The gentle oaks swayed above in the mid-summer breeze. A new, deep feeling of contentedness swept over Rosemary. Next to her, Lee was laying on his side on the picnic blanket they had spread out moments before. In the distance, their new house stood, complete and picture perfect, framed by the newly planted blackberry bushes and masses of Oak trees with a background of the Rocky Mountains. Lee's laugh drew her away from the view.

"Rosie, Rosie… you got to see what she's doing." His attention was captured by something on the blanket. Or rather someone. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her, for there, on the blanket was a sweet baby girl laying on her back, cooing up at the leaves that were swaying gently in the tree.

"Do you hear her? She's talking to me." Lee smiled, the pride evident in his voice.

She turned, wishing to get a closer look at the sweet baby on the blanket. Their sweet baby. Just as she did, she felt a tug on her shoulder. She pushed it away, leaning closer to the baby, wishing to see the color of her eyes, the curve of her chin, the curl of her lips.

"Rosie… Rosie, dear."

Again, the hand pulled her away from the wonderful, wonderful… dream?

She blinked her eyes open, the bright morning sun coming from the curtains in their room in the row house. Lee was leaning above her, gently shaking her shoulder. It had all been a dream, a completely wonderful dream.

"I'm sorry for waking you, Love. I'm off to town, to help with the remnants from the fire, but couldn't leave without knowing you were alright. That episode last night… it scared me. You're… okay?" His eyes were tentative, assessing her.

"Yes, just fine." She smiled then quickly her smile turned to a pout. "But you just woke me from the most wonderful dream."

He sat on the edge of the bed. "Tell me."

She knew she had stars in her eyes as she retold her brief dream. When she finished Lee sat there, speechless. After a moment he exclaimed, "It is a girl! I just knew it!"

She laughed. "Perhaps."

"I think dreams like that are not a coincidence. I think, on rare occasions, God gives us a little peek into our futures when we most need it and least expect it."

She nodded. "I hope that is true of this dream."

"It will be, wait and see." He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, his easy demeanor shifting to something more troubling. "It's just that… well, you know how I am working on the new house… just in light of everything's that happened… well, I am not sure when it is going to be ready."

She could tell he was downtrodden in the way his voice dipped. She put her small hand under his chin, the stubble tickling her finger tips.

"Lee Coulter, you are my hero. I hope you know that." She meant the words from the bottom of her heart.

He looked surprised. "Hero? I wouldn't go as far as all that." He shook his head. "Especially with so many unfinished rooms still…"

"I'm not just talking about our home— which of course will be the most grand of all of Hope Valley— I am talking about last night. I… I was in a scary place last night. I got the news Harriet was missing, and well, my knees went weak underneath me. I… I could hardly catch a breath. The world was tilting… I… I know I made light of it at the infirmary last night, but the whole occurrence truly scared me. I've never had that happen before."

Lee scratched his cheek. "It was odd. A case of stress not handled well by the body, Nurse Carter said."

"Well in those most hopeless of moments, when I felt your arms around me, and focused in on your loving eyes… well, like I said, you are my hero. It was like… I was safe again." The words fell tenderly from her lips.

He smiled and then planted a light kiss on the top of her head. "I'm glad, Rosie. You know I am always here for you."

She nodded and put her forehead against his. "I know it, but I think I am just now starting to truly experience what that means."

"Well, it's about time, Mrs. Coulter," his deep voice rumbled as his lips covered hers.

Ten minutes later, Rosemary walked down the stairs dressed and ready for the day. After sipping the herbal tea last night before bed, she had slept more peacefully than she had imagined, especially with such a tragic evening. Walking down the stairs she was surprised to see Harriet, all dressed and standing over the stove.

"Harriet! I didn't know you cooked."

Harriet looked up and gave her a crooked smile. "Neither did I." She motioned to the pan of scrambled eggs. "It's not fancy, but it will do."

"It sure will. Thank you. I came down to wait on you, but here you have beat me to the punch." She handed Harriet two plates and then went looking for two clean forks.

