The next day passed by quickly, with Elizabeth helping Charlotte and preparing meals. She was grateful to have the distraction since Allie would arrive the next day. She had been obvious in her attempts to find more tasks to keep her mind occupied. Nathan and Tom looked over the new information that Bill had sent and compared it to what they already knew. But he knew that Elizabeth worried about how Allie would react to seeing her.

Charlotte had told him after breakfast that Elizabeth had been fretting about Allie's and Opal's sleeping accommodations.

"She worries they won't be good enough and insists they must be perfect. I don't think she was this nervous the first time she met me. Why don't you call Allie and see what frame of mind she is in? But Nate, don't mention it to Lizzie because she would insist that Allie not feel pressured. But I think that if she is this anxious, then maybe your Allie is too and needs some reassurance." Charlotte said.

"I had noticed that she was feeling anxious about her coming tomorrow. I hadn't realized it was that bad, however. How do I call Allie without her knowing what I'm doing?"

"Leave that to me because I need some supplies picked up, and I'm sending her and Julie to do it. While they are gone, you can make the call." Charlotte said.

After Elizabeth and Julie left for town, Nathan called Allie.

"Hey, Dad," Allie said. "Is everything all right?"

"It's more than fine, Allie girl," Nathan said, chuckling. "We can't wait to see you tomorrow. I just wanted to check in and see how you were. Mrs. Thornton was worried you might be as nervous as Elizabeth is."

"Huh?" Allie asked.

Nathan laughed and explained. "Jack's grandmother was concerned you might be as anxious as his mother and need reassurance. I guess when you get here, we will have to figure something out. Because there are currently three Mrs. Thorntons on the ranch,"

Allie laughed, "How are you and our Mrs. Thornton getting along?"

"Nathan smiled at that and said, "They are going very well, Allie, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. She is working hard to make sure that everything is perfect for you. Jack can't wait to see you either, and the others are excited to meet you."

"So, you really believe that she has changed and now loves us?" Allie asked cautiously, but he could hear the hope there too.

"Allie, she always loved us, and what happened wasn't about anything you did or didn't do. But I want to let her tell you herself." Nathan said, happy that Allie wasn't as big an obstacle as they may have realized. It was as if they were finally revealing what was in their hearts, creating a clear path to where they all wanted to be.

"So does this mean that you and Mrs. Thornton are courting now?" Allie asked slyly.

"Well, no, not yet, anyway. We wanted to wait until we had a chance to be together first. But Allie, how would you feel if we did start courting?"

"As long as you are happy, then I would be too. Does it mean we would move back to Hope Valley?" Allie asked.

"Whoa, slow down, sweetheart. We would be doing more of a long-distance courtship for the time being, but would you be okay with it?"

Allie didn't say anything for a few minutes, but Nathan knew she was thinking it over. "I think I would be okay with it, Dad. I always wanted us to be a family though I will have to work on trusting her again." Allie said, "I do love her, though. Do you think she will be angry about that?"

"No, sweet Allie, I think she will understand your feelings," Nathan said softly. "I'm looking forward to the four of us being together again in one place, even if it's only for a short time."

"Me too, Dad. Hopefully, it won't be temporary for too long." Nathan couldn't help feeling relieved by her words. "Opal is excited to be visiting the ranch and seeing the other Mrs. Thorntons again," Allie said, laughing. "Dad, can you maybe talk to our Mrs. Thornton about what to call everyone?"

"I will, honey," Nathan replied, laughing. He had a perfect picture in his mind of how trying to keep the ladies straight would be difficult for the children. "Our Mrs. Thornton and I will be there to meet the train. Don't give Uncle Bill any problems on the way." He teased.

"Okay, Daaad, I love you," Allie said happily. "I can't wait to see everything."

"I love you too, Allie." He replied before hanging up the phone.

"I take it the conversation went well?" Charlotte asked, coming into the room.

"It went very well. She appears to be willing to accept a courtship between us though it will take time for her to completely trust Elizabeth as she once did."

"That is understandable, and I know Lizzie will be patient with her. You know, whenever she wrote to us, Allie was the one we heard the most about. It feels like we know her already just from those letters. Well, she and Opal, though Robert is there too. Opal was special to both Elizabeth and my son. He used to talk about her when he wrote home."

"Well, I can tell you she still loves her Mountie Jack. All the children still talk about him. He was a huge part of their lives in the early years."

