Luke and Josephine rushed home and ran inside the cabin, slowing only to wipe their feet and shut the door as they'd been trained to do.

"'Bout time you kids got here! Supper's almost ready. Go wash up," Lydia said, seemingly oblivious to anything going on. Their mother, however, immediately knew something was up.

Watching them carefully as they quietly stood at the wash basin, each pouring fresh well water over the hands of the other, Jenny noticed them giggling as they looked at one another but then saw them get serious again. She scooted to the side as her daughter slipped into the chair next to her and, after Luke gave the blessing, observed how unusually quiet they were as they ate their dinner. Something had definitely transpired, and she needed to find out what.

After eating, it was Jo's turn to help clear the dishes. At the same time, Luke went outside with Lydia to check on the animals before retiring for the evening, so Jenny decided to take advantage of the time alone with the most pliable member of her family.

"So, what happened today?" she asked, her hands buried deep in sudsy dishwater warmed by the tea kettle, which she also used for rinsing.

Jo was thoughtful with her answer, another clue to Jenny that something had occurred as her daughter's conversations were usually free-flowing.

"Well…Luke and I walked down to that creek near the bottom of the hill and set up our things just out of sight from the road. I hooked the bait for him while he tied the knot in my hook."

"That's good," Jenny said. "Did you catch anything?"

Jo shook her head. "Nothing worth taking home. But we didn't waste it," she said, giggling.

Jenny grinned. "What did you do?"

Jo opened her mouth and then covered it. "You'll have to ask Luke. He's the one who came up with the idea."

Jenny nodded warily. What had her children gotten into this time?

As he got ready for bed, Luke recalled the afternoon, the prank he and Jo had pulled, and their journey back to the house.

XXXXX

"Hurry up, Jo."

As he said the words, he knew it wasn't fair to rush his little sister. After all, they were going through some thick brush making their way home, which even slowed him down. But he sensed an urgency to get to the house and tell their mother what had transpired.

"Oh, Luke, my foot is stuck."

Heaving out a sigh, Luke stopped and returned to his sister, who was a few steps behind him. Jo had managed to get her foot stuck in a small hole with dry brush wrapped around her ankle.

"Does it hurt?" He asked as he worked to release the captured foot, sincerely hoping she wasn't injured as that would slow their trip back to the house.

"No, I didn't twist it. Just stepped wrong."

Wishing for a knife, Luke disentangled his sister and grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go." Maybe if he kept her by his side, she wouldn't end up trapped again. He could carry her on his back, but he was afraid if he tripped, they might both get hurt.

"You know, Luke. That's the first time that prank has actually worked, well, if we don't count the old stray dog that one time..."

"I know," he replied with a laugh. "It was fun to watch it in action. I bet that man with a beard smells really pretty." The words brought a laugh from his sister.

"It's very fishy, I would say." Jo was always one to laugh at her own bad jokes, and apparently, she thought that one was a knee-slapper. He didn't mind so much, though. Things had been tense around the house, and they needed a little fun. He was glad that Jo had a good sense of humor.

He only hoped that Mother wouldn't be mad at them when she found out what they had done.

XXXXX

Hearing a light tap outside the bedroom, Luke finished buttoning his pajama top and opened the door, finding his mother and Jo on the other side. When they entered, Jenny put her finger to her lips- the sign to both that Nan was asleep and they needed to be quiet. The door clicked soundlessly as the three of them walked over to his bed and piled on, sitting with their legs crossed as they usually did when they had a talk.

"Jo told me that something happened today that we need to discuss." The words were quietly spoken, and yet Luke heard the firmness of her voice.

"It wasn't anything terrible, Mother."

"It was really kind of funny," Jo added with a snicker, quickly muffling it with a hand over her mouth.

"Why don't you tell me what happened, Luke, and I'll determine if it was kind of funny or not?"

"Well..." he began slowly. "We were fishing and caught some crawdads and a few walleyes, so small they weren't worth the trouble of cleaning. So, we put them in the bucket of water and thought we might try 'Gone Fishing' again."

