In Hamilton, when she was a girl, the rain was considered by all to be a nuisance. It would flood the streets and leave puddles for the coaches and horses to splash in, drenching any unfortunate soul that dared to walk the streets. It kept her and her sisters inside, which always lead to an argument between Viola and Julie and Elizabeth's inability to find a quiet place to read a book. The rain was a gray, weary torment; it was a jailer to be feared and a thief that took without a passing thought to those it might hurt.

The rain was different in Hope Valley.

Farmers prayed for it. Children danced in it, even when their parents yelled for them to come inside before they caught their deaths. It was a common symphony in Hope Valley; the beating of raindrops on tin roofs and tempered glass windows and the screams and giggles and splashes of children. Elizabeth would often smile sadly at her students and their siblings, longing for her childhood and wishing she had known the joy of splashing in puddles with her sisters. She could almost see Julie dancing a waltz with her in the downpour while Viola scowled from the safety of the porch roof. The thought would always bring a smile to her lips.

Jack caught her once, caught in the daydream of a childhood memory she was never allowed to make. They had been at the jailhouse, her reading a book and he finishing up a report on a series of arrests and citations he had made shortly after a new batch of railroad workers had come into town. He asked her, teasingly, if she was thinking about him. Elizabeth, too full of nostalgia and melancholy and affection for the man beside her could do nothing but answer him honestly, her eyes never leaving the children dancing just in front of the jailhouse. When she was done, Elizabeth looked over to Jack, and her breath stilled. Adoration, humor, and the promise of something she hadn't been able to name then, danced in his hazel eyes. She had felt warm all over as he promised to take her dancing in the rain one day.

The rain was different in Hope Valley.

It would hit the roof of the row house or the cafe and Elizabeth would simply listen to the steady yet syncopated rhythms. The rain, that perfect speech silent words pouring down, judging no one and everyone, drenching the grass and soaking the trees, filling the ponds and creeks with water, washing out the sins of man to begin anew. The grass was greener, the sounds of the birds singing dance through the air more easily and the fragrance of flowers always seemed to drench Hope Valley once the rain was done. And Elizabeth would simply sit and listen, sometimes with a good book and a cup of tea, rarely with her journal and a pencil in hand, and even rarer still, with nothing at all to divide her attention from the rhythms of the world that she had not yet learned to recognize.

The rain was different in Hope Valley.

Today, the rain seemed to cry the tears that Elizabeth refused to succumb to as she picked up the readers left on the desks by her students. She wiped down the blackboard of the day's lesson, careful to leave her name, Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton, untouched in the upper left hand corner. The sight made fear and longing clench around her heart and Elizabeth forced herself to blink back the tears threatening to leave her eyes. She wouldn't cry, not today, not where he might see. He would be coming to walk home with her as soon as his rounds were done. And Elizabeth would not let Jack's last day in Hope Valley be one of tears, no matter how desperately she wanted to let the fear and sorrow bubbling up in her chest out.

So the rain cried for her. It gave life to the trees, assurance for the farmers, and happy memories for the children. And the rain gave tears for Elizabeth….


Abigail watched as the town's new Mountie, Jack told her his name was Nathaniel, dismounted from his horse and sauntered up to the jailhouse door, where Jack was waiting under the cover of the porch roof. Abigail already didn't like Nathaniel. His walk was arrogant, his nose stuck up at their small but charming town. He seemed to think himself above a post in a railroad town. Jack, standing proud and strong in his red serge, accepted a salute from the new Mountie and Abigail had to laugh. Jack obviously seemed to agree with her assessment of Nathaniel the Mountie if the look of annoyance on his face was anything to go by.

Abigail was startled to see Superintendent Collins ride in moments later. She glanced over to Jack, eyes narrowed with confusion and concern. Collins dismounted his horse and quickly climbed the stoop to the jailhouse. Jack quickly saluted him and Nathaniel followed suit. Collins returned the greeting and practically shoved Nathaniel out of the way and ushered Jack inside, closing the door in Nathaniel's face. Abigail would have laughed the sight of the Mountie standing like a lost puppy in the rain, had she not been so concerned. Jack was always informed and rarely surprised. Jack had obviously not been expecting his superior officer's visit. A chill settled around Abigail's heart. She didn't think that meant anything good….


"Sit, Thornton," Collins' voice was gruff and forceful as he pulled up the chair in front of Jack's desk. He looked rushed, disheveled, and not at all like Jack was used to seeing. Something was wrong.

"What's going on, Sir?" Jack kept his voice even.

