Authors Note: Though it may seem like it, there will not be any type of triangle setup. This story will ultimately be a Nathan and Elizabeth pairing. Since we are reworking S9 it can't happen right away, but take heart it is coming. We are just about through with dealing with the old S8 plots.


Bill had just returned to his office from taking Henry his breakfast the following day when the phone rang.

"Hello, Judge Avery's office."

"Bill," Nathan's voice came through the line.

"Nathan! I wondered if I would hear from you today. How are things there? Did you meet Dylan's parents?"

"I did, and it certainly eased my mind quite a bit."

"How is Allie dealing with it all?"

"She's excited to have more family; she is very comfortable with them, and I think it did her a world of good. They, of course, are over the moon about having a granddaughter. She actually felt comfortable enough to spend the night with them."

"That's great," Bill said. "If Allie is comfortable with them, then they are good people. That girl can be really perceptive about people, just like her old man. She would make an excellent Mountie if they allowed females to join."

"How are things there?" Nathan asked.

"Overall, we are good. The only excitement we have had was I had to arrest Henry after he got in a fight with one of Lucas' investors."

"Oh?" Nathan said.

"They used to work together at one time, so there's some bad blood between them, but nothing I can't handle. When are you coming home?"

"Actually, I'm thinking I'll come home tomorrow or the next day. Allie wants to stay a little longer to visit with her grandparents."

"Any chance we'll get to meet your mom? Since you are always so closed off about your family."

Nathan chuckled. "There's not much to tell, and I don't have that much family left." There was a brief pause, and then Nathan asked, "Bill, how has Elizabeth been since our last session?"

"I won't lie; it was hard getting her to leave the house, but just yesterday, she was out and about. She and Jack even rode out to the Nelson ranch and spent time there. I think Charlotte and Henry finally got her to listen to reason, though I still see some shadows in her eyes. Joseph and I think that that time will take care of that." Bill replied.

"I let my anger get away from me, and I was harsher than I should have been or that she deserved," Nathan said after a long pause.

"Maybe or maybe not. Regardless, you said what was in your heart. She has done the same to you as well. It just shows that you are human and can make mistakes. The same could be said of her and those words she spouted at the jail. After talking with her over the past three days, nothing suggests that she holds you responsible. I think what you said forced her to see just how far down the rabbit hole she had traveled, and it was horrifying. Frankly, I'm glad it happened because I was getting fed up with that simpering Elizabeth that had taken up residence before she went to Hamilton. In fact, I would like to thank you, and I think she will too."

"I wish I were as confident as you are about it," Nathan said ruefully. They talked for a few minutes more, and then Bill disconnected the call.

After hanging up Nathan headed back outside to continue working on a little project he and Allie had created for Jack. He had come up with the idea when he came across some scrap wood in the barn. He had made him two grain elevators to go with his train set. They just needed to be sanded a little more and then painted. When Allie went off with her grandparents the day before, she found some small figurines and a little miniature wagon with horses to add to it. He smiled as he picked up the sandpaper and got to work imagining Jack's reaction to seeing them.


Meanwhile, in Hope Valley

Elizabeth and Jack had gone riding up on their land after breakfast and morning chores, as had become their custom of late. It was a place where they could connect with Jack and where they were practically assured of not being interrupted. Though she still occasionally went to the graveyard, she and Jack preferred the meadow. Jack loved sitting on the log where his father had carved their initials and loved hearing stories about his Papa. Most people probably forgot that she owned it because she had never spoken of it although Lee, Rosemary, and Bill knew about it if something happened, or she was missing.

Lately, though, she had begun the process of teaching him to ride like Jack had taught her. After talking with Charlotte about it during her last visit to the ranch. Charlotte and Bill had also been giving him lessons, and the plan this year was to get him a pony for his 5th birthday. Elizabeth allowed him to sit on Sargent with his hands on the pommel while she led Sargent around. Though Sargent would probably walk beside her, no leading was necessary because she and Jack were his two favorite people, and he would follow wherever she went. When they were riding, he would "hold" the reins along with her as they galloped or cantered.

She recalled that day that the horse first arrived back in Hope Valley after the landslide. She and Sargent helped each other begin the process of moving forward. They had gone for a ride through the meadow after she had sat and read Jack's final letter to her. It wasn't long after that she found out she was pregnant with Jack.

Elizabeth had just unsaddled Sargent when she heard Jack greet Dean. Looking over, she saw him standing there with Julie and his two sisters.

"Hey, Dr. Dean!"

"Hello, partner," Dean replied. "What are you and Mama doing today?

"Tucking Sargent in for his nap," Jack replied, making the other chuckle. "I don't need a nap because I am a big boy. You doing any cowboy stuff today?"

Dean chuckled. "Not yet, but I do have some when I get back to the ranch."

"Can I help?" Jack asked earnestly.

"That would be up to your mama," Dean replied, looking over at Elizabeth with a brow raised in question.

