At ten minutes before noon the next day, Gabriel walked through the private entrance of the café. At the counter, Clara was arranging items in a wicker basket. She glanced over at the sound of the door.

"Your picnic lunch for two is just about ready," Clara told him as their gazes met. "Complete with blanket," she added, nodding to a pale yellow blanket that sat folded on the counter.

Gabriel smiled. "Thank you," he told her. "The only blanket I could have come up with is my Mountie issue one and I think it would ruin the mood I was hoping to create."

Clara laughed. "Well, that is the blanket that Jesse and I always use for our picnics. I have a flower arrangement to place between you while you eat and the bouquet of white and yellow roses that you requested."

"What about the food?" Gabriel asked lightly.

"It is in there as well," Clara told him still laughing. "I even baked a rhubarb pie and put two slices in the basket as Faith told me once that my rhubarb pie was her favorite."

"I guess if I don't like rhubarb, I better learn to, huh?" Gabriel said lightly.

Clara closed the lid to the basket and placed the yellow blanket on top of it. "You don't like rhubarb?" she asked.

Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. "I can't say. I have never tried it."

"Well, I hope you like it," Clara said, picking up the basket and holding it out to him. "The next time I bake a dessert for you, I will make sure it is chocolate brownies," she added, having already learned of the Mountie's love of that particular dessert.

"What makes you think there will be another time?" Gabriel asked innocently, as he took the picnic basket from her.

"Well, I may not know how good your cooking skills are but I do know that being the constable for this town is going to keep you busy. As dear of a friend as Faith is, her skills in the kitchen are nonexistent," Clara told him.

Gabriel chuckled. "I am aware of that," he acknowledged.

"So given those two factors, I would say chances are either you or Faith will be asking me to provide food again at some point."

"You make a valid argument," Gabriel conceded. "I also value your friendship that you are willing to help your friends out." Gabriel leaned in and placed a quick kiss on Clara's cheek. "Thank you. I am sure the rhubarb pie will taste great."

With that, Gabriel was darting back out the door he had only come in minutes before. As Clara watched him go, she felt arms encircle her waist.

"Why do guys keep wanting to kiss you?" Jesse asked, the words whispered in her ear.

Clara was relieved to hear a teasing tone in his voice rather than one of annoyance. She turned in her husband's arms so she could face him. "Gabriel was just thanking me for helping him put together a picnic for him and Faith," she informed him, slipping her arms around his waist. "You know, his fiancé."

Jesse smiled down at her. "Do not worry. I am not going to go do anything stupid. I got lucky the last time I hit a Mountie. I am not going to take my chances hitting another one, especially not one in uniform."

"Maybe there is hope for you yet then," Clara teased.

Jesse laughed at his wife's teasing.

"I would rather have a kiss from my husband," Clara informed hit, smiling up at him.

"I can accommodate that," Jesse replied before lowering his head so that his lips met hers.

Leaving the café, Gabriel made his way to the infirmary. Reaching the door, he closed his eyes, turned the knob and took a few steps blindly forward.

"If there is anyone in here for a reason that will cause you not to be able to make our picnic lunch date, tell me before I open my eyes, Faith. I do not want to know who they are."

Faith giggled. "I am here alone, so you can open your eyes, you goof," she told him, looking up from her paperwork and toward the door. "My last scheduled patient left ten minutes ago."

Gabriel opened his eyes. His gaze immediately sought out Faith. Seeing her, he could feel the smile on his face get bigger. "I've got the food," he told her, holding up the picnic basket. "Let's go before someone comes hobbling in here bleeding or something."

"Well, that is not the least bit romantic," Faith said, though she did close the file she had been looking at.

"You are a doctor and I am a Mountie. People come looking for us at all hours of the day. I will worry about being romantic when we are a little harder to find," Gabriel replied.

Faith had gotten to her feet. "You make very good points, Constable Kinslow," she said walking over to him and slipping her arm around the arm not carrying the basket. She looked up at him with adoring eyes. "Shall we go?"

Gabriel had to shake himself out of the spell those eyes had put him under. He wondered if it would ever change. No, he amended silently. He would not want that to ever change.

