Rachel placed the book aside and looked at the clock. The hours had been going by slowly despite Ellen's company. She was thankful to her neighbors for caring for her and her home these last few days. She knew time would go by even slower if she had no one to talk to during the day. She always had found the evenings and night after Autumn went to sleep, a lonely time.

Loneliness had been a new feeling for her. Even when James had been away for long periods, she had never felt lonely during their marriage. Perhaps because she had just been thankful he was away and she knew she would not need to endure his behavior. When she had gotten the divorce while he was in jail and fled, she still could not remember feeling lonely. Then she had met Gilbert. Spending time with him had been pleasant. She had learned what a true loving relationship meant. Even when they were apart, thoughts of being with him again had kept the loneliness at bay.

Now though, she knew she would never see him again. The absence of him in her life had seemed to let the loneliness creep in during those times she was alone, like at night before sleep claimed her.

Tonight though, she would not fall asleep alone. Tyler would be sharing the bed with her, the size of the small cabin making it the only practical sleeping arrangement. Rachel would be lying if she tried to claim the thought did not make her feel uneasy. In some ways, it felt like a betrayal to Gilbert. However, Gilbert was gone. She had watched him die. She had seen the plea for forgiveness in his eyes as he struggled to free himself.

Gilbert would have protected her if it had been in his power to do so.

Rachel looked up at the ceiling of the cabin. The wood of the roof disappeared and she could see Gilbert's face there in her mind's eye.

"I do not blame you, Gilbert. You were always good to me. You showed me what real love is after my first bad marriage. I know you would have protected me if you had been able to. I am sorry that you paid for my past mistakes. I hope you forgive me for the past and now. A part of you will always love you, but I can't do this on my own. Tyler is a good man. I know you know that. I know we never talked about it, but I hope you would want me to open myself to life and love again in your absence. I know I would want you too if our places were reversed."

As she ended her whispered words to the husband now in heaven, Rachel felt a peace wash over. It was as if Gilbert was giving her a silent blessing of the union that she was about to make. Gilbert would have wanted her and Autumn to be happy. He would have wanted to know that they were taking care of, even the baby that he was not aware of.

Rachel closed her eyes and basked in that feeling of peace for a little while. It was a good feeling.

"Mama, we got flowers!"

Autumn's call was accompanied with running footsteps.

"Don't run in the house, sweetie," Rachel admonished.

The footsteps, slowed but Autumn soon appeared, a basket full of wildflowers in her hands. The girl was beaming, her green eyes sparkling. "Aren't they beautiful, Mama?" Autumn asked holding up her basket.

"They are," Rachel said, smiling herself. Her daughter's joy was infectious.

"Miss Fiona says she will put some in my hair. Won't that look pretty?"

"Fiona?" Rachel said, not sure where the Queen of Hearts manager had come into this story. She looked to Elizabeth, who now stood in the doorway.

"I may have recruited help to get you and Autumn ready this evening," Elizabeth told her. "Fiona agreed to style hair for the two of you, with flowers if you would like," she explained. "Rosemary will be here shortly. She is trying to gather some pretty maternity dresses so you can at least wear a dress that is new to you. Rosemary may even be able to spruce the dress up if need be."

"You all do not need to go through all this trouble," Rachel protested.

Elizabeth moved to the bed and perched on the edge, taking Rachel's hand. "It is no trouble to help a friend look and feel as pretty as possible, giving that she is almost eight months pregnant, for her marriage ceremony."

"Aren't brides supposed to wear white?" Autumn asked, standing nearby.

Rachel laughed. "That is the tradition for first time brides, sweet heart. I am way past that certain tradition."

"We will just pick a dress that you like. I brought a few of my own, but the material is a bit heavy for the summer months as Jack came in the winter time," Elizabeth told her. "Rosemary should be along shortly. Ellen is going to help the girls make a bouquet, a couple of flower arrangements, and a wreath for Autumn's hair."

"Do you want a wreath for your hair, Mama?" Autumn asked.

Rachel really had no intention to put flowers in her hair but she had a feeling it would make her daughter happy. "Yes, sweetie. How about you make me a wreath to match yours," she suggested.

"I can do that!" Autumn said happily nodding her head.

"Why don't you go join the other girls and get started," Elizabeth suggested, motioning to the door.

Autumn nodded and took her flowers back into the main room of the cabin. Rachel could hear the soft murmur of the others' voices. She was glad that Autumn had friends. She was especially glad that her daughter had Ivy. The fact that the two were about the same age would be good for them as they grew up. She had a feeling even if Tyler's job moved them away from Hope Valley the two girls would stay in touch at this point.

Elizabeth moved to sit on the side of the bed facing Rachel. "How are you doing with all of this, Rachel?"

