Morning sunlight trickled through lacey curtains, and a shimmering sparkle filled the room. It wasn't often that Elizabeth was able to sleep in, particularly with her son growing as quickly as he was, but given Little Jack had chosen to spend the night with his Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Lee, the house was quiet and still. So, she decided to rest just a bit more before her day began.

He was growing up fast, that little boy of hers -already exhibiting the bravery and sense of adventure that both of his parents possessed – traits that would sometimes land them both in hot water. That's why she was so thankful for Lucas's sweet and calming spirit, coming behind her and helping raise her boy. From the time they met, Bouchard had always taken an interest in his 'Buddy," and now that he and Elizabeth were engaged, he had stepped into the role of an earthly father with all of the seriousness that she knew he would when he first asked for the privilege. Lucas was molding Little Jack into a gentleman while still insisting on giving him the luxury of being a little boy, providing him with all of the most important things that Lucas lacked as a child. They played together almost every day. And, if Lucas wasn't available, he'd make sure that Lee, Bill, or even Nathan were there as he felt playtime was very important to a happy childhood, and he never wanted this little boy to feel he wasn't important or that he wasn't loved.

A smile crept across Elizabeth's face as she imagined what life would be like if God should bless them with a child of their own. Rosemary was right. Lucas was already a wonderful father.

As she lay there, Elizabeth became acutely aware of a strange sound in the house – a sound almost like…panting? Was there a dog in her house? Furrowing her brow, she raised up on one elbow and looked toward her bedroom door, and then she smelled the smell. Bacon? She grinned as she sat up, draping her legs over the side of the bed and feeling for her slippers. She listened closely and could hear a man's voice whispering, but she couldn't make out what was being said. As she donned her robe, she checked her hair in the mirror and opened the door, with a giggle in her throat as she made her way toward the stairs in anticipation of the scrumptious breakfast her boys were making for her.

Making her way down the stairs, she reached the first landing and then stopped in her tracks when she saw an old Bassett hound with a whitened face lying down at the foot of the stairs. A look from the side of his eyes was the only acknowledgment of her presence she received. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. He looks almost like…

"Rip! I thought I told you to come over here!"

A gasp tore from her throat as she immediately recognized the voice of the man coming from the direction of her kitchen. She swallowed as her heart began to beat so strongly she thought it was going to jump out of her chest and made her way down the stairs, turning the corner, and then she saw him. Looking up at her from next to the stove, dressed in his favorite pair of brown pants, a blue cotton shirt, and suspenders, was her husband, looking as alive as he had the last time she had seen him.

"Good morning, sleepy head," he grinned, his deeply dimpled smile lighting up the room as his eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.

Elizabeth raised a trembling hand to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. "J-Jack? W-what….this…this can't be." She stepped backward toward the steps and caught the back of her leg on the bottom step, causing her to fall backward onto her bottom. Instantly, Jack was by her side.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I…This can't be, you're….you're dead!"

"Yes….well…."

"But you're here! How can you….am I…?"

He chuckled. "No. You're still alive. I just came to see you. I hope that's okay," he said, helping his stunned wife to her feet and leading her to the kitchen. "It's been so long since we've talked. I miss seeing you, Elizabeth."

"And I've missed you," she replied, taking a seat at the table.

Jack placed a plate of toast in front of her with some jam and butter. "I saw where you got engaged."

Elizabeth lowered her eyes as a feeling of confusion tinged with guilt began to rush over her. Jack touched her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not upset. Lucas is a great man. Just the kind I would have liked to raise our son if I wasn't there to raise him. And I'm glad you found love again. The heart… has that capacity.

Where I live, there's endless and boundless love. Nobody is sorrowful. There are no bad guys, so Rip and I just walk around the streets, talking with people and enjoying the beautiful sights. God is all around us. It's kind of hard to describe until you get here. But it's…. it's joyful. Peaceful. No crying. The Lord Himself wipes our tears away. It's beautiful."

Elizabeth couldn't help but stare at him as he talked, taking in his features, memorizing his voice anew. "It was terrible when you left."

He stopped talking.

"I wasn't sure I could live without you, and then I found out I was expecting, and I knew I had to live for the sake of our son. But I was terrified. I always feared that I would lose you. I just never thought it would be so soon. We were supposed to grow old together."

"That's the way we would have liked it to have been," he replied. "But sometimes plans don't work out. Sometimes dreams - they die. But you know what I've learned? It all happens for a reason. Sometimes, we don't understand the reasons in this life, but we do in Heaven. And there was a reason that God parted us when he did.

