After the festival, the whole town helped to clean everything and put all the food away. The large booths were left on the edge of town until Lee and his men could take them apart to save the lumber. Soon the center of town looked just like it had before. Elizabeth was amazed at how quickly everyone came together to help with the festival. It was one of the things she loved about living in Hope Valley.

Rosemary had picked up Jack from Florence and Molly so they both could head home and she put him in his buggy while Elizabeth said her goodbyes to all the children and thanked them for their great work. She told them all she would see them on Monday and she walked over to where Rosemary was standing.

"Are you ready to go home?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes, where is Lee?"

"He was going to stop in the office for a little while. He had some things to look into. I told him I would meet him later."

"In that case, would you like to come to my house and have some coffee?"

"That sounds wonderful, let's do that."

The two of them walked back to Elizabeth's row house talking about the festival. It was such a beautiful day. Elizabeth was grateful that they had good weather that day as she had been concerned having it in the street that it would rain. She didn't want to disappoint the children by having to cancel. Jack was asleep by the time they got to the house. Elizabeth carried him inside and set him in the small bassinet she had downstairs for his naps. She went to the kitchen to get the coffee as Rosemary sat at her table.

Elizabeth carried the coffee with the cream and sugar. She reached for two cups and saucers from her counter before sitting down. Rosemary poured the coffee for both of them. The two friends had shared coffee together so many times that Elizabeth knew exactly how Rosemary wanted her coffee so she added the cream and sugar.

"Wasn't that amazing how the space for the library was donated to the town?" Rosemary said.

"It is, but I wonder who would do such a kind and generous thing. I can't think of anyone who would have the money to be able to do that."

"What about your parents Elizabeth?"

"No, it couldn't be them. I never called them to tell them about wanting a library for the town. I planned to call them later if we were able to have a library. I had a lot of books in my old bedroom in Hamilton that I was going to ask them to send to me. I didn't have a chance to call yet with all the planning for the festival."

"Hmmm. A mystery to solve! You know I love mysteries," Rosemary said excitedly.

Elizabeth laughed, "You sure do, I will need to make sure there are a collection of mysteries when the library opens."

"Yes, please do," Rosemary said as the women shared their coffee, enjoying the afternoon together.

––––––––

Nathan and Allie took Gabe to their favorite fishing spot after church on Sunday. Allie was thrilled to have a chance to try her new fishing pole. She had told everyone at church about how her uncle had won the fishing pole for her at the festival. No one was surprised though, since the DING the bell made was loud enough to hear throughout the festival and Nathan was the only one to win that game that day.

Even though Gabe was on the other side of the festival, he heard the sound and looked over to where Nathan was standing with Elizabeth. He saw the hug they shared after he won and the smiles they both had. Gabe knew his friend kept a lot of things to himself but he was surprised if something was going on with the schoolteacher, that Gabe didn't know about it.

"So you and Elizabeth Thornton seem close?"

"We're friends Gabe."

"Uh huh, and do you hug all your friends like that?"

Nathan looked at Gabe with this face turning pale, "It wasn't, I mean there nothing going on. She lost her husband. I'm a Mountie."

"And? You can see the look on her face that there is something there."

"No Gabe. I can't do this again."

"What do you mean again?"

Nathan sighed, "The rejection. I didn't tell you but there was a woman I was seeing when I was at my last posting."

"What? Are you serious?"

Nathan put his head down. He hadn't told anyone about what had happened. Maybe it was finally time to let it out. He looked over to where Allie was fishing to make sure she was ok and that Gabe and he were far enough way not to be overheard.

"I was stationed in a town just outside of Fort Clay. There was a woman, Margaret, who worked in the mercantile there. We had become friends and one day I asked her on a date. I never told Allie about it, wanting to protect her. She just knew that we were friends. We had gone on a few dates and I could tell that I was starting to have feelings for her. Shortly after that I heard about the tragedy at Fort Clay and Jack Thornton's death. The people at headquarters talked about how he left behind a pregnant wife and how difficult it was to fill the posting. I asked about the town and it sounded like a wonderful place for Allie to grow up, a place where we could have a future. I volunteered for the posting. When I told Margaret about the posting, I asked if she would come visit or ever consider moving. She told me that the dates we had were nice but she could never love a Mountie."

"Nathan you know that wasn't about you right?"

"It hurt. Being a Mountie is my job, but it isn't who I am. I love it, don't get me wrong. It is an honor and a privilege every day I put on the serge. But to be told I couldn't be with someone because of my job- I can't take the risk of Elizabeth thinking that too."

"Shouldn't that be her choice," Gabe asked.

"Gabe, it doesn't matter. I doubt that Elizabeth feels anything in that way towards me." Nathan went back to fishing, walking closer to Allie to see how she was doing.

Gabe sighed. He had a feeling that there was more going on between his friend and Elizabeth. He would let them figure it out on their own but hopefully the next time he came to visit things would be different.

––––––

Gabe stayed for dinner Sunday night and left before the sun was up on Monday. He wanted to make it back to Brookfield early in the day so he could get caught up on the things he had missed while he was gone. He had told Allie goodbye when she said goodnight and promised her that he would come back soon. Nathan was up early as he usually was to see Gabe before he left. Nathan promised to call Gabe if they needed help with the danger Nathan hoped would stay away from Hope Valley.

After walking Allie to school, Nathan walked over to Lee's office. He had an idea that he wanted to talk to him about and he was hoping he was in his office today. He knocked on the door and walked in when Lee motioned for him to enter. Lee was finishing up a phone call and Nathan stood by the door until he was done.

"Hi Nathan, what brings you to my office?"

"Hi Lee, I was wondering if you had a chance to do anything with the booths from the festival?"

"Not yet, I have been busy with a new contract we got in last week. I put off starting it with the festival but I had to get my men on it first thing this morning so we can get everything done by the deadline. Why do you ask?"

"I was hoping you didn't have a use for that lumber yet and you would consider letting the town have it or if I could purchase it from you."

"Of course I would donate it to the town. Do you have something planned for it?"

"Now that we have a library, I thought it would be a good idea to make some shelves for the books that we will be getting. Since that wood was already cut down to the size we would need, it would be perfect," Nathan told Lee.

"Do you need help with the shelves? I don't know if I can spare anyone right now but maybe in a few weeks?"

"No, I'm good. I have done woodworking projects in the past so a few simple shelves should be no problem. Would you have a wagon I could borrow to move the wood once the booths are taken apart?"

"Absolutely just let me know when you need it," Lee said.

Nathan shook Lee's hand and went out the door. He would get started after lunch taking everything apart. Maybe he could even start on the shelves tonight.

––––––––

Elizabeth sat on the steps of the school with a book and her lunch. She was keeping an eye on the children playing outside but also trying to enjoy the weather. It was a clear day and she liked to take the opportunity to enjoy it when she could. Since she didn't give the children homework over the weekend with the festival, there weren't papers to grade during lunch like she sometimes had.

Elizabeth looked out over the field towards town. She heard the sound of a hammer against wood. 'Where was that sound coming from?' She stood up and looked around, trying to find the sound. Behind some of the businesses, she saw Nathan standing with the booths they had used for the festival. He had removed his serge and was there in only his henley and jodhpurs. 'Was he taking them apart? Why?' she wondered. It was almost the end of her break so she couldn't investigate further. She took her cowbell from steps, ringing it for the children to come inside.