Mayor Coulter rushed to the door, immediately offering to help Minnie as she entered his home, her arms laden with yarn, fabric and supplies.

"Let me help you with that," he said, offering to take a box of items from her.

"Thank you, Lee!" Minnie replied, walking through his living room and to the kitchen. "Just put it on the counter."

He'd called her over that morning to watch Rosemary while he went into town for a few hours to take care of some business, not realizing she'd come prepared to keep his wife entertained as well.

"What all do you have in here?" he asked, reaching out his hand and rifling through the box for just a moment.

"Nothing for you to concern yourself about," Minnie replied, shooing him away. "Now, just move along."

Lee chucked. "Well, now I'm really curious."

"I'm sure you are," Minnie replied walking over to the coat rack and retrieving Lee's coat. She handed it to him. "But you wouldn't want to spoil Miss Rosemary's Christmas surprise now, would you?"

"Ohhhh, she has a Christmas surprise? For me?" Lee smiled. Minnie raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course not. I wouldn't want to spoil anything," he responded. "Say no more."

Minnie watched as Lee slipped the coat over his shoulders and adjusted his collar. She handed him his scarf. "Working on these kinds of things is good for her. Helps her keep her mind off her confinement."

"Yes. I appreciate that, and I appreciate you dropping everything to come help her. I know she's feeling cooped up already, and with the Bouchards living further away now, she doesn't see Elizabeth quite like she used to. It's good that she has a friend in you."

"I'm glad Rosemary is my friend as well. It can be lonely being in a pastor's family."

"Really? I'd think it just the opposite…" Lee said, bemused. "…you know, with half the town calling on you at all hours of the day."

"You'd think. But that's just it. Being in a minister's home not only means always being on call but also means always having to watch yourself around others. People can set such high expectations for ministers and their families and then judge them when they don't live up to their expectations. It's hard to find someone you can just be yourself around and not have to worry about other sorts of things."

"That does sound lonely. I hope you know that Rosemary and I don't look at you that way. You're our friend first, then our pastor's wife."

Minnie smiled. "I do know that. And I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. There are many blessings in serving the community in this way as well and in doing the Lord's work. It's always a balance. That's why it's got to be a calling."

Lee laughed. "Oh yes, the calling. Joseph and I have had many conversations about a calling. I guess mine has turned out being this town's mayor."

"Oh, there doesn't only have to be one," she replied. "You're also called to be Miss Rosemary's husband and soon to be a father to this little one. You're a businessman that has blessed Hope Valley in so many ways. Really, you can serve the Lord anywhere. It doesn't just have to be church work. Scripture says whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord – and He's pleased with that."

"That sounds so…. practical," Lee responded.

"There's nothing more practical than cultivating a relationship with the Lord. He will get you through the hard times and be with you during the happy times as well, and He will provide wisdom that goes beyond what we can even know.

You know, I've been in situations in which things were so confusing and I felt such pain in my heart that I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what the future held but knew that God's wisdom would guide me once I was there. Other times, you know, you must trust Him and take it in faith that He'll take care of things. And He does. Not always the way we wanted it but always in a way that is in some way to our benefit. It was like that when we left St. Louis. We had no idea where we would go or what would become of us. But God called for us to leave, and we followed His lead, and we've never been sorry. "

Lee pondered that thought for a moment then nodded his head. He reached for the door. "That sounds, um….inspiring," he smiled. "Thank you again for watching Rosie. I'll try to not be too long."

"Take your time," she replied, motioning to the box. "Miss Rosemary has plenty to do. We'll be here when you get back."


Nathan Grant had just gotten out of the tub and reached for his new red robe, gifted to him by Emily's only uncle, Duncan Reardon, the family genealogist. Duncan had sent gifts for the bride and groom from Dublin, knowing he couldn't attend the wedding. Inside the package was a full history of the robe's pattern, including a family tree tracing Nathan's paternal line from Canada back to a wealthy landowner, James Grant, a supporter of King James V of Scotland during the 1500s.