I've always believed that we each have been placed on earth to do whatever job God has for us to do, and when that job is done, and not one moment sooner, that's when He takes us home. My job was to be a Mountie. My fate was to save those men's lives, and when that job was done, I went home. Your job has been to be a teacher and to give birth to our son and be his mother. And you've done both of those jobs extraordinarily well. When your job is complete, we will be reunited."

Elizabeth was both exhilarated and conflicted as the image of her fiancé passed through her mind. She paused. "Won't that be a little…awkward?"

"You mean because of Lucas?"

She shrugged. "Well, yes."

"If I don't feel awkward sitting here talking to you with you smooching him all over town…"

She playfully shoved him. "Jack!"

He smiled. "… I won't feel awkward then. It's not that way in Heaven. It's different. You'll see."

Elizabeth smiled as she considered the day they'd be together and then looked sadly at him when she considered all they had missed. "I wish it could have been you. It's not at all that I don't love Lucas and believe strongly he will be a wonderful father to our son. But I wish you could have experienced it. I wish you could have watched him grow up. Play ball with him. Read to him. Tuck him in at night."

"Yeah, well…sometimes," he said, taking her hand and looking at her with all earnestness in his eyes. The warmth permeating her body brought her an immense comfort she couldn't explain. "Sometimes, it's just not meant to be. But in the end, God will provide more than we could ever imagine."

Jack stood and walked toward the stove, turning off the burner. "Look, I didn't burn the bacon this time."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Heaven must be teaching you something."

"I've never stopped loving you," Jack replied. "In fact, the love just grows. Love never dies. It's incredible."

"I've never stopped loving you, Jack."

"I know. Enjoy your life, Elizabeth – each moment you have left, and don't worry about a thing. We may not understand it all, but it will all work out the way it should."

Elizabeth looked at him quizzically. "Is there a reason I should be worried?"

Jack walked toward the back door and opened it. Rip followed him outside. "Not at all. God always takes care of His own." He looked out at the backyard and the beautiful day that it was. "It's almost time."

"Time?" she asked.

When Jack didn't respond, she turned toward the clock, seeing it was 11:15. She turned back toward the door, and he was gone.

"Jack?" Elizabeth rushed toward the open door and looked outside, and he was nowhere to be seen. "Jack? Jack?" she called again.

With a sudden jolt, Elizabeth was woken from her sleep as her little boy dove onto her bed, smothering her with kisses. "Here I am, mama!"

Elizabeth sat up in bed, her heart beating wildly. "Jack! Good morning, how did you….."

"I apologize for the abrupt wake-up, ma chérie. Auntie Rosemary said she had to do something in town and asked me if I would pick him up. I'm sorry he got away from me, but he was excited to see you," the deep voice of Elizabeth's fiancé said from out in the hallway - always the gentleman. Lucas wouldn't walk in on her until she had time to put her robe on.

"That's…that's quite alright. I'm excited to him as well," she stated.

Lucas smiled softly. "Gustave made a delightful Quiche Lorraine for our breakfast when you wake up. Come on, Jack, let's give your mother a moment to collect herself and go set the table."

"Okay, Buddy," Jack replied, climbing down. "Come down when you're ready."

Elizabeth smiled at her son. "I will be right down."

Elizabeth got dressed and came downstairs, enjoying her breakfast with Lucas and Little Jack, but her mind remained on her dream. At one point, she was so distracted that Lucas had to repeat himself twice and finally made some nonsensical comment about having Florence make phone calls instead of physically sending out invitations to their wedding since the word would get around quicker that way. When she nodded yes, that would be fine, Bouchard crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow.

"Alright. What's on your mind?"

"Huh? What?" she asked, startled. When Lucas didn't respond, she immediately realized what she had done. "Oh. I apologize. I was a bit distracted."

"Would you like to discuss?"

Elizabeth stood to clear the table. "Oh, it's nothing. I just had a dream. A dream about Jack….not, my son, Jack, but Mountie Jack, my late husband."

Lucas furrowed his brow and nodded. "That's probably not uncommon, considering the wedding is coming up. I would imagine you feel a bit…conflicted."

"No!" she said. "No, not at all. I've never been more sure about what we're doing and have no conflicts concerning marrying you at all. It's just, I don't dream of Jack often, and this dream was so – so real."

"Tell me about it."

She took a seat and took Lucas's hand. "He mainly talked about Heaven and missing me."

Lucas smiled softly.

"And he spoke about how even though our plans don't always work out, God takes care of His own. He said he's proud of our little boy, and he even mentioned you."

"Me?"

"Yes. He said you're a fine man and that you're exactly the kind of man he would have picked to raise his son."

Lucas was surprised to feel a lump arise in his throat. He cleared it. "It's an honor to stand in his stead."

Elizabeth raised her hand and stroked his cheek. "God certainly took care of us by giving us you." Lucas took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

"Was that all?"

