When school started for the new year there were two less students in the classroom. Gabe and Rachel had both taken their exams to finish school and both passes with a high grade. Cat Montgomery was so proud, but Kate didn't think anyone was as proud as Elizabeth, who had tears in her eyes when she handed Gabe his certificate at the party the town held for them. Gabe had come such a long way from the troubled boy he was they they first arrived. Elizabeth didn't think she could be anymore proud of either of her students. They were the first two of many that she could take credit for teaching well enough to finish and send into the world. Before Elizabeth most children didn't finish school. Boys went into the mine and girls stayed home to help. It was safe to say everyone in town was proud of the students and Elizabeth.

Winter passed with more snow then the Valley had ever seen. Kate lost track of the number of school days Elizabeth had to cancel or send the students home early because a storm was rolling in. It did however give them plenty of time to gather with Abigail and Rosemary by Abigail's fireplace and chat, talk about the wedding and other things. Kate felt that those times were what got Elizabeth through the worst of missing Jack. He had now been away two whole seasons and she hated to think they might look back on this time and think of it as 'the winter Jack wasn't here'. She hated that it might actually have a name and a place in their memory. But it would seem now that winter was finally behind them, the days were longer, they no longer huddled around the stove at school and Kate found herself counting the days. She didn't think she could stand it if another season went by and Jack still wasn't home.


Monday afternoon in April Kate was walking home with Laura and Cody when they heard a rumble from behind them.

"Is that thunder?" Cody asked looking at the cloudless winter sky.

"No, the stage coach?" Laura frowned.

"It's to early for the stage." Cody shook his head.

"It's an automobile!" Kate cried suddenly remembering where she recognized that sound from.

"Really!" Cody cried and sure enough Lee came around the corner in a black car rumbling over the dirt roads as everyone in town poked their heads out of windows.

"Lee!" Kate cried as they hurried to him. Lee parked the car by the cafe climbing out.

"WOW! Mr Colter you got an automobile?" Cody cried.

"That I did! I thought it was time someone bring some modern age to Hope Valley" Lee smiled as he climbed out.

"Have you ever seen anything like it?" Laura breathed walking around the car.

"Sure have, it's a nice one too." Kate smiled

"Lee! What on earth!" Rosemary gasped coming out of the cafe with a gasp followed closely by Clara and Abigail.

"Look Mom! Mr Coulter got a car!" Cody cried.

"I see that!" Abigail laughed.

"Care for a ride?" Lee asked holding his arm out to Rosemary.

"This is ours?" Rosemary asked seeming speechless for what Kate was sure was the first time in her life.

"All our" Lee smiled helping her into the car.

""Cody back up!" Abigail called pulling Cody away as if the car would explode as Lee cranked it to start.

"It must be wonderful to ride in a car" Laura sighed as they watched Lee drive down the road.

"It's alright, not so different from a wagon." Kate shrugged

"I for one found it nauseating." Abigail sighed making Kate laugh.

"Come on." Kate shook her head as they all went into the cafe.

"How was school?" Abigail asked as Kate and Laura pulled out their homework and Cody started throwing his baseball around.

"Miss Thatcher got mad at Miles because he dipped the end of Emily's braid in her ink." Laura said.

"And he even used it to write a whole word!" Cody cried.

"Cody! It was very wrong that Miles did. I imagine Cat is going to have a terrible time getting that out of Emily's hair tonight." Abigail shook her head.

"I just think it would be good to have if you ever forget a pen." Cody shrugged. Laura and Kate laughed as Abigail rolled her eyes. They all looked up when there was a knock on the door and Mr Yost came in.

"Oh, Mrs Stanton, I was hoping I would find Miss Thatcher here?" Mr Yost said.

"She's still at school finishing her papers." Kate told him.

"Oh, I have a telegram for her but I'm afraid the store is so busy I can't leave it for long, can I leave it with you Kate?" Mr Yost asked.

"Sure" Kate whispered as he handed her the envelope and quickly left. Kate held it in her hands feeling like she couldn't breath. Telegram, Telegrams came when bad things happened. What if it was Jack. Kate felt like she was frozen.

