The next morning, Elizabeth goes into town with a tired look on her face. To say she had a bad night is an understatement. She's not even sure she actually slept. Jack, however, is full of energy. He skips along the path, asking his mother all sorts of questions about the school day ahead. She hadn't yet had the courage to tell him about Nathan's assignment.

As they walk into the mercantile, they come across a curious gathering in front of the Yosts counter. The store is unusually crowded and filled with an ambient chattering noise, as if the whole town had decided to meet here first thing in the morning.

"Is this true?" Mrs. Weise questions seriously.

Ned shakes his head. "Of course not, I can't believe it!"

"Do you think Elizabeth knows?" Molly asks.

"Elizabeth, hi," Florence says awkwardly as she notices her.

All heads turn toward her and silence falls over the store.

"Hi," Elizabeth replies uncomfortably.

Jack tugs lightly on his mother's skirt. "What's happening, Mama?"

"Mrs. Thornton, you need to read this." Robert steps toward her and hands her a newspaper.

A bold headline is covering half the first page: 'New revelations in the Shaw case: Jack Thornton, a rotten Mountie accomplice'

Elizabeth's eyes widen as she puts her hand over her mouth.

"It's a crying shame that such lies can be printed," Florence asserts and everyone nods. "We all know Jack would never do anything like this. I can assure you the whole town is with you."

"Nathan and Bill can probably do something," Molly adds.

"Excuse me," Elizabeth breathes before exiting the store, taking Jack by the hand.

As she walks down the steps of the mercantile, Bill steps out of the saloon and Rosemary out of the café in the same hurry, each holding a newspaper. The three of them meet in the middle of the street.

Jack frowns as he looks at the three adults. Goldie, held in one arm by her mother and still clutching a piece of pancake, looks almost as puzzled as he does. Despite his best efforts to understand the situation, he remains confused. He knows something is going on, he has been feeling it for days, and he is determined to ask his mother for an explanation. But the moment seems as serious as those faces, so he doesn't dare interrupt. He simply squeezes his mother's hand in the hope of making her feel better.

Bill breaks the silence with a sigh. "Well, that was unexpected."

"That's a total disaster! What are we gonna do?" Rosemary cries out, waving the day's edition of the Benson Hills Beetle. "That Randall Rockwell again... Oh, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

"Looks like he's not the only one who got the scoop," Bill remarks, looking at the three different newspapers.

Around them, people begin to glance at them with a mixture of curiosity and pity.

"Let's find a place to talk," Elizabeth says.

They all head for the Mountie office. Jack stays on the boardwalk to play with Scout, protesting a little at being left out. Elizabeth wonders how she is going to explain the whole situation to him and answer his questions. She knows she has to talk to him before he hears something from someone else or, worse, another child at school.

They find Nathan sitting at his desk, his forehead resting on his hand. Hearing them walk in, he looks up from the newspaper he is staring at and his eyes immediately seek out Elizabeth's. She looks tired, and he doesn't like it.

"I assume you've read the news," Bill notes.

"Just the headline, I haven't opened it yet."

"I can spare you that," Rosemary replies. "They all say the same thing: that Shaw, I mean, Jeanette, confessed during questioning that Jack was the Mountie who facilitated and contributed to her rum-running business. They also say he had accomplices who took over after his death, but of course only his name is mentioned."

"Well, I guess now we know what they want to put on him."

"How could the Mounties let so much information about an ongoing investigation leak out? Even during Lucas's shooting investigation not as much came out in the press! It's in all the papers, and yet none of my sources told me anything!"

Elizabeth, who had remained silent until then, speaks up. "I don't think the leak was inadvertent."

Nathan nods without taking his eyes off her. "We have to face the facts. Hargraves knows we're digging and he doesn't like it. He certainly made sure the case was made public."

"But how did he find out?" Rosemary wonders, raising a brow.

"Houston," Bill groans. "That rogue must have told him about my visit."

"Looks like you got it right," Elizabeth replies.

She flips her newspaper to them and points to a discreet article on one of the last pages. A couple of sentences announce the mitigation of punishment of the former Inspector James Houston for good behavior.

"Well, yet another subtle attempt to discourage us from getting to the truth. The man definitely puts a lot of effort into intimidating us," Bill remarks bitterly.

"We have to fight back, there's no time to lose," Rosemary declares. "Let's meet this afternoon to work out a plan. I'm going to write an article and gather testimonies from people who knew him, so we can at least get public opinion on our side. Oh, and we should find more allies in the Mounties. Nathan, you probably know people we can trust."

"Um, actually, you'll have to do without me for the next few days," Nathan hesitantly interrupts her. "I'm sent on a mission."

