The next morning, Elizabeth was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee and writing in her journal. Rosemary entered the kitchen in her robe. They said Good morning to each other. Rosemary poured herself a coffee and sat down across from Elizabeth.

"I hope I'm not interrupting your writing" Rosemary said

"No, I'm just writing down ideas for a book" Elizabeth said closing her journal

"Wonderful! I'm glad you are considering writing again." Rosemary said

"Actually, it was Nathan who suggested it" Elizabeth told Rosemary

"Really?" Rosemary said with a raised eyebrow.

Elizabeth blushed.

"Elizabeth, are you ever going to let that man take you on a date?" Rosemary asked

"What? We are just friends" Elizabeth said

"Elizabeth, I love you like a sister but sometimes you drive me bananas. Stop with the dance and let him take you on a date!"

Elizabeth didn't say anything for a moment. The thought of going on a date with Nathan filled her heart with joy.

"What if he doesn't want to be anything more than friends?" Elizabeth asked

Rosemary laughed. "When I told him you were coming to Hope Valley, I saw a light in his eyes that I haven't seen since Sarah passed. Believe me, he is interested.

"Why hasn't he asked me out yet?" Elizabeth asked

"Probably because the last time he asked you out, you cancelled dinner. You just have to nudge him today" Rosemary said

Elizabeth smiled.

"Speaking of today, I have the cutest little riding outfit for Sophie that was Hannah's when she was little. I can't wait to see it on her" Rosemary said

Elizabeth laughed and got up and hugged her friend.

After they had lunch, Jack Jr., Elizabeth and Sophie made their way over to Nathan's. From what Rosemary told Elizabeth, Nathan's place was a ranch. As they approached the ranch, Elizabeth looked out the window and was in awe with we she saw. It was a beautiful ranch. The ranch looked to be about 4 acres. As they drove down the road, on one side was a hill with trees. There was open space everywhere. The main house was huge. It had two stories and the outside had all wood on it. It was beautiful. Nathan had built the house of his dreams. As they pulled up the house, there was another car already there.

"That's Kate's car" Jack Jr. told Elizabeth.

They parked their car and everyone got out. Nathan came walking out of the house. He was wearing a plaid shirt with his signature suspenders.

"Hello everyone and welcome to the Grant Ranch" Nathan said to everyone.

"Nathan, this property is beautiful" Elizabeth told him

"It is, isn't it? The best part of my day is coming home." Nathan said

Nathan saw Sophie and crouched down.

"And you must be Sophie. Your grandma has told me a lot about you" Nathan said

"You knew Grandpa Jack's horse?" Sophie asked

"Yes I did, when your grandma left Hope Valley, she let my daughter Allie have the horse. And we took very good care of him" Nathan told Sophie

"Daddy says Grandpa Jack's horse had a son. Can we see it" Sophie asked

"Of course" Nathan put his hand out for Sophie. Sophie put her hand in his hand, "Follow me"

Elizabeth's heart filled with joy. Nathan was always good with kids. He would always make sure to see Jack Jr. if he saw him during rounds. Jack Jr. looked at his mother and smiled.

The stables housed four houses. There was a big fenced off area for riding the horses.

Nathan stopped with Sophie at the fenced off area.

"Stay here and I'll go get Sargent Jr." Nathan said

After Nathan went into the stable. Jack Jr. commented on the property.

"This place is beautiful." Jack Jr. commented

"It really is" Elizabeth said. Katherine nodded in agreement.

Nathan came out of the stable. Elizabeth had to catch her breath. Sargent Jr. really looked like Sargent. He had the same coloring. Elizabeth eyes started to fill with tears. A part of Sargent was here and it felt like a little part of Jack was here.

"Wow! It really does look like Sargent, right Mom" Jack Jr. said to Elizabeth

Elizabeth composed herself.

"Yes he does." Elizabeth said

Nathan brought out a bag of carrots. Everyone took turns feeding Sargent. When it was Elizabeth's turn she looked into Sargent Jr's eyes. They were the same kind eyes that Sargent Sr. had.

"Who wants to sit on him first?" Nathan asked

Sophie raised her hand

"Me! Me!' Sophie exclaimed

"Get in here Cowgirl" Nathan said with a Southern accent.

Elizabeth laughed. She saw so much joy in Nathan's eyes. Elizabeth once read that you can see into people's souls through their eyes. With Nathan, that was true.

Sophie entered the space and Jack Jr. set her up on the horse. She was giggling the whole time.

"One more thing" Nathan said as he went into the stable.

Nathan brought out a Mountie hat and set it on her head.

"There we go! If they ever let women in the Mountie's, you'll be a shoe in.

Sophie giggled some more.

Next Jack Jr. tried to get up on the horse. With Katherine's help, he was able to get up. Sophie handed Jack Jr. the Mountie hat. When Jack Jr. put it on, he looked exactly like his father.

"You look so much like your father with that on." Elizabeth told Jack Jr.

