Chapter 1

Abigail Stanton smiled softly to herself as she watched Elizabeth Thornton take the last box out of the trunk of the car, thankful for the opportunity to be spending time together with her and Little Jack yet saddened by the circumstances. This young woman who she loved dearly had come into her life when she needed it the most. She gave her someone to care for who, bit by bit, took away the loneliness of the nightmare she had been living since the mine explosion had killed Noah and Peter. What followed were five years of optimism and joy as she found her new family…Elizabeth, Jack, Clara, Becky, Cody. Her life had gained purpose once more and slowly she learned to look forward rather than backwards, appreciating this second chance to give and receive love.

And then all too soon the pain was there again, only this time she was the one who was doing the comforting. When Jack Thornton died it was like a part of each of them had been brutally ripped away, their own suffering magnified by watching the pain Elizabeth was living and breathing, the memories of their own loss vivid in their minds once more. Then the arrival of Little Jack changed everything again, giving them all a renewed hope and starting the process of healing. But Abigail knew that the hole in Elizabeth's heart was still there, gaping wide at times no matter how hard she tried to hide it, and it broke her own heart again to see how much this cruel twist of fate had changed her friend.

Would she ever recover? Could a certain tall handsome Mountie be the answer or would she keep that defensive wall in place, not willing to risk being hurt again. It was clear to anyone who saw them together that they shared something special. Perhaps it was the pain each of them had experienced from a great loss in their life. Or the common ground of being a single parent having to deal alone with everything life threw at them. But Abigail knew there was more than that. It was as though they were the missing part of each other, fitting together in a way that came so easily that they didn't even realise. Yet there was something holding both of them back and Abigail thought she knew exactly what that was with Elizabeth.

Then there was Lucas Bouchard, a man with the charm to seduce a vulnerable young widow for his own gain and he was certainly working hard to do just that. Abigail could feel the contempt she held for this man start to rise within her and quickly tried to quash the feeling. Some people do change when they find love but she doubted that was the case with the saloon owner. She remembered how much Elizabeth had disliked the man when he arrived and yet for some reason she had let him into her life. Now all Abigail could do was pray that she wouldn't do the foolish thing and choose to pursue a relationship with him, thinking that without any emotional connection she would be able to protect herself and her son from ever experiencing the same kind of hurt again.

There would be time to talk over the next few days before Elizabeth headed back to Hope Valley and the decision Abigail knew she needed to encourage her to make. It was unfair to keep those two men hanging on any longer. Nathan Grant was a good man, very much in the same mould as Jack, and one who deserved not only happiness but also honesty, however much the words may not be what he wanted to hear. And while Abigail still felt a strong dislike for everything the gambler represented, someone who had come into her town and thought he could do whatever he wanted, she could at least acknowledge that even he needed to know where he stood.

But for now she was content to just be there to support Elizabeth in any way she could, which was why she had decided to go back to Hope Valley with her for Christmas. Since her mother had passed away she had been at something of a loose end, unsure of where to settle, not really knowing where she belonged anymore. With Becky in England and Cody still finishing his Mountie training she had nothing to tie her to the house she had inherited, no family left in that area and only memories that would continue fading with the passage of time. So when Lilian and Grace had sent out a cry for help she had quickly responded.

A fire at a farmhouse in a small town close to Brookfield had left a desperate situation. Seven children had been rescued by a group of men who had luckily been passing as they headed out in the early hours to start their long work day, the flames already reaching the top floor of the old wooden building by the time they got there. With the intensity of the heat pushing them back and smoke making visibility difficult there were some terrifying moments as they bravely raced into the building, heading for the cries they could hear through flames and making their way outside with their precious cargo wherever it was possible. As they tried to determine if everyone had made it out the farmer's wife, Annie Scott, thinking that her five year old daughter was still trapped inside had dashed back into the flames, her husband Martin close behind her. The rumble of the crashing beams came so quickly it was too late to stop them and they perished together, frantically searching for the little one who unbeknownst to them had already been saved.

In a small community of mostly poor farmers the people did what they could to look after the children before finally admitting that this was more than they could manage. The alternative of a government run orphanage was something neither Lilian nor Grace, upon hearing about the tragedy, was willing to let happen and so it was a sorry little group who arrived on their doorstep a week ago, bringing with them little more than the clothes they were wearing and with eyes that told the story of fear and sadness.

The people of Brookfield rallied around them and very quickly most of their immediate needs were met. When Abigail arrived to help she was overwhelmed by just how much had already been done, even though these were hard times for nearly everyone. Sleeping accommodation had been rearranged with a bed or cot added for each child, although they expected that in the darkness of the small hours comfort would be found by snuggling together no matter how small the bed. Clothes were shared from what they already had at the orphanage and those handed in as family after family arrived at the door with whatever they could spare. Sewing machines could be heard in houses throughout the town as more bedding was quickly made and at night by the side of many a wood fire knitting needles were moving swiftly to produce the warm articles that would be needed over the cold winter months ahead.

