It was almost the end of the school day and Elizabeth was sitting at her desk while all of her students finished up their math homework. They were working in groups to finish the assignment and study for the test that was coming up at the end of the week. Elizabeth was just catching up on some grading when the door to the schoolhouse opened. When Elizabeth looked up, she was surprised and delighted to see none other than Nathan himself walk into the room.

"What brings you here at this time of day, Constable?" Elizabeth said as she stood, a teasing smile on her face.

"I need to have a few words with the schoolteacher," Nathan replied, playing along. He walked right up to the desk and stopped, aware that all the eyes in the room were on him. "Do you know where she is?"

"I think I might," Elizabeth answered, squarely meeting his gaze as they stood across the desk from each other, as if daring him to kiss her in front of all the students. As always, Nathan seemed to read her mind.

"Challenge accepted, Mrs. Thornton," he whispered, his voice so low so that only she could hear. And then he leaned across the desk and kissed her cheek.

"Nathan Grant!" Elizabeth burst out, shocked that he actually followed through with it, even though it wasn't a real kiss. There was a mixture of cheers and ewws from the students, the loudest cheer being from Allie herself. Nathan grinned this adorably goofy grin at her and Elizabeth felt her heart melt. How did I get so lucky?

"You're the one who dared me, Mrs. Thornton," Nathan replied, leaning back, his eyes sparkling.

"Did you need to speak with me, Constable?" Elizabeth asked, giving him her best teacher look.

"Ah, yes. I almost forgot. I just have one question to ask you." He nodded towards the corner of the schoolhouse where they would have a little more privacy.

"Back to work, everyone," Elizabeth told her students with a smile before following Nathan to the corner. "I cannot believe you just did that!" Elizabeth burst out, playfully nudging his shoulder as soon as they made it to the corner.

"What? You're the one who started it." Nathan smirked and Elizabeth just smiled and rolled her eyes.

"What did you really want to talk to me about?" she finally asked, clasping her hands together to keep from reaching out and taking Nathan's hands in hers.

"I wanted to ask if you wanted to have dinner tonight," Nathan said, settling his hands on his belt as he glanced down at her tenderly. "Just you and me."

"Just the two of us?" Elizabeth slowly started to smile.

"Joseph said that he and Minnie would be glad to have the kids over," Nathan added. "I was thinking maybe we could have a bonfire in the backyard." For a second, Elizabeth didn't say anything. She was just overcome with love for the sweet and thoughtful man in front of her.

"Unless you would rather do something else," Nathan rushed on, when Elizabeth didn't reply. "If you'd rather-"

"A bonfire sounds perfect, Nathan," Elizabeth interrupted him, laying her hand on his arm for a split second.

"Really?" Nathan's eyes lit up and his expression brightened. Elizabeth chuckled.

"Really."

"I guess, I'll see you later then?"

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the boyish grin on Nathan's face. "I guess you will." Nathan reached out then and gave her hand a squeeze, strong enough that Elizabeth couldn't miss it, but quick enough that anybody else would. Nathan smiled one more time before he turned and headed back the way he had come. Elizabeth walked over to her desk and watched as Nathan ruffled Jack's hair as he walked by and then gave Allie's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"I'll see you later, Al," he said to her.

"You better be careful, Dad," Allie replied, looking up with raised eyebrows. She glanced deliberately between her dad and her teacher. "Or people are gonna start talkin'." Nathan's eyebrows shot up and he whipped his head around to look at Elizabeth, whose jaw was open in shock. Both of them had heard those words before. Elizabeth glanced at Allie and the teenager just smirked. Where in the world did she get that? Nathan's wide eyes told Elizabeth that he was thinking the same thing.

"See you later, Dad," Allie said breezily, as if she hadn't just dropped a bombshell on the two of them.

"Bye, Allie." Nathan shared one more puzzled look with Elizabeth before he shrugged, waved, and walked out of the schoolhouse. Elizabeth just shook her head and smiled to herself as she watched him walk away.

"What did Dad want to talk to you about?" It was the end of the day and Elizabeth was cleaning up the classroom. Little Jack was off on a riding lesson with Bill and Allie had offered to stay back and help Elizabeth finish up for the day. Allie helped out most days, even when Jack didn't have a riding lesson.

"He came to ask me if I wanted to have dinner with him tonight," Elizabeth replied, blushing slightly. She was glad she was dusting off the chalkboard and that her back was to Allie.

"Oh, I guess me and Jack will get to have some fun tonight then." Elizabeth knew that Allie was smirking without even turning around.

"I guess you will." Elizabeth smiled as she thought of spending time with just Nathan. It'd been a while since they'd done that.

"Good thing he was the one who asked you and not me." Even though Allie muttered the comment so quietly that it was almost a whisper, that didn't stop Elizabeth from hearing it. Elizabeth spun around, but Allie wasn't looking at her. Instead, the girl busied herself with picking up the books that were left on the desks with her good hand, since her left was still in a sling.

"Allie?" Elizabeth set down the cloth she'd been using to wipe the board as she came around the desk.

"Yeah?" Allie didn't look up and Elizabeth could see the girl press her lips into a thin line. Elizabeth walked closer. Still, the teenager didn't look up, but Allie wasn't moving anymore. Instead, she was just staring at the books in her hand.