"I think the shared bond over the Coal Valley children and widows brought him and Lizzie together. Because they disliked each other from the moment he learned who she was." Charlotte said, laughing.

"I still find that hard to believe, given how much they loved each other. You know their story has become somewhat legendary through the retelling.

Why don't we get a cup of coffee, and we can swap stories." Charlotte said. "I may not be able to cook, but I can make a good cup of coffee, unlike my son Jack," Charlotte said, shuddering. "His tasted like something used to polish your boots."

Nathan couldn't help laughing when she winked at him as she moved toward the coffee pot. "So, where was I?" Charlotte said.

"You were telling me how they didn't like each other?"

"Oh, well, Jack was supposed to go to Cape Fullerton, but thanks to Lizzie's father, he was sent to watch out for William's princess, as Jack called her. I had never seen anyone tie him up in knots as much as Elizabeth Thatcher did. I remember the first letter; in fact, hold on a minute. Charlotte came back carrying some letters wrapped in a ribbon. She sifted through them before pulling one out. This was the first letter," she said, handing it to him.

Ma,

I arrived in Coal Valley, and it was just as I figured it was. Muddy streets, worn down buildings, and the constant smell of Coal dust in the air. They have me sleeping over the saloon to make it worse. I found out why I'm here, which has nothing to do with the mining disaster and everything to do with a rich man's spoiled princess. Apparently, Mr. William Thatcher's daughter Elizabeth is the new schoolteacher here. Mr. Thatcher, the shipping tycoon. She had the nerve to tell me that she doesn't need anyone watching out for her. Miss Thatcher even had the nerve to tell me that she could take care of herself and that I could be on my way. Ma, I thought I would bite my tongue in half, trying to keep my cool. Then she dismissed me like I was some kind of lackey. She told me that she had lessons to prepare and dismissing me with a good day to your, sir. I went over and sent HQ a telegram demanding they repost me somewhere else before we kill one another. Not that I think she will last more than a few days of it. Miss Thatcher has assured me that being a Thatcher, she doesn't run from a challenge. It will be a long few days before she gives up and goes home. I pity anyone who gets stuck with her for a wife. As always, I miss you and love you.

Your loving son Jack

"Wow," Nathan said, laughing. "You weren't kidding about how they felt about each other. However, it seems the two overcame their initial dislike of one another."

"This one is a week later," Charlotte said with a smirk.

Ma,

I'm still awaiting word from HQ, and the princess is still here. I heard from one of the ladies that she burned down the teacherage the first night she was here. I thought it odd that an outhouse was in the middle of the field. They had a church burn down, so the families meet in a field on Sundays for services. Miss Thatcher is staying with one of the widows, a lovely woman named Abigail Stanton, who appears to be around your age. Thankfully she has taken the princess under her wing, making my job a bit easier. Miss Thatcher also lost all her clothes in said fire and is sharing Mrs. Stanton's. A few days into her job, she was sporting a black eye from where she got in between two coal boys fighting. I just don't understand her at all. She considered it some badge and was quite proud of herself. There is something about her that really gets under my skin without any effort at all. Mrs. Stanton was kind enough to invite me to dinner, where the Princess again tried to scold me and criticize how I do my job. But I got the last word in and tricked her into admitting she wasn't upset to see me at dinner though she tried to act like she was. Every time I turn around, it seems like she is, sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. It is only a matter of time before she gets into trouble. I'm counting the days until my orders come or she leaves on the coach. Anyway, I better go, but I love you.

Your loving son Jack

"Wow!" Nathan said.

"Have you noticed that most of the content of these letters is about her?" Charlotte asked.

"I have noticed that," Nathan said, chuckling.

"After she went into the Coal mine to help the widows clear the shaft when they were being evicted, I think things began to change for him. I assume she has told you some of her early days?"

"She did, and I can understand Jack's frustration, but Elizabeth is a wonderfully unique combination that draws you in no matter how much you fight it," Nathan said with amusement. "I think it's because you don't know what to do about her, and you have to figure it out."

"My two girls are definitely a unique combination, that is for sure, and Lizzie was the right one for my Jack," Charlotte said with affection. "I also think you're the right man for my Lizzie and Jack Jr., Nate,"

"I appreciate your confidence in me, Charlotte," Nathan said. "I think the two of them perfectly fit Allie and me. Your approval and your trust mean a lot to me."

"You're welcome, Nate," Charlotte said with a smile." Not that I'm trying to play matchmaker or tell anyone who should be with whom, though." She added with a wink.