Chapter 1 The Announcement

The beautiful, crisp, colored leaves were falling as the newly engaged couple finished their stroll down the road. There was a new energy about this walk, one that had felt much different then their previous walks. They swung Jack back and forth enjoying the feeling of taking their first official steps to becoming a real family.

Elizabeth could not stop thinking about the Big, Little moment that they had just shared. She was going to be Mrs. Lucas Bouchard. Lucas was absolutely the perfect man for her. They have a connection her and Jack even lacked. They know each other so well. She thought about her time with Jack and felt a little guilty for being so in love with Lucas. Truth is told she was wildly attracted to Lucas, sometimes her feelings taking over all sense of propriety and leaving her feeling care free and a little reckless.

Lucas was overcome with a sense of joy, knowing that he had finally met his soul mate and before long, they would be sharing their life together. The more his mind wondered to that day the more anxious he became. For now, he was going to enjoy all the feelings of being engaged.

As Lucas walked with Elizabeth and Jack back home and they entered the living room, "Elizabeth, I need to go begin cleanup on the saloon. I would like to reopen by the end of the week. I'll be back later and we will celebrate. I will make dinner. Bye Buddy!" He picked Jack up and gave him a big hug. "I'll be back later, I Promise!" He then placed Jack back on the floor and grabbed his new fiancé around the waist pulling her in for a passionate kiss. "I can't wait until we are wed and I will be able to steal these moments all the time." He grinned.

"Me either! Lucas, I Love you!" She smiled back. "Is it okay to share our news?" Elizabeth asked wanting to make sure there was no conflict about being open about their engagement.

"Of Course and Elizabeth I would love to go with you to Hamilton for Christmas." His dimples were on full display as he turned to walk out the door and he headed back to the saloon to begin again. This time he would be starting over with a newly remodel and also a new life. One that would include Elizabeth and Jack and nothing else would ever take priority over them and their safety. A slow down was also in order. There was going to be wedding plans and their trip to get ready for, Lucas knew in his heart he needed to back off of work. There was also the book wagon. He didn't want Elizabeth traveling in the woods alone and figured he would accompany her into the woods and up the mountain trail.

Elizabeth walked next door with Jack and knocked on the door. "Elizabeth, you look positively glowing. Come in!" Rosemary said in her theatrical tone. "You know you are going to tell me so spill it."

Elizabeth removed her right hand that was covering her ring to show Rosemary her beautiful new engagement ring. Rosemary's eyes widened, "Elizabeth it's gorgeous! Tell me all about it. What did he say, what did you say?"

"We were walking down the road and the trees were stunning with their beautiful colored leaves. The fall colors were like being in a beautiful portrait. The air was crisp but not too crisp. Jack was picking up rocks. I had asked Lucas about spending Christmas in Hamilton with my family and he had mentioned he had already planned a trip there to ask my father for his permission to marry me. After he said that, Jack handed me the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. At this point I knew what was about to happen. I was completely surprised and caught off guard. Lucas had called them instead. He was so romantic Rosemary and the sincerity and honesty in his words overwhelmed me. The fact that he included Jack in his proposal and wants to be a father to Jack definitely made my heart melt. I did not hesitate to give him an answer. Lucas and I are going to be married. He is coming over this evening to celebrate our new engagement." Elizabeth spoke softly as her emotions finally caught up with her and tears starting to fall down her cheeks. "I love him so much Rosemary! I don't know if I would have been able to move on from Jack without him. I am so excited to become Mrs. Lucas Bouchard! Now enough about me have you told Lee about the baby and how are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked concern in her voice.

"I did. He was so excited. He ran up and down the road in his pajamas shouting we're going to have a baby. He was so cute. Oh Elizabeth, I hope everything goes okay. It will break his heart if something happens to me or the baby. I feel fine. I'm just anxious I suppose." Rosemary said emotional as Elizabeth grabbed her hands.

"It will be fine Rosemary, just have faith that God will take care of you and the baby."Elizabeth reassured her."

Lucas accessed the damage and reassured himself that he was blessed no one was hurt in the fire. The damage wasn't near as bad as he had first thought. He and Gustave began carrying out all the damaged furniture and he had talked to the insurance agent on the phone. They were going to come from Union City to access the damage so he had to wait for them before he could begin repairs on the Queen of Hearts. Lucas picked up one end of the table while Gustave grabbed the opposite end and they began heading out the back door leaving all the damaged furniture in a designated spot behind the saloon so the adjuster could look at it. "Gustave I wanted you to be the first to know, I asked Elizabeth to marry me and she accepted!"

"That is wonderful. I love Mrs. Thorton. She is a wonderful woman. You two are completely made for each other." Gustave patted Lucas on the shoulder with excitement. "Do you have any idea where or when you will get married?"

"No, we have not discussed the particulars yet, but we will be traveling to Hamilton during Christmas to spend it with her family." Lucas said as they walked back into the Queen of Hearts. "I would love it if you would be my best man?"