The family had risen to a respectable place in the history of the Scottish Highlands following the collapse of the ruling Comyn clan upon the ascendancy of Robert the Bruce. But for Nathan it was Lawrence Grant, Nathan's nineteenth great grandfather, that he was more interested in. Lawrence came from Normandy to England in the early 1200s, then migrated to Scotland at the behest of Walter Byset, a wealthy Scotch nobleman who married into what was essentially Scottish royalty. But it wasn't a kingly connection that caught Nathan's interest. Rather, it was the fact that Grant was made sheriff in Inverness all the way back in 1253. It seemed the Grants had a longer association with law enforcement than he knew.

It was with great pride that he first donned the robe and modeled it for Allie. Nathan's daughter watched as her lanky father entered the kitchen, did a turn-around in the middle of the floor, and stretched out his hands for her reaction.

"Tis the season, I suppose," was all she would say, in between laughs.

But this morning, Allie was in a far more serious mood. Her world was coming to an end, or so she thought.

"Five years! He's going to be gone for five whole years! What am I going to do?"

"Allie, you'll do what we all do. You'll do what's necessary to get by and you'll make it through. Be a little patient."

"Ugh! I thought you, of all people, would understand! You know what it's like to have feelings for someone and have them always be just out of reach…."

"If you're referring to my relationship with Elizabeth, you're only making my point. Patience paid off. Had Elizabeth and I gotten together, I never would have met Emily, and Elizabeth would have never married Lucas. And while Elizabeth and I will always be friends, I can see now, with the passage of time, that she wasn't what was best for me, nor I her."

"But, I don't want to be just Robert's friend."

"I know. I know you don't. But you must admit, Elizabeth is nowhere near as well suited for me as Emily. Surely, you can see that."

Allie nodded. "I suppose."

"You don't suppose. You know I'm right. You're just being too stubborn to admit it. Just like your mother!" he replied, then softening his tone he turned toward her. "Look. I'm glad I waited. Besides, he's just going away to pursue a dream and make something of himself. I thought you'd be happy that he's thinking about your future."

"I know. But…five years?!" the exasperated teen said. "That's sixty months! One thousand eight hundred and twenty-six days! Forty-Three Thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four seconds…"

"One thousand eight hundred and twenty-six? Shouldn't that be twenty-five?" Nathan asked, quickly doing the math in his head.

"Leap year."

"Oh yeah."

"The point is, dad, it's a really long time before I can see him again."

"It'll go by before you know it."

"Easy for you to say!" She turned to leave.

"Allie, Allie, wait!"

"Forget about it! You just don't understand!"

"Fine…fine…I don't' understand…then why ask me?" he grumbled under his breath, throwing his hands into the air as he looked around the bathroom. "But before you go locking yourself in your room…you didn't happen to see my shave…," he asked as the sound of a door slamming echoed throughout the house. "…kit. Guess not."

Nathan tightened the belt on his robe and walked toward his daughter's room. Just then the phone rang.

Rushing down the stairs, Grant grabbed the phone at the last ring.

"Yeah?! Hey…uh, hi, Florence," he said, breathlessly. "Sure, put her through." A couple of seconds passed, and he smiled when he heard Emily's sweet voice on the other end of the line.

"Hey, beautiful. What's up?... What am I doing? Standing here in my pajama bottoms and new robe and…oh..." He chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'm um… getting ready for work and looking for my razor, I can't seem to…." He stopped as he heard Allie's bedroom door open and the sound of her footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Could you hold on a second?" Nathan held the receiver and earpiece to his chest as his daughter passed in front of him. "Allie, where are you going?"

"Out," she replied, curtly.

"Out, where?"

"To talk to someone who cares," she said, taking her coat and scarf off the coat tree near the front door.

"I'm going to ignore that," Nathan frowned. "When will you be back?"

"Later. I need to talk to a woman."

"You going to see Elizabeth?"

"No. Someone else. Stop worrying," she said, softening her tone. "I'll be safe."

"Alright, fine. Be back before dinner?"

"I will."

"And don't get into any trouble."

