Early the next day, the familiar sound of a trotting horse caused Elizabeth to make her way to the source of the noise. Undoubtedly, it was a stagecoach coming in the town's direction. "Who could that be…" She pondered aloud, walking over to the area where Faith was sent off to Chicago not so long ago. She shielded her eyes from the setting sun, trying to focus on the stagecoach.

Yesterday's events had a so far lasting effect on her and Nathan's relationship, or lack thereof. Nathan had been fervently avoiding Elizabeth in any situation. For instance, she needed to pick some supplies up at the mercantile first thing today, and Nathan happened to be in the store at the same time. As soon as he took notice of her, he abruptly left. She assumed the same would be at school; that he wouldn't walk with Allie to or from the schoolhouse. Instead, Elizabeth assumed Allie would come in with some of her friends.

She sensed someone next to her and looked to find Lucas squinting at the stagecoach. "That's strange," he said, "I didn't know anyone was coming today."

"Maybe because that's not your place to know?" Elizabeth responded jokingly. Lucas' face went blank. "It was a joke," she clarified.

"Oh, I get it now." Lucas answered, pointing his finger up in realization. "Good one."

Elizabeth gave a polite smile. "Thanks."

"Looks like someone's grabbing attention," Lucas noted as Elizabeth swiveled her head to meet his eyes.

"What? Attention?"

"Yep," he pointed to all the people gathering around the stagecoach, which was coming to a halt. "Even from our esteemed Constable…"

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a blur of red. Elizabeth glanced in Nathan's direction. His face wore a serious expression as he saw Lucas and Elizabeth together.

"Oh," Elizabeth said, returning her gaze to meet Lucas' eyes. She paused for a moment. "Lucas, could I talk to you later today? In private?" She added, not wanting to deny Lucas' kind advances in public. No part of her wanted to make him feel like a fool or embarrassed.

"Sure…" Lucas answered, noticing her eyes divert to the ground. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes." She bobbed her head. "Well, I must get to the school." Elizabeth began to shuffle down the road. "Seven o'clock? At the library?" She was surprised at how quickly she asked him.

Pleased that he was going to be meeting at the library, the place that he considered their special spot, he gave a pearly smile. "As you wish."

Elizabeth presented a forced smile and continued her short trek to the schoolhouse, her stomach doing somersaults all the way there.

"Now, what would the solution to this equation be?" Elizabeth pointed to the question she had written on the chalkboard, and put down the stump of chalk. Several students raised their hands, but Elizabeth skimmed over their arms. They were students who consistently raised their hands and got the correct answer, and even though she was glad they were engaged, she wanted some other students to be given a chance. "Allie?" Elizabeth asked, noticing the girl was otherwise preoccupied, staring down at her papers. "Allie?" She asked again when Allie didn't look up or respond.

A chorus of giggles across the room caused Allie to whip her head up. "What?" She asked, clearly not listening.

Elizabeth gave Allie a look. Some more snickers rang from the back of the room, which Elizabeth responded to with an equally as imperious glance. The culprits immediately hushed.

"Oh, sorry…" Allie muttered, shrinking down in her seat, face on fire. "I mean, pardon?" Her cheeks were blushing ferociously.

The schoolteacher gave a satisfied smile. "What is the answer to this question?" Elizabeth referred to what she had written on the chalkboard. Allie started blankly at it. "If the points that are 'y' are thirteen and four," she helped Allie out by reasking the question, "and 'x' is five and two, then what is the slope of this graph?" She pointed to the upwards line she had drawn on the board.

"Um, um," Allie began, feeling all the pairs of eyes in the classroom bore into her soul. "Um, twenty?" She meekly asked, voice a higher pitch.

Elizabeth tilted her head and smiled commiseratingly. "No, Allie, that is incorrect." Allie pressed her lips together, feeling her cheeks turn even more red. "Robert, will you please tell me the answer?" Elizabeth sighed.

"Three, Mrs. Thornton," Robert said.

Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, Robert. Now then," she stated, "as it now is three o'clock, you are all free to go. And don't forget to take home your arithmetic exercises if you did not finish in class."

The children began to excitedly chatter and exit the schoolhouse. All but Allie, who was taking longer than usual to organize her papers.

"Allie?" Elizabeth said, as the rest of the stragglers left.

"Yes?" The brunette girl asked, lugging up her books and standing straight.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?"

"Oh, no…" Allie murmured under her breath. In a louder voice, she obliged. "Okay…"

Elizabeth motioned for the girl to sit next to her on the left front bench. "Is everything alright?"

Allie slumped down on the wooden seat. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"You seemed very withdrawn this class," Elizabeth noted, worried. Allie didn't usually drift off during school, and always got mathematical questions right. "Is there a reason why?"

"No reason…" Allie said, turning her head away from her teacher.

"Really?" Elizabeth coaxed, trying to meet the girl's eyes. "Allie, you know you can tell me anything. I'm worried about you, you're not your usual self."

Allie shrugged and kicked her feet. A small sniff escaped her nose, companioned with a shaky exhale. Elizabeth realized she was at the beginnings of crying.

"Oh, Allie…" Elizabeth started, wrapping an arm around her. "What's the matter?"

Allie bit her lip, trying to calm herself. "There's… there's… something wrong with Uncle Nathan," she said, gulping down sobs. Elizabeth reached her arm over and began to rub Allie's back soothingly. "It just… Ever since last week he's been different…" Allie swallowed. "I noticed something was off but I ignored it, and then, and, I-" her sentence was halted by uncontrollable tears breaking through.

"Allie…" Elizabeth brought her in for a tight embrace.

"He didn't think I would notice… I did, but acted like I didn't…"

"Didn't notice what, Allie?"