"I would be honored! Would you like me to play the accordion?" Gustave chuckled.

"Wonderful, no accordion." Lucas laughed. "I need to meet Elizabeth for dinner. I'll be back later."

Lucas took the short walk through town to Elizabeth's. He knocked on the door, Elizabeth answered. "Good evening." She answered with a kiss which he soon returned as they made their way playfully inside.

"Hi buddy!" Jack came running and leaped into Lucas's arms.

"Whoa Buddy! You are getting heavy. Why don't you play with momma while I make us a delicious dinner?"

Lucas spent the next thirty minutes making salmon with glazed sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts while Elizabeth entertained Jack with his blocks. Once he was well into building a house with his blocks, Elizabeth snuck into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around her new fiancé from behind. "Do you need any help darling?"

He turned around to give her a kiss. "You could set the table. Dinner is almost ready if I don't burn it from being distracted with your kisses." Lucas smiled that dimpled smile.

"I would love too!" She replied while pulling away.

Lucas turned his attention back to dinner and Elizabeth set the table. She gathered up Jack and made his plate first cutting up all his food so that he would be sure to be able to eat it. Then they all took their places at the table.

"I can't believe we are finally going to be married." Elizabeth said still feeling like she was living a dream. "Darling the dinner is wonderful. You must have mastered your cooking skills from Gustave." She teased.

"Gustave and I have done quite a bit of cooking together. In fact he was the one who taught me how to cook. I must admit I am nowhere near the chef he is. Nobody can do a meal like Gustave. Moving on, do you have any ideas on when and where you would like to have our wedding?" Lucas asked in a more serious tone.

"I don't know darling. You mentioned a fall wedding. Is that what you want?" She asked.

"Elizabeth, this will be your last wedding. We are going to be married for the rest of our lives. All I want is to be married to you, the woman I love. Where or when is of no importance to me. I want you to have your heart's desire." Lucas spoke with such sincerity.

"Okay then well how about we have a fall wedding on the bridge? How does that sound to you?" She asked hopeful he would agree.

"There is only a few weeks left in this fall before it turns really cold and I don't know if I can wait another year to be married to you." Lucas replied teasingly.

"Exactly. Let's get married in a couple of weeks." Elizabeth said now feeling anxious.

"A couple weeks?" Lucas gulped and stuttered questioningly. "Are you serious?"

"Of course! I can not wait to start my life with you. I wish it was tonight because then you would not have to leave." She said teasingly.

"Alright let's do it." He finally agreed. "There is so much to get done. We need to call our parents, pick out rings, get Jack and me a tuxedo, and decide on a menu, colors, and decorations." He was starting to panic.

"Lucas, darling calm down. We do not have to do it all ourselves. I am sure the town will pitch in." Elizabeth said now standing behind him and rubbing his shoulders.

"I just want our wedding day to be perfect." He spoke softly.

"It will be, because I will be standing up there with you." She said reassuringly. "Why don't you get Jack cleaned up and put to bed. I will clean up the mess and then join me on the couch."

"Come on buddy! Let's go get ready for bed." Lucas said carrying Jack up the stairs while Jack played with his mustache.

He washed him up and then tucked him into bed playfully, wishing him all kinds of sweet dreams and reading him the story of Robin Hood before shutting out the light and returning downstairs to join his fiancé on the couch.

"It took you long enough." Elizabeth teased while kissing his cheek.

"Jack wanted me to read him a story. I love him Elizabeth. I can't wait to be here with both of you all the time." Lucas said as he ran his thumbs over her chin.

The fire was burning and the light from the fireplace cast a beautiful glow. "Lucas, darling why did it take you so long to tell me you love me?" Elizabeth asked as they sat there enjoying the fireplace resting her head on his shoulder and Lucas with his hand resting on her thigh a little higher than he normally would have.

"I wanted to be sure you would return my feelings before I said it. That day in your house when you told me you felt more for me than you thought, it had me feeling a little insecure. I was not sure what that meant. That day when you came into my office all wet and unsure about my feelings, I knew you were ready to hear it." Lucas said as he gently turned her face to look at him. "I have been in love with you for a long time. I knew once you came in to lecture me on Allie's card trick that you were going to be someone special to me. Now we are here together and about to be married. I can not wait."

"Lucas, I have had feelings for you since that day in the library when you quoted Dangerous Liaisons. I never told anyone but I was so attracted to you in that moment. You had me feeling weak in the knees. It just took me a very long time to sort out what kind of feelings they were." She responded now pushing his hair back from his face.

"Is that right?" He joked.

"Are you proud of yourself Mr. Bouchard?" She teased in return.

"Quite!" He responded pulling her in for a passionate kiss. He pulled back still breathing heavy. "It's getting late. I should go while I'm still thinking straight. A few more seconds of this and I won't be." He said teasingly with a dimpled smile that made her want one more kiss as they walked to the door and he headed home for the evening. "I'll see you in the morning and we will begin wedding preparations."