"Want some more cookies?"

"As if you don't know the answer," Nathan replies, taking the cookie Elizabeth is already handing him.

"Take as many as you like. You don't have to share these ones with Jack." She winks.

Nathan and Elizabeth are sitting on a blanket in a clearing overlooking the valley.

Their first date is finally happening. And so far, everything has gone perfectly. The picnic has been delicious, and Elizabeth's cookies have once again won Nathan's heart. Surrounded by flowers and trees, they enjoy this long-awaited occasion to spend time together. Even this morning, they still doubted that the moment would actually happen, both expecting some new event to disrupt their plans.

But here they are, chatting, laughing, and staring at each other lovingly under the late summer midday shine. The light wind heralding autumn's imminent return only pushes them to get closer together.

"So, how are those preparations for the start of the new school year going?" Nathan asks, playing with Elizabeth's fingers.

"Well, I think it's going fine. It's coming up so fast, though. I haven't seen the summer go by." Her gaze locks into his. "Something—or someone—may have kept my mind elsewhere."

Nathan lets out an airy chuckle. "I'm sure you're doing great. What's the start of a school year for the very best teacher, after all?"

"The very best teacher?" Elizabeth raises an eyebrow, the corner of her lips lifting slightly. "This is nice of you, Constable."

"Come on, that's not nice, that's the truth. According to all your students, parents, and all other folks in this town. You've really found your calling here with these kids."

"It's true." She nods, staring thoughtfully at the view. "I can't picture myself doing anything else. And it's not for lack of trying mine or farm work."

"Hold on, you mean you worked in the mine? How on earth did that happen?"

Elizabeth breaks into an amused smile. "Shortly after I first arrived in Coal Valley, the miners' widows almost lost their houses. They made a deal with Henry: clear the mine rubble in exchange for being allowed to stay in their houses." Nathan stares at her in awe, trying to imagine her covered in coal. "What, you don't believe I did it?"

"Oh, of course you did! What about the farm?"

"Well, It was a bit chaotic at first, but I guess I did pretty well once I got the hang of it, thanks to a little help from Jack. They even name their cow after me." She lets out a small laugh as she recalls her attempts to adjust to country life.

"Really?" Nathan laughs. "You definitely still have a lot of stories to tell me."

"Only if I can hear yours too. It's easy to laugh at the debacles of a young lady who's just landed in the West, isn't it?" She says with a challenging look that makes Nathan's heart skip a beat.

"You're a real lady of the West now. Although something tells me you must have always been, at heart."

"I wouldn't leave here for anything. I'm thankful for the childhood Jack can have in Hope Valley, surrounded by good and reliable people." Elizabeth's gaze moves from Nathan's fingers intertwined with hers to his face. "I couldn't dream of a better life for him. And for me either."

"I feel the same way about Allie and me."

"How are things with her?"

"Much better. I can't repair the harm Dylan caused her, but she's doing better. Seeing her grow up is still scary, though. To think she's about to start her graduation year..."

"I know what you mean. Seeing Jack in my class is going to be quite a step."

"But we can't stop time, can we?" Nathan says, looking deeply into her eyes.

"If we could, I assure you I'd take advantage of it right now." Elizabeth moves even closer to him, drawing his face closer with a light pull on his hand. "The fact that we finally managed to have this picnic at all is nothing short of a miracle."

He leans toward her with an intoxicating grin, his voice subtly lower. "Let's hope there'll still be a town when we get back."

But he's definitely not thinking about the town right now.

Nathan runs his thumb along Elizabeth's cheek. As she loses herself in his eyes, his gaze doubles in intensity. A gentle warmth begins to spread through her veins, gradually rising. They no longer feel the sun or the wind. The only thing they feel is the touch of their skin.

Their lips meet in a kiss that takes their breath away.

Love becomes tangible here, everywhere between and around them. Every touch, every gesture and every glance reflects and increases their deep connection. They both wish this moment would never end. Which it might, because there's nothing to interrupt them.

"Looks like we've found the best place not to be disturbed," Nathan whispers, his fingers adjusting a lock of Elizabeth's hair.

"It's a place to keep," she lets out in a breath, still trying to regain her senses. "This place is so... beautiful and peaceful. You know, being here with you makes me realize even more that God provides even in times of uncertainty. I want to trust Him for what's to come. I have you, my family and friends and I don't need more. I can go through all the challenges if He keeps you by my side."

"So can I."

***

As soon as Nathan and Elizabeth are back in town, Rosemary and Bill hurry off to meet them.

"We've found something!" Rosemary tells them before they even get off their horses.

Nathan frowns and almost jumps off Newton. Elizabeth looks at her friends without knowing what to expect. She would have liked not to think about this inquiry matter today, but she figures that the sooner it moves forward, the sooner it will be settled.

Seeing the stables empty, Rosemary decides not to wait to inform them of her latest findings. As Bill has already been briefed on everything, he takes care of the horses.

"I met my source this morning," she begins to explain. "Another investigation has been opened following the resolution of the shooting and the Shaw case, and there is every reason to believe they are connected. With Jeanette's arrest, the Mounties had confirmation that she had several Mounties in her pocket."

"So Pike was right," Nathan mutters.

"And if we believe what he said and the scared look on his face, they could be high-ranking Mounties," Bill adds gravely.

"Apparently, some turned a blind eye in exchange for money, while some actually took an active part in her rum-running business or got involved in other dirty deeds," Rosemary continues. "They're still trying to get her to talk so they can learn more."

"As a result, the Mounties have decided to fight corruption within their ranks and track down the dirty ones. They want to know how many, who, what, and when," Bill concludes.

"Thanks for letting us know. You got all that from your source?" Nathan asks, surprised by the amount of information he hasn't been able to access.

"Guess her source is in a better position than we are," the judge replies with a sigh.

They all look at Elizabeth. She has listened attentively to everything without uttering a word and is now staring at the dirt at her feet.

"So you're telling me they suspect Jack?" She finally says. "Why him? Does it have anything to do with the elements Hargraves mentioned?"

Nathan's eyebrows furrow as he shakes his head. "There's no reason to trust a man who kept the truth from us. We knew from the start he wasn't telling us everything."

"Nathan's right." Bill nods. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was a shady reason behind his assignment on this inquiry."

"All I know is their investigation starts with Fort Clay," Rosemary says.

Nathan wraps his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders, drawing her to him. "It's going to be okay," he whispers. "Jack has no connection with Jeanette. Without evidence, they will have no choice but to close the case."

"There's something else," Rosemary declares. "When I arrived at our meeting place, there was another Mountie with him. I thought he had a lot of nerve, after all the fuss he's made about keeping a low profile. They were glancing around and speaking low, so I couldn't hear what they were saying. He left just after I arrived, but before he did he asked me if I was from Hope Valley. He wanted to know how Elizabeth was doing. He said he couldn't tell me anything for the moment, but that he had to talk to her. He wouldn't say anything else, and my source did not answer any questions about his intentions."

"Did he tell you his name?" Nathan inquires.

"He didn't need to. He's Brookfield's Constable, Gabriel-"

"Kinslow," he finishes her sentence.

"You know him?"

"We went to the academy at the same time. We've worked together on several cases since I've been assigned to Hope Valley," he explains, wondering what his friend could possibly want with Elizabeth. "Guess I'll give him a call."