That night, Elizabeth sat in her chair looking at her photo albums. This always made her happy when she was sad. After what happened between her and Nathan that afternoon, she needed these more than ever. After all these years, how could she still blame Nathan for Jack's death? It wasn't logical. Elizabeth flipped to the next page of the album. There was a picture of Jack and Jack Jr. At the bottom was a picture of Elizabeth and Nathan at Clara and Jesse's wedding. Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes. She broke that man's heart so many times.
Suddenly, there was a pound at the door. Elizabeth put the album down and went to open the door. It was Rosemary.
"Elizabeth! Come quick. Something has happened to Jack. He is at the hospital. Lee is waiting to take you there. I'll stay here with Sophie."
Elizabeth grabbed her jacket and ran to the car. Elizabeth asked Lee for the details. He didn't know much but Nathan had told him that someone found Jack bleeding out on the ground by the cemetery. Elizabeth's heart pounded as every minute went by. Elizabeth asked God to spare her son. To let the one person she loved most in the world to survive.
Once they made it to the hospital, Elizabeth jumped out of the car and ran inside. She saw Nathan standing in the waiting room. Nathan ran to her when he saw her.
"What is going on?" Elizabeth asked Nathan.
"According to Robert, a man in the cemetery found Jack bleeding out. It looked like he had been beaten up too. They couldn't stop the bleeding so he is in surgery now" Nathan answered
"Oh no" Elizabeth cried. Tears fell on her cheeks. Nathan took Elizabeth into his arms and comforted her. Even after everything that happens between them, he was still there for her.
Nathan let Elizabeth go when he saw the other women from Hope Valley showing up.
"Elizabeth. Are you okay? We heard about Jack. Is everything alright?" Minnie Canfield asked. Clara and Faith were there as well.
"He is in surgery right now I guess he lost a lot of blood." Elizabeth cried. Minnie brought Elizabeth into her arms.
"I'm going to see if Robert has any more information" Nathan said. The other women said goodbye.
"Let's all sit here and pray" Minnie suggested. "Joseph has a vigil at a church right now, but we can have our own vigil here" Minnie said.
Everyone bowed their heads.
"Dear Lord, please heal your son Jack. Please let him recover from his injuries. And please give comfort to his mother, Elizabeth, through this difficult time. Amen." Minnie prayed.
"Amen" they all said in unison.
For about two hours, they sat in almost complete silence. Rosemary came as soon as Lee was able to watch Sophie. There wasn't much talking except for the occasional asking if Elizabeth wanted anything to eat or drink.
Finally the doctor came out.
Elizabeth stood up.
"Mrs. Thornton, your son made it through surgery"
There was a sigh of relief from everyone in the room.
"But he did lose a lot of blood. He will probably be unconscious for several days" the doctor said.
"May I see my son now?" Elizabeth asked
"Yes. We have him set up in a hospital room" the doctor said.
Elizabeth told everyone that they could go home now and that she would be fine alone. The nurse led Elizabeth's to Jack's room. He was lying there. He had a swollen eye and a cut lip. Elizabeth ran over to him.
"My sweet boy, I thought I had lost you. I'm sorry this happened to you" Elizabeth said. She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair with her fingers.
Over the next day, people were in and out visiting. Elizabeth wasn't sure if Sophie should see her father like this but Sophie wouldn't take no for an answer. She laid next to him telling him about her play date and how much she loved him.
After Sophie went home with Rosemary, Nathan came for a visit.
"They found the men who did this. It was Billy Hamilton and his crew. They found them in the forest inside a net." Nathan told Elizabeth
"Who set that trap?" Elizabeth asked.
"It's the strangest thing. The knots that were tied were Mountie knots but they stopped teaching those knots after I was out of the academy. And I didn't put that trap there and none of the other Mountie put that trap put there. Do you remember if Jack Sr. put any traps out?"
"Not that I recall." Elizabeth's said
"Strange" Nathan said
There was silence between them.
"Nathan, I -"
Nathan cut Elizabeth off. "Not right now Elizabeth"
After a few minutes, Nathan left for the night. Elizabeth curled up in the chair she was sitting in with a blanket and went to sleep.
There was a bright light. Elizabeth opened her eyes. She was in the middle of a field. She's looked at her hands. She touched her face. She was young again. She recognized the field. It was the field that Jack had showed her. She heard someone walking up to her. She turned around. There he was in his red serge.
"Jack?!" Elizabeth cried out
"Hello Elizabeth" Jack said back.
Elizabeth ran to him and thrust herself into his arms. They kissed each other with intensity and passion. It felt so real.
"What's happening?" Elizabeth asked
"You're dreaming my love." Jack answered.
Elizabeth had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I've missed you so much" Elizabeth said
"I've missed you too" Jack said.
Jack took Elizabeth's hand and they started walking in the field.
"I have been watching over you ever since I died and I thought it was time to come to you in a dream because I think you need me" Jack said.
"Why now?" Elizabeth asked
"Because you are a making a big mistake." Jack said
"What mistake?" Elizabeth asked.
"The mistake of not giving Nathan your heart." Jack said.
Elizabeth was silent.
"I know you blame him for my death. But you have been transferring the blame to the wrong person. You should be blaming me" Jack said.
"I can't blame you" Elizabeth said.
"You should. I'm the one who took the assignment right after we had just been married. I saw it as a prestigious honor. My pride got the best of me. I should have never had went. But when you are up here, you can see how situations would have played out differently. If Nathan didn't go after those outlaws, many Mountie's would have died. Nathan would have led them and he would have died. That would have left Allie with no one. Her grandparents weren't able to care for her. Her father wasn't going to. She would have been abandoned and left and scarred for life. So if my dying meant a little girl got to stay with the one person she cared about, then I'm glad it was me." Jack said.
Elizabeth thought about what Jack had said. She never thought about the other Mountie's that Nathan saved. He saved those families from having to bury a family member.
"Elizabeth, the whole thing was an accident. The hill collapsed on its own. There is no one to blame." Jack said
Elizabeth nodded her head.
"And I know you have been scared to open your heart to Nathan. Because he was a Mountie. You protected your heart from getting hurt. But you missed out on an amazing love. But now you have a second chance." Jack said.
"I think it might be too late. I have hurt Nathan so much. I don't think he loves me anymore." Elizabeth said
Jack laughed. "Of course he still loves you. He has loved you for all his life. I know what is in his heart and I know what is in your heart. Love him Elizabeth. Let him love you. You've spent your whole life settling. I met Lucas up here. I thanked him for taking care of my family. Though, I'm a little surprise that you chose him. I didn't think he was your type but I didn't intervene because I thought you would be happy. But you weren't." Jack said
"I got caught up in the grand gestures. But I later realized that a relationship can't be built on grand gestures." Elizabeth said
"Stop wasting time on the past and look to your future. That future is with Nathan." Jack said
Elizabeth knew he was right. Nathan was her future.
Jack put his hand on her heart. "I have to go. Our son needs our help. But he also needs Nathan's help."
"How can Nathan help?" Elizabeth asked
Jack gave her specific instructions to give to Nathan.
Jack kept his hand on Elizabeth's heart.
"I will always love you Elizabeth and I'll be waiting right here for you. But our love is going to be a good memory. Your heart is with Nathan now. Share it with him" Jack said
Jack and Elizabeth shared one more kiss.
"I love you" Elizabeth whispered.
Elizabeth woke from her dream. Elizabeth touched her heart. It was healed. Her heart was filled with love for Nathan. She felt nothing holding her back from loving him. Elizabeth smiled and for the first time in a long time, she was happy.