Allie nodded and stepped out onto the porch as Nathan raised the receiver again to his ear. "Sorry, Emily, I was, um….Awe, just a second. I'll be right back."

Grant set the phone down on the table then rushed out the door -calling out, a little too loudly to his daughter, who was just a few steps away. A neighbor who'd stepped out on the front porch looked at him from head to toe and chuckled as he reentered his home.

"What is it?" Allie asked.

Nathan exhaled and turned to Allie.

"My shaving kit? Do you know where it is?"

She shook her head and then turned around, stomping back into the house. "It's in my bedroom. I'll get it."

Nathan wrinkled his brow. "Your bedroom? Why is my shaving kit in your bedroom?" he asked, watching her ascend the stairs. A few seconds later, she returned with his razor, shaving cream, and brush and handed them to him, again walking toward the front door.

"Here, you go. Have a good day, dad."

Nathan squinted his eyes. "Wait a minute! Answer me. Why would you have my shaving stuff in your bedroom?"

"I needed them."

"You needed them? Why would you need my things?"

"I had a date."

"Yeah? So?"

"I needed to smooth my legs."

"To what?"

"Smooth my legs. It's what ladies do now. We shave our legs to make them smoother."

"You shaved your legs. With my razor." He responded flatly as Allie turned the door handle.

"Exactly."

Nathan watched as his daughter stepped out onto the porch, then stood there a moment, furrowing his brow. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Wait a minute. What does a date with Robert have to do with having smooth legs? He's not even supposed to see your legs!"

"See ya, Dad."

"Allison Mayes Grant!"

Allie quickly shut the door.

Nathan stood there dumbfounded for several seconds until his thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of a female voice coming from the abandoned phone receiver.

"Emily!" Nathan rushed to the phone, juggling the shaving implements in one hand as he picked up the receiver. "Sorry, honey. Where were we?" While Emily talked, Nathan took the other items over to the sideboard near the door and bent down, looking at his face in the sideboard's mirror. Amid "Mm-hmm's and yes's", he worked a quick lather up along his jawline and under his nose while Emily relayed some information she'd heard from Molly in town. Just as he set the shaving brush down in the bowl and began to reach for his razor, a knock came on the door.

Grant sighed in exasperation, walking toward the door with the phone in his hand. "Just a second, honey. Someone's at the door," he said, turning the handle. "Lucas!"

Bouchard raised one eyebrow, looking him over up and down. "Good morning, Santa. We need to talk," he said, pushing his way into the house.

Nathan watched as Bouchard walked straight to the stove and lit the burner under the tea kettle. He then walked to the cupboard and pulled out two cups.

Grant clenched his jaw. "Hey, Em…I'll call you later. This may take a while."


"Do you really think he'll like them?" Rosemary asked, raising up a knit hat and gloves that she'd made for Lee's Christmas present.

"I think he'll like anything you give him," Minnie replied. "But I must say, you did an excellent job. Your knitting skills are superb."

Rosemary lowered her chin and smiled. "Yes, well, I'd never really been one for sewing or knitting until I came to Hope Valley, and Elizabeth and I became friends. Come to think of it, she never really started knitting herself that much until she met Lucas," she continued. "Then, she knitted up a storm! I wonder if there's a connection?" She shrugged. "Anyway, I've always worried about Lee keeping warm during the cold winters, and I think the colors in the hat go with his eyes, and well, this yarn you found is so soft…"

"I'm sure he'll love it," Minnie replied, taking the items from her, and placing them to the side where they could wrap them later. "Would you like to rest now, or start on something else?"

"For Lee?"

"For Lee, or maybe the baby?" Minnie said.

Rosemary smiled softly. "I thought about getting started on a baby blanket, but…" She lowered her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Do you think it might be presumptuous to do so?"

"Presumptuous?"

"The doctors worry about whether I'll be able to carry the baby to term. What if something happens?"

"You can't think that way, my friend. That child in your womb is a fighter. He or she is going to make it! You just wait!"

