"Babe, what does Sugarfoot mean?" Jack was making breakfast for them the next morning.

"It's the word I say instead of something worse."

"Oh, like sh.."

"Jack Thornton!"

"I was going to say shoot. Good grief. Get your mind out of the gutter." He winked at her. "What would your mother say?"

"Mmhmm. I'm sure you were."

"I was. I don't use that type of language." She raised her eyebrows at him. "Most of the time." She chuckled and sipped her coffee.

"Babe, I need to know what you think of these outfits for the wedding." She had her laptop open to the bridal website.

"Outfits? That sounds complicated."

"Just come look, sweetie." He walked over and stood behind her chair.

"It looks fine but no jacket and no tie and I'm thinking of going barefoot." He walked back over to the stove and flipped her sunny side up eggs onto her buttered toast. "Perfecto!" he said with a kiss to his fingertips and his best Italian accent.

"Barefoot?"

"Yep. We are going to be on the beach. I don't want to wear shoes." He slid her plate in front of her, hoping she would ignore the fact that he once again cooked her breakfast instead of letting her do it herself.

"Do you like the vest and the pants? I love the no tie look. It's very casual."

"Its fine. Whatever you want, babe."

What she wanted was to not be in a cast by March 5th. She wanted to walk down the aisle to her handsome groom, the sun setting behind him and not limp. She wanted perfection on that day, even though she knew it probably wasn't possible. She would try her hardest to make it that way though.

"Ok, babe. I'm going to get ready for work." He bent down and kissed the top of her head.

"You're going to town, right?"

"Yep."

"Can you go to the store for me?"

"Absolutely. Just write down what you need and I'll get it after work."

"I just need some fudge brownie ice cream and tampons. That's it." She took a bite of food as if she hadn't just asked him to get something that would make most guys uncomfortable.

"Write down exactly what brand and I'll get them." He walked up the stairs to get dressed. He had never actually bought them before but not much embarrassed him. He was technically part of the medical profession and it was a part of a woman's life. His woman's life. More than likely, they'd have at least one daughter in the passel of kids she wanted so he'd buy them for her too when the time came.

Awhile later, he walked down the stairs to tell her goodbye. "Nice uniform," she commented from the table.

"Thanks," he said with a smile. Without a thought, he picked up her empty plate and rinsed it in the sink, depositing it and her fork in the dishwasher. Then he rinsed the pan and did the same. He wiped off the counter last and poured coffee into his travel mug.

"Are you sure you don't mind going to the store for me?"

"Of course I don't mind, babe." He kissed her twice and grabbed the list from her. "Ben and Jerry's fudge brownie ice cream, Playtex tampons, something for dinner." At the bottom she had written "I love you!" with a smiley face. "I love you too," he told her and then walked out the door.

The whole thing was very married feeling. Her living there. Him making her breakfast and leaving for work after kissing her goodbye. She had debated whether to ask him to get the tampons or his mother but she had gone for it.

She pulled out her phone and texted his Mom. "Hey there."

"Hi, sweetie."

"I have a doc appt. today in Billings. Would you B able 2 take me?"

"Sure thing. What time?"

"Noon."

"Sure. I'm on my way over. B there soon."

"Ok, thanks!"

Elizabeth was getting dressed when Charlotte arrived. Just in time too.

"Charlotte! Can you help?"

Charlotte walked in to find Elizabeth struggling to get her skirt over her cast. "Hang on, sweetie. You have the skirt caught on the cast in the back."

"I can't bend that way." Eventually she was untangled. "Thanks, Charlotte. I'm glad you showed up when you did."

"Maybe pull the skirt over your head next time. Then it will be over your cast from the top and you won't have to reach down or around to pull it up."

"Good idea!"

IN THE TRUCK, ON THE WAY TO BILLINGS

"Ok, so where is your doctor?"

"It's on main. The women's health center. Dr. Brocker, I believe."

"Oh, he was my obgyn."

"Oh yeah? Did you like him?"

"Yep, delivered all three of my babies no problem."

"Oh good. My gynecologist in Madison was a woman…wait. Three babies?"

"Yep. First Margaret, then Jack and then Tom."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a daughter."

