Nathan ran through the woods, breathing hard. It wasn't often that he ran for exercise these days, but after his encounter with Elizabeth yesterday morning and the terrifyingly knowing look from Gabe, he needed to clear his head. When the sun had just lit the sky, he set out for a morning run.

By the time he reached home again, he was dripping with sweat. The mid-July heat was already intense. The intensity matched the feelings swirling inside of him. No matter how much he ran – literally or figuratively – the demons from his past couldn't be shaken.

He bathed and dressed in clean clothes. Drawing in a deep breath, he walked out of the house once more. He knew he needed to have a talk with his friend. He wasn't sure what Gabe saw, but his look had seared straight through Nathan.

He reached the Mountie office just as Gabe was returning from morning rounds. His friend didn't look surprised to see him. "Hello, Nathan," Gabe said, dismounting and tying Apollo to the waiting post. "Fancy seeing you here. How can I help you?"

Nathan raised a brow, leaning casually against a post. "Hi, Gabe. I thought I'd swing by for a chat with my best friend. I know I've been a little…uh…" What was the word he was looking for?

Gabe suppressed a smile. "Moody?"

Nathan rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. That was it exactly. It hadn't been intentional, but he'd definitely not been himself of late. "Yeah," he said wryly. "I'm sorry, Gabe."

Gabe grinned, motioning toward the door. "Apology accepted. Let's go inside." They went into the NWMP office. Gabe settled in the chair behind his desk while Nathan took the one in front of it. Leaning back in his chair, Gabe shot Nathan a lazy smile. "So…you and Elizabeth. How long has that been going on?"

Nathan's face flushed, his suspicion from yesterday immediately confirmed. "Nothing has been going on. Elizabeth and I are just friends."

"Mm-hmm," Gabe hummed, sounding entirely unconvinced. "What I saw yesterday was most definitely not just friendship. You looked completely besotted."

Flushing deeper, Nathan shook his head. "I am not besotted."

Gabe chuckled. "You can deny it all you want, my friend. Looks don't lie. Your heart was written all over your face."

Nathan shook his head again. "No," he said, almost desperately. "I can't feel anything for her. She's grieving Jack, for crying out loud! And I have no intention of loving again. You know that." He crossed his arms as if that settled the matter. "There can be nothing between us."

"Hogwash," Gabe snorted. "I'll admit I was shocked yesterday by the timeline. Jack hasn't even been gone for six months. But after I thought about it, I realized all these self-imposed time restraints on finding love again are just that – self-imposed restraints. The heart wants what the heart wants, my friend. If your heart is drawn to Elizabeth and hers to you, why fight it? If you could have a love story of your own with her, why not give it a chance?"

"Love?" Nathan gasped, his traitorous heart pounding at the thought. "No one said anything about love."

Gabe cocked a brow. "You did," he said. "You said 'I have no intention of loving again'. So technically, you started the love talk." He tilted his head. "It wouldn't be a bad thing, Nathan. Elizabeth is a good woman. You already have a solid foundation of friendship, even if you've known each other a short time. What's holding you back?" He spoke again before Nathan could, as if reading his thoughts. "Besides the fact that Jack was engaged to her."

"Everything!" Nathan sputtered. He began ticking reasons off on his fingers. "It's too soon. I don't know her that well. She's not looking for love. I'm not looking for love. It would be too strange if I fell for Jack's fiancée." He spread his arms out. "Am I forgetting anything?" he asked, purposefully injecting a light humor into the words.

A sudden seriousness came over his friend. "Yes," Gabe said. "You didn't mention anything about Sarah. I'm guessing that's your biggest hurdle."

Nathan felt himself automatically shut down. He couldn't bring himself to think about Sarah and how things ended, much less talk about it. Even with his dearest friend.

Gabe leaned forward, pinning him with an intense stare. "Look, Nathan, someday you're going to have to talk about what happened. It's obvious it's eating you from the inside out. I can understand your reluctance to revisit a painful experience. But it's going to keep eating at you until you can't handle it anymore, and when that happens, you're going to snap. I've seen it happen before. You keep things bottled up inside rather than talking them through." He leaned back again, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't care who you talk to about it," he said. "It can be me, it can be Colleen, it can be a stranger on the street. But you need to let it out." A hint of sympathy came into his eyes. "You won't be able to truly move on with your life until you do." He let a small smile turn up his lips. "Though I must admit I hope you one day trust me with the story."