Jenny immediately recalled the reference to a game they'd played some time ago and tried to suppress a smile as she recalled the stinky trap they had set. She should reprimand them, but it really was harmless, and she was always impressed by their ingenuity.

"I bet that poor old dog probably still smells like fish from the last time." Her words brought stifled laughter from all three of them.

"Probably..." Luke said as he and Jo looked at each other. "But we didn't prank a dog this time."

"Tell me." Jenny felt every muscle in her body tense up as she waited and wondered.

"It was a man," Jo offered eagerly.

The tension grew stronger. "A man?"

"Yes, Mother," Luke said, giving Jo a dirty look. "Actually, there were two men. One was that Mountie that came by the house before- I think his name was Mountie Nathan."

The title brought a remembrance of blue eyes as she thought of the constable in Hope Valley.

"The other was the man I ran into in Mr. Jasper's store. The one I told you about before."

The man inquiring about New Orleans? She thought. Again, the tension rose. Who was this man, and why was he continually showing up in their lives? As much as she wanted to know how the prank ended, she needed to know something else first. "Were you followed? I assume not since no one showed up here today."

"No, Mother. We were very careful," Luke said. "We even went the long way and ducked underneath the bridge to lose our scent. Those men didn't follow us."

"Well, that's good." Exhaling, she looked at her children, who smiled at each other, obviously bursting to tell her what had happened. "Well, which one got the drenching? Or did both of them?"

Jo giggled again and covered her mouth. "The one with the beard," she whispered before giggling again.

"Got him good, did you?"

"Yes," Jo smiled but then turned serious. "But something else happened."

"What?" Jenny asked, noting the concern in Jo's voice.

"Luke, you tell her."

Luke inhaled. "Uh... they knew Jo's name."

Jenny furrowed her brow. How in the world...? she thought, her mind whirling as to how someone knew her daughter's name. The Constable. That had to be it. She squinted one eye. "Did anyone happen to mention Jo's name when the Mountie was here?"

The two looked at each other and shrugged. "Maybe," Luke replied. "I don't really remember, Mother. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, son. Alright. But we do need to have a talk tomorrow about your pranking of total strangers. But not tonight. You two have had enough excitement for one day. Let's all try to get some sleep."

"We're not in trouble, Mama?" Jo asked.

"No, sweetie, you're not in trouble," Jenny replied, patting her daughter's head. Jo immediately rushed off to bed.

Jenny looked at Luke, who was growing up so quickly. He was so responsible – as responsible, she thought, as his namesake. "Thank you for telling me, son," she said, leaning forward and kissing his cheek.

"I kept an eye on her, Mother. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her."

"You're a good brother," she replied, her mind immediately returning to Lucas, who would have taken on the world to save her. She would never forget his anguished face as she rolled away from him that day in New Orleans. Knowing him, he probably blamed himself for years. What a terrible thought. Jenny shook herself out of it, "Well, rest your head, son, and goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mother."

Jenny climbed into the bed next to Jo, who promptly snuggled up to her and hugged her. Within minutes the sweet sound of slumber overcame her little girl. Luke soon followed, but for Jenny, sleep was hampered by a mind that wouldn't shut down.

A shrill, never-ending whistle awakened Nathan a little before dawn, interrupting what had been a solid night's sleep after a long day searching for Jenny Bouchard. It didn't surprise the constable that his houseguest was up already, making his morning tea. Lucas had come home somewhat hyper the night before, his mind developing possibilities of where they could look faster than his mouth could spout them. He was eager to get as early of a start as possible and seemed more like himself than he had in weeks.

Grant continued to lay in bed, waiting for Bouchard to turn the kettle off and thinking about how he would handle the other guest in town at the time, Captain Thomas Martyn. He and Bill had successfully obfuscated the truth about Jenny Bouchard from the New Orleans officer, but he knew they couldn't keep that up indefinitely. The fact was, if they were going to find her before she left the area, they needed every man available to search the Mountains. And this man had come over two thousand miles to help them with their case. So, despite his reluctance to involve outside sources in his case, he figured he might as well use Martyn's expertise.