"I don't know, Jack," Elizabeth began to protest.

Seeing the reluctance on her sister's face, Julie stepped in. "It's okay, Beth, I will watch after him. I'm going out to the ranch with Audrey and Marylou for lunch. I'll bring him back with me."

"What about the dress shop?"

"I've done everything that I can do for now. I'm expecting a delivery on the afternoon train, but I'll be back before that.

"Please, Mama?" Jack asked, giving her puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, all right, but you listen to Dr. Dean and Aunt Julie and mind your manners," Elizabeth said, unable to say no when Dean also began to mirror Jack's face.

"I meant to ask, will 5 o'clock work?" Dean asked when Jack had gone over to the wagon with the ladies.

"5 o'clock?" Elizabeth asked, confused.

"Our dinner at the cafe?"

"Oh, I am sorry, Dean, but I had forgotten all about it," Elizabeth admitted sheepishly. "I didn't arrange for a sitter or even speak to Julie about it."

Dean laughed. "It's okay. There's no need to leave Jack home. Friends don't need to stand on ceremony with one another. As for Julie, she and my sisters have been discussing it for the past hour. Carson is joining us and Mom has been looking forward to it as well."

His words put her at ease that he was respecting her boundaries, and she readily accepted.

"Good. As a matter of fact, why don't you just let Jack stay at the ranch until then?" Dean offered. "I'm not doing anything dangerous, and he wouldn't be in the way. Ma might spoil him with a few cookies, though, fair warning."

Elizabeth laughed. "That sounds fine to me. I have some things I need to do before school starts in 2 weeks."

With a final kiss to Jack, they were off. Jack had situated himself on Dean's lap and was holding the reins. As she watched them ride off, she noticed that her reactions to seeing Jack with Dean were different than the ones when she saw Jack with Nathan. Anytime she saw her son interacting with Nathan resulted in feelings that led to a blush on her cheeks, like now as she simply thought of Nathan with her son. It further cemented that Dean was just a friend.

Since she had some time on her hands, she decided to see if Rosemary wanted to have lunch, then she would head to the school and begin her first day of school preparations. Though she and Rosemary had made amends and were on a much better footing, she didn't want to take their friendship for granted.

Walking by the saloon, she saw Lucas talking with Jerome Smith. As if sensing her watching them, they looked around and saw her. Suddenly, Lucas murmured something, and they quickly crossed the street and caught up with her.

Her first instinct had been to run, but she was tired of running away from him. She made a vow that from now on, she would stand her ground. Hope Valley was a small town, and it wasn't feasible for her to avoid him. Not to mention, it implied that she was afraid rather than annoyed by him.

"Elizabeth, what a wonderful surprise to see you in town," Lucas said, pasting on his signature smile, which now just looked smarmy.

"That's one interpretation, I suppose," she grumbled under her breath, focusing her attention on the man beside him.

"What's that?" Lucas asked, his brow furrowed.

Elizabeth smiled, "Oh, nothing. What is it you wanted, Lucas? My mind has not changed."

"I was hoping you would have dinner with us tonight. I was telling Jerome about your book, and he expressed an interest in meeting you."

Elizabeth stood there in shock, anger beginning to fester. Turning to Jerome she said, "Would you excuse us, Mr. Smith? I need to speak with Lucas for a moment."

"Not a problem, Mrs. Thornton. Lucas, I will meet you at Gowan Petroleum."

After ensuring he was far enough away not to be heard she turned back to him. "Lucas, I have made myself very clear. I'm tired of having to run away or avoid places because you won't get it through your thick head, I am NOT interested in doing ANYTHING with you."

"It's okay, another time then," Lucas replied disregarding her her protest.

"NO! There won't be another time. I have no desire to go to dinner with you or with that man today, tomorrow, or in the future." Elizabeth was seething and trying to keep her anger in check, but she was losing the battle.

"Elizabeth, you owe me a conversation about what happened when you returned from Hamilton."

"I owe you nothing, Lucas. You need to move on because there is nothing you can do or say that will make me change my mind about us."

"We will see about that because as I have said I'm going to fight for our love. You don't really want this estrangement, Elizabeth. I know you feel the same way that I do. You are just trying to play hard to get and…."

Elizabeth couldn't listen to him anymore. "STOP! There's no love to fight for, Lucas. You are delusional if you think there is because I feel nothing but regret and shame for courting you."

Lucas' lips thinned as he turned and went to meet up with Jerome at the office. It wasn't until he was almost at his office that he realized an important detail. When she spoke of not having dinner with him and Jerome, she referred to him as that man. There was also a look of distaste when she said it, which meant she knew who Jerome was. Then, recalling her going into the jail last night, he knew that it was Henry who told her. As if he didn't have enough problems between trying to win Elizabeth back and dealing with the cashflow problem he currently had, now there was the history between Henry and Jerome that could threaten everything if the others found out who he was.

