A/N: Hello friends! We've reached the penultimate chapter. Normally I'd do an epilogue to end a story, but that won't be the case here. I have a very specific ending chapter in mind, and I hope it brings the story full circle. Hopefully it'll be ready later this week. For now, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy Sunday.

August 1926

On a hot day in the middle of August, Nathan took Ella, Nate, and Willie to the swimming hole on their property. The other children were playing with the Coulter and Shepherd kids under Rosemary's watchful eye. She'd found more free time as Allie took over more responsibilities at The Valley Voice. Two years into her job there had proven how adept she was at finding and writing stories. Rosemary proudly declared to anyone who would listen that the young woman would one day run things even more efficiently than Rosemary herself did. Allie basked in the praise, but she modestly pointed out that she had a good education through the correspondence classes she'd taken to hone her skills.

Elizabeth was in the process of making lemonade for her husband and children when she heard a soft cry telling her baby Christine was up from her nap. Born just four months ago, the little girl had been a wonderful addition to their large family. Elizabeth had not been expecting to get pregnant again after Willie's birth, but she'd been surprised and delighted when she discovered their family was going to grow. Everyone doted on the baby, and Elizabeth had a feeling Christine was going to grow up knowing she was very well loved.

She made her way into the nursery. Christine stopped crying the moment she saw her mother, cooing up at Elizabeth with a smile on her cherubic face. Elizabeth lifted her daughter. "Hello, my angel," she murmured. "Did you have a nice nap?" She settled in the rocker to nurse the baby, content with the quiet moment. When Christine finished eating, Elizabeth fitted her into a sling against her chest, then placed the lemonade pitcher and cups on a tray to bring to her family.

The swimming hole wasn't far from the house. When she reached it, Nathan met her with a smile and a kiss. Millie bounded out of the water as well, barking a greeting. Nathan took the tray so Elizabeth could unwrap the sling and lay Christine on a blanket on the ground. She pet Millie for a moment, then poured a cup of the sweet beverage for her husband. Nathan thanked her with a smile, draining his glass quickly while Elizabeth settled the tray on the blanket. "I can't remember a summer being this hot," he said, shaking his head. He glanced at the swimming hole, which was several inches lower than it usually was. "Or this dry." He put his glass on the tray, then lifted Christine into his arms and held her close.

"I agree," Elizabeth said. "It's a little concerning how dry things have been. We are in desperate need of rain."

Before Nathan could reply, Willie caught sight of his mother. Beaming, he climbed out of the water and ran to her. "Mama, mama!" he cried, lifting his arms to be held. Elizabeth picked up her precious two-year-old, nuzzling his cheek with her nose. "Are you having fun with your daddy and brother and sister?" she asked, grinning.

Willie nodded vigorously, his hair bobbing with the movement. Once again, Elizabeth was struck at how their youngest son was a carbon copy of Nathan. His brown waves were the exact shade as his father's, and he had the same piercing blue eyes and tall frame. He was quickly catching up to the twins in height.

"I felt a fish!" Willie proclaimed, bringing Elizabeth's attention to his words. She gave a horrified shudder.

"A fish? Ewwww!" She drew out the last word on a squeal, making Willie laugh so hard he shook in her arms.

Nate climbed onto the bank and rushed forward, wrapping his arms around her legs. "Don't worry, Mama," he said bravely. "I won't let the fish get you."

Elizabeth chuckled, placing Willie on the ground and bending to give Nate a kiss on the cheek. "That's my boy."

"Daddy!" Ella called from the pool. "Come play with us!" She smiled at Elizabeth. "Are you going to swim, Mama?"

Elizabeth looked down at her skirt while her sons and Millie ran back into the water. Nathan nudged her gently. "You have plenty of clothes to change into once you get back to the house," he said, grinning at her. "The water feels really good in this heat. It would cool you off instantly."

That sealed her decision. She slipped off her shoes, then glanced around to make sure none of their neighbors were in sight. She quickly took off her skirt, thankful for the modest pantaloons she had donned that morning. Then she stepped into the water. It did indeed serve to cool her. Throwing caution to the wind, she sank into the depths, thankful that it was shallow enough for her to always have her feet touching the bottom if she so chose. Nathan wadded in as well, carefully holding Christine, swimming around the kids amid their shrieks of delight.

Elizabeth joined in a game of shark and minnows. Willie insisted on being the shark first. Though he was only two and a half, he swam as well as his older siblings. The next hour went by quickly. The kids were happy but tired as they made their way back to the house to change into dry clothes. All four children were put down for a nap, and Elizabeth and Nathan had some rare time to themselves. They were in the middle of their fifth game of backgammon when a loud peal of thunder shook the house. They stared at each other for a few moments before getting up to look out the window.