The kettle was finally silenced, and he listened as cabinets were opened and closed, and Lucas moved about his kitchen. Hearing a squeaky refrigerator door open and then close, he reminded himself that he needed to oil that hinge and then wondered what was for breakfast. Nathan looked at the clock and decided to get a few more minutes' sleep until Lucas called him down to eat, but his eyes opened when he heard a knock on his front door. Hearing muffled voices, he arose to see who was there.

Slipping out of his room, Grant climbed down his stairs in time to see Lucas's father making himself comfortable at the kitchen table. Nathan was about to make his presence known when he stumbled into a profoundly personal conversation. Hearing its nature, he started to retreat to his room, but the tone in Lucas's voice kept him from doing so. He stayed out of sight and listened for a few minutes.

"So, when I called you this morning, the switchboard operator at the hotel said you were still in room 205 instead of the suite set aside for you and Mother."

"That's correct," Martin replied.

"May I ask why?" Lucas asked as he poured his father's tea.

"Why?"

"Why, when this family has every reason to be united, are you choosing to stay in separate quarters from Mother? I would think that this news would have drawn you closer together."

"Your mother and I are naturally ecstatic over this news about Jenny. But our problems do not stem directly from that. They are long-standing and will not be solved just because we get your sister back."

"They won't be solved by not talking either. Is it that you do not love her?" Lucas said, passing him the teacup and taking a seat at the table.

Martin took the teacup from his son, took a sip, and set it down. "Lucas, I will always love Helen. But sometimes, love isn't enough."

"That's not what you told me growing up," Lucas replied. "And that's not what I believe. Love, properly exercised, should be enough. Love is not just an emotion; it's a choice. You made a commitment."

"And I don't believe anyone can say that I have not fulfilled that commitment for the past forty years. But for nearly three decades, your mother has shut me out and refused to work on our issues, and I'm tired. I'm tired of being shut out. I'm tired of feeling unloved. I'm tired of feeling…. what was your word? inadequate?"

Lucas softened his tone, knowing that feeling well when it came to his mother. But still, the thought of his parents separating didn't seem right. "I empathize with the frustration, and you've, without a doubt, carried a heavy load all these years. Perhaps I can say something to her."

Martin smiled and shook his head. "You have your own life to live with a woman whom you adore and who adores you. It's your job to nurture that relationship – not live our lives for us."

"Your life is part of my life."

"Not so much anymore," Martin replied. "Lucas, in a marriage, you will learn that the two indeed become one flesh. However, if one part of a body shuts itself off from the other, it'll eventually die. That's what happened to us. She shut me out in her grief, and I eventually shut her out with my work, and…well, it has rent our marriage in two. I'm afraid it's too late to save us."

Lucas pursed his lips. "It's never too late. Miracles do happen. Jenny is proof. Father, don't shut the door on reconciliation. If she shows the least willingness to…."

"It would be a miracle," Martin replied. "You asked if I love her. But I have wondered if she loves me."

Lucas looked at his father earnestly. "She does. I have seen it. Don't give up faith that things will change."

Martin smiled wistfully and touched Lucas's arm. "You're a good man, my son. Tender-hearted and a bit idealistic, but a very good man."

"Where are you? Where are you?" Jenny searched frantically in her bedroom, under the bed and dresser looking for her missing treasure. She had noticed the arrowhead was gone when she went to put on her jacket that morning and panicked almost immediately. It had been with her for thirty years, and while she wouldn't totally say it brought her good luck, it was a constant reminder of the love she once knew and was a comfort to her soul.

"Jenny? Are you coming out to help me or not?" Lydia called out from the main room.

She closed her eyes. Think! Jenny! Think! Where had she seen it last? Where could she have misplaced it? She felt heartsick at the thought of having lost it. How could she have been so careless? She heard the front door open and the sound of her son's feet entering the house.

"I cleaned up the horses' stalls and fed them," he said. "But it looks like they're running low on hay."

Lydia frowned. "I 'spect they are. We had to high-tail it out of there so quickly, there wasn't time to bring much."

