A young girl about ten years old walked through the streets of Hope Valley looking at all the signs. She had been told from a young age to never walk with her head down and always be alert. She looked around and didn't see any other children, just adults staring at her as she walked by. She held her suitcase at her side, switching it from one hand to the other. The train had arrived earlier than planned so she decided to walk to the new town she would call home. She saw the Mountie office and walked up the stairs.

Bill saw the girl walking around town from the porch of the cafe. He had stopped to get a cup of coffee on his way to his office this morning. He set the cup down on a table outside and walked down the street to the Mountie office to see where this child had come from and where her parents were. He opened the door and found the girl sitting behind the desk, spinning around in the chair.

"Hey, stop that!" Bill said, walking over to the chair putting his hand on the back to stop her spinning. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting for my uncle."

"Who is your uncle?"

Just as Bill asked the question, Nathan walked into the office. "Allie!"

Allie ran around the desk, on the opposite side from where Bill was standing, and ran into Nathan's arms. The two of them hugged as it had been awhile since they had seen each other. "When did you get into town? I told you I would pick you up from the train station."

"The train was early, so I thought I'd surprise you." Allie smiled up at him.

"It is a wonderful surprise," Nathan said putting his arm around her shoulders and turning to Bill. "Bill, this is my niece Allie. She is staying in Hope Valley with me."

"Hi," Bill responded, confused as to why this little girl would be staying with her Mountie uncle rather than her parents. In the short time Bill had known Nathan, Bill realized that he kept to himself and didn't talk much unless something had to be said. Because of that, Bill didn't know much about his past.

Nathan looked at Allie, "why don't we take your bag and get you settled at home. Bill, I'll be back soon if anyone is looking for me."

"Take your time." Bill watched as both of them walked towards the row houses, the girl talking animatedly with her arms. The girl had such a light about her and Nathan smiled bigger than Nathan had ever seen when he looked at her. Bill hoped that Nathan would be willing to share part of their story later.

––––––

"Why do I have to go to school on my first day, Uncle Nathan? Classes have already started!"

"Because I don't want you falling behind. Plus it will be good for you. You can make some new friends here in town."

Allie rolled her eyes but kept walking. She started to look down as they got closer. Nathan knew that was something she would do when she was worried about something. He knew that it was hard for her each time they started over in a new town but he hoped that they could spend a longer stretch of time in Hope Valley.

"Allie, do you remember what I told you about meeting new people?"

Allie looked up and smiled, "Walk tall, look them straight in the eyes, and shake hands."

"That's right." Nathan was so proud of her.

"Ok, I can go in alone, you don't need to go in with me." Nathan started to speak, but Allie interrupted holding out her hand, "let me have my moment so I can make an entrance."

"You're just like your mother." Nathan shook his head. "Ok, have a good day at school." Nathan put the hat back on his head that he was holding and turned back towards town. Allie waited until she was sure he kept walking and then she ran on the side of the school house. She wasn't ready to face a new teacher and a new classroom of kids. That would be tomorrow's problem. Today she was going to do something fun.

–––––––

Nathan wanted to meet Allie at the end of the school day but he was a little late after helping one of the families outside of town. He walked towards the schoolhouse with his hat in his hands in front of him. He wondered how Allie had handled the new classroom. Once Bill had learned about Allie, he told Nathan more about Elizabeth's history in Hope Valley. She had come from Hamilton to Hope Valley to teach because she wanted to help children. Nathan admired her for that, knowing that it couldn't have been easy for her to move to such a small town.

Elizabeth was coming out of the doors and down the steps as Nathan walked up. "Hello Mrs. Thornton."

"Hello Constable, what brings you here today?"

"I was wondering how my niece did today?"

"Your niece?" Elizabeth asked, confused. She didn't know he knew anyone in town.

"Yes, Allie. Today was her first day in your class. I'm sorry she was late."

"I'm sorry, constable. I don't know what you mean. I don't have a student named Allie and no one arrived late today."