"Yeah. She passed on about a month after she was born. Back then SIDS wasn't very common, but now I'm pretty sure that's what it was."

"I'm so sorry, Charlotte."

"Thank you. It was a long time ago. Let's see…she was two years older than Jack so it was thirty five years ago. My heart broke that day, Tom's too for that matter." Elizabeth watched the unbelievably strong woman to her left. She had so much respect for her. "I miss her every day."

Elizabeth put her hand on Charlotte's arm for a moment and then let it slip off. "I'm sure you do."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put a damper on the day."

"No it's fine." The rest of the ride was spent chatting about the wedding.

"Do you want me to wear any certain color?"

"Nope. Just keep in mind it's going to be warm so something flowy might be more comfortable. Jack's going barefoot."

"He is? Are you?"

"I'm not sure. If I don't have to wear a cast, I'll go barefoot." She sighed.

"Charlotte, this venue is gorgeous. They do sunset beach weddings all the time. I'll show you when we get home."

"Sounds great."

They pulled up to the closest parking space to the door and then Charlotte hopped out to help Elizabeth. "It will be so nice when I can do things for myself again."

"Sweetie, it's no problem. I'm happy to have a daughter to take care of."

Elizabeth stared at her for a moment and then hugged her. "Thanks, Mom. I'll text you when I'm done." A tear fell down Charlotte's face.

"See you soon." Charlotte quickly wiped away her tear and got in her truck.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Jack walked in about 7 o'clock with bags in his hands and a bouquet of roses. "Babe, I'm home."

"I'm in here," she called from the living room.

He put the bags on the counter and put the flowers in the hand behind his back. "Hi, honey," he said as he walked in the room.

"Hey, how was your day?"

"Ok. Long I guess."

"What do you have behind your back, cowboy?"

He moved them so she could see. "For you," he said, joining her on the couch.

"These are beautiful. Thank you so much." She set the flowers down on the coffee table and looked at him. "I feel like I need to be the one giving flowers. After last night.."

"Don't worry about it."

"I am." She grabbed his hand. "Jack, I know I hurt your feelings and I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "I tried to just put it out of my mind."

"Something you probably should know about me…who knows, it could be a deal breaker…I get emotional and don't always think before I speak when it's around my time of the month. I feel like I don't have control of my mouth. That combined with my being frustrated with my leg…I should have been nicer. I'm really sorry."

"It's not a deal breaker. I can deal with that a few days a month."

"Being on the pill might help a bit. I guess we will have to see."

"So you're on the pill?"

"I'll start in a few days, but I have them. Your mom took me to the doctor today."

He nodded and sat back, staring at the fire. "Monte put in his two weeks notice."

"What? I was with your mom today. I wonder why she didn't say anything."

"They broke up apparently. He was really upset. I felt bad for him. Basically I need a new ranch hand very soon because I need enough time to train them before our wedding."

"What happens if you don't find one?"

"I don't know. We might have to postpone."

"Jack, I already put the deposit down. That was the only weekend they had available for months."

"I'm sorry but I'm not sure what I can do. The animals can't take care of themselves."

"I realize that but if we are going to cancel, it needs to be soon. As it is, they will only give us back 50 percent."

"If I could control it, I would have hired someone yesterday. I'm sorry that it's an inconvenience, Elizabeth." He stood up and left the room leaving her sitting there wondering what happened.

She slowly got up and hobbled to the kitchen where he was slamming things around. "Jack.."

"Do you realize how stressful this is? I am going to be doing both jobs, essentially three, after next week. I don't have time for that." He sighed. "I already don't have time to spend with you as it is."

She walked over and put her arm around his waist, leaning against his shoulder. "Look at me, Jack." He looked at her. "Apparently we are both stressed out and frustrated. We need to find a way to relax."

He thought a moment and then his eyes lit up. "I've got an idea."

"What's that?"

"Let's make out."

"Jack, you are such a dork."

"I'm serious. It will take our minds of our stresses and we will have fun." He raised his eyebrows and kissed her. "If it doesn't work, it doesn't, but it won't hurt."

"All right. I'm game. After dinner, you, me in front of the fire."

They ate a leisurely dinner and Jack put the leftovers away. Elizabeth escaped to her room for a minute and Jack waited on the couch. When she finally made her way to the living room, he had turned down the lights and turned on some music.

