Elizabeth woke up Saturday morning. Before she even opened her eyes, she smiled remembering her and Nathan's magical evening the night before. Dancing under the stars, holding each other close, their hearts beating in sync. She reached over to Nathan's side of the bed but it was empty and cold. Her eyes opened, looking around the dimly lit room. It was still early but he was gone. She got out of bed and pulled her housecoat around her, making her way downstairs in search of her husband.

Outside, in the back yard, Nathan was chopping wood. It was an important part of taking care of his home and family but it was also what he did when he needed to think.

"…well it was called Coal Valley at first…"

Elizabeth's words from last night ran through his mind over and over. There was something deeply familiar about that name and Nathan was quite sure he knew why. Still he had to find the old telegram to be certain. At the time, the name had no reason to mean anything to him but now on the lips of his love, it meant everything. Coal Valley. But how could he not know after all this time in Hope Valley? Still he couldn't recall it ever being mentioned.

How would Elizabeth take the news? He needed to think. He needed to chop some wood.

Elizabeth made her way into the kitchen and began to pour a hot cup of coffee when the crack of ax meeting wood broke the silence. She peaked out the kitchen window and saw him. Suspenders hanging loose at his sides, his white henley slightly unbuttoned as always, chopping wood.

Elizabeth slipped out the back door and sat down on the steps, leaning against the door frame. Nathan seemed to be thinking deeply about something, his furrowed brow giving him away so Elizabeth took this moment to sit quietly and watch her husband.

She couldn't help but admire him. Both his physical strength and the way he took care of their family made her heart go wild. He was irresistible to her, inside and out. She was once again filled with gratefulness that she had finally given their love a chance and that he was still faithfully loving her once she was ready.

Movement caught Nathan's eye and he looked up from his task to see his wife. Elizabeth was watching him over a steamy cup of coffee with a coy smile on her face.

Setting the ax down, he smiled back. "Enjoying the show?"

"Of course." Elizabeth replied with a wink. "Would you like a coffee?"

Elizabeth quickly returned with a mug for Nathan and they sat together on the back step. They sipped their coffees and enjoyed the early morning stillness together. Finally, Nathan turned to her and broke the silence.

"I have to head into the office for a little while." There was no reason to tell her anymore until he knew for sure.

"Oh I had hoped to spend the day with you." Elizabeth cuddled closer and put on her best pouty face.

"I did too, but there's something I need to take care of. Why don't we meet for lunch?"

Elizabeth's coy smile returned. She leaned in closer still. "How about I bring lunch and we can enjoy it alone in your office?"

"Even better," Nathan said flirtatiously, his lips almost touching Elizabeth's. She closed the space between them and kissed him with a memorable, passionate kiss that made him question if he really needed to go to the office right away. But he couldn't rest until he knew. He already hadn't slept well last night. Leaning his forehead on hers, he touched her cheek and then her hair. Elizabeth was already facing so much with the shock of the accusations against Jack. Would Nathan's new suspicions of his connection to "Coal Valley" be welcome or cause her more pain? Elizabeth sighed and leaned into Nathan's touch, her eyes softly closed, totally unaware of his concerns. Either way, he had to know and she should know too.

After one more gentle kiss, they went inside. Nathan got ready and headed toward town while Elizabeth got ready to collect their children from the Canfields.

In his office, Nathan dug through his old papers. Upon arriving in town and finally successfully evicting Bill from his desk, Nathan had filed some of his own paperwork in the drawers. He hoped the telegram he was searching for was still there. He flipped through one more old file and there it was. Just as he reached for it, the door opened with a quick knock.

Elizabeth entered the Mountie office with her picnic basket over her arm. In it was thick sandwiches, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and a thermos full of coffee to enjoy after their meal.

She noticed the state of Nathan's desk. It was haphazardly covered with stacks of papers and files.

"Oh! Are you busy?" Elizabeth asked innocently, hoping he still had time for her visit.