Angry clouds had blocked the sun. Though no rain fell, a flash of lightning pierced the sky, followed by another clang of thunder. The noise woke the children, frightened by the sound and the shaking of the house. The next half hour was spent calming their children and reassuring them that everything would be alright. As if to prove that wasn't the case, the front door burst open. A wild-eyed Jack ran into the house, skidding to a stop in front of his parents. He was breathing hard, having clearly run as fast as he could from the Coulter's house.

"Fire!" he gasped, panting for breath. "The town is on fire!"

Nathan sprang into action immediately. "Stay with your mother and siblings," he told Jack. Not waiting for an answer, he wrapped Elizabeth in a quick embrace. "I have to go help."

His wife nodded, her face pale. Nathan pressed his lips to hers before squeezing her hand and rushing from the house. He raced for the barn, leaping onto Newton bareback and urging his horse into a gallop. Thick, black smoke was curling up from the direction of town. Nathan's heart sank, but he continued on. As he raced around the cafe, he was brought up short by the sight before him.

The entirety of the main street seemed to be on fire. Angry red flames leapt in all directions. The searing heat nearly knocked Nathan off his horse. Newton pranced nervously, shying away from the blaze. Nathan dismounted, patting his horse. "It's alright, boy," he murmured. The words struck him as hollow as soon as he uttered them.

"Nathan!"

Bill's voice broke through his haze. He hurried toward his friend. "Bill! What happened?"

The judge's face was grim. "Multiple lightning strikes," he said. "One struck the saloon, another the NWMP office. A third hit The Valley Voice."

Nathan's heart stopped. "Allie!" he cried. Heedless of Bill calling him back, Nathan raced for the office where his daughter worked. The building was roaring with flames, the dry walls acting as tinder for the fire. Nathan could already see there was no hope of saving it. He rounded a corner, searching for his little girl, when he spotted her a little ways from the building. She was nestled in Cody's arms, dirty and streaked with soot but unharmed. Nathan felt weak with relief. He watched as Cody said something, and Allie's face lit with fear. She shook her head vehemently, but Cody nodded. Nathan could read the words "I have to go" on his lips. Tears slid down Allie's cheeks. She gripped Cody's face in her hands and pulled him to her. Their kiss was one that spoke of fear and desperation. Nathan backed up, simultaneously shocked by the passionate display from his daughter and rocked by the realization that she was terrified of losing Cody. He knew he should turn away to give them some privacy, but almost as quickly as it began, their kiss ended. Cody embraced her for a moment before releasing her and heading toward the flames. Allie stood with her arms around her body, her tears coming faster.

Nathan went to her. She caught sight of him and whimpered. "Dad!" Throwing herself into his arms, she sobbed. "It's too dangerous," she babbled. "What if something happens to him?"

He held her tightly, knowing there was nothing he could say that would allay her fears. "Cody is a good Mountie, Allie," he said, raising his voice to be heard above the roar of the flames. "We will need everyone to help put out this fire."

Allie looked up at him. "Even you?" Fear made her words tremble.

Nathan simply nodded. "I have to help," he said, repeating the words he'd told Elizabeth.

Allie composed herself before his very eyes. She straightened. "Then I'm helping too."

Nathan smiled at her bravery. "Let's go." They made their way back to Bill. A bucket brigade was starting. Allie dashed off to help them, and Bill and Nathan went to see how they could help. They hadn't gone far when a distraught Fiona met them. Her eyes were wild and full of fear.

"David is missing!" she cried, wringing her hands. "Lucas ran back into the saloon to find him!" Large tears rolled down her cheeks. "He's been in there for over five minutes. I'm afraid something happened to him." Sobs shook her. Bill wrapped an arm around her in wordless support.

Nathan stared at the large building, engulfed in flames. The saloon was already creaking and groaning. Before long, it would collapse. Jerking his handkerchief from his pocket, he raced to a water barrel and soaked the cloth. Taking a deep breath to fortify himself, he put it over his nose and mouth and ran into the saloon.

The heat blasted him. He gasped at the intensity. Praying that Lucas was close by with his son, he called out. "Lucas! David!"

"Help!"

A child's voice responded. Nathan rushed toward it. He had to go through much of the saloon. Already he could feel his skin blistering from the heat. The smoke was thick, causing him to cough even through his handkerchief. If he was choking after thirty seconds, he could only imagine what the smoke had done to Lucas and David.

