Hope Valley, Mid-March

Marie packed her bag and walked down into the store from the apartment she shared with her father. They had been disagreeing for months about everything. She didn't want to work in the store. She didn't want to be where Mason wasn't. She needed him.

Her dad didn't understand. So she said she was going to move to Buxton and he told her not to come back. She wasn't surprised at all.

So, she walked down into the store and out the door without saying goodbye to him. She had some money, so she purchased a ticket to Buxton and climbed aboard the train and left.

As she rode for the next eight hours, she thought about her childhood.

Ten years before…Alberta

Six year old Marie sat in their home and sobbed as she watched her mom walk out, taking her brother and sister with her. She didn't understand why she couldn't go too. Her mom just told her to stay and wait for her father to get home from work. So she did. She sat at the window and waited, but he didn't come home that night. She made herself dinner, a piece of bread with butter, and she put herself to bed.

The next morning, she dressed herself for school and walked alone to the school house.

When she came home that afternoon, he was there, a bottle of brown liquid on the table in front of him, just like it always was. He didn't ask where her mother or brother or sister were. He didn't say hi to her. He just kept pouring and drinking.

That was how their life was for the next few weeks. Finally, her teacher told her that she needed to take a bath so Marie walked herself to the little old lady that lived in town and asked her for a bath. She, of course, complied, unable to turn down a poor, dirty little girl. Then she took her in. She told her that she needed to be taken care of and Marie nodded and agreed.

Her father didn't come for her for a couple weeks. When he finally showed up, he had a suitcase in his hand and told her that they were moving. They moved to three different towns after that, and any friends she made, she had to leave behind when they moved the next time.

Present Day

Somehow he had come into some money and bought the store in Hope Valley, but he never stopped drinking.

Now, she was taking care of herself. As the train pulled into Buxton, she got a bit nervous. What if Mason wasn't happy to see her? What if she couldn't find a place to stay? What if they told her to go back to Hope Valley?

As she walked down the main street, she asked to see where the jail was. She wanted to see Constable Thornton first, hoping he would know where she could stay and get a job.

When she arrived, the door was locked.

"Excuse me, sir!" Marie shouted at the man crossing the street. "Do you know where the Constable is?"

"No, miss, I don't."

"Do you know where he lives?" The gentleman pointed at the modest sized home across the street. "Thank you."

She stood on the porch for a few moments before getting the courage to knock.

"Marie?" Mason opened the door and pulled her into his arms. "What are you doing here?"

"Please don't make me go back," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please, I want to stay with you."

"Shhh. It's ok. Of course you can stay."

A few minutes later he took her inside to talk to his parents. They sat at the table, drinking tea.

"Sweetie, does your father know you're here?" Amy asked.

"Yes. I told him I was coming here and he told me not to come back." Amy looked at Caleb, a look of concern on her face. "Mrs. Thornton, you don't need to feel bad for me. I've basically raised myself, and my father….he's never wanted me. I need your help to find a job and a place to stay."

"She can stay here, right Mom?"

"Oh, honey, we don't have an extra bed."

"Move Lily into my bed and Marie can have Lily's. I'll sleep on the couch."

"Mason, I don't want to put anyone out. I'll just go." Marie stood and placed her cup in the sink.

"No, Marie. Mom, please?"

Amy looked at Caleb. He shrugged and nodded. "Marie, please stay here, at least until you find a more permanent place."

"I don't want to be a bother."

Mason stood up and walked over to her. "Marie, please stay here. I'll help you look for a job tomorrow."

She stared at him for a moment and then nodded. He pulled her close again, making her feel safer.

When all was done, Lily just shared a bed with Meri so Mason could keep his bed.

Marie was exhausted and she went to bed early, so Mason took the opportunity to talk to his parents.

"Mason, what's her story?" Caleb asked.

"It's not my story to tell but she's had a hard life and she wouldn't have come here if she didn't need to."

"Even for you?" Amy asked.

"No, she knew I was coming to see her next week." Mason looked at his hands. "She needs us. She needs to know we won't leave her or make her leave. She needs love and a family."

"She doesn't give trust easily," Caleb noticed.

"No, she doesn't. She also doesn't give her heart easily."

"She gave hers to you, it seems," Amy said.

"Yeah and she has mine too."

….

Lily heard Marie crying during the night so she got up and got into bed with her. "You ok, Marie?"

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"You don't gotta be afraid. Daddy is a Constable. We are safe."

She was mostly scared of not knowing where she would live or how she would make money, but it was sweet of Lily to offer comfort.

Lily wrapped her little arm around Marie's waist and snuggled closer. "Night, Marie."

"Night, Lily." After a while, Marie was able to finally relax enough to sleep.

….

The next day was school so everyone was up early, except Marie. She kept sleeping.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Lily?"

"Marie was cryin'."

"When, babe?"

"Last night. She said she was scared and I told her Daddy is a Constable, she doesn't have to be afraid."

Amy kissed the top of her daughter's head. "Very true, Lily. You're a sweet girl."

Mason listened, immediately concerned that Marie was upset but not surprised. She needed love and stability so badly and he was grateful she came to them to get it.

By the time he went to school, she was still asleep so he would need to talk to her after.

