Author's note: The line "My country was made for noble hearts such as yours, no matter how small their bearers be" is from Narnia by C.S.Lewis. I am just borrowing it, it's not mine.

Thank you so much for every review! They inspire me to write as fast as I can, so keep them coming, please!

Chapter 23

Grace couldn't stop a wide, happy smile coming on her face, her cheeks flushing with warmth at the sight of Lucas.

"Good morning, Lucas", she noticed two men behind him and stepped aside, opening the doors wider "Please, come in".

As they entered, Grace quickly turned to Gustave and smiled apologetically.

"Mr. Pepin, I am Grace. Welcome. I am so sorry about yesterday", she said, reaching out her hand.

Gustave accepted her hand and shook it.

"Don't apologize, mademoiselle Grace, there is nothing to apologize for. You had every right to be upset. I hope you are feeling better this morning?", Gustave asked, his lips curling up a bit.

"I am, thanks to your cousin", with a smile, she looked back at Lucas "I don't know how to thank you for everything you did", her smile wobbled, tears shining in her eyes as she silently added "Thank you so much, Lucas".

Lucas' eyes softened at the sight of this amazing, lovely lady who was stretched to her limits ever since her childhood and yet her heart was one of the most beautiful ones he ever had pleasure of meeting.

His smile was gentle and warm, his eyes twinkling.

"Well, I could go with some thyme tea and those blueberry cookies of yours, if you insist on thanking me", he winked at her and his smile widened at her sweet laughter. Lucas gently added "Truly, there is no need to thank me, Grace. I am glad that I could help you".

Feeling her skin warming and tingling from his gentleness, Grace smiled before quickly approaching the third man in the hallway who was standing with his head down, but his eyes were curiously sneaking a peek under his eyebrows at the scene in front of him.

"And who is your friend?", Grace asked with a smile on her face.

Bill decided that it was time to reveal his identity. He looked up with a friendly smile.

"Hello, Grace" , he greeted her.

Grace gasped in surprise.

'Mr. Avery!", she smiled widely "What are you doing here?", she accepted a hug from her old friend and pulling back, she glanced between Lucas and Bill, slightly confused.

"Well, someone had to make sure that Bouchard doesn't make a fool of himself here", chuckled Bill.

"Hey!", warned Lucas, but a looped grin betrayed his true feelings.

Bill smiled and looked back at Grace.

"I got informed that he was attacked. My friend is working on the case and seeing that the Governor is from my hometown, I had to come and help", explained Bill.

Grace shook her head slightly, not sure she understood correctly.

"What…Hang on", her eyes widened, her lips forming the cutest "O" as realization dawned on her. She looked at Lucas and noticing his smile, a gasp escaped her "You are from Hope Valley?!"

Lucas sighed, pretending that he was disappointed.

"And here I thought you would remember me", he rubbed his beard a bit "Maybe Spencer will remember me".

For a moment, Grace looked lost in her thoughts as her mind looked up into a memory of the festival in Hope Valley.

Little Spencer walked around with her, his cute face sad. Fishing sheriff stars with Carson, petting Snowball as she held a fluffy bunny in her hands… Him asking her can they get a cotton candy…and then a memory of pure panic filling her senses as she realized that Spencer had run away.

She remembered running around the festival calling Spencer's name, looking around… That was when she spotted Carson standing with a few more people close by and she rushed toward him hoping he and his friends could help her find Spencer.

Lucas watched her carefully, his eyes twinkling with expectation as he waited for her to remember…

And he saw a moment realization dawned on her.

Grace's eyes widened and she gasped, looking up at him.

"It was you! You said that you will look for Spencer in the saloon, that there were many places to hide in there!", she let out a surprised laugh "You were standing just a few steps away from me, to my left…I cannot believe it!!", Grace laughed in wonder and Lucas smile widened.

"I know! Can you believe it? We didn't even talk, or met properly, but…", he smiled warmly "I remember you!"

"And I remember you!", Grace smiled happily.

A few moments passed as Grace and Lucas just stared at each other in wonder.

Bill cleared his throat, snapping them both back to reality.

Grace jumped up slightly at the sound and smiled nervously at two other men in the hallway.

"Well, this calls for some cake! And you must stay for lunch, I insist!", her smile never decreasing, she invited them to the living room, falling into a step with Lucas without even realizing it.

Bill smiled to himself, watching them as they shared glances and soft smiles. His inspector/sheriff/judge eyes read their body language better than any fortune teller at the fair.

And he felt happy for both of them

Now, the only thing they needed was a little nudge. A tiny push.

And who better to give it to them than himself?

—--

Bill chopped carrots into small cubes and grabbing the little pieces with both hands he put them in the pot to join potatoes, meat, broccoli and zucchini.

Children gasping brought his attention back at the sight of Lucas sitting down on the carpet, leaning against the wall, his feet propped up on the pillows that were scattered all around. Kids listened to him reading about Narnia, wishing they were there.

"What did Aswan say then, Wucas?", little Katie asked, her eyes wide opened in cutiousity.

"Lets find out, shall we?", Lucas smiled warmly as the little girl sitting on his left side nodded and leaned closer to see the illustrations as Lucas read Aslan' wise words to Reepicheep the Mouse "My country was made for noble hearts such as yours, no matter how small their bearers be", he looked at the kids taking the words in. He could tell that wheels in their little heads were turning around at the highest speed.

"I am small just like Weepicheep. Can my heawt be noble?", asked little Colin.

Lucas looked warmly at the little four year old boy on his right.

"Yes, it can if you be good to the others and protect the smaller ones", Lucas replied with a small smile

"Like I pwotect my Mawy?, he asked seriously and Lucas noticed him taking a hold of his three year old sister Mary who was half asleep lulled by Lucas' calming voice.

Lucas nodded, smiling warmly.

"Yes. Just like you protect Mary", he whispered, careful not to stir the little girl up.

Bill looked back at his cutting board, pretending to prepare parsley for cutting, but in his peripheral vision he saw Grace forgetting about her dough for blueberry biscuits as she was completely enthralled by the vision of Lucas talking to the little ones.

Bill followed her gaze and smiled in approval.

"He was always good with the kids. Treated them like friends, no matter the age difference. Back in Hope Valley there was no kid that wasn't smiling around him", Bill suddenly turned serious, almost upset "Well, until recently".

Those words caused Grace to look up at Bill, alarmed.

"What do you mean? What happened?", she asked.

Bill shook his head.

"Kids sided up to their teacher, blaming Lucas for leaving her heartbroken and she did nothing to correct them when it was actually her who broke things off", spat Bill "Gossipers in town had quite tongue lashing behind his back even though he went to save their precious town. And she still didn't correct anybody".

Grace felt her head spinning, Bill's voice echoing in her head.

Kids sided up to their teacher, blaming Lucas for leaving her heartbroken and she did nothing to correct them.

Oh, my God.

Lucas' ex fiancee was…

"Elizabeth Thornton?!", she breathed out looking at Bill. He simply nodded.

Grace slowly looked back at Lucas, her heart hurting as she remembered his breakdown right here, in this kitchen some time ago, when he confided to her about everything that happened.

Bill watched Grace's facial expression turning from painful into thunderous, like pain and anger fought inside her.

"How could she do that to him?!", she whispered, trying to calm down before Lucas noticed her distress. She looked at Bill, her eyes filling with tears "How could she hurt him like that?!"