"Maybe we could go back?" Luke asked, hopefully. He was wise beyond his years in many ways but still had the naivety of a child when it came to the complexity of matters. Jenny was happy about that as she wanted him to enjoy childhood for as long as he could. The worries of the world would come soon enough.

"That's not an option," Lydia said. "I'll just have to go into town."

Upon hearing those words, a light came on in Jenny's mind. That's where she had it! Yesterday in Hope Valley, near the mercantile. She must have dropped it as she mounted her horse!

She jumped to her feet and made her way out of the bedroom.

"I'll go!" she said, immediately feeling a need to tone down the urgency in her voice lest Lydia suspect something was wrong.

Lydia looked at her oddly, then nodded. "Okay, but you know the drill, always look over your shoulder."

"I know, Nan. I'll be careful," Jenny replied.

"Good morning, Judge Avery," Captain Thomas Martyn said as he sat at a table at the Queen of Hearts, drinking coffee and reading The Valley Voice. "Would you like to join me?"

"Don't mind if I do," Bill said, scanning the saloon for familiar faces as well as for the waiter who would bring him his breakfast. "I trust you slept well?"

"Like a baby. It's a very pleasant town you have here, Judge."

"Please. Call me Bill," Avery responded. "And yes, it's a very pleasant town, Captain Martyn."

"Thomas," he responded, laying his newspaper on the table, and then looking to the waiter for a refill on his coffee. "Do you have much in the way of trouble here?"

Bill shook his head. "Occasionally. Not often."

"That's good. It must have upset the applecart then when Solomon Drake showed up at the saloon. The Drakes were notorious criminals. You didn't happen to mention yesterday that Lucas Bouchard was the one who killed him."

Bill raised his chin and then nodded, unsure of where things were going.

Martyn continued. I came downstairs last night for a cup of chamomile. I find it soothes the stomach and provides a more restful sleep. Happened to talk to a Mr. Hickam while I was waiting, and he told me about the events preceding Drake's death. Given Bouchard's history, and that of his family, I guess it's not surprising that this happened. One might say poetic justice."

"Lucas isn't a violent man," Bill replied. "It took extenuating circumstances to bring him to that point."

"No doubt. At least he got justice. So how long have the Bouchards lived in Hope Valley?"

"They don't. Lucas is the only one. His parents are from Montreal."

"I see," Thomas replied. "So, they were visiting?"

Bill didn't answer but instead nodded toward the door where both Bouchard men and Nathan were making their approach. After their early morning discussion, father and son shifted their focus and, along with Mountie Grant, developed an agenda for the day's search for Jenny – one that, by mutual agreement, included the New Orleans lawman.

"Looks like everyone gets an early start in Hope Valley," the captain said, offering the men a seat.

"That's generally true," Nathan responded. "But today, we're on a mission."

"A mission?" Martyn asked.

"To find my daughter," Lucas's father said.

The captain nodded quietly and then lifted his coffee cup. "Well, more power to you."

"That's a strange response. Why did you put it that way?" Lucas asked.

Thomas took a swig of coffee and then set the cup down. "I don't want to encourage false hope. When girls are sold into prostitution, they are rarely heard from again. They disappear into the underworld. Few make it out of their twenties. I realize something has made you think your sister is alive, but…."

"She is alive," Lucas said, his eyes certain. "She was here, in Hope Valley. And we're bringing her home."

Martyn tilted his head, looking toward Grant. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine." Nathan nodded. "I'm the one that saw her, yesterday, outside the mercantile."

The captain narrowed his eyes. "Really?"

"Yeah. She's been living in the province for a while,"

The captain looked surprised. "Jenny Bouchard was declared dead over a quarter of a century ago. Why do you think it was her?"

"A body was never found. And, we have a photograph," Martin said, taking the photo from Lucas and showing it to the lawman.

"Plus, when she was here yesterday, she dropped an arrowhead that I gave her," Lucas added, pulling the item out of his pocket. "I would recognize it anywhere. It still has a bloodstain along the tip from where she cut herself with it."