"Cody, Cody go get Miss Thatcher." Abigail said watching Kate as she gently took them envelope out of Kate's hands.

"No! Elizabeth can't be the one to read it." Kate yelled suddenly but Cody was already gone.

"It's probably from Hamilton" Laura said firmly.

"That's right, you girls didn't go to your Grandmother's for the holidays, she's probably demanding a visit." Abigail nodded but Kate noticed her face had lost it's usual rosy color.

"Abigail you can't let Elizabeth read that." Kate glanced at the telegram again as Abigail now held it with two fingers as if it might burn her.

"Kate, if it's about Jack, she has to know anyway." Laura whispered.

"I'll read it." Abigail said. Kate nodded, her chest feeling tight as Abigail tore the paper opening the note inside.

"It's not about Jack." Abigail said sounding like she let out a breath.

"Thank God" Kate whispered.

"Julie is coming in on the stage tomorrow." Abigail said handing Kate the note to see for herself. Kate glanced at it letting out a breath feeling like she was about to burst into tears. Abigail pulled her tightly to her, holding each other as Elizabeth came bursting into the cafe.

"Cody said there was a telegram." Elizabeth swallowed thickly her hands shaking as she took in Abigail and Kate both looking like they were about to cry.

"Yes, Julie is coming to visit." Abigail said quickly.

"Just Julie?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Yes, that it." Kate nodded and Elizabeth closed her eyes in a silent prayer as Kate left Abigail going to give her a hug feeling how tight her sister was. Elizabeth ran her hand down Kate's curls attempting to sooth them both.

"Why don't you sit and catch your breath." Abigail offered as Elizabeth sank into a chair her head in her hands. After a second she started laughing and everyone turned to her surprised.

"I always said my cousin would be the death of me." Elizabeth laughed making Kate giggle as Abigail smiled.

"I dare say she came pretty close to killing us all this time." Abigail added making them laugh harder.


"I'm so glad Julie is coming to visit." Kate said changing the sheets on her bed and moving some of her clothes out making room for what was sure to be giant trunks Julie was bringing with her.

"Me too, to bad it's not during school break, we could take a trip to Buxton together." Elizabeth said from where she was leaning against the doorway watching.

"But you can show her the dress Rosemary and Clara have been working on. Do you think she will come back for the wedding?" Kate asked talking quickly with excitement.

"Perhaps, we will definitely send everyone in Hamilton an invitation when the times comes." Elizabeth nodded.

"I think you should get married in the summer. That's soon you know."

"Yes, well I would need a groom to marry now wouldn't I? When Jack comes back we will talk about it." Elizabeth said softly.

"Your right, winter is just as nice." Kate nodded.

"Thank you for giving up your room for Julie." Elizabeth said changing the subject.

"How long will she be staying?"

"Knowing Julie just long enough to stir up some trouble." Elizabeth muttered making Kate smile.

"Do you think she still talks to Tom?"

"Tom Thornton?"

"Yes, they were so in love remember."

"Well I haven't heard any more of it so I am assuming not, knowing Julie she has been in love with twenty more men since Tom." Elizabeth sighed stepping in to help Kate straighten her quilt over her bed.

"Wouldn't it be funny if Julie married Tom, and you and Jack were married." Kate chuckled.

"I think Aunt Agatha would drop dead." Elizabeth chuckled.

"That's what I thought was going to happen when Mr Yost brought that telegram." Kate whispered.

"I know, that was scary." Elizabeth agreed sitting down on the freshly made bed.

"How much longer are we going to have to do this Elizabeth. Jack said at Christmas he was hoping to be home soon."

"And he will be, as soon as he can I know Jack is going to come straight home. But in the mean time, we are safe and comfortable here in Hope Valley, Jack is needed to protect people who don't have the comforts we do." Elizabeth said.

"As long as no one else sends a telegram until Jack comes home." Kate nodded.

"I will speak with Mr Yost about not leaving us in such a situation. He receives the telegrams, it would be nice if he would start with something like 'You have a telegram, it's not about Jack" Elizabeth sighed.

