LGB

Hope Valley

November 29, 1918

My Sweet Elizabeth,

I am always so happy when I receive you letters. The thrill has not abated at all, even though we have been writing each other for over a month now. I love to hear your thoughts and to feel your energy and your love; this letter was no exception.

We have spoken about the Thanksgiving dinner at length, and you did such a wonderful job of capturing the charm of the event in your letter, that I can't possibly add more with respect to the event itself. But I want to tell you that you so moved me with your kind words about me and the love that I felt you sending to me. As always, it is a conversation of the heart that we exchange.

As I have mentioned or alluded to on a number of occasions, I have been a bit of a loner most of my life. Always not quite fitting in, always with my head in a book or the clouds. And when I was old enough, I became a wanderer, traveling to new places that I had dreamed about, pausing here and there to work on a new business venture; but never feeling compelled to stay anywhere for very long. So, I would move on; that is, until I came to Hope Valley. I heard about a saloon for sale in a small town out West, and while it was intriguing, what attracted me most was the name of the town. I asked myself "where else will I ever find my place if I can't find it in a place of Hope?" So, I came with that hope and named my new business 'The Queen of Hearts', apropos as I hoped to someday find the woman who would capture my heart. And as fate or luck would have it, I met her shortly after arriving.

We have written and spoken about our meeting and the feelings; but it is worth mentioning once again that I knew it was you from the moment I saw you standing there with your basket. A vision of beauty and sweetness and my heart felt a pang. Love to bloom from first sight; the "knowing" that here she is, the one that could complete me. And every day since, even in the difficult weeks before we found each other at our bridge, all I wanted was to get to know you and to make you happy. And that is true even now. Every time we are together, or we share our thoughts in these letters, I feel that I know you just a little better. And every day I awake, my first thought is of you and how this day is another opportunity to make you and Jack happy.

You and Jack will fulfill my dreams of being a husband and father and I promise that every day I will endeavor to keep you safe and fill our home with love. And I can't tell you how happy I will be if we are blessed with more children. When you said to me in your letter that I have an endless capacity for love… since I met you this is something that I have come to understand and embrace. I love you without bounds, and I have come to love Jack without limits as well. But that doesn't mean that you or Jack will share my love with other children. I know in my heart that God has blessed us with the ability to love each with all our heart. So, love isn't divided it is multiplied and so while my heart is full already, I eagerly await the opportunity to expand this heart of mine to include all of you….. my current and future treasures.

Speaking of love, I am hoping that next weekend we can take a trip out of town to work on our Christmas plans and to do a bit more shopping. Now that we will have family here, I want to be sure to have a special gift for each of them. I know that the gift of our time and love is enough, but I would like to give each a small gift as a remembrance of this gathering. I feel almost like a child at the prospect of packages under the tree and trying to imagine what is inside them. As you know, I have a fairly vivid imagination and did so as a child. The wonders that I could conjure for each package… well let's say, were often quite outlandish. I am so looking forward to seeing Jack open his presents. He is at that age where the anticipation for Papa Noel coming turns to pure joy at the evidence of his arrival. You know me, I still wish for toys.

Let's go shopping in our favorite get away, Union City. There is so much more to offer there on the shopping front. And we can stay in our favorite hotel and dine in our favorite spot by the fireplace where we had our "friends only date". This time I think it best to have Jack stay with Rosie and Lee for the night. Although I would love to take him with us, I think in this case we will get more accomplished if he stays in HV. I will be happy to explain to him and promise him a special day to go shopping with me for his gift for you. He and I are quickly coming to an understanding… especially about you. I want him to understand what you have taught me and that is just because you love me won't mean you will love him any less. It will just be like two pieces of pie for you instead of one. Fattening to be sure if the analogy were real. And I promise that even without Jack with us, I will still be the perfect (or nearly perfect) gentleman. Do not worry on that account.

I am getting more and more excited to have Papa Noel coming.

My love knows no bounds,

Lucas