"Let's make a break for it, Dr. Carter," he said back, saying her title with the same flirtatious teasing in which she had used his.

With Faith's arm looped around his upper arm, Gabriel led her from the infirmary.

"You are not going to make me run through town are you?" Faith asked as they stepped from the boardwalk and onto the hard packed dirt of the road.

"Can you handle a brisk walk?" Gabriel asked, only half kidding. He had staked out a nice little clearing about a ten minute walk from town by a babbling brook. Until the buildings of the little town they were making their home were out of sight, Gabriel knew he would not relax. He kept expecting someone to call out for either him or Faith.

"I think I could manage that," Faith replied, with a chuckle, as she walked quickly to keep up with him.

The two didn't bother talking as the strode through town. Nor did either of them notice the amused looks of their neighbors, watching the Mountie and the town doctor 'running' away for a little time alone. It was only when they were on the wooded path that led to the brook that Gabriel let out a sigh of relief as he slowed his steps.

Beside him, Faith leaned her head against the arm she was holding. "I am just glad you didn't try holding your breath while making a run for it. You might have been my medical emergency," she teased lightly.

Gabriel chuckled. Alone now, he had to admit his actions did seem a bit silly. Turning his head, he pressed a kiss to the top of Faith's head. "Well, I wasn't and now I am alone with you for a little while."

"So, do you know where we are going or are you planning on getting us 'lost'?" Faith asked.

"As much as I would like to extend my time with you, Nathan would never buy the 'lost' card from me," Gabriel told her. "If I show up late, I best have an injury to account for it."

"Let's make sure we get you back on time then," Faith replied. "As much as I like you, I would rather not be treating an injury."

Gabriel chuckled and then asked Faith how her day was going. Faith answered, returning the favor when she was done by asking Gabriel about his day. By that time they had finished their walk to the place Gabriel had picked for their picnic.

The path opened onto a grassy clearing. Most of it was shaded by the trees surrounding it, though spots of sunlight danced on the blades of grass around the clearing. Along one edge, a brook flowed by, the water flowing over the rocks creating a symphony of its own.

"I never knew this was here," Faith gasped. "And so close to town, too."

"I have not seen many people here, though some of the kids do like to come here to play. It was why Nathan showed it to me. He makes it a point on his rounds to check this place just in case the kids are playing in the water. Sometimes after a bad storm, even that little brook can be dangerous."

"It's a lovely spot for a picnic," Faith said. Turning her head, she kissed Gabriel's cheek. "I take it back. You can be romantic."

Gabriel smiled. "Thank you," he replied. "Let me get our picnic set up."

Faith let go of his arm, and Gabriel picked a spot near the brook edge to spread the blanket Clara had given him. He made sure there were no rocks or stray branches in the area, and spread the blanket over the grass. Placing the picnic basket in the middle of the blanket, he helped Faith get settled before sitting on the blanket facing her. Faith had already started taking food out of the picnic basket.

After a quick grace for the food that Clara had prepared for them, Faith and Gabriel started talking about the wedding that was only weeks away and the trip to Hamilton that would follow. Though her one brother was coming to Brookfield for the wedding and to give her away, her father's doctor had recommended he not travel west. As such, the two of them planned on traveling to Hamilton, to see her father. Other stops had been planned along the way on both the trip east and the trip west to break up the time on the train. Gabriel was looking forward to it, as well as to meeting Faith's father whom he had only spoke to on the phone.

Not for the first time, Gabriel said a prayer of praise to the Lord for helping them both through the heartaches that had led them to finding one another. It had not been easy for either of them to go through those disappointments but they had helped them prepare for this relationship. Since the moment Faith had shared with him her teenage fantasy of meeting and marrying a Mountie, Gabriel felt that he had finally found the woman who was meant to share his life with him.

For now, their lives were here in Hope Valley. However, just like she had been willing to come back here with him, Gabriel knew that Faith was aware and had accepted the fact that his career might take them elsewhere. Her reply to him when he had told her about the Hope Valley posting had been that she could be a doctor anywhere but she had to be with him to be his wife and it was the latter title that was more important to her.

