Elizabeth watched from the front porch as Lee, Nathan, Gabe, Lillian, and Allie played a game of kickball with young Fred. The little boy had gradually come out of his shell as the evening went on, and he was the one who had suggested the game after dinner. Rosemary and Elizabeth sat on the porch steps with Jack, who had fallen asleep on Elizabeth's shoulder.

Looking at her friend, Elizabeth noticed a peace and joy on Rosemary's face that hadn't been there in a long time. She looked entirely relaxed, a soft look in her eyes as she watched Fred playing. Rosemary noticed Elizabeth's gaze and smiled. "You know, don't you?"

Elizabeth laughed quietly. "Rosemary, you're wearing your joy on your face. How could I not know?" She shifted Jack in her arms, rubbing his back as he stirred. "Does Fred know yet?"

"No," Rosemary answered with a shake of her head. "He thinks he's just here to visit Hope Valley with Lillian. She suggested that they visit for a week, both for us to get a feel for what it would be like to adopt, and for him to see if he would feel comfortable with us. At the end of the week, if we decide to go through with the adoption, Lillian will ask Fred if he wants to live with us as his new mommy and daddy."

"'If' you go through with it?" Elizabeth asked, brows raised. She looked at Fred, then at Lee, and then back at Rosemary. "You two are already goners, aren't you?"

The smile that split Rosemary's face could have lit up all of Hope Valley. "Yes," she admitted. "Lee and I talked this afternoon. We already know he's the one for us." Her smile dimmed slightly. "Of course, Fred has to think so too. We won't adopt him if he doesn't want us to."

Elizabeth watched as Fred tackled Lee in a hug after a particularly good kick. Lee wrapped his arms around the small boy and swung him around, eliciting laughter from Fred and everyone around them. She smiled. "Rosemary, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Fred looks just as happy as you and Lee do."

"Oh, I hope so!" Rosemary exclaimed. She wore a contemplative look. "I never wanted to be a mother, you know. Not until a few years ago. When Lee and I couldn't conceive, my heart broke as if motherhood had been a dream I'd had all my life." She looked at Fred again. "And now this little boy is making his way into my heart so quickly that I feel I'll be heartbroken if he doesn't want to stay with us."

Elizabeth reached out, taking Rosemary's hand. "What's meant to be will happen," she said, hoping to reassure her friend. "And from the looks of things, Fred is well on his way to figuring out that this is where he wants to stay." She squeezed Rosemary's hand and then let go, placing her hand on Jack's back once more. For a moment they were quiet, then Elizabeth asked something she hadn't broached with her friend yet. "Rosemary? Even if this adoption does go through, do you still find yourself wanting to conceive a child?"

Rosemary's eyes darkened slightly, and she looked down, swallowing. Letting out a sigh, she looked back at Elizabeth. "I do still hope," she said, her heart in her eyes. "I long to experience what it's like to nurture a child in the womb, to carry that child for nine months and then experience every single moment of life together." She pressed her lips together, straightening her shoulders. "So yes, I would love to be able to have a baby. But I've finally been able to let it go. If God wants me and Lee to have a baby, it'll happen. And if not, then we'll just adopt a houseful of children who need a home."

Elizabeth smiled. "You've come a long way, Rosemary. And no matter how you become a mother, you're going to be a wonderful one."

Rosemary blinked back tears. "Thank you, Elizabeth. That means so much."

Elizabeth grinned. "And every word is true."

Ringing the bell, Elizabeth called out, "Class dismissed!" Her students got up in a flurry of excitement and started chattering away with each other. Elizabeth smiled as she watched them. Their relationships were so strong, and they all loved being together. As they filed out one by one, Elizabeth noticed that Allie was still sitting in her seat, drawing something.

Once the last student had left the building, Elizabeth slipped into the seat next to Allie. "What're you drawing?" she asked.

Allie looked at her a little shyly. "Mrs. Thornton, if I tell you, will you promise not to laugh?" she asked, her brown eyes pleading.