"No, no…well I was. I was looking for something. But I found it." He glanced down at the 11 year old telegram again.

"Well, what is it?" Elizabeth knew from experience there were some work related things Nathan could never share but her curiosity got the best of her. Nathan seemed deeply affected by whatever he had found.

Without words, he simply handed her an old telegram.

Constable Nathan Grant,

Assignment: Coal Valley.

Report by August 15, 1910.

Elizabeth read and reread the short message. Nathan watched her face closely. She slowly set down the picnic basket and sat in one of the chairs across from him. Finally she spoke.

"I…I don't understand, Nathan."

"I had never heard it called Coal Valley until you mentioned it last night. Strange after all these years here. I wanted to find this before I mentioned it to you. Wanted to make sure my memory served me right before I said anything." Nathan was speaking quickly, afraid of what Elizabeth might be thinking.

"But you arrived 6 years late," Elizabeth attempted a joke to tease the obvious tension.

"My sister had just died when I got that telegram. I knew Allie would need someone and I wasn't sure how to manage it all. I let my superiors know what was happening and…"

"And they assigned Jack here instead." Elizabeth finished for him.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. This was a lot to take in. Yet somehow, it didn't trouble her. Instead her mind whirled with the wonder of it all.

"We were always meant to be," she said quietly. So quietly Nathan wasn't sure he had heard her right. He came around the desk to be next to her.

Elizabeth stood, looking up into his worried eyes, she repeated the feeling in her heart, "We were always meant to find each other."

Nathan pulled her in closely to hug her and hold her. "Remember when you asked me about fate after Mike & Mei's wedding?" He didn't really wait for an answer before continuing. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there is more to it, Lisbeth." He pulled away from her just enough to look her in the eyes. He was met with tear filled blue eyes that matched his own teary gaze.

Elizabeth reached for Nathan's hand with one hand and placed the other on his cheek. "Nathan, I don't know if fate is the right word for it. Only God could do this. When Allie needed you more, He brought me Jack and gave me my son, our son, and then when the time was right, when I needed you most, He brought you here to me." What Nathan was worried could tear them apart had only made them stronger, confirmed to them a greater plan that had always been working together to bring them to each other. The sense of obligation placed in Nathan's heart to watch over this lovely widow and her son, it was more than duty, it was the hand of a loving God who had chosen them for each other.

"Elizabeth, I love you. I always will."

"I love you too. More than you could ever know." Elizabeth replied with her whole heart. Suddenly remembering the basket of food she'd brought, she spoke again. "I brought lunch. Would you like to eat?"

As they ate, their thoughts continued to marvel at how they had been brought together. Meant to be. Made for each other. They ate peacefully, each taking in this new revelation until Nathan broke the silence.

"Elizabeth, what if a telegram is exactly what we need!" The confusion on Elizabeth's face was clear so Nathan continued. "When I was assigned here - both times," he said with a quick smile, "I was told by telegram. Jack was likely assigned to Fort Clay the same way!" Excitement filled Nathan's voice at the possibility of a break in their hope to redeem Jack's memory.

Finding that telegram would mean proving at least part of what Hargraves said was untrue. He claimed Jack had requested the transfer to help the cattle rustlers Nathan had arrested. That just didn't make sense but they needed proof. Elizabeth glanced around the messy desk with doubt on her face. "Where would we start?" she asked and then glanced at Nathan. They both laughed.

"Well not in this mess. There are boxes in the back room. Older papers and files from before I moved here. Let's see what we can find."

Nathan put away his papers, except for his newly rediscovered telegram that undeniably tied he and Elizabeth to one another in a deeper, greater, and longer way than they had ever known. Then together they searched the back room until they came across a box dated 1915. The year of the Thornton wedding, Little Jack's birth, and sadly Jack's assignment to Fort Clay and death. Nathan carried the box back to the now cleared off desk and began to look through the pages. Elizabeth sat and waited as he did. Allie and Angela were happy to have Jack tag along today so there was no rush.

