For a moment, no one moved.

Except, of course, for Rosemary, who ran to Jack. She looked up at him on Sergeant and gave him her sweetest smile and a shrug.

"I'm back," she said, looking as apologetic as it was possible for Rosemary to look.

Jumping down from Sergeant, Jack stood stock still while Rosemary threw her arms around him. "I've missed you so much, Jack." She put her hands on his shoulders and held him at arm's length. "Look at you," she said. "You look more handsome than ever."

When Jack didn't answer right away, she said, "And aren't you going to tell me how I look?"

Jack struggled with a response. "Well, you look awfully... healthy. How did you find me, Rosie?" Jack said,

"I called Mountie Headquarters in Union City. They told me you'd been assigned to Coal Valley, and I just wanted to come see you."

"Well, they gave you the wrong information," Jack said, walking past her to tie Sergeant to the rail.

Rosemary frowned. "But... you're here," she said, looking extremely confused.

Elizabeth had recovered from the shock of the last few minutes, and now she was standing with her arm through Nathan's just watching the show unfold. She leaned over to him.

"That's Mountie Jack?" Elizabeth whispered.

Nathan nodded and spoke quietly. "I suppose now you can ask him what would be in his Mountie library," he said, raising an eyebrow and making her laugh.

As Jack started to walk toward Nathan, Rosemary stood firmly in his path. "You don't seem very happy to see me, Jack," she said with a much more pronounced pout.

Jack took her by the shoulders and moved her gently out of his way. "We need to talk about this later, Rosie. Right now I have business to attend to."

Rosemary gave him her best smile. "Good. We'll talk later. It's a date."

Jack scowled at her and then kept walking toward Nathan.

"Hello, Jack," Nathan said, putting his hand out.

"Good to see you again, Nathan," Jack said, taking off his heavy riding gloves and shaking Nathan's hand.

Elizabeth had stepped aside a little to let the two Mounties greet each other, but now Nathan reached his arm out and pulled her toward him. "Jack, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Thatcher, Coal Valley's schoolteacher." He turned to Elizabeth. "Constable Jack Thornton."

Seeing the protective arm Nathan had around Elizabeth, Jack raised his eyebrows and grinned back at Nathan. They were both remembering their conversation in Union City over dinner, when Nathan had said he wasn't very good with girls. Looking at Elizabeth and seeing not only how very pretty she was but also how she was looking at Nathan, Jack thought Constable Grant must have figured it out.

Nathan smiled back at him and shrugged a little sheepishly in answer.

Jack tipped his hat to Elizabeth. "Very nice to meet you, Miss Thatcher."

Elizabeth smiled and inclined her head toward him. "And you, Constable Thornton. Nathan has told me a little about meeting you in Union City. I'm glad to put a face to the name."

"I hope the face doesn't disappoint," Jack said, smiling back at her.

Elizabeth laughed and said, "No, not at all."

Nathan said, "What brings you here, Jack? Cape Fullerton not what you hoped? Changed your mind?" He raised his eyebrows.

Jack laughed. "Oh, no, it has more than met expectations. And I definitely made the right decision." He raised his eyebrows, looking at the two of them. "And it seems that you did as well."

Nathan looked at Elizabeth and her smile back at him told Jack Thornton everything he needed to know. Nathan Grant had found love in Coal Valley, and Jack was very glad for him.

"I'm looking for..." Suddenly Jack stopped and looked back at Elizabeth. "Wait. Did you say, Thatcher? You wouldn't happen to be related to the shipping tycoon, William Thatcher?"

Elizabeth looked surprised, but she nodded. "Yes, he's my father."

Both Nathan and Elizabeth watched as Jack frowned, thinking. He was putting all the puzzle pieces together.

"The man I'm after, Billy Baxter, worked for your father in Cape Fullerton, Miss Thatcher, and I caught him stealing from the crates on the dock." He turned to Nathan, "And I was told that Mr. Thatcher is one of the NWMP's most... influential of supporters..."

Nathan laughed and nodded, pulling Elizabeth a little closer. "Yes, we know. He's the reason a Mountie was posted here." He looked at Elizabeth and raised his eyebrows, wanting to be sure she didn't mind if he shared the information.

