Elizabeth shut the door behind her, smiling to herself. She was immediately ambushed by Rosemary, who grabbed her arm and led her to the settee. "Well?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "How was it?"

"It was wonderful," Elizabeth said with a happy sigh. "It started off with us simply trying to figure out where we stood, but it ended up being our first date."

Rosemary squealed, then quickly covered her mouth. She glanced up the stairs. "Hopefully little Jack didn't hear that." She took one of Elizabeth's hands. "So, what made him change his mind?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "He acknowledged that he had been letting fear drive his actions, and he said that wasn't fair to me. He wants to explore whatever this is between us."

Rosemary frowned. "And what exactly does that mean? Seems like a rather ambiguous statement to me."

"I don't know what it means," Elizabeth admitted. "But I'm okay with that. I'm just glad that we finally have our feelings out in the open. Nathan asked if we could take things slowly, and I said that was fine for now."

"For now?" Rosemary asked, tilting her head slightly.

Elizabeth nodded. "Jack and I were happy to take things slowly. Do you remember?"

"Do I ever!" Rosemary said with a chuckle. "Lee and I knew each other for less time than you two did, and we were married before you and Jack got engaged!"

"Exactly," Elizabeth said. "I have no desire to go that slowly again. To be honest, Rosemary, I don't think Jack would have proposed when he did if he hadn't been about to leave for the Northern Territories."

The two women sat in silence for a moment. Rosemary nodded slowly. "I understand, Elizabeth. And I think it's honorable that Nathan wants to go slow, but I hope he doesn't intend to take forever."

"I get the sense that once he makes his mind up about something, he takes action," Elizabeth said. "I don't think he intends to take things at a turtle pace."

Rosemary snorted. "He certainly went at a turtle's pace to ask you out!"

Smiling, Elizabeth nodded. "He sure did. But as I told him, I don't think I would have been ready any sooner. I couldn't even give him an answer in the moment that he did ask. The timing ended up being perfect."

Rosemary reached out and took Elizabeth's hand again. "I hope this works out, Elizabeth. Nathan is a good man, and I know he would take good care of you."

A little blush tinged Elizabeth's cheeks, but she smiled. "I think you're right."

Rosemary was about to let go of Elizabeth's hand when she did a double take. "Elizabeth!" she breathed, looking up with wide eyes. "You took off your ring!"

Nodding gently, Elizabeth smiled. "It was time."

Rosemary smiled back, a tender look on her face. "You really are ready to move on," she said softly. "Jack would be proud of you. He wanted you to find love again, and you're opening yourself to it."

"Thanks, Rosemary," Elizabeth whispered. "That means a lot." She looked down at her bare finger. "One chapter of my life has closed. Another one is waiting to be written."

Fiona arrived at Gowen Petroleum the next morning five minutes before 8:00. Lucas glanced at his watch when she came in. "You're early."

She placed her bag on the table with a smile. "Well, you know what they say in the business world."

Lucas raised a brow. "What do 'they' say?"

"'Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable'," she replied cheekily. "So, boss, where do you want me?"

Lucas looked between the two desks. "Hickam has that smaller one," he said, "So why don't we share this big one? And I'm not your boss. This is meant to be a partnership, remember?"

"You own the company, you're the boss," Fiona said simply. "You know how to run a business, I don't. Obviously I'm willing to learn all the ins and outs, but you've got much more experience than I do. Besides, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Neither do I," Lucas muttered, looking at the mound of papers on the desk. "That's why we'll be working together. Two heads are better than one, right? Hickam can manage the employees and the actual work, while we figure out the business side of things."

Fiona sat in the chair across from Lucas, eyeing him over the desk. "Is this actually going to work?" she asked, also looking at the papers. "Where in the world do we start?"

Lucas shook his head, looking for all the world like a lost boy. Hands on his hips, he looked up at her. "I'll take half and you take half?" he asked, sweeping a hand over the papers.

Fiona laughed with a shake of her head. "Why not?" For the next hour they sat there sorting the papers into smaller piles, making some sense of the chaos. After a while, Lucas stood and stretched.

"I need to get back to the saloon," he said. "Will you be okay on your own for a little bit?"

"Of course!" Fiona said, focusing on the papers in front of her. She glanced up long enough to give Lucas a smile. "Easy as pie!"

He chuckled and rested a hand on her shoulder briefly. "Thank you for all you're doing. I really appreciate it." He walked out the door. Fiona's focus was suddenly jumbled as she felt little butterflies dancing in her stomach.

"What in the world?" she muttered, placing a hand against her midsection. "No! No, no, no, no!"

It had been Lucas's touch that set off the butterflies. She shook herself. She had no business feeling any kind of attraction toward Lucas Bouchard. They had just started working together! And everyone in town knew he had eyes for Elizabeth, even if Elizabeth's heart was clearly with Nathan.

"Steady, girl," Fiona said to herself. "If you don't dwell on it, it'll go away."

"What will go away?" Hickam asked, coming through the door.

