such a tremendous relief that indeed he was safe, her worrying did not cease. Why had he gone so far as to disappear for over three months without a word to anyone - especially her? Did he not trust her to love him? Did he not think they could overcome this trial? Indeed, could they make it through this trial seeing that he had gone off on his own without so much a word, without regard to her feelings, hurting her to her core. And yet, she knew how wounded he was and if anyone could understand how hard it was to see things clearly when the talons of earth's cruelty rip away at your life, it was her. She had spent three years in that muddy labyrinth before she found her way back. What was affording him three months?

As she climbed the steps to Lucas's ward, Carson Shepherd met her in the hallway and directed her to his office in order to brief her on Lucas's condition.

"He's in with Nathan right now." Carson said.

"Nathan?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes. He's keeping an eye on him, in case he gets the bright idea he wants to go someplace again, though honestly, I don't think there is any danger of that. He came with us willingly and I think he understands the necessity of following doctor's orders."

Elizabeth nodded. "How is he otherwise? How is his leg?"

"Not as bad as it appeared at first, thankfully. It's swollen and he had the start of what would have been a blister, but I cleaned it up and put a little salve on it and it should be much better by morning. It's his emotional state I'm most worried about now. It's like he's given up. He feels like he's lost and this life is all there's ever going to be. I hope you're able to reach him."

"I'm certainly going to try."

Inside Lucas's hospital room Nathan Grant sat quietly as Lucas was stirring, another bad dream he supposed. He was considering whether or not to wake him up when Lucas's eyes flew open, then closed again in relief. Lucas brushed his hand over his face.

"It was just a dream." Nathan said. "You're safe."

Lucas turned his head toward the Mountie, staring for only a moment. "It's the same dream every night, reliving the scene in the saloon. Except it's Elizabeth instead of me. She protects Allie. The saloon catches fire and I try to reach her but I'm helpless to do so. I see the beam fall and then I wake up."

Nathan pondered his words for a moment. "I'm no dream interpreter, but maybe that's just your subconscious speaking. Maybe that's you watching your world go up in flames, quite literally, and you feel powerless to stop it from happening."

"Ah. That would make sense. 'The interpretation of dreams is the true path to knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind.'"

"Freud?" Nathan asked.

Lucas smiled in surprise. "I never would have expected you to be a student."

"Yeah…well. We did learn a little bit about criminal psychology…in Mountie school. Not that you're a…criminal."

Lucas chuckled. "Thanks again for saving my life…again."

Nathan shook his head. "Don't mention it. Thank you for not being angry at me when I punched you. I'm not sure I would have taken that so well."

"You were just looking out for Elizabeth, as I would have wanted you to do." Lucas said. "And if I was doing what you thought I was doing, I would have deserved your best shot. So, no. I couldn't be angry at that."

"Well, all I can say that we were all relieved to discover that Annabelle was a dog."

Lucas chuckled again.

"How did that rumor get started, anyway?" Nathan asked.

Just then, Elizabeth walked in and the conversation stopped.

"Elizabeth!" Lucas said as he tried to raise up out of bed.

"Please. Don't get up." she said, moving to the edge of his bed. "I'm curious as to your answer. How did that rumor get started?"

Lucas lowered his chin. "Promise you won't be angry?"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "I can't make a blanket promise like that but I'm willing to hear you out."

The dimples appeared that made her weak in the knees (though she tried not to show he had that effect).

Lucas looked up at her. "Well, I am guessing that you ran into a woman named Theresa Brown…little red-haired woman about…I don't know… 25 years of age?"

"Sounds like her." Elizabeth said.

"I figured as much. Miss Brown always rides the trolley and when I started taking it to work, she was always there at the same time I was and would sit by me every single time that I'd step into the car. It became rather annoying. I would just be getting off work and she'd start these big conversations telling me all about herself, how she's an unmarried woman looking for an eligible man…"

"Sounds like she fancies you." Nathan said, and Elizabeth half-jokingly raised an eyebrow.

"She did - which…is something that I was definitely not interested in. I definitely only have eyes for one woman – the one with me now. But, you know, I wanted to be kind and hoped that perhaps someone else would come along soon that she could, if you will, hitch her wagon to since I wasn't returning any of her advances."

Elizabeth smirked. "What happened?"

"Annabelle happened."

"Annabelle?" she asked.

"Yes. Annabelle followed me home and the next day I happened to mention that I needed to be home on time so that I could get dinner ready for Annabelle. Theresa assumed I meant another woman and the next day, she didn't sit next to me. She was still friendly and all, but a change had occurred. Then, I began hearing the rumor myself – which, while untrue, did have a desired affect of allowing me to be left alone. And so, I just never corrected her of her delusion."

"Funny story, and not a bad problem to have." Nathan stated.