Martyn looked toward Bill, who nodded. "So, you knew this yesterday when I arrived?"

"We were just finding out," Bill said. "We had seen her photograph and knew she had been living with Drake's widow. But we didn't know where they had fled to. Still don't."

"I saw her outside the store right before you arrived," Nathan added. "There was no time to stop and explain because we wanted to find her. Our search from yesterday came up empty, so we're organizing a group of men to look for her again today. We need everyone we can get. Would you like to come along?"

Thomas nodded, his mind processing the shocking news that had been relayed. "Of course," he replied with a slight smile. "If you're sure it's her, I'll help however I can."

Deputy Superintendent Claude Fontaine neatly folded his newspaper and set it on the table as his train pulled into Calgary Station, the conductor announcing the arrival of Fontaine's final stop. He looked out the window at the scene before, which looked similar to every other smaller station he'd passed through on his way to Canada. But he barely even noticed. He had made haste to be there for one reason – or rather one person and one person only - Helen Bouchard.

Helen. He had so often dreamed of her while he lay in his bed at night, remembering her beauty, imagining holding her petite frame in his arms and showing her the love he had held for her for over forty years. For years he regretted not going after her when he could have before Martin and she were wed. He knew there was a reason she put Bouchard off for five years. She couldn't love him. But back then, what was she to do? Women were expected to marry well, and he had little to offer her. Their love was stalled from the beginning. But now, things had changed, both in society and in life. He was quickly on his way to becoming the chief of police and, as such, could now afford to give her all the luxury and prestige a woman of her station deserved if she would only give him a chance. He had heard rumors a couple of years ago that Helen and Martin were having trouble and, in fact, had separated. Perhaps it was still so. Regardless, although Fontaine was far from a religious man, he was certain that this serendipitous moment was indeed his second chance. The Fates had stepped in and given him what his heart, soul, and body had desired for all these years. Helen would be his, at last, one way or another.

Then, there was the fact of Jenny. Whatever person convinced the family that the girl was still alive was foolish, heartless, or both. Everyone knew she was dead – especially him. Of course, he would never let that inconvenient truth get in his way. Everything had its reason, and he would use their beliefs to his advantage – to get him closer to her. Eventually, he would be able to be the comforting shoulder upon which she would rest her head – in a way that he wasn't able to be before. This was his moment. His time had come at last.

"It's not at all uncommon for outlaws to have several spots they can hole up in while situations cool down," Thomas said as they rode along a dusty road searching for Jenny.

Two groups of four had made their way out into the woods that morning, with Bill, Joseph, Lee, and Mike being in the first party and Nathan, Lucas, Martin, and Thomas being the second. They had examined a map of the area before leaving, with Grant explaining where he'd gone during his chase with her and where he and Lucas had encountered her children. Given that trajectory, they guessed she was living south of town, close to the river, which opened all sorts of possibilities for their search.

"I think you're right," Nathan said. "They're probably staying in one of Solomon's old haunts. He seemed to run a circuit, committing crimes from town to town and disappearing for a while. He'd only recently made it to Hope Valley, though."

"Unlucky for him," Martyn replied.

"All in God's plan," Lucas's father responded.

They traveled a few paces further and reached a small opening in the wood, a clear place on a cliff overlooking a large waterway.

"And what is this place?" Martyn asked.

"Reid's Lake. A freshwater lake that has an opening just beyond those trees where the water eventually flows into the Mackenzie River. Great place to fish for trout."

"Was this where the children were?" he asked.

"No, I think they were a little further North. Probably at Jackson Creek. Why do you ask?"

Martyn looked over the landscape. "The place seems isolated, is all – like the perfect place one would go to disappear."

Jenny climbed into the wagon and clicked her tongue as she snapped the reins. She didn't lie to Nan, but somehow she didn't feel comfortable telling her why she wanted to return to town – a little piece of rock that had meant so much to her. She had to find it.

