After four days of traveling, the Thatcher's finally arrived at home. Elizabeth walked in and was greeted at the front door by Wilson the head butler, "Welcome home Miss Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth smiled, "Hello, good to see you…"

"Elizabeth!" Julie almost knocked Wilson over, "You're here!" She threw her arms around her sister, and they both jumped up and down hugging. "Let me see it, let me see it," she grabbed her hand, "Oh that is the most beautiful engagement ring I've ever seen!"

Elizabeth felt the happiest she'd felt in days, drawing on Julie's excitement. "It's so good to see you again!" The two sisters hugged and squealed in the foyer of the Thatcher home.

"What about us Julie?" William stood in the doorway, his arm around his wife.

"Father! Mother, are you okay?" Julie ran up and kissed her father's cheek and hugged her mother.

Kate winced, "I'm okay, just a bit sore. It's good to be home. I want to go upstairs and rest, you go be with your sister."

Elizabeth took Julie's arm, "Let's go out on the back patio, I need to be in the fresh air."

The two sisters walked through the parlor and out the big glass doors that led to the large stone patio. Julie barraged Elizabeth with questions, "Your letters were wonderful, but tell me again about all that's happened. It's so much better than a romance novel, just like I knew it would be! Jack is such a romantic hero! Don't you miss him? When are you going to get married? How were his kisses?"

"Julie, calm down!" Elizabeth sat on a stone bench at the edge of the patio, "Jack doesn't even know I'm here, he'll be so worried…" Elizabeth stared off over the wide expanse of lawn.

"Then we'll have to work at getting you back to him," Julie giggled, "so tell me how were those kisses you shared?"

Elizabeth looked at her sister, "Julie…really. I will only tell you that Jack is everything…well everything I could have ever dreamed of," she blushed and looked down, "his kisses are perfect."

Julie squealed, "I knew it. Any man that can smile like that knows how to use those lips."

"Julie!"

"Well, he's terribly attractive. I'm sure mother thought so, just like I told her!"

Elizabeth stood, "Let's walk, you're making me miss Jack even more." Elizabeth filled her sister in on many but not all of the details she'd experienced over the past few months.

Back in Coal Valley, Jack and Bill had finally arrived back in town, "Let's get these horses to the livery for a feed and rest," Bill said.

"Well deserved," Jack replied, "and we both need to get to the café."

"Yes we do, I'm sure you're just as anxious as I am to see two special ladies there," Bill winked.

Jack nodded, "Very much so." The two men dropped their belongings at the jail, Jack checked on Rip who was cared for by Gabe while he was away, and they both headed to the café.

It was after the dinner hour, so Bill tapped on the door at the kitchen, happy when Abigail opened the door, "Bill !" She hugged him and smiled at Jack. "Come in," she said moving to the side, "did you find the men who robbed the women and shot Mrs. Thatcher?"

"It's so good to see you," Bill touched her shoulder, "yes, they are in jail and will be staying there."

Jack was looking around, "Is Elizabeth upstairs?" he asked Abigail.

Abigail looked at Jack and then Bill, "Ahh, I have something for you Jack," she went to the dining room and retrieved the note that she kept in the cabinet. "This is for you," she handed Jack the envelope.

Jack stared at her as he took the envelope and said, "Excuse me." He went and sat on the settee.

My dearest Jack,

I hope you are safe and have arrested the thieves who hurt both our mothers. While my mother is recovering, my father felt strongly that my mother needed additional medical attention and could best get that attention at home. He needed my assistance in getting my mother home. It breaks my heart to leave Coal Valley, especially without saying good bye to you. I will return, I promise you as soon as mother is healed and comfortable. I miss you now and I can't imagine how I will survive without you. You are always in my heart.

All my love,

Elizabeth

"When did she go?" Jack stood, his breathing hard, clenching the letter in his hand.

"Six days ago," Abigail felt terrible, "she didn't want to go Jack, she fought with her father about it… She was very direct with him about returning to Coal Valley as soon as her mother was healed. I'm sure she'll be back soon."

"Why didn't they wait for me to return?" Jack ran his hand through his hair, "I don't understand."

"She didn't want to go Jack," Abigail said.

"How can I send a telegram to her?" Jack asked, his mind racing.

"I don't know, ask Mr. Yost, he must have sent telegrams for William, he should know how to contact his business and they can get the message to Elizabeth," Abigail said.