"What's that?" Elizabeth asked.

"To be fighting women off with a stick." He replied. Lucas glanced at his cane. "Oh, sorry."

"Don't apologize." Lucas said. "Besides, I don't think that's what you really want, Constable Grant."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I think that there is a certain nurse who may have already captured your heart." Lucas said. Elizabeth grinned.

"Emily? She's just a friend."

"Yes. I'm sure she is." Lucas replied. Both Lucas and Elizabeth stared at him teasingly.

"What?"

"You are aware that your friend stays up late at night, are you not?"

"Yeah? So?"

"So…perhaps, since you're in town, maybe you can invite her to breakfast with you in the morning. Perhaps?"

"Me and Allie."

"Allie's here? Even better." He smiled. "Since you'll be getting together with her it's only right that Allie get to know her."

Nathan laughed and shook his head. "Perhaps I need to get out of here awhile and leave you two to talk. I'm sure you have plenty to discuss."

"Thank you, Nathan." Elizabeth said, softly.

"And, thank you for sitting with me." Lucas added as Nathan walked toward the door.

"My pleasure, Bouchard. Just don't do anything like this again. Promise?"

Lucas nodded. "I promise."

Lucas turned his eyes toward Elizabeth once Nathan was gone. "And, how are you?" he asked, hesitantly.

"Better now that I can see your face and know that you are alright." She reached out as if to hold his hand, but then gently smacked it. "Lucas, you worried me sick! Why on earth would you take off like that without calling or even writing?"

Lucas's looked down towards his blanket. "I apologize for worrying you. Something happened, the night before I left."

"Yes, with Cyrus. I've heard all about that."

"It happened so suddenly. And when I saw the effect that it had upon Maggie and their little boy – all I could picture was you and little Jack, and… Elizabeth, there are just so many things that can happen with my condition- falls, infections, the two of you being in danger and me not being able to help."

"Lucas…"

"Please. Let me finish." He replied. "Elizabeth, I love you and I will until the day I die. You are the simply the brightest light to have ever come into my life. There is not a moment of any day that you are not in my heart. But I will not allow that light to be extinguished or let you be held back by my presence. The fact of the matter is that I am no longer able to give you and little Jack the future that you deserve – and while I'm well aware that you would gladly sacrifice your dreams and self in order to support me, I cannot allow you to do that. And so, I need to go. It's the only honorable thing to do."

"Are you finished?" she asked.

Lucas took a deep breath, being unsure of her reaction. "Yes, I…"

Immediately, Elizabeth pressed her lips against Lucas's, wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him into her warmth. Lucas's heart sped up at the unexpected gesture and he immediately felt a dizzying spate of joy in his being. For one moment his worries melted away.

"Oh, Elizabeth." Lucas said, when they finally came up for air.

"Lucas, my darling." She replied, planting multiple kisses on his cheeks, his chin, his lips as she cupped his face in her hand. "I never want to hear of you going away again. You belong to me. We belong together and what we have to go through we will go through together. I never want to be apart from you ever again."

"Elizabeth, you can't say that. You don't know the whole story."

"That you're out of money?" she asked. "If I'd wanted money, I would have stayed with Charles in Hamilton. I never wanted you for your money. Yes, I enjoyed our time in Union City and the fine meals you provided on our dates, but Lucas, those times were only special because I was with you. You were the one who put the smile on my face and relieved my burdens. Besides, the publisher called and has stated that they are ordering another two thousand copies of my book, so my finances can see us through until yours are more stable."

"That's wonderful! But, see…this is what I'm talking about. Elizabeth, I can't have you spending your earnings trying to support me. I should be supporting you."

"So, this is a pride thing?" she said, sitting up and looking at him sternly. "You want to throw away the love that we both waited for, for so long, because can't take money from a woman?"

"That has nothing to do with it. Although, I do not want you spending your money taking care of me because that's just not right. It's your money."

"And I can spend it how I want to. And, if I want to spend it taking care of you and little Jack..."

"No! I don't want you to do that. I can't let you do that. And, by the way, who is Charles?"

"Someone I knew back in Hamilton. He proposed to me. I turned him down. Don't change the subject."

"Were you in love with this Charles?" Lucas asked.

"No. I loved him, but wasn't in love with him. There have only been two men who have come into my life that I've felt like that about, one was Jack and the other is you."

"Elizabeth."

"Lucas, right now, this very minute, you are going back on everything you stood for, everything that showed me you are different."

"How so?"

"I'll tell you how. For three years you waited patiently for me, allowing me the freedom to choose where our relationship would go and how quickly it would progress. Now, all of the sudden you've done an about face and are making decisions that affect both of our lives without so much as giving me a choice. What about what I want? What about my views on the subject?"

