"What do you mean, you're moving to Idaho?" Julie asked. "You sit here, making out with me on your mom's couch, telling me how much I mean to you, and then you tell me that!?"

"Julie, I have land there. My land. It's only an hour away from here. I'm not moving to Alaska."

"Oh. An hour. An hour isn't far. Why didn't you just tell me that?"

He laughed. "You didn't give me a chance."

"Is Elisa going with you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Going where, Daddy?" Elisa came in the room and plopped on Julie's lap.

"Nowhere just yet, boo."

"It's a secret?"

"No, it's just not time to talk about it yet."

"I like secrets. Do you, Julie?"

"Not really." Tom nudged her, cocking his eyebrow. "Unless it's a good one," she added.

"Is this one a good one?"

"It's your daddy's secret, ask him." Julie didn't know what to feel. She thought she was well on her way to falling hard for him and now he was moving away. She didn't know how she would go see him without a car. She needed a good job to pay rent but also to buy that car. The only help wanted sign she knew of was at The Bean and that couldn't get that car for her.

"Jules, what are you thinking about?"

She had been daydreaming and didn't realize that Elisa had left the room. "Nothing."

"Hey," he said softly, his fingertip grazing her chin. "I'm sorry if I upset you but I figured with our relationship heading somewhere, you needed to be told I was moving."

"I appreciate that." She felt her eyes filling with tears much to her dismay. "I don't know how I'll come visit you. I don't have a car."

"We'll figure it out." He pulled her close, kissing her soft, full lips. "Don't worry, ok?" She nodded.

THE BARN

Elizabeth brushed Captain until his coat was shiny and smooth. Jack did the same with Thunder but took the opportunity to gaze at Elizabeth over his back as he did so. It had taken every ounce of self-control he possessed not to kiss her earlier. He forced himself to just kiss her forehead and hug her, trying to settle his feelings. The want and need were still there though.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Want to come over for dinner tonight?"

"Sure. Want me to pick something up?"

"No, I'll cook."

"You cook? Nice. What are we having?"

"You'll see." She smiled and immediately started planning the menu. She walked out from the side of Captain and over to Jack. "Thanks for inviting me to ride. It was perfect."

"You're welcome."

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "See you at six?"

"Want me to bring wine or dessert?"

"Wine would be good. How about a merlot?"

THE STORE

Jack pulled into the parking space next to Elizabeth's. She was in her SUV and it appeared she was having a very serious discussion on the phone. He didn't want to intrude so he just waited a few minutes until she was finished. She looked over at him and he waved.

She got out and he could see she was upset. "Hey, what's wrong?" He walked over and saw her eyes rimmed in red and puffy. Because that was who he was, he gently pulled her into his arms and held her, the top of her head fitting perfectly under his chin. "You, ok?"

She was mostly embarrassed but she was upset and frustrated as well. "I'm ok."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really." She pulled back and wiped her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Grabbing the merlot you want for tonight and a few other things."

He slipped his arm around her waist and they walked inside together. "Jack I think I want to take a rain check on our dinner. I'm sorry." A lone tear fell down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.

"No need to apologize, Elizabeth. Why don't we just take a walk?"

"I really don't want to talk about it, Jack."

"We don't have to talk. Let's just walk to the coffee shop." He held out his hand and waited for her to take it. "There's a chocolate cream croissant waiting for you." She smiled and took his hand.

She was grateful for the kind, adorable man who's hand she was holding. Their friendship was only a few weeks old, but it had come to mean a lot to her.

Ten minutes later, they were in their booth at The Bean, Elizabeth staring at her croissant instead of eating it. Jack sat across from her holding her hand while sipping his iced Mocha. He didn't want to push her but it was hard to see her upset. "I'm a good listener."

"Will you come sit over here?" She patted the booth next to her and he moved over. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. "Thank you." After a few moments she started telling him her story. "I was on the phone with my father. He and I don't have a good relationship. He's controlling even though he doesn't mean to be. I know he's trying to protect me by doing what he does, but it's very hard to live with." Jack slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. "Good grief he smells good," she thought. "Ever since I was young, I've always wanted to either be a chef or a teacher. Once I got into high school, I knew what choice I would make and it's not as if I kept it a secret. I want to make a difference, Jack. I told them that but they didn't support me. Not my mother, not Charlie, and definitely not my father."