"No," Elizabeth sat back in her chair. "He walked to the back door and looked outside, and then he said something strange. He said, 'It's almost time.' I asked what he meant and looked at the clock, and when I turned around, he was gone."

"Hmm," Bouchard replied, scratching his beard. "I wonder what that meant."

Elizabeth shrugged and shook her head. "Who knows? You never can tell about dreams." She then looked toward the clock and gasped. "What I do know is that I have some business to take care of in town. That's alright, isn't it?"

"Absolutely," Lucas stated. "I had planned on meeting Jenny at the Queen of Hearts to discuss that property Nan was looking at on the edge of town. I'm not sure the asking price is worth it. I'll just take Jack with me.

Would you like to go play with Cousin Luke and Cousin Jo, Jack?"

"Yeah!"

"Then everything's taken care of," Elizabeth stated. "Rosemary and I have a few things to discuss concerning the wedding, so if you could watch him for a bit, I'll come pick him up."

"It would be my pleasure. Would you like a ride into town?"
Elizabeth looked at the door and then Lucas and smiled. "I'd love one."

Bill Avery sat at his desk, just having returned from Billings, Montana, where he'd attended his brother's wedding. It was good to see Frank, and it appeared that he and Belle were very much in love, but he also longed for home. Or so he thought. Arriving in Hope Valley did not prove to be the elixir that he'd hoped it would be and Bill was now left to consider the one thing he never cared to consider – what his life was missing. He had an idea what it was but had been burnt too many times to wish to walk down that road again. But still, the ache remained.

It was, therefore, a welcome diversion when the call from Captain Cantrell came on this Saturday in June. Regarding the case of the missing papers, the case went cold almost as soon as they found the body of the railwayman who stole them. Add to this that within a week of discovering the corpse, the missing boxes showed up - apparently fully intact – in a railcar inside the city limits – the New Orleans Police were left with one mystery upon another. That was two months ago. It wasn't until Cantrell's lieutenant, a man named Lyndon Carlson, came upon information that the stamp used by the department to mark and seal evidence had been out of police custody and missing for a few days around the time the boxes went missing, did things begin to open up. Now, he was calling Avery to enlist his help.

"Since then, we've been interviewing everyone from our Lieutenants to the mail boy, and we've come up with a list of people who could have taken the stamp."

Bill squinted his eyes. "But why would they steal a stamp? To make the boxes look unopened?"

"Not just the boxes," Cantrell replied. "Each piece of evidence is gathered and marked with one of these stamps and logged in a logbook. Our initial review of the evidence made it appear that everything was intact, but upon subsequent inspection, it appears that box 13 has been tampered with, and some photographs, numbered 458 and 480, have been taken. These images were crime scene photographs from around the Storyville district and may have depicted wrongdoing by members of the force – perhaps even the guy who was directing Thomas Martyn in his nefarious activity."

"Interesting. Do you know who was in those images?"

"We've narrowed it down to a few men, all well-placed. But what we really need is an eye witness, someone who was from around there, someone who experienced the inner workings of this trade or may have heard about it."

"You want to speak with Jenny."

"In person, if possible."

Bill thought for a moment about all that the girl had gone through and about how she'd found a new life in Hope Valley, a life free from fear and remembrance of the terrors of old. "Look, Jenny Bouchard may be willing to speak with you on the telephone, but I don't see the purpose for her going to New Orleans."

"She may have seen someone. Listen, Judge Avery, we've already had one shipment of evidence intercepted on its way to New Orleans. That means whoever did it had to know when that shipment was coming and what it contained. The evidence stamp also went missing. All of this says that it's someone on the inside, which means I don't know who I can trust. We've been working on this case for a number of years now to no avail. The Bouchard Girl is our first break, and the demise of Thomas Martyn has uncovered some interesting associations. If she could just get a look at some of the people we're considering possible suspects, maybe, maybe, it will lead to the kingpin of this racket, and we can shut down this venture once and for all. Bill, we need to hear from the girl. Other women and girl's lives may be at risk and she's our only avenue to try to stop it. Would you reach out to her to see if she would be agreeable to traveling down here? I would consider it a great favor."

Avery set his pen down on his desk, looking out the window just as two of Hope Valley's schoolgirls passed by. Most of the women being transported for illicit purposes were not much older than them. How different their lives could have been. "I'll ask her."

"Thank you, Judge. I appreciate this more than you know."

Lucas pulled his car up outside of the Coulter's newspaper office, dropping Elizabeth off there so that she wouldn't have to cross the street. Just as she was about to exit the vehicle, a Cobalt Blue Buick Sedan came around the corner and pulled up next to the driver's door.