"Elizabeth…"

"Lucas! You once told me that love was not just an emotion, that it was an act of will. I chose to love you and I chose to give my heart to you. I found my true love in you and you are my lifetime. Do NOT ask me to give that up because I won't do it. Not now. Not that I've found you." She said, tears falling from her eyes.

Lucas sat up and embraced her, pulling her tightly to his chest as she wept into his shoulder. He stroked her hair. "Darling. Don't cry. Please, not on my account."

She turned to him. "Please tell me you're still not planning on leaving? Please tell me you haven't given up on our love."

He looked at her, sincerely. "I could never stop loving you and I could never stop looking out for what I believe is best for you, and for little Jack. This has nothing whatsoever to do with not wanting you to choose what happens with us. It has to do with having no other choice. This isn't just about the money. I've lost my wealth but wealth can eventually return. But if we were to go forward, it would likely not be an easy road. I simply wish to spare you the pain"

"Lucas. I never expected a life without pain. That's not realistic."

"No, but I need you to fully understand and consider what it is you're getting into before you commit yourself to something that you very well may regret in the end. I'm not the man I was before."

Elizabeth stood up from the edge of his bed, smoothing the sheets as she moved away from him. "Then you're not going to come with me."

He paused for a moment. "I'm not sure it's wise and I'm not sure I'd be allowed to travel."

"Carson said he could make arrangements." She replied. "So, it's up to you. What is it you want to do?"

Lucas closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair as he lowered his head. No decision he'd ever had to make felt so difficult. Everything within his heart was telling him that he should go with her but his mind still plagued him with thoughts of being a burden to her and being unable to support a family as he'd want to. Finally, he looked at her with sadness. "I do not want to, but I feel I need to stay."

"To stay in Baltimore." She said, for clarification.

"Yes." He replied, weakly, his voice beginning to quiver slightly.

She looked at him stoically realizing how very conflicted he was in that moment and battling within herself as to whether or not to continue to press or to allow him the space to recover and come to the right conclusion. She chose the latter, choosing to trust him and God to make things right.

"Alright. If that's your decision. I have no other choice than to abide by it. So, I guess I'll just get my things and go."

She leaned in and kissed his cheek and he held her there for a moment, but then released her.

She stood. "Lucas. I want you to know, I'm not giving up on us. I'm going to keep writing you and I want for you to call me, every Friday, just as you promised you would. Nothing for me has changed. You are still the same breathtakingly handsome, intelligent, loving, precious man I fell in love with, even though you can't see it yourself. It's okay. I know you're hurt and just as you waited for me, I intend on waiting as long as it takes for you to find your way back – which I know in my heart you will."

She turned to leave, unseen tears flowing down her face. She stopped at the door. "If you change your mind, there's a train leaving for Hope Valley tomorrow afternoon around one o'clock. I plan to be on it. I hope that you will be too. Goodbye, my love, for now."

"Goodbye, Elizabeth. I love you."

"So, he's not going with her?" Emily Reardon. asked after Nathan told her what had happened the night before.

The two had been sitting in a restaurant close to where she lived and had already spent the last forty-five minutes talking about their childhoods, their time in school, where they'd travelled in their lifetimes and just about anything to get to know one another a little better. It was amazing how much they had in common both in beliefs as well as personal experiences. But now it was time for Nathan to go back to the hotel in order to prepare for the trip home – a trip without Lucas.

"Lucas told her he was going to stay in Baltimore and not return to Hope Valley."

"Why would he do something like that?" she asked.

"Because he's still got it up in his head that he's a hinderance to her happiness, that somehow he'll ruin her life."

"Well, of all the mule-headed things to do…Doesn't he see how much she loves him? She'd travel that far just to find him?"

Nathan nodded. "He sees it. He just won't make that leap and trust that it's going to turn out alright."

"What a crying shame." She replied.

"Yeah, well…I guess that's for them to figure out." Nathan said. "I really hate this, but I'm going to have to get back to the hotel and get Allie so that we can get to the train station on time. I don't suppose you'll be heading Northwest anytime soon for a medical conference or anything like that?"

She smiled. "You never can tell. I would like to see you again."

"I would like that too." he said. "You know, I heard that the Baltimore police department is asking for recruits."

Emily shook her head. "No, Nathan. I could never ask you to do that. Baltimore is a far cry from Hope Valley and all of your friends and family are there. Besides it's Allie's home."

"I guess you're right."

"How 'bout we do this? We agree to continue to write or call and then we set a special time later this year and I will come up to Hope Valley to see you."

"You'd come all that way?"

"For you?" she smiled. "Yes, Nathan. I would."

Nathan looked deeply into Emily's eyes and then down to her lips. His heart began to race as he leaned in to do that which he longed to do. Emily bit down on her lower lip and her eyes also travelled from eyes to lips. She leaned up toward him.

