Jack and Elizabeth lingered behind the café, enjoying their private time, embracing, happy in thoughts of their future. Knowing that Elizabeth's father gave Jack permission to marry Elizabeth eased their concerns and confirmed their plans for the future.

Jack was lost in his closeness to Elizabeth, her kisses were so sweet, he didn't want to end their embrace, but he did move away. Sometimes his emotions overwhelmed him and he had difficulty dealing with them. He still had moments when he was afraid that he would say the wrong thing to Elizabeth and upset her.

"Jack?" Elizabeth said his name softly, concerned that he turned away.

"Hmm?" Jack glanced over his shoulder, "maybe we should head back in."

She placed her hand on his back, "Jack? What is it?" Elizabeth suddenly thought something may have happened in the woods with her father that upset Jack, "did my father say something to upset you?" She then tried to turn things around and make light of it, "Just how did he get covered with blueberries?"

Jack turned, looking at her, "Nothing happened, I just pushed him when he said I couldn't marry you." He laughed at her surprised look, "No, he just fell while he was picking blueberries," he laughed slightly, "not used to country life I suppose."

"True, I can't say I've ever seen him picking blueberries, or any berries." She touched Jack's face, "I'm so glad you were there to rescue him."

Jack shook his head, "I didn't do anything, just helped him climb up the hill."

Elizabeth stepped closer, still touching his face, "You're always my hero." She kissed him and Jack pulled her into his embrace, unable to resist her.

"There's something I have to ask you about…" Jack said.

"Elizabeth Thatcher!" Kate Thatcher's stern voice startled Jack and Elizabeth. "What on earth? Just because you two are engaged doesn't mean you can carry on like this….and out in public!"

"Mother…please, we aren't carrying-on," Elizabeth stepped toward her mother, "I was thanking Jack for rescuing father…"

"Thanking him? It looks like you were being a little too grateful young lady," Kate stared at Jack, "and you, you let her carry on like that?"

"Mrs. Thatcher, I would never disrespect Elizabeth," Jack was afraid to approach the woman, "I'm sorry if you're offended."

Kate continued staring at Jack, "Elizabeth, come inside," she turned and headed back into the café. As she stormed back into the café with Elizabeth behind her, Mary Thornton appeared taking in Kate Thatcher's stormy departure.

"Jack?" His mother approached him, "Is everything all right?"

Jack exhaled, "Mrs. Thatcher thinks I was being disrespectful."

"You? What did you say to her?"

"Nothing, she came out here and saw Elizabeth and I…it was…" Jack shrugged his shoulders, "I…"

Mary smiled, "Kissing? Is that what she saw?"

"Yes," Jack said, "We aren't some schoolchildren doing something wrong, we're engaged."

"Kate Thatcher is from a different world Jack, she lives by strict rules. She shouldn't assume you aren't a gentleman."

"Elizabeth was grateful to me for helping her father. She was glad we weren't hurt," he looked at his mother, "I can't control my feelings," he smiled, threw up his hands. "Half the time I don't understand my feelings, but I do know how I feel when Elizabeth is near me."

Mary put her hands on her son's arms, "That is what is important. If she makes your heart sing and you're head a little dizzy, then that is what is important!"

Jack laughed, "She definitely makes my head dizzy at times."

Mary sighed and embraced her son, feeling like he was a young boy once again. "I should tell you that Mrs. Thatcher and I had a rather interesting conversation earlier."

Jack stepped back, "About what?"

"About you and Elizabeth having babies."

Jack's eyes widened, "Babies? She can't think that we…"

"Oh no, no!" Mary put her hand to her chest, "in the future, of course. She feels Elizabeth should teach and you need to delay…or postpone having children. After you're married of course."

"You had that discussion?" Jack was surprised.

"We discussed several things and we have different opinions. Make sure you know what you're getting into dear."

Jack, hands on his hips, started to pace, "That is between Elizabeth and I, not Mrs. Thatcher and you mother."

"Of course it is dear, we just had a simple discussion. I only mention it in case Mrs. Thatcher raises the topic with Elizabeth." Mary put her hand on Jack's arm, "Let's go back inside with the others." She didn't want to upset her son any further than he already appeared to be.

Inside the café, William had come downstairs from changing out of his blueberries clothes, "Feels so much better, still a bit blue however," he said looking at his hands.

Bill Avery looked at William's hands, "That may last a while. I'd like to know how the horses ended up back here before the two of you did."

"That would be due to my expert horsemanship and poor rope tying." William chuckled. "I should have let Jack take care of that. Then I noticed the berries and decided to harvest!"

"I see, well, at least you're all right," Bill said.

"Yes, thank goodness Jack was there." William said, looking up to see his wife and daughter enter the room, "Where were you two lovely ladies?"

"Getting some air," Kate Thatcher replied as she walked past her husband, "if you'll excuse us, Elizabeth and I are going upstairs to talk."

Elizabeth looked surprised, but followed her mother up the stairs.

"Have you and Jack talked about having children? Just what are your plans?" Kate asked her daughter after shutting the door.

"Children? Why are you bringing this up now?" Elizabeth was confused.

"I'm curious, you put a lot of time into becoming a teacher and once you marry, well, your life will change. Are you prepared for that?"

"Mother are you worried about something?" Elizabeth didn't understand her line of questioning.