But with Christmas upon them the women also knew that they couldn't ask for any more from these kind souls who had already given a lot and so it was Abigail's suggestion that they reach out to their friends in Hope Valley. It took just one telephone call to Elizabeth and everyone there sprang into action. Florence and Ned undertook the collection of food donations, much needed with the extra mouths that would be gathered around the table at mealtimes, at least until Grace could enlarge the vegetable garden in the spring and they could manage a lot more themselves. Minnie's café was where the homemade goods were handed in, seemingly little things but so very important if they could put a smile on the children's faces if only for a moment. Every mother knew how the sight of candy canes on the Christmas tree or a gingerbread man tucked under their pillow on Christmas morning could bring joy even when there was so much sadness and so they used some of the goods they had been carefully saving to bake for their own family knowing that none of them would begrudge sharing with these children.

One request from Elizabeth to her class and parents were there the next day with clothes and shoes, their own children blessed to be getting new in the parcels that were already wrapped ready to be placed under the Christmas tree. And it was these children, their kind hearts something Elizabeth always marvelled at, who brought in toys and books of their own as they wanted to give to others less fortunate than themselves. Putting aside the lessons she had planned for that week the next few days were filled instead with card making, wrapping and the writing of notes to be given from one child to another. Everything they did was being given with love.

Lee Coulter sent some of his men with wagon loads of wood offcuts for the fires that would be needed to keep the orphanage warm over the coming months, with instructions that they were to carry out any repairs that may be needed so that Lilian and Grace had at least a few less things to worry about. He felt guilty as he watched them head out of the lumber yard wondering why he hadn't done this before, not just for the orphans but for the many other people struggling around them and made a promise to himself there and then that this would now be something they did every year.

Lucas Bouchard offered money, something that seemed lazy and easy to many including Elizabeth, but it could not be refused as it would help with so many of the extra costs that could not be provided otherwise. Surprisingly Nathan had not come forward with an offer to help with anything and Elizabeth didn't like to ask Allie, their relationship having been a bit strained of late. His absence from the school had not gone unnoticed by her but now she wondered if perhaps the thought of orphaned children brought back too many memories of when his sister died leaving behind a scared little girl with only himself, a young man just starting his career as a Mountie, standing between her and a possible life spent in an orphanage. Or was he simply avoiding her as he had done so often since she returned from her trip to Union City?

It was only when Bill offered to accompany her and Little Jack across to Brookfield that she learnt that Nathan had gone there already, responding to a request from Gabe Kinslow for help with the investigation into the fire at the Scott farm. There had been rumours of a new criminal enterprise operating in that area and some local farmers reported items missing from their barns, so they were not accepting this as an accident without checking thoroughly.

Now that the car had been emptied they made their way inside to the warmth of the kitchen, Mrs Winters bustling about making tea and setting out cake for them. The orphanage had been decorated with paper strings and decorations made by the children, the scent of clove and orange in the air and the candles on the tree already lit as the little ones were gathered around, Little Jack's blonde head there in the middle as his eyes were transfixed on Lillian who was reading the Christmas Story.

Abigail knew that these coming days were important if she was to help Elizabeth. Don't make the same mistake I did, she thought. I let a chance for true happiness go because I thought I saw something that wasn't there. By the time she understood that Bill Avery was never going to be Noah, that he didn't need to be, it was too late. They were different men, each with their own character and strengths, both doing jobs that brought potential danger. But it had taken her some time and much reflection to realise that she had been looking for an excuse to hide her fear that loving him would somehow be disrespecting Noah and the possibility of her heart being broken again if something terrible happened. The discovery of the existence of his wife Nora had provided just that. If only she had listened properly when he tried to explain. So perhaps if something good could come of this tragedy it would be to spend time with Elizabeth and help her understand that Jack wouldn't want her to live her life in fear of losing again. That she needed to follow her heart just as he had written in his letter.

Out at the Scott farm Nathan and Gabe were sifting through the ashes in the hope that they would find something to indicate just what started the fire that had blazed so fiercely in such a short time. The sound of a horse approaching made them look up and Nathan was pleased to see Bill and Hero appear along the road. "Now you will see a maestro at work," he said to Gabe, as they both stood and walked towards the gate. "If anyone can find a clue in amongst this then the man who was once the leading forensic investigator for the NWCMP is that person. I'm sure he has not lost any of those skills."

Bill dismounted, holding out his hand to greet both men before turning to look at the ruins of what had once been a home filled with love and laughter. How quickly things can change, he thought. Glancing sideways he was glad to see the dark circles less evident under Nathan's eyes. Perhaps this was what he needed, an investigation to get involved with and take his mind off Elizabeth and the way she had been treating him of late. He would wait a while before telling him that she and Little Jack were also in Brookfield, let him have another night focused on what was going on here before those thoughts were let back in.