Bill could hear Jack's giggles and Nathan's chuckles before he even reached the steps to the jail. It warmed his heart because Nathan hadn't had much to find amusing other than Julie and now Jack. From what Bill could make out, Jack was giving him a complete description of all the animals he had seen and had just turned the conversation to the grain elevators.

As he stepped up on the porch, he wished he had a camera because of the sweet scene before him.

Nathan was sweeping the floor as they talked, and Jack followed with the dustpan collecting little piles that Nathan gathered up. They were so caught up in each other that they didn't even notice him. 'Like mother like son,' Bill thought, knowing that Elizabeth shared that same deep connection with Nathan. Jack finally saw him in the doorway on his second trip back from dumping the pain into the bin.

"Uncle Bill, I'm helping Mountie Nathan," Jack replied, grinning from ear to ear.

"I can see that, Jack. I'm sure he appreciates the help."

"Why don't the three of us go grab a snack?" Bill suggested. "Then maybe you and I can saddle Sargent and help Nathan with rounds." Jack's eyes lit up, and he was practically dragging Nathan and Bill out the door. Mountie Nathan made his day even better by hoisting him on his shoulders. They could see Lucas lurking about on his balcony, watching them as they walked towards the cafe.

After leaving the café, Nathan told Bill he would meet up with them after he grabbed an extra canteen and Newton. As he stepped into the livery a few minutes later, he could hear Jack peppering Bill with questions about what he was doing and why. Nathan felt pride in the little boy because it was clear that he genuinely wanted to know how to take care of his horse. Walking in, he could see that Jack was standing on a stool and using a spare brush, attempting to help brush him, but Sargent was intent on nuzzling him and playfully nibbling at his hair.

Jack's giggles filled the air "Sargent, that tickles. I love you too, but I'm trying to brush you so we can do rounds." Jack leaned in and gently kissed his horse's muzzle as Bill tightened the saddle one last time.

Nathan walked in prepared to hand Jack up to Bill, once he mounted. Once he was settled in front, Bill instructed Jack to put his hands on the reins. They arrived at Newton's side just as Nathan mounted, and soon they were on their way.

"Mountie Nathan, is this what all Mounties do? Did my papa do them too?"

"Yes, Jack, part of being the Mountie in a town like Hope Valley is that we make our presence known. We each have an area assigned to maintain as our responsibility."

"Why are they called rounds? Is it because we go in circles?" Jack asked curiously, making both Bill and Nathan chuckle. The rest of the ride was taken up with Jack's many questions about Mounties and the wildlife they encountered.


Nathan prepared to get dressed for supper. He was still shaken by all the conflicted feelings that simmered within him. It was all he could do when he had hugged her earlier, not to prolong it. The scent of lavender and lily permeated his senses and even transferred to his Serge. He wasn't going down that road again, though it had done wonders for his morale when he caught her staring at him. She wasn't as immune to him as he had originally believed. While the old Nathan wouldn't have tried to make her see what she had lost out on, the new him wasn't going to hesitate.

He couldn't contain his grin as he recalled what Julie had told him about Elizabeth's preferences. He decided to test it and pulled his blue plaid shirt and brown pants out of his closet along with his suspenders.

With a final look at himself in his mirror, he headed into town. He was excited about the coming evening and being able to turn the tables on one Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton. 'Get ready, Elizabeth, because here I come.'


Elizabeth entered the café, and her eyes were immediately drawn to seek out Nathan. She froze when she saw Nathan wearing her favorite outfit and was immediately drawn back to that day at the pond. Watching him charm the three ladies standing close to him was hard, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart along with jealousy. One of them, an Asian woman, kept touching his arm and was standing a little too close for her liking. She wondered if that was the new pharmacist, Mei Sou, that Julie had spoken to her about. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up, excused himself, and sauntered over. She couldn't move, and her heart raced as he continued making eye contact with her.

"Hello, Elizabeth,"

She gulped. "Hello, Nathan."

He stood there looking at her as if waiting for her to continue. Her thoughts were scrambled, and she struggled to figure out what to say next. She could see his amusement at her predicament, almost as if he knew what was happening inside her. 'He's probably loving that now she was getting a taste of what it had been like for him all those times he had become tongue-tied in their interactions.'

Then hearing her son's giggles, she said, "I understand that Jack and Bill did rounds with you earlier,"

Nathan stiffened, sure that a lecture was forthcoming, but he relaxed after seeing she wasn't upset. "He did," Nathan agreed. "Jack did a great job helping me sweep up too,"

Elizabeth chuckled. "Most likely while extolling the wildlife and grain elevators, he saw on the way to and from Hamilton."

Nathan laughed. "Yes, he did. I now know everything I need to know about them."

"Thank you for spending time with him today. It meant so much to him that you did. He really missed you and Allie while we were gone."

"It was my pleasure, Elizabeth. He is always welcome to stop by and say hello. I needed a pick-me-up. I have been missing Allie a lot since she has been away visiting my mother.

"Well, I wouldn't want him to bother you while you are working," Elizabeth said.

