"Jack!" Rosemary quickly followed after him as they exited the church.
"Morning, Rosemary." He slowed his steps but didn't stop as Allie had scampered off ahead of him. "Do you need something?"
"I was just going to invite you and Allie to have lunch with us. I know Elizabeth's little ones have been asking to play with Allie again."
"That's a lovely offer, but," he sighed, "I don't think Elizabeth wants anything to do with me."
She waved him off. "She doesn't know what she wants. Now that her family has gone back home, I think she needs as many supportive people around her as we can get."
"Well…" He thought about it for a moment. "Okay. We'll join you, but only so the children can play together. Please don't push Elizabeth to talk."
"You think I would do that?" Rosemary feigned surprise.
Jack just rolled his eyes playfully. "Allie and I will be at your place soon."
"Great." She grinned, giving his arm a little squeeze before hurrying back to Lee.
"Uncle Jack?" Allie asked a few minutes later as they made their way to the Coulters' house. "Do you think William can go fishing with me again?"
"I don't know, Allie-girl. We can ask."
She reached over to take his hand as they walked, swinging their arms between them. "Do you like William's mom?"
"Sure. She's nice."
"I wish I had a mom like her," Allie observed quietly.
"Allie…" He glanced down at his niece. When she first came to live with him, she often made comments about wanting her mother back. But over the years, once she realized that her mom couldn't come back, she started asking for a new mom. She saw her friends with their parents and felt like she was missing something.
If he was being honest, sometimes Jack felt like something was missing, too. Sure, he was happy with how things were. He and Allie made a good team. But he often found himself wondering what life would be like if they had someone else on their team.
What would it be like if he had someone to share his deepest thoughts with, his worries, his dreams? What would it be like to have someone in his corner no matter what?
Suddenly, an image popped into his mind: him and Elizabeth, their fingers intertwined as they watched the three children skipping ahead of them.
He shook his head, trying to clear the image from his mind. He had no right to be imagining that. Elizabeth was still married.
"Uncle Jack?" Allie's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Do you think Mrs. Coulter will have cookies?"
"I don't know, Al. We should hurry up and get over there so we can find out."
...
Elizabeth glanced out the window to check on her children. They were out back, throwing a ball around with Jack, Lee, and Allie. Even Emma was participating, her little giggle floating through the air as she tossed the ball to her brother. A slight smile played on her lips.
"It's nice that they get along so well with Allie," Rosemary observed, placing another clean dish on the shelf. "I think they're happy that you decided to stay here."
After speaking more with her family—and with Jack, after deciding it was in her best interest not to shut him out—she had come to the conclusion that, for now, her best and safest option was to stay put.
"I think I'm finally happy with the decision, too. In fact," she turned toward her friend, "I was thinking about finding a place of our own."
"Really?" She raised her eyebrows. "So you think you'll be here for a while?"
Elizabeth shrugged. "I'm still not sure, but I really don't want to impose on you and Lee any longer, and my father gave me some money, so I can afford to rent a place now."
"Well, you know we're happy to have you stay here as long as you need, but if this is what you want, then we'll help you in whatever way we can." Rosemary put a hand on her arm. "I can start looking around to see what's available. Maybe everything will work out, and you can move into one of the other row houses, and we'll still be neighbors."
She smiled. "I would love that."
"Now, I think the rest of the dishes can wait. Why don't we go join in on the fun outside?"
"Mama, catch!" William tossed the ball in her direction as soon as she stepped outside.
She jumped to the side, nearly getting hit in the shoulder. William covered his face.
"Sorry, mama!"
She chuckled, retrieving the ball from the grass and tossing it back to him. "That's okay, Willie."
"Mama!" Emma hurried over to her, gripping her leg. "I catched the ball!"
"You caught it?" she gently corrected her. "That's wonderful, Em. Are you having fun out here?"
"Uh huh." She nodded. "I like playing with Willie and Allie."
Elizabeth took a seat on the steps, lifting Emma into her lap. "I know you really wanted to go back home to your dad, but what do you think about staying here a while longer?"
