1909

It was the happiest day of Rosemary's life.. the thrill of devotion made her heartbeat echo the beating of a hummingbird's wings. As she neared the sanctuary doors the thrill turned to panic. Panic and fear gripped her and before she knew it she was running. Running from what, she did not know. Running from who, everyone she knew. Why was she running? Time would tell.

1915

Jack Thornton was nervous as he drove up to Abigail's Cafe in the old surrey he had found at an abandoned cabin while mapping out the woods one day. The wheels, tongue, and leaf springs were all shot. He himself had no use for a carriage at the time, but he had spent the weeks since finding it fixing it up, spending his hard earned money on new parts and paint to make it nice and pretty, and a lot of spare time, certain that one of the widows might like a brand new carriage. He had tried every widow in town, Florence Blakely, Molly Sullivan, Catherine Montgomery, and Dottie Ramsey, to name a few, but all had turned down the offer, insisting that Abigail Stanton was the most deserving. That was how he found himself knocking on the backdoor of the cafe, hat in hand, on the morning of the big party to celebrate the new phone lines. He was about to knock again when he looked to his right and saw Rosemary Levoux, who noticed him at the same time, quickly dash back inside the saloon. Determined to finally talk with her he set his hat on his head and marched towards the saloon. Behind him, the door to the cafe opened. Abigail Stanton looked around, noticing Jack marching away, a fierce determination in his stride.

Lucas Bouchard was varnishing the bar when Rosemary came charging through, a scared expression on her face. A look she only got whenever they had been found. Grabbing the first thing he could find, a unused piece of lumber, he made his way for the doors. The doors swung open and Lucas swung his weapon.. aiming right at the head of Constable Jack Thornton.

Jack counted his lucky stars as he dodged the swing of Lucas Bouchard's imorovised bat, thankful that the swing had been largely telegraphed, letting him dodge the unexpected attack. Sadly he couldn't dodge the kick to his gut quite as easily.

"I'm not going to let you take us", Lucas said, brandishing his weapon, ready to bring it down on the constable's head. At that moment, Rosemary Levoux brought her fist back and laid Lucas out on the floor.

"Are you alright Jack", she asked, helping him sit up and catch his breath, then, turning to Lucas, "are you stupid Lucas Bouchard"?

"I'm not letting him.."

"He wasn't trying to arrest me you dolt, although I can't say the same for you".

As she spoke, Jack regained his bearings and approached Lucas.

"Mr. Bouchard, on the authorityof the province of Ontario, you are under arrest for assault of a Mountie. This will be easier if you come peacefully".

Jack was filing away the prisoner paperwork when Rosemary walked into the office. Jack had to admit, even after all these years she was still beautiful, but the affect she had on him was not the same as it had once been.

"Hey Jacky", she said, smiling at him. Jack smiled at the familiar nickname.

"Hi Rosey. Come to spring your boyfriend"?

"Oh please", she said, rolling her eyes, her voice exasperated at the mere thought, "he's stupid enough to put himself in there, he can figure a way out on his own. I'm actually here to apologize", she said, ending the sentence with sobriety.

"Please Rosey, it was an honest mistake, I'm just holding him overnight".

"No", she said, shaking her head, "I'm sorry for leaving you at the altar. I was so foolish, I didn't understand what a good thing I had when I had you".

Jack smiled and pulled her close, "Rosemary Levoux, you were my first love, but I have to admit that you were not my lifetime".

Rosemary smiled at the memory those words envoked.

"It was a wonderful season, wasn't it"?

"It was, but now it's over".

Rosemary wiped her eyes and stood up straight.

"Did it take you long to get over me", she asked, her natural voice coming back, full of the life and drama he knew so well. He smiled. There was the Rosemary he knew and had loved.

"Only a season".

Alright everyone, I hope I haven't kept y'all waiting for too long. This chapter is shorter, but I wanted to go ahead and get the Jack and Rosemary drama out of the way. What is y'all's opinion on Lucas in this chapter? I only ask that, in regards to Lucas, please try your best to leave your bias at the door, after all this Lucas is slightly different from the show. Thanks for reading.
Sincerely
Ficmaniac12