Charlotte watched Jack and Elizabeth as he was making breakfast. Elizabeth should have been sitting with her leg up but instead, she stood in the kitchen next to the stove, watching. She was close enough that his arm bumped hers when he stirred the eggs. He would reach around her for the bread, which she could have handed to him, and the smile that lit up their faces told everything. The two did in fact have the spark, the connection, that she longed for.

She made up her mind to follow her heart and call Bill. Elizabeth had noticed what she had felt as he had written his number on her hand. At least on Charlotte's part, the spark was there and she owed it to her own happiness to find out if Bill felt it too.

After breakfast, Charlotte thanked them for their hospitality but excused herself back to her own apartment, the one Tom and Elisa had left when they moved. She decided to call Bill where she had privacy.

Jack held Elizabeth close, knowing he would be working late, with Monte. He needed to follow him around and see exactly what duties he was going to take on, in addition to his own ranch chores and his EMT job.

"Jack? You ok?"

"Yeah. I'm just overwhelmed, I guess."

"If I didn't have this stupid cast, I'd be out there helping you."

"Actually, if you didn't have that cast, you'd be at school right now."

"I guess you're right." She hugged him tighter, her head over his heart. "Jack, what about Pete?"

"What about him?"

"He needs a job. He needs money and he would do a great job."

"True, but my worry is about when we get married. I'd like him and Clara to be there with us."

"What if you asked Monte to cover for Pete for that week? Do you think he would do it?"

"I don't know."

"It won't hurt to ask," she said, kissing his cheek. "Also, I bought everyone's tickets for Aruba. Dad insisted on paying, including tickets. I also purchased for Pete and Clara."

"That's a lot of money."

"Sweetheart, it's my father. You know he wants to take care of things. Oh and make sure you put in for time off. Our tickets have us returning March 21st."

She watched his face change from the serious, overwhelmed Jack to someone who realized they were talking about a nice long honeymoon. He looked down at her and smirked. "53 days and you'll be my wife," he whispered. She nodded and stared back at him.

"And you'll be my husband." It was getting extremely difficult to keep their feelings and love in check. That was the reason she made him sleep in his own room the night before. It would have been easy for them to get carried away and as much as being with him excited her, they were almost to their wedding. They could control themselves a bit longer.

He felt himself relax as she snuggled against him, her face in his neck, her arms wrapped tightly around his back. Everything would work out. Elizabeth seemed pretty sure that it would because buying ten tickets for Aruba was pretty much signaling they weren't going to postpone. He only hoped Monte would agree to watch the ranch for a week and that Pete would want to work for him.

They heard a knock on the door. "That would be Monte. I'll see you tonight. I might be late." She nodded and kissed him briefly before he walked out the door.

CHARLOTTE'S APARTMENT

She sat at her table and stared at the number on the screen of her cell phone. It was now or never. She hit the green send button and waited as the phone rang once, twice. "Bill Avery," he said as he answered.

"Bill, this is Charlotte."

"Char! Great to hear from you."

"I was wondering if I could take you up on that dinner."

"You like Greek food? There's a great restaurant in Billings."

"Love it. The Dancing Gyro?"

"That's it. We should go tonight." That was soon and she was still super nervous. So nervous that she never answered. "Char?"

"Um..sure. Tonight is good."

"I'll pick you up. Where do you live?"

After they hung up, she texted her address and then cried her eyes out. This was her chance. She didn't want to screw it up. The one thing she didn't ever want to do again is break someone's heart.

THAT EVENING

Charlotte stared in the full length mirror at herself. She wore a black wrap dress that hit her knees perfectly. Not too short to make her look like she was trying to look younger but not too long to make her look matronly either.

She put on her opal necklace and matching earrings and then pulled on her black leather dress boots.

Finally, just before he was supposed to show up, she twisted her hair up off her neck and secured it with a silver clip that looked just perfect with the outfit.

The doorbell rang and her heart pounded. "I can do this. Lord, give me strength."

She opened the door and smiled shyly. "Hi, let me grab my coat." Bill stepped in a foot and grabbed her coat, sliding it up her arms and settling it on her shoulders.

"You look beautiful, Charlotte."

She looked in his eyes and melted. "You look very nice yourself."

He offered his arm and escorted her to his vehicle, opening the door for her and then walking around to the drivers side.

Bill sat for a moment behind the wheel and then looked over at her. "Charlotte, I feel like I need to tell you something."

"You're married." That would be the icing on the proverbial cake.

"No. Honestly, I've never found that spark with anyone. Except you. Back when Tom passed, the reason I sort of disappeared was because I had feelings for you, strong feelings. If I told you about them not only would I be betraying my best friend, but I knew you couldn't return them."