Nathan's throat worked. "It's not that I don't trust you," he said weakly. "I just…can't…" He felt tears burning his eyes. Memories threatened, but once again, he shoved them desperately away. He sighed. "Maybe I'm a coward. I can't handle the thought that you might think less of me once you know the truth."

Gabe stood, coming around to sit on the edge of his desk in front of Nathan. He waited until Nathan finally looked up again. "You know nothing would make me think less of you," he said firmly. "I know you. You're my friend. Nothing is going to change that." His lips quirked into a smile. "I get the feeling it's not as bad as you're making it out to be in your mind."

Nathan looked down again, fighting the flood of memories that wanted to escape. "You're right," he said dejectedly. "It's worse."

He felt Gabe's hand on his shoulder. "Nathan," Gabe said, his tone serious and low. Nathan tried to look up, but he found he didn't have the strength or courage to do so. Gabe waited patiently while Nathan struggled with himself. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nathan slowly lifted his gaze to Gabe's. It was only then that Gabe spoke again.

"You've always cast blame on yourself when it was unwarranted," Gabe said quietly. "From the time we were children, if you thought you could have prevented something, you blamed yourself for a sad outcome." He raised a brow. "Do you still blame yourself for Joshua's death?"

Grief tore at Nathan's heart. He looked down again, unwilling to meet Gabe's eyes. "If I had joined the fight in the north sooner…"

Gabe cut him off. "You can't live in what ifs, Nathan," he said forcefully, as if willing Nathan to believe him. "Joshua's death was not your fault. If you had joined the fight sooner, you both might be dead. You had literally nothing to do with him falling. Yet you seem to think you had a part to play in his death, or you think you could have prevented it if you were there." A small smile played on his lips. "You're a protector, Nathan. You always have been. But sometimes you take it to an extreme and blame yourself for something you had no control over." He ducked his head to look into Nathan's face. "I have a feeling that's the case with Sarah."

Memories threatened again. "You don't understand," Nathan said desperately, tears stinging his eyes.

Gabe's gaze was unwavering. "Then make me understand."

The memories pushed harder, but Nathan pushed them back with everything in him. He couldn't relive them. Not now. Throat convulsing, he shook his head. "I can't," he whispered.

Gabe studied him for a few moments before nodding slowly. "Alright," he said, leaning back against his desk once more. "I won't push you before you're ready." He lifted a brow, a look of sympathy on his face. "Just remember what I said, Nathan. Someday, you're going to have to talk it out with someone. I just hope…" He trailed off, looking down and biting his lip.

Nathan stood. "You hope what?" he asked.

Gabe sighed. "I just hope it doesn't break you."

Nathan swallowed. He hoped the same thing. He stepped forward, pulling Gabe into a fierce hug. "Have I ever thanked you for always being there for me? Even when I'm a stubborn mule?" he asked, thankfulness for Gabe's friendship filling him with an intensity that rocked him.

That prompted a chuckle from his friend. Gabe hugged him back. "The feeling is mutual, Nathan. We've been through a lot together."

Nathan hugged him a little tighter before finally letting go. He placed a hand on Gabe's shoulder. "I love you, Gabe. You're a good friend."

Gabe smiled. "I love you too, you stubborn mule."

That made them both laugh. A snort at the door made them turn. Bill stood there, arms crossed, affecting an indifferent look, though amusement was clear in his eyes. "If I didn't know any better, I'd be worried right now," he said. He tried to make his voice gruff, but it didn't work. The smile tugging at his lips broke free as he came into the office. "Actually, it's refreshing to see two men unafraid of their emotions." His eyes shadowed for a moment. "I wish I had told Jack that I loved him before he left for the north."

Nathan and Gabe glanced at each other, recognizing Bill's pain. Though Gabe and Bill shared a better relationship, Nathan had grown to like the older man as well. Despite his gruff exterior, he had a heart of gold. A heart that was grieving. Nathan knew Jack had been like a son to Bill.

His own pain momentarily forgotten, Nathan slipped an arm around Bill's shoulders, guiding him to one of the vacated chairs. "Have a seat," he said. He joined Gabe leaning against the desk. Casually crossing his arms, he glanced at his friend. "Gabe, have we ever told Bill about the night Jack played a practical joke on the entire unit?"