Elizabeth's hands tighten on her basket. She avoids meeting Nathan's gaze, which she can sense on her. Bill frowns and Rosemary glances at her best friend.

"Don't worry about us, we'll manage just fine. We're going to work hard to find a way to take Hargraves—and whoever is with him—down."

Before her emotions get the better of her, Elizabeth excuses herself and walks out of the office. Nathan stands up, but Rosemary beckons him to stay here and goes after her friend.

Bill gives him a sympathetic look. "She'll be fine. Just give her some time to process it all."

"It's a recruit training mission, Bill."

The judge's jaw clenches. "How convenient," he mumbles. "Any news from Kinslow?"

"Not yet."

Bill nods and looks seriously at Nathan. "Please watch your back, son."

***

"Dad, I can't find my socks!" Allie calls from her bedroom.

"Here, I washed them yesterday," Nathan says as he walks into the room with a pile of clothes. He places it on his daughter's bed and sits down next to her suitcase. "Got everything you need?"

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be just a few houses away if I forget anything. I'm glad Mrs. Thornton agreed to let me stay with her while you're away."

"Actually, she offered," Nathan replies and Allie pauses. "But she wanted you to feel free to stay with the Canfields if that was what you preferred."

Allie shrugs. "I'm fine staying with her and Jack. Anyway, I'll be spending the night with Angela in a few days for Emily's sleepover." She puts a cardigan in her suitcase. "I wonder if we'll move in with them or if they'll move in with us when you get married. I like their house, but Jack already has the biggest room."

Nathan blinks. "Sorry, come again?"

"I mean, that's your intention toward her, am I right? Don't tell me you're going to wait as long to get married as it took you to get together."

"Hey, it's not just about us, you know. There is you and there is Jack."

"Come on, Dad. Neither of us is against it. Jack loves you and he knows you will make his mom happy."

"So you're saying you'd be okay with that?"

"You mean with us being a family? Of course, Dad, it's more than okay. Sure, you have to do it when you're ready, but if you keep going like this I'll be married before you even propose."

Nathan shakes his head, suppressing a smile. "Slow down, young lady. For your old man's sake."

***

After dismissing her class, Elizabeth pretends to have some tidying up to do and lets Allie and Jack go to meet Nathan without waiting for her.

The truth is, she doesn't feel ready for goodbyes.

She knows she has to be strong—again. It's always about being strong. And sometimes she wonders if she's really any good at it.

Ever since this inquiry began, she has been trying to stay strong and positive despite everything that keeps coming up. But it just seems to get more challenging every day. There's only so much a soul can take—and she's not sure how much hers can handle.

Even if she knows she has friends she can lean on and a man she can rely on, she doesn't want to add to Nathan's worries before his departure. But the closer it gets, the harder it seems.

A knock on the door makes her look up and she sees Henry standing in the doorway.

He rubs the back of his head. "Is this a bad time?"

"Oh, no, not at all. Please, come in. It's good to see you."

"Joseph told me the stove might need some maintenance before the cold weather returns. I will just have to get some tools from the back room."

Henry walks down the aisle, and getting closer to Elizabeth only confirms what he already sensed a moment before on the doorstep when he saw her deep in thought at her desk.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you okay?"

Elizabeth flashes a slight smile. "I'm just a little tired, my night wasn't exactly great. And you've probably heard all those lies about Jack..." Seeing that Henry is expecting more, she decides to be completely honest. "It's a tough week. Nathan has received orders to lead a training mission." She lets out a sigh. "I thought I'd be more ready. I knew this day would come and I silently dreaded it, but I never imagined it would be this kind of mission... It's just cruel."

"Don't blame yourself for feeling like that. I know only too well the weight the past can have when its shadow looms over the present. It's a lot, you've been through a lot. But if there is one thing I know for sure, it's that you're stronger than you think you are."

She blinks her tears back. "I don't know about that, Henry. If anything happens to him..."

Just then, Nathan comes up the school steps, taking off his hat. His arm stops in the air before he can knock.

"Elizabeth..."

She turns and wipes away the single tear that has managed to make its way down her cheek.

"I will let you two talk," Henry says, heading for the door but pausing as he passes Nathan. "This lady... She truly loves you. For longer than you think. Even if you keep giving her strong emotions."

Nathan watches him walk out the door with a puzzled look.

"What was that about?" He asks as he steps forward, gesturing in the direction Henry has just left.

"I..." Elizabeth turns around to face him and takes a breath, looking down at her feet as her hands clench the edge of the desk. "It's something that happened last year. You remember when you took the place of a hostage at Rock Creek?" She looks up at Nathan who nods, slightly frowning. "Well, when I found out you were there, and that you were possibly in danger... I kind of panicked. Henry saw me in the stables just after I'd discovered that Newton wasn't there and you were gone."

