"And why would I agree to that?"

Henry Gowen's eyes were narrowed as far as they would go as he leaned back in his chair and eyed the new Constable. Henry thought the man was either brilliant or insane, and right now he was trying to decide which one it was. Nathan kept eye contact with Gowen while he worked it through.

Nathan wasn't a card player, but he had studied plenty of people who were. There was a moment when players decided to go all in. When they made the determination that they had the winning hand, and at that point, there was nothing that would sway them. Nathan wanted to get Henry Gowen to that place - to the place where Gowen was certain he had four aces and Nathan only had three of a kind.

Nathan leaned forward in the chair with his elbows on his knees. "Your company is growing, and you said it yourself, the mine is the life-blood of this town. You've had a little setback, but you know you need to look to the future, Henry." Nathan had, without prompting, started calling Gowen by his first name. He figured if they were going to be negotiating, it might be better for them to speak to each other on level ground.

"How many new shafts are you planning on opening up in the next few years?" Nathan said. "You're a smart businessman. If you think ahead, you know you'll need more men to do that, and the row houses are starting to show their age. This way you have room to grow and all your men will be in the same place. They'll be closer to the mine, so not as much travel time to work."

Henry Gowen had always believed that he was successful in business because he was suspicious. When a deal looked too good to be true, he figured it probably was. His lip curled a little. "And where in the world did you find someone with enough money to donate all this? There's got to be a catch."

Nathan raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "No catch. Just someone who doesn't like the idea of twelve widows being put out of their homes."

Nathan had promised himself before he'd walked into the office that he wouldn't let his contempt for Henry Gowen show. He tried to remember Abigail and Cat and Carla every time he felt like losing his temper. And he knew that, much as he disliked being disingenuous, the way to Henry Gowen's heart was flattery.

"So what we're proposing is that the town supports you in continuing to be a valued part of this community. They want to help you grow so that the town can grow. Everyone wins."

Gowen frowned. "In exchange for what, Constable?"

"Twelve row houses," Nathan said. "And you get all the credit for being generous without having to put out a penny. No one has to know about this but us."

Henry leaned back in his chair and thought for a long moment. Nathan stayed quiet, giving him the time and the space he needed to decide. Finally, Gowen took a deep breath.

"We use my lawyer to draw up the paperwork," Henry said.

And with that, Henry Gowen was all in, certain he had the four aces.

Smiling, Nathan said, "And my lawyer to double-check it."

Nathan smiled and leaned back. The battle was won. Gowen had agreed, and now they were just haggling over details.

When Nathan left Gowen's office, he looked at his watch. School was in session, but recess would be coming up soon. He had just scored a victory, and the only person he wanted to tell was Elizabeth.

Is this what love is? Nathan was asking himself that a lot these days. He'd read in books that it was wanting that person to be the first person you see in the morning and the last at night. That whether you had a good day or a bad day, they were the one you wanted to talk to about it. That their cares were your cares, their joy your joy. And as he walked along the boardwalk toward the saloon, Nathan knew that all those things were true for him with Elizabeth.

Nathan had always been the type of man who needed to be convinced of things. His mother had said that when he was a child, he'd even questioned that the sun came up each day until he'd watched it happen enough times to believe it. And that very important question: how many times was enough until he believed something? His answer was always that he'd know it when he saw it.

He walked past the saloon, and of course the door was closed. As he headed toward his office to wait until he saw the children playing ball in the street, he passed by the window and he slowed, looking in. She was there at the blackboard, writing something in Latin, he thought. Nathan's curiosity got the better of him, and he stopped and squinted to read it. Sol omnibus lucet.

Nathan smiled. His Latin from school was rusty, but this one he knew. The sun shines for everyone. And suddenly, the students were getting up from their chairs and heading toward the door. And all he could think was, Elizabeth is such a good teacher. That phrase will stick in their heads because they're going right out into the sunshine.

Gabe and James came flying out of the door and around the corner so fast that they almost ran right into him. "Sorry, Constable Grant!" they said in unison, though the apology didn't slow them down much. Finally, Nathan put his back against the wall and waited, laughing, until the unbridled energy of a number of cooped-up students flew past him.

