The carriage jolted, and inside, Elizabeth almost fell off her seat. As she looked out the window, she could tell by the lean of the carriage that something had happened to one of the wheels.

Before moving around, she waited to see what the Driver would do, wondering how far they were from Coal Valley and if it was safe to leave their belongings and walk or ride to the town. The Driver jumped down and inspected the wheel, the same one which had needed repair and slowed down the trip in the first place.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows as the man cursed and threw his hat in the dirt; clearly, the issue was serious. "Sir, is it safe for me to climb out of the carriage?" she called, not wanting to make anything worse.

"You may as well, Miss; this wagon isn't going anywhere, but let me help you out; there is no point in you getting injured all the way out here." He opened the door to the wagon and held out his hand, offering it to assist Elizabeth in climbing out.

As Elizabeth gripped the man's hand tightly, the carriage started to wobble, and she half fell, half threw herself out of the carriage. With the Driver's help, she maintained her upright position but only just. Elizabeth was happy there was no one around to witness her less than graceful exit. "Sir, what did you mean when you said, "all the way out here? Is Coal Valley still a long way away?"

"Well, it's a good long way when you have a broken carriage, a lot of luggage, and you are wearing high heeled boots," he answered, looking at Elizabeth's feet.

"Can't we ride the horses?" She asked.

"Well, we can, but not until morning. It's too dark now to set out. The Carriage will be safe enough for you to sleep in; it's just not taking us anywhere. I will sleep out on the ground outside; I have gear for it just in case something goes wrong." the Driver explained.

Elizabeth didn't want to sleep in the Carriage, but she knew there was no choice. She couldn't find her way to Coal Valley even if she wanted to strike out independently. They would understand another delay, surely. "If we are to stay here, we should introduce ourselves; I am Miss Elizabeth Thatcher."

"Colin Hastings, Miss, nice to meet you."

She settled in for the night, using some of her clothing to make a pillow, and while it wasn't comfortable, it was better than being outside. Colin had been kind and provided food and water, so at least she wasn't starving. As much as she wanted to sleep, the sounds of animals outside kept her awake even if not close by; they were closer than she liked. Colin didn't seem to have the same worries, though; she could hear him snoring.

Elizabeth was glad when the sun rose, ending her sleepless night and waking Colin, who soon had them organised for their trip.

"Our riding into town means leaving all your belongings here; I can't guarantee they will be safe; you could stay here if you're worried." Looking over his shoulder, he said, "you can ride a horse, can't you?" Colin's tone conveying his lack of confidence in his companion's ability.

Elizabeth saw how the man looked at her and wished she could prove him wrong, but she couldn't ride a horse. The horses were very tall, and she didn't want to risk a nasty fall by acting as if she could. "I am sorry, I don't know how to ride, but I am willing to try. I would rather come with you than wait for your return."

Shaking his head, Colin said to her, "pack one bag only and only take the things you absolutely cannot leave behind. I can lock the other items up, but there are no guarantees, like I said." As he prepared the horses to ride, he said, "Be quick about it, Miss; we should get on our way; they will be worried about what kept us.

Nodding, Elizabeth ran to the carriage to collect the things she couldn't live without, hoping he wouldn't check what she chose to take with her. As she hastily packed her bag, she wondered what reception the Townspeople would give her when she finally arrived. She was late by days, not just a few hours, and while the circumstances were out of her hands, it wasn't the way she wanted to start. Hopefully, Abigail Stanton, the woman she was to meet with, would understand, especially after receiving the telegram she had sent from Benson Hills.

Elizabeth heard Colin call out to her, 'Ms Thatcher, come along; we need to get started.' She could see the horses waiting and realised there were no saddles. "How am I meant to stay...on if there is no saddle? She asked, horrified. Don't we need harnesses and things to ride?

"There are no saddles or proper bridles because these horses aren't meant to be ridden. It will be fine; hold on to these straps and follow me." Shaking his head at her questions, he asked, "are you ready to get up?" as he bent down on his knee and cupped his hands, forming a step for her.

Hesitating, Elizabeth looked around, hoping to find another option, but there was nothing. Walking slowly toward the man, she said, "here goes nothing," and placed her foot in his hand to leverage herself up on the back of the large horse. "Oh," she exclaimed as Colin pushed with his hands, thrusting her upwards. Somehow, she managed to land on the back of the animal and lay down, wrapping her arms as best she could around the horse's neck.

"You will have to sit up and open your eyes for this to work," he said dryly. "It isn't going to end well for you if you don't." Waiting for Elizabeth to sit up, he looked over the young lady again. Colin had no idea why she was heading to Coal Valley, but he couldn't imagine her staying there. While he didn't know much about women's clothes, the ones she was wearing seemed a lot fancier than anything the ladies in town wore.

