Nathan handed Genevieve a book through the open jail door. After four days in the cell, to Genevieve's astonishment, Nathan had taken to leaving the door to her cell unlocked and open. When she asked him about it, he'd smiled. "I don't think you're going to try to run," he said simply, going back to his desk.

Now, as she took the book he handed her, she gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you, Constable Grant," she said gratefully.

"You're welcome," he said. "I hope you enjoy that."

Genevieve sat cross legged on her small bed, running her hands over the cover of Northanger Abbey. It was the one Jane Austen book she'd never read, and when Elizabeth found that out, she'd said she would lend Genevieve her copy. Though she'd never gone to school, Genevieve's mother had made sure she could read and write, tools she'd hoped would help her daughter in life. Genevieve opened the book, thankful for her mother's gift, and immediately got drawn into the story.

She was so lost in the world of Austen that she didn't hear another person enter the jail. Someone softly cleared their throat, and Genevieve looked up with a start to see Elizabeth standing there smiling. "Oh! Hello, Elizabeth," she said, shutting the book. It felt a little strange for her to use this woman's first name, but Elizabeth had insisted.

"Hello," Elizabeth said. She held up the bucket she'd brought with her. "I thought you might like a bath. You'll have to do a sponge bath, I'm afraid, but at least you'd be able to feel fresh and clean again. I can help you wash your hair when you're done."

"Really?" Genevieve asked, still shocked at the kindness that had been showered on her in this small town. She'd already met Rosemary, Clara, Faith, and Fiona along with Elizabeth, and all of the women had taken her under their wing. Tears sprang to her eyes as she thought of how they had accepted her immediately, while she was in jail no less. This town was different. Something about it made her feel like she had found home.

"Really," Elizabeth assured her, handing her the bucket. "That water is very hot, so be careful. Come with me." She showed Genevieve a small room at the back of the Mountie office. "You can use that. Just come on out when you're done and we'll get your hair cleaned. Oh, and I almost forgot." She retrieved a package from Nathan's desk. "Rosemary wanted me to give this to you. You can put it on when you're all done."

"What is it?" Genevieve asked, looking at the rectangular package.

Elizabeth smiled. "A gift. I think you'll like it. Now off you go." She shooed Genevieve into the small room, then shut the door to give her privacy. Genevieve could hear her talking with Nathan as she bathed, the hot water soothing to her skin. She finished and then opened the package Elizabeth had brought, catching her breath.

Several beautiful day dresses met her eyes, and she gasped as she held them up one by one. They weren't fancy, but they were prettier than anything she'd ever owned before in her entire life. She had never had a new dress growing up; everything was recycled from old dresses of her mother's. And now she had four new dresses in an assortment of colors. The pattern was the same for all four, but the pretty pastel fabric made them unique. Lavender, yellow, green, and blue. Her eyes filled with tears; she couldn't accept these. It was too much.

"Elizabeth!" she called through the door.

She heard Elizabeth walk to the door. "Yes?" she answered.

"I can't accept these," Genevieve choked out. "It's far too much."

"Nonsense!" came another voice from behind the door, a voice Genevieve recognized as Rosemary's. "You're about to start working in this town, and you need some pretty clothes to help you settle in. These are my gift to you, and there is no arguing allowed!"

"But…"

"No buts!" She could hear amusement in Rosemary's voice. "You don't want to upset a pregnant woman, now do you? And there are two of us out here!"

That made Genevieve laugh. "No, ma'am. But I still think this is too generous."

"It's not enough," Rosemary insisted. "I'm in the process of making you a pink dress and a white dress with some pretty purple trim." As Genevieve tried to protest, Rosemary tut-tutted. "No arguing with me, young lady. Now you put on one of those dresses and let us see how you look."

Genevieve had the distinct feeling that she wasn't going to win this battle, so she studied the dresses, at a loss at which one to choose.

"Go with the lavender," Rosemary suggested. "It'll look stunning on you with your lovely complexion and big brown eyes."

