After all the excitement of the engagement party, Jack couldn't sleep and decided to go downstairs to get something to eat. The icebox was filled with food from the party so he fixed himself a plate and sat at the table. When the door swung open from the dining room, he was surprised to see Elizabeth walk in.

"Jack, I guess we had the same idea," she sat at the table with him and took a bite of a sandwich from his plate.

"I guess we didn't eat too much at the party," he smiled. "You did have a nice time, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did. Especially how all my friends were just so impressed with you."

"Impressed? All your girlfriends were so nice, very friendly, I liked them all. I could easily imagine you as a young girl giggling with all of them," he smiled and shook his head as he reached for her hand.

"I suppose that is what young girls do, giggle a lot," she cast her eyes down, "We do share a lot of nice memories, and now we've added the wonderful party where I showed you off. What a nice memory they will all have of you."

"Hmm, just like the nice memory I have of you," he raised her hand to his lips.

"Thank you," as she watched him kissing her hand she was transported to the passionate kisses they shared out behind the house earlier and she smiled.

He tangled his fingers with hers, "So, do you think we'll be able to leave on Monday?"

"I hope so, I'll talk to my father about it tomorrow," she picked up a strawberry and put it to his lips. Jack took a small bite as he looked into her eyes. She then ate the remainder of the berry, "Yumm."

Jack picked up a piece of melon and put it to her lips. She stuck out the tip of her tongue giggling, closed her eyes and took a bite. Jack let out a sigh and stood. "Ahh, I think I better turn in," he picked up the plate.

Elizabeth was stunned, "Wait, I want to eat something…"

Jack put the plate back on the table, "Here, help yourself."

"Jack, what's wrong?"

Jack walked to the door. Elizabeth rushed to stop him, blocking the door, "Jack?"

He took her shoulders, "Nothing is wrong," he brushed his fingers across her cheek, "I'm getting tired now that I've had something to eat, aren't you?"

She nodded and leaned back on the door and they both stumbled into the dining room laughing. "Wait, I'm going to get the food and we can walk upstairs together." She ran and got the plate of food and took Jack's arm. "Why don't we go outside for a few minutes, the air is so lovely."

"Okay," Jack said and they went to the patio. They sat and enjoyed the food, before heading upstairs.

The next morning, Elizabeth was back on the patio enjoying coffee and remembering the party, when her father came out to join her. "Thank you for the party last night, it was wonderful."

He sat down, "It was nice, I think everyone enjoyed it. I'm sorry Richard acted up."

"Yes, it wasn't like him," she said shaking her head.

"Well, he actually has been having a bit of an issue with the bottle lately. Seems when a man becomes successful, well, he can afford things…not always good things. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes of course I do."

"My dear, so….do you still want to get married?"

She looked at her father, "Of course I do. I am totally sure Jack is the man for me."

"Good. So where is that future son-in-law of mine this morning?"

Elizabeth smiled hearing him say that, "Probably sleeping, he had difficulty sleeping last night."

William's eyebrow raised, "And how do you know that?"

"Oh, well…it seems we were both hungry last night and met in the kitchen for a snack," she tried not to laugh thinking of them falling into the dining room. "Father, we would like to head back to Coal Valley, perhaps tomorrow?"

"I suppose you must, Jack has a job to do," William sighed. "He's quite good at that job of his too. I was once again impressed with him and his protection of you last evening. He's a fine young man, but I suppose you do have to get back, so I will arrange it for you."

"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled. "I think I will go see if Jack is okay." She stepped away and then returned and kissed her father's cheek.

Elizabeth knocked on Jack's door, "Jack? Are you in there?"

Jack was in bed and rolled over, "Come in…"

Elizabeth entered the room, "Oh…I thought you were already out of bed…" she turned to leave.

"No, come in…come in please."

She peeked her head around the door, "Well, it isn't really proper, but if you don't move."

Jack laughed and pulled the sheet over his head, "Okay, I'm not moving."

"Very funny," she came in and hugged the bed post, "are you planning to lie around in bed all day?"

He pulled the sheet down, exposing his eyes, "Maybe….."

She reached and tugged the sheet, "Come on lazy, you better…"

Jack grabbed the sheet, "No, don't…Elizabeth…I'm…"

"Oh dear," she dropped the sheet as his chest became exposed, she didn't realize he wasn't wearing clothes. She turned, ran to the door and left the room.

