Sunday morning dawned with a newfound brightness. Or so it seemed to Elizabeth. Truly, the evening before had been a wonderful time of laughter and happiness. Ally, Nathan, and her had made taffy apples, eaten the taffy apples, and talked about Ally's fascination with Queen Victoria.

Little Jack stirred. "Hi my boy!" Elizabeth lifted him up from his bed. "Should we get ready for church?"

"Church!" Little Jack was getting more and more verbal with each passing day.

Elizabeth put on her pink skirt and lighter pink shirtwaist and dressed Jack as well. A simple breakfast was necessary in order for them to be at church on time.

As she walked downstairs, Elizabeth's eyes caught sight of two letters slid underneath her door. "What could this be?" Elizabeth asked herself. She recognized the handwriting on them—one for Ally's and one was Nathan's. Had they really been by her house already this morning?

After making a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and leftover biscuits, Elizabeth sat down with a smile on her face. Smiles were seeming the common occurrence these days. Rosemary and Lee would surely notice as they walked to church together.

Dear Miss Elizabeth

Elizabeth had picked up Ally's letter first.

I wanted to thank you for a nice time last night. The spaghetti was yummy, the taffy apples fantastic, and seeing my uncle really happy was the best part. I look forward to more time spent together, not just in school.

I promise I'll call you Mrs. Thornton at church today.

Ally

Elizabeth then turned to Nathan's letter. She could get used to him writing her letters.

Dear Elizabeth,

Words cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed last night. Being with you and Little Jack brought a smile to my face that stayed there the entire night. I think you noticed. But being near you, Elizabeth, reminded me of how blessed I am.

Honestly, Elizabeth, I have not been this happy in such a long time. Feeling like you and I have a change and that we both want that chance.

However you want to go about today and being in public together, I leave to you. I trust you. You have shown me your heart; I know where it is at with me.

Nathan

Elizabeth was blown away by the two letters she had read. However, Nathan had brought up a valid point. Everyone had seen her hug Nathan. There was no question with whom her heart and head was with. But she still had to talk to Lucas. She had given her letter to Lee to drop by the saloon yesterday. She had wanted to drop it off herself, but between her walk in the morning and dinner in the evening, Elizabeth hadn't had the time.

Lucas had played a crucial role in her life. He had advocated for her writing and had sent her manuscript to a publisher. Lucas had reminded her of home. But Elizabeth hadn't sought after Lucas they way she sought after Nathan. She could see that now.

A conversation with him was warranted after church.

The walk to church was a delightful one. While normally Lee and Rosemary, Elizabeth and Jack walked together, they caught up with Nathan and Ally on the way. Lee, ever the welcoming soul, encouraged them to join the party.

Lee did have an ulterior motive. He really wanted to get to know Nathan. The two had a very cordial relationship, but it wasn't what Lee would call close. If Nathan was going to be involved with Elizabeth, Lee wanted to know more about the guy. Jack had been a dear friend and in a way, Lee felt it his duty to keep an eye on Elizabeth. Yes, she could take care of herself...but Hope Valley truly loved their teacher. She had already had enough hurt for one lifetime.

Lee took in the view around him. Rosemary was engaged in a conversation with Ally. His wife truly could talk to anyone. But with the children, no matter their age, she had quite the gift. Nathan and Elizabeth were talking as well. There wasn't hand holding; there wasn't overt shows of affection. Lee chalked that up to Elizabeth still needing to talk to Lucas.

Lucas. Lee thought about the town's saloon owner. Lucas had appeared in a daze yesterday when Lee had dropped the note by. He had seen the hug the other day and then had disappeared. Carson mentioned that he had seen him at the saloon. But not socializing. Not throwing darts.

Lee adjusted his positioning of Little Jack. Oh how that little guy loved being carried on his shoulders. If this walk was an indication of how Elizabeth's life was going to go, Little Jack wouldn't be carried on Lee's shoulders for much longer. Not something he wanted to think about that was for sure

The church, the Jack Thornton School, was in view. Elizabeth and Nathan weren't going to have it easy. There were memories of Jack everywhere in Hope Valley. Lee was determined to do whatever it took to help Elizabeth, and Nathan, and Ally, and Little Jack become a family. If that was what they all wanted.

