A week later

Nathan and Elizabeth had agreed to wait and reveal anything about her being in Hope Valley and Allie's new teacher. He would bring Allie straight from the train to the school after dropping her suitcase at the rowhouse, or at least that was how it was supposed to go.

It started when the train was early, and she decided to walk into town by herself. As Nathan headed up the steps, he heard Allie say, "Well, my uncle says you have been sort of nice to him."

"Sort of nice?" Bill asked.

Nathan ran in, hoping to keep her from starting a war with his officemate. The look that Bill had given him made him concerned that it might already be too late. "I see you met my niece. Allie, you were supposed to wait for me."

"The train was early, so I wanted to surprise you," Allie said. Then, throwing up her arms, she said, "Surprise!" Nathan could see the smirk on Bill's face as he looked at his niece.

Nathan hugged her and said, "Come on, let's get you settled in."

Allie was excited as she walked into their new home. "Uncle Nathan, it is so big."

"Your room is upstairs why don't you check it out while I prepare a bit of lunch for us."

She quickly ran up the stairs, and he could hear her squeals as she explored her room and the upstairs. A short while later as they finished lunch, he said, "I'm going to drop you off at school, and then I have to get back to work."

She wasn't happy, and as they got closer, she began to voice it.

"Uncle Nathan, I just got here."

Well, that just means that you will have a shorter first day. Plus, you heard the expression that there's no time like the present.

"But how about the saying don't go to school today if you can wait until tomorrow?

"Okay, first of all, you just made that up, and second, I don't want you falling behind. You have already missed enough."

"But the school day has already started."

"That's great; now you can go make a grand entrance. I have a feeling that you will love your teacher."

"If you say so, Uncle Nathan.

"I do," Allie looked like she wanted to argue some more but knew that her uncle wasn't changing his mind.

"Fine, just let me go in by myself."

"You're just like my sister, bullheaded and independent. OK, fine you can go in by yourself but remember."

Allie interrupted, "Walk tall, look them straight in the eyes, and shake hands. Now please give me this moment."

Nathan walked away, never knowing that Allie had other ideas until the end of the day when he showed up to pick her up.

"Elizabeth! How did she do?"

"Who? Allie? I figured when she didn't come that something happened. I was just on my way to see you."

"I knew I should have walked in with her."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Why don't we go look in town and see where she might have gotten off to."

After doing a thorough search, Elizabeth spotted her coming with a bunch of fish. Elizabeth hid behind Nathan.

"Hey, Uncle Nathan. Look, we can have these for dinner.

"It's nice. So, tell me, how was school today?"

"Pfft, Oh, you know."

"No, I don't know that's why I am asking."

"It was like any old school day. Take boring and then multiply it by 2."

"How did you like your teacher?"

"Oh. Bit bossy and smelled like chalk."

"Oh. So, you know that this is her. Right?" Elizabeth stepped around to stand beside Nathan revealing her identity for the first time.

"Hi, Allie."

"Mrs. Thornton! You're my new teacher?" Allie said, giving Elizabeth a hug.

"That I am." Elizabeth chuckled, embracing her.

"She was the surprise that was waiting, and had you gone in, you would have known."

"I'm sorry!"

"Yeah, so am I. Allie, always do what you say you are going to do. No matter how inconvenient or not fun it is."

"Yes, sir."

"Do you understand the importance of what I said?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Allie," Elizabeth said after giving her a final hug and sharing an amused glance with Nathan before walking away.

The next day Elizabeth ended up having to deal with another incident, only this time one that would require Nathan's presence at the school. He had been shocked to realize that his niece had once again gotten into trouble by tricking the other students with a card trick.

She had gone outside to check on the children and see how Allie was getting along when she saw her using the card trick to take food from the other children. She was shocked and sent the other children inside.

"It was just a card trick. I won it fair and square." Allie said, not able to look her in the eye.

"The trick part leads me to believe there was nothing fair about it. And I have to say I'm a little dismayed that your uncle would teach you such a thing."

"Uncle Nathan? PFFFT Hardly. All he knows how to play is old maid."

"Then who taught it to you."

"I'd rather not say."

Just then, Elizabeth saw the cards in her hand with the Queen of Hearts logo on them. "You don't have to say. I know who it was." She couldn't wait to see what his reasoning was for teaching her.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Allie. Go inside and begin the assignment on the board." Luckily Rosemary had wandered by hoping to catch Elizabeth for a minute and agreed to stay while Elizabeth went to find Lucas.

Her anger had begun to build as she made the trek to the saloon. Opening the door, she saw him sitting at the table playing cards with a couple of other men, further increasing her ire. Without preamble, she approached the table.

"We need to talk."

Giving her a smarmy smile, he told the gentlemen to deal him out and approached her.

"What were you thinking teaching a young girl to gamble? She's only ten years old. Do you have any idea…"

Lucas interrupted, "Woah, Woah, I'm assuming we are talking about Allie."

"Unless you have opened up a gambling school for minors," Elizabeth growled.

"Let's just calm down."

"Mr. Bouchard, do not tell me to calm down. I have every right to be upset. You taught a young girl how to gamble."

