On Friday Elizabeth let the students go home early from school after lunch. There would be a busy tomorrow with the festival. She wanted them to have some time off since they were working so hard on everything. All the signs were done and ready on the booths. They had put everything together this morning and all the adults would need to do in the morning was set up the food, lemonade, and baked goods. Elizabeth reminded the students to go to bed early tonight and to meet in front of the school a hour before the festival was supposed to start.

Elizabeth had planned to meet Rosemary at the dress shop. Rosemary had some new dresses that she wanted to show Elizabeth. Maybe Elizabeth would get something new for Jack's Christening that would be soon. She wanted to have the christening on the same day as a community dinner that the town had already planned. She thought it would be easier since so many people were already going to the dinner. Elizabeth had called her family hoping they could make it to the christening but so far only her sister Julie could come. She was grateful she was coming but she missed her parents. Maybe one day they would both come to Hope Valley to see the town she loved so much.

Elizabeth had just reached the edge of town when she saw a Mountie on a horse she didn't recognize. All of a sudden she was take back to that day about a year and a half ago when a Mountie had come down the street in the same way to tell her of her husband's death. Elizabeth felt her chest tighten and her breath was coming in fast. The memories of Jack and facing raising her son alone were too much for her. She saw Nathan walk out of the Mountie office to greet the other Mountie. It looked like they knew each other as the Mountie dismounted the horse and both of the men hugged.

Elizabeth needed to get off the street before someone saw her. She realized she was a couple steps down from the door of the dress shop so she ran, shutting herself behind the door. Once the door was shut, she leaned her back against it, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath for the first time. Nathan had saw her as she started running. He glanced over and thought he saw tears in her eyes. He saw her run into the dress shop so he knew Rosemary would be there to help her. He turned back to Gabe and smiled.

"How was your trip?" Nathan asked Gabe.

"It was good. I'm glad to see you. I just wish it was under better circumstances."

"Me too. Just so you know, we want to keep the reason for your visit just between you, me and Judge Avery. We don't want to alarm the town if there isn't anything to worry about. Some people may know you are a Mountie, but you are here to visit Allie and I."

"Got it."

"Why don't you come into the office and I'll catch you up on everything before I show you the house. Allie is home early today from school because of the festival tomorrow so we can't talk there. Plus she will be so excited to see you I might not get a word in anyway," Nathan said to Gabe.

Both of the men walked into the Mountie office and got to work. Nathan had all of his notes written down in his desk for both cases. Since they weren't sure what they could be dealing with this weekend, he wanted to make sure Gabe knew everything. He would introduce him to Bill later before walking home.

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"Elizabeth, whatever is the matter?"

Elizabeth opened her eyes and saw Rosemary standing in front of her with a worried look on her face. Elizabeth had started to cry once she walked into the dress shop. Luckily Rosemary was the only one there. Rosemary reached next to Elizabeth and locked the door, changing the sign to closed. She wasn't sure what had happened but she was hoping Elizabeth would talk to her with some privacy.

"Oh Rosemary…" Elizabeth took the handkerchief that Rosemary held out to her, wiping the tears from her face.

"Come over here and sit down. Would you like some tea? I had made some for us to have while we looked at dresses?"

"That would be good."

Rosemary poured the tea and waited until Elizabeth was ready to talk. "Do you want to tell me what has you so shaken?"

"I was walking over here and I saw a Mountie that I had never seen walk into town. I remembered the day that a Mountie rode into town to tell me about Jack and I couldn't breathe. I wasn't prepared for these feelings to come back up."

"Elizabeth, there is no timeline on grief. After Jack died, you immediately found out you were pregnant and had to push everything aside to care for your baby. Have you ever dealt with the pain or thoughts around Jack's death?" Elizabeth shook her head, sipping her tea, as Rosemary continued. "I think there may be another reason that the thought of that Mountie coming to town shook you like it did?"

Elizabeth looked up at her. What was Rosemary talking about? It had to be about Jack. What else could it be? Rosemary reached out to put her hand on Elizabeth's hand that was sitting on her lap. "Could it be that you thought something may have happened to Nathan?"

Elizabeth's eyes went wide. "Wwwwhhhhhatttt?" she stuttered.

Rosemary spoke kindly, "I think there may be something between you and Nathan that you or he may not be ready to admit yet. But seeing that Mountie could have brought up the past fears as well as present ones."

"It can't be. Not yet. Isn't it too soon?"

"The time will be right whenever you say it is. Just think about it. Why don't you take a ride on Sergeant up to your land? I can watch Jack. I will bring a couple dresses to your house and we can try them on when you get back."

Elizabeth stood and hugged her friend. That is exactly what she needed.

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Gabe took his bag down from the back of his horse when he and Nathan came back out of the Mountie office. They had gone over the basics of the cases so Gabe knew what to look out for, or at least as much as Nathan and Bill already knew. None of them knew who the people looked like which would make it difficult when the festival started. At least Gabe was there to offer another set of eyes.