"I feel like everything is moving so fast and the timing is definitely not mine. However, I am also feeling incredibly lucky to have Tyler in my life. He has been something solid ever since that horrible day. When I left Landsdale without saying anything, I was hoping to just escape everything. But Gilbert is gone. There is no escaping that," Rachel confessed.

Elizabeth reached out for her hand. Rachel willingly let her friend take it and offer her the comfort of someone who knew what it was like to lose a spouse. Rachel knew she did not have to explain further.

"I do not regret that choice to leave. I think starting over in Hope Valley has made things easier than it would have been in Landsdale. I even wrote my old neighbor last week to check in and let her know I am doing well. I think if Tyler had not sent out inquires about my whereabouts and safety, I would have always regretted leaving him without a word. He was a good friend to Gilbert and me. When Gilbert was killed, it was Tyler who offered me protection and made sure I had shelter and someone to look after me. Our friendship has grown through all of this. Having him here while he covered for Nathan had been a comfort. I did not realize how much until he left for Rock Creek. I know his job is going to take him away for days or even weeks sometimes, but there is a comfort knowing he is always going to be there. I know Gilbert will rest easy knowing Tyler is looking out for me and the children, even though sometimes I feel like allowing my current relationship with Tyler is a betrayal to him somehow."

"Gilbert would not think that," Elizabeth assured her. "I have come to realize how fortunate that I was that Jack had a job that made him realize he could suddenly be taken from me. That led him to leave me a letter as his final gift to me. Granted those words were written before we were married but I know his sentiment did no change. Jack wanted me to find love again in the wake of his death. He wanted me to be happy. I realize now, if the positions had been reversed, I would hope Jack would find someone else himself. I would not want him going through life alone. I truly believe that Gilbert felt that way as well."

Rachel nodded. If something had happened to her, would she have wanted Gilbert to never remarry? She knew the answer was no. She would want him to find someone to share his life with.

She just didn't think she was quite past his death though.

"My mind says you are right, but I don't think my heart is quite ready to accept that."

Elizabeth gave a sad smile and nodded as she spoke the next words. "Your heart will eventually accept it. Hopefully, quicker than mine did," she added. "I fought my feelings for Nathan because I wasn't ready to let go of Jack. Only when I thought I had lost him last fall, did I really accept that I had fallen in love with another man. Lucas attentions were easier for me to accept because the deep love was not there. Sometimes, God needs to do unexpected things to shock us into seeing the truth. That is what the prisoner transfer did for me. Perhaps this is just God's way of bringing you and Tyler together because God knows what is best for us even though we might not recognize it until after the fact."

"I just worry I won't be able to be the wife that Tyler deserves," Rachel confessed.

"Right now, you concentrate on keeping yourself and that little one healthy. After that, you can worry about that. Something tells me you will not have as hard a time as you fear."

Rachel nodded, not able to find the words to respond to those words. To her relief there was a knock on the door.

"That is probably Rosemary. Are you ready to pick out a dress?"

Rachel nodded. It was good to have friends.

Tyler paced outside Rachel's cabin at quarter to six. He was in his dress uniform as was Nathan who watched his pacing from where he leaned against the little cabin. Inside, Elizabeth and Carson were helping Rachel get settled on the settee. Nathan had joked that it was the first wedding he had attended that the groom would make a grand entrance to help relax Tyler. His fellow Mountie had simply shot him an annoyed look.

"They're ready," Ally said from the doorway to the cabin. Both Nathan and Tyler looked at the girl.

"We'll be right in, Ally," Nathan told her.

Ally nodded and then went back inside. Nathan looked from the door to Tyler. "Are you ready?" he asked.

Tyler looked at Nathan. It wasn't that he was having second doubts. He had no doubt that he wanted to marry Rachel and care for her and the children. He had no doubt that he loved Rachel and Autumn. No doubt that as soon as the baby made its appearance that he would love the child.

"What if I can't be a good husband?" Tyler asked.

Nathan moved from his spot and closed the distance between him and Tyler. "Are you worried about being a good husband or being the perfect husband?"

"I don't want to fail her," Tyler told him.

"You won't," Nathan assured him, looking into his eyes. "Yes, you are going to make mistakes. Rachel is going to get upset with you. There will no doubt, be tears. In the end though, those things will only make the marriage stronger as long as you love her, compromise, be honest with one another and trust in God."

Tyler nodded.

"Trust me," Nathan added. "I have been a married man for over a month now."

The lightness in which Nathan said the words broke through the tension and Tyler let out a laugh.

"You and I can figure this newly wed stuff out together. When we can't muddle through on our own, there are plenty of married men in Hope Valley to go to for advice."

"My parents seemed to have the perfect marriage. Always there for one another and always there for my older sister and myself. Part of me wishes they were here now for support but they were killed in a wagon accident on the way home from my graduation at Depot."