He nearly stumbled over them moments later. Three-year-old David was wrapped in a wet blanket, only his eyes visible. Lucas lay collapsed on the floor beside him.

"Lucas!" Nathan exclaimed, bending beside him.

The other man glanced up at him, resignation on his face. "Don't worry about me," he wheezed. "Get David out of here!"

David was crying. "Daddy!" he shrieked, reaching for his father.

"Tell my family I love them," Lucas said, his words laced with sadness and desperation as he looked at Nathan.

Heart clenching, Nathan nodded. He never liked the idea of leaving someone behind, and if he could help it, Lucas would not die in this fire. Time was not on their side, but Nathan knew he had to try. He scooped David into his arms. The little boy fought him, screaming for his father, but Nathan easily kept a hold on him as he sprinted for the door. A small crowd had gathered outside. Nathan zeroed in on Fiona. He thrust David into her arms, then quickly unwrapped the blanket from the child. Fiona's eyes were trained on him. "Lucas?" she whispered.

"I'm going in for him," Nathan promised her. He took the blanket and ran for the water barrel, soaking it once more before running back into the burning building. By the time he reached Lucas, the man was unconscious. Nathan flung the blanket over him. He managed to lift Lucas and sling him over his shoulder.

The flames were getting more intense. As Nathan straightened and started for the door, a heavy beam crashed to the ground, followed by a second. He looked up, hearing the tremors from the roof. They didn't have much time. As fast as he could, he made his way to the door. Seconds after he passed through, the roof collapsed.

The collapse caused him to stumble, falling to his knees. Immediately he was surrounded by others, pulling him and Lucas away from the flames. Nathan coughed, the fresh air an assault on his lungs. He glanced up, seeing Fiona at Lucas's side, patting her husband's cheek and begging him to wake up.

"He needs medical attention immediately," Nathan rasped. "Where are Carson and Faith?"

"They took over the school," Bill replied. "They had the presence of mind to remove as many supplies as possible before the infirmary caught fire." He barked out orders for others to help him carry Lucas to the school. Nathan watched them go, then looked helplessly around. The fires raged, the blazing inferno not responding at all to the efforts of those throwing water on the flames. Someone beside him gripped his arm and helped him stand. Nathan turned to see Lee beside him, soot-streaked and weary.

"We're not going to win this fight," Lee said, looking as anguished as Nathan felt. "But we have to try."

Nathan nodded. "We have to try," he repeated. Drawing in a breath for the battle ahead, he followed Lee to the pond to carry water to the town.

The residents of Hope Valley fought the fire for an entire day and night. They managed to keep it contained to the town, but the flames were persistent. Only when the heavens opened on the second day with gushing rain did the fires finally die.

The town was a dismal sight to behold. Only the cafe, the mercantile, and the Office of the Judge were left standing. Everything else was a mess of burned-out tinder. Thankfully, none of the buildings away from Main Street were harmed, including the school. Carson and Faith were still set up inside, ministering to the many people who suffered from smoke inhalation and burns while fighting the fires.

They had watched Lucas carefully. He remained unconscious for nearly twelve hours before finally waking up. His voice was raspy and he had a nasty cough, but he was alive and expected to make a full recovery. Elizabeth had come into the school with food for the two doctors when Fiona gave a glad cry to see her husband awake. She had begun to cover his face with kisses, drawing as close to him as she could. Elizabeth knew the feeling of relief to know a loved one would pull through. She simply smiled and turned to Faith to give the couple a measure of privacy.

She and several other women had provided sustenance for those fighting the fires. Now that they were out, people milled around, talking in hushed voices and wearing worried looks. So many had lost their businesses and their livelihoods. There was a lot of worry among their friends and neighbors, and rightfully so. A lot had been taken from them.

But Hope Valley was nothing if not resilient. As Elizabeth walked down the street, horrified at the rampant destruction, she spotted Nathan, Lee, Bill, Joseph, Cody, Robert, and others gathered on the steps of Bill's office. A table had been moved onto the porch. The men were bent over something. They all looked up as Nathan gestured over the town, then pointed to something on the table. Elizabeth came closer, curious.

"...and then we can build the businesses separate from one another," Nathan said, once more pointing to a spot on the street. "Part of the reason the fire spread so quickly was that these buildings were all connected. If we make them all individual, hopefully we can prevent a tragedy like this again."

"It will also allow for more privacy," Lee said, admiration in his tone. "Brilliant plan, Nathan."

The men noticed Elizabeth. As one, they smiled and greeted her. She nodded in return and walked to Nathan's side.