Jack Jr. smiled. Jack Jr. got down from the horse. Nathan brought out a beige horse with a beautiful black mane.

"This is Prince. Sophie, why don't you try him?" Nathan said

"Why is his name Prince?" Sophie asked

"When my late wife saw him, she said he was fit for a Prince. And it just got stuck" Nathan told Sophie

Jack Jr. picked Sophie up and put her on Prince. Nathan led Prince around with explaining to Sophie what to do with the reins and how to make the horse stop and go.

Elizabeth watched Nathan show Sophie how to ride a horse. This is something she had always dreamed about. She had hoped her children would have grown up in Hope Valley and their father would have taught them how to ride a horse. She couldn't see Lucas showing them how to ride a horse. Horses weren't Lucas's thing. But she could have seen Jack teaching them. Elizabeth thought if Jack couldn't teach them at least Nathan was here. Elizabeth watched Nathan. Suddenly, the thought of Jack was gone and her thoughts began to focus on Nathan. She wondered what it would be like to be held in his arms. What it would feel like to kiss those lips. Sophie woke Elizabeth out of her daze.

"Hi Grandma!" Sophie said with a wave

"Hi sweetheart! You are such a big girl!" Elizabeth said to Sophie

Sophie laughed.

"Did Sargent have any friends when he lived here?" Sophie asked Nathan.

"He did. He was best friends with my horse Newton" Nathan answered Sophie

"What happened to Newton? Sophie asked

"He passed away a couple years after Sargent" Nathan answered

"Do you miss him?" Sophie asked

Nathan took Sophie off the horse and set her down. He crouched to her level.

"I do. And I hope to see him again someday. But I know that he is with Sargent and I know your Grandpa is taking good care of him" Nathan said

Elizabeth heard this and a tear rolled down her face. Nathan saw this and walked over to Elizabeth. He smiled.

"Can I show you something?" Nathan asked

Elizabeth nodded. He helped Elizabeth onto Sargent and then Nathan got on his the horse and sat behind her. Jack Jr., Sophie and Katherine were combing Price's mane that they didn't even notice them leave.

They began riding to the edge of Nathan's property. At the edge of the property was a small pond. In front of the pond was a house.

"Who lives here?" Elizabeth asked Nathan.

Nathan dismounted from the horse and helped Elizabeth off.

"I do" Nathan said

Elizabeth was confused "I thought you lived in the main hose?"

"No, Allie and Robert live in that house. I built this small house about a year ago. It isn't huge. It has a kitchen and a bedroom. All I really need. I mostly stay out here by the pond and sit in that" Nathan said pointing to a swing.

Nathan showed Elizabeth over to the swing.

"This is beautiful. So much detail. Did you make this?" Elizabeth asked

"I did." Nathan answered

They both sat down in the swing.

"Sarah and I used to sit out here. I made this for her when she fell ill" Nathan said

"How did she pass? If that is okay to ask?" Elizabeth asked

"She had something called cancer in her bones. I don't remember the technical term. She was diagnosed and passed away six months later." Nathan answered.

"I'm sorry" Elizabeth said

Nathan gave a sad smile "I prepared for her death but when it came, I wasn't ready" Nathan said

"I know the feeling. Lucas had a bad case of pneumonia. I knew death was certain but you are never ready for that."

Nathan was silent for a moment "Have you grieved Lucas's death?" Nathan asked

Elizabeth thought about the question "Yes I have. Why do you ask?" Elizabeth asked

"Because, I don't think you have grieved Jack's death entirely. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this day would be hard for you but I thought maybe you had grieved his death and made peace with it" Nathan answered

Elizabeth sat in silence. If she was being honest with herself, she had not completely grieved Jack's death. She thrusted herself into a relationship with Lucas hoping that would help her get over Jack. But as time passed, she bottled up her grief and pretended that she was over Jack.

"I guess I haven't" Elizabeth said. "How did you grieve Sarah's death?" Elizabeth asked Nathan

"I didn't for a long time. I locked myself out emotionally. Poured myself into my work. It wasn't healthy. One day, Rosemary knocked on my door and asked me how I was doing. I sobbed in her arms when she asked. Rosemary and I grew closer after that day. Talking about Sarah helped and honoring her memory by going to get my law degree also helped. One night, she came into my dream and told me it was okay to move on. I woke up and my heart felt healed" Nathan said

Elizabeth had tears in her eyes. "Will you help me heal?" Elizabeth asked

Nathan took Elizabeth's hand "Of course I will. But there will be a day when you'll have to take a leap and heal your own heart. I can't help you do that. It wouldn't be fair to Jack's memory or to me."

Elizabeth understood that to mean that Nathan's heart was open for her but wouldn't jump into a relationship with her until she had grieved Jack.

"I understand" Elizabeth said and put her head on Nathan's shoulder.

After a few minutes of silence Nathan asked a question "Should we get back to everyone?"

Elizabeth looked at him. "I like it right here"

Nathan smiled and nodded "Me too. Me too."