"It's not his fault, he seemed flustered he probably wasn't thinking. And hopefully Jack is home before the next telegram comes." Kate said firmly.

"I hope so." Elizabeth nodded.


"Julie!" Kate grinned as Julie stepped of the stage the next morning.

"Kate! Elizabeth! It's so good to see you two! We have missed you so much!" Julie cried throwing her arms around both sisters. Kate and Elizabeth had not been home since Viola's wedding two years ago and Elizabeth didn't realize how much she missed her family until she saw Julie.

"We missed you too! I'm so glad your here for a visit" Kate grinned.

"Yes well I come with news, Viola had her baby last week, A little boy named Henry after Father." Julie grinned.

"Oh how wonderful!" Elizabeth cried.

"Mother and Father are over the moon of course, Grandmother as well, he is rather loud, but quite tolerable when he's sleeping." Julie said making Elizabeth laugh.

"Julie, that's a lot of trunks" Kate said as the stage coach driver roughly tossed three trunks from the roof.

"Oh! Do be careful! These aren't the bags of a common gypsy you know! I do have rather valuable things!" Julie called up. The Stage driver just shook his head before driving off.

"Well, is there no kind man to assist us with these?" Julie asked looking up and down the road.

"Julie, have you forgotten where you are? And we don't live in town anymore. It's a twenty minute walk to the house." Kate chuckled.

"Oh, oh my I am afraid I didn't plan for that." Julie sighed.

"Why don't we leave them at Abigail's, we can ask Lee to come pick them up with his automobile later." Elizabeth chuckled.

"An automobile! Here in Hope Valley! My My things have changed." Julie smiled.

"Don't go getting any ideas Julie" Kate teased.

"Yes, we still remember what happened the last time you got behind the wheel." Elizabeth nodded.

"Sometimes I think you two are the same person." Julie huffed her annoyance at their teasing.

"Come on, grab a trunk, luckily Abigail is just across the street." Elizabeth said picking up one of the trunks with a groan.

"Oh second thought, let's leave them here for Lee" She said.

"Leave my things in the middle of the street?" Julie gasped.

"It will be fine, it's Hope Valley, the most that will happen is Rosemary will eye them jealously. Come on let's get some tea and see if we can send Cody for Lee." Elizabeth lead the way to the Cafe.

"I… but… Oh!" Julie sighed following the girls across the street.


"Don't forget to say your prayers, I'll be up in a little while." Elizabeth softly called after Kate as she went up to bed.

"I can't believe how grown up she is." Julie sighed as Elizabeth sat down on the sofa next to her.

"I can't believe how grown up you are, look at you, owning a home." Julie sighed glancing around the row house. Elizabeth smiled.

"It's not much, but it's comfortable, and it's home." Elizabeth smiled.

"For now at least, You can't stop going on about the house Jack is building you in your letters." Julie teased making Elizabeth smile.

"Lee still won't let me see the blue prints but from what he has hinted at it sounds like it will be beautiful. And the land is plenty big for some apple trees, a big garden, barn for animals…"

"Why Elizabeth Thatcher, you sound like a house wife already." Julie smiled.

"Now all we need is Jack." Elizabeth sighed.

"I can tell how much you both miss him from your letters." Julie nodded losing her smile.

"So tell me, what's this impromptu visit about? Your not running away from home are you?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, in fact Grandmother practically sent me." Julie frowned.

"She did?" Elizabeth asked surprised.

"She said I should learn to be productive and independent from the Granddaughter she can be proud of." Julie huffed.

"Grandmother is proud of me?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, when she found out you bought property, well no Thatcher women has ever owned their own property. And then getting along without Jack… she is very proud of you." Julie said.

"And so she sent you here?" Elizabeth asked still surprised by the conversation.

"Apparently I'm supposed to learn from you." Julie shrugged.

"Well, what do you think you want to do with your life? What's your ambition?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well I don't know! I think I might enjoy teaching like you do. I mean you seem to love it so much." Julie said.

"Have you ever had any experience teaching a class?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well no, children are rather unpredictable. I mean Kate was tolerable as a child, but I don't think I could take care of more then one at a time." Julie shook her head.

