After an uncomfortable dinner, everyone moved to the parlor and Julie asked Elizabeth and her mother if they could begin planning the engagement party. After the ladies went off to the study, William asked Jack if he wanted a brandy.

"No thank you," Jack replied.

"I think it's a good idea for you to take it," he handed Jack the glass, "Sit, lets talk."

Jack reluctantly took the glass and sat in a chair as William sat across from him. "Let's toast to the beautiful women in our lives," William raised his glass.

Jack smiled, raised his glass and took a sip, thinking of how to end this session with Mr. Thatcher.

"So tell me Jack," he leaned forward, "what were you doing in the barn with my daughter?"

Jack looked at him, "She was showing me the grounds around your home."

Thatcher stood, "Okay, so then you go in the barn," he shrugged, "look Jack, I understand, I used to be young. My daughter is very attractive, you have feelings for her, things can happen…"

Jack was getting angry and now it was his turn, he put the glass down and stood, "Mr. Thatcher, nothing happened in the barn that was inappropriate. I have respect for your daughter in every way. Did we steal a few kisses? Absolutely. We've been apart for a month. We're going to be married and we missed each other. I hope you were young enough to remember that sir." He walked away.

"You always impress me Jack," William replied, shaking his head.

Jack continued out of the room and to the foyer, he had no idea where Elizabeth was, so he went up stairs to his bedroom. He needed to cool off. Jack wondered why the man was always pushing him, was it just his nature or did he not like him. Jack pulled the tie out of his pocket and threw it on the chair in his room, he then lay across the bed, put his hands under his head and stared at the ceiling.

Downstairs, the ladies completed their plans for the engagement party. Elizabeth went to the parlor and found he father sitting staring at some papers. "Hello dear," he said when she entered the room.

"Where's Jack?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied innocently.

"Oh," she started to leave, "I'm going upstairs."

Upstairs, Elizabeth tapped on Jack's door, "Jack?...Jack are you in there?" When there was no answer, she opened the door and felt her heart tug at Jack asleep on the bed. "Poor dear, he must be exhausted." She knew he didn't need a blanket, but she took a pillow and placed it next to him. He stirred and grabbed the pillow, hugging it to his chest, "Hmmm" he moved onto his side. Elizabeth backed away, but she heard him say her name, "Elizabeth…hmmm." He was hugging the pillow and calling it Elizabeth. She put her hand to her mouth to cover her giggles. She watched for a few moments, enjoying Jack's movements as his hands caressed the pillow, it made her blush. When he started to groan she yanked the pillow from him and he awoke.

"What?" He pushed up on his elbows and looked around, smiling when he saw Elizabeth, "Hi…" he reached for her.

"Jack!" she backed away.

"Huh? Weren't you just laying here with me?" He rubbed an eye, "Wait….what's going on?"

"Jack you must have been dreaming."

He smiled at her, "Yeah…" his smile got wider, "a nice dream." He stood and tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed away.

"Jack!" Her eyes wide, "Come on, let's go outside and take a walk," she was nervous being in his bedroom.

Jack tucked the back of his shirt into his trousers, "Sure."

They walked out of the bedroom and found Julie in the hall, "Well, what were you two doing in there?"

"Nothing," Elizabeth said as she looked at Jack rubbing his eyes. "We're going outside." She started to walk down the hall, Jack nodded at Julie and followed Elizabeth. Elizabeth suddenly turned around, "And Julie, don't start trouble!"

Outside on the patio, the sun was setting and the air cooled. Jack continued to follow Elizabeth, who kept a quick pace. "Elizabeth!" he caught up with her and touched her arm, "can we go a little slower?"

She turned, "Yes, I suppose."

"What's wrong? Are you upset that I fell asleep? After I talked with your father for two minutes, I couldn't find you and decided to go upstairs."

"Two minutes? Why just two minutes?"

He took her hand and they began to walk through the yard, "I guess he really thought something happened in the barn…" he glanced at her, "I'm sorry."

Elizabeth stopped and rolled her head, "Oh no. So you spent one minute responding and then left?"

Jack's shoulders straightened, she knew him well. "Yeah, pretty much."

She stood in front of him, softening just looking at his eyes. Those eyes looked so lovingly at her, she couldn't help but raise up on her toes and kiss him.

Jack smiled, "that's more like it."

"Why don't we go sit somewhere," she took his hands.

"Out of sight?" He winked.

"I know just the place," she took his hand and led him down a path that opened to garden area with a gazebo on the far end overlooking a pond. "How's this?"

"This is beautiful," Jack now took the lead and walked to the gazebo, "This is really nice," he looked back over his shoulder, "and private. Come here." He pulled her into his arms and moaned as his lips captured hers.

"Hmm, Jack Thornton you are going to get me in so much trouble," she said as she ran her hands up his arms. "My father thinks we're up to no good."

"Are we?" Jack teased. He leaned and kissed her cheek. "Hmm, what is he thinking?"

She ran her fingers around his shirt collar, "I don't know, what could he possibly be thinking?"

"Mm, maybe that I'm kissing you here," he kissed her ear, "or here," he kissed the soft skin below her ear. "Do you think that's what he's thinking?" his voice was low and his breath warm on her neck.

"I don't know…" she couldn't think.

He brushed his lips against her collar bone and chuckled, "I don't think he is thinking this…"

"I hope not," she sighed, "I don't think…"

"Good, don't think," he looked up and kissed her lips and pulled her against him.

Elizabeth moaned and ran her hands up his back pressing on his muscles and grasped his shoulders. "Jack…"

Everytime she attempted to talk, his kisses stopped her, she didn't resist until finally she pushed away. "Jack…" she walked to the other side of the gazebo and leaned on a column.

Jack stared at the ground, composing himself, then took a few steps toward her, "I'm sorry, I get carried away when you're near me." He shoved his hands in his pockets, "I hope you don't think I was trying…"

"No, no of course not," she whispered. "I have to walk away, I have to force myself to walk away." She looked down, shy smile on her face.

Jack sighed and smiled, glad she felt the same way. "So stay away from me!" Jack teased.

Elizabeth squinted and then laughed. Jack laughed and she rushed to him and threw her arms around him.

"Ah, okay this isn't helping," he laughed and spun her around.

After a moment of staring into each other's eyes, Jack led her to the bench along the gazebo wall, "Elizabeth…uhmm,"

"Yes…what is it?" she asked.

"Talking with your father reminded me that when we were in Coal Valley he told me you were hurt from a fall and I remember you and I started to talk about that…"

"Oh…" Elizabeth remembered also.

"Can you tell me about the man when you were in college?" Jack sighed, "I think I need to hear about him." He looked at her.

"Okay," she said reluctantly, "but not now."

Jack's brow wrinkled, "Why?"

"Because I have something else in mind," she smiled at him, "take your shoes off."