After carefully positioning herself on the back of the horse and tidying her dress to achieve as much modesty as possible, she nodded to the man. "I believe I am ready to head to town." Elizabeth frowned as she heard the tremble in her voice, she was trying her best to look calm and collected, but she wasn't.

"So, what brings you to Coal Valley then?" he asked.

"I am the new Teacher in Coal Valley," Elizabeth advised proudly.

"You?" he said, then realised how rude that sounded. "I beg your pardon, Miss Thatcher; I am sure you and the children will get on very well."

Elizabeth and Colin rode in silence until Colin couldn't stand it anymore. "Miss, are you okay?"

Elizabeth glanced over at the concerned man, "I am not sure what I am doing wrong, Mr Hasting," she said, close to tears. "I have seen people ride horses; it doesn't look like this."

Colin knew he shouldn't laugh, and he tried his best not to, but the sight of Elizabeth Thatcher, dressed to the nines, flopping around on the back of the horse was too much. He burst out laughing, laughing so long and hard tears formed in his eyes, and he clutched his belly, all while trying to control himself.

Elizabeth was dismayed; she must be worse than she thought. She must look ridiculous. As Mr Hasting continued to laugh, Elizabeth smiled, chuckled, and finally gave in to laughter.

As Colin wiped away the tears, he slowed the horses with a gentle 'Woah'. "My Apologies, I am sorry, it's just..." and he laughed again. When he finally controlled himself for a second time, he said, "It's the hat; your feather thingy is bobbing around like nothing I have ever seen." he explained.

Reaching up, Elizabeth touched the decoration on her hat; the feathers and flowers were undoubtedly out of place in this situation. Grabbing the hat, she shook her head, laughing at herself. "I guess these could be quite distracting," she said and grabbed a handful of the trimmings, pulling them off and tucking them in her pocket. "I am sure I need more help than this, though. Can you help me be more...stable?" she queried, smiling.

Colin observed Ms Thatcher and decided he liked what he saw; she wasn't the princess he thought she was. He hoped the widows and other town folk gave her a chance to show them what he had just seen. Any young lady able to laugh at herself at a time like this was alright in his eyes.

After receiving some instruction from Colin, Elizabeth sat more comfortably on the back of the enormous beast. Gripping with her legs helped her stability, so she wasn't flopping around as much as before. She appreciated Colin's help; it made her feel better. Maybe things would work out after all. As they rode along, Elizabeth felt comfortable enough to start asking Colin questions regarding Coal Valley, happy to talk to someone who had been there. Elizabeth was so engrossed in the conversation she failed to notice the decorations from her hat falling from her pocket.


After her shift at the cafe, Rosemary, Nathan, and Gabe had sat talking. Rosemary was waiting for her roommate to start work, they hadn't officially met, and Rosemary wanted to do so before going to the home they shared. Rosemary told Nathan and Gabe her story, and as much as she tried to lighten it, they were both aware of the peril she could have faced.

As Rosemary told her story, Nathan realised while she was Elizabeth's friend now, she was also the woman from the train platform, and he was pleased to hear of Elizabeth's involvement in helping her. When Rosemary mentioned the man responsible for her travelling to Benson Hills, Nathan glanced at Gabe, who was watching him; a slight nod let him know Gabe had committed the name to memory too.

Nathan begged Rosemary to write to Elizabeth and tell her she believed him regarding the missing letter and vouch for him. Rosemary agreed to include a paragraph in the letter she had already started. She decided that he could pick it up from her when they had breakfast at the café to deliver it personally. Nathan hoped he could return the favour one day.

"I think it is time we headed to our hotel Nathan," Gabe said, "I, for one, cannot wait to sleep in a bed tonight; I will not miss the hard ground." Smiling at Rosemary, he said, "It was lovely to see you again, Rosemary; I will see you tomorrow morning at breakfast."

Nathan rose, "thank you again, Rosemary. If I can do anything for you, you only have to ask." Nathan laughed as Rosemary shook her head and rolled her eyes; she reminded him so much of Colleen at that moment.

"Oh please, Nathan, don't tell Elizabeth, but this is as much for her as you," Rosemary said, and she meant it. She knew Elizabeth had tried to downplay how hurt she had been when Nathan didn't respond to her letter, and all along, there was an explanation. After she escorted them out, she stood at the door, watching them walk down the street and musing about the world's small.

As Rosemary was about to close the door, she saw a young woman with long dark hair hurrying toward the cafe. Rosemary paused because the woman wore the same uniform she did, but she hadn't seen her before. Rosemary hoped it was Clara, her elusive roommate. Frowning, she looked at the woman and realised she was the picture of misery; her face was gaunt, and she looked like she hadn't smiled or laughed in...forever.

Rosemary smiled as the woman looked up, noting her frown as she saw her waiting. "Hello, please tell me your name is Clara Stanton; I have been waiting so long to meet you. I am Rosemary; we will be living together!" she exclaimed excitedly with a broad smile.