Genevieve blushed, not used to compliments, but she put on the lavender dress. When she stepped out of the room, both Elizabeth and Rosemary gasped in delight.

"Genevieve! You look simply stunning!" Rosemary said, clasping her hands in front of her.

Elizabeth smiled. "You really do look lovely."

Genevieve felt her cheeks flush, but she smiled at them. "Thank you," she said timidly, feeling glad that Nathan had stepped out of the office to give them all some privacy.

Rosemary directed her toward the door. "Now, let's go get your hair washed," she said. Within ten minutes, Genevieve's hair was scrubbed clean and well rinsed, and Rosemary was vigorously drying it with a towel. She got a comb and started brushing through Genevieve's long blonde curls, gently working through the tangles. By the time she was done, Genevieve almost felt like a new woman.

"There!" Rosemary said, stepping back and examining her work. "Perfect!" She packed up her bag, then nodded toward the dresses sitting in the back room. "You can keep those in there," she said. "And when we get you your own place, you'll have some pieces to put in your closet!"

"Oh, mercy!" Genevieve exclaimed, the blood draining from her face. "Where am I going to live? I hadn't even thought about that!"

"There's an apartment above the dress shop with two rooms," Rosemary said calmly. "I've already talked to Fiona, and she would be happy to have you as a roommate until she marries Lucas. Then the apartment will be yours. It's all settled."

Once again, tears burned Genevieve's eyes. "Why are you all so kind to me?" she asked, a tear falling onto her cheek. "You don't know me, and you have no reason to be nice to me. I don't understand."

Elizabeth put an arm around her. "That's what we do in Hope Valley," she said with a soft smile. "We take the admonition to 'love your neighbor as yourself' seriously around here."

"Thank you," Genevieve whispered, looking between the two women. "I've never experienced this sort of kindness before."

Rosemary hugged her, followed by Elizabeth. "There's lots more where that came from," Rosemary said. "You'll see. You're going to be a part of Hope Valley in no time." She glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped. "Now I really must be going!" She smiled and waved. "See you later!"

"I have to go too," Elizabeth said. "Will you be alright here on your own?"

Genevieve laughed. "I'm supposed to be in jail. Being on my own should come with the territory, shouldn't it?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I suppose it usually does." She gave her another hug, then headed for the door. "Clara should be here in a little bit with your lunch. Enjoy the book!"

"I will," Genevieve said enthusiastically. She went back to her cell, sitting on the bed and picking up Northanger Abbey once more. There was a tap on the jail door, and someone walked in. Assuming it was Clara, Genevieve put the book aside, going to meet her at the cell door. She stopped in her tracks.

It wasn't Clara bringing her lunch.

A man around thirty was standing there. "Hi," he said, a pleasant smile on his face. "Clara was very busy with the lunch rush, so she asked me to bring you some food." He held up the tray.

"Uh...thank you," Genevieve stammered, blushing. A kindness radiated from the man's eyes, which were the color of the sky after a storm, blue and grey mixed together. As he came closer, she could see that there was a ring of brown around his pupils.

She had never seen eyes like his before, and she didn't realize she was staring until a concerned look filled his face. "Miss Genevieve, are you alright?" he asked.

Genevieve blinked, her blush deepening. "Sorry," she murmured with a shake of her head, taking the tray he held out. "Thank you."

Nathan entered the building at that moment. "Hello, Hickam," he said, greeting the man with a smile. "I see you've met Genevieve."

"Yes," the man said with a smile. He turned to Genevieve and held out his hand. "Mike Hickam," he said.

Genevieve balanced the tray in one hand and shook his with the other, trying to ignore the way his warm skin felt against hers. "Genevieve Elliott," she said, thinking her cheeks must be crimson by now. Why was she reacting this way to a stranger? She'd never been strongly attracted to a man before; lack of trust in them because of her father made her extremely cautious. But there was something about Mike Hickam that captured her attention, and she shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. She was in jail! She had no business admiring one of the upstanding citizens of Hope Valley.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Genevieve," Mike said with a smile.