"Elizabeth, Lucas."

Henry's voice caused Elizabeth and Lucas to turn and smile at their longtime friend.

"Henry. It's good to see you on this fine day," Lucas said, observing suitcases in the back of Henry's car. "You look like you're going somewhere."

"I am," he smiled bashfully. "Abigail has invited me to join her and Cody on a trip to Seattle in celebration of Cody's graduating high school."

"Really! That's wonderful!" Elizabeth said with a smile. "How long will you be gone?" she asked, well aware that as Lucas's best man, he would need to be back in time for the wedding.

"We're planning to be gone about ten days," he replied. "Don't worry. If all goes well, I'll be back in plenty of time to see you two get hitched."

"You'd better," Elizabeth said with a raise of the eyebrows.

Lucas laughed. "Uh-oh. Now you've merited the famous 'scary teacher face,' so you know she's serious."

"Jack used to say that all the time," she said, reaching out and touching Lucas's hand when he lowered his head for fear of misspeaking. "I loved it." The two lovebirds looked adoringly in each other's eyes until Elizabeth spotted Henry wiping his eyes and nose with the back of his hand.

"What is it, Henry?" she asked with concern.
"Are you okay?" Lucas asked.

Henry smiled a wistful smile. "Awe, nothing. I just hate goodbyes, is all."

Elizabeth pooched out her lip and then stepped out of the car, crossing in front of Lucas's Dodge to go give Henry a hug. The older man held her longer than usual, touched by the emotion of the moment.

"Don't you worry about a thing Henry. Everything will be fine. You just go enjoy your time with Abigail and tell her that I love her very much."

"I will, Elizabeth. You two be careful," he replied, starting up his car and then pulling away.

Elizabeth turned to Lucas. "Rosemary's going to be beside herself if I don't get in there."

"Then you need to go," Lucas said, leaning out his window and kissing his fiancée in a passionate but chaste way due to the little boy who was resting peacefully in his back seat.

Elizabeth entered the Newspaper office and was immediately greeted by Rosemary, who was anxious to get started.

"I was just…."

"I know. You were saying goodbye to Henry. I saw the whole thing," Coulter said, taking her by the hand and leading her to the back of the building where she had everything set up.

"I really hope that things work out between him and Abigail," she replied. "He's loved her for a long time."

"That's true," Rosemary said. "But you can't blame her after everything he put her through."

"No," Elizabeth said, walking into the room and taking a seat where Rosemary motioned for her to sit. "But Henry has changed so much since those days. Love can do that, you know."

"That's true," Rosemary said. "And a love like that never dies." Coulter noticed the odd and faraway look that Elizabeth had on her face. "What's wrong? Is it something I said?"

Elizabeth gave a slight jolt at her friend's question, snapping her back to the present. "No, that was just something Jack said to me this morning."

Rosemary furrowed her brow. "Jack was with us this morning."

Elizabeth sighed. "Not little Jack, my husband, Jack…"

Coulter's eyes grew wide as she interrupted and rushed to Thornton's side, feeling her forehead. "Elizabeth, are you alright? Jack's been dead for years."

Elizabeth closed her eyes and chuckled. "It was a dream," she replied, taking her friend's hand in her own and squeezing it. "At least, I think it was. It felt so real like he was really there. He said something strange to me before he left." She paused, deep in thought.

"Well?" Rosie said. "What was it?"

"Oh!" Elizabeth replied. "He said, 'It's almost time.' And then, he disappeared."

"It's almost time?" her friend asked. "Time for what?"

"That's what I asked him, but then he was gone."

Rosie sat for a moment, then stood up, clasping her hands. "It's almost time for your wedding to Lucas! Jack was sending you a message letting you know that he knew and wishing you and Lucas well on your marriage."

"Do you think that's what it was?" Elizabeth asked.

"Of course it was! He wanted you to find happiness again, didn't he?"

"Yes."
"Well, it's just natural that he would want to let you know that he's pleased with your choice. What a sweet thing for him to do."

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "He was very complimentary of Lucas. You know, I bet you're right!"

"Of course I am. But enough of that. Are you ready to try on your gown?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Most definitely! I just hope that they got everything right."

Coulter nodded. "Believe me, they wouldn't dare mess up this order. I've been on them from day one to make sure that they got everything right, and I have to confess, I took a peek."

"Oh?" Elizabeth said nervously.

Rosie smiled broadly. "It's beautiful. And you're going to be beautiful in it. Hurry up and get undressed so you can try it on."

"We already have decided on the Vanilla Lavender."

"You may have decided, but Elizabeth has never tried Gustave's dark chocolate strawberry. Mmmm," Jenny said as they sat at a table in the middle of the saloon, closing her eyes with a smile on her face. Nathan watched with a lopsided grin as Lucas's sister tried to sway him.