"Then I don't think you want to be a teacher Julie." Elizabeth chuckled.

"Oh please Elizabeth! Let me just try! I have to go home to Grandmother with something." Julie begged.

"Alright, well I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. Why don't you come to school with us tomorrow, you can watch me for the day. And if you can behave yourself, maybe I will even let you take over some of the lessons in a few days." Elizabeth offered.

"Oh thank you Elizabeth! I promise I will not let you down!" Julie cried.

"In that case we best get to bed, and I mean if Julie Thatcher, you speak out of turn like you did last time and I won't hesitate to make you stand in the corner" Elizabeth said firmly as they started to climb the stairs.

"Cross my heart, I will be a model student!" Julie promised.

"Good, see you in the morning." Elizabeth smiled.


"Julie is coming to school? You do remember what happened the last time you brought her to school right?" Kate asked.

"Yes, that was a few years ago now and she promised to help me." Elizabeth said as she made breakfast while Kate set the table.

"Was this before or after she seemed determined to sleep the morning away?" Kate asked glancing up the stairs.

"She still have time. You know Julie, sleep in as late as she can." Elizabeth chuckled.

"Why is she here? Just to visit?"

"It seems Grandmother all but sent her. Apparently she wanted Julie to learn to be productive and make a life for herself from the one Granddaughter who did." Elizabeth said smiling proudly.

"Hey!" Kate cried.

"Oh you know what I mean."

"Of course perfect Elizabeth the favorite yet again." Kate muttered as Elizabeth just shook her head.

"Grandmother does know your engaged to be married to Jack right?"

"And apparently she approves now. Either way I am going to help Julie find her passion and calling in life. Just as I have found mine." Elizabeth said firmly.

"Oh yes, teaching." Kate nodded.

"Not just teaching. Yes I love teaching, but I also love being here, our friends, Jack, you, our home. I love everything about my life." Elizabeth said.

"Your happy?" Kate asked.

"I am very happy. As long as I have you and Jack." Elizabeth said. Rip barked from the stove as if to be included.

"You too Rip" Elizabeth chuckled.

"Good Morning!" Julie smiled coming down the stairs.

"Just in time for breakfast." Kate grinned.

"Alright let's sit down or we will be late." Elizabeth said placing breakfast on the table.


"How are you and your sister getting along with Julie?" Laura asked as she and Kate walked home from school. True to her word Julie had been a model student and had even stayed after school to help Elizabeth clean the classroom after a particularly messy science experiment.

"She's good, she wanted to learn from Elizabeth. Laura do you know what your passion is?" Kate asked.

"Passion?"

"Yes, the thing you want to do with your life. Elizabeth's is teaching. Jack's is to be a mountie. Abigail's is to run the cafe. Do you know yours?"

"I don't have a passion Kate. I'm going to grow up to run a home just as my Ma and her Ma before her and her Ma before her." Laura shrugged.

"Elizabeth went to teacher collage. Julie is expected to do something with her life… I suppose I am too" Kate shrugged.

"More then keep house?"

"I don't know" Kate shrugged again.

"No one from Coal Valley has ever gone to collage before."

"What if I am expected to?"

"I think it's something you better talk to Elizabeth about." Laura said.

"I don't know what I'm passionate about" Kate frowned.

"I know I'm passionate about Abigail's cookies, I can smell them from here." Laura smiled as they walked by the cafe.

"Me too" Kate laughed.

"Come on." Laura smiled as they went inside.


"I have a very special surprise for you all today, Miss Thatcher will be doing your reading today." Elizabeth told the class as Julie stepped forward with Elizabeth's reader in her hand. Kate looked up surprised. It was only Julie's second day here and already she was taking over a lesson.

"Hello Children." Julie smiled looking over the room as Elizabeth stepped back.

"We could have some fun with this." Miles whispered to Cody. Kate kicked the back of his bench making both boys turn and frown at her.

"Leave her alone" Kate whispered.

"Alright everyone please open your books to page 37, who would like to read out loud first?" Julie asked.