Something told Lee Coulter he wasn't too far off the mark.

Elizabeth and Nathan had decided that they would not sit together at service that morning. Sure, the town would be scandalized. After all, a woman practically throwing herself at a man and then not sitting with that same man?

But Elizabeth had her reasons. She needed to apologize to Lucas. She needed to be honest with Lucas.

Nathan had completely agreed with the decision. As he had said in his letter, he was going to leave today up to Elizabeth. Next Sunday would be a different story between him and Elizabeth. He knew that.

Nathan was guilty of not paying much attention to the service. The brown haired beauty in front of him was a distraction like none other. Her voice while singing took his breath away. How he wanted to be sitting next to her. Not even holding her hand—just being around her.

He and Ally had made plans to go fishing that afternoon. They also had invited Elizabeth, Jack, and even Rosemary and Lee to come over for a fish fry that evening. While many would have thought that only Little Jack and Elizabeth should have come over, Ally had asked for Mr. and Mrs. Coulter too. It was kind of hard to say no. Besides, Nathan had plans for a one on one with Elizabeth in just a few days.

Elizabeth didn't know that yet. She thought a dinner at the café was what was happening. But Nathan was starting to develop other ideas.

Someone else hadn't paid too much attention to the service. And that person was Lucas Bouchard. In truth, he had contemplated not coming to church that morning. He had been playing a late night round of cards at the Saloon.

Who was he kidding? He could come up with excuse after excuse all he wanted. He really was just trying to avoid Elizabeth.

Lucas had gotten her note. Or rather the note that Lee delivered. It had been straightforward and honest. After seeing Elizabeth rush into Nathan's arms the other day, Lucas's pride and confidence had been shattered. He felt like he had had Elizabeth's affection, and heart, in the bag. How wrong and naïve he had been.

It was hard to not keep looking over at Elizabeth from the other side of the church. She and Nathan were not sitting together. Which he did find odd. But Elizabeth looked happy. And not just happy like she did at their library dinner. Elizabeth looked really happy.

Contented.

"Lucas," a voice was interrupting him from his thoughts.

A voice that was Elizabeth's.

"Elizabeth," Lucas nodded. "Happy Sunday."

"Happy Sunday," Elizabeth replied. "Do you have a moment for us to talk?"

Lucas tried not to show how pained he was by that statement. He knew what she wanted to talk about and if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to let her go.

"Sure, Elizabeth," Lucas swallowed. He knew Elizabeth was a woman who would do what she wanted. The times he had challenged that, or gone against her wishes, had not been pretty.

"Lucas," Elizabeth said. "I did not mean to hurt you the other day. When I went to Nathan."

"You didn't just go to him, Elizabeth," Lucas let some emotion show. "You ran into his arms."

"I did," Elizabeth said simply. "For the longest time, I have been trying to figure out where my heart was. What was it telling me. And when I heard the Nathan had been shot, and then that he was gone, I knew that I regretted not sharing my heart with him. He had told me little things and I said nothing."

"Lucas," Elizabeth continued, "You and I had something very pleasant. But I also knew something was holding me back. And you don't deserve that. As I wrote, you deserve someone who calls your gestures "amazing" and not "sweet." For some reason, despite loving our time at the Virginia Woolf reading, or dinner and champagne, I also realize that isn't my life anymore."

Lucas was flummoxed. "What do you mean?"

"Lucas, my life is here. In Hope Valley. I have a son who will never know his biological father. I am a teacher. Really I have become a simple person with simple needs—to make a difference, to find beauty in the little things. I want to always be aware of progress in this country. But I'm fine doing it in Hope Valley. You…..you still will want to travel. I know you. And for me, I need roots."

"And Nathan will give you that?"

"To be honest, Lucas," Elizabeth smiled. "I don't know what Nathan will give me. All I know is my heart is happy with him. In a way that is different than with you. I hope you can understand that."

"It's going to take time, Elizabeth," Lucas gave a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "But I promise to always be your friend. And I also promise to not hate Nathan when I see him in the street."

Elizabeth laughed "That's all I can ask."