"No, she has not, but that's immaterial," Lucas replied. "Grandmother's Vanilla Lavender has always been my favorite, and our guests will love it. If you want chocolate strawberry, then you and Nathan can have that at your wedding."

Jenny and Nathan both went pale. "At our…." they said in unison.

Lucas raised his eyebrows and twisted his mouth to one side. "Oh, don't feign innocence and pretend like that's not where…this thing that the two of you have is going."

Nathan chuckled nervously. "Hey, just a second now, Lucas."

"What?" Lucas replied. "You're going to continue to deny it?" He leaned forward. "And before you answer, I would suggest that you answer carefully because I have not yet decided if I'm going to grant you permission."

"Lucas Bouchard!" Jenny flung her arm back and then hit Lucas so hard it nearly knocked him out of his chair.

"Ouch!" What did you do that for?!"

"I am a grown woman, and a widow for that matter. How dare you come in here acting like I'm some teenager or something that needs a man to stick up for her. This is not 1890, and for your information, if and when Nathan proposes, he will not need your or any other man's permission to do so, and if and when I accept, I will do so whether or not you approve. Have I made myself clear?"

She folded her arms and glared at Bouchard, who was still rubbing his arm.

"Crystal."

"Good," she replied. "We've solved that problem."

"Good," Lucas responded, reaching for his cup of tea.

The siblings settled back into their seats while a confused Grant looked between them.

"Um….wait a minute. What just happened there? Did we just get engaged or something?"

Jenny rolled her eyes. "No, silly. We were just talking in hypotheticals."

"Hypotheticals."

"Yes. That's why I used the word 'if'," she responded.

"And when…." Grant continued.

"That's correct."

"So you're….you're assuming I'll propose?"

Jenny's eyes grew round. "Oh, no. A lady never assumes anything. But when you do. I'll be ready."

Nathan sat back in his chair and scratched his head. He looked up at Lucas, who was trying not to laugh.

"Not another word from you," the Mountie said.

"I didn't say anything," Lucas replied, taking another sip of tea. "Brother."

"Oh, good! You're all here," Bill said as he entered the Queen of Hearts and then sat down at a fourth chair at their table.

"What's up?" Nathan asked.

"I just got off the phone with Captain Cantrell in New Orleans. Looks like they have a break in the case."

"Really?" Jenny said, sitting up. "It's been two months. I figured they were finished."

"No. It seems that some of the documents in the returned boxes had been placed there and stamped using a seal-stamp stolen from the police department. They were numbered just the same as what was taken so that it would match the catalog, but they were crime scene photos from the Storyville area. Cantrell believes that whoever is responsible for taking the items is the guy we're looking for."

"The guy who hired Martyn?" Lucas asked.

"Exactly."

"Well, that's wonderful," Jenny said. "That means they've caught him."

Bill tightened his jaw. "Not really. At least not yet. They have it narrowed down to a few men. And, given your relationship with Solomon Drake and experience at the hands of these men, he'd like for you to help provide them with information or even help identify the guy – assuming he was an associate of Drakes."

Jenny looked serious. "Well, I'll help in any way that I can."

"See, here's the thing. They want you to go New Orleans."

"New Orleans?" she asked.

"Yes."

Jenny thought for only a moment. "Tell him I'll go."

"Oh, no. Out of the question," Nathan replied.

"What?" Jenny asked.

"You're not going to go. It's too dangerous."

"Nathan!"

"No, Jenny. Nathan is right," Lucas replied. "These men have been in the business of kidnapping and murder for three decades now. They get you down there and know you're there to testify against them – they wouldn't hesitate to hurt you. You have to think of Luke and Jo."

"Lucas. Nathan. I am thinking of them," she responded. "And as long as I'm out here and they know I'm out here and possibly able to identify the man, then there will always be danger over our lives. I lived that kind of life, and I refuse to allow my children to."

"Then, I'm going with you," Nathan said.

"Oh, no, you aren't," Lucas replied. "I'll go."

"Excuse me? You're not law enforcement."

"No. But I can protect her, and I shouldn't have to remind you that when a man and a woman are courting and not married, it is not appropriate for them to be spending so much time together alone without a chaperone."

"Since when?" Bill asked. "You spent the night at Elizabeth's when we were running the undercover operation on Wyman Walden."

"Yes. And Jack was there with us the whole time, and the Coulters were just next door and knew I was there."

"So?" Nathan asked.

"So? Just ask Rosemary. The walls in Elizabeth's rowhouse are as thin as paper."

"Yes, well, you took Elizabeth to Union City alone overnight."

