Elizabeth Thatcher sighed heavily and set the last of the notebooks in the pile on her desk. She glanced around at the new school house and smiled softly. The children loved the clean new schoolroom that had been built just for them. They were proud of the desks and the benches and the supply shelves that lined the walls. Her book collection took up a good deal of space on those shelves. The bright curtains at the windows would be replaced by heavier ones when colder weather set in. The new potbellied wood stove in the center of the room would keep them all warm when it needed to. It had even been designed so that adding another room would be easier when it was needed. Goodness knows that Coal Valley was growing and she wouldn't be the only teacher they would need for long.

It had been a huge undertaking for the town to build this little building but the truth of the matter was she really missed teaching her students in the 'old' schoolhouse. The saloon had been right smack in the middle of all the hustle and bustle in town. Parents could stop by and check on their children without being intrusive. Here on the edge of town it was unseemly for them to just 'drop in' with a plate of cookies or a package that had been delivered or a sweater someone had forgotten. But then in the beginning there had been a need to check in more often. Elizabeth smiled softly as she remembered the hurt and insecure group that had entered her classroom in the beginning of her term in Coal Valley. It was so wonderful to see that they were growing and maturing and yes, healing, from the horrendous events that followed the explosion in the mines. Her students were smiling again and looking forward instead of back.

Her long fingers tapped the top of the notebooks thoughtfully and she looked up as she heard the school door open. She grinned as a long eared basset hound waddled confidently between the rows of desks toward her. Jack Thornton moved around the coat room wall at the back of the room.

"I thought you might be ready to walk home by now," he said.

"Indeed, I am," Elizabeth sighed happily as she reached down to rub the basset's head. Rip pulled his front feet to her knees and let her scratch behind his ears.

"Come on, Rip," Jack laughed as he carried Elizabeth's shawl and hat from its coat room hook to her. The dog whimpered but jumped down and Elizabeth stood up. She straightened the pens on the top of her desk and then smiled as he wrapped the knit shawl around her shoulders. Jack pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and Elizabeth leaned into his arms. "Did you have a good day?" he asked as his arm slipped behind her waist and they made their way from the classroom to the front door of the school house. Jack took the key from her and locked the door behind them as they stepped out on porch.

"They love the swing you put up for them," she said as she tipped her head toward the rope swing in a nearby tree. "I had to monitor the children taking turns during lunch recess." She fastened her broad brimmed hat to her upswept hair with a hat pin.

"For them?" Jack chuckled. "Why, Miss Thatcher, that swing is for you and I." He took her hand and they headed up the lane toward town. "I foresee a hot summer evening when we can enjoy the breeze from swinging back and forth under that tree." Elizabeth's blue eyes danced as they met his and he lifted her hand to his lips for a kiss. Jack glanced around for the dog and they grinned as Rip trotted a head of them toward the edge of town and Abigail's café. It was a beautiful evening for early fall. The leaves had yet to change into their glorious colors but there was a slight nip in the air as the sun went down. She loved Coal Valley. The distinct seasons. The people. The Royal Mountie beside her. Elizabeth glanced over and their eyes met for a moment. She grinned shyly as his fingers tightened on hers. Their walks to and from the school house had become a warm and familiar beginning and end to her days.

"I saw Ned Weber when I went out to check on the Franckles today," Jack said. "He has been doing chores for them all summer. I asked him why he wasn't in school."

"I haven't seen him or Emma Grace this week," Elizabeth said. "I was getting a little worried and had planned to ride out and check on them Saturday in fact."

"Well, they will be in school tomorrow," Jack said as he helped her up to the boardwalk in front of the café. "I am not sure old Stefan was too happy with the boy for skipping school to work on his farm." Elizabeth nodded. Stefan Franckle could be a stern task master from what she'd seen of him at church, but she knew he had great respect for education. He'd told her more than once about their sons, one who was a banker in New York and the other an accountant in a Boston shipyard.

"Are you joining us for dinner tonight?" Elizabeth asked as she shook dust off the bottom of her skirt and then looked at him.

"I am afraid I can't tonight," Jack braced one booted foot on the edge of the board walk. "I have a council meeting to attend. I just wanted to make sure our school teacher was home safe before I went. Part of my job, you know." He grinned rakishly up at her and Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat as she chuckled.

"Your dedication to your job is duly noted and appreciated, Officer Thornton," she said happily. Jack laughed and kissed her hand again. "I'll be by in the morning to walk you to school," he said as headed across the street toward the bank. "Thank you," she replied happily. Jack glanced back and grinned at her. He kicked a stone ahead of him and Elizabeth smiled as Rip chased after it. She sighed and turned to open the door of the café.