"Elizabeth, you worked hard to become a teacher, when you have children you'll have to give that up. I hope you and Jack are planning to wait to start a family," her mother said.

"We didn't make a definite plan," Elizabeth explained as she was thinking. "Mother, why are you suddenly so concerned about me having children."

"That woman thinks you'll have children right away and never teach again." Kate stated.

"That woman?" Elizabeth was wide eyed, "You mean Mary Thornton? Did you argue with her about this?"

"She thinks you've tricked her son into marriage!"

"What? That isn't true! That can't be true mother, you must have misunderstood," Elizabeth was shaking her head.

"You better set things straight and discuss your plans for a family with Jack," Kate said. "Just make sure he understands that you are going to teach until you decide to have children."

Elizabeth was surprised at her mother's demeanor and anger on this topic. It wasn't like Kate Thatcher to be so stern and she decided to end the conversation with her mother and bring it up later with Jack. She was certain after discussing it with Jack that she could alleviate her mother's concerns.

Dinner that evening was unusually quiet with Abigail and Bill doing most of the talking with very few responses from Kate and Elizabeth and even fewer from Mary and Jack. William continued with his stories of business and a new embellished story of his blueberry picking adventure, "I must have tumbled a dozen times down the cliff, didn't I Jack!" Jack didn't say a word.

After dinner, Jack excused himself and went outside. He sat on the steps of the café enjoying the quiet, thinking about what his mother had said to him earlier. How would he bring up the topic with Elizabeth? He had faith that he and Elizabeth would discuss it, see eye to eye and that would be the end of it.

Inside, Elizabeth helped with the after dinner chores but her mind was on her mother and their earlier conversation. She couldn't believe that Mrs. Thornton thought she had tricked Jack in some way. Nothing could be further from the truth, so why would she say that? She dried her hands on a towel, thinking of how or if she should talk to Jack about it. She knew in her heart that Jack felt as she did and that their mothers were wrong.

Jack was deep in thought and didn't hear the door open, and was surprised when Elizabeth sat down next to him. "Hi there," he said, feeling better, as he always did, just seeing her.

Elizabeth touched his arm, "You look troubled."

"And you look like you could use a walk," he looked over his shoulder, "want to escape here and go to our place?"

"Oh yes," Elizabeth nodded, "definitely."

They moved quickly until they were out of sight, "I feel so sneaky," Elizabeth. "Why do they make me feel like a child?"

"I guess parents will do that to you," Jack squeezed her hand.

Elizabeth used the opportunity, "We won't we be parents like that, will we?"

They entered their special grove of trees and Jack led Elizabeth to their bench, "I guess we should talk about what kind of parents we will be," he noticed her nod her head in agreement, so he thought he would just come out with it, "and when you would like to become parents." He didn't turn to look at her, but tried to see her reaction from the corner of his eye. He wasn't surprised to see her take a deep breath.

"Jack, did you know that our mothers talked about this today?" She decided to get it out in the open.

Jack was relieved and turned to face her, "Yes, my mother told me."

"Oh I see. I think we should first talk about what we want," she smiled softly.

"Okay," he licked his lips nervously, "I would like to have children someday, but I'm not in a hurry. Are you?"

"No…I'm not in a hurry. I really enjoy teaching for now."

"You can still teach after we get married," he said, reaching for her hand.

"Thank you," she said squinting.

"I mean, I wouldn't expect you to change your life for me," he said, "you should teach until we have a baby."

"What about after that?" she asked.

"Well, you'd have to take care of the baby…" Jack replied, nervously rubbing his hand on his thigh.

"I don't want to stop teaching Jack…," she said.

"How can you take care of baby and teach? We have to be realistic," he played with the ring on her finger.

"Then we should wait," she said, "We want to enjoy being married for a while, don't we?" She blushed and gazed down.

He looked at her, "Yes, we do." He raised her blushing face with his hand, leaned in and kissed her.

She smiled and pushed a stray hair from his forehead, "I hope our baby has your dark hair."

"And your blue eyes," he whispered.

"I can't really picture having a baby," she turned as he kissed her cheek.

"I know, it's hard to imagine," he replied, "boy or girl? Which do you want?"

She leaned against him, "Boy…like you."

He wrapped his arms around her, "You'll be chasing him all over! I was an active little guy."

"Good, he'll help me keep my figure." She said.

"There's nothing wrong with your figure," he said with a throaty laugh.

"Jack!" she squirmed in his embrace, but then looked at him, "hmm, that's a nice thing to say."

"It's true, you're a beautiful woman Elizabeth," he kissed her hand and caressed it, "you're very attractive."

"Thank you," she said shyly, "you're pretty attractive too."

Jack laughed. "Thank you," he looked down, "I guess we aren't talking about babies anymore."

"No, guess not," she leaned and kissed his cheek.

"Is that okay?" he whispered into her ear.

"I guess…so…" she moved to enjoy his lips near her ear.

"We do have other things to discuss. I have a couple of questions for you." He said softly.

"Now?" She sighed, his breath on her neck sent shivers through her.

"Hmm, no, maybe not right this minute," he laughed softly.

"Good," she said.

"A time-frame?" his voice tickled her ear.

"Time-frame? What time-frame?" she ran her hand through his hair.

"Babies…"

"Oh, were we talking about babies?" she leaned back and sighed.

"Not anymore," Jack pulled her close and kissed her.

"Carry on, carry on," she quoted her mother and kissed him again.