"As her friend."
"Uh, huh."

Lucas huffed. "She had her own suite, and I had a room on the other side of the hotel, and we maintained all levels of propriety."

"And you don't think we wouldn't?" Nathan said.

"It's we would," Lucas replied, sounding a bit like his mother at that moment. "But may I remind you again that it doesn't matter whether you would or wouldn't, or even if you physically could – it's all about how it could be perceived by others. You forbade me when I was injured from staying at Elizabeth's, despite the fact that, physically, it would have been impossible for me to act on anything if I was inclined to do so. And what's good for the goose is good for the gander. The answer is no. You will not travel with my sister alone."

Nathan looked over toward Bill, who was sitting back and smirking. "He's got you there."

Grant rolled his eyes. "Great. You're some help."

"What if we all went?" Jenny asked.

"What do you mean?" Nathan said.

"You and Bill could share a cabin, and Lucas and I could share a cabin. I'm sure there will be times Captain Cantrell will want to speak with law enforcement alone, and during those times, Lucas and I can stay together, and he can keep me safe."

Bill looked over toward Lucas. "You feeling up to a trip like this?"

Lucas stretched his arms and upper chest. "I feel fine. All healed up."

Jenny smiled and patted his knee. "So, it's a go?"

Lucas looked at the men, and each nodded. "I'll just go let Elizabeth know. We shouldn't be gone long, should we? The wedding is in three weeks."

Bill shook his head. "The longest part will be the train ride. Beyond that, maybe two or three days?"

Lucas mentally calculated the time it would take in his head and nodded. He should be able to be back in Hope Valley with time to spare before the wedding.

"I'll just go inform Elizabeth. Keep an eye on little Jack?" he said to Jenny.

"You've got it."

Lucas appeared a little nervous as he looked toward the door, but with a deep inhale to bolster him, he was on his way.

Crossing the street from the Queen of Hearts, Bouchard mentally rehearsed what he was going to tell his fiancée, knowing she would likely not want him to go and expecting that she herself might even insist on going. His answer to the latter question was a firm 'no.' New Orleans was a dangerous town at times as it was, and this trip would possibly be fraught with even more danger. He couldn't risk having her go down there with him. Not with everything that had gone on.

Stepping onto the porch of the Coulter building, Lucas was so distracted that he didn't even bother knocking before stepping into the room. But what he didn't know was at that precise moment, Rosemary was leading Elizabeth out of the back room and into the front so that Lee could see the bride in her gown.

"Lucas!" Elizabeth gasped.

"Elizabeth!" he froze.

"Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no!" Rosemary said, turning Elizabeth quickly around and promptly shoving her back into the back room. "You need to get out of here, Lucas!" she said.

"Get out of here?"

"Yes! Now!" Rosie yelled. "Don't you know it's bad luck?!"

Lucas considered her words and then nodded. "Oh, yes. I….I'll just be going then."

"Now!" Rosie barked. "Shoo!"

Lucas looked helplessly toward Lee, and Coulter shrugged. Bouchard nodded once and quickly made his way outside.

Later that evening, the foursome had an opportunity to gather together again at the Coulters' house for dinner.

"It was nice of Robert to take care of Jack this evening, but I'll save him some of the cake I made, Elizabeth." Elizabeth looked up at the hostess and smiled.

"This chicken is delicious, Rosemary. I would suggest giving the recipe to Gustave, but I don't want to have to sleep with one eye open." Lucas's words brought laughter around the table as everyone finished up their meal.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Just wait until you taste my cinnamon cake for dessert," Rosemary replied with a flourish as she and Elizabeth rose from the table and removed the plates. "I still can't believe you saw the wedding dress today. You know that's bad luck," she added.

"I didn't see the dress- at least, not the whole dress," Lucas responded, looking for some assistance from Lee, who threw up his hands in surrender with a smirk. No help was forthcoming.

"Then how much of the dress did you see?" Elizabeth asked as she approached the table again.

He wanted to lie, but he was certain his fiancée would see right through it. "Only the bodice…and part of the sleeves…um, some of the skirt portion."

Elizabeth cocked her head to the side with a cheerless expression. "In other words, you saw the entire dress."

"I didn't see the back, but mainly because Rosemary pushed you back into the storage room so quickly. But, yes. I guess perhaps I saw... most of it. I'm sorry, Mon Amour. But I will say you looked stunning, and I can't wait to see you in it again when we say I do."

"It's a good thing you're handsome," she replied as she walked over and kissed the top of his head, then returned to Rosemary.

"Nice job getting out of that one," Lee whispered, loud enough for only Lucas to hear and bringing a head nod in reply.