Elizabeth laughed softly and turned to Jack. "And I am the reason for the posting..." she said. "My father believed I needed protecting." She looked up at Nathan again. "And considering Nathan has saved my life more than once already, I'm afraid my father may have had a point."

"So you think this Billy Baxter is here in Coal Valley?" Nathan said.

"Yes," Jack said, "I believe he came in today with a wagonload of miners from Buxton headed to the Pacific Northwest Mining Company."

"Did you say his name was Billy?" Elizabeth said.

"Yes, Billy Baxter," Jack said.

"I met a miner who came in on the wagon from Buxton. But he said his name was Billy Hamilton."

Jack laughed and shook his head. "Of course. And did it get your attention because you originally came from Hamilton?"

Elizabeth frowned and her mouth opened slightly. "So... he knew when he met me who my father was? The man he had just stolen from?" She looked slightly horrified. "How can people do things like that?"

Jack exhaled. "You'd be surprised, Miss Thatcher."

"Please," she said, "Call me Elizabeth."

Jack nodded. "And I'm Jack."

Nathan looked over at Rosemary, who was happily humming to herself and stroking Sergeant's long nose. She had been watching the entire conversation while leaning rather jauntily against the tie rail.

Jack turned around and followed his sightline, and then looked back to them. "Must say that was a surprise. I thought she was still in New York."

Elizabeth smiled at him and then looked back at Rosemary. "She's quite something."

Jack laughed. "You don't know the half of it."

Elizabeth laughed too, "Somehow I think it might be a very interesting story." She thought for a moment. "I expect you'll be spending the night here in Coal Valley?"

Jack nodded. "I need to get Baxter into your jail, if you don't mind," he said, looking at Nathan, "And then I'll have him taken back to Cape Fullerton for trial. So I'll need to call Benson Hills for a wagon and a couple of guards. And since they won't be here until the morning, I suppose I will need to depend upon the hospitality of Coal Valley for the night."

"You can't call Benson Hills," Nathan said. "No telephone in Coal Valley. But we do have a telegraph."

Jack grinned back at him and laughed. "Oh, I definitely made the right decision."

Elizabeth said, "Will you join us for supper, Jack? You and... Rosemary?"

Jack sighed. "I would be grateful, Elizabeth." He looked at Rosemary and she blessed him with a beatific smile. He turned back and said, "And I will admit that Rosemary and I need to talk."

"Good," Elizabeth said. "We have a very dear friend who is such an incredible cook that she's planning on opening a café here in town. I happen to know that she has a huge pot of beef stew simmering, and that she's looking for people to try it for her. Does that and fresh-baked bread sound good?"

Jack grinned at her. "Better than good."

Then Jack looked at Nathan and raised an eyebrow. "Ready to go nab us a thief, Grant?"

Nathan nodded and pointed to his office. "Uniform's right in there. I'll get changed."

Jack looked back at Rosemary and she tilted her head at him. "I'll be bunking in at the jail with my prisoner, but I suppose Miss LeVeaux will need a room for the night."

Nathan nodded toward the end of the street. "Rooms above the saloon, over there."

"I'll meet you at the Mountie office once I get her settled," Jack said to Nathan. Then he tipped his hat again to Elizabeth and walked over to Rosemary.

"And I'll talk to Abigail about supper," Elizabeth said, looking up at Nathan.

"Six-thirty should be fine," he said, smiling. "If Billy Hamilton is Billy Baxter, I don't think he's up for much of a fight. He couldn't even look me in the eye out there at the site."

Elizabeth leaned up and kissed his cheek. "He wasn't quite tall enough to look you in the eye," she said laughing softly. "Be careful, please."

Nathan's eyes went soft and very blue as he tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. "I have every reason in the world to be careful."

He looked around and saw no one coming down the boardwalk, so Nathan quickly leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was always hard for him to pull away, but he forced himself to, with a sigh. His arms went around her and he said, "It looks like I'm not getting that kiss in the library I was hoping for..."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Except we both know you're a quick-change artist with your red serge... and Rosemary will need to get checked into her room, and get settled..." With a slightly teasing look, she took Nathan's hand and led him to the door of the Library, where she turned. "Constable, I believe I need some assistance adjusting a shelf..."

Nathan grinned. "At your service, Miss..."

Jack Thornton turned the corner toward the saloon and looked back. He watched, smiling, as Elizabeth led Nathan through the door. Both of them were laughing.