"So you left."

"Yeah. It hurt too much to be around you and not be with you." He took her hand in his and kissed it, causing an unbelievable heat to travel up her arm. "I saw you with Elizabeth and all those feelings rushed back."

"Bill, I just got out of a relationship but I need you to know that I don't want something casual. I want to feel something again. It's been so long and when you took my hand outside the school, I felt it."

"Like a spark?" She nodded. "I did too. It has been a long few days waiting for you to call me. I was worried that maybe it was a foolish dream that one day you would love me too."

She didn't care that it was their first date. She wanted him to kiss her so badly but she would force herself to be patient. "Dreams aren't foolish, Bill."

He started the car and put it in drive, smiling when she reached over for his hand. They drove the forty five minutes to Billings, holding on just because it felt right. He let go only to walk around the car and open her door and then grabbed her hand again to walk into the Dancing Gyro.

He led her to the table and moved his table setting to the chair next to her and then offered his hand again. He admired her lovely face by candlelight, noticing she only looked very slightly older than ten years before. "Bill?" She smiled and squeezed his hand. "You look far away."

"No, actually, I'm right here looking at the loveliest woman I have ever known."

THORNTON ACRES, LATE EVENING

It was around nine o'clock and Elizabeth could barely keep her eyes open, but Jack wasn't in yet. It worried her a bit but he had said he would be late. She curled her one leg under her and wrapped the crocheted afghan from the back of the couch around herself.

Her phone buzzed as it rang. "Hey, Clara."

"Hi, Elizabeth. Pete said Jack called him about needing a cowhand."

"Yeah, Monte quit so we have a position open. I suggested Pete. We know he would do a good job."

"Yeah, honestly it's an answered prayer," Clara said, her voice breaking.

"Hey, what's going on? You ok?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure if it's just pregnancy hormones but I've been so worried. We've used most of our savings and we were starting to wonder where our next mortgage payment was going to come from. Then Jack called and.." She sniffed and took a few breaths. "So anyway, can you please tell Jack that Pete said yes and he will be there tomorrow?"

"Sure. Um, Clara, just so you know, if you need me to buy my dress I will. I mean, if it's too much for you to make it right now, I understand."

"Are you kidding? It's the only thing keeping me sane right now."

"Sounds like you need a vacation. Maybe in March."

"Elizabeth, we certainly can't afford tickets to Aruba. As much as I want to be there.."

"You're going. I bought your tickets, or rather my father did. He insisted on paying for all tickets and accommodations for one week. We leave March 4th. Make sure you get someone to fill in at The Bean until the 11th when you come back."

"Elizabeth."

"No buts. You are one of my best friends. You need to be there. Plus, we need a cake of chocolate cream croissants and you are the only one who knows how to make them."

Clara giggled. "Well, we can't have you two without chocolate cream croissants."

"Nope, we cant."

"Elizabeth, thank you and thank that sexy cowboy of yours for me too."

"I will. Good night Clara."

"Night."

OUTSIDE CHARLOTTE'S APARTMENT

Bill and Charlotte sat in his vehicle chatting, neither one ready to end their wonderful date. At a pause in the conversation, Bill kissed her hand again. "I had a great time. I hope you did too."

Charlotte reached over and touched his handsome cheek, breathing in his aftershave. "It was perfect." She'd never felt so much so fast.

He covered her hand with his. He couldn't wait any longer. He needed to know, after so many years of wondering. He looked briefly at her soft lips and then leaned in, gently caressing her lips with his. She had wanted it all night and finally it was happening. She leaned further into his chest and deepened the kiss, slipping her arms around him and holding on for fear he would disappear and they would realize it hadn't actually happened.

After a few intense moments, she pulled back and rested her head on his shoulder to catch her breath. He leaned his head against hers and squeezed her hand. "That was better than I had imagined it would be," he admitted.

"You imagined kissing me?"

"Of course I did." Even through ten years of trying to move on, he couldn't. He had thought of her every single day.

THORNTON ACRES

Jack walked into the house around 10:30 and found Elizabeth on the couch asleep. He knelt down in next to her and gently moved her hair off her face. Her eyes opened and she smiled. "Hi, handsome."

"Hey, beautiful. You didn't have to wait for me."

"I wanted to, I tried to, but my pill knocked me out."

"How are you doing?" She sat up and yawned.

"Same, I guess. Will you help me up?" He nodded and stood, holding her arms to take her with him. "Thanks babe."

"I asked Monte if he would take care of things for a week and he agreed."

"That's good. I talked to Clara and she said Pete agreed and will be here tomorrow."