"So how was my lesson today?" Julie asked as she and Kate walked home that afternoon.

"You did very well, except when you asked Opal to read from the fifth year book." Kate smiled.

"I suppose I did over estimate her size." Julie sighed.

"It was good though. You did well, even Elizabeth has trouble controlling the class on the odd day." Kate reassured her.

"I will never have the talent to hold a class as she does." Julie sighed.

"Do you think you want to be a teacher?" Kate asked.

"No, I don't. It is fun to play one for a few days though." Julie sighed.

"What are you going to do now?" Kate asked.

"Go back to Hamilton soon I suppose, report something back to Grandmother. Lord knows as long as Viola's baby is in the room with her she won't hear a word I say."

"Will you stay? A few more days, you make the house feel… less empty." Kate sighed.

"I will" Julie nodded making Kate smile.

"Elizabeth says she is happy, but she misses Jack. I do too, you make it easier." Kate whispered.

"Do you think she will ever come home? To Hamilton?"

"No, this is our home. No matter what. It's what makes us both happy. Even without Jack here, it's still home." Kate said softly.

"How was their engagement, was it as magical as I think it was?" Julie asked.

"It was so romantic" Kate sighed.

"Pity Jack had to leave so soon after. They would probably be married by now." Julie said.

"No matter, Jack will be home soon and there will be a wedding then." Kate said firmly.


"Your awful quiet this evening." Elizabeth said as she and Kate sat in the cafe for dinner.

"Julie decided she didn't ant to be a teacher?"

"Yes, it's certainly not for everyone. I was looking at her sketch book today though. She has quite the eye for art, I think she may look into art school when she gets back to Hamilton." Elizabeth said.

"So she did find something then."

"Yes, and I think she might be very good at it."

"That's good for her." Kate forced a little smile.

"And you, are you ready to tell me what's bothering you now?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know what makes me happy." Kate said softly.

"Oh Kate, you are still young."

"But you know what you wanted to do for as long as I can remember! Even Julie found something and I have nothing." Kate frowned.

"Well, I know that helping Abigail in the cafe makes you happy, I know that riding horses makes you happy, picking the wild flowers, reading, spending time with your friends."

"But those are all kid things, what about when I get older? An I expected to go to college?" Kate asked

"If you would like to."

"What if I don't."

"Then you don't. You are one of the few students in school who will have the chance to go to college if you want. But you certainly don't have to."

"But am I expected to?" Kate repeated.

"No, all that is expected of you is to be kind, and happy and hard working."

"So if I don't find a passion..?"

"Of course you will, maybe it's running a house, or farming, or being a mother, of baking. There are so many things you haven't tried yet."

"So your saying I should try everything?" Kate asked.

"I'm saying, your young. Abigail didn't open her cafe until she was older, Julie maybe just found what makes her happy. I hope you have many things in your life that you are passionate about." Elizabeth said softly.

"That word just sounds so.. Intense." Kate sighed.

"Well, here's a word that's not. Happy. You are a good person Katie, with a big heart. I have no doubt you will be happy." Elizabeth gave her a smile.


"Here is baby Henry" Julie said holding open her sketch book for Kate and Elizabeth to see her drawing of the baby.

"Oh my, I wish we could see him." Elizabeth sighed.

"You should come back to Hamilton, just for a short time. Your friend Rosemary said she could teach school, surly just a few days." Julie pressed.

"We can't" Elizabeth said softly.

"Why ever not?" Julie asked.

"Because Jack, he might come back any day." Elizabeth said.

"We have to be here." Kate said softly

"Well, I understand that." Julie nodded giving them a soft smile.

"When he comes back we shall take a trip." Elizabeth said firmly.

"It will be wonderful to have everyone together again." Julie grinned.

"Yes It will" Kate said softly getting up to look down the lane of the row houses as she did countless times a day, praying as hard as she could for the red serge jacket to come riding down. Together again.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. For all those counting down Jack comes back next chapter! Also I am leaving in less then 2 weeks so I feel like I am racing the clock to get this story written and out! I do have most of it written I just have to fill in the holes between the drama stuff.