Jack rolled into the pillow to contain his laughter.

Elizabeth hurried down the hall as Julie came out of her room. "Sister, what is it?" Julie rushed to catch up.

"Nothing…" Elizabeth said, hoping Julie wouldn't notice the blush she felt on her cheeks, "Let's go have breakfast."

Julie touched Elizabeth's arm, "Were you just in Jack's bedroom?"

Elizabeth looked at her, she just had to tell someone, "Well, he said "come in" and I thought he was all ready for breakfast…"

"Was he in the bathtub?" Julie smiled mischievously, remembering when she went in to help him with his tie and he was splashing in the bathtub.

Elizabeth looked at her, "Bathtub? No, he wasn't in the bathtub…" Elizabeth looked at her again suspiciously as they continued down the stairs.

"Oh, then what's the issue, unless he was standing there stark naked!" Julie was joking.

Elizabeth raised her hand to her gapping mouth.

Julie grabbed her sister's arm again, "Oh mercy me, he was naked?" she gasped.

"No…well, yes," Elizabeth looked around, "but he was still in bed."

"How do you know he was naked?" Julie asked, her eyes wide.

"He …he said it when I pulled the sheet…," Elizabeth bobbed her head, "Now be quiet and let's go."

"Sister! You pulled the sheet off him?" Julie's mouth was opened wide.

"No! I ….he….he held the sheet up," Elizabeth took a deep breath.

"Up? Like over his head? Oh my…I'm surprised you didn't faint!" Julie had her hand to her chest.

"It was totally innocent…" Elizabeth replied.

Julie covered her mouth, "Oh my goodness Elizabeth, innocent? It's better than a romance novel! Sounds scandalous to me! "

"Scandalous? Don't be ridiculous and keep your voice down. I didn't see anything….he held the sheet…up…high," she put her hands to her neck.

"What? You kept pulling the sheet? Elizabeth!"

"No…Julie stop…you're making it something it wasn't!" Elizabeth said as they entered the dining room.

Julie fanned herself, "Oh I wish I could have seen that!"

"Seen what?" William asked as the two girls took their seats. Elizabeth shot Julie a look.

"Oh, uhmm, Wilson being stern with one of the staff," Julie sat down.

Elizabeth was sipping her coffee when Jack walked in and sat down. Julie looked at him, "Did you have a nice sleep? Nice shirt you're wearing…" She winked at Elizabeth.

Jack put the napkin on his lap, "Thank you…" he glanced between the two girls, "Excellent sleep. Thank you all again for a wonderful party."

"Well it was wonderful except for Richard acting up," William said.

"He was fond of both you girls, don't you remember Will?" Kate asked.

"Yes, of course, but still no reason to make a buffoon of himself. The drink, you know that's what did it." William stated.

"Yes, unfortunately," Kate replied.

"Well enough about him. After services today, we can talk about your trip back to Coal Valley and our plans," William said.

"Plans?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Elizabeth's dowry, your house and wedding plans," William said.

Jack looked at Elizabeth, who only smiled softly.

Later that afternoon, they sat on the patio discussing plans for the trip to Coal Valley. "I will confirm the arrangements tomorrow and you can leave on Tuesday, how's that?" William asked.

Elizabeth looked at Jack, "Thank you father, I suppose you do need a day to make arrangements."

"Mr. Thatcher, I'd like to pay for the arrangements…" Jack said.

"Nonsense, it's my own coach, there's no expense involved. Now what about the wedding, I assume you want it in Coal Valley." William said.

"Yes, we do," Elizabeth said softly.

"That's okay, your mother and I had already determined that. As long as it is in a church, we don't mind. We can always have another party when you come back here for a visit, right Kate?"

Elizabeth's mother forced a smile, "Yes, of course. We can invite people to the wedding, some may make the trip." She said nodding at Elizabeth.

"Okay then tomorrow we'll go into the city, do some shopping and finalize the plans for your trip home," William said.

Later, after dinner as the sun was setting, Jack took Elizabeth to the gazebo by the lake. "Are you ready to go home?" He asked, holding her hand.