Rosemary looked toward Minnie and smiled, then looked toward the bag. She nodded once. "I'm feeling energetic today. What kind of yarn do you have that would be suitable for a baby blanket?"


"Well, good morning, Allie. What brings you out so early?" Fiona asked as Allie entered the barber shop shortly after it opened.

"I was hoping maybe I could talk to you," she said. "I need some advice."

"Advice?" Okay. What about?" Fiona arranged her trimming instruments onto a towel as she prepared for the morning's first customer.

"Boys."

Fiona took a deep breath, remembering the fallout from her previous incident with Nathan. What is it with the Grants and love advice? she thought.

"What about them?" she responded.

"Well, it's about one boy in particular."

"Robert?" Fiona asked.

"Yeah. I just found out that he's going to go away to college after Christmas to study to be a lawyer."

"A lawyer! That's great!"

"If you say so."

Fiona looked at her with concern. "You don't seem happy."

Allie looked down toward the floor. "He is going to be gone for two to three years, and then another couple of years up in Edmonton."

"Ah. Five years." Miller nodded solemnly. "That's a long time. I can see why you would be upset."

"I don't know what I'm going to do! Five years is such a long time! What if he forgets me? What if he meets someone new? What if I'm stuck here in Hope Valley and die an old maid?!"

Fiona tried not to chuckle. "Allie, I doubt that any of that is going to happen. Robert likes you an awful lot, and I don't think he's going to forget you, ever."

"But you know how it is. People move away. They get busy. Life takes over, and they grow apart. I mean, you're from San Francisco. Hasn't there been anyone in your past that it's been that way with?"

Fiona paused and motioned for Allie to take a seat in the barber chair while she leaned against the counter across from her. "I was engaged to a man in San Francisco once."

"Really?"

"Yes. He was fun to be around. Wealthy. My parents approved, and for a while, so did I. But, the longer we were together, I could see that we were just two different people. He wanted things that I didn't want and never really understood, or even wanted to understand, me."

"So, what'd you do?"

"I broke it off. Quite a while later, I returned to San Francisco to see him just to make sure that I made the right decision, and when I left, I knew I had. There was no animosity. We just weren't a good match.

I guess what I am saying, is don't worry so much about you and Robert growing apart. Worry more about becoming the woman you want to be for the rest of your life. If he's the one for you, then that relationship will stand the test of time."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then you will always have memories of a good friend, and there's something or someone better out there for you. There are worse things than being a single lady in Hope Valley. You could be with the wrong person. Respect yourself enough to wait and be sure. And, if Robert's the guy, then he'll still be there after he gets out of school, and you'll be a lot surer of the things you want, which will be better for both of you."

Just then, the door to the barbershop opened, and Mike Hickam entered, a huge smile on his face.

"Good morning, Fiona. Would it be possib…oh! Allie. I'm sorry," he said self-consciously. "I can come back later."

Allie stood. "That's okay, Mr. Hickam. We were done." She walked toward the door, then turned and nodded at Fiona. "Thank you, Miss Miller. I appreciate your advice."

"Any time, Allie," Fiona replied with a smile. "And call me Fiona. Miss Miller is too formal for friends."

Allie smiled. "Thank you, Fiona. Have a good rest of your morning."

"You do the same," Fiona said as Allie shut the door.

Mike briskly made his way to the chair, a renewed vigor in his approach. "Good morning, Fiona," he said. "I was wondering if you could trim me up a bit. My sister is coming to town."

"Sure. Which one?" Fiona asked.

"Maisey."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes, Millicent was supposed to come too, but Maude's daughter Miriam had a dance recital, and she went to that instead."

"Got it. Well, it'll be nice to see one of your sisters at least."

"Yes," he said, getting comfortable as Fiona draped a haircutting cape over his shoulders. She picked up the comb and scissors and began combing the back of his hair.

"Say, Mike. Do I seem to be the kind of person that one would go to for love advice?"

Mike pondered that thought for only a moment. "You're the kind of person one would go to for any sort of advice. I've told you you're like my confidante."

She shook her head. "But I'm just a single lady trying to run a business. I don't have anything big in terms of relationship success for people to be coming to me over. Why would people come to me?"

