A/N ANOTHER FEB HEART STORY SUBMISSION FOR NATHAN GRANT FANFICTION CHALLENGE

Twenty-six-year-old Jack Grant-Thornton sat in his office contemplating his future with a certain someone. It had been two years since he had finished his law degree. Out of concern for his mother, he had chosen not to be a Mountie but instead fight for Justice in the court system, hoping one day to be a judge like his Uncle Bill. His Dad and Uncle Bill were the ones who pointed out that there was more than one way to protect and serve.

It had been a while since he had been home, and his mother had been reminding him, as had his sister Allie. He had written the letter to his mom yesterday asking for a particular item that he knew would not only get her immediate attention but would be upsetting for her too. He couldn't blame her since he hadn't told her he was even courting someone, let alone wanting to marry.

But in his mind, he was justified by the fact that she would be happy when it was revealed. But for now, they wanted to keep it quiet until now. It would be a few more months before they could make the trip, but he didn't want to wait too long to give her a ring. It was also getting harder to hold back when they kissed, and they began thinking about eloping.

A FEW DAYS LATER

Elizabeth was picking up a few things in the mercantile when Ned said there was a letter for her from Jack. Dropping everything, she went over and opened it quickly.

Ma,

I hope this letter finds all of you well. I know that I owe you a visit and have one in mind in two months. My caseload is too heavy to allow me to come before that. I am writing you because I wanted you to mail the rings to me so that I will have them if the time comes—all my love to my siblings and Dad.

Your loving son, Jack

Elizabeth, what is wrong?" Florence asked suddenly as Elizabeth's face was white.

Their oldest daughters, Allie, and twins Avery and Abigail, were in the store with her and rushed over.

"Mom, are you all right?"

As if in a daze, Elizabeth turned and walked out the door leaving everything behind, including the letter.

Allie had picked it up off the floor and read it. "Oh boy," she said as she quickly scanned the letter.

"Avery, we need to find Dad or Uncle Bill. As her sisters ran out to find Nathan, Allie showed Florence the letter. Had her Mom not been so upset, she would have done so herself.

"Can you call Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Lee and have them meet us at Uncle Bill's?" Allie asked Florence.

"You know that she is going to be on a train tonight," Florence said. "I know I would be, too, if Paul Jr. sent me a letter."

"If she's not already heading to the train station right now," Allie said with a chuckle. "You would think my brother would be smart enough to realize that she would deliver it personally. Why on earth would he send the letter asking for the rings when he hasn't told us he is courting anyone." Though she did have her suspicions about someone. She had seen them really close, as they tended to gravitate to each other. It was similar to how her parents were even after many years of marriage.

Nathan was sitting in his office writing evaluations on the two Mounties assigned to Hope Valley when his daughter Avery ran in the door. She and her sister were carbon copies of him, only with more feminine features. They were honeymoon babies like their brother Jack, and he had been shocked when Elizabeth told him they had conceived.

"Dad, you need to come quick; it's Mom," She said between breaths. Nathan was up immediately and reaching for his hat, and he quickly let his men know what was going on.

They saw Allie talking to Bill, and he rushed over to them.

"Jack sent a letter asking her to send the rings to him," Allie explained and gave him the letter.

"But he isn't even courting anyone," Nathan said, confused. He looked over at Bill, and they both knew that there was only one reason Jack would send for that jewelry, and his mom wasn't going just to hand it over.

Rosemary and Lee came up at that moment and asked what was happening. "I'd say the biggest concern is where Elizabeth is now?" Lee asked.

"I can think of a couple of places," Nathan said. "I'll go find her." If she shows up back here, though, and I am not with her, please stay with her. Avery, did your mom drive into town today or ride?"

"We rode today, Dad," she replied.

"I'll start at the house," Nathan said. Sure enough, when he got to the house, he found his wife in their room, packing and talking to herself.

"He thinks he can ask for the rings, Jack! Your son is asking for the rings, and there's only one reason he is doing that."

Nathan chuckled because he knew when she talked to Jack Sr. about their son, she was pretty upset with him. He knew that the day that Jack found his special someone, it would be hard for Elizabeth because Jack was her only link to her first love. He wasn't jealous because he understood and knew how much she loved and cherished what they themselves found.

Clearing his throat to announce his presence, he said, "Are you going somewhere, sweetheart?"

"Nathan! You will never guess what our son is doing. He is about to throw his life away on a woman we don't even know. For all he knows, she could be some floozy out for a rich husband or even worse. What if she is someone like Lucas Bouchard?"