Marie wandered out of the bedroom, fully dressed and fully intending to venture out and find herself a job. However, Amy sat at the table with a cup of coffee for each of them, as if expecting her to appear after everyone else left.

"Morning," she greeted.

"Morning, Marie. Coffee?"

"Yes, please." Marie sat and poured a bit of cream into her cup and stirred it.

"I heard that Mrs. Cramer at the general store needs someone to help during the mornings, if you are interested."

Honestly, the last thing she wanted was to work in a store but she was experienced and she needed a job so that she didn't have to be a burden on Mason's family. "Thank you. I will go see her." She stood up but Amy touched her hand.

"Why don't you just take a moment and relax? Mrs. Cramer will need help whether you leave now or in an hour." Marie sat back down and stared at her coffee.

"I'm sorry that I just showed up here. I won't have to stay here long."

"Marie, you are welcome for as long as you need."

"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton."

"I am a good listener if you ever need to talk. I had a rough childhood myself and I understand a lot of where you might be coming from."

"Mason told you?"

"He only said you had a hard life. That's all." Amy saw her physically relax a bit knowing Mason didn't betray her trust.

"I am going to go see Mrs. Cramer now."

"I will go too. I need to get some supplies."

Amy walked with her down the street a bit later, mostly so she didn't go by herself and so she felt supported. She wanted to gain her trust.

"Mrs. Cramer?"

"Mrs. Thornton, good to see you." The little white haired lady walked over, a big smile on her face.

"You too. I found someone who can help you in the store. This is Marie Patrick."

"Hello, sweetheart. Nice to meet you."

"You too. I have a lot of experience. I helped my father run the store in Hope Valley."

"Well, then you are hired. Can you start tomorrow?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Ok, be here at seven and I will get you situated. Thank you so much, Marie."

That was easier than she thought it would be and the lady seemed genuinely nice. "Ok, I will see you tomorrow."

Amy and Marie walked back a short time later and started lunch for Caleb. He came home every day for lunch to see Amy. Amy enjoyed it immensely and it gave them a chance to be alone.

When he walked in at lunch, he smiled at Marie who was reading in the living room and then kissed Amy. "Hey, beautiful."

"Hi." She melted into his arms, grateful to see him. "I'm glad you're home."

Marie tried not to eavesdrop but they weren't far away. It was a nice change to see what a happily married couple could be like. She had never been exposed to that before. She knew how good it made her feel when Mason held her hand or kissed her, but she hadn't received affection growing up so it took a while for her to believe he even wanted to touch her. It also made her feel like an intruder so she quietly got up and went down the hall to the bedroom to give them time alone.

About an hour later, she heard a knock on the door. "Come in."

Amy peaked her head in. "You ok?"

"Sure." She flipped her book over and forced a smile.

"Are you hungry?"

"I'm ok."

"Caleb is gone so it would be just us." Amy saw her wavering between declining again and agreeing. "If you change your mind, I made you a sandwich from the chicken we had last night."

"I am hungry," she admitted quietly.

"Let's go, sweetie." When Marie walked past her Amy touched her arm. "I'm glad you're here."

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why?"

"Because you make Mason happy and because he told us that you wouldn't have come unless you needed us. I'm glad you got yourself out of a bad situation and you went somewhere safe."

"My dad never hit me, he just didn't love me. He loved his whiskey."

"I'm sorry that happened to you. My dad also loved his alcohol. He got drunk every night and then took it out on my mom. One day, she had enough and he didn't do it anymore."

"You mean…she killed him?"

"Yes."

"Did he ever hit you?"

"Once. My mom told him never to do it again. If he was mad, take it out on her."

Marie silently ate her sandwich and thought about how horrible that must have been but how much her mom must have loved her to sacrifice her own body for her daughter.

"My mom was a wonderful person but she went through a lot. A few years after she killed my dad, she met Kevin, my step dad. He's amazing and he is the best father I could ever want."

"I don't understand why you want me to know this. My mom left when I was six and she took my brother and sister with her. She left me with a man that doesn't even know I exist half the time. I took care of myself. I don't hold out any hope that I will have any parents that actually care."

"Marie, if you and Mason get married, you will have parents who care. Caleb and I already do care."

"You barely know me. I'm sure in time, you'll change your mind."

"Sweetie, we won't change our mind. I promise."

Promises didn't mean a lot to Marie, but they were given freely in the Thornton family.

…..

Marie spent the rest of the day in the girl's bedroom, feeling sorry for herself. Mason came home, wanting to see her.

"She hasn't been out of the bedroom for a while," Amy told him.

"What happened?"

"Nothing, sweetie. She's just having a hard time."

Mason wandered down the hall and knocked on the door. "Marie, it's me."

"Come in."

She got up off the bed and threw her arms around him, her tears starting.

"What's wrong?"

"Why do you like me, Mason?"

"Why? So many reasons."

"Name one."

"You're sweet and kind." Mason watched her look away from him. "You're strong." He saw a tear fall down her cheek. "And I don't like you, I love you."

"You don't mean that, Mason."

"I don't ever say something that I don't mean, Marie." He turned her chin back toward him. "Ever. I do love you and as soon as I graduate we are getting married."

"Why? Why would you want me?"

He pulled her close and sighed. He didn't know how to make her believe it but he would try every day of his life to do it.