"Would you two be needing anything else?" the waitress asked returning with their check.

Nathan cleared his throat. "Uh…no. This will be all."

The waitress smirked and laid down the check.

Nathan stood and retrieved Emily's jacket for her, helping her to slip it on. For the first time in a year he felt a happiness in his heart and a desire to be by a woman's side – and, she wasn't Elizabeth. Was Joseph right? Had God sent someone even better for him? Time would tell.

After paying the bill, the two walked out onto the sidewalk and Nathan gave her a hug.

"You'll call me when you get home?" she said, smoothing down his jacket.

"The minute I hit the door." He replied.

"Travel safely, Nathan." She said, touching his face. Then she turned away and was gone.

Two hours later, the group stood at the ticketing area waiting to get checked in. Helen and Peter had offered to pay for the return trip home for everyone but were not leaving themselves. Their intent was to say goodbye and then go and see their son, together.

Elizabeth was solemn but busied herself taking care of little Jack and making sure that she had all of her things. Rosemary felt so very sad for her friend but she knew that she'd done the right thing, even though it was the hardest thing to do. Lucas had to be ready. He couldn't be rushed. She just hoped that God would help him make his way home.

The Coulters picked up their tickets, a suite for two, then waited for Elizabeth and little Jack to get theirs. Allie would be joining them as well.

Lee rubbed the small of Rosemary's back since he knew she'd been worried and felt sad over the outcome of the trip.

"Well, I guess we're ready." Elizabeth said, returning from the ticket counter.

"It'll all be okay." Rosemary said. "One way or another. If it's meant to be, it will be."

"I believe that Rosemary." Elizabeth said. "I had just so hoped he'd be coming with us. I miss him so much." She began to cry.

Rosemary put her arm around Elizabeth's shoulder and patted her back.

"I know you do, sweetie. Lucas is a good man and he's smart. He'll figure it out."

Lee wasn't as sure.

"Well, Constable Grant." Helen said before Nathan would turn to go. "Peter and I would like to thank you for all the inconvenience you went through in coming to find our son. I'm not sure we would have been able to do it without you."

"Mrs. Bouchard."

"Helen."

"Helen. It wasn't an inconvenience. Lucas saved my daughter's life and he's a very good man. It was the least I could do." He replied.

"Last call! Tickets from Baltimore to Calgary." The man at the counter said.

"Guess we have to go." Nathan said.

As everyone else got their bags together, Nathan and Joseph walked to the counter. "Yes, we need two tickets. Bunk beds will do." Nathan said.

"I don't suppose you could make it three?" a familiar voice said from behind them.

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she turned around. "Lucas!" she said, rushing over into his embrace as their lips crashed together in the most passionate of kisses.

Emily Reardon smiled as she walked over toward Nathan, holding a dog kennel in her hands. Nathan rolled his eyes at their open display and Emily placed her hand upon his back, caressing it. Allie observed the whole thing and grinned.

"Isn't love a wonderful thing?" Emily said.

He grinned slightly then looked down at the nurse. "A year ago, I would have told you no – but, now I can see it truly is. What…how?"

A smiling Lucas pulled away for a moment and looked toward his friends while still holding Elizabeth.

"I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't let her go." he said. "So, this morning I talked with Carson who gave me some instructions and the okay for me to travel. He's sending Emily along to make sure that I get settled and that everything is set up properly for my convenience." He stopped and looked at Nathan. "She'll be staying in Hope Valley for a week."

Nathan looked over at Emily and blushed, then she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug.

"Well, I guess that's everybody then." Joseph said. "Guess we should say a prayer of thankfulness then be on our way!"

The entire group bowed their heads and gave thanks to God for His blessings that day. While Elizabeth and Emily switched tickets to allow for another occupant to their room with Allie, Lucas stopped to see his parents, embracing them and asking them to come see him once he was settled.

"You wouldn't mind?" Helen asked, timidly.

"Why would I?" Lucas asked, taking her hand. "You're my mother and you and father mean the world to me. Besides, there are some things I'd like to talk to you about – about some changes I plan on making in the near future."

"Changes involving Elizabeth?" Peter inquired.

Lucas just smiled. "I guess, we shall see."

"Hurry on, Lucas. They're waiting on us." Rosemary called out. Elizabeth was not far behind her.

"I'll call when we are home safely." he said. His mother touched his face and he bent down to kiss her.

"You need a haircut." She whispered in his ear.

He grinned and bowed his head. "The first thing I will arrange for when I return."

"We love you, son." Peter said. Lucas hugged him then turned to go.

Lucas, Elizabeth and little Jack made their way up the stairs then turned to wave at his parents, and they stood watching until the train began to roll.

"Shall we?" Lucas asked.

Elizabeth smiled and took him by the arm and they made their way toward their cabins.