It was a week after Ned's heart attack. The surgery Carson had performed was successful. Ned was still recovering in the infirmary but he was awake and getting stronger. Florence had not left his side since he woke up. She had told him that she loved him almost immediately and Ned had proposed almost as quickly. The two of them were so happy and the town was thrilled for them. Neither one of them wanted to wait and they called Joseph to the infirmary to marry them a few days later. Florence wanted to help with Ned's recovery as his wife.

Things were starting to get back to normal in Hope Valley. Rosemary was no longer wanting to spend all of her time at the dress shop. She wanted to become more involved in the things happening in town. She had not known so much of the story when Edward and Charles came to town and it bothered her. She had a thought of something she could do but she wanted to ask Elizabeth's opinion. Rosemary walked over to the library where Elizabeth was supposed to be that afternoon.

Rosemary walked in and saw Elizabeth sitting at the table organizing books. Jack was on the floor on a blanket with some toys. "Rosemary, how are you?"

"Good, I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course! Let me move some of these books," Elizabeth moved some of the books to make a spot in front of the chair. "What is going on?"

"I know that I have talked to you about wanting to do something else. Nothing I have thought of seemed right. I had an idea yesterday and I wanted to see what you thought?"

"Oh, what idea was that?"

"A newspaper."

"Newspaper? Really?"

"Yes, you know how I love to talk to people. This would be the same, just written down. I could tell everyone about what is going on in town or special events going on. I think I would only do things for Hope Valley for now and maybe only once a week or once every two weeks. I would need to look into it more and see how to get it printed, but…"

Elizabeth interrupted, putting her hand out on the table, "Rosemary that sounds perfect for you."

"You think so?"

"I really do. I think there are a lot of things you will need to figure out first but if anyone can do it, you can."

––––––––––––––––––

Nathan and Bill sat in the Mountie office that afternoon talking about Mountie business and some of the alerts that had come in from headquarters. They hadn't heard anything new about Charles. Edward had been arrested shortly after they heard that Charles had gone to England. Bill had called a friend of his at headquarters to ask for Edward to be transferred to a different jail in light of what had happened with Charles. Edward was moved the next day to a jail on the other side of Canada.

After they had talked for a while, Bill was starting to gather up his papers when Nathan spoke, "Can I talk to you about something not related to Mountie business for a minute Bill?"

"Sure, what is on your mind?"

"I was wondering if you knew of land that was for sale outside of Hope Valley."

"There are a few places I can think of. Is there anywhere you had in mind?"

"There is one place where Elizabeth and I went on a picnic when we started courting. I had been there a few times on my rounds when I found it. There was a large field of wildflowers next to a stream with a waterfall. It is always so peaceful there that sometimes I will stop there to eat my lunch if I am out that way."

"I think I know the place you are talking about. Do you have a few minutes to ride out there and show me the area? I can take a look and I can check the maps in my office later if I need to."

Nathan nodded and the two of them set off for the livery. After saddling both of their horses, Nathan and Bill rode out to the land Nathan had spoke about. Bill knew immediately who the owner was as soon as Nathan told him about the waterfall but he wanted to wait until they were on the land to tell him. Once they arrived at the field of wildflowers, both of them climbed down from the horses and tied them to the trees.

"Here it is, what do you think Bill?

"It is a great piece of land. It would be a perfect place for a new family to build a house."

Nathan didn't want to get too excited about that idea without knowing if the land was a realistic possibility. "Do you think you could find out who owns this land Bill?"

"No need. I own it."

"What? You do?"

"I do. And I can't think what would be better than for you and Elizabeth to live out here one day. Consider it an early wedding gift."

"What? Bill you can't do that. We aren't even engaged."

"Nathan, can you tell me that you don't have a ring for Elizabeth or that you weren't asking to buy the land with the intention of the four of you living here?" Nathan just looked down as Bill spoke. "I will take that as a no. So let me do this for you. I have owned this land since I first came to town and never done anything with it. All I ask is that you let me come fishing with you and Allie sometimes."

"Deal, you can definitely come. I don't know what to say. Thank you. I'm sure Elizabeth will want to as well as soon as I can tell her about this. Can you just keep this between us for now?"

"I can. I need to get back. I can let you know when the paperwork for the land is done and you can sign. Are you ok to ride back on your own?"

"Yes, I was going to look around for a little bit anyway. Thank you again Bill."

Bill mounted his horse and started the ride back to town. Nathan walked over to the stream and looked out over the water. He could hardly believe that this land would be his. Elizabeth and him already had so many memories in this spot and now their family would create even more memories there.

Nathan reached in his serge pocket and pulled out a letter he had received from his mother when he started Mountie training. She had died a few years ago but he still kept her letter with him. It had pages of encouragement and of memories of Nathan as a child. He read over the letter again remembering her words to him. After the time outside the infirmary and this letter, Nathan knew he could not waste any more time. He wished that he could have told his mother about Elizabeth and asked for her advice on things.

In this last letter, Nathan's mother had told him the story of the ring that Nathan had held in his drawer for many years. It was Nathan's grandmother's ring. His mother had never worn it because it was lost when it Archie had proposed to her. He was found years later just before Nathan left home. Nathan's mother gave it to him, saying that he should give it to his one true love. When Nathan joined the Mounties and took custody of Allie, he assumed that a true love would not be possible for him. He vowed to give that ring to Allie one day instead.

He pulled out a leather pouch from his serge pocket that was sitting next to that letter. He had started carrying the ring around recently in case the moment presented itself. Nathan hoped that he could plan something truly special to propose to Elizabeth. He pulled out the ring and looked at it. It was a circular light blue stone with small diamonds surrounding it. The small thin band held it all together. The ring was a little larger than the other rings he had seen but he could imagine it on Elizabeth's finger. He put it back in the pouch and put both items back in his pocket. He looked back over the water and he knew that it wouldn't be long now before that ring found a new home.