Clara stopped before the woman holding the door for her; she had hoped for longer between housemates. At the end of each shift, all she wanted to do was go home, crawl into her bed and grieve the loss of her husband, Peter. She had no energy for friendships or socialising, not anymore.

"Yes," she said, "I am Clara; you must be Rosemary; it's lovely to meet you." Clara knew her voice held little emotion; she knew it but couldn't change it; she saved her energy for her job; she needed to work to support herself.

"It's lovely to meet you too, Clara; I am glad we finally got the chance. I was starting to think you didn't exist," Rosemary said, laughing and pretending everything was normal. "For today, it appears we are ships, passing in the night. I am leaving just as you are arriving." Frowning, Rosemary looked at Clara, "I hope that doesn't happen every shift; we will never get to know each other." As she watched Clara, she saw a quick frown cross her face and realised this was her choice; she wanted them on opposite shifts so they couldn't get friendly. Rosemary decided to speak to the cafe owner and ask if they could work similar shifts. She wanted to find out what had happened to make Clara so sad and see if there was anything she could do to help her.


Nathan was awake and ready first the following day and spent the time waiting for Gabe pacing around the hotel's foyer. He couldn't believe Elizabeth Thatcher would be the teacher in Coal Valley. He was going to see her again soon. How would she feel when she saw him? Would she give him a chance to explain? He was hoping the letter he had for her from Rosemary would soften her toward him.

He was eager to get to the Hills Cafe, eat and collect the promised letter from Rosemary and then start the final leg of his trip.

Nathan thought over the questions he had regarding his job in Coal Valley. Why did a town which had never required a full-time Mountie suddenly need one? Why did a mystery benefactor buy train tickets for him and Gabe? Was it a coincidence Elizabeth was on the same train?

He had thought a lot about Elizabeth Thatcher during his sleepless nights, wondering how or if she was connected to his job in Coal Valley. Nathan couldn't help but believe Elizabeth was the reason he was heading to Coal Valley and wondered if she knew a Mountie was being posted there for her. Bill Avery was the one who could shed light on the situation, and while Nathan didn't think he had lied to him, the mining disaster was genuine; he hadn't told the whole story.

Now Nathan knew or thought he knew why a Mountie had been sent to Coal Valley; he had to decide what to do about it. Despite his concerns, he hoped his future was waiting for him in Coal Valley. He believed he could do good work for the town.

He wanted to bounce his thoughts off Gabe before determining his next steps, which is why he wished his friend would hurry. Hearing footsteps, he glanced up, smiling at Gabe, running down the stairs, out of breath.

"I am so sorry, Nathan, I slept in," he said, shaking his head. "It must have been the soft bed; that never happens to me." Gabe was very flustered at his uncharacteristic behaviour.

"You are here now, Gabe, and I am hungry as usual; let's head to the cafe, and I can bore you with my problems one last time before we head out," Nathan said, clapping him on the back.

Gabe puffed out his breath and followed his friend out the door.

After ordering breakfast, Nathan told Gabe his concerns, including his conclusion about the connection between his job and Elizabeth.

"Do you think she knows?" Gabe asked. "Or worse, I suppose, what if she doesn't know? Are you going to tell her?"

Nathan pressed his lips together and shook his head, "that's the thing, Gabe, I don't know. If she knows it's fine, my biggest concern is that she won't last long in a frontier town, and I will be sent home. If she doesn't know, and I tell her, she will confront her father; he will stop funding the position and send me home. Either way, I lose. My job in Coal Valley is tied to Elizabeth Thatcher."

Gabe was glad he wasn't in Nathan's boots. The situation was complicated enough, and when you added in that Nathan had been captivated by Elizabeth Thatcher from the moment he saw her, it grew more so. How would Elizabeth feel if she got close to Nathan and then found out her father was paying him to be there, and Nathan knew it. "Nathan, all you can do is your job. Earn the right to stay in Coal Valley by showing them how valuable having a Mountie can be. Hopefully, you won't have to rely on Mr Thatcher's money to fund your role forever. As to what to do about Elizabeth, you are on your own there."

Nathan knew Gabe was right; he would wait until he saw Elizabeth before deciding, try and work out if she knew or not. He hoped she would give him a chance.

After finishing their food, saying goodbye to Rosemary, and promising to deliver the letter to Elizabeth as soon as possible, Nathan left the cafe with Gabe.

"Slow down, Nathan," Gabe called. "Anyone would think you were eager to get away from me."

Nathan shook his head at his friend's teasing, "they would be right," he laughed. Shrugging, he continued more seriously, "I'm sorry our trip is over, but we will be close enough to see each other regularly." Nathan said, "I can't shake the feeling I need to hurry to get there, Gabe," a baffled smile on his face. "It's the strangest thing, but suddenly, I have this sense of urgency."

Gabe acknowledged Nathan's words and started hurrying with him; he would never question Nathan's hunches or gut feelings. "Let's get going," he said.