Moments later, the ladies rejoined the men, bringing plates of cake with them. "I'll get the tea," Elizabeth said as she went back to the kitchen and returned with four cups of the steaming beverage. "It goes especially well with this cake."

The room was quiet as everyone enjoyed a few bites of the sweet, then Lucas spoke. "I almost forgot to mention, I will be making a trip to New Orleans with Jenny to help with the investigation regarding the missing paperwork on her case."

Elizabeth's cup landed hard enough to hear the spoon rattle as she placed it on the table. "New Orleans? How long have you known about this?"

"Not long. I tried to tell you earlier, but...you know...the dress happened."

"And just how long will you be away?"

"I don't exactly know. A few days, plus travel time."

Rosemary and Lee remained quiet as they looked back and forth as if watching a tennis match.

"A few days plus travel time," Elizabeth repeated. "Well, I am going with you. Rosemary, I'll need you to watch Jack while I'm gone.

"Of course, I..." Rosemary began but was interrupted by Lucas.

"No."

Lucas's reply was spoken with finality as he took another sip of his beverage.

"Excuse me? Why are you telling me no?"

"Because one, it could be dangerous, and two, you have a class to teach. It's the end of the school year."

"It is easy enough to get a substitute for school."

"I'm sure it is, but that takes me back to number one."

"How is it too dangerous for me and not for you? I'm going with you."

"No, you are not."

"Lucas, our wedding is in three weeks."

"This should be over well before then."

"Should. Should?" Elizabeth stood.

Lee and Rosemary look at each other, then back at their dinner guests who continued to bicker, Lucas now standing on his feet as well. Lee shrugged, his elbow leaning on the table, then placed his chin on his open palm as he continued to watch the disagreement unfold.

"We are cutting it too close," Elizabeth continued.

"Then maybe we should postpo-" The words died on Lucas's lips as the glare that he received from his fiancée chilled him to the bone, the silence which followed being louder than the actual argument.

Finally, Rosemary broke the quiet, taking Elizabeth's side. "If you two keep postponing this wedding, it will never take place."

"Maybe it shouldn't," Thornton stated.

"Elizabeth, please be reasonable," Lucas said softly as he took her hands in his. "Closing this case is important, and young girls' lives are at stake. I won't be gone long, and we will be married as soon as I return." Their eyes met and held for what seemed an eternity before she finally nodded. The smile that followed was almost imperceptible. He sighed with relief.

"When are you leaving?" Lee asked.

"The day after tomorrow," was Lucas's reply, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth's.

"Please be careful," she said gently as Lucas lifted her hands up and kissed each one.

"Good! It's settled. Now, let's finish our dessert," Rosemary said happily as Lucas and Elizabeth once more took their seats.

Hope Valley Church was full of happy faces the next morning, the general mood of the congregation matching the warm weather outside. Joseph's sermon text was from the book of Ruth 1:16 whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge.

"You see, Ruth chose the better path. She didn't know what tomorrow would hold or even if she'd be alive to tell about it, but she chose to go with Naomi, love compelling her. And so it is with us. As Christians, we can't allow fear and uncertainty to hold us back and keep us from doing what God has for us to do – for the good book says that our days are numbered and we're not going to go one moment sooner or one moment later than His appointment time. And so, we should live by faith, knowing that God will provide. And if, by chance, we find that this road takes us to our great gettin' up morning…all the better. We will be in the presence of Jesus, and we can hear Him say, 'well done.'"

After the service, Elizabeth prepared a light lunch for her, Lucas, and Little Jack, and then the trio spent some time playing outside before Lucas needed to leave to get packed for his morning train. She was gratified to know that he had contacted his friend Jeanette in New Orleans, who had secured travel documents for them that would allow them to travel under assumed names. The last thing they wanted was for someone possibly watching train passenger lists to realize that Jenny Bouchard was traveling to New Orleans.

At four o'clock, a sweaty and muddy Bouchard reached down and picked up his Buddy to say goodbye.

"I want for you to be a good little Gentleman while I'm gone, okay?"

"Yes, sir. I will be a good little boy and not cause anyone any trouble."

"That's my Jack," he said, smiling then kissing the boy on the cheek before setting him down. "And always remember, no matter what. I love you, and your mama loves you very much. Nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too, Buddy. You be safe!"

"I will be, Buddy. I will."

Elizabeth felt her heart tighten as she watched him drive away.

The next morning, Elizabeth was finishing up the morning dishes when she heard a knock on the door. Lucas had spoken to her on the phone a short while earlier, just before he left with Bill, Jenny, and Nathan for Union City to catch their train. She missed him terribly already. Stepping away from the basin, she dried her hands and went to the door to see who it was. She didn't have time for a proper greeting as her next-door neighbor pushed straight past her and into the house.