"Yes, that's true, I'll talk to him," Jack replied. He read the letter again and slammed it against his thigh, "I'm going back to the jail, thank you Abigail."

Jack walked slowly back to the jail. He was so disappointed. He fully expected to see Elizabeth, hug her, talk to her, kiss her. He felt such an emptiness. Should he contact her, what should he say? He understood if she went along to care for her mother, that made sense. She said she would be back as soon as her mother was well, which should be soon, it wasn't a deep wound. He had to think about this and what his best course of action would be. He already knew he ached to see her, he missed her terribly. In the morning he would go see Ned Yost and find out when the next stage was coming in and where he could send a telegram to Elizabeth.

At the Thatcher residence, Elizabeth settled into the old routine of home well, especially spending time with Julie. They went to the city one day to shop. Julie wanted Elizabeth to look at wedding gowns so one day they went to the best dress shop in the city.

"Julie, do you think we should be here?" Elizabeth asked as they entered the shop.

"Of course, besides you need some new dresses don't you?" Julie smiled.

"Yes, I suppose," Elizabeth was mesmerized by the merchandise in the shop, "oh, look at this white dress with the blue flowers, how lovely."

"Look at this one! You just have to try it on," Julie pulled a champagne colored lace dress, the bodice filled with beads, pearls and crystals. "Look at these darling little cap sleeves, it's beautiful."

"Julie, it's too much, I would never wear that in Coal Valley!" Elizabeth ran her hand down the lace, "it is beautiful."

"Try it on," Julie pushed the dress into her sister's arms.

Elizabeth went to the back of the shop and several minutes later emerged in the lace champagne gown. "Julie, it's a little tight and too low," as she looked in the mirror, "isn't it?"

"Made for you! You look stunning," Julie ran up to her, "with your hair up, some pearls….hmm," Julie played with Elizabeth's hair and touched the sleeves, "well, you always were more endowed than I."

"Julie!" Elizabeth's eyes were wide, "It's too fitted. Too….revealing?"

"No, that's the latest fashion now, no more big puffy skirts, even hemlines are coming up."

"Hemlines?" Elizabeth was tugging the neckline, "I'm not worried about hemlines right now. The sleeves are a little loose and heavy, look if they fall down my arm, it kind of tugs the top a bit…" Elizabeth was moving a sleeve up and down, staring in the mirror.

"We'll take it, wrap it up," Julie told the salesgirl. "Can you show us some wedding gowns?"

Back in Coal Valley, Jack asked Ned Yost everyday if he could find the wire address for William Thatcher's office. The stage wasn't due for another six days and Jack was struggling, missing Elizabeth and worried that he had not heard from her.

Jack went about his work every day and checked with Ned Yost until finally the merchant told him, "Jack, if a telegram comes for you, I will drop everything and bring it you."

Jack looked at him, "Thank you…I appreciate that."

Jack and his mother were having lunch and Jack expressed his concern about Elizabeth. "I think I'm going to get her," he said.

"Get her? Go to her home?"

"Yes," Jack said.

"You aren't worried that she won't come back are you?" She was worried about her son.

Jack sat straighter, "No, I'm not worried one bit about that. I just miss her."

Mary touched her son's hand, "Then go to her, she'll be happy and your mind will be eased."

After days went by and no word, Jack started packing. Bill Avery came into the jail and watched Jack. "Where are you going?"

"To get Elizabeth," Jack said as he put the satchel on the floor.

"You're just going to show up there and bring her back here?" Bill asked leaning on the wall.

"Yeah…" Jack replied, "you think that's a bad idea?"

"Not at all," Bill shrugged, "in fact might be good for you to go there, see her world."

Jack thought about that for a moment, "This is her world."

"Now it is, but she's now back in her former world. You have to be careful when you enter." Bill said.

Jack looked at Bill, "I know," he sat on the bed, "I just miss her, I need to see her."

"Gee, I couldn't tell by the way you've been moping around here," Bill laughed, "when does the stage come?"

"A couple of days, will you cover things here for me?"

"Of course," Bill said and started to walk away. "You know, maybe she'll be on the stagecoach…"

Jack smiled, "That would be wonderful, I hope you're right."

Several days later, Jack paced in front of the saloon waiting for the stagecoach. When it finally arrived, to his disappointment, Elizabeth was not on board. He grabbed his bags from just inside the doorway of the saloon and loaded them onto the coach.