"You're easy to talk to. And, smart…and…," he slowed down and looked her in the eyes. "Not all success has to come in the form of romantic attachment. Take us, for instance. We are best friends, like going places together, even though we're not dating – still, I would say our relationship is a successful one."

"You know, you're right," she replied. "I never really thought of it that way. We do very well in the relationship department." She cut a few strands and then stopped. "Mike, is there a reason you've never asked me out on a date?'"

Mike lowered his head and then smiled. "Well, I think you've made it clear that we're just friends and that's all we'll ever be. And that's fine with me. I just like being near you. Besides, why would a guy like me think he would ever have a chance with a girl like you? It's ridiculous."

Fiona frowned. "Stop that! You're a fine man, Mike Hickam. Any woman would be lucky to have you as a beau."

Mike blushed. "You think so? I'm not very experienced."

"You don't have to be experienced to be a good man. Just be who you are." She cut a few strands of hair then stopped again. "Say, Mike – have you ever actually dated anyone?"

Mike squirmed in his chair. "Um, well…um…when a man gets to be my age, of course, it would be…um, natural to assume that, um…."

"No?"

"No. Not at all," he said, looking nervously at the floor. "I guess I'm too shy."

Fiona smiled. "Then, I think it's time to break that trend."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I think it's time you went out on a date!"

Mike shifted in his seat. "Now, Fiona…I'm not at all interested in being set up with some stranger to go out on a blind date."

"That's not what I'm talking about. How would you like to go on a date with me - after Millicent leaves to Union City? We could go dancing and have dinner…"

"Are you? Are you asking me out?" he asked.

"I am!" Fiona replied with a broad smile.

"Why?" Mike responded, his eyes searching.

"Because I like you," she said. "And we get along well, and who knows, maybe something could develop out of it."

"But what if it doesn't? I don't want to lose our friendship and honestly, I'm okay with things being the way they are."

"Maybe I'm not," she said.

"You're not happy with the way things are?"

"Oh, I am. But maybe there is greater happiness out there. We'll never know unless we try," she replied. "And…if it's not working, we'll still always be friends."

"Always?"

"Always."

Mike smiled. "Then I accept."


"Okay. Let me get this straight," Nathan said, wiping remnants of shaving cream from his face with a towel then draping the towel over his shoulder as he took a seat across from Lucas at the kitchen table. "Your father-in-law wants you to run for Parliament?"

"Correct."

"Canadian Parliament?"

"No, Bulgarian. Of course, Canadian."

"Why would you want to do that? With running your businesses, being a newlywed, building your parent's house, renovating your own and preparing for a baby -aren't you a bit busy?"

"Oh, just little," Lucas said with a sigh, picking up his teacup and taking a swig. "Listen. It's not something I want to do, but it could be arranged. I would have to delegate my work with the Queen and probably step aside in terms of decision-making for the trucking company, as it would be an obvious conflict of interests for me to be making political decisions that could benefit my business. But it could be done."

"I'm assuming this is part of that cloak and dagger stuff you were into?"

Lucas nodded. "They want me embedded into Parliament, taking Bertram's seat, to root out certain corruption within the ranks and set the country back in the right direction."

"The right direction?"

"Away from the way that Bertram is leading the province."

"So, it's political."

"In a sense."

"I see. You told your father-in-law no, of course."

"I haven't given him my answer."

"You're kidding." Nathan said, incredulously.

"Do I look like I'm kidding?"

Nathan crossed his arms. "Okay. Why is this not an easy 'no' from you?"

"Because it's not political for me. It's personal. This is about providing for my family and keeping them safe – making sure they have the kind of life that they deserve to have, where they can be happy and secure. With Bertram in power, that's increasingly becoming an impossibility."

"Okay. Even if that's true…" Nathan said.

Lucas interrupted. "Have you ever heard of a man named Al Capone?"

"Can't say that I have."

"How about Johnny Torrio?"

Nathan paused, furrowing his brow. "The gangster?"

