Early the next morning, Jack was outside behind the jail getting ready to chop wood, but decided to wait for Kate Thatcher to make her customary stroll past the jail. When he saw her, he ran towards her, "Good morning Mrs. Thatcher, may I walk with you?"

Kate was surprised, "Good morning Jack, yes, certainly."

"I wanted to talk to you about something and I hope you don't mind if I just say it. Elizabeth told me that you were concerned about her teaching after we're married," he said.

"Well, yes, I want to be sure she does what's best for her," Kate said.

"Good, because that is what I want for her too. We'd like to have a family some day," he stopped and faced her. "More than anything, I want her to be happy."

"Then wait until she is ready," Kate nodded and continued walking.

"I will," Jack replied, stunned that she walked away from him. He headed to the saloon, needing to talk to his mother and find out what else the women discussed. Mary Thornton was coming down the staircase in the saloon when Jack walked in, "Jack, how nice to see you," she put her arms up to hug him.

Jack gave his mother a quick hug, "I need to talk to you." He took her hand and they went outside, "What did you and Mrs. Thatcher talk about yesterday? I know you told me basically about Elizabeth and I having children, but Mrs. Thatcher seems to be against Elizabeth having a baby and I don't understand."

"My dear Jack, I think the woman doesn't want Elizabeth to give up teaching, that's all it is. Surely it can't be more than that."

Jack nodded, "No, I don't think so."

Mary asked, "Elizabeth hasn't said she doesn't want children has she?"

"No, we've discussed it and we're in agreement that we want children," Jack replied.

"Then that is all that matters. Ignore that woman," she leaned toward her son and whispered, "I think she is trying to control things, you know, like her husband."

Jack looked at his mother, "Are you still at odds with him?"

"No, of course not dear," she laughed, "I could use some breakfast, come with me to the café."

They entered the café and found Elizabeth and Kate Thatcher sitting at a table.

Jack approached them, "Good morning, may we join you?" He smiled at Elizabeth.

"Of course, please," Elizabeth was happy to see Jack.

They all sat and ate breakfast, Jack reached under the table trying to touch Elizabeth's hand, but instead ran his fingers against her thigh. Elizabeth was so startled, she dropped her fork. "Oh, excuse me," she looked at her mother, "clumsy …" she laughed. She put her hand under the table and grabbed onto Jack's hand. She sipped her coffee and glanced at Jack, whose face was almost as red as his red serge jacket.

"So Jack, I see that you are quite a fine artist," Kate said, noting the sketch that Jack drew of Elizabeth and him that Elizabeth kept next to her bed.

"Well, it's something I've enjoyed over the years when I can," Jack replied, surprised she would comment on it.

"Jack has had an artistic hand for as long as I can remember, he's quite talented." Mary Thornton said proudly. "When he was young he painted murals for school pageants."

Elizabeth turned and looked at him, "Murals? Jack?" she put her coffee cup down and shook her head, "Why didn't I realize…" she looked at him as he nervously stabbed flapjacks and stuffed them into his mouth. "Jack?" she said.

"Hmm?" he drank from his coffee cup and glanced at her. "What's that?" he wiped his mouth with his napkin, pretending he didn't hear what was said.

"I'll talk to you later," she whispered.

Jack stood up, "Well, I have work to do if you'll excuse me ladies." He headed for the door.

Elizabeth was not letting him get away and went after him. Once outside, she grabbed his arm, "Jack Thornton, I suspected you all along. Why didn't you just come out and admit it. You were even going to launch an investigation," she was moving, imitating the manner she remembered him saying it, "and get to the bottom of it…"

Jack pulled her into his arms and kissed her, "Hmm, yeah, that's what I painted. Only…." He took her hand and placed it on his chest, "Yes, I believe your hand was on my heart, where it should be by the way" he kissed her again, "Yup, that's right. Have a good day my sweet." He winked and walked off.

"I'll get you Jack Thornton!" she yelled after him. He looked over his shoulder and smiled to see her with her hands on her hips, big beautiful smile on her face.

"You already have me!" he yelled back at her, his arms out straight by his sides.

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head, how she loved that man. Was there anything he couldn't do? She decided to go back to the women and set the record straight. Inside the café, the two women were quietly finishing their meal. Elizabeth sat down, "I want to tell you both that Jack and I are in agreement about our future and we both respect you and your concerns for us. I will teach until we decide to have a family and after that we will do whatever we need to do so that we can have a happy, healthy family. I hope you both can accept that and appreciate that any further discussion on this topic is not necessary." She stood up, "Thank you." She headed to the kitchen to go upstairs.

Mary Thornton and Kate Thatcher looked at each other, Mary spoke, "I think she is right, we need to let them decide. Do you agree?"

Kate looked at her, "Yes, I believe I do."

"Quite an intelligent, remarkable young woman. You did a fine job." Mary smiled.

Kate inhaled, "Thank you. We're very proud, although she does get the stubborn streak from her father," Kate smiled.

"I would say you gave her some of that as well," Mary smiled.

Bill Avery entered the café and acknowledged the two women, "Good morning ladies, it's a beautiful day out there."

The women greeted Bill and he continued on into the kitchen.

