Author's Notes: Hello Hearties! Thanks for the positive reviews! I appreciate them all! Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

~Angelica

Thanks to Mary Jo Vincent and LisaNY for pointing out I made an oopsie and originally posted chapter 8... think I still have a clogged brain...

When Jack and Elizabeth arrived back in Coal Valley the next evening, no sooner had Jack helped Elizabeth down when a fight broke up in the Saloon.

"Don't want to be rude, but I gotta go care for that." Jack said dashing off.

"BE CAREFUL!" Elizabeth called out behind him as she saw his red serge dash into the Saloon.

Elizabeth heard some yells, and decided to go see how Rip was, try to get her mind off of the fact Jack could get hurt.

"Hiya Rip." Elizabeth said walking over to Rip, who was laid out on the steps.

"What would you think if we got you a female dog, hmm? Would you like a companion?" Elizabeth said scratching his ear. Rip just sort of looked away.

"Come on, she's cute." Elizabeth teased him. "I think it would be cute for you to have a dog friend…" Elizabeth rubbed his ear a little harder. "She's a few months over 2 years old…I think you two might get along perfectly…" Elizabeth hinted.

Rip just made a grunting noise and looked at her with a look like, 'Do I look interested?'

Elizabeth looked up, and saw Jack coming out of the Saloon, he looked alright but his hat wasn't on his head right.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nothing bad….just a fight over Cheryl and Angela."

"Oh they're fighting over the Saloon girls huh?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mmmhmmm, glad they weren't throwing glass…but they did throw a few good punches." Jack said rubbing his arm.

"Oh Jack, I'm sorry they hurt you…"

"It wasn't on purpose of course, they meant to hit the chair out of pure anger and I got in the way…"

"Sorry…" Elizabeth said rubbing his arm gently.

"I got an idea, why don't we go freshen up, and see if Abigail can whip us up something to eat." Jack gently touched her chin.

"Alright, I'll see you in a few minutes." Elizabeth smiled and rushed to the Café.

"Abigail? Oh Abigail?" Elizabeth asked rushing into the Café.

"We're in here dear!" Abigail called back smiling at Bill.

"Oh Abigail I mis-" she noticed Abigail had her hand wrapped inside Bill's "missed you."

"We just came back from a walk." Bill replied noticing Elizabeth looking at their hands and smiling.

"Oh wonderful, wonderful!" Elizabeth clapped her hands together with a big smile.

"How was the trip?" Abigail asked as Bill let go of her hand and got prepared to warm up some stew.

"Oh it was good, and Jack and I are going to both be dog pare-" Elizabeth wanted to say parents but she knew better, "owners. I hope you won't mind."

"Is the dog more active than Rip? Then I'm happy." Abigail joked.

"Her name's Lily, and she's quite active, so I believe she will be a great help giving away kisses to anyone who wants them." Elizabeth smiled.

"She's jealous of us." Jack said walking in and putting his hands on Elizabeth's shoulders.

"Oh I bet." Abigail winked. "Want some stew you two? Bill and I already ate, so we might just join you and drink tea or coffee."

"Sounds good to me, then we can tell you all about our adventures." Jack winked.

"Adventures?" Bill asked.

"Oooh it all started that evening when I arrived in Cape Fullerton…" Jack gave a small shake.

Jack and Elizabeth ate and took turns talking to Abigail and Bill about all that happened. Including how they got Lily.

"Oh that seems like you two had quite a time there…so I assume we get to meet Lily soon?" Abigail took another sip of tea.

"As soon as Kyra brings her." Elizabeth smiled.

"And how has Coal Valley been?" Jack asked.

"Well…it's good. And we got good news, don't we Bill?" Abigail asked.

"We do?" Bill asked, trying to act surprised.

"Bill…we agreed to tell them together, come on, pleeeeease." Abigail looked at Bill, and Jack and Elizabeth shared a look as if to say , 'I bet I know what it is!'

"Alright." Bill smiled. "How could I forget?" Bill put his hand on Abigail's.

After a moment of silence, besides the breathing of the people in the room, Bill and Abigail finally started talking.

"We're courting…" Abigail and Bill shared a loving look at one another.

"Oh goodness that is wonderful!" Elizabeth stood up to give her a hug.

"Thank you." Abigail smiled as she hugged Elizabeth.

"That's good, Bill." Jack smiled and shook his hand.

"Don't worry Jack, you'll still get your biscuits and cookies." Abigail winked.

A few days later, the stage coach was going to be rolling in soon, and Jack was trying to get Rip outside.

"Any other day you want to be out in the sun…come on Rip, please?" Jack said trying to move the dog.

"Jack! Come on! Here she comes!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she saw the stagecoach roll in.

"Alright boy, I'll be back I guess." Jack sighed going outside.

"Oh Constable! Ms. Thatcher!" Kyra smiled.

"Hello!" Elizabeth smiled.

"Woof!" Lily greeted them by jumping out of the stagecoach and rushed over to Elizabeth, the ends of her bow around her neck flying in the wind as she ran.

"Ha ha ha there's Lily." Elizabeth picked her up, and who soon started giving her kisses.

"I missed you too, girl." Jack said scratching her ear.

"Seems like you three have some catching up to do." Kyra winked.

"Oh yes we do." Jack scratched Lily's ear again.

"Thank you so much again…" Elizabeth grinned.

"You are welcome, I'll see you later…"

"Lily, I want you to meet someone." Jack said having Elizabeth put her down. Jack opened the door, and Lily peered in, and Rip's eyes turned towards the door.

And what will our Rip think? Hmm ;)