Yep. Nathan Grant has definitely figured out how to talk to girls. At least, one girl in particular.

Billy Baxter reached into his pocket and counted the change he'd just won in a game of dice against some of the other miners. Though no one had caught him cheating, he frowned at his meager winnings. Nothing like his usual take at the shipyard where the pay was better.

Exhaling, Billy looked out at the sun lowering in the sky. He needed to think about how to change his plans. Miss Thatcher had clearly already given her heart, and though Billy knew he could stack his charm up against any man, he didn't particularly want that man to be a Mountie who was a good deal taller than he was.

But perhaps this trip wasn't completely wasted. Miss Thatcher probably had a whole treasure chest of expensive jewelry, and none of the doors in Coal Valley seemed very sturdy. All he had to do was find out where she lived...

"Billy Baxter?" Came a voice from his left, and before he thought better of it, he turned.

To his great surprise, it was Constable Jack Thornton, the Mountie he thought he'd finally given the slip to in Cape Fullerton. Billy turned to his right, meaning to run, only to see the other Mountie, the tall one that Miss Thatcher had kissed. He turned to look behind him and saw the wall of rock that rose up behind the miner's housing. The way out was forward, but both men in red serge had their hands on their holsters and were beginning to move toward the only place he could run.

Billy sighed and put his hands up.

"Billy Baxter, I am arresting you under the authority of the North West Mounted Police for the crimes of theft, the illegal sale of stolen goods, and for being a fugitive of justice." Jack moved closer, as did Nathan, until they were on either side of him. Jack pulled out his handcuffs and put them on Billy's wrists.

Billy wore his most innocent look. "I'm just a hard-working man trying to make an honest living digging coal, Constable. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jack laughed. "Tell it to the Judge, Baxter. For now, we'd like to invite you to spend the night in the Coal Valley jail."

"Tell us again!" Rosemary said, sipping on her lemonade and taking another bite of beef stew.

Jack laughed. "Rosie, as arrests go, this one was very tame."

Rosemary looked at Abigail across the table. "He's so modest, really. He's out there risking his life for all of us every day. I'm so very proud of him," she said, squeezing his arm next to her. "And this delicious stew rivals anything I've had in restaurants in New York, Abigail. Absolutely impeccably seasoned!"

Abigail's beef stew was, of course, the best any of them had ever tasted. Allie had even asked for seconds and was currently mopping up the delicious remains with a crust of sourdough bread.

Rosemary leaned over to Elizabeth. "She's adorable," she said, gazing at Allie. "My first love has always been the theatre, and of course, raising children doesn't really mix with traipsing around the country starring in plays. But now that I feel ready to settle down..." She looked at Jack and smiled.

Elizabeth said softly, "And you're willing to give up the theatre for Jack?"

Rosemary nodded. "It turns out a life in the theatre is quite empty without him." She turned to Elizabeth and laughed softly, "I'm as surprised as anyone by that fact. And I'm certain there must be a theatre in Cape Fullerton where I can keep my skills honed. Until we're married and have children..." Another one of Rosemary's brilliant smiles lit her face.

Elizabeth smiled back at her. "Has Jack ever told you that if Mounties wanted their men to have a wife, they would have..."

"...issued them one?" Rosemary said, laughing. "Oh, yes. And one of the girls I met who actually married one said that they tend to say that when they are most afraid they're going to break that little rule. So if you've heard it from Nathan, you might as well start looking for a wedding dress, Elizabeth."

Laughing, Elizabeth said, "He has shared that with me, but he doesn't seem to put much stock in it. Nathan says they can regulate his days, but they can't make rules for his heart."

Rosemary nodded. "He's a keeper, that Nathan. Don't you let him go."

"I don't plan to," Elizabeth said, looking across the table as Nathan helped Allie with her spoon. Then she looked back at Rosemary. "And I wish you good luck with Jack," she said softly.

Rosemary raised her eyebrows high on her forehead. "Oh, the Mounties aren't the only ones who always get their man," she said, making Elizabeth giggle.

Elizabeth smiled at her with genuine affection. "I wish you were staying in Coal Valley, Rosemary. I think you and I could be good friends."

Rosemary took Elizabeth's hand in hers. "We already are. I'll write to you. And you and Nathan can come visit us in Cape Fullerton. We'll go see a play!"