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry, I didn't know. I mean, I saw you that day, but I didn't realize you were going through this."

"I calmed down after you came back, till I realized what it meant. No matter how hard I tried to shut you out and to run away from my feelings, whether I was with you or not, it was the same thing, I couldn't bear to lose you. Trying to control or silence my heart was just pointless. Henry understood that, and even though I denied it abruptly, I already knew he was right. What was the point of keeping myself from being with you if the idea of you being in danger hurts the same?" She finally meets his eyes. "Nathan, I loved you back then and I loved you before."

Nathan swallows as Elizabeth's words echo in his heart before spreading through his entire bloodstream.

Boy does he want to marry this woman.

"And even though I no longer let fear rule me, it's still hard." A tear rolls down her cheek and she lowers her head, her hands tightening on the desk. "I'm sorry, I wish I could spare you from seeing me like this."

"Don't be sorry." He cups her face and wipes away the tear with his thumb. "You don't have to pretend you're fine. Not for me. I want to know how hard it is for you. You don't have to carry this alone, because you have me now. So let me lighten your load, especially when I'm the one responsible for your trouble."

She looks deeper into his eyes. "You're worth the trouble, I hope you know that."

Nathan pulls her into his arms and hugs her tight.

"I'll come back to you," he whispers. "You can be sure I won't let anything come between us."

His lips land softly on hers. She closes her eyes, surrendering to the gentle strength of his embrace. Here, in his arms, she finds the comfort she needs. Here, she feels stronger.

Muffled giggles make them turn their heads. Allie and Jack appear in the doorway, exchanging mischievous glances.

Keeping one arm around Elizabeth's waist, Nathan turns to face them. "Weren't you two supposed to look after Scout?"

"Well, we were..." Allie begins.

"But Scout escaped!" Jack exclaims.

As if he'd finally decided to hear his name, the dog appears behind them and barks proudly.

"There you are!" Allie says before putting his leash back on and tying him up outside.

"Let's hope this dog will behave over the next few days..." Nathan sighs. "As for the two of you, I count on you to be helpful while I'm away. Take care of each other, okay?"

"Okay, Dad!" Allie replies promptly.

"Yes, Dad!" Jack echoes with the same force.

Taken aback, Elizabeth, Nathan and Allie freeze and look at the boy.

Jack immediately puts his hands over his mouth. "I'm sorry!" His eyes dart back and forth between Nathan and his mother as he begins to panic.

"It's okay, Jack." Elizabeth steps forward and bends down before him. "Don't worry, it's all right."

"You haven't done anything wrong, Jack," Nathan reassures him.

"But..."

Elizabeth follows her son's gaze to the sign bearing the school's name. His father's name.

"It didn't hurt your daddy," she says gently, caressing his cheek. "He cares about you so much. And... And if one day you want to call another man 'Dad', he will be happy for you."

"So it didn't make him sad or mad?"

"No, of course not."

"I guess it's better if I wait until you marry Mountie Nathan first," the boy muses out loud. "Do you think it will be long?"

Elizabeth hugs her son, not knowing what to answer. Over his shoulder, she meets Nathan's gaze and they both get deep in thought, pondering Jack's spontaneous words.

Maybe their kids are ready after all.

They head off to the stables together, where Jack and Allie insist on helping to get Newton ready.

Reaching for his saddle with Elizabeth, Nathan glances at the children. "Did you get a chance to talk to Jack?"

"Yes, I did. He had a lot of questions. It's hard for him to understand how the Mounties can mistake good people for bad ones. But he told me not to worry because you'd fix everything."

Once again, the Mountie is touched by the boy's blind faith in him. Fix everything. He hopes he will, as soon as this mission is over. He will do his best, for Elizabeth, for Jack, for everyone in this town for whom Jack Thornton has done so much... and for himself. God willing, maybe some good will come out of this story. If the past is to be stirred up, he might as well get some healing out of it.

"Oh, and I made these for your trip." Elizabeth hands him cookies wrapped in a cloth.

"You always know what I need."

"So do you," she replies as they smile lovingly at each other.

When the time comes to say goodbye, they all get a little emotional. Nathan hugs Allie and kisses her on the forehead, then does the same for Jack.

"I'm going to miss you," the boy tells him.

"Me too, but you will all be in my thoughts every minute. I'll be back soon."

Nathan saves his last hug for Elizabeth, holding her a little longer.

"I love you," she whispers in his ear.

"I love you too, sweetheart."

Pulling away, he presses a chaste kiss on her lips. Her fingers slide off his hands as he mounts his horse. She looks up at him intensely, already missing the warmth of his fingers on hers.

"Be safe."