"I did not teach Allie how to gamble. I taught her a card trick. Two very different things. Frankly, I was doing your job."

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth said, crossing her arms across her chest. "I can't wait to hear your reasoning for thinking that you were doing my job. Do you have a teaching certificate or some kind of educational background that qualifies you to do that? Because with all the training and experience that I have, I have never once had to resort to teaching a child a card trick."

"Well…. I …. Uh …I was just trying to get Allie interested in going to school."

"And you felt the card trick was the only option?"

"Look, like you, I, too, have an excellent education. Allie was nervous about meeting the other kids and making friends, which is something that I know about. I told her it would break the ice."

"Well, it certainly did that, although I'm not sure of the impact it will have overall on her making friends."

Lucas grinned. "How much did she win?"

"Mr. Bouchard, that is beside the point. I appreciate you trying to help. But if there ever is a next time, and a student happens to wander into your saloon, I would expect you to have the intelligence to notify Constable Grant or Sheriff Avery."

Lucas didn't say anything but just smiled and nodded in agreement. "As you wish."

Elizabeth struggled with the urge to smack the smile off his face, but she managed it as she opened the door. Then recalling something, she turned back. "I'm not sure you are aware, but Allie is Constable Grant's niece, and I would expect a visit at some point today. Maybe you can get him to see the humor in the situation the same as you since I am unable to."

Then she turned back around and walked out, leaving a message for Nathan to meet her after school.

He had been shocked to realize that his niece had once again gotten into trouble, this time by tricking the other students with a card trick. 'Where would she have learned that from?'

Allie was sitting on the pew as he walked in and stubbornly avoided his eyes.

"Allie," Elizabeth said softly. "Would you please go sit out on the steps while I talk to your uncle for a few minutes and close the door behind you?"

Allie nodded and complied. Once the door was closed, Elizabeth began telling Nathan what had happened and who was responsible.

"Mr. Bouchard may have been misguided, but I believe his heart was in the right place. Has Allie had trouble fitting in at any of her other schools?"

"She hasn't been around long enough for that to matter."

"Which I think could very well be the problem. Allie isn't making an effort because she doesn't think she will be here long enough for it to matter."

"Elizabeth, you know how the Mounties work. I don't have a lot of options being a Mountie as well as a single parent."

"I also know that children need stability, Nathan," Elizabeth said fiercely.

"Nathan felt pain that, just like the others, Elizabeth was also using those same arguments. Why had he ever thought she was different? "We're fine, Elizabeth. Thank you for your concern." He started moving toward the door, unable to listen anymore, but her next words stopped him.

"Nathan, stop," Elizabeth called out, a bit surprised at his behavior. She made a mental note to ask him about it later because it was clear her words had struck a nerve. "Given the parameters of your job, I suggest that we call Allie in and let her know what our expectations of her are in the classroom. All right?"

"Okay!" Nathan said as she walked to the door to call Allie in.

"Allie, could you come inside, please? Allie, do you understand why it was wrong to take money and food from the other children?"

"It's not like I forced them to play," Allie explained.

Nathan spoke up. "That's not the issue. You deliberately tricked the other children. Allie, I raised you better than that. Tomorrow you are going to return everything, and you are going to apologize."

"But I don't have it anymore. Mrs. Thornton took my bag." Elizabeth went and grab the bag from her desk and handed it back to Allie.

"Are we understood?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, sir."

Then recalling what Elizabeth said, Nathan asked. "Allie, are you anxious about making friends with the other children?"

Allie looks down at her feet and just shrugs. Elizabeth, sensing the awkwardness of the moment for the two, decides to help.

"Allie, have you ever read Emerson? He is one of my favorite poets. He has some incredibly wise quotes, including "The only way to have a friend is to be one." Elizabeth said, handing the book of poetry to her.

Allie took it and said, "But the only friend that I've ever had is Uncle Nathan. And he has to like me."

Nathan and Elizabeth chuckled. "Well, I don't have to like you, but I do. In fact, I care about you a great deal. Mountie Jack thought a lot of you, too, in the short time we were at Ft Clay."

When Allie didn't look convinced, Elizabeth gently cupped her cheek. "Oh, Allie, I'm sure it seems scary. But if you just be yourself, I guarantee you, you will make a ton of friends. I happen to know that Robert and Opal already like you a lot. You don't need card tricks or gimmicks to win friends over."

"Really?" Allie asked.

"Yes, definitely! You just have to give the other kids a chance. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?" Elizabeth asked. Allie hugged her in response.

Nathan just looked up at Elizabeth in awe, unable to look away as she spoke with Allie. It was so different from the others, and he could see that Elizabeth was truly seeing Allie and wanting to help. He felt like he was falling under a spell, especially after she quoted one of his favorite poets.

"Allie, before we go, I don't want you to ever go in the saloon again unless I am with you, or another trusted adult is with you. For now, trusted adults are me, Sheriff Avery, and Mrs. Thornton."

"Yes, sir,"

After Elizabeth gathered up her things, the three of them walked home together, saying goodbye as they parted ways at the rowhouses.