When he got to the door, he peered around the corner just in case there were any stragglers. Elizabeth was erasing the blackboard and hadn't heard him come in, so he stood at the back of the room and watched her for a moment.

She was moving the white cloth in perfect circles, each one just an inch or so to the left of the one before. He watched as the word lucet disappeared, then omnibus, then Sol, but still he couldn't seem to announce his presence. There was something quietly intimate about watching someone when they didn't know, as if he had come upon her while she was sleeping. Her grace, and the strength and softness he knew was in her, was all on display as he stood, breathing in how beautiful she was.

He realized that on some level, he was also daring her to know that he was there. To feel the energy that coursed through him when he was near her. And just as that thought made him smile, she turned.

Elizabeth didn't gasp or jump at the sight of him; it was as if she had turned because she knew he was standing there. And another box in his mind was ticked, another moment that reminded him of the extraordinary connection they had to each other.

She put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. "You're lurking," she said, a smile pulling up the corner of her mouth.

"I'm watching," he said softly, beginning to walk toward her. "There's a difference."

"Really?" Elizabeth said, wiping the chalk dust off of her hands and putting down the cloth.

"Yes," Nathan said, nodding seriously and taking off his hat. "Lurking usually has some evil intent attached. Watching is done for observation and study."

Elizabeth looked around to be certain there were no students left in the classroom. Nathan was nearly up to her desk now, and the look in his eyes told her that although he didn't have evil intentions, he might have intentions of another kind.

She thought she would head him off at the pass. "You can't kiss me in my classroom, Nathan," she whispered.

Nathan's eyebrows shot up as he smiled. "And what made you think I meant to kiss you?"

Elizabeth laughed. "I know that look."

"You're on to me," he said softly, reaching out and taking her hand.

"You're not hard to read," she said, laughing. Then she remembered. "Oh! Your meeting with Henry Gowen! How did it go?"

Nathan looked down at his boot, his face serious. He didn't answer for a moment and Elizabeth sighed, frowning. "It's okay, we'll find another way..."

When he looked up at her, his eyes were dancing. "He said yes."

Elizabeth completely forgot that she was in her classroom. The sudden knowledge that Abigail would get to stay in her row house, that Cat and her children wouldn't have to move, that Henry Gowen had budged on something, anything – filled her with such joy that she threw her arms around Nathan's neck and hugged him. "That's wonderful!" she said, laughing.

Nathan laughed too, putting his arms around her waist.

He did want to kiss her. Looking around, he took her hand and led her behind the large blackboard.

"Nathan," she said, laughing, "We can't..." but his lips were on hers and she suddenly forgot why they couldn't. They were completely hidden, and there were still ten minutes of recess... and...

"Miss Thatcher?"

Elizabeth peered around the blackboard while Nathan moved further into the shadows under the stairs.

"Albert," Elizabeth said, coming around to find one of her students standing at the door. She straightened her hair and walked down the middle aisle between the tables. "What is it, Albert? Don't you want to play with the other children? Is there anything wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, it's just that I've got a little something for you."

He opened up a small jewelry box and held it out in front of her.

"Oh, good heavens," Elizabeth said, looking at the necklace that was inside the box. It was worked in gold with onyx stones, and looked like something her mother would wear.

"Don't you like it?" Albert said, frowning.

"It's beautiful," Elizabeth said, "And far too expensive. Albert, I'm so sorry, but I can't accept this."

His face fell. "Why not?"

Elizabeth smiled at him. "Because it's too much. Where did you get this?"

Albert looked down, wishing that she liked it more. "I found it when I was fishing in the creek. I snagged it."

Shaking her head, Elizabeth said, "I can't imagine who could be so careless, to drop this in the creek."

Albert took a deep breath. "I think it might have been Mr. Spurlock. He told me if I found it, he'd trade me a penknife for it. I guess he saw me watching him over by the creek. He told me how the necklace fell out of his pocket and he lost it. I guess I should have given it to him, but I already have a penknife and it's just so pretty... and you're so pretty..." Albert trailed off, self-consciously.

Elizabeth knew she needed to let him down gently. "I appreciate your generosity, I really do. But I'm sure Mr. Spurlock misses this very much. Why don't I return it to him and set his mind at ease."

Albert sighed. "It's just that, I knew you used to be rich. So when I found it, I thought you'd appreciate it."

