Ally tried to be discreet, watching from the front window. Her uncle and Mrs. Thornton had clearly had a walk and talk. Or at least it appeared as if they had come from the same direction. Ally kept brushing the curtains away, doing her best to make out what out what the adults were saying. However, she quickly realized that she was not as subtle as she would have like. Uncle Nathan had seen her out of the corner of his eye and was now heading to the house.

Ally frantically grabbed a book, determined to give the appearance of reading.

"Well hi ya, Uncle Nathan," Ally said.

"Hi Ally," Nathan chuckled. "How's your book?"

"Oh it's alright," Ally said. Honestly, she don't know what library book she had picked up and grabbed.

"Good," Nathan remarked. "I'm going to go get ready for rounds."

"Wait wait," Ally rambled. "Do you have anything you want to tell me?"

"Nope," Nathan said. "I told you I am going to do my rounds and then, maybe you and I can get in some fishing later…."

Ally was perplexed. If her uncle had missed the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Thornton again….about what was in his heart…this time he only had himself to blame. No horse in the barn. No prisoner transport. And certainly not Ally showing her Science Fair project.

"That sounds like a good plan, Uncle Nathan," Ally tried to not sound disappointed. She loved her uncle and wanted him to be happy. He was completely different around Mrs. Thornton, in such a good way.

Nathan started to head up the stairs to change. "Oh, Ally," Nathan remembered. "Mrs. Thornton invited the two of us to dinner tonight. I told her that was alright. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure, Uncle Nathan," Ally decided to play it super cool. She didn't want her uncle to know, just yet, how happy she was. But as he disappeared up the stairs, Ally let out a gigantic "Yes!"

Nathan smiled, hidden from his niece's view. If he had ever had any doubts about Ally's true feelings, those were all done away with. She wanted this almost as bad as he wanted it himself.

Truly, Elizabeth Thornton had grabbed a hold of their lives and wasn't about to let go.

Nathan began counting down the hours until he would next see Elizabeth again.

Nathan was not alone in counting down the hours. Once Nathan had gone inside to check on Ally, Elizabeth continued on her way home, but not before stopping at the Coulter's.

"I invited Nathan and Ally to dinner. He said yes." Elizabeth remarked matter of factly to both Lee and Rosemary. While Rosemary was her female confidante, there was a reason Elizabeth had asked Lee to be Little Jack's guardian. He was a good friend as well. It just looked a different way.

"That's wonderful, Elizabeth," Lee smiled, still holding on to Little Jack. Elizabeth knew neither of them would give him up without a fight. Both longed for a child of their own and Little Jack helped a little in filling the huge void. Elizabeth resolved she wouldn't try to take Little Jack home just yet.

"How do you feel about it, Elizabeth?" Despite knowing she had had a peace and calm beforehand, Rosemary knew that when faced with her decision head on, Elizabeth might have had a change of heart.

"I feel," Elizabeth sighed. "I feel really, really good."

She closed her eyes for a minute and let the memories of Nathan's and her brief, yet impactful, conversation wash over her.

"While I was out there, I found myself wishing for a sign. Some indicator of what Jack would want. And then, when Nathan said "take a walk with me"….I had it."

Lee nodded knowingly. "That's what Jack used to say to you."

"It was," Elizabeth brushed a tear away from her eye. "And now, Nathan and I were honest with each other. Honest like we have needed be for so long and yet I was afraid to. I was honest in sharing that he mattered to me as well. That when he came walking into town yesterday, I was seeing him….not Jack. And it feels so right."

"Honestly, Elizabeth," Rosemary laughed. "I couldn't be happier for you."

"We both couldn't," Lee agreed.

"I just need to decide what I want to cook," Elizabeth responded.

"Elizabeth," Lee confided. "Let me give you one piece of advice. Guys don't need a lot to impress them. They are infatuated already. You could put dirt in front of Nathan and he wouldn't complain."

"Lee!" Rosemary squealed. "Elizabeth cannot serve dirt. And while I agree that Nathan might not complain, Ally most certainly would. That girl is nothing but honest."

"I'm not saying she should serve dirt," Lee shook his head. "I'm saying, Rosie, Sweetheart, that Elizabeth should be herself. Treat this as any dinner."

"But Lee!" Rosemary was starting to get beside herself.

"Spaghetti." Elizabeth interrupted. "I'm going to make spaghetti. Little Jack loves it. Ally loves it."

"There you go," Lee made a point of accentuating his words. The last thing Rosie needed to do was give Elizabeth ideas of fancy dishes. It wasn't the time or the place.

"I was going to say," Rosemary huffed. She did not like being shut down or put in a corner. "I think that is an excellent idea, Elizabeth. I think Nathan will like it too."

Elizabeth smiled. "You two are the best, you know that?"

With that, Elizabeth grabbed Little Jack and said their goodbyes.

"Lee," Rosemary said as she shut the door, "Do you think this dinner will go well? I don't want Elizabeth to be hurt."

Lee took Rosemary's hands in his. "I overheard Bill tell Nathan once that Elizabeth is looking before she leaps. She's been doing that for the last two years. She knows what she is doing. And Nathan, well, Nathan is one of the most honorable men I know. He is cautious and careful—I'd say too cautious and careful—but he puts Ally first. And now, I think he's going to put Elizabeth first. But Rosie, we cannot run over to Elizabeth's every time Nathan leaves—or you think she has seen him." Lee kissed Rosemary's cheek. "She knows we are here for her. That you are here for her. And no, you aren't losing her either."

Rosemary kissed Lee back. "How is it that you always know just the right thing to say? I love you."

"I love you too, Sweetheart."