As she rode, she felt a happiness and peace inside over returning to Hope Valley. Considering this, she knew there were other reasons she wanted to see it. It was how she felt when she first entered the town – like she was finally home. And then there was the constable. Somehow he knew her name – her real name, and now her daughter's? Had Lydia slipped and said them when he visited? And how was he connected to this mysterious bearded man, the one who had inquired about them at Jasper's General Store? The whole situation gave her pause to wonder, but she didn't feel afraid. It was all very strange.

Further down the road, Jenny's thoughts shifted to how nice it would be to settle down somewhere, and never have to move again, to be around people and have friends. Her social nature had been stifled for the majority of her life, and she daydreamed of how it would be to meet people and get to know them. To have her own home where she and her kids could have a normal life. To have friends. To be free.

Her marriage to David had not been what she had hoped it would be, not what most girls would have dreamed of. His attention toward her had started when she was quite young, and although he was never inappropriate with her, it seemed only natural that they would marry when she came of age. At times he was her protector. When Solomon would hit her, it was David who would back him down, by force if necessary. He was the only one big enough to stop him – that was until Solomon tried to do something else to her, and Nan's butcher knife stepped in. From that day forward, 'Paps' never came near her, but that didn't stop his influence in their lives.

David promised Jenny that once they were married, they would start a new life far away from his parents, far away from trouble of any kind. But a fall off the horse and Pap's broken hip brought them back to tend the farm and to help Nan. After that, David never had the strength to break free, and with a son on the way, Jenny's life was cemented to the Drakes.

Did she love David? Not in the way she imagined romantic love to be. But there was a certain comfort with him for a while. Unfortunately, he was a weak person who surrendered to alcohol due to his own inability to be a man. He'd been out doing something for Solomon when he was killed in a bar. Nan wept terribly at the news, but Jenny felt almost relieved that he was out of their lives. She felt she ought to feel guilty, but she didn't. Perhaps now she and her kids would have a chance at happiness.

Returning from an unfruitful search, the contingent of men dispersed as soon as they entered Hope Valley- Lee, and Joseph going to Lee's business while Bill, the Bouchards, Thomas, and Nathan returned to the Queen of Hearts. They were exhausted but not disheartened and simply went there to have lunch and regroup.

Fontaine was expected in town sometime around one, and the plan was to brief him on what had occurred and then go out on another search that afternoon. Jenny was out there. It was just a matter of time until they found her.

Jenny reminisced until she got near the town, nervous as she arrived. She wasn't sure where to buy hay but knew there was a livery on the edge of town and guessed it would be a good place to start. However, it would require her to travel straight through the heart of town to get there.

Thinking she should somewhat disguise herself this time around, she pushed her long dark hair up under a hat and pulled the brim low over her eyes. Reaching into her pocket, Jenny sighed as she remembered that her beloved arrowhead was missing. She scanned the ground near the mercantile hoping to see it but was pained when it didn't appear. Perhaps it was gone forever.

Tense as she led the horses, Jenny noticed quite a few people milling around. Thankfully, no one paid any attention to her. Arriving at the livery, she stepped down and went inside, breathing in the smell of hay, leather, and horses.

"May I help you?" An older man stepped out of a stall wiping his hands on a cloth.

"Well, I hope so. I wasn't sure where to buy hay for my horses. Enough to fill the wagon outside."

"Seems you came to the right place. We get our hay from the Pearson farm. Got plenty."

"Good. I'm kind of in a hurry..." Jenny started, but he interrupted.

"My son George will get it loaded up for you as soon as he gets back."

"Back?"

"Yes, ma'am. He was dropping off some feed to the Campbells. Should be back in about a half hour."

Jenny knew the longer she stuck around, the more chance of someone seeing her, but what choice did she have? They discussed the price, and she paid the man. "I'll go for a walk," she said. "I'll be back in a half hour."

While the wait made her nervous, she was also happy that she would have a few moments to explore the town that, again, felt like home. Hopefully, she wouldn't have any problems and would soon be on her way back to the house.

She walked all the way down the main street seeing a nice little café called 'Abigail's' at the end and began making her way back towards the livery. As she strolled along, she noticed that the town had a saloon and peeked in the window, noticing what a fine establishment it looked to be. It was more of a restaurant than a saloon, but the sign read 'Queen of Hearts,' so she had to assume it was a place to play cards.