She tossed a final item which looked like the ring box, into her bag and snapped it shut. Before he could respond, she said, "if he thinks that I will hand over these rings without a conversation, he is completely mistaken. I knew letting him go so far away from us was a mistake. Now his head has been turned by the first pretty girl he has seen.

Seeing that she was picking up her bag and about to leave, he gently stopped her. "Elizabeth, first, you are not about to go off on a train alone, especially under these circumstances. Pack a bag for me while I arrange to be gone for a week. Second, you don't know that this woman is another Lucas Bouchard, and I don't think Jack would go in for that type anyway. He was there for the trials before we finally worked things out. Third, have you tried calling Jack and talking to him about it?"

Elizabeth looked at him, exasperated. "Of course I did, Nathan. His secretary said he would be out of the office the rest of today and tomorrow for court. Besides, I'm not giving him any opportunity to avoid the conversation. If he has found a woman he wants to propose to, I want to meet her. If he hasn't, I still want to ensure that he understands the importance of such a decision."

Before long, they headed towards the train station. Allie volunteered to watch out for her sisters and little brother while they were gone.

It was late afternoon the next day by the time Jack arrived back at his office. He and Sarah had a date that evening, but he had to stop and pick up a few files before heading to the station. His secretary was on the phone but tried to get his attention, but he was in a hurry and, with a nod, went to his office. As soon as he walked in, he was brought up short by his mother sitting behind his desk, giving him a stern glare while his father sat in a chair nearby with a smile, but his eyes showed his concern.

"Mom, Dad, what a nice surprise to see you?" Jack said, hugging his dad and then approaching his mother.

She stood and allowed him to hug her, and she returned it, but he knew that his mother was very upset with him.

"Is it?" Elizabeth said.

"Is it what?" Jack asked, confused.

"Is it a nice surprise? Because I can tell you it wasn't a nice surprise that I got a letter asking for some significant jewelry in a short note. To make matters worse, Jack, to my knowledge, you aren't even courting anyone in particular. That then begs the question, are you hiding something?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes beginning to glisten.

"I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, Jack William Grant-Thornton. A man doesn't ask for a specific piece of jewelry to carry around in case; he only wants it when he finds the woman he sees wearing it. So why would you feel like you couldn't tell me that you met your special someone?"

Jack felt guilty now about keeping such a big secret from his mother. She had always supported him, and the truth was that he didn't have a good reason other than avoiding the circus that comes with engagements in Hope Valley. Shame flooded him as a few tears fell down her cheek.

He could see the disappointment in his father's eyes and knew that if his Papa were there, he would be upset too. Not only for keeping a secret but for hurting his mother and making her cry. His Dad had always stressed to him and his siblings as they grew to adulthood about looking out for her and each other.

Elizabeth reached into her bag and brought out the ring box with the engagement ring and wedding bands that once graced her and Jack Sr's fingers. Silently she passed it over to her son and stood. Your father and I will be here a few more days, Son, and I want to meet the girl whom this is intended for before you propose." She looked sad, and Jack couldn't take it anymore.

"Mom, please come to dinner tonight. We have a dinner date in an hour. Since she is getting off work late, we are meeting at the restaurant. I want you to meet her, and I promise you will like her." Jack said, going over and hugging his mother tight.

"I'm sure that you had in mind that she is a woman out to trap me or get a rich husband, right? Maybe immoral or that I was taken in by some schemer like a Lucas Bouchard?" Jack teased.

His father's chuckle let him know that he had guessed right, but his mother's look of chagrin confirmed it. "Does her family know about you? How long has it been going on? Have you even asked her father for his blessing? It's important to ask for that before you propose, you know." Elizabeth asked as they headed towards the restaurant that was within walking distance.

"But didn't Papa ask you before he spoke to Grandfather, and you and Dad eloped?" Jack asked, amused by his mother trying to think of a response.

"He has you there, my love," Nathan said, amused by the conversation. He suddenly recalled what she had told him when it was Allie and Robert, and he immensely enjoyed the shoe being on the other foot for once.

His wife could see his train of thought and said, "Don't even think about it, Nathan,"

He just smirked and put an arm around her, and said, "Wouldn't dream of it, my love,"

To Elizabeth's delight and surprise, the woman that won her precious boy's heart was none other than Sarah Wolfe. It would be an inside family joke for the rest of their days.