Frowning a little, Elizabeth said, "So, has Jack asked you to come back to Cape Fullerton with him?"

"Not yet, but he will." Rosemary gazed over at Jack who was deep in conversation with Abigail and Nathan about a recent arrest he'd made. "We've known each other forever, just about. Our fathers were Mounties together. Although Jack didn't always want to be a Mountie. He wanted to be a painter."

"Your father was a Mountie? How was that, growing up?" Elizabeth was already wondering what it would be like to raise children with Nathan, and she was genuinely curious.

Rosemary raised an eyebrow. "Well, it turned me into an actress," she said dramatically. At Elizabeth's unspoken question, Rosemary said, "He was home so seldom that when he was, I wanted to make an impression. So I would write little plays and make costumes, and perform them each time he came back home. I thought he would remember me better when he left..."

"Oh, Rosemary..." Elizabeth said, squeezing her arm. "Though I must admit, I remember feeling the same about my father. But it wasn't the Mounties that took him away from us, it was business."

Rosemary looked at her warmly. "Let's not lose touch, Elizabeth." She turned to her with determination in her eyes and put out her hand. "Let's make a promise that we'll write to each other at least once a month."

Elizabeth smiled and shook her hand. "Deal," she said.

They'd stayed much later than Jack expected to, and he needed to get back to the jail to relieve Herbert Ansvil, who had volunteered to keep an eye on Baxter while they had supper. Jack had met Ansvil in the saloon and Herbert had expressed his regret that the mining company hadn't done due diligence before hiring Billy.

Rosemary had her arm possessively around Jack's as they walked. She took a deep breath and said, "Just as it used to be."

Jack looked over at her. "Rosemary, you can't expect that after two years, things would stay exactly the same."

She waved her hand in the air expressively. "Two years, two hours, two minutes... it's just time," she said, looking over at him.

Jack sighed, remembering the pain he'd had to get through when she'd given him back his grandmother's ring. "It's a lifetime."

"Certainly, some living has happened since then," Rosemary said softly, "But my feelings haven't changed. And if yours have, well, then, I'm just going to have to do whatever it takes to win them back."

Jack laughed and shook his head. "You are so persistent."

Rosemary nodded, and spoke seriously to him. "I know things didn't end well between us, but they will this time. We have a future together, Jack. It's going to be exciting and unpredictable, and perfect. Just like we always dreamed."

Jack stopped walking and looked at her. "I'm planning to put in for a transfer to the Northern Territories, Rosie."

She frowned for a moment but then caught her breath. "But you haven't done it yet?"

"No, not yet," he said.

Rosemary raised her chin and smiled. "Well, until you do, I think Cape Fullerton sounds like a lovely place to live." She gazed at him and tilted her head. "I still love you, Jack. I always will. And you should know better than anyone that once I set my sights on something, I always get it."

Jack sighed and moved his hand up to her face. "You broke my heart, Rosie."

Rosemary put her hand over his. "I know. And I've regretted it every day since. It was a mistake, but I intend to make it right."

The moon was nearly full and the main street of town was empty except for a few straggling miners making their way home from the saloon. Rosemary looked at Jack and he felt all the memories flooding back. He'd loved her for as long as he could remember, and though he'd fallen back on believing that the Mountie life didn't include wives, he knew now that he'd missed Rosemary deeply.

She knew him so well that she could almost see his thoughts. "If you were entirely committed to a single life in the Northern Territories, would you be so easily sidetracked by my presence?"

Jack curled a lock of her hair around his finger and smiled. "Rosie, your presence could sidetrack an army."

She laughed and moved closer. "I've missed you so much, Jack." She leaned up and very tenderly touched her lips to his. Almost against his will, Jack found himself encircling her with his arms, and as he fell into her kiss, he allowed himself to remember. For the first time in two years, he let himself feel how much she'd meant to him.

When he finally moved his lips to her cheek, they were both breathless. Jack held her tightly and whispered into her soft curls. "I've missed you too, Rosie."

She pulled away and smiled at him. "I think I'm going to like Cape Fullerton," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Jack laughed, shaking his head. "You're impossible, you know that?" He kissed her quickly again before beginning to walk her to her room. "And I think you'll like Cape Fullerton, too."