"I'll always make time for Jack, Elizabeth. Maybe Allie and I can take him on some adventures occasionally." While he was more than willing to open his arms to Jack, a hint of steel in his tone let her know it wasn't a package offer though his smile never left.

Julie sidled up next to Nathan with a mischievous glint in her eyes and looped her arm around Nathan's arm. "Oh, Elizabeth was right. You do look good in that shirt."

"Uh.…Well…." Elizabeth stuttered and looked at her sister in horror. Finding herself at a loss for words, which seemed a new affliction, Elizabeth suddenly wished the floor would open and swallow her up. She shot her sister a withering glance that promised retribution later, but Julie just winked in response.

"You smell nice too, but I can't figure out what it smells like. It's like an outdoorsy combination." Julie said, her eyes full of mischief. Elizabeth cringed, instantly recognizing from the look in Julie's eyes that her baby sister was up to something she instinctively knew involved her.

"I was told recently that I smell like pine and cedar. Nathan leaned towards her "What do you think, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and longed to bury her nose in Nathan's neck to take in his scent. Desperate to put some space between her and Nathan before giving in to the impulse, she quickly nodded and excused herself. 'What in the world was going on, and where was her Nathan? The Nathan she knew would have never been that bold.' Her heart raced in excitement as she recalled the look in his eyes and the husky tone of his voice as he waited for her to respond.

When she looked back to where he and Julie were standing, she could see him standing there though Julie had moved, and he was watching her. As their eyes locked, he gave her a final nod before allowing his attention to be recaptured by what Elizabeth now jealously referred to as his adoring fans.


She was approached by Carson and a lovely woman about Abigail's age. She had black hair but beautiful brown eyes and a sweet smile.

"Elizabeth Thornton, allow me to introduce Belinda Nelson. She is the one that is running the boarding house that I'm currently staying in."

"Please call me Belinda."

"It's so nice to meet you, Belinda; I prefer Elizabeth too." Carson excused himself and went in search of something to drink.

As Carson left Elizabeth noticed a handsome man, similar to her own age, coming towards them.

"My two daughters, Audrey and Marylou, are over there talking to Nathan." Elizabeth realized that they were part of Nathan's fan club.

The handsome man stopped beside Belinda, "Elizabeth, let me introduce you to my son Dean Nelson. He is going to be the new Veterinarian. Dean, this is Elizabeth Thornton, the schoolteacher."

Dean stood tall, though not as tall as Nathan, with broad shoulders and a chiseled frame. His striking hazel eyes gleamed with a playful glint, hinting at the charismatic personality within. The only facial hair present was scruff, which didn't detract from his looks. Unlike Nathan's mustache and little "patch," it seemed to fit. He was dressed in a denim shirt that hugged his torso with the sleeves rolled up like Nathan's, while black jeans and cowboy boots completed the look. He wore a belt instead of suspenders, and It was impossible not to be drawn to his commanding presence and the way his outfit seemed to frame his impressive physique perfectly. He was obviously someone who knew their way around a ranch. Dean Nelson was not someone who put on airs but, like Nathan, preferred to be who he was, unlike Lucas. As Fiona once said of Nathan, Hope Valley's Veterinarian was quite a dish.

"It's nice to meet you, Ma'am," Dean replied. "All my friends call me Dean."

"Well, since I hope we will be friends, Dean, I'm Elizabeth," She replied, holding out her hand.

He smiled as he reached to take it, and she couldn't help but notice it engulfed her own, reminding her of how Nathan's hand did the same. But unlike Nathan's, it didn't send any shocks through her or give her a feeling of home.


Carson was heading over to get some coffee when Ned and Florence approached him.

"Carson, may Ned and I speak to you briefly?"

"Sure," He couldn't help noticing that Florence kept a close eye on Mei and Faith, who were talking with Nathan.

"What's wrong?"

"It's about Mei Sou," Ned said.

"And Faith as well," Florence added, her mouth in a tight line.

"Oh? Sounds serious."

"We tried talking with Faith but haven't got anywhere, and frankly, Ned and I aren't comfortable with the situation," Florence said.

"I'm all yours," Carson replied. "What is going on?"

"We hired Mr. Jeffrey Lewis on Faith's recommendation," Ned said.

"But Mei Sou showed up claiming to be here in his stead," Florence said. "She was very arrogant about it too, Carson."

"Anyway, I told her that we were assured that he would be arriving in time for our grand opening of the pharmacy/Ice Cream Shoppe," Ned said.

"He didn't tell you about it when you spoke with him?" Carson asked.

"I had placed an ad in the paper, and all the correspondence was by letter. He informed us in his response that he didn't have access to a phone." Ned replied.

"Normally, we wouldn't have even considered Mr. Lewis. But since Faith vouched for the man, we hired him." Florence explained. "You know how we are in Hope Valley, Carson."

"I do," Carson replied, recalling the earlier conversation between Faith and her.

"Well, that's when she told me that I had been corresponding with her all along and that I should call Faith," Ned said.

Carson frowned. "What was Faith's response to this?"

"She suggested that Ned hire Mei until we could sort through everything. She was supposed to contact Jeffrey, but as far as we know, she hasn't." Florence stated.