Bill was walking toward the saloon, "Jack…you sure about this?"

Jack shook Bill's hand, "Take care of things here, hopefully I'll be back soon…with Elizabeth."

After more than four traveling days, Jack finally arrived. He found a barbershop in the city where he bathed, shaved and put on his suit. He headed to a livery and inquired about a carriage to the Thatcher residence. As the carriage pulled off the road and past the iron gates, Jack spoke to the driver, "No, this can't be right, I wanted to go to the Thatcher residence."

"This is the Thatcher residence sir."

Jack stuck his head out the window, "What?" his mouth open in amazement at the two story stone residence, "They live in a castle?" Jack stepped out when the carriage stopped, "please wait a moment," fully expecting the driver was at the wrong place. He tapped the brass door knocker several times.

"Good afternoon sir," said butler Wilson, "may I help you?"

Jack nodded, "Oh, I was looking for the Thatcher residence…"

"Yes?" He motioned for Jack to enter, "I will tell Mr. Thatcher you're here, Mr…..?"

"Thornton, Jack Thornton," Jack's eyes were wide looking around the expanse of the home's foyer. He checked his appearance in the large gilded mirror near the door and turned to see Julie.

"Jack!" Julie ran and threw her arms around him, "Elizabeth will be thrilled to see you!"

Jack stumbled backward, "Hello…I …"

She took his hand, "Come, she is out on the patio…"

"My luggage…" Jack pointed to the door.

"Oh I'll have Wilson take care of that for you," she squeezed his hand, "It's so good to see you."

Jack looked around the expansive room that Julie Thatcher was dragging him through, "Ahh, I thought I'd surprise her…"

"Yes, you will," she put her finger to her lips, "shhh, she's out here." She opened a big glass door and pointed.

Jack stopped in the doorway, there she was. Standing at the edge of the large stone patio, looking out over the lawn. Wearing a beautiful white dress with blue flowers, her long brown curls flowing down her back. She was a vision, he swallowed the lump in his throat, "Elizabeth," he said barely above a whisper. He waited so long to see her and now he couldn't move, he just stared at her. He finally took a few steps toward her, his emotions swelling, he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Finally, after a deep swallow and several blinks to clear his teary vision, he said her name, "Elizabeth…"

Elizabeth was daydreaming, eyes closed, imagining Jack holding her. She opened her eyes hearing her name, she knew that voice….she turned and saw him, she blinked, thinking she was imagining him standing there. "Jack?…" Her heart began to pound, "Jack…" she moved toward him and then started to run, tears stinging her eyes.

Jack felt like he couldn't breathe, he moved towards her, his arms raised welcoming her. "Elizabeth…" He pulled her against him so tightly he had to step back to steady himself. His lips captured hers and they kissed and kissed….and kissed.

Elizabeth pulled back slightly, tears streaming down her face, "Jack…oh Jack," she held his face, ran her thumb across his lips, "I've missed you…so much."

"I couldn't go one more day without you," Jack whispered, choking back emotion. Was he really holding her, touching her? He kissed her again. "I missed you so much Miss Thatcher," he whispered in her ear, leaving a small kiss.

"You're trembling," she whispered.

"I…I'm just so glad to see you…" Jack squinted and swallowed trying to calm his emotions. "I love you and …"

"I love you too, I wanted to leave from the minute I got here," she said.

"I drove Ned Yost crazy looking for a telegram from you," Jack said.

"I'm so sorry," she looked down, "I should have sent one. I anticipated sending one telling you I was on my way back to you… did you catch the men that hurt mother?"

"Yes, but we can talk about that later…" he looked back at the house, "I can't believe I'm here," he took her hands in his, "you didn't tell me you live in a castle," he smiled, that smile she missed so much.

"Castle?" She squinted and frowned slightly, teasing him.

"Yes, I should have known, my princess lived in a castle," he wrinkled his nose at her.

She laughed, "Very well, my prince, come with me, I will show you the castle." She took Jack's hand and they walked toward the house.

"Elizabeth?" Jack tugged her back slightly.

"Yes?" she looked at him.

He pulled her into his arms, "I just wanted to hug you again, I've missed holding you," he said in a low voice.

Elizabeth bit her lip and melted against him, "Jack, I may be here at home, but now I'm really home, in your arms."