Still, Gabriel knew that future career choices would be made with his wife. As much as she was willing to make home wherever he was, Gabriel knew that he would not take a posting where Faith would not be happy.

"Are you sure you are all right watching, Jack?" Elizabeth asked again as she stepped onto the front porch with Ally and Jack. Though she had changed the order yesterday to help Elizabeth with shopping, Rosemary usually spent mornings at the paper office and came home after having lunch with Lee unless she was needed. As she felt a need to talk with her friend after the evening before, Elizabeth hoped nothing had detained her at the office today.

"Ally and I are going to show Nate the barn," Jack spoke up, the said duckling in his hands. Nathan had built a cage for the duckling in the barn to keep it from underfoot of the horses while being housed there. Jack had been told the duckling's time in the house was limited.

Elizabeth opened her mouth but Ally spoke up first.

"We will not leave the yard while you are gone," Ally said. "If something does come up, I know the way to the Coulters to get you, but that is not going to be necessary."

Elizabeth smiled. Ally had proven she was responsible enough to stay alone many times by now and she was good with Jack. Things would be fine.

Leaning over, she placed a kiss on each child's cheek. "I will be home soon. Thank you, Ally."

"You are welcome," Ally replied.

All three went down the porch steps. While Ally and Jack headed in the direction of the barn, Elizabeth headed to where Sargent stood saddled and ready. It had been a long time since she had ridden, though Robert had been exercising the horse faithfully before leaving for Mountie training. After that, Bill had made sure the horse was cared for at the livery in town, just another reminder of Jack that Lucas had not wanted at their house. Nathan had made sure Sargent was moved from the town livery to their new home the day of their wedding. Other than the day she had gone on rounds with Nathan, she had not been up on the horse. Nathan had however, asked her permission for Ally to ride the horse until such a time she felt like riding regularly again. Elizabeth had seen no reason for Ally not to ride Sargent. The horse needed love and care and when she had gone out to saddle him today, Elizabeth could not deny he had been receiving both.

Elizabeth ran her hand over the horse's shoulders and neck as she stepped up to him. "Sorry, I haven't been around much boy," she told him softly. She had been amazed at how the lessons Jack had taught her about caring and saddling a horse had come back easily once she began doing it. She was hoping that what her late husband taught her about riding would come back as well. "I haven't been myself lately. I will try to ride you more often, though I think Ally has been enjoying riding you as well."

While talking to the horse, Elizabeth was trying to gain her courage to mount the horse. She was nervous about riding after so long, though she had not thought about it the last time. Perhaps that was because Nathan had been with her. Today she was alone. Perhaps walking would be the better option.

~You have got to get back in the saddle at some point, Elizabeth, ~ she told herself.

Sargent whinnied impatiently. It was as if he was telling her to just get on his back already.

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth let it out slowly before putting her foot in the stirrup. Her first attempt at getting up in the saddle fell short. Sargent whinnied again as he pawed the ground.

"I know. I am a bit rusty at this," Elizabeth said, still talking soothingly to the horse.

On her second attempt, Elizabeth made it into the saddle though there was nothing graceful about it. She was thankful for the divided skirt that was currently buttoned to be worn as pants. Though the original divided skirt Julie had mailed her when hearing she was learning to ride horses had worn out, Rosemary had made her several divided skirts for gifts over the years. This dark blue one was one Rosemary had made for a few years ago, and was one of her favorites.

"All right, I'm up," Elizabeth said, trying to collect herself as she settled the reigns in her hands.

Looking in the direction of the barn, she saw that Ally and Jack were just about at the structure. As if she sensed Elizabeth looking toward them, Ally glanced back over her shoulder and waved. Elizabeth waved back before taking one more deep breath and giving Sargent the command to move.

As she got the feel for riding again, Elizabeth kept Sargent at a walk as they made it to the road. Making their way down the road toward the Coulters home, Elizabeth started feeling comfortable in the saddle. Eventually she moved to a slow trot, slowly gaining confidence in the saddle.

