Back in Hope Valley, with Abigail & Bill

Bill rushed through the doors of Abigail's office, waving a piece of gray paper in his hand.

"Bill, what's going on?"

"Someone at the Hamilton Bank wants to meet with us to discuss a bond?"

Automatically, Abigail remembered the news she read in her newspaper after taking care of the cafe. Her face automatically starts to pale, the sunlight flashing through the windows enunciating the wrinkles on her pale forehead, and her blonde wavy hair, some parts more brighter than other, flowed to bobb just on top of her shoulders.

She placed the thin pile of folders on her desk before stepping around it, in front of Bill, hands crossed to the front of her chest.

"Should we talk to Jack…."

"He was the one who showed me the newspaper before the telegram came in…. But, yes we should probably mention this to him sooner than later"

Bill said, his deep brown eyes gazing straight into Abigails. Abigail removed her eyes from Bill's and gazed her eyes outside the window opposite her, near the door, the curtains partially covering it. But through the center of the curtains, she saw the sun shimmering across Hope Valley across the streets. People strolled down the small roads, couples holding on to strollers, or holding hands. It's unfortunate that the couple of this town ain't walking through the street holding hands. The pain shot a pain in her heart, and she tried to get her concentration back into her office room. She glanced down at the floor, her brain cells active, thinking of possible ways she could do this.

"Abigail"

She glanced up, at the sound of Bill's soothing voice. She glanced up into Bill's brown eyes. It was filled with calmness, and his voice was hushed.

"It will be ok, you don't have to fret so much about it. We don't even know if these people are here to make a sketchy deal or not"

"They could take advantage of us without our knowledge!"

Abigail countered back. She felt her heartbeat racing as she walked back behind her desk and slumped in the chair. She looked up at Bill, who walked right in front of her desk, knees bumping against the rim of the table.

¨We´ll be prepared, and if it is sketchy, then we will go visit the Hamilton Bank. And don´t forget, I am a Lawyer. If need be, we will get Jack involved once he returns with the kids from the camping trip¨

Abigail gave him a grim smile before turning her attention back towards the pile of papers stacked up on her desk. A golden lock turned flipping against her cheek. She gently took her quill and started signing off the documents. She heard footsteps against the wooden floor, and heard it stop. Then when the door shut, she put her quill down, placed her cheek in the palm of her hand, wondering what her next steps would be.

Back in the forest

Elizabeth stood up, shakily on the floor, brushing off broken leaves and sticks and mud of her brown coat. As she wiped beads of sweat off her forehead, and pulled her hand away, she noticed her palm which was used to caress it, now had pulled back blood wiped on her fingers.

She shakily brought her pale dirty hand to her coat, wiping off the blood on her coat, leaving a dark shade trace behind on her caramel color coat.

What was she going to do now? Find Julie. Her inner voice brought her back to reality, as she shakily brought her hand to her hair, which was now all frizzed up. Elizabeth felt her heart beat race, and she let out a small whimper. Feeling her knees buckling, she wrapped her arms around a nearby tree. Her knees fell to the muddy, grassy ground, arms wrapped around the tree.

Elizabeth's blue eyes searching for any possible site, when all of a sudden she heard a voice coming from behind her. It shook her to the core.

"Alright kids, lets go this way"

I can't believe I forgot about the annual camping. Her heartbeat started racing, unsure what to do next. If Ms D was here, then either Jack or Frank must be helping the boys. I hope it's not Jack. She thought, even though she knew most likely it would be him. Maybe Jack would even help me ... .She let herself get distracted from her impossible thoughts then shook her head, shaking off the thoughts that were filling up her brain capacity.

She carefully pushed herself off the branch off the tree, dragging one leg behind she slowly made her way of the patch she knew the children would come to. Sharp pains of small needles poked inside her skin through her legs. Limping, Elizabeth made herself of the woods, searching for a blue or brown coat, or any vision of Julie's Auburn hair.

Nothing in sight. Panic started bubbling inside of her. Elizabeth carefully walked her way across the woods, and then once she could hear no footsteps behind her, with as much voice capacity she has she let out a small screech

"Julie"

Which came out barely as a whisper. She felt hope being withdrawn from her, as she shakily made her way past branches, bending over so as to not get scratches. When all of a sudden she felt herself halt at the sight in front of her.

Julie was sitting on a log, her back up straight. Hands clenched in a fist in her lap. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her eyes were down on the muddy ground. She felt her heart racing when she saw him. He was pacing from one tree to another, his hat lay strewn on the floor, next to Julie's feet.

Elizabeth stood there for moments. Watching the love of her life walking back and forward, his backpack next lay right next to him.

She had no idea how long she was standing here. She couldn't seem to get her eyes off him. Suddenly Jack stopped. His face was grim, his eyes were nearly watering. Elizabeth didn't even realize Julie had noticed her until she felt her brittle arms wrapping her arms around her.

The aroma of mud, horses and a small hint, but not so strong of Lavender brushed up her nose. But she couldn't think of that. All she could think was of the man standing in front of her. She pulled away from Julie, using her eyes to question Jack.

Julie grinned. She was able to understand Elizabeth's thought process. This left Elizabeth feeling flabbergasted. Julie took a step back, giving the air to flow in between Jack and Elizabeth.

There was an awkward connection between them. But it was electric, even though It felt like they haven't seen each other in years, when it was hardly 2 months.

Both not realizing it, as they both took a step forward, the sounds of crunching leaves not being absorbed into their brains. Time had stopped for them.

Not realizing it they were now face to face. Jack took a step closer, almost breathing the same air. Elizabeth didn't even realize Jack had taken out his white cloth, until she felt a sharp pain wincing through her skin, at the top edge of her head as Jack pressed the cloth tight against her forehead, his other gloved hand coming to wrap around her slim waist. His gray eyes never leaving the light shade of blue which were glimmering tears up at him.

Jack pulled the cloth back, a dark spot of red lay in the middle of the cloth, he just pressed the sides together and placed it in his side pocket.

They both leaned in. They were so close, they were basically breathing the same air. Elizabeth turned her head back, searching for Julie, realizing she had made herself missing.

For the first time in such a long time, she felt relieved that Julie wasn´t in the same room as her. She turned back quickly. She pushed herself closer to him, her chest pressed tight forward against him. She moved her hand down his shoulders to down his chest, feeling his hard muscles pressed tight against his coat and shirt. She could feel the heat being pushed off it. And it definitely wasn't the weather.

They both leaned in. A gentle press felt against her lips. But then she opened up her lips slightly against his, pressing her palm on the back of his jacket, pushing him deeper against her. He complied. The kiss was getting deeper and messy, as she felt his fingers getting tangled in the hair trestles, pushing it up. Elizabeth's hands went from his shoulder, to just at the edge of his back.

Their hearts were racing as Elizabeth felt her body being lifted up, as she wrapped her legs around Jack's torso. He held her there, with his palms against her bottom, gently squeezing it under his touch. All of a sudden, Elizabeth felt her back against the hard rough feeling of a trunk of the tree, as Jack's lips were moving forcefully against hers. And she was complying.

A loud gunshot echoed in the air, as birds screeched from trees up into the cloudy skies. A woman's scream echoed throughout the air, as Jack and Elizabeth forced each other apart, with swollen lips & messy hair.

They took their time to control their breathing before gathering their stuff and running to the sound. Elizabeth felt a pain rise up her leg from before, ignoring it, worries thudding in her head for Julie.

Elizabeth felt a salty tear against the side of her mouth, the emotions all bubbling up against her. She brushed it off, and placed her hand in Jack's big hands, his fingers wrapped tight against it. She could feel the pressure of his knuckles against hers.