She smiled, "Home? Yes, Coal Valley is my home now and I am ready to go back, aren't you?"

"I am." He looked at the water, "Want to stick our feet in again, one last time?"

"Okay, but no splashing!" She teased.

Jack crossed his chest with his finger, "Promise…" He quickly removed his shoes and socks and rolled up his trousers. "I'll beat you in!" He ran into the water.

Elizabeth removed her shoes and stockings and carefully walked to the water's edge, "At least this dress is much lighter," she looked at him, "But that doesn't mean you can splash me," she shook her finger warning him as she walked in.

Jack laughed, shaking his head. He looked away for a moment and then came the splash. "Elizabeth!" he rushed to help her out of the water, "what happened?"

She was under water, "I…I…" she spit water from her mouth, "I stepped into a hole or something."

Jack started to laugh looking at her sitting in the water, then he ran out further into the water and flew in, his hands carving into the water as he let out a primal yell.

Elizabeth stayed seated, laughing at Jack's antics.

"Water feels wonderful," Jack said, as he swam around in water up to his shoulders. "Come on," he waved her over.

Elizabeth thought about it for a moment, then swam to him. "I bet you didn't think I could swim, did you?" She asked as she approached him.

"Nothing you do surprises me Miss Thatcher," he dunked under water for a moment, emerged, shook his head and brushed his wet hair back with his hand. He smiled at her, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

She took a breath, "Just thinking how lucky I am to have you in my life…" She looked down for a moment, "and how you look so handsome, even when you are all wet." She splashed water at him.

"Hey, you said no splashing!" He wiped water from his face and looked at her. "That's not fair."

"What can you do about it, we're both soaking wet," she said.

He stepped closer to her, "Are you challenging me?"

"Maybe..." she sank a bit lower in the water, giving him a teasing smile.

"I challenge you to come here," he held his arms out.

She jumped up, throwing her arms around him, "Well you know I never run from a challenge….." she said softly.

He laughed as he kissed her, lifting her in the water. Jack spun her around as best he could, feeling the weight of her heavy wet dress. When he stopped, they looked into each other's eyes until he slowly lowered her to the ground. He lifted his hand, pushing her wet hair from her cheek, "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she said.

"Now what do we do? We can't go in the house like this?" he said, still staring into her eyes.

"Can't we just stay right here?" She smiled softly, looking into his eyes.

He kissed her again, "We could, but I think they'd come looking for us." He stepped back and they looked at each for another moment, enjoying this private moment. Finally he took her hand, "Come on, we better get out and try to dry off."

At the water's edge, Jack didn't look at her as she went into the gazebo and sat down, he waited a moment and then stepped up to the gazebo and put his arms up on the columns. "Guess we'll have to sneak back in," he laughed.

Elizabeth giggled and nodded, looking at his silhouette in the dusk of early evening. Thinking he wasn't watching, she fanned herself with her hand.

"You're warm?" he asked as he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Oh...well...yes..." she looked at him again and then looked away, "I certainly am..." she mumbled.

They picked up their belongings and walked to the far side of the house and entered through the kitchen as they did before. They quietly went up the back staircase and entered the hall.

"Well, my my… where have you two been?" Julie asked sarcastically.

Jack and Elizabeth turned, and Elizabeth spoke, "Isn't it obvious?"

Julie smiled, "Yes it is, but I want to know if it was intentional." She looked closely at Jack.

Elizabeth held her head high, "Yes it was, we wanted to cool off."

Julie's eyebrow shot up, "I'm sure you two needed to cool off...hmmm?" She smiled at Jack.

"Ah, excuse me, I'm going to change," Jack said as he turned, "before anyone else sees us."

Elizabeth glared at Julie, "Be quiet!" She then ran after Jack.

She followed him into his room, but he put his hand up, "You should go to your room."

"I am, I just wanted to say good night," she was surprised at him turning her away.

He pulled her in and closed the door, "Elizabeth, it means a great deal to me that you are comfortable with me," he looked into her eyes, "it really does. But we…I…" he put his hand on his chest.

She looked down, "Okay…good night Jack." She turned and reached for the doorknob.

"No, you don't understand," he touched her arm. "It isn't proper…"

She looked up at him and then left the room.

"Elizabeth wait…." Jack sighed and put his clenched hand up against the door.