The next morning, Elizabeth went to the schoolhouse early. She wanted to prepare her lessons for the day since she was busy for the last couple days. Elizabeth stood in front of the chalk board writing the first lessons of the day on the board. It was taking her longer than normal since she kept thinking about the picnic with Nathan. Elizabeth stopped writing and touched her lips. She thought about the kisses they had exchanged. Elizabeth smiled as she heard footsteps behind her.

Nathan stood in the doorway, watching Elizabeth stand by the chalkboard. He saw her touch her lips and smiled. He had thought about their kisses all morning and he knew he had to see her. Nathan stopped at the field where they had their picnic and gathered a bouquet of wildflowers. He held them in his hand as he walked towards her desk. She turned toward him, smiling when she realized who it was. Elizabeth looked at Nathan in his serge. He was as attractive in his serge today as he was yesterday in the blue plaid shirt. Elizabeth felt her breath catch as she saw him walk towards her.

"Hi," Elizabeth said.

"Hi, I brought these for you," Nathan said, holding out the flowers for her.

"Are these…"

"Yes," Nathan said smiling and looking in her eyes as he took another step closer. "I have been thinking about you all morning so I rode out to the field."

"Maybe next time I can go with you."

"I'd like that," Nathan reached out at touched the side of Elizabeth's face. His face was inches from hers and she could feel his breath on her face.

"Nathan, the students will be here soon," Elizabeth said softly.

"Ok, ok. Can I pick you up from school?" Nathan said as he put his hand down.

"I'd love that. I can be ready to go when you pick up Allie."

"Allie is going home with Opal and Emily today. So I guess you will have to be with just me."

"Well…." Elizabeth said looking around. Then she smiled at Nathan and took his hand, "There is no one else I would rather be with."

Elizabeth and Nathan heard the sound of children outside the schoolhouse and walking up the stairs. They both released each other's hand and smiled. Nathan turned to see the children walking through the door. Nathan said, "I'll see you later," and tipped his hat as he turned and walked away. He looked back at her when he got to the door and they both smiled at each other. Elizabeth was happy to see her students but she always was looking forward to the end of the day.

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Nathan walked back to town with thoughts of Elizabeth. He was trying to think of the perfect date to take Elizabeth on for Saturday. He had heard stories from Bill and Rosemary and other Mounties about the relationship that Elizabeth had with her husband before he died. The dates they had been on, the romantic proposal before he left for the Northern Territories. Nathan wanted to find a date that would be unique to them and that Elizabeth would remember. They would only have one first date.

Nathan looked in front of him as he got closer to the Mountie office and he saw a man unloading items from two wagons. There was also a car that Nathan had never seen in town before. 'This must have been the new business owner that Bill had talked about,' Nathan thought to himself. Nathan made sure his hat was straight on his head and walked over to the man.

"Moving in?"

Edward Morton looked up at the sound of Nathan's voice, "Hello Constable. Yes. I recently purchased a space in town for my business."

"And what business is that," Nathan asked, putting his hands on his belt.

"I work with investments for business owners."

Nathan looked at him skeptically. He could tell there was something this man wasn't telling him, but he thought he might just be nervous based on what had happened with Lucas Bouchard in the past year. He would keep an eye on him like he would for any new person in town, but he also wanted to give him a chance.

"Welcome to Hope Valley, Mr. Morton," Nathan said, tipping his hat and walking back to the Mountie office.

Edward Morton watched the constable walk to his office and out of sight. He reached into the car and took out the large chest in the back seat. He looked both ways to make sure no one was watching, taking the chest into his new office. He would need to get things set up quickly before he could get started.

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Fiona sat in the saloon, eating a bowl of stew. She usually went to the cafe for lunch but she decided to visit the saloon today. It had been quiet in the mercantile all day. Fiona was used to having noise all around her, growing up with her brothers and sisters. That is why she had gotten a job with the telephone company. The constant calls and things to do kept her mind sharp. She sat alone so she brought a book with her. Fiona would be grateful when Elizabeth finally opened the library. Elizabeth had told her that she was waiting on a few shipments of books from her family and the opening would be soon.

A man walked into the saloon and Fiona raised her head at the sound of the door. She saw a well-dressed, good looking man walk in and head for the bar. He didn't turn in her direction but she followed him with her eyes. She hadn't seen him in town before and she knew for sure that he had never come in the mercantile while she was there. Fiona tried to go back to her book, but she kept reading the same page over and over again.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Fiona looked up at the green eyes staring back at her. The man she saw walked in was standing right next to her with his hand on the back of her chair.

"Are you Fiona Miller?" Edward asked.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Edward Morton. I just opened an office in town and I was told you were the person to see about getting a telephone added to my office."

"Yes, I am. I work at the switchboard in the mercantile. If you let me know when your office is ready, I can come install the phone."

"Excellent. I will see you in a couple days. Thank you," Edward said and he walked out the door. Fiona took a deep breath for the first time since he walked over. She looked back at her book and finished her lunch. She was trying to figure out why a man would be running a business out of Hope Valley. It wasn't like Hamilton or Capital City. What could have brought him here?

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Fiona walked back to the mercantile and the switchboard. Florence was watching it while she took her break but she didn't like to be gone long. Florence was busy helping in the mercantile without doing her job as well. Fiona walked up the stairs and she could hear Bill talking loudly. She opened the door and saw Bill standing at the counter pointing his finger at Edward Morton.

"Why won't you just tell me why you are here?"

"I told you. I am here to run my business in the office space I purchased."

"But you won't tell anyone what that business is and now you are getting mysterious letters."

"The letters aren't mysterious, they are from my family," Edward said to Bill.

"So many? You have only been here a day."

"I told them about purchasing the space, the letters are probably just arriving now. Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to my office so I can read these letters and finish unpacking." Edward turned around and smiled as he saw Fiona. "Good afternoon Miss Miller." He walked by her and walked out the door.

"Do you know him?" Bill asked.

"Not really. He introduced himself in the saloon while I was at lunch. He wanted to have a telephone added to his office. I told him to let me know when he is moved in and I will set it up."

Bill nodded. "Can you let me know when you install the phone line?"

"Of course. I will stop by your office when it is done."

Bill walked out of the mercantile, not saying goodbye to anyone. Fiona was curious to what Bill knew about the man in town. She decided to talk with him when she went to talk to him about the phone. Perhaps she could even find out some things on her own before then.