Gabe's eyes lit with recognition. A smile split his face. "You mean the one that backfired?"

Nathan nodded. Gabe chuckled. "No, I don't believe we have."

Bill was watching them, something akin to excitement on his weathered face. He was clearly interested in the story. Nathan motioned for Gabe to start. His friend was better at storytelling.

Gabe grinned, happy to oblige. "It all started when Jack found a den of snakes in the woods…"

Elizabeth sipped a cup of tea slowly, looking at the café door every few seconds. Her plate sat empty in front of her. She'd finished her lunch five minutes ago. Soon she would need to return to school, though with the new teacher helping her, she knew she had some wiggle room. As the town grew, so did the school. The Jack Thornton School, as it was now called, housed thirty students and two teachers. Sometimes Elizabeth took the morning class while Emily Jefferson took the afternoon class. Sometimes they taught together. This afternoon was Emily's turn to teach. Elizabeth fully planned on being there when class started to help manage the class and supplement the lesson. But as time passed and her typical lunch companion didn't show up, she began to feel worried.

Somewhere over the past few weeks, she and Nathan had started having lunch together almost daily. It had started when he walked in as she was eating one day, having been brought to the café by Lee in his car to get her out of the house while still letting her ankle rest. Lee had promised to return in an hour, and Nathan had walked in shortly after. He stopped by the table to say hello, and Elizabeth invited him to eat with her. He'd said he came to the café everyday at noon for his midday meal. Intrigued by that bit of information, Elizabeth began taking her own lunch breaks at the café, hoping to see him and talk to him. The connection they shared pulled at her. She knew it might not be the smartest move, but he was so easy to talk to and he told her stories of his time in the Northern Territories with Jack. Every so often, Gabe joined them as well. Elizabeth was thankful to receive glimpses of Jack's life over that year he spent in the north. It felt like a precious gift had been given to her when Nathan and Gabe came to Hope Valley.

The fact that Nathan hadn't shown up today told Elizabeth something was wrong. He hadn't been there yesterday either, but she was able to rationalize him missing one day. But two days in a row? She wondered if something had happened to Colleen. After paying her bill, she stepped out onto the street. Her concern about Colleen was immediately put to rest. She saw Nathan's sister standing on the boardwalk by the dress shop, talking to Gabe. She was smiling and looked happy about something. Elizabeth couldn't see Gabe's face, but she assumed the smile was related to him.

She looked to the other side of the street. Nathan's woodshop was located close to the dress shop. Maybe he had simply gotten caught up in his work. She went back inside on an impulse, ordering the meal he always had: chicken thighs in maple sauce with a sweet potato and Brussels sprouts on the side. Abigail had it ready quickly. Elizabeth took the wrapped box from her friend, glancing at the clock. She had twenty minutes before she had to be back at the schoolhouse. With determined steps, she made her way to Nathan's shop.

Once outside, she paused. Was it too forward of her to come to his workplace like this? They were friends, but she had never stepped foot in his shop, even though she'd expressed a desire to see it when he first told her about it. Butterflies flitted through her stomach. She looked down at the box in her hands, a blush staining her cheeks. Maybe this was a bad idea.

But she'd come this far. She might as well see it through. Squaring her shoulders, she pushed the door open and went inside.

The smell of sawdust and wood filled her nose. She looked around the room in awe. Beautiful handcrafted furniture was arranged throughout. Elizabeth touched a chair, mouth dropping at the intricacy and detail carved into the piece. "Wow," she whispered. She walked through the room, looking at other chairs, tables, bed frames, dressers, and more.

Nathan's work was incredible.

Footsteps sounded from the back. Nathan came into the room, brushing sawdust from his dark hair. He froze when he saw her. "Elizabeth!"

His unexpected appearance made butterflies swarm through her stomach. She bit her lip, wondering what he must think of her unannounced visit to his shop. Holding up the box, she tried to smile. "I thought you might be hungry," she said, her voice squeaking slightly. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "You weren't at the café yesterday or today. I thought…" – something might be wrong – "you might be busy. So I brought you your usual."

Nathan's entire countenance softened. "You didn't have to do that," he said gently, walking toward her. "I'm sorry I missed lunch. You're right, I have been busy." Something flickered in his eyes, telling Elizabeth that might not be the full story, but she accepted his answer. He took the box from her. Their fingers brushed, sending currents of electricity through Elizabeth's entire body. Judging by the stunned look on Nathan's face, he felt it too.