Harriet stopped scooping the eggs onto a plate and lowered her eyes, her cheeks reddening. "I figured it was past time for me to show a little care for you. In all these years, well… I've never been one to think much beyond myself, but I think that may be changing. I think you may be changing me."

She arched an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Last night, when the fire broke loose, all I could think about was getting to safety, how I couldn't lose you, when I finally just now found you. Until you burst through the infirmary doors, I was worried sick. This… this isn't a feeling I am used to. I haven't cared that deeply for someone in a long time."

She reached over and patted Harriet's hand. "I was worried for you too. I, too, realized that we have just now begun a relationship and no matter what, I am not ready for it to end. Not any time soon."

"Good. Well, that makes what I need to tell you a bit easier." Harriet bit her lip nervously.

She motioned to the chair. "Perhaps we should serve breakfast first while it is hot."

Harriet looked back at the plates by the stove. "Oh yes, of course."

Harriet brought the plates to the table, while Rosemary poured two cups of juice and settled into a chair. After a brief prayer, she looked up, leaving the eggs to sit untouched on the plate. She couldn't think about eating at a time like this… when Harriet so obviously had something to say.

"So your news?" She prompted after Harriet had remained silent.

"Yes, well. I seemed to have left my reticule in the cafe last night."

"Oh, dear! I truly hope it did not burn." And she truly meant it, it was a handsome purse, the latest style from Macy's in New York.

"Hopefully, it is simply covered in a layer of soot, but on the off chance that it has burned… well, along with it, it would have burned my chance to go out east." Harriet twisted her hands anxiously.

"Oh?" She was confused. Harriet hadn't mentioned planning any trip out east.

"Yes, in my reticule were my important papers I kept with me at all times. I wouldn't dare to keep them in the unsecured in hotel on the off chance they would get into the wrong hands. If it burned… well I'll have lost my precious photos of you and your half brother, my passport, a good amount of money, and my ticket. My ticket out east."

The seriousness of the situation swept over Rosemary. "Oh, goodness! It may take some time to replace the passport but a ticket… well, that should not be a problem should you need to return back east. Was it to New York?"

"Oh, no, not exactly. By out east… I mean the Far East."

"As in Asia Minor?"

"Yes, as in Asia Minor. And it is not a ticket easy to obtain. I had to visit the Ambassador himself at the New York Embassy to obtain it after begging a family friend to allow passage on the one of the steamships he owns."

"Oh, my. I did not realize you were on your way to such a big journey." She couldn't help the sadness seeping into her voice. She couldn't so quickly lose the mother she had waited so long to meet.

"Well, that is just the thing. Whether the ticket has burnt to a crisp or not… well, I was wondering if you'd allow me to stay here for awhile." She rushed on, "It wouldn't be like my permanent home or anything, but… just a way of getting to know you more, perhaps even helping plan for my first grand child." Her lips rounded. "If I am allowed to call her that."

"Her? Not you too!"

Harriet looked confused.

"Oh, I just mean… well, everyone thinks it is a girl… including you."

Harriet nodded. "Yes I do. And if it is, she will be the most beautiful of girls, just like her mother."

"And grandmother, too." She said the words, softly, as if testing the fragile bond between them.

"Truly? You're refer to me as such, even though I have been gone all of your life and not been the most pleasant of people to get along with?" The awe was evident in Harriet's voice.

She nodded. "Of course, you are all I have left. And I'd be honored if you would stay here and help me… well, navigate this "motherhood" thing."

"I can't promise I'll be much of a help. I'm sort of a failure at the whole motherhood thing." Harriet's cheeks reddened, her eyes sad.

"We will figure it out… this time together. It will be a brand new chance."

At that, they both grew a bit teary, then after observing each other's tears, began to laugh to release the tension.

"I'd say we better eat these eggs before they've cooled too much. Then we will head into town to see if we can collect your reticule, or what remains of it anyway."

Both the women exchanged a smile and then dug into their plate of eggs wholeheartedly.