He dug to the bottom of the box. Finally the corner of the familiar telegraph paper peeked out from beneath the files. He grabbed the telegram. "I think I have something here…" Nathan's eyes quickly scanned the telegram in his hands.

Constable Jack Thornton,

Report to Fort Clay immediately.

Assigned to assist training new recruits.

He handed the message to Elizabeth. She read it, remembering the day he had walked into their home announcing his new assignment. He was so excited and she was so proud of him. Staring at his telegram, she felt sadness creep into her heart. They had no idea what was ahead but today's discovery of Nathan's Coal Valley assignment had shown her that God's hand was always there. Even when life had felt hopeless to her, there was always a plan for her good.

"So this proves Superintendent Hargraves wasn't telling the truth, right?" she asked Nathan, her eyes imploring it to be true.

"And if he lied about this, what else is he lying about?" Nathan questioned. "We need to show this to Bill!"

"And Rosemary!" Elizabeth added. Nathan placed the box back in the other room and Elizabeth tidied their things from lunch.

Stepping out into the street, they looked around to spot either Bill or Rosemary when they caught a glimpse of her blonde hair and rich burgundy blouse through the window of the saloon. Heading that way, they saw it was Bill she sat with.

Bill and Rosemary met frequently ever since Superintendent Hargraves had blown into town. They shared their leads, dead ends, and theories. Jack was a dear friend to both of them and they took this investigation personally.

Nathan and Elizabeth joined them and quickly explained their discovery. Nathan handed Bill the telegram with Jack's orders. Hope and excitement rose around the table. They had always known Jack was innocent but this was evidence!

With the well trained eye of a best friend, Rosemary noticed the glow on Elizabeth's face. Was it the proof of Jack's innocence? No it seemed to be something more. Elizabeth's gaze rarely left Nathan's face and her eyes were filled with love. Rosemary smiled to herself, thrilled to see her friend truly happy.

Bill was speaking gruffly, "So if Hargraves lied about this, what else is he lying about? And why?"

"I was thinking the same thing," Nathan confirmed. "He's had it out for me ever since I arrested those cattle rustlers. It never made sense to me. Or anyone else at Fort Clay."

"Then there was the inquiry," Elizabeth noted. "That was entirely unfair."

"And Scout…" Bill added. Everyone laughed. It seemed Hargraves couldn't leave Nathan alone.

"Something else has been bothering me," Rosemary chimed in. "Call it reporter's intuition! Pike said not even the Mountie's could touch whoever framed him. I just don't think that's Sh…Jeanette."

"Well he did shut me out when I tried to keep the investigation open after Lucas was shot." Nathan glanced across the saloon where Lucas was leaning against the bar. He was talking with Fiona, her hand resting on his arm. She laughed at something Lucas had said. Nathan smiled. He and Lucas weren't exactly close friends but they respected each other and had each other's back. He was happy to see him happy.

"I'm going to see if I can get an interview with Jeanette. I will see you all later." Rosemary announced and headed out the door on a mission.

"I think I might have to make a little trip," Bill spoke seriously. "I'm going to Fort Clay. We need to get to the bottom of this. But Elizabeth, this telegram is all the proof we need to show Jack was exactly the man you knew him to be." He squeezed Elizabeth's hand before downing the last swig of his coffee and walking out.

It was just the two of them again. Nathan got up and joined Elizabeth, sitting next to her in the booth. She scooted closer to him, openly flirting with her husband.

"This is a lot to take in today." Elizabeth confessed honestly.

"It is but it's all good right?" Nathan asked sincerely, taking Elizabeth's hand.

"So good." Elizabeth agreed, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Could I get you lovebirds something to drink?" Lee interrupted.

Nathan glanced at Elizabeth with a grin, "Yes, apple juice please."