Collins huffed as he placed his hands in his lap. He looked down at Jack's hands, fingers twined on top of his desk. Jack's wedding ring on full display. The older Mountie glanced up at Jack, suddenly heartbroken for the young Corporal. Collins would have loved to smile and slap the young Mountie on the back in congratulations. But the news and the advice on the tip of his tongue was not happy and he was not in the mood to pretend. Not with Jack who was a straight shooter, much like Collins. He always liked the man, cared for him even. It all made everything so much harder.

"Corporal," Collins heard his own voice and forced himself to soften just a bit, "Jack, I heard you got married."

Collins' heart broke a little for the young man in front of him as a small, bright smile flashed across his face, "I did, Sir."

"To the school teacher?" Jack nodded to his question, "What's her name?"

"Elizabeth Thatcher, well, Thornton now."

Collins' smiled a little at that, forgetting for a moment what he needed to say, "That's wonderful, son."

"Thank you, Sir," Jack replied happily, but Collins' noticed Jack's words had been careful, as though afraid of giving anything away. Collins' knew that Jack was preparing himself for whatever news Collins couldn't have told him through letter or telegram.

"Jack," Collins began, unsure of how to proceed, "Have you made arrangements?"

Jack's eyes narrowed as he leaned onto the desk.

Collins clarified, "Do you have a will made up, son? In case anything happens to you?"

Jack closed his eyes briefly before answering his commanding officer, "Yes sir, I have. Mayor Stanton is the notary and agreed to be the executor should anything happen to me."

"Good, good," Collins answered absently.

"Why don't you just tell me what's going on, Sir? I told my wife I would walk her home from school?"

Collins smiled at Jack's candor, "Then we don't want to keep you from your wife."

Collins smile faded and Jack began to fiddle with his wedding ring in anticipation.

"It seems that the gangs in the Territories have begun to work with several opioid and cocaine dealers," Collins paused, trying to gauge Jack's reaction. The Mountie gave nothing away. It calmed Collins for some reason, "Apparently the gangs are manufacturing opium and cocaine and transporting it along the railroad. There have been several small time dealers that we have gotten a hold of, but the big one, he keeps getting away."

Jack let the new information sink in, the cogs in his mind already spinning and working.

"If the drugs are being transported through the trains, the runners would need to have ties with someone in shipping, someone who knows Customs regulations and practices. They would need to have multiple people working for the railroad."

Collins nearly grinned as he listened to Jack's deductions. Damn, this boy was good.

"That's right. Now, currently, we don't currently have any leads on which individuals or even if a company is involved in the transports."

Jack's brow knit in thought, "Is this my new assignment, Sir?"

"No, Jack. No. That's what Nathaniel is here for," Collins glanced over his shoulder to look at the Mountie, standing outside on the porch, "He's an ass, to be sure. But he was one of the key men who busted up the rings in Hamilton and Cape Fullerton. He's good at tracking down the sons of bitches."

"Just not good at catching them," Jack finished dryly.

"Exactly. No, you're still going up North, but your job isn't to hold the gangs back. We've got plenty of men for that now and we've actually got them on the back foot now. There is a Chinaman, Xiong Lao, who's running the operation. So far, his operations have been cut off in Hamilton, but we found his product as far as Union City."

Jack blanched, "Union City? That's…"

"That's practically in your own backyard, Jack. Your job will be to track down and apprehend Xiong Lao. The goal is to bring him in for questioning, but if you have to kill the chink, so be it."

Jack grimaced at Collins last sentence. There was no need for Collins language, "Sir, I understand your frustrations, but there is no need to throw around derogatory terms."

Collins' eyes narrowed, "Are you defending this man, Corporal?"

"No, Sir," Jack answered quickly, "but I don't believe it's necessary to pass blanket statements about an entire race of people simply because one Chinese man happens to be a bad one. I would think that we are an evolved and civilized enough institution not to persecute people simply because we don't understand them."

Collins face flushed and he rose to his feet. Jack mirrored the Superintendent's actions, calmly waiting for his commanding officer to reply or walk out or hit him.

"Just find him, Corporal. Find him and bring him in or kill him. And do it before any of these drugs find their way into Hope Valley. You don't want your pretty little wife around a bunch of drugged out railroad men. You know how they are."

Veiled threats aimed at his wife and home were the quickest way to bring about a fight between menJack bit back his desire to take a swing at Collins, "I will, Sir."

Collins' face flinched. He quickly recovered, "Good. You leave tomorrow morning," and slammed the door behind him.

Jack's gaze stuck to the door while Collins pulled Nathaniel out from under the porch and began to show him around the town.