Elizabeth reached the Coulters just as Laura was leaving from watching Aster. The young woman and former student, greeted Elizabeth brightly. After dismounting, Elizabeth inquired after Laura. She was pleasantly surprised to hear that Laura had a boyfriend, a young man named Noah who was currently working at the railroad station, loading and unloading the trains that came through. Noah's dream was to become a pastor, and was saving up toward going to seminary for that. In the mean while, he was taking a correspondence course while working and living with his parents. His father worked at the shoe factory and gave what extra money he could to further his son's education.

"I would like it if you could meet him, Mrs. Th. . . I mean Mrs. Grant," Laura told her.

Elizabeth smiled. She had missed Laura after the girl had stopped watching Jack for her. In that time, Laura had struggled to switch from Thornton to Bouchard, as was evident by the fact that she had started to say Thornton. "Why don't you call me Elizabeth now, Laura? I am not your teacher nor your employer."

"I'll try to remember," Laura replied.

"I would love to meet Noah. Are the two of you going to the Grand Opening of the Amaryllis?"

"Yes," Laura replied.

"Then introduce me to him then. Also, perhaps you and Noah would like to join me and my family for dinner the following Friday evening at my home," Elizabeth suggested, knowing that Nathan would not be opposed to the company. He had told her she could invite people to dinner whenever she felt ready. So far, the Coulters, Bill and Archie had been their only dinner guests.

"That sounds nice," Laura replied. "I will bring it up to Noah and let you know. I can't wait to see Jack again. I miss him."

"He has missed you too," Elizabeth assured him. "He will be at the Grand Opening this Friday as well. I thought he was a little too young but Archie insisted his grandson be allowed to attend and I couldn't refuse either of them."

Laura smiled as she reached out for Elizabeth's hands now that Sargent's reigns were secured around the porch railing. "I am relieved to see you happy again," the younger woman told her. "When you were with Mr. Bouchard, even courting, the happiness never seemed to reach your eyes like it did before Mountie Jack passed away. I see the happiness in your eyes when you speak of Little Jack and his new found family. Mountie Jack would be happy for you."

Elizabeth blinked back tears. If Laura had made that observation how many others had.

"Thank you," she managed to say. She thought about her new home and the time she spent with Nathan and Ally. She thought of the kiss she had shared with Nathan after the weeding incident. They were happy memories. "I think I finally am learning to be happy again. Nathan, Ally and Jack do make me happy."

Laura squeezed her hands. "Good," she told her former teacher. "I should be going, but I hope to see you around more often now."

"I hope so too," Elizabeth told her.

As Laura headed away from the house, Elizabeth turned to the house and walked up the front porch. She had only reached the top of the steps when Rosemary threw open the front door.

"I am glad to see you out visiting," Rosemary commented, holding her arms open to her friend. "I am even happier that it is me that you are visiting."

Elizabeth hurried into her friend's arms. How she had missed the times she had spent with Rosemary? She and Rosemary use to just pop in to see each other on a whim. They had told each other everything . . . at least until she had let Lucas into her life.

"I am just grateful you are still my friend," Elizabeth said as she hugged her friend close.

"Good friendships weather all storms and come out stronger. We had a very long storm we had to weather, but we have done so," Rosemary said, confidently taking a step back. Elizabeth could feel her friend's eyes scrutinizing her. "I was about to get some things for Aster and come visit you," Rosemary admitted. "Nathan didn't say what it was about, but he said you were upset last night. Can I assume you came to talk about that?"

Elizabeth nodded, touched at Nathan's thoughtfulness once again. How sweet of him to let Rosemary know that she might need a friend.

A baby's cry from inside reached their ears.

"Looks like someone doesn't want to nap after all," Rosemary commented. "Come inside," she told Elizabeth. "Let me just get my little diva, and then I will make us some tea and we'll talk."

"I can get Aster if you want to start the tea."

Rosemary looked surprised. Elizabeth didn't blame her. While she had been happy for Rosemary and Lee, Elizabeth knew she had not shown much interest in the now almost eight month old baby, even less so after her miscarriage.

"It is past time that Aster gets to know her Aunt Elizabeth," she replied.

Rosemary smiled. "It is," she agreed. "She's in the crib by couch. I like to keep her downstairs during the day."

Elizabeth nodded, following the baby's cries as Rosemary headed toward the kitchen.