Kate leaned and whispered, "I wouldn't be surprised if Mrs. Stanton becomes Mrs. Avery some day."

Mary smiled, "I believe you're right, but let's agree to stay out of their union." Both ladies laughed softly into their napkins.

"Let's go, we need to get to the mercantile to get the rest of our supplies to work on our project," Mary said.

"I'm ready, Mrs. Stanton will help us too," Kate said.

"Wonderful, Elizabeth will be so happy," Mary said. The two women left the café smiling and happy.

In the kitchen, Bill helped Abigail cleaning dishes, "Jack wanted me to get Elizabeth to go to the jail. Is she here? Will you help me?"

"Of course, but can't you just tell her, she won't complain about going to see Jack."

"Maybe he was concerned about the parents," Bill said his eyes wide.

"Oh, right," Abigail replied. "Look at all this work, business has never been better," Abigail said. "Of course Mr. Thatcher has been buying groceries, he even insisted on paying for those three bags of coffee beans on the counter."

Bill looked to the counter, "Well, he appreciates all your work I'm sure. He has been…spreading the wealth shall we say."

"What? How?"

"He ordered a lot of items from the mercantile, at least according to Ned." Bill replied.

"Well Mr. Yost can exaggerate, he does tend to brag…" Abigail said.

"I've noticed, but he was telling everyone about all the extra orders," Bill said, "I'm just waiting for Mr. Thatcher to offer Jack money to help build their house …"

"Oh Jack wouldn't like that," Abigail said.

"What wouldn't Jack like?" Elizabeth came down the steps into the kitchen.

Bill and Abigail turned together, "Nothing." Bill looked at Abigail, "I was telling Abigail that Jack wanted you to go to the jail right away."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked.

Abigail quickly assembled a basket, "Here, bring him this, he loves biscuits."

"Jack had a big breakfast, I don't think he's hungry for…." Elizabeth said as Abigail pushed her towards the door.

"Just go, he'll be mad at me if you don't go," Bill said.

Elizabeth looked at them curiously, "Okay, I'll go…"

She walked to the jail swinging the basket, laughing at the thought of Jack eating even one biscuit since he had such a big breakfast earlier. Then again, Jack was full of surprises.

Elizabeth entered the jail, "Jack?" She put the basket on his desk and she heard Rip howling in the back room. She tapped on the door and heard Jack say "come on in". She opened the door and Jack was sitting on the floor next to Rip.

"Is Rip okay?" she asked.

Jack looked up, "Yes, he's fine, just getting him back inside. He likes to lie out there in the dirt," he tapped his hand on the floor, "have a seat."

"Bill said you needed to see me," she sat on the floor next to Rip.

"I always need to see you," he touched her hand, "you know that."

"Jack," she blushed as she scratched Rip's head.

"I thought you might need to get away from the meddling mothers," Jack smiled.

Elizabeth laughed, then made the little snorting sound that Jack loved. She put her hand to her mouth. "Yes, that is true. But I did tell them both that they need to stay out of our business, that you and I can make our own decisions about our own future."

"You did?" Jack's eyebrows raised, "and what was their reaction to that?"

"They seemed okay," Elizabeth said softly and then admitted, "Actually I just walked away."

Jack smiled, "Good." He looked at Rip, who was thoroughly enjoying all the scratches. "I wanted to talk to you about something your father said to me." He looked at her but quickly looked down at the dog again, "He said you were hurt in a fall, once…maybe a long time ago."

"A fall?" Elizabeth thought, "I've had my share of falls. I can't think of one he would have told you about."

Jack was a bit nervous, "He said it was a fall of a different kind." He swallowed and looked up at her, "Hmm, was he referring to a relationship?"

Elizabeth was surprised by his question and thought for a moment, "Relationship? Did he say that? I really didn't have …"

Jack put his hand up, "You know, I completely understand it if you had a relationship before…when you lived at home…I imagine you had several. I can't imagine a young man not wanting to get your attention, and if it ended because you ended it, well, that doesn't concern me and you don't have to share that. You don't have to share anything if you don't want. But like we both know, keeping an old wound … well, look what happened when I didn't tell you about my past." He kept running his fingers along Rip's coat.

"Jack, I'm sorry if my father said something to upset you," Elizabeth said.

"No, I'm not upset, but if someone hurt you and …" he looked into her eyes, "I just want to make sure it's all resolved." He laughed nervously.

Elizabeth thought she understood, "Jack, no one is going to come riding into town for me if that's what you're thinking."

"No, no of course not," he sighed, "I seem to be saying this all wrong…"

She shook her head, "I think my father was making reference to something that happened several years ago. Something that really broke me for a long time." She looked at him, "but it isn't on my mind at all and it certainly isn't anything that is unresolved in my mind."

"Or your heart?" he asked softly.

"No, not at all," she put her hands on his and their fingers automatically entwined, "My heart is filled with love for you Jack Thornton, only you. I hope you know that…in your heart."

"I do, believe me I do. I guess my imagination was thinking all kinds of things," he smiled, "Silly I guess."

"No, not silly. I appreciate that you're concerned."

"Want to tell me about it?"

She sat straighter, "Okay. When I was in college there was a man…"

Gunshots rang out and Jack jumped up, "Stay here, please …" he ran out the door.