She shrugged, nestling further into Elizabeth's lap.
"I just talked to Mrs. Coulter about you and me and Willie getting our own house. Do you think you'd like that?"
"Can Allie come over and play?"
Elizabeth stroked her hair. "If Constable Thornton says she can. So you think you'd like if we had our own house here?"
"Yeah." She was quiet for a few moments, watching her brother continue to play in the yard. "Mama? Will daddy live there, too?"
"No, baby. Your dad isn't going to live with us."
"Ever?" Her lower lip started to quiver and her eyes shone with tears.
Elizabeth sighed. She couldn't very well tell her sweet four-year-old that she hoped they never saw James Spencer again. "I don't know," she finally replied, hoping she would be satisfied with that answer.
"Mama?" William approached them. "Why is Emma sad?"
"She'll be okay, Willie." She motioned for him to join them on the steps. "Guess what, sweet boy."
He sat down beside her. "What?"
"I've decided that you and Emma and I are going to move into our own house here."
"Really?" His eyes lit up, his voice hopeful. "Are we staying forever?"
"I don't know about forever, but for a little while, at least."
"Yay!" he cheered.
"Now, I don't know when this move will happen. First, we need to find a house."
"I'll help," he told her. "I'll find a big house."
She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Willie. I would love for you to help find us a house."
...
The train station in Hamilton was bustling with activity. Hundreds of people were rushing to and fro as they wrangled their luggage and boarded their trains, mostly oblivious to anything going on around them. James pulled his cap over his head, ducking into a corner where he could watch some men bringing large wooden crates toward one of the platforms.
He had gone to the Thatcher house to confront them about Elizabeth's whereabouts after he heard rumors they had been visiting her. When he got there, however, he saw the crates being loaded into the back of a truck, and he decided to follow them. He didn't know for sure if the crates were being sent to Elizabeth, but he was determined to find out.
Casually, he made his way to one of the porters, one who looked young and a bit inexperienced.
"Boy!" another porter hollered at him, pointing at a crate sitting near him. "Get that over here!"
"Yes, sir." He stumbled a bit, and James hurried over to help, holding up the other side of the crate.
"Tell me, son," James said, just loud enough to be heard over the crowds, "where are these headed?"
"Alberta, sir. Town called Hope Valley."
A smile spread on James's face. "Thank you, son." Once they set the crate down, he pressed a bill into the porter's hand. "Have a nice day."
"Thank you, sir." He grinned back, studying the bill before stuffing it into his pocket. "You as well."
Hope Valley, James thought as he left the station and returned to his car. See you soon, Elizabeth.
...
"Mama? Someone's at the door," William called up the stairs.
"Don't answer it, Willie. I'll be right there." She set the quilt at the foot of the bed before descending the stairs. "Our first visitors," she smiled as she passed her son, ruffling his hair.
Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe it was fate, but the row house next to the Coulters' had become available just a few days after her conversation with Rosemary, and Elizabeth jumped at the chance to move there. Right now, the house was mostly empty, save for the few belongings she had brought from Toronto and beds for her and the children, but it was already feeling like a home.
"Who is it?" William stood on his toes to peer out the window, trying to see who was at the door.
"Let's see." She cautiously opened the door, finding a grinning Allie staring up at her, Jack standing at the base of the steps behind her.
"Hi!" Allie exclaimed. "We brought presents!"
"Oh, you didn't have to do that." She opened the door wider and took a step back, inviting them inside.
"It's not much," Jack clarified, nodding toward the basket in his hands. "I just figured you haven't really had a chance to stock up on groceries, so we brought you dinner from Abigail's."
"And I have something for William and Emma!" Allie held up two small packages wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbon.
"That's so kind of you. Um, I don't have a table yet, so I suppose you can just put the food somewhere in the kitchen. I'll go get Emma."
Jack set the basket next to the stove. "So, William. Are you excited to have your own house now?"