They stared at each other for a few moments before Nathan shuffled on his feet. "Thank you," he said, nodding down at the box. He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his blue eyes. "I am hungry. This smells delicious."

Elizabeth chuckled, trying to break through the tension. "Considering you eat it every day, I thought you might enjoy it a little bit."

Nathan laughed in response. "I guess I am rather predictable that way." He grinned. "Perhaps tomorrow I'll change up my order."

She looked up at him hopefully. "Does that mean you'll be at the café tomorrow?"

He froze briefly. A struggle waged in his eyes before relaxing. His eyes became tender as they gazed into hers. "Yes, Elizabeth," he said. "I'll be there."

She smiled. "Good. I missed you." The words came out naturally. She meant them, but she felt her eyes widen at the implication of what she'd just said. Stammering for words, she tacked on another sentence. "You've become such a good friend."

"As have you," Nathan said softly. "A very good friend."

Elizabeth couldn't be sure, but she thought he added a slight emphasis to the word friend. She wrapped her arms around herself, warding off a sudden chill. Looking at the furniture again, she found a new topic of conversation. "You are an amazing woodworker, Nathan," she said, shooting him a smile before walking around the room to get a better look at some of the pieces. "I can see why you wanted to start your own business." She ran a hand over a dresser. "The quality and craftsmanship is better than anything I've seen before. Even in Hamilton."

Nathan looked surprised, but a look of happiness danced over his face. "You really think so?" He stood a little straighter. Elizabeth hid a smile at the male display of pride.

"Yes," she affirmed. "I've been needing a new dining table set, both table and chairs." She paused to look at a chair. "Can I hire you?"

He blinked. "Hire me?" Shaking his head, he placed his food on a table and walked toward her. "No, Elizabeth. I would do it for free." He put his hands in his pockets. "As a favor to Jack. And as a thank you to you for welcoming me to Hope Valley."

Elizabeth folded her arms. "I want to help support you, Nathan," she said softly. "Please let me pay you."

He shook his head again. A stubbornness entered his eyes that told Elizabeth she wouldn't win this battle. Pursing her lips, she tilted her head. "Can I at least pay you in food?"

Nathan chuckled. "I can hardly say no to that." He nodded. "Alright, fine. I'll make you a new dining set and you can pay me in food." He held out his hand. "Deal?"

She shook it, her hand engulfed in his. "Deal."

His grip on her hand extended a few beats longer than necessary. Elizabeth felt curls of warmth flit up her arm toward her heart. She caught her breath as her gaze met Nathan's. He slowly let go of her hand. Glancing at the clock, he placed his hands in his pockets again.

"It's almost time for afternoon classes to begin," he said softly.

Elizabeth looked at the clock herself, letting out a small yelp. "You're right," she said. Before heading to the door, she looked at him one more time. "So I'll see you tomorrow for lunch?"

He smiled, giving a little nod. "Yes."

Relief flooded her. "Good." She opened the door, waved to Nathan, and made her way back to school.

Colleen took in the bright lights and bustle of the theater in Union City. There were people everywhere, dressed in finery and jewels, ready for a night of entertainment. She smoothed a hand down the front of her emerald green dress. Elizabeth had lent it to her, along with diamond earrings and a necklace that took Colleen's breath away. She knew her new friend came from money, but she hadn't realized just how much money. The dress was the height of fashion. Elizabeth said her sister Julie had sent it to her, and though she'd never worn it, she was happy to let Colleen borrow it.

"It's something, isn't it?"

Gabe's voice sounded to her right. Colleen tore her eyes from the beautiful theater to look at the man who had asked her there. His eyes were huge, taking in the sight before them. Colleen knew Gabe had never been to the theater before. When he told her he had two tickets to see her favorite play, it had taken everything in her not to let her mouth drop open. When he asked her to go with him, she felt a moment of hesitation. Gabe was her friend, but she sensed there was more to his asking than simple friendship.

"Will this be a…date?" she asked, almost choking on the word.

Gabe shook his head. "No, Colleen. It's meant to be a good time between two friends." He bit his lip, worrying it between his teeth. "If you would feel more comfortable with Nathan, he said he'd take you."

That tidbit of information had given Colleen the courage she needed to accept his invitation. The fact that he was going to give her a night at the theater whether it was with him or with her brother touched her heart. He'd done this for her because he cared.