Nathan got a worried look on his face and turned towards the field and woods on the other side of the schoolhouse. "I knew I should've walked in with her."

Elizabeth chuckled. She had been a teacher long enough to recognize that students would do things to challenge adults. "Constable, would you like my help? We could look around town and try to find her."

"Yes, please. I'd be grateful."

Both of them walked around town looking in the usual places a kid might go. The stable, the mercantile, the cafe. Nathan also checked the infirmary in case something had happened. Elizabeth checked with Bill if he had seen a girl walking around alone while she was in school. He told her he had met Allie this morning but that was before Nathan was supposed to take her to school. Elizabeth walked down the steps with Nathan walking towards her.

"Anything?" he asked.

"Nothing. What types of things does she like to do?"

"Skip rocks, climb trees, read books…"

"Fish?"

"How'd you know," Nathan asked. Elizabeth nodded over his shoulder, smiling. Allie was walking into town holding a handmade fishing pole with two fish in her other hand. "Thank you," he said to Elizabeth turning towards Allie.

"Hi Uncle Nathan, look what I caught!"

"That's great. How was school today?"

"Uh, it was fine. A little boring."

"And Mrs. Thornton? Your teacher?" Elizabeth walked up behind Nathan hearing Allie's comment and Nathan ask the question.

"Bit bossy, smelled like chalk." Elizabeth tried not to laugh and she turned to see Nathan trying to hold back a smile.

"So you know that this is her right?" Nathan held out his hand to Elizabeth. He didn't need to look to know she was there. It was like he could sense that she was near. His heart started to race and beat that he was sure she could hear it.

"Hi, Allie. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Yes, she will be there," Nathan answered before Allie could. "Thank you for your help." Elizabeth nodded and walked away.

"Allie, I was so scared when I couldn't find you earlier. Always do what you say you're going to do, no matter how inconvenient or not fun it is."

"Yes sir." Allie said as she looked down. Nathan reached out and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Ok, let's go home and make dinner. And we will hope that these are less fishy than your story earlier," Nathan said pointing to the fish she caught.

Allie looked at him with a smile, "We need to work on your jokes." The two of them started to walk home. Nathan was grateful to finally have Allie in Hope Valley with him. He had been Allie's guardian since she was four and he couldn't imagine his life without her. She had been a constant joy in his life as they moved around.

–––––––

Lucas Bouchard walked into the mercantile shortly before closing. He wanted to check on the deliveries again but he also wanted to make a call when there wouldn't be a crowd. He would need to inquire about getting a phone line over in the saloon to have his privacy but this would have to do for now.

As he walked in, he saw the owner Ned Yost behind the counter. "Hello Mr. Bouchard."

"Hello, Mr. Yost. Have there been any updates on my deliveries?"

"Yes, they will be delivered tomorrow. They usually arrive right before lunch."

"Excellent, I was wondering if I could make a call."

"Certainly, I will be over there restocking some of the cans. Just let Miss Miller know the number and she will connect you."

Lucas walked over to the switchboard. "Hello, can you connect me to this number? It's in San Francisco." Lucas handed her a paper.

San Francisco? Is that where he was from? Fiona was raised in San Francisco and she came from a large family. She knew many people from that area. She heard Bill talking to Ned the other day about how he didn't believe all of Lucas' story and thought there was more to it. Maybe Fiona could ask one of her brothers if they knew of Lucas Bouchard.

"Hello, miss. Can you help me?" Lucas asked, bringing Fiona out of her thoughts.

"Yes of course, you can go over to the receiver in the other room and I will connect you now."

Lucas smiled and turned to walk over to the other phone. He picked up the ear piece and heard Fiona connect the call. A woman answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Mon Cheri…" Lucas spoke softly. Fiona was curious so she continued to listen. Lucas could not see her at the switchboard from where he was standing. "You were right, Hope Valley is perfect. I will send the package to you soon." Lucas hung up the phone. He walked out of the mercantile without a look back at Fiona or Ned. Fiona hung up her end of the phone, staring back at the switchboard. Hope Valley was perfect for what?