"Mei Sou also stated that she attended the university, and her coursework consisted of a four-year apprenticeship, five months of evening lectures, and a one-year dedicated apprenticeship," Ned replied. "She stated that she completed her apprenticeship under Mr. Lewis at the hospital where she met Faith."

"I don't want you to say anything just yet, but I promise we will get to the bottom of this," Carson said. "I just don't want to tip anyone off until all the facts are in. Have you mentioned any of this to Nathan or Bill?"

"No, we didn't know what to do, and as I said, we were thinking that Faith would do something," Ned replied.

"Okay, well, I will make a few calls in the morning and consult with Bill and Nathan. Thank you, though, for trusting me with this." Carson assured them, feeling very disappointed in Faith and sad, knowing that he may have to report it to the board based on what he found out.

They excused themselves and walked over to where Molly and Daniel were talking. Carson smiled to himself, thinking that Florence would be hoping for a match between her friend and Daniel. His smile fell, recalling that there was a grim job to be done, and he wasn't looking forward to it. He searched for Bill and Nathan. And found Nathan had just joined Bill with Jack in his arms.

Crossing over, he let the two men know that he had something important that he needed to talk with them about but wasn't at liberty to talk about it just then. They agreed to meet up the next afternoon. A few moments later, Rosemary approached and told Bill that it was time to make the announcements and speech.

"Good evening, I have a few announcements to make, and then I will let everyone return to your meal. First, I want to welcome back the Thorntons. Elizabeth, you and Jack are not allowed to be gone so long in the future." Bill said.

"At least not without taking Bill with you," Lee teased, making everyone laugh.

We also want to welcome Dr. Daniel Easton and his two children, Bella and Henry."

"Henry is my best friend," Jack declared. "We met on the train. He is a dentist!"

"There you heard it, folks." Bill chuckled. "He will be opening a dental practice in the vacant Family Dentist office next to the library."

"Next up, many of you already know the Nelson family, but what you didn't know is that Dean is also our new Veterinarian," Bill said. Then added, "We owe a special thanks to Chuck Stewart, who recommended him us." Everyone cheered at that. Finally, Carson has returned and will be once again working with Faith. Make sure you all make the rounds, but as Mayor Pro Tem, let me officially welcome the Nelsons and the Eastons to Hope Valley. Also, don't forget there will be a Mayoral election to be held next month. If you are interested in running, please see Ned and Florence. Please keep in mind that there are only two more days left to register as a candidate. That is all I have."

The evening wound down quickly, and Nathan approached Elizabeth with a very sleepy Jack drooping in his arms.

"I think someone is ready to call it a night, Mama!" Nathan said with a soft smile. Elizabeth stood and kissed her son on the cheek before reaching for him.

Nathan started to offer to take him home for her, but he wasn't quite ready to be alone with her. He figured that Lee and Rosemary would probably walk home with her, so he relinquished him into her care and excused himself.

Turning back to Dean and Belinda, she said, "This is my son Jack Thornton Jr."

"Hey there, Partner," Dean said, reaching for his hand.

"Jack, I'd like you to meet Dr. Nelson and his mother, Mrs. Nelson. They just moved here recently."

"Hi, are you a cowboy?" Jack asked, smiling at Dean.

"I am, but I have another job as well," Dean said.

"He is a doctor like Dr. Carson and Dr. Daniel; only he treats animals."

"I have a horse!" Jack said excitedly, "He was my Papa's horse, but he's retired."

"Oh, your papa's retired.?"

"No, papa is in heaven. Sargent is. He was a Mountie like Newton."

Elizabeth chuckled. Sargent was my husband's Mountie horse. My husband was the Mountie before Nathan and was killed in a landslide during a training mission he was leading. It was before I even knew I was pregnant with my son. The Mounties gave him to me when they retired him. He was too traumatized and wouldn't accept another partner. I guess you could say Sargent and I saved each other."

"I'm so sorry for your loss Elizabeth," Belinda said.

"Thank you, Belinda." "Actually, Dean, would you be willing to give him a check-up because it has been a few years since Chuck gave him one? There aren't any issues, but I want to ensure he is healthy since one day Jack will be riding him."

"I would be happy to. Where is he currently stabled?"

"In the livery. Jed can show you which one, but he is in the stall next to Newton."

"I was admiring him earlier today, so I know just the one you are talking about."

Jack yawned and laid his head down on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Well, I'd better get my guy home. It was nice to meet you both."

"Why don't you let us walk you home, Elizabeth," Belinda said, "Dean can carry him for you."

"Thank you, Belinda, but I couldn't impose, and I don't want to pull you away from the party," Elizabeth said, shifting him a bit as he became a dead weight in her arms.

"Nonsense, I am ready to go anyway," Belinda said as Dean took Jack in his arms.

Elizabeth agreed, knowing Rosemary would ensure Julie got home and handed him over. Jack's willingness to go into Dean's arms made the decision easy for her.

At that moment, Nathan saw that Belinda and Dean were escorting Elizabeth home, and Jack was in Dean's arms. It was a sight he didn't like and wasn't sure why.