"Yes." He nodded emphatically. "I get my own bed again! And mama said grandma and grandpa are sending us things to put in our house."
"That's great, William."
"Hi, Mr. Mountie," Emma's little voice floated across the room as Elizabeth carried her down the steps.
"Hi, Emma," he greeted her. "Allie and I brought a few things for you and your brother and your mom. I hope that's okay."
"What is it?" she asked as Elizabeth lowered her to the floor.
Allie handed one package to Emma and one to William. "Go ahead and open them," she enthused. "I hope you like them.
Emma tore into the paper, while William was a little more careful with his.
"A doll?" Emma looked at the toy in her hands, tears welling up in her eyes.
"My uncle said you had to leave your favorite doll at home. I know it probably isn't the same as your doll, but she was my favorite when I was little."
The little girl hugged the doll to her chest, a smile spreading across her face. "Thank you."
William's mouth dropped open at the handmade wooden car toy he was holding. "This is for me?"
"Uh huh." Allie replied. "Uncle Jack makes those sometimes."
"You made that?" Elizabeth asked quietly, looking more closely at the toy. It had been expertly carved and painted; there were even little painted details on the sides.
He shrugged and ducked his head, trying to hide the blush rising in his cheeks. "It's just a hobby."
"You're very talented, Constable."
"Thank you, Allie. Thank you, Mr. Mountie." William took a seat on the floor, rolling the car back and forth.
"Well," Jack moved toward the door. "Allie and I should get going. We just wanted to bring you those things. Enjoy your dinner, and congratulations on the house."
"You could stay," Elizabeth blurted out. "I mean, it looks like you brought a lot of food, and I know the children would like to play with Allie."
"We wouldn't want to impose."
"You aren't imposing," she assured him. "I invited you."
"Yeah! It's like a party!" William stated.
Jack chuckled. "Well, in that case, we'd love to stay for dinner."
"Great." She smiled. "I'll go get a blanket, and we can make it a picnic."
...
"I'm glad to see Emma likes the doll," Jack said when he saw Elizabeth and the children in town the following day. "Allie was so excited to give it to her."
"It was very kind of her." She reached down and stroked Emma's hair. The little girl gave a shy smile and hugged the doll tighter to her chest. "I don't think Emma's put it down since she received it. Even when I checked on her last night, she was sleeping with it in her arms."
"How was your first night in the new house?"
"It was okay." She let out a nervous laugh. "Don't get me wrong. I'm very grateful to have a place for me and the children, but it was too quiet. And then these two," she motioned toward William and Emma, "came into my room in the middle of the night, because they aren't used to having their own room." She wouldn't admit in front of the children that she also lay awake most of the night, fearing that every little noise was actually James trying to break in.
"I'm sorry that you didn't have a restful night."
She shrugged. "It'll just take some time for all of us to settle in. I think it'll be good, though. We really need a fresh start."
"Well, let me know if there's anything that the three of you need."
"Can we play with Allie today?" William asked, big brown eyes pleading.
Jack chuckled. "You aren't tired of playing with her yet?" he teased.
William shook his head. "No. I want to go fishing again."
"Maybe this weekend, Willie." Elizabeth put a hand on his shoulder. "But for now, we need to get to the dress shop, and I'm sure Constable Thornton needs to get to work, too."
The little boy sighed. "Okay. Bye, Mr. Mountie."
Jack gave him a smile. "Bye, William. Bye, Emma." He started to walk away, waving at Elizabeth. "Bye."
She waved back, watching him for a few moments. Mr. Yost came out of the Mercantile and called for him, running over to hand him a telegram. Jack looked at it, and his face went grim. He took one last glance back at Elizabeth before hurrying to the jail.
"Okay, you two. Let's go." She took their hands, and they started heading toward the dress shop, pausing when the stagecoach rumbled down the street.
Suddenly, Emma squealed, dropping Elizabeth's hand and running full speed toward the stage. Elizabeth's blood froze at the word that came out of her little girl's mouth.
"Daddy!"