Just as Nathan walked out of the door, putting his hat on his head, he saw Elizabeth ride by on her horse. She looked straight ahead not noticing anyone around her. Nathan saw her red face to indicate she had been crying while talking to Rosemary. Nathan said a silent prayer that wherever she was going she would be ok. He watched her as she rode off towards the woods.

"Hey," Gabe called out getting Nathan's attention. "What's going on? Who is that?"

"That is Elizabeth Thornton, she's the schoolteacher here in Hope Valley."

"Thornton? Isn't that the Mountie who died? The one you replaced?"

"Yes."

"Ah I see," Gabe said grinning towards Nathan.

"You see what?"

"Oh nothing. Let's go, I want to see the look on Allie's face when I walk in, you didn't tell her I was coming right?"

"No, I know how you like your surprises," Nathan said walking down the stairs and putting his hand on Gabe's shoulder. The two of them walked towards Nathan's house. Gabe looked at his friend. They had known each other since the first day they had joined the Mounties. The two of them had bunks side by side and had become instant friends. Gabe was like the brother Nathan never had and while Gabe had other siblings he wasn't as close to them as he was to Nathan.

When they arrived at the row house, Gabe stood on the path outside while Nathan walked through the door, shutting it behind him. Nathan hated surprises but he would do whatever he could for Allie so he played along.

"Allie, can you help me with something outside for a minute," he said seeing her working on her homework at the kitchen table.

"What is it?"

"I guess you will just have to go outside and find out," Nathan said with a little crooked smile.

Allie wasn't sure what was happening but she went to the front door and opened it slowly. Once she saw Gabe, she yelled, "Uncle Gabe!" and jumped from the top step to where he was waiting to catch her.

"I missed you Allie."

"Why are you here? I mean I'm happy to see you and everything. Is there something going on?" Allie was just as curious as Colleen used to be but she had instincts like a Mountie. It would be difficult to hide things from her now, let alone as she got older.

"Allie, I wanted to come see you and your dad now that you are settled here. I am happy that you both are so close now. I was a quick ride from Brookfield," not exactly the whole truth but that was part of it. Nathan didn't want to worry Allie and wanted her to have the chance to enjoy the festival with her friends.

Allie looked at Gabe but decided to accept Gabe's explanation, "Are you staying with us?"

"I hope so," Gabe said, chuckling. He put his arm around her and smiled at Nathan. The three of them walked back inside to get dinner ready. Nathan was happy to put aside the worries for one night and just enjoy the company.

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Elizabeth arrived at the cemetery. She knew that Rosemary said she should ride out to her land, but she felt called to the cemetery that day. She hadn't been there since the funeral. It was tough for her to even think about coming here when she was pregnant. Then with the baby she was too consumed with taking care of him. Elizabeth felt the need to be close to Jack and she wanted to talk some of her feelings out loud.

The cemetery had a mist floating over the ground. Elizabeth was glad she had grabbed a blanket on the back of her horse. She took the blanket and carried it with her as she walked through the entrance. She started to look at all the headstones of the other members of the town who had died. There were the miners who had lost their lives before she arrived and there were other people in the town who they had lost after. Then she found in the center of the cemetery the headstone of her husband.

Constable Jack Thornton.

Elizabeth wasn't sure what she felt as she saw his name carved in stone. It wasn't as if she didn't know it was real. She knew that every day. It seemed more final as her thoughts went back to the day of the funeral, with the Mounties and the gun salute. The flag that was placed over his coffin. Her holding the baby inside of her that she didn't yet realize was there. It was one of the hardest days of her life.

She placed the blanket on the ground, sitting in front of the headstone. She reached out and touched his name and then sat back just staring for a while. Then she started to speak out loud.

"Oh Jack, we had so little time. I told you once I didn't know if I was strong enough to love someone as brave as you. The truth is I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to lose someone as brave. The Mounties were always your calling. A part of me knew that you would always be called to the fight. I wish we had taken the leap and married earlier so we could have had more years together," a tear fell down the side of her face.

"It all came back to me today, the day I found out you had died. That was the day my world fell apart. I have tried to put the pieces back together for our son. I hope you would be proud of me for raising him as we wanted to."

A breeze went through her hair, as in a comforting hug around her. She could have sworn she heard a voice say, "Open your heart Elizabeth and love will be there for you again."

"Jack?" she looked around for him, even though she knew he couldn't be there. She looked back as his headstone. "I remember the letter you wrote to me about wanting me to love again. I hope you know that is what I would have wanted for you if the positions were reversed. I will never forget you and will tell our son about you all the time."

"Love is closer than you think," she heard the voice say again. Elizabeth smiled to herself. She knew who the voice was talking about. She may not be ready to call it love right now, but she vowed to be open to whatever would happen. She felt lighter than she had in months. There was a peace that filled her. Elizabeth kissed her hand and touched the words in front of her.

"Thank you Jack."