"I am sorry," Nathan said. "However, their example is their gift to you now. Model your marriage after theirs and you can be as happy as they were. I've been trying not to repeat the mistakes my father made."

Tyler let Nathan's words sink in. He was right. His parents had left him a gift, though he had never though of their early death that way. In the years since the accident, he had dwelled on the guilt and what he had lost. The guilt, because if they had not come to his graduation, then they might still be alive. Yes, he and his sister had been of age, and out on their own, but neither of them had been ready to bury their parents. He had dwelled on losing them instead of the foundation they had given him.

"Thank you," Tyler told Nathan.

Nathan nodded and then inclined his head toward the cabin. "Are you ready?"

Tyler nodded. He was as ready as he would ever be. Perhaps as ready as anyone ever felt on their wedding day.

Nathan draped a hand across Tyler's shoulders. "The hours leading up to my own wedding were the most nervous I have ever felt. I had Gabe, Bill and Edward Montclair all worried I might pass out while doing my own pacing. In the end, it is also the happiest day of my life. I guarantee you, as soon as you see Rachel, all this pacing will be a distant memory," he told him as he led him to the house.

Tyler simply nodded again. He had no reason to doubt Nathan's words.

Reaching the cabin, Nathan removed his arm from Tyler's shoulders and reached for the door. Tyler walked through the open door and his breath caught.

The settee had been turned to face the door and Rachel sat on it. She had on a pale green dress, a white sash above her swollen belly setting apart the skirt and the bodice. The loose-fitting sleeves ended right above her elbows. Rosemary had spent the afternoon sewing flowery lace around the hem of the skirt and the bottom of the sleeves to make the dress look a little more fancy for the occasion. Her black hair was pinned up and a wreath of flowers perched on top.

Tyler had never seen a sight more lovely. In a chair beside her, Autumn sat in her lavender Sunday dress. Though her hair was hanging loose, she wore a wreath similar to her mother. Two flower arrangements sat on the end tables on either end of the settee. Carson and Ally had taken a seat in chairs off to the side, Jack sitting in Carson's lap. Zeke stood beside them and Elizabeth stood behind Rachel. Everyone was smiling.

It was simple, and on short notice, but their friends had clearly done what they could to make it feel special.

Zeke motioned to the settee, indicating that Tyler should take the seat next to Rachel. He did so, whispering a, "you look lovely," as he sat down. Rachel's cheeks took on a pink hue at the compliment.

"You look handsome in that uniform," Rachel told him, as Nathan took his place behind the settee next to Elizabeth.

"Are we ready?" Zeke asked.

"Yes!" Autumn replied before either Rachel or Tyler could reply. She put her hands over her mouth as everyone looked in her direction. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Childish enthusiasm is always a blessing," Zeke supplied, smiling at the young girl. He then looked to Rachel and Tyler who both nodded. "God has commanded us to love one another," Zeke began. "Doing so can take many forms. Some show their love through their profession, giving of themselves to heal or protect their family and neighbors. Those blessed with wealth may show their love through their gifts of money to those less fortunate. You are showing love to one another when you do a kind deed or even just voice a word of encouragement to someone having a bad day."

"Marriage is a union based on love. That love can come in many forms and in many ways. It is dynamic and can change over the years. It is a union that charges us to put others, a spouse or a child, before our needs in a demonstration of familia love. Today, Rachel and Tyler are here to join their lives in marriage to love and support one another in life's challenges. Together, they will raise and love the two children who are a part of this union."

Zeke paused as Tyler took out the rings that Elizabeth had lent until they bought their own rings. He handed them to Zeke. The young pastor read the inscription on one of the rings and smiled even as he continued the ceremony.

Zeke handed Rachel the ring for Tyler before speaking. "Do you Rachel take Tyler to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him/her, forsaking all others and holding only to him forevermore?"

"I do," Rachel said as she slipped the ring onto Tyler's left hand.

The process was repeated with Tyler responding to the questions and slipping the ring on Rachel's hands.

"The rings you now wear bear the inscription, 'love is patient, love is kind'. I charge you now in front of those gathered with you and God to be patient and kind with one another in the days to come. If you do those two things, your home will be a happy one and I believe that God will bless your union."

With that said, Zeke then pronounced them husband and wife. At the proclamation, Autumn stood up from her chair and threw her arms around Tyler.

"I am glad you are a part of my family now," the little girl told him.

"So am I, Autumn," Tyler said, hugging the girl close. "So am I."

Rachel reached out and rested her hand on Tyler's arm. It was not the traditional kiss, which Tyler and Rachel had chosen to forgo, but it was still a sweet display of affection for the new family. A display of affection which Ally caught on Carson's camera, having been granted the privilege of using the device for the day.