Elizabeth put an arm around her. "Sweetheart, I would never laugh at something you share with me. I promise."

Allie slid the paper closer, and Elizabeth studied it. Allie had drawn herself and Nathan with Elizabeth and Jack. They were standing next to a Christmas tree, all wearing big smiles. At the top, Allie had written THE GRANT FAMILY in bold print.

"Allie, this is beautiful!" Elizabeth said. "Why would I laugh at it?"

"Look closer," Allie said, vulnerability shining in her eyes.

Elizabeth did, suddenly realizing there were tiny words written under each person. She immediately recognized Jack and Allie's names under their pictures, and her mouth fell open slightly when she read the captions under her picture and Nathan's.

"Mom and Dad?" she said softly, looking at the child next to her.

Allie nodded, biting her lip. "I know Christmas is still a long way away, but this is my Christmas wish. I want you and Uncle Nathan to adopt me once you're married, and...and I want to be able to call you my parents. My mom and dad."

Heart bursting, Elizabeth pulled Allie into a tight embrace. "I would love that," she whispered. "I already think of you like a daughter, Allie, and if it's alright with your Uncle Nathan, I would love to officially adopt you."

Hope lit Allie's eyes. "Really?" A grin spread across her face. "Do you think Uncle Nathan would be okay with it?"

"Does she think Uncle Nathan would be okay with what?" a masculine voice said behind them. Elizabeth and Allie turned simultaneously to see Nathan standing there, hands in his pockets, his crooked smile in place.

Allie suddenly looked shy, and Elizabeth could tell she wasn't quite ready to ask her uncle about adopting her yet. Elizabeth had a feeling Nathan would jump at the opportunity, but Allie had to be the one to tell him her heart's desire.

"She was wondering if...if you would be willing to host another sleepover!" Elizabeth said as the idea popped into her mind. "This weekend."

Allie brightened. "Yeah!"

Nathan blinked as surprise and trepidation filled his face. "A...sleepover?" he asked, sounding wary.

Elizabeth laughed. "I can help supervise again if that would be helpful," she said in a teasing tone. "And I have plenty more frosting that needs a nose to call home."

That earned her a laugh. "Alright," he said, still chuckling. "You can have your friends over this weekend, Allie."

"Yay!" Allie exclaimed, leaping up and wrapping her arms around Nathan. "Thank you!"

Elizabeth quietly tucked Allie's drawing into her folder, then stood as well. "Here, don't forget this," she said to Allie. "Your homework is inside."

Allie wrinkled her nose, but she nodded. "I'll make sure it gets done."

"Good girl," Elizabeth said, giving her a wink. "And you know, you can always have your uncle check your work if you need him to." She hoped Allie would understand the double meaning in her words.

She did. With a serious look in her eyes, she nodded. "When I'm ready, I'll ask him," she said solemnly.

Nathan looked between them with a raised brow, clearly picking up on the fact that there was more going on than met the eye. "Allie, can I talk to Mrs. Thornton for a moment alone?"

Allie nodded and skipped down the steps. Nathan turned to Elizabeth, tilting his head. "Is everything alright with Allie?" he asked, his tone concerned.

"Oh yes," Elizabeth said, quick to reassure him. She hesitated, wanting to put his mind at ease but not wanting to break Allie's confidence. "All I can tell you is that there's something she's been thinking about, and she wants to talk to you about it. She's just not ready yet."

"Should I be worried?" Nathan asked.

Elizabeth simply shook her head. "No. Not at all."

Nathan visibly relaxed. "That's all I need to know," he said, his smile returning. "I know Allie. When she has something she needs to talk about, she likes to think first. She's like me that way."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Don't I know it." She put a hand on his arm. "She'll let you know, Nathan. And I think you're going to like what she has to say." She smiled. "Trust me."

He smiled back, covered her hand with his own. "I trust you."