"Good morning, Elizabeth. I was wondering if I could borrow a couple of eggs for Lee's breakfast."

Elizabeth raised one eyebrow in incredulity. "Now, Rosemary, I happen to know you have plenty of eggs, so why are you really here?"

Rosemary tilted her head and sighed. "Silly me. I don't know why I came up with that story when the truth is much easier. You were so quiet yesterday at church when I saw you; I just wanted to see if you were alright."

Elizabeth looked down at the floor and then back toward her friend. "Please, sit," Elizabeth said quietly as she led her friend to the sofa. "Jack is upstairs playing in his room."

"I'll be sure and say hello when we are finished. You've been a bit out of sorts since Lucas told you he was leaving town. I know that look- you are still planning to go with him, aren't you?"

Standing to her feet, Elizabeth began pacing. "Rosemary, I want to go. I feel the need to be with him on this trip. All I keep thinking about is when I left Jack behind on our honeymoon and then never saw him again. None of us knows how long we have, and if I was to lose Lucas too..." The tears in her eyes finished her statement.

Rosemary stood and took her hand. "Then you should go."

"But Lucas said..."

"I know what Lucas said. But you obviously feel quite strongly about this. And once you are on the train, he will be glad you are there. I'm sure everything will be okay, but it will be better if you're together rather than you spending your days worrying about him while he's gone. Go get packed, and we will take you to the taxi stand. Hurry up."

Squeezing her friend's hand, Elizabeth smiled brightly. "You're right. And I know you will take good care of Little Jack for me. You always do."

Rosemary misted up. "Of course. Now, shoo. You don't want to miss that train."

At her words, Elizabeth rushed up the stairs, bringing a laugh from Rosemary as she went back home to tell Lee they were about to have a house guest.

"How long will you be gone, Mama?"

"I'm not exactly sure, Jack, but you be good for Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Lee."

"I will, Mama."

It was a short trip, and they were soon exiting the car. Joseph and Minnie were standing there waiting. Minnie stepped forward and took Elizabeth's hands. "I know you are nervous about leaving, but the school will be in good hands while you are gone."

"I wouldn't be comfortable leaving it with anyone else, Minnie. Thank you."

Joseph shook her hand with a smile but said nothing.

Ned and Florence were headed to the mercantile from the café. "You are going on a trip?" Florence asked.

"Yes, to New Orleans. I'm glad you are here so I could say goodbye."

"You make it sound so final. Have fun and hurry home." The two hugged her briefly and continued on their way.

"Rosemary, Lee, I could never tell you how much you two mean to me. You are always there when I need you." Lee embraced her briefly and stepped back as Rosemary held her for a few moments.

"I will miss you, and I will take good care of your son for you."

"I know you will. You are the only one I trust to do so."

Just then, Elizabeth looked down and saw Little Jack reach his arms up. She obliged him by lifting him into her arms.

"It's been a long time since you wanted me to pick you up, Jack," she said as she held him close. He put his arms around her and squeezed.

"I just wanted to remember the way you feel while you are gone."

The words touched her, and her eyes welled as she held her son.

"It's time to go, ma'am."

"Yes. Yes, of course." Kissing Jack on the cheek, Elizabeth placed him on the ground and squeezed Rosemary's hand once more.

"Farewell, my friend. Until we meet again." Rosemary's words were said with a flair for the dramatic and yet Elizabeth saw the tears in her eyes as she stepped into the taxi.

"Goodbye, everyone. I love you." Elizabeth waved as they rode away, keeping her eyes on her son until he was out of sight. Then she turned her eyes forward and looked to her long journey ahead.

As they turned for the café, Minnie took Joseph's arm. "You're very quiet this morning."

"Just reflective. We should pray for our friends' safety this trip."

"Of course. Every day. You seem deep in thought, husband. Anything you want to share?"

Patting her hand, he slightly smiled. "Not at this time. But soon. Now, we need to get to work."

"Are you comfortable?"

Lucas's question brought a laugh from his sister. "Well, you did get the largest cabin they had, so I would hope so."

"It's a long trip, and I wanted you to be able to relax."

"Thank you, big brother," Jenny replied as she stretched out her legs just as the train started moving. "The journey begins."

Just as Lucas pulled out a worn novel from his bag, there was a knock on the door. "It's probably Nathan complaining that our cabin is better than his accommodations," Lucas said as he stood and opened the door.

But it wasn't the constable.

"Elizabeth! What on earth...?"

"I couldn't let you go without me."

"But I told you..."

"I know. And I told you I wanted to come, so here I am. And I'm not leaving."

Lucas knew it was useless to argue and took her in his arms, loving the feel of her and secretly glad she decided to defy his wishes.