Rosemary was talking to Florence when Elizabeth walked in.

"Elizabeth!" Florence exclaimed with a smile, then moved to embrace Elizabeth. "I'm glad to see you are out and about."

After returning the hug, Elizabeth replied, "Thank you, Florence. Do you have the grand opening of the Pharmacy planned yet?"

Actually, that is why I'm here. "We're scheduled to open in three days. Rosemary is putting the announcement in today's edition."

"Which I must get back to if I'm going to get it in there before I go to press," Rosemary said pointedly.

"Oh, of course," Florence said, threading her arm through Elizabeth's and began tugging her behind her to the door. "Come, Elizabeth, why don't we get some tea?"

After casting an amused glance at Rosemary, she followed Florence out. Just before they reached the café, Ned hollered from the Mercantile for Florence.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth, maybe we can have some tea later this week. Oh, and make sure to bring Jack tomorrow," Florence said before hurrying to the Mercantile.

Elizabeth stood in front of the café trying to figure out if she still wanted tea or to just start working at the church.

Ultimately, she decided to walk to the church, which proved providential as Joseph was there. "Elizabeth! It is good to see you. Are you here to talk to me or for something else?"

"Hello, Joseph," Elizabeth said. "I'm actually here to begin getting ready for the first day of school in two weeks. But now that you're here…"

"Of course. Would you like to go outside or talk here?" Joseph said, gesturing to the pew he was sitting on.

"No, here is fine," Elizabeth said, sitting beside him. "I wanted to apologize for running out of our last session. I also wanted to thank you for your counsel afterward. I'm hoping that we can continue when Nathan returns."

"You are welcome, Elizabeth. I would happily resume our sessions when Nathan returns, but if you need to meet before that, we don't need to wait."

Elizabeth smiled. "I appreciate that, Joseph. But I think I have managed to move past feeling like a fallen woman."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"My mother-in-law convinced me that everyone makes mistakes, and I was making too much out of what happened. She told me to learn from it and make better decisions in the future." Elizabeth said with a chuckle.

"Sounds like a smart lady," Joseph said.

"She is," Elizabeth replied fondly.

They sat for a few minutes in silence. Joseph finally said, "Well, since you seem to be on the mend, I'm going to head over to the Pharmacy. I have a final walk-through with the Yosts for tomorrow's grand opening."

"I am fine, Joseph," Elizabeth replied. "I can't wait to see it tomorrow; neither can Jack."

"Coop and Angela are excited about it, too. They will practically live there if they have their way. See you later," Joseph said before walking out the door.


ABIGAIL'S CAFE

Elizabeth sat cradling her son at the table, talking with Julie, Audrey, Marylou, Dean, Carson, and Belinda when Daniel walked in with Henry. Jack immediately jumped down from her lap and ran over to drag them to the table. A few minutes later, another table was added once Bill arrived.

As everyone talked, Elizabeth noticed that Daniel's eyes kept straying beyond her to look at something in the distance. Turning her head, she smiled when she noted that Molly and Florence were the only ones sitting in that direction. She smiled when she noted that Molly had also been casting a few glances towards Daniel.

Taking advantage of the distraction the boys provided, she leaned over and whispered. "She's single."

"What?" Daniel looked over at her. Seeing that he didn't catch what she said, he turned red. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth, I was…"

"Distracted?" Elizabeth asked with a grin. "I know. I was saying that she is single. She is also a widow with a grown daughter."

"Really?" Daniel said with a smile. Seeing Elizabeth's look of amusement, he added. "You must think I am silly, huh?"

"Not at all. In fact, I think you should ask her to dinner."

"Oh, I couldn't do that. It has been so long since I even thought about anyone but Henrietta. I don't think I would be good at it."

Elizabeth chuckled and then teased. "You wouldn't be good at eating dinner?"

He chuckled. "That's not what I meant."

"Look, Daniel, I'm probably the last person who should be advising you given the situation I'm currently in, but I think you should ask her and see where things go from there. I'll even watch the children."

"What if she says no?"

"Then have you lost anything? Besides, judging by a few looks I have seen her casting, she appears interested. She is a beautiful, kind, and caring woman who would love Henry and Bella."

"HMMM," Daniel said before returning to his meal. "I'll have to think about it.

Seeing that her tiny seed had taken root, they changed the topic. During the time she and Daniel had talked, she noticed that Bill had managed to change seats, so he was next to Belinda. She smiled as she realized that more than one potential romance was being ignited.

The rest of the evening was lively, and Elizabeth enjoyed getting to know Audrey and Marylou. Time flew by, and soon, it was time to head home since Henry and Jack were both asleep on their parents' laps. Dean offered to carry Jack and escort Elizabeth home, but Bill stepped in quickly and said he would.

As she lay in her bed, Elizabeth decided it had been a very pleasant evening and was glad that she had agreed to go. As she fell asleep in bed, her dreams turned to a certain Mountie, creating a longing in her heart.