"That was so much fun!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she and Nathan rode into town on their horses. They had taken an afternoon ride together, after Nathan had an impulse to ask Elizabeth to go on one with him once school let out. Nathan was thankful that she had agreed to join him on his ride. It had been a spur of the moment decision, which was rather unlike him.

He jumped off of Newton as they reached the stables, then reached up to help Elizabeth dismount Sergeant. Together they unsaddled and brushed down the horses, then hand in hand walked down the street.

"So, Constable," Elizabeth said, eyeing his red serge. "What is left on your schedule for today?"

"Not much, actually," Nathan said. "I just have to do my afternoon rounds, and then I'm free. I'm really looking forward to our dinner with Gabe and Lillian tonight."

"Me too," Elizabeth said with a chuckle. "Those two are meant to be, but they both seem to be fighting it." She pressed her lips together, trying to keep a straight face. "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

Nathan grinned at her. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked, his gaze drifting to her lips. He stepped closer to her, bending his head with the intention of kissing her, regardless of the fact that they were standing in the middle of the street with people milling about.

"Nathan!" Florence called out, interrupting their moment.

Nathan suppressed a sigh, raising a brow at Elizabeth. "Do you think she does that on purpose?" he asked under his breath.

Elizabeth giggled. "This does seem to happen a lot, doesn't it?"

"Too much," Nathan agreed, turning to face Florece. "Yes?" he asked in a longsuffering tone.

"You have a call from High River," she said. "Do you want to take it in your office?"

All playfulness vanished, and a sense of dread filled Nathan. Why would he be getting a call from High River? He cleared his throat. "Yes, Florence, I'll take it in my office. Thank you."

Elizabeth was watching him, concern filling her face. "You just went from happy to grim," she said. "Who lives in High River?"

"My mother," Nathan replied, heading for his office. "But she never uses a telephone. She hates them. She always writes." He tried to ignore the anxiety curling in his gut, but he couldn't shake it. "Something must be wrong."

The two of them hurried to the office. Nathan hung his hat on its hook and took a deep breath, hoping to calm himself before picking up the phone. "I'm here, Florence."

"Hold for Eva Grant," Florence said, and within moments his mother's voice came on the line.

"Hello, Nathan," Eva said, her voice both warm and worried.

"Hi, Mom," Nathan said, thankful to hear his mother's voice but nervous about the reason for her call. "What's going on?"

Eva's sigh carried across the line. "You would pick up on the fact that something is going on. There's no easy way to say this, son," she said, her tone weary. "But I hate to be the bearer of bad news."

Nathan tried to steel himself for whatever was coming. "It's okay, Mom. Tell me."

"It's Matthias," she said. "He came to see me today."

Nathan frowned. "Matthias? What did he want?" Colleen's husband had left a couple weeks after her death, and they hadn't seen or heard from him since. Nathan hadn't even known if he was still alive. The man had a penchant for too much alcohol and gambling, a dangerous combination. To tell the truth, he hadn't been sorry when Matthias had left Allie to be raised by her relatives. He shuddered to think of how his niece might have grown up if she had stayed with her father.

Eva was silent for so long, Nathan thought they had lost their connection. "Mom? Are you there?"

"I'm here, Nathan."

He frowned. "Why did Matthias come to see you?"

"He thought I had Allie," she said, her voice trembling. "He didn't know that you became her guardian."

Nathan blinked. "So he wanted to see her?"

"No." Eva was silent again for a moment. "He wants her back."

"What?" Nathan said, his voice raising several notches. Elizabeth looked at him wide-eyed, clearly wondering what was going on. "He can't have her back! He abandoned her!" He stood, pacing as much as the phone would let him.

"I know that, and you know that," Eva said. "But the law might be on his side."

"Does he know where I am?" Nathan asked, holding onto the thread of hope that Matthias wouldn't know that information. He knew Eva wouldn't have told him anything.

"That's why I called: to warn you. He's headed for Calgary as we speak to talk to the Mounties there. He's going to try to find you, Nathan. He's going to try to take Allie away."