Fiona flushed a deep red and her mouth worked for a moment before she collected herself. "This mess," she said, indicating all the papers on the table. "If I don't dwell on how much work I have to do, eventually it'll be done and neatly organized."

"Oh. Sounds good," Hickam said, going to his desk and sorting through his own papers.

Fiona breathed a sigh of relief. She had dodged a bullet. She threw herself back into her work, trying to forget the way her stomach had jumped at the touch of the handsome saloon owner.

A knock sounded at her door. Elizabeth went to open it, a fussy Jack in her arms. She opened the door to find Nathan on the other side. "Nathan! I wasn't expecting to see you."

"Hi, Elizabeth," he said with a smile. "I've only got a minute before I have to get to my rounds, but I was wondering if maybe you would have dinner with me this evening? I would like to cook for you."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped. "You can cook?"

He smiled his crooked smile. "That's relative," he said with a chuckle. "But I am really good at frying fish." A look of concern crossed his face. "Do you like fish?"

"I do," Elizabeth said. "And that sounds wonderful." She frowned. "Unfortunately I won't be able to tonight. Lee and Rosemary would normally look after Jack, but they're having a date of their own tonight, and Laura can't stay late today."

"Why don't you bring little Jack?" Nathan suggested. "Or better yet, I can come to you."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked, shuffling Jack to her hip. He was studying Nathan with serious eyes. "You'd be okay with little Jack being on our date?"

"Of course," Nathan said. He smiled at Jack. "Would you like to have dinner together, buddy?"

Jack rewarded him with a smile. Nathan grinned. "Does that sound good?"

Elizabeth just looked at him for a moment, amazed that he would offer that. "Yes, Nathan, that sounds good. Thank you."

Jack started fussing again, and Elizabeth bounced him up and down. "He's been fussy today for some reason. I haven't been able to get anything done, not even pack my basket for school."

Nathan raised his brow. "I can take him," he said, holding out his arms.

Elizabeth let out a little laugh, surprised again. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," he said, smiling wryly. "You'll remember I've held him before."

"Oh, that's right," Elizabeth said, handing her son over to Nathan. "As I recall, your faces made him chortle with glee." She watched Jack with Nathan for a moment, taking in how Jack placed his hands on Nathan's brass buttons, fascinated with the bright red serge.

"I'll just be a moment," Elizabeth said. Nathan followed her into the house, sitting on the settee with Jack.

"Take your time," he said, making a face at Jack, who giggled. "We're fine."

"I thought you said you had to get to your rounds," Elizabeth said, a hand on her hip.

Nathan grinned. "They can wait a little longer."

Elizabeth laughed and started to gather what she needed for the day. It only took her a few minutes. She put her basket on the table and turned to watch Nathan and Jack.

Nathan was bouncing Jack up and down on his knee, singing a cowboy song. Jack wore Nathan's hat and was clapping his little hands in delight.

Elizabeth had never seen a more perfect picture. Her son was enamored with Nathan, and the feeling was clearly mutual. They were in their own little world. She let out her breath, a hand going to her heart. In that moment, she felt pure joy. Her heart fluttered, and she knew she was in danger of quickly falling in love with this man who was so selfless and unassuming.

Nathan glanced back, seeing her watching them. He smiled and stood. "Look Jack, Mama's all ready for school," he said softly to the little boy, who hung on his every word as if it was the most interesting thing he'd heard in his life. Nathan pointed to Elizabeth, and Jack followed his gaze. "Mama!" he said, leaning his little head on Nathan's shoulder.

Elizabeth's breath caught in her lungs, and she wished she had a camera to capture the sweet moment. The big, strapping Mountie cuddling her small, towheaded son.

Laura walked in, breaking the spell of the moment. "Hi, Mrs. Thornton," she said. Looking over at Nathan, she smiled. "Hi, Constable Grant."

"Good morning, Laura," Elizabeth said, smoothing her skirt. She picked up her basket and slung it over her arm. Walking over to Nathan, she put a hand on little Jack's back and nuzzled his cheek. "Goodbye, my sweet boy. You be good for Laura."

"Bye-bye, Mama," Jack said. He lifted his hand and laid it on Nathan's cheek. "Bye-bye, Na'tan.

Elizabeth could see Nathan's throat working. He was as touched as she was. "Bye, little man," he said, hugging Jack close before releasing him to Laura.

"Have a good day, you two," Laura called as they walked to the door.

"Thanks, Laura," Elizabeth said. "You too." She closed the door behind her and sighed gently. "It never gets any easier to leave him."

"I'm sure it doesn't," Nathan said, empathy in his voice. He held out his arm. "May I walk you to school, Mrs. Thornton?"

She smiled at his exaggerated formality. "You certainly may, Constable," she said, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. As they started down the path, Elizabeth looked at Nathan from the side of her eye.

He truly was a good man. Strong, dependable, kind. Always putting others first, ahead of himself. She shook her head slightly, wondering why it had taken her so long to figure out her own heart.

It was Nathan. It had always been Nathan. And it always would be.