HARRIS TOWN, EARLY SEPTEMBER

"Babe, I am going to make a quick trip to Hope Valley. Lee wants me to show him exactly where we want the house. Do you want to come with me?" Jack looked over at her as she changed for bed.

"I would love to. What about the kids, though?"

"Mom said they could stay at the boarding house."

"When do we leave?" Jack smiled back at his happy wife. He knew she would want to go so he splurged on a train compartment for the next morning.

"Tomorrow morning at ten."

She walked over and kissed him. "I'm excited. How long will we be gone?"

"A week."

She immediately started packing their trunk, stopping to say goodnight to the kids and tell them that in the morning, they would need to pack their own bags to stay at the boarding house.

Lydie had an issue with them leaving, however. "I don't want you to go!"

"I know, sweetheart. But you will go stay with Kiki and Grandma at the boarding house. It will be fun."

She was definitely a clingy child and had been ever since they had adopted her. Elizabeth was good with that but it did make things harder when they had to separate.

Jack took her so Elizabeth could finish packing. "Mama and I are going to go to Hope Valley so we can get our new house started. We will only be gone for a week."

"That's a long time. Can't I go?"

"No, babe. You have school, I'm sorry." She whimpered into his chest, crying real tears. He hated upsetting her and it hurt his heart to hear her cry.

Elizabeth saw him wavering. She knew her wonderful husband's heart was breaking saying no to her and she loved him for it.

"You want to sleep in here with us, Lydie?"

"Yes." Elizabeth saw a little smile as Jack laid her on the bed.

"Ok, it's late, babe. Close your eyes now," she told her gently.

"Yes, Mama."

"Good girl. I love you."

"To the moon and back, Mama."

….

Jack sat in the compartment next to Elizabeth as the train moved toward Hope Valley. He was starting to get excited about moving back too. Not as excited as Elizabeth but he was getting there.

Elizabeth slipped her hand into Jack's and squeezed. "You're quiet," she told him.

"Yeah."

"Are you worried about something?"

"No, not worried. Just thinking, I guess." She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"About what?"

"Our life."

"Any regrets?"

"Not a one. I just feel happy that we will be ending up back where we started." He touched her cheek. "Thank you for marrying me, Elizabeth. Thank you for being so wonderful and such a good mom." He tilted her chin up so her lips met his. "I never knew it was possible to have so much love for one person."

"Sweet man," she whispered before kissing him back. "I love you too."

Elizabeth couldn't wait to see everyone. It made her heart so happy to know they were getting closer to being home again.

When they arrived that evening, they headed straight for Will and Ashley's. What they didn't expect was a family reunion of sorts. Maddie and Nate with their family, Em and Lee with their children, and Mason and Marie, along with Livy, Max, and their kids. It was a full house.

"Papa!" Jack smiled huge when his grandchildren ran up to them.

"Hi!" He took them to the living room and sat down so they could all be eye level with him.

Davie, now ten, almost eleven, stayed close to Elizabeth. He loved her very much. She had been his first Grandma that made him feel loved and he would always remember that. After greeting her daughters and Will, Elizabeth took Davie over to the table and sat, pulling him to her lap. "Davie Coulter, oh, how I've missed you, sweet boy."

"I missed you too, Grandma." He kissed her cheek and snuggled into her arms.

"Tell me what's new."

"Mmm….Mama's having a baby."

"I know. Are you excited?"

"Yeah. I want a sister this time."

"Do you?"

"Yep. Two brothers is enough." She laughed and squeezed him a little tighter.

"Well, there's a fifty fifty chance."

"How come you're here? It's not Christmas yet."

"Very true, but Papa and I are working on a surprise."

"I love surprises."

"I think this one will be great."

…..

A bit later, Elizabeth sat in the living room holding a sleepy Jacob.

"I'm glad you're here, Mom," Will told her from the couch next to her.

"Me too. I've missed this place and all of you." She kissed his cheek and smiled.

"I'm really glad you're moving back."

"I am too."

In all truth, it was scary knowing his aging parents lived so far away where he couldn't help them. Getting his dad's telegram asking about land had made him feel so much better. He knew that Drew lived by them and Jay, not to mention Carlie and Abbie but he wanted them close to him. Selfish but true.

Ashley walked in the room and picked up Jacob. "Time to feed him and get him to bed. Thanks for holding him, Mom."

"You're welcome, sweetie."

Brooke, Becky, and Mary walked in. "Night, Grandma!"

"Goodnight girls," she told them, receiving their kisses. "Sleep well."

Will stood and offered his hand to Elizabeth. She gratefully took it. "Thank you, sweetie." He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as if afraid she would disappear. "Will? What's wrong?" She could feel the emotion in him as he hugged her.

"I'm just glad you're here. I missed you, Mama."

She loved hearing her sons call her Mama. Something about the term made her feel needed. "I missed you too, baby."

….

The next morning, Elizabeth made the rounds around the town while Jack met with Lee and Lee Jr.

She knocked on Maddie and Nate's door. The door opened and five, almost six year old Lucas opened the door. "Hi, Grandma!"