"Good. I didn't want to postpone. It's hard enough knowing it will be 53 days more. I don't think I can wait much longer than that without sleeping in the cold barn."

"Jack Thornton," she said, a deep blush coloring her cheeks.

"Just being honest. Are you saying it's not hard waiting?"

"That's definitely not what I'm saying. Last night, it took all I had to send you to your own room."

He smirked. "Oh yeah? Felt a little frisky huh?"

"Jack!" He laughed and kissed her before leaving the room.

THE NEXT WEEK

Jack took Elizabeth to the doctor for her leg. He ended up clearing her to return to work a week later as long as she didn't need the narcotics anymore. She would return to the doctor at the end of February to see about getting a brace and getting the cast removed.

One day, Elizabeth received a visitor that made her day. The doorbell rang so Elizabeth went to the door, much quicker than before. She was getting used to her crutches.

"Haven! Hi, sweetie. What are you doing here?"

Haven walked forward and hugged her waist. "I miss you."

"Oh, honey, I miss you." Elizabeth held her hand out to the young man that was with her. "I'm Elizabeth Thatcher. Are you Haven's father?" He looked young, but it wasn't impossible.

"No, I'm her brother, Martin."

"Why don't you both come in? It's freezing. We can have hot cocoa."

"Yay! Marty can we please? I love hot cocoa."

"We can't stay long, Haven."

"I know but I want to visit. Please, Marty?"

"Just for a little while."

"Thank you!"

Elizabeth made the hot chocolate with marshmallows and then she made them roast beef sandwiches as well. She assumed that Marty was not getting as much to eat as Haven was and she wasn't getting much. In her opinion, they were both much too thin.

Haven looked at Marty as if asking for permission to eat the sandwich. He nodded and after a few moments, started eating too.

"So, Marty, I've been hoping to meet some of Haven's family. Maybe I can meet your parents soon?"

"Ma'am, I'm the only family she has. Our mom left us about five years ago and our dad passed last year."

Elizabeth put her hand on his arm. "Well, I'm very happy you have each other then." That explained a lot and it broke her heart.

"Yes, ma'am."

Jack walked in then, in his EMT uniform. "Good morning. I see we have visitors."

"Hi, sweetheart. Marty, Haven, this is my fiancé Jack Thornton. Honey, this is Haven and her brother, Marty."

"Nice to meet you Marty." Jack shook his hand. "Haven, hmmm? Miss Thatcher has told me so much about you and so has Elisa."

"Elisa told you about me?"

"Yep. I'm her Uncle."

"Are a police man?" She looked at his uniform.

"Nope. I ride in an ambulance."

"My daddy had to go in an ambulance. Then he didn't come back home."

Elizabeth watched Jack's face. He was surprised.

"That happened to my dad too."

"That's sad."

"But most of the time, it turns out good." Jack stood up and touched Elizabeth's shoulder as he walked past to get his coffee. "So what do you do for work, Marty?"

"We make do," he told him, not really answering the question.

Jack had noticed the lack of a coat. He guessed they were barely skating by. "I need to get to work but I want to introduce you to Pete, my ranch hand."

"We need to get going," Marty told him.

"I'm not done with my cocoa yet, Marty," Haven said.

"It will just take a moment and that will give Haven a chance finish." Jack gestured for him to follow and then bent down to kiss Elizabeth. "Love you. See you at dinner."

"Love you."

Jack walked to the door and handed Marty his ranch coat. "No I'm ok."

"It's freezing. I insist." Jack put on his EMT coat and waited for Marty to decide. Marty eventually put the coat on and then followed Jack out the door.

"Look Mr. Thornton, I know what you're doing but I can take care of my sister."

"Of course you can. I just want to introduce you to Pete."

"I have a job."

"Full time?"

"Well, no."

"Look, when my dad died, I was about your age. I took care of my little brother while my mom worked. I know what you're going through because to some extent, I've been there."

"I don't need charity."

"We all need help at some point."

"I know what Miss Thatcher did for Haven and I appreciate it."

"My Elizabeth has a huge heart. She and I both love to help people. She did help Haven but she also helped a lot of other kids that needed it too. Without her huge heart, Haven wouldn't be warm this winter."

"I know I failed, but I'm trying my hardest."

"Marty, that isn't what I meant. You have taken on a huge responsibility with raising Haven. No one blames you for your difficult circumstances."

"Sometimes I wonder if I am the best one for her."

"Marty, do you have a job?"

"I did but Haven got sick and I couldn't leave her home by herself."

"See, you did what you had to to take care of her. That is a good thing. Now, let's go meet Pete. I've got a hunch that he needs your help."