"Precisely. Capone is his protégé. Dangerous man. He was seen with Bertram in Ottawa and word on the street is that they're making a deal to make Alberta 'Chicago North.' They want to set up their bootlegging rings all along the new road that is being discussed, routing it just south of Hope Valley."

"You don't say," Nathan responded, leaning forward.

"Now you know why Bertram is so anxious to upgrade Alberta's infrastructure. That jackal has already lined up co-sponsors for the activity in Ottawa, and it's this group that the company wants me to intercept. Nathan, you do realize if they succeed, criminal gambling, prostitution, drugs – every sort of evil will undoubtedly come in on its heels, destroying this town and our children's future in it. We can't stand idly by and let it happen."

"Yeah. Of course, not." Grant said, considering all of the repercussions surrounding what Bouchard was telling him. "So, you've decided?"

"I have."

"Does Elizabeth know?"

"Oh yes. She knows."

"How'd that go?"

Lucas leaned back in his chair and exhaled dramatically.

"That good, huh?" Nathan chuckled.

"You might imagine it. Still, in the end, she understood. She just wants me to be safe," Bouchard replied.

"Understandable."

"It is. Of course, she felt a bit better once I told her of my plan."

"Your plan?"

"Yes, my plan to ignore everything her father and our mutual friend, Allistair Spencer, want me to do. You see, the company wants to rig the election so that I get in and take advantage of my false notoriety to infiltrate the bad actors in Parliament and undercut a whole slew of activities they have been involved in. That may bring short-term benefits, politically, but if I go that route, I'll always be known as crooked, and our children will have that legacy hanging over their heads the rest of their lives. I refuse to do that.

Instead, I'm going to run for Parliament as an honest man, and you're going to help me."

"Alright. How?"

"I need you to testify. I'm going to present my case in Edmonton in open court and I'm going to tell the truth about what happened – specifically about what happened at Judson's place."

"Are you going to turn state's evidence on Moy? What about your cover?"

"I don't think they are really after Moy, and even if they are, my cover doesn't have to be blown if we stick to the narrow set of facts from that day. The truth is that I did work with Moy several years ago and we were gambling associates. My exact relationship with SIS will remain undisclosed. I was never on the wrong side of the law with Moy, and I believe everyone here can attest to the fact that I've lived a clean and honest life as a businessman for as long as I've been in Hope Valley, so whatever past associations I may have had have proven irrelevant to my life here and in Alberta."

"What about the charges they have against you? Those are now in print."

"A pure fabrication that can be undone as easily as it was done. Illegal distribution of alcohol? Everyone knows I don't even serve alcohol at the Queen. I rarely drink alcohol these days and Gustave has to make special arrangements to get the wine for his dishes. The rest is easily defeated.

We'll make this about the gambling den that Moy and Judson were trying to set up, and just tell the truth. I believe we can get the case closed quickly. Maybe even get the charges dismissed before it goes to trial. The company may even invite Moy to testify for them in exchange for legal immunity since they seem to want him around. Regardless, my name needs to be free and clear of these charges and once that happens, I can throw my hat into the ring and defeat Bertram in the primaries."

"You've thought about this in depth."

"I have."

"You do realize you're setting up a dangerous situation in messing with Torrio. You and your family could be in great danger."

Lucas nodded. "And that's where I also will need your help. To protect us when we're here. Nathan, I know we've had our differences in the past, and…well, I am not sure how you feel about me, but I consider us to be friends now. I'm asking you to stand with me if you will. The way I see it is my family's problem is your family's problem, too. Hope Valley must be saved, but to do that I'm going to need your help, Bill's and, truthfully, the whole town's. Can I count on it?"

Nathan nodded. "I told you once that I'd have your back. Count me in."

Lucas smiled and his features visibly relaxed. "Excellent news! Thank you!"

"Don't mention it," Grant responded. "Just one more thing….how am I supposed to protect you if you win Bertram's seat and move to Ottawa?"

"Oh, I didn't say anything about winning Bertram's seat."

"But…."

"Watch and learn, my friend. Watch and learn."