Jack didn't know what it was like to grow up in a family like that. His parents always told him to follow his heart and to never go a single day without serving somebody else. He tried to follow that advice and he was happy doing what he did.

"My father is angry with me for leaving Madison and he's angry because I don't want to work at his firm and now he's angry because I broke up with Charlie. Honestly, I'm just sick of it. Why can't he just be happy for me? This is my dream. Can't he just accept it?"

"Your dream. It's a good one, Elizabeth. Making a difference in someone's life is so important." She lifted her head and stared at him. "What?"

"Do you really feel that way?"

"Of course. That's why I'm an EMT. To help people."

"You say it like it's so simple."

"It is. I want to help people, so I went to school, got certified, and now I help them. You want to help children, so you went to school and now you help them."

"It's not that simple for me. I left my family and sacrificed my relationship to do this. Do you know what that's like?"

"No, I don't. I'm very grateful for my family and how supportive they are." He grabbed her hand and slipped his fingers in between hers. "I wish you didn't have to go through what you are right now."

She squeezed his hand, but didn't let go. "Thank you for listening, Jack."

"What are friends for?"

The whole time they were sitting there, they were completely unaware they were being watched. Faith was across the room, her heart hurting more the longer she watched him hold her hand and her lean on his shoulder. She was not a vengeful person, but right now she wanted to walk over and claim the man she loved. The worst part was, he wasn't hers anymore. Apparently he had moved on.

Faith stood up and walked out quickly, leaving her coffee on the table and catching Jack's eye. "Uh oh," he muttered.

"What?"

"I'll be right back." He kissed her forehead and ran out the door. "Faith!" he yelled as he saw her walking down the sidewalk. "Faith! Wait up!" He ran up to her and slipped his fingers around her arm. "Hey."

"Jack. Let me go."

"Look at me," he said gently. She turned, her cheeks wet with tears. "Faith, what you saw….it isn't what you think."

"I saw the man I love looking very cozy with another woman. Did our relationship mean nothing to you?"

"Of course it meant something."

"You moved on awfully fast if that were true."

"I didn't move on. Elizabeth and I are just friends."

"What I saw was not just friends. I saw more emotion and feelings in your eyes with her than I've seen from you in a very long time. Don't deny it. Everyone can see, Jack."

"There's nothing to see."

"I'm not sure who you are anymore. The Jack Thornton I knew would never lie to me, but that's what you are standing here doing." She started to turn away but thought better of it. "I got a job offer at Boston Memorial. I'm moving."

"Faith, please don't leave like this."

"There's nothing for me here anymore, Jack. I'm going after my dream."

"Will you come visit?"

"Why? You don't need me anymore. I certainly don't deserve to have my face rubbed in the fact that you've chosen someone else a month after we broke up. It's too hard."

"Faith, I'm so sorry."

"Me too." He watched her leave and then wandered back to Elizabeth, sitting across from her, instead of next to her.

Elizabeth watched his face. Something significant had happened when he ran out. This time, she grabbed his hand. "Jack, what's going on?"

"It's getting late, we should walk back to the cars." He stood up and waited for her, not extending his hand this time.

They walked together, but he was somewhere else entirely.

"You know, I'm a good listener too, Jack." They were at the cars and Jack looked as though he'd lost something valuable to him. "What happened when you ran out?"

"Faith saw us, you and me."

"Faith?"

"My ex-girlfriend."

"I see. I don't understand why she would be upset though."

"Its only been a month. What was I thinking?" He shook his head feeling ashamed at himself. Faith had every right to feel as she did. "I need to go."

"See you tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure." He got in his truck and drove off, leaving her wondering what happened.

For the next two weeks, Elizabeth missed her friend. She went to The Bean every day hoping to see him but he didn't show up in the morning or after school.

"Clara? Can I ask you a question?"

"About Jack?"

"Have you seen him lately?"

"Yeah. He comes in every day."

"So he's avoiding me."

Clara didn't speak, she just grabbed a croissant and handed it to her. "On the house."

"Spill it Clara."

"I don't want to get involved."