"Hi, Luke!"

She walked in and smelled coffee and bacon. It made her hungry again. "Mama's in the kitchen."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She chuckled as he ran off, his shoes untied, shirt untucked. Likely he wouldn't stay still long enough for Maddie to help him. "Hi, Maddie."

"Hey, Ma." She finished cleaning the counter and sink and then dried her hands. "Help yourself to coffee. I just need to get the kids out the door."

Ten minutes later, a tired Maddie joined her at the table. "Now for some tea for me."

"I'll get it, sweetie. You look tired."

"I am. This baby wears me out. I don't remember being so tired with the others."

"Well, Luke seems to have a lot of energy."

"Yeah. Maybe he took mine." She took a sip of her tea. "So how are things in Harris Town? How are the newlyweds doing?"

"Good. Those two are inseparable."

"Which two?"

"Good point. I was speaking of Abbie and Harry but I guess it applies to Jay and Sara, though I don't see them as often."

"Inseparable. I remember those days," Maddie said wistfully.

"Are you and Nate having troubles, sweetie?"

"No, not really. I just don't see him too much. He leaves the house early to either work on the ranch or at the mercantile and he gets back late, sometimes after dinner. I just miss him."

"Did you tell him that?"

"No." Maddie stood and put her cup in the sink.

"Maddie, men don't always realize something is wrong or bothering us. You need to tell him."

"We haven't had time for just us for what seems like forever. We don't talk like we used to." In all honesty, since the baby was conceived, they hadn't tried to make time. They just went about their day.

"I saw him headed to the barn. Go tell him that you'd like to have dinner with him tonight. Your dad and I will take the kids to Ashley and Will's for the night."

"You don't have to do that, Ma."

"I want to. Sometimes you need to create moments together. Now scoot. Go find Nate."

Maddie looked at her mom. She obviously knew more about marriage then Maddie. Theirs was one for the history books and Maddie figured she should listen. "Thanks, Ma."

Maddie headed to the bathroom first to make sure she looked presentable and then headed out to the barn.

She walked in the barn and listened. "Nate?"

"Maddie?" She walked over to the far horse stall. "What's wrong? Where are the kids? Are you feeling ok?"

"Nate, nothing's wrong and they are at school. I'm feeling fine."

"Good." He went back to cleaning the stall.

"Nate?"

"Yeah."

She touched his arm to stop him. "I'm worried about us." He met her gaze.

"Me too."

"You are?"

"Yeah." He put the shovel down and turned toward her. "I miss you." He missed everything about her. He felt like they had been living separately even though they'd been in the same house.

"Oh, Nate. Why didn't you say anything?"

"Why didn't you?"

"Nate it's no one's fault. We just need to fix it."

"How?"

"I'm making you dinner tonight. Six o'clock."

"I have a lot of work, Maddie."

"Nate, our marriage takes work. We need time and my parents are watching the kids. We will have the house to ourselves."

He stared at her. His Maddie. He ached for her. He needed her. "Six o'clock?"

"Yes."

"Ok. I'll be there."

…..

At four thirty, Jack and Elizabeth led Rachel, Leah, Danny, and Jacob across the yards to spend the night at Will and Ashley's.

Maddie took a bath and took out her best dress, wearing her long curly hair down her back, knowing that's how he loved it. Then she rubbed her vanilla lotion on her neck and shoulders before buttoning her dress. She felt nervous. She needed him so much.

She headed to the kitchen to check on the pot roast. Nate walked in at five o'clock. She turned toward him and smiled. "Hi."

"Hey. I'm going to go get cleaned up, ok?" She nodded and turned back to the meal preparations. He walked over closer. "You look beautiful, hon."

Her eyes filled with tears as she smiled. "Thank you."

He walked off to clean up. About fifteen minutes later, he emerged, dressed in his black dress pants and gray button down shirt.

He looked at her from the doorway. She walked around the kitchen, an apron tied around her pregnant belly. As she moved, he saw glimpses of her bare toes poking out from under her skirt. Her gorgeous dark brown curls flowing down her back begged for his touch. He knew they were soft and silky and his fingers itched with anticipation.

"You just gonna stand and watch me, Mr. Carlin, or do you wanna help?" She smiled as she turned briefly.

"I kinda like just watching you. But I'll help. What do you need me to do?"

"Light the candles and set the table? Please?"

He nodded and did as she asked. She continued to prepare the gravy and every so often, he caught a whiff of her vanilla lotion as she moved.

"Maddie?"

"Yeah?"

She turned when he didn't say anything else. He walked over and pulled her as close as he could get her, his fingers finally stroking her hair, his other arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "Nate, you smell so good." He met her lips with an urgency neither had experienced in a few months. "Oh, I missed you."

"I'm so sorry, Maddie. I didn't know what to do." He kissed her once more and then rested his forehead against hers. "I just worked more because it was easier than figuring out what to do. I'm so sorry."

She nodded. They had gotten themselves into a hole that got deeper by the day. Now they needed to get themselves out. She reached up and touched his cheek with her fingertips before kissing him again. His kisses were always magical, even now, thirteen years after their first.