Now, her heart warmed again as she watched him. The awe on his face was a sight to behold. "Yes, it's something," she said softly, her eyes glued to Gabe's face. He was wearing a suit and tie, his dark hair combed neatly into a fashionable style. His brown eyes were alight with wonder and his full lips were tilted into a gentle curve as he looked around the room. Colleen blinked. When had he gotten so handsome?

He glanced at her, catching her staring. Her cheeks flamed. She quickly looked away. Her breathing was coming faster and her heart was pounding in her chest. She recognized the tell-tale signs of attraction, and it shocked her. She was with Gabe, after all. Comfortable, steady, steadfast Gabe. How could she possibly feel any kind of attraction to the man? They'd known each other their entire lives and her heart had never so much as picked up an extra beat around him.

Until now.

Trying to ignore the unsettling reaction, Colleen told herself it was the unusual setting they found themselves in. That had to be it. The alternative scared her too much.

The crush of people closed in around them. Gabe placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her through the massive throng. "I didn't realize Shakespeare was quite so popular," he said lightly.

Colleen nodded, thankful to be back on safe ground. The tingles in her back where his hand rested were simply a side effect of being around so many people. "He is timeless," she said. "A true poet and romantic."

Gabe chuckled. "So I hear."

She glanced at him from the side of her eye. "Have you ever read a Shakespeare play?" she asked. She had a feeling she already knew the answer.

Gabe shook his head. "Never." He laughed. "I remember you trying to get me to read Romeo and Juliet."

Colleen sighed, placing a hand over her heart. "That is such a romantic play."

A snort made her look at Gabe sharply. He grinned back unapologetically. "So let me get this straight. A play where the leading man – or boy, really – is in love with one girl, then suddenly switches his affections to another, is romantic?"

Colleen stared at him. "What?"

Gabe raised a brow in playful challenge. "Romeo was in love with Roseline at the beginning, was he not?"

She nodded slowly.

"Then he sees Juliet, and suddenly it's as if Roseline, who he was supposedly desperately in love with, never existed. He and Juliet were together for three days before they killed themselves in despair because they thought they had lost each other." He hiked his brow again. "How exactly is that romantic?"

Colleen floundered for words. "Well…uh…I don't know. It just is."

Gabe laughed. "That is not romance, Colleen. That is a silly infatuation. If they had lived, Romeo would have found another girl to fall in love with unrealistically fast. Probably only a couple days later, at that! And he would have left poor, naïve Juliet in the lurch."

Placing a hand on her hip, Colleen huffed, annoyed that he had so succinctly dismantled one of her favorite romances. "And how would you know all that if you've never even read the play?"

He chuckled. "I watched you perform it time and again. Remember? You made Joshua or Nathan or even me play Romeo while you played Juliet. I might not have read it, but I'm pretty sure I have that play memorized because of that."

Someone bumped into Colleen at that moment, sending her stumbling slightly. Gabe's warm hand left her back as he caught her shoulders to keep her from falling. Breathless, Colleen looked up at him. Their eyes locked. The rest of the room faded. In that moment, it was only her and Gabe, with a million possibilities springing between them. A look of surprise lit Gabe's eyes. He searched her face, looking for something. She wasn't sure what he saw, but a small smile graced his lips. One of his hands trailed down her arm from her shoulder until it met hers. He clasped her hand in his, holding it to his heart. "Maybe I should hold onto you until we're out of this crowd," he murmured, his gaze slipping momentarily to her lips.

Colleen's heart leapt inside. Her own eyes dropped to his mouth, wondering what it would feel like to…

She slammed the brakes on her thoughts, shocked at the direction they took. Colleen Mays Parks, what has gotten into you?! she scolded herself. She had no business looking at Gabe that way, not when she had rejected his love twice. He deserved much better than anything she had to give, which wasn't much.

She cleared her throat, looking down at her feet. Gabe spoke in a gravelly voice that told her he felt a little rattled.

"Shall we go in?"

Colleen nodded, unable to find any other words. As they walked to the hall, she realized how safe she felt with her hand nestled in his. The warmth from his skin seeped into hers, spreading through her entire body. When they found their seats, Gabe began making small talk as they waited for the play to begin.

He still hadn't let go of her hand.

And she didn't want him to.