"You too, Mr. Hickam," she said.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Please, call me Mike. 'Mr. Hickam' is my father." He winked.

Butterflies fluttered through Genevieve's stomach, and she gave a shy nod. "Alright...Mike," she said softly. She bid him goodbye, then walked back to her cell, desperately hoping he hadn't noticed her blushing.

She didn't see that Mike's eyes remained on her as she walked to her cell. She didn't see that Nathan looked between the two of them, an amused smile filling his face. She simply focused on her meal, breathing a prayer of thanks that of all the places she could have been, she had ended up in Hope Valley.

Several days later, Nathan stood with Genevieve in Bill's office. Her week-long sentence was over. It was time for her to find out what her job would be in Hope Valley.

"Can you cook?" Bill asked brusquely.

Nathan saw Genevieve blink, but she quickly nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good," Bill said. "Then I have just the job for you. Clara has been wanting to work full time at the dress shop, but there's been no one to replace her at the cafe. That can be your new position. What do you think?"

Genevieve's mouth gaped, but she nodded again. "Yes, I can absolutely do that."

"Excellent," Bill said. "You start tomorrow at 7:00 AM sharp. I'll see you there." He looked at Nathan. "Can you show her where she'll be living?"

"Of course," Nathan said. "Follow me, Genevieve." They started for her new apartment, but soon ran into Hickam, who lit up like a Christmas tree when he saw Genevieve.

"Hi, Miss Genevieve," he said, a light shining in his eyes that Nathan had never seen before. "Good to see you around town."

She smiled at him shyly. "Hi, Mike." Neither spoke a word for a minute, too busy staring at each other.

Nathan chuckled to himself. He knew puppy love when he saw it. "Hickam, would you like to show Genevieve to her new home? She'll be rooming with Fiona."

"Of course!" Hickam said. "I'd be happy to." He offered Genevieve his arm. "Shall we?" he asked, a tenderness in his voice that made Nathan smile.

Genevieve took his arm and they walked off, suddenly in their own little world without even realizing it.

"Young love is blooming," a voice said by Nathan's side. He turned to see Lucas watching Genevieve and Hickam.

"Yes," Nathan said. "It's sweet, isn't it?"

"It is," Lucas agreed. Nathan looked at him more fully and his brows shot up. Lucas wasn't wearing his coat or vest. The casual look was unexpected. Nathan tilted his head. "Are you doing some kind of repairs at the saloon?" he asked.

"Huh?" Lucas blinked. "Why do you ask that?"

Nathan gestured to his clothes. Lucas looked down and then laughed. "Oh, that. No, I just felt like ditching the fancy today."

"Really?" Nathan said, hearing the disbelief in his own voice.

Lucas smiled. "Okay, Fiona told me she loves my suits, but she also likes it when I dress more casually. I just had lunch with her, so I thought I'd go casual for the day."

Nathan chuckled. "Good reasoning. And the look suits you, you know. No pun intended."

Lucas laughed, hooking his thumbs through his suspenders. "It's definitely less formal than I'm used to, but I think I like it." He raised a brow. "And your jokes really need work."

Nathan shrugged. "I think they're good," he said with a grin. He nodded. "I have to be getting back to my rounds…"

"Wait," Lucas said, holding up a hand. "I have a question for you."

"Okay," Nathan said, looping his thumbs into his belt. "What's that?"

"As you know, I'm getting married at Christmas…"

Nathan smiled. "Yes, I'm aware."

Lucas looked uncommonly flustered. "Well...I was wondering...would you be my best man?"

Nathan's mouth dropped. "Me?" he asked.

Nodding, Lucas smiled. "You. You've become my best friend in Hope Valley, and there's no one I'd rather have stand up with me."

Recovering from his surprise, Nathan nodded. "I'd be honored." He held out his hand, which Lucas shook firmly.

"Great," Lucas said, slapping Nathan on the back.

Nathan grinned back. "Great!"