Jack lowered himself back into his chair, placing his head in his hands and bowed down. Dear, God, please keep me safe. Keep Elizabeth safe. Keep this town safe. Please, let this all be over soon….

Jack didn't announce himself as he walked up the stairs to the schoolhouse. If he had, she would have turned around, a bright smile adorning her face in hopes that it might disguise the pain in her eyes. She would have pretended all was well and he would have followed along, not wanting to cause her more pain than he already had. So Jack stood, just inside the building that he had planned and crafted for her and for the town. He watched her move about the room, gracefully, like a dance with the rhythm of the rain. Suddenly, he remembered. A dimpled grin graced his lips.

"Hello, Mrs. Thornton," the novelty of calling her that had yet to wear off. Jack wasn't sure it ever would.

Elizabeth turned to face him, her russet air twirling about her slender neck like the fabric of her skirt did around her slender legs. For a moment, the upturn of her lips was full of joy with the knowledge that the man in front of her was her husband and she was his wife. It was bright and true and pure. Her sparkling blue eyes, Jack's favorite shade of blue, shined with love and excitement. But just for a moment. The knowledge of what was to come tomorrow came flooding back and her smile faltered, her gaze darkened and it made Jack want to run toward her and pull her tight into his arms. Tears welled in his eyes but Jack refused to let them fall. Jack would not let his last day in Hope Valley with her be one of tears, no matter how desperately he wanted to let the fear and sorrow bubbling in his chest out.

"Hello, Corporal Thornton," melancholy seemed to saturate her soft reply. But there was love there too.

Jack smiled weakly, his lips barely beginning to curve upwards, as he stretched out a hand for her to take. Elizabeth crossed the room and laced her fingers with his. Jack's hair was wet, the rain outside soaking through the hat that he held at his side. Elizabeth brushed a few loose strands to the side before planting a gentle kiss to his soft, pliant lips. Anticipation hung thick between them, the promise of lighting and thunder as evident between them as it in the clouds outside. Their lips brushed together with the softest of touches, the simple gesture sending shockwaves through them. Already breathless, Elizabeth broke the kiss, rested her forehead against his, allowing some air to return to her lungs and her pulse to calm. It was no use. A mere handful of seconds passed before Jack chased her mouth and touched her lips again.

She had missed him today, as she had every day since their returning from their four-day honeymoon to work three days ago. They would ride into town on his horse and say goodbye, trying miserably to behave properly in public with a gentle kiss his cheek or on her hand rather than the passionate embraces that they often started their mornings with. Was it possible to miss someone so much after seeing them such a short time ago? Was it possible to feel their absence so bone-deep knowing that they were a ten-minute walk away? Was something wrong with her in wanting him so much? Would she ever stop missing him? Elizabeth didn't think she would.

Elizabeth gasped in surprise as Jack broke their kiss and pulled her out into the rain. The water was cool against her heated skin and her husband's smile stole the breath out of Elizabeth's lungs. Jack took a flourished bow, tipping his soggy hat to her, "May I have the pleasure of this dance, Elizabeth Thornton?"

Elizabeth didn't think she could have loved him any more than in that moment in the rain, though she knew Jack would eventually prove her wrong. He had a habit of doing that, though Elizabeth couldn't find it in her heart to care.

"You may have all my dances, Jack Thornton," Elizabeth answered softly as Jack threw his hat to the ground and pulled her in close, "Until Kingdom come.

Jack kissed her for her answer.

Elizabeth lay her head in the crook of Jack's neck, his cheek brushing the top of her soaked hair. Jack pulled her closer still, closing his eyes as the warmth of her body seeped into his wet skin. They danced together, a silent waltz that both seemed to know by heart. The rhythm of the rain kept time, the giggles, and shouts of children running in the rain worked as the melody.

Elizabeth cried then, unable to hold back the flood of emotions that she had tried so hard to keep tucked inside. Jack held her close as they swayed in the rain, tears falling freely down his stubbly cheeks. And the rain, ever the compassionate friend, hid their cries from the world, letting the young couple hold on to the moment, a memory (a secret that all lovers store up as they go through life together) for the two of them to keep locked away in their hearts.

The rain was different in Hope Valley….


Let me know what you think!

Also, I have had some private messages about the music I am using as a playlist for this story. So I will start listing the songs that helped me with each chapter. If you have any suggestions for me to listen to I would love to hear them!

1 - All I Need, Mat Kearny

2 - See The Love, The Brilliance

3 - The Book of Love, Blake Stratton

4 - Say Anything, Tristan Prettyman

5 - Above The Clouds of Pompeii, Bear's Den