Jenny had always liked to window shop the few times she had been allowed to go into a town, which was seldom. They never had the money to do much more than that, but Lydia did occasionally buy her a stick of candy which she made last as long as possible.

Seeing the jail across the street, Jenny bit her lip and decided it was worth the risk to go over and pass by it. If the constable happened to come out, she would figure out what to do at that point, but he didn't, and Jenny continued her slow walk through town. Her eyes lit up when she saw the building across the street.

"A library!" she exclaimed. It had been so long since she had actually been in one, and while this one was small, it immediately invited her in. She stopped outside the door and saw a stack of books in a laundry basket right outside the main entrance. A sign overtop of them said, "Free." Free Books? This little town really was a dream.

Bending down to see if there was anything she could take for the children, she found herself gravitating toward a book that seemed just for her. A Single Mother on the Frontier by Elizabeth Thornton. The image on the cover was of a woman in a large, brimmed hat with a child by her side.

"Oh, how interesting!" She picked up the book and turned it over, reading a short synopsis on the back cover about a woman from a wealthy background going to teach on the Canadian Frontier, and she was immediately drawn in. It wasn't until she opened the book that she nearly fell over. Edited by Helen Bouchard, Montreal.

Jenny's heart began to race, and she felt a little light-headed as she read her mother's name. But if that weren't enough to stun her, what happened next would be something she'd never forget.

"Lucas!"

Her head snapped in the direction of the voice coming from near the saloon. There, she saw a pretty woman walking toward a very handsome man with dark hair and a beard who was coming out to join her.

"Elizabeth!" he said, reaching out to embrace her.

Trying to stand in the shadows as much as possible, Jenny watched as they met up, the woman standing on her toes to give the man a tender kiss. Obviously, they were a couple, and a happy one at that.

She couldn't hear their conversation, but they were embracing right there in the middle of town, not caring who saw them, and it made her heart glad that there was such a love in the world. The man rubbed the woman's back in slow circles, and when he stepped back, he smiled. And when he did, Jenny was sure her heart had stopped in her chest when she saw the most spectacular dimples - dimples like only one other person in her life was known to have. She squinted to see him closer.

Handsome. Dark hair. Dimples. And his name was Lucas? It couldn't be! It had to be a coincidence, right?

"Mr. Bouchard!" Another voice called out - a young man carrying mail.

"Robert!" Lucas said, reaching out to receive it.

"It is him!" Jenny's eyes immediately whelmed up as she felt love beyond anything she'd allowed herself to feel, except toward her children, bubble up from inside. Her mouth opened as if to call out his name herself, but something prevented her. She watched as Lucas and the woman turned to go, and everything within her wanted to rush up to him. To hold him. To let him know she was there. Her brother Lucas was here in Hope Valley!

What should she do?

Thinking only a moment, Jenny decided she'd simply walk into that building and introduce herself to her him. But just as she began to walk, two men approached from the other side of the street, one carrying the other's luggage. Seeing them, she stepped back. Her eyes remained glued to them as they went along, it seemed they were in a disagreement of sorts, but she couldn't hear their voices. When they stopped at the entrance, and she could get a good look at their faces, unexpectedly, her hair rose on the back of her neck. Her mouth went dry.

"Oh, no! Oh, no! It's him!" she said to herself, immediately turning and walking toward the livery as quickly as possible. Happy to see the wagon was loaded with hay, she thanked the proprietor and climbed up into her seat with shaking hands.

"You okay, ma'am?" the man asked. "You look like you saw a ghost."

Jenny shook her head. "No ghost. I need to go. Yah!" she said, snapping the reins and rushing away from the livery as quickly as the wheels could carry her. She continued at that pace until she got outside of town, then pulled off to the side of the road, taking refuge in a shady isolated area.

In the shelter of the trees, she jumped down from the wagon and disgorged, then collapsed in sobs.

"Oh, God! Please help me!" she wept. "What am I ever going to do?"