"Since when? Why is he avoiding me?"

"Elizabeth, I'm not going to speak for him but he'll be here at noon tomorrow."

So would she. It was Saturday and she was going to find out what was going on.

THE NEXT DAY

Elizabeth sat in their booth and waited. At precisely noon, an ambulance drove up and two EMT's got out. One, she knew was Mike and the other, of course, was Jack.

She watched him talking with Mike, joking and laughing. He seemed happy enough. She got up and walked over to him. "Jack?" He turned and looked at her.

"Elizabeth? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

"I'm on duty."

"You're on break. Please Jack." He looked down at her hand. It was gripping his arm as she pleaded with him. Her blue eyes had unshed tears pooling, ready to fall. He missed her so much.

"Mike, I need a few minutes."

"Ok, Jack. I'll wait in the rig."

Jack and Elizabeth walked out of the coffee shop and headed to the park. She sat on the bench by the playground. He stood up, looking completely uncomfortable. "I don't bite," she teased.

He stared ahead at the empty playground.

"Jack." She stood in front of him to get his attention. "I miss you. I thought we were friends."

He looked at her, his eyes betraying his feelings, but she would let him say it on his own. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Elizabeth, I can't do this. We can't... "

"Be friends? Why?"

"No…I can't just be your friend. I need more Elizabeth. When Faith confronted me, I denied how I felt about you. I've spent so long doing that. Then I realized it wasn't fair to her and it's not fair to me or you. I'm sorry if that's scary or if you're not ready or if you don't feel the same but that's how I feel."

"Jack." She stepped forward, her hands resting on his arms. "I need you too. It does scare me and I don't know if I'm ready, but I need…we need…to try."

"Are you sure?"

"Honestly, I don't know. The one thing I am sure of is that when we decided to be friends and we saw each other every day and then all of the sudden we didn't, I missed you so much. I was lost without you."

He pulled her close, and kissed her forehead and then each of her cheeks. "Elizabeth, I need to go back but have dinner with me tonight. We'll go to Billings."

"Pick me up?" He nodded and then kissed her cheek again.

"Six?"

"I'll be ready."

THE GIRLS APARTMENT

"Let me get this straight," Julie began. "Elizabeth Thatcher, Miss-I-Don't-Need-A-Man and Miss-We're-Just-Friends, is going out to a fancy dinner with a sexy rancher/EMT?"

"I suppose so," she answered, rubbing her expensive vanilla lotion all over her exposed skin.

"You're using that lotion? Good grief, Jack won't know what hit him."

"Stop."

"That lotion is like fifty bucks a bottle. I didn't think you'd ever use it. You never used it when you went out with Charlie."

"Jack isn't Charlie."

"Of course he's not."

"Julie I don't know what this thing with Jack is but I need to find out. He is amazing and wonderful and I need him, plain and simple." She was attached.

"Has he kissed you?"

"No comment."

"He hasn't? What is he waiting for?"

Elizabeth ignored her question and slipped her proverbial "little black dress" over her head, smiling as it settled perfectly over her hips, ending just above her knee. Strappy sandals were next, the heals just high enough to make her legs look a mile long, but not so high she couldn't walk.

"You look hot," Julie told her.

"Not too hot, right? I mean, I don't look like I'm trying too hard, do I?"

"Look at you all worried. Beth, he will be speechless, in the best way."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should change." She turned around in the mirror, suddenly unsure of everything.

"No, you look perfect. Don't change a thing."

She wasn't sure, but she didn't have time to change anyway. They heard the doorbell. Elizabeth's heart fluttered and she took a deep breath before heading to the door.

She opened the door and smiled. "Hi." Ok, EMT uniform, dark washed jeans with t-shirt, and now a dark grey suit, white dress shirt open at the collar. Three of the best things ever. Being with the man who wore those things, a perk of astronomical proportions.

"You look amazing, Elizabeth." He handed her a single red rose and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you. You look pretty good yourself." He looked beyond good but she couldn't come up with an adjective to describe him right then.

"I'll put that in water for you, Beth."

"Thank you, Julie."

Jack stepped forward, offering his hand. "Ready to go?"

"I am." She took his hand and walked out the door, ready to be swept off her feet.