"Hey, handsome."

"Hi, beautiful." She sat down next to him on the couch suddenly nervous. He saw that familiar look on her face from when they first started dating. "Nervous?" He gently touched her face with his fingertip, giving her goosebumps.

"I'm not sure why. It's not like we've never kissed before."

"Maybe it's just the anticipation of it."

"Maybe." She moved closer when he slipped his arm around her shoulders. They both just breathed, feeling themselves relax, staring into each other's eyes. "I feel like I'm in high school," she said with a giggle.

"Who did you make out with in high school?" She didn't answer. He knew though. "Was Charles a good kisser?"

She bit her bottom lip. "I thought he was but no. I didn't know what good was until you." He smirked. "Does that make you happy, cowboy?"

"Yes, very." He leaned over and slowly kissed her. "I'm glad you're here with me, babe."

They heard the door open and then shut. "Jack?"

"Mom?" Charlotte walked in with tears on her face. "Mom? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interrupted. I'll just go."

"Hang on." Jack got up and walked over to her. "I know about you and Monte. Is that what you're upset about?"

"No, yes…I don't know." She turned her head and wiped her cheeks.

"Come sit down." He put his arm around her and brought her to the couch.

"I'm sorry." She covered her face and sobbed.

Elizabeth put her arm around her soon to be mother-in-law. "Mom? What's going on?"

"I feel so stupid."

"You are not stupid."

"I gave up such a wonderful, kind man for a crazy dream of something I'll probably never have. That's insane."

"What do you mean?"

"Jack's dad and I had such a wonderful life together and he made me feel like I was beautiful and smart and strong."

"You are those things," Jack told her.

"When I lost him," she paused to compose herself, "I thought I would never have that same feeling. That spark when he grabbed my hand or kissed me. That need to be with him every second and that intense want to see him when he was away. I didn't think it was possible to feel the same thing again. So when Monte asked me to dinner, I just thought we'd be friends. That's what we were. We were comfortable with each other and content. I thought that would be enough. What I didn't realize was that it wasn't enough and because it wasn't, I broke his heart. You should have seen him. He was so hurt and I feel horrible."

"Mom, I saw Monte yesterday."

"Is he Ok? I've wanted to talk to him but I didn't know what to say."

"He looked upset but he may have looked that way because he decided to quit."

"What? He's been here ten years. Why did he quit?"

"He said it is time to move on but I think it might be so he doesn't need to be here."

"Where I am."

Elizabeth grabbed her hand. "If you weren't happy with Monte, really happy, it wouldn't be right to stay with him. I for one know that it is possible for you to feel that spark again. I saw it." Charlotte looked at her, confused. "When you picked me up at school and you saw Bill again. Mom, I saw the connection you had. You felt something, didn't you? When he touched your hand."

"I don't know what it was. Besides it's too soon."

"Too soon? Tom has been gone almost eleven years."

"After Monte. I just broke his heart. I can't move on that soon. It would hurt him all over again."

"I don't know how long you plan to wait, but remember that you deserve to be happy too. Don't lose your chance."

LATER

Jack walked Elizabeth to her bedroom door. "This is me," she joked.

He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her softly. "That wasn't exactly what I expected tonight."

"Me either, but I'm glad we were here. She needed us."

He nodded. She was in her old room since Jack insisted she not be alone right then. "I like that you call her Mom."

"She told me about Margaret today. After hearing the story, I felt so close to her and so proud of her strength."

"You are just as strong, sweetheart."

"No. I'm not strong. I'm so weak."

"Don't confuse temporary dependence with weakness. Your independent and strong personality is one of the things I fell in love with right away. That and you're pretty darn hot."

"Jack," she said with a giggle.

"You are." He leaned down and kissed her neck just below her ear. "There's something about you in my clothes…" he whispered as he grasped her waist and captured her lips with his. She loved wearing his clothes too.

When she felt his fingers slip beneath her t-shirt, she had to stop him. "Time for bed, cowboy," she mumbled against his lips. As he attempted to follow her into her room she placed her hands on his chest. "That wasn't an invitation."

"I'll be good."

"54 days."

She closed the door and he groaned. 54 days sounded like 100 years to him.