Elizabeth tilted her head and looked affectionately at him. "May I let you in on a little secret, Albert? Girls don't care if the gift is fancy, even girls who used to be rich. What we care about are gifts that come from the heart." Elizabeth walked back to her desk. She'd found a carved bird there first thing in the morning, and she'd seen Albert near her desk as she'd come in. She picked it up now and said, "Like this one."

Albert grinned as his eyes went wide. "I made that!" he said.

"So, you clearly don't need my advice. You already know how to give gifts from the heart. And you're going to make some young lady very happy someday. Just like this bird made me." Elizabeth leaned down and kissed Albert lightly on the head. He looked up at her in a bit of a daze and then slowly turned and went out the door.

When he was gone, Nathan came from around the blackboard. He went straight to Elizabeth's desk and picked up the box with the necklace. He looked over at Elizabeth and smiled softly. "I seem to have some competition," he said.

"He's a sweet boy," Elizabeth said.

Nathan frowned, looking at the necklace. "What is Charles Spurlock doing with something as expensive as this? And why? Have you heard anything about him and a woman in town?"

"Heavens, no," Elizabeth said. "The way he scowls around Coal Valley, joined at the hip with Henry Gowen, I can't think of a woman who would have him."

Nathan held up the necklace again. "Do you mind if I return this to Spurlock? There's something not right here."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't want him angry with Albert. Can you keep it a secret about where you got it?"

Nathan smiled. "More secrets," he said, raising an eyebrow. He put the box in his pouch and took Elizabeth's hand. "I'm taking Allie out for a ride this afternoon. Want to come?"

"Yes!" Elizabeth said. Then she narrowed her eyes a little. "Can we stay away from Henry Gowen's car? I can't always expect you to catch me," she said, keeping an eye on the door in case some of the children started coming back into the schoolroom.

Nathan squeezed her hand. "We'll go around the back and ride through the meadow by the pond. No roads this time."

"You think we can get Sarah again?" Elizabeth asked.

Grinning, Nathan said, "Don't see why not. You seem pretty partial to her."

"I am," Elizabeth said. "We like each other."

Nathan laughed softly. "Careful with that. Horses may not talk much, but they can still work their way into your heart."

Elizabeth laughed too. "Sounds familiar," she said.

Just as he was moving closer, Emily, Rachel and Allie came back into the schoolroom, and Elizabeth moved to put some space between them. "Recess is over, Constable."

"Sol omnibus lucet," he said softly, with nearly perfect pronunciation.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in admiration. "Why, Constable. That tells me two things. One, you were spying through the window. And two, you paid attention in school."

Nathan laughed. "Guilty on both counts," he said. "I just wanted to let you know I'm very much looking forward to spending some time in the sunshine with you."

He started backing down the aisle toward the door. "Meet you at three at the livery?"

Elizabeth nodded, smiling. She watched as he touched Allie's shoulder and when she turned, he made a face, causing her to laugh along with Emily and Rachel.

At the door, Nathan stood and put his hat smartly on his head. He smiled softly and nodded.

Elizabeth sighed, and then watched out the window, waiting for him to pass by. When he did, he smiled again and tipped his hat to her.

As he was walking to his office, Nathan could hear Elizabeth's words in his head. Girls don't care if the gift is fancy, even girls who used to be rich. What we care about are gifts that come from the heart.

It happened that Nathan was working on a gift for Elizabeth. He had put off giving it to her because he worried that it was too simple. As he hung his hat on the peg in his office, he smiled. I should know better, he thought.

Nathan went to his bookshelf. On the ranch, he'd spent many long days helping Charlie to build the housing for the hands out by the far paddocks. He reached up and found what he was looking for: The Handyman's Book of Tools, Processes and Materials for Building Houses.

Tomorrow, he would ride to Murraysville, and with any luck, the next day what he needed to get started on building twelve small homes would arrive in Coal Valley by wagon. He would enlist the help of Abigail and Cat to talk to the women about pies and casseroles, and Florence Blakeley would manage bringing the town together for a meeting so that he and Elizabeth could explain what they were doing and why.

Nathan sat at his desk and laughed softly. Coal Valley and its people had found its way into his heart and his blood.

Had he ever lived anywhere else?