Allie sniffed. "He used to always make these terrible jokes, and ever since that Mountie died, he hasn't even told one!" She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief Elizabeth handed her and held it in her fist. "And that's not all! I just noticed this this morning… He's really jumpy all of a sudden! And so sullen. He never was before!"

Elizabeth continued to rub Allie's back while she caught her breath. It occurred to Elizabeth that she too had noticed Nathan being "jumpy," for example, last Sunday when the doors shut before the service began.

"I'm sorry," Allie said, glancing in Elizabeth's direction.

Elizabeth frowned. "Why?" She tilted Allie's chin up. "You never have to be sorry for this."

Allie nodded and hugged Elizabeth with an unmatchable fierceness. "Thank you… I feel better now."

Elizabeth smiled softly and held her close. The moment was over when Allie's arms relaxed and Elizabeth picked up and handed Allie her books.

"I'm glad." Elizabeth said as the duo stood up.

Allie fumbled with the handkerchief before taking a perplexed glance at it. "Mrs. Thornton?"

Elizabeth faced Allie. "Yes?"

"I recognize this hankie. Isn't this my Uncle Nathan's?" Elizabeth stiffened, not sure how to answer.

"Um… yes, if you want you can give it back to him." Allie shook her head and stretched her arm out.

"No," Allie said, a small smile tugging slightly at the corners of her mouth. "I think he would want you to have it."

"Okay." Elizabeth accepted the hankie. "And Allie," Allie looked at her teacher, a small sniff escaping. "I'm sure everything will be alright- you'll see."

"Yes, Mrs. Thornton. Thanks." Allie gave a small wave before departing the classroom.

Basket in hand, Elizabeth casually strolled down the busy main road of Hope Valley, little Jack and home in mind. But despite her thoughts, Elizabeth couldn't get the conversation with Allie out of her head. She found herself worrying about Nathan- she knew that Mounties were expected to bottle up pain. In spite of his concern from the previous night, she still felt strongly about him. The thought of him suffering silently was enough to make her heart sink. She knew what it was like to hurt.

As if it was from heaven, Elizabeth spotted the red serge down near the doors of the saloon. She took in his features; tall, strong frame, head slightly tilted upwards, surveying the busy streets. But his confident "facade" couldn't fool her- if she really looked, it seemed that there was almost a shadow-like presence hovering over his slightly hunched shoulders. She noticed his soft yet firm hands were gripped on his belt as he gently moved from side to side. Elizabeth knew his hands were soft from their hand holding fiasco last night. Guarded by those heavy-duty gloves, she figured. It was nice that for once she could enjoy him from a distance, without the embarrassment. Elizabeth took this as a sign and made her way towards him.

Before Nathan could turn around, Elizabeth stopped behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hi Nathan," she started. Not one who loses confidence, she continued before he gave any protest. "First, I want you to know that my mind has not wavered, but that's not why I'm here. I was hoping to talk to you about Allie… she has me concerned… about you."

Nathan's eyebrows shot up. "Allie? Is she ok?"

Elizabeth hurriedly nodded her head. "It's complicated, but I think she is. Nathan, she's worried about you, and quite frankly, I am too." She paused to search his face. "I know you haven't been the same since the prisoner transfer. But you don't have to bottle it all up and suffer in silence."

Nathan looked down and shifted his weight from leg to leg, aware that he had been cornered. "Elizabeth, I-" Nathan's sentence came to a halt when a sudden gasp escaped from Elizabeth and the thud of her basket. He quickly looked up and saw Elizabeth grabbing hold of a nearby pole and a woman in a bright green outfit regaining balance.

"I'm so sorry!" The woman exclaimed quickly, straightening out her dress. It seemed to Nathan that the two women had collided. Nathan also realized that this was the woman that he had met earlier today arriving on the stagecoach.

Elizabeth bent down and grabbed hold of her fallen basket. "Oh it's no problem," Elizabeth looked around and noticed that she and Nathan were standing right in front of the saloon doors. "It was my fault."

"Well then, all is forgiven." said the woman. Elizabeth took a moment to study the woman. Similar to her dress, her eyes were a bright, crisp green. Her hair, a brilliant red, was pulled up into a ponytail of many curls, some ringlets let loose and accenting her slender face.

"My name is Paris Fachnan," she said. She turned to face Nathan with a smile. "But you already knew that."

"Ah…" Nathan cleared his throat and nodded his head.

Elizabeth thrust her hand towards Paris. "I'm Elizabeth Thornton. What brings you to Hope Valley?"

Paris curtly shook her hand, taking a glance at her left hand. "I'm actually opening up a hairdressing shop. I thought that opportunity called when I heard a building was for sale. Being from New York and all, I figured I could… liven things up a bit." She gave a pearly smile.

"Oh!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Well, welcome to Hope Valley!"

"Thanks," Paris said. She looked at Nathan. "Do you happen to know if there's a restaurant in town?"

Nathan motioned towards Abigail's Café with a pointed finger. "Just down there is one of the best café's you'll find."

Paris nodded. "I'll make my way over there then. Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Thornton." Elizabeth gave a small wave as Paris departed towards the cafe. "Bye, Nathan."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she glanced towards Nathan. Paris using his first name was not something she had been expecting. "So… you know her?"

"Uh…" Nathan stood gawking. "No I… just met her. On the stagecoach. Today. Just a mere acquaintance."

"Mmhmm…" Elizabeth peered towards the afternoon sun. "Since school's out, I should probably let Laura off now. I hope you'll consider our conversation."

"Right," Nathan said, pursing his lips into an awkward smile. He watched as Elizabeth began to walk away. "Oh, and Elizabeth?"

She stopped and turned around. "Yes?"

Nathan swayed back and forth. "Thanks for letting me know about Allie."

"Of course." Elizabeth smiled, before making her way back to her house.