"Your husband knows what he's doing, Elizabeth," Bill said, sounding as proud as a father. "He has a plan to rebuild Hope Valley. Lee plans to donate the lumber needed, and Nathan has promised to design the new buildings and contract labor to build them as quickly as possible."

"We'll get Hope Valley up again in no time," Joseph said, nodding sagely. "It will take a lot of work, but this town knows how to work together."

"Everyone will help," Cody put in. "We've faced hard times before. This will only make us stronger."

They were right. People came together to clear away the rubble. It took over three weeks to get the burned buildings cleared. During that time, Nathan met with individual business owners to get their input on the design and function for each new structure. He drew up blueprints and ordered materials from Lee.

Elizabeth watched her husband's dedication to rebuilding Hope Valley with something akin to awe. She knew he deeply loved this town, but his actions to help his friends rebuild was inspiring. She spent hours with him at the kitchen table at night, helping him with the plans and adding input when he asked for it.

Most of the businesses wanted to remain similar to their previous designs. The major changes came from two sources. The Shepherds asked that a hospital be built instead of an infirmary. "This town is getting bigger," Carson said, passion and purpose gleaming in his eyes. "If we have a hospital, we can purchase proper equipment to treat the residents of town ourselves. We won't have to send them to Union City anymore for life-saving treatment. People from surrounding towns can come here instead of traveling miles to get medical help." Everyone readily agreed that was a wonderful idea. The second change came from Lucas. When he met with Nathan, his eyes were alight with excitement.

"I don't want to run a saloon anymore," he said. "That always seemed slightly at odds with the way we used the building."

Nathan tilted his head as Elizabeth studied Lucas. He was positively brimming with enthusiasm. "What do you want it to be?" she asked.

Lucas grinned. "A community center," he replied. "An all-purpose community center and restaurant. The restaurant would be the major attraction, but I was thinking it could also serve as a place for people to gather and celebrate events, much like it's done in the past." His smile grew. "I'd also like to put up money to build a proper hotel next to the community center. Hope Valley keeps growing, and I think it's high time we had a hotel here in town."

Nathan leaned back, a matching grin on his face. "I think that's a brilliant idea, Lucas," he said. He stuck his hand out. "You have a deal."

Lucas shook it, and for the next several hours, the two men poured over plans for the new buildings. Elizabeth chuckled and left them to it, going to check on the children.

It took another nine months to completely rebuild the town. Everyone who could pitched in to help raise new structures and help neighbors get back on their feet. An incredibly generous donation had been made to cover the costs of starting over again. It was the talk of the town, with people wondering who could have given such a gift. The fact that it was anonymous only increased curiosity and speculation. Only Nathan and Elizabeth knew that William Thatcher was Hope Valley's benefactor.

When the last building had been completed, Lucas threw a celebration party at the new community center. He had christened it The Golden Phoenix. Nathan made the sign above the door, and Fiona had painted the carved phoenix beautifully in shades of gold skillfully interspersed with red and orange. Lucas chose the name to symbolize how Hope Valley literally rose from the ashes of tragedy to rebuild stronger and better.

Families flocked to the new home for town gatherings. Everyone brought food to share. The meal was delightful, the games fun, and the conversation joyful. After experiencing months of rebuilding, it was a relief to have their main street back again. It didn't look quite the same, but the familiar had been built into the new, making it feel like home.

Elizabeth snuggled against Nathan's side as she watched their children interact with others their age in games. "You did good, love," she murmured. "Your talent for carpentry literally made this town new."

Nathan chuckled. "I had a little help," he said, smiling down at her. "From every single person in town."

She smiled back. "Yes, but it was your vision that inspired them all. You and Lee worked harder than anyone to see this happen."

Nathan shrugged modestly. "It was no hardship. I love this town, as does Lee. It was the right thing to do."

Elizabeth reached up to kiss his cheek. "You went above and beyond, Nathan," she said. "Thank you for everything you've done. You are a hero."

Her husband's cheeks darkened, and he fumbled for words. Elizabeth smiled, knowing he was rattled but hoping her words sunk in. Nathan was saved from answering when Allie walked up with one-year-old Christine in her arms. The little girl reached for Nathan, and he took her happily.

Elizabeth simply watched him with their baby for a time, relishing the sight. He was making silly faces at Christine, making her laugh gleefully. Elizabeth was transported to the time he'd done the same for Jack when he was a baby. It was the first time she'd really noticed him as a man, even if she hadn't been ready to acknowledge the fact. Now, a decade later, he still managed to take her breath away in the simple act of playing with a child.

She smiled, heart full, feeling like the most fortunate woman alive.