Dinner that night was a chaotic affair, and Jess found she loved it. Thirty minutes before it was time to eat, the five Mounties arrived carrying a table and four more chairs. Theodore put his hand on Jess’s shoulder when they were finished setting everything up. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Thank you for bringing the table and chairs,” she said softly.

“Oh, that was Kendall’s idea. He said there’s no reason to have a pretty girl around if you can’t see her while you eat, so he wanted to sit in a real chair. Don't get any ideas though.”

Jess blushed, shaking her head. “Don't worry. I'm not one to have my head turned by flattery.”

“No, you don't seem the type. We'll all be back in a few minutes.” Theodore was halfway to the door when he stopped. “Maybe we can go for a walk after supper.”

“I'd like that a lot.” She loved the idea of walking in the moonlight with him. She knew there was a lake somewhere close by, and maybe they could walk along its shores. “Did you decide to go dancing tonight?”

He frowned for a moment. “If we dance tonight, everyone is going to expect a turn with you. For tonight, I want you all to myself.”

“All right then." Jess watched as he left, having a hard time believing that this was the same man who had met her and his mother at the train station the day before. He had done a complete turnaround. Her heart could not be happier.

As soon as he was gone, Miss Hazel walked up to her. “So you and Teddy are going for a walk? Do you think I should go with you? Do you need a chaperone?”

Jess laughed, shaking her head. “I thought you wanted the two of us to get together. And now you're teasing me about him? Which way do you want it?”

Ms. Hazel hugged her tightly. “You know there's nothing that I want more than you and Teddy to be happy together. I know you're the right bride for him. And I think eventually he's going to see that as well. I just hope we’re still here for that one.”

“I hope so too. But if not, I'll have given it my best shot. I'll have taken a chance on love, and I don't think I could ever regret that.” Jess quickly mashed the potatoes and put the carrots into a bowl. She noted the men had carefully pushed the two tables together, so she set the second table, then put the roast beef and potatoes on each end of the long table formed. They could pass the carrots. She cut two loaves of bread up into thick slices before setting out butter from the icebox.

She surveyed the table for a moment, realizing something was missing. “I'll be right back!” Hurrying outside, she went to a bush covered with perfect purple flowers. She carefully removed several, hurrying into the house and putting them into a water glass.

She put the glass in the center of the two tables. “There. That's perfect.”

Ms. Hazel looked up from her book. “Yes. That looks beautiful, Jess.”

Jess removed the apron she’d been wearing all day, hanging it on a hook by the door. She smoothed down the front of her dress, her hands going to straighten her hair. Why, she didn't know. Theodore had just been in there looking at her. He would know she primped for him. Was that a bad thing?

The Mounties came in then, each of them in their spotless uniforms. Kendall, the youngest of the five, seemed almost shy in her presence. It gave her a bit more confidence. “I sure hope everyone is hungry.”

Nolan rubbed his stomach. “You know I am, ma'am. It feels like I haven't eaten in months!”

“I know for a fact that you ate sixteen pancakes for breakfast. And several pieces of bacon. And I believe I saw you steal some bacon from Joel's plate. So you can say you feel like you haven't eaten in months, but we all know better.”

Nolan shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a growing boy.”

Joel shook his head. “I wondered why I had so little bacon at breakfast. You need to keep your hands off my plate.”

“It was only one piece!”

Theodore shook his head at both of them. “Thank you for cooking for us, Jess.”

Jess smiled. “I love to cook. It's nice to have someone enjoy my food for a change.”

“For a change?” Elijah asked. “Are there people back home who do not like your food?”

“It's not that. I just don't get much chance to cook. I work full-time. Or I did. My mother still does all the cooking in our home. She doesn't like other people in her kitchen. She taught me to cook, because she knew I needed to know how, but she hasn’t let me back into it very often.” Jess shrugged waving everyone toward the table. “Let's eat! I made fresh bread. And dessert is on the work table.”

Nolan perked up at the word dessert. “You made dessert? If Theodore decides not to marry you, I'm keeping you.”

Jess blushed. “Someday someone will love me for more than my cooking.”

Theodore took a seat at the table, looking up at Jess. “Don't act like that day is so far away. You never know.” Already he felt himself drawn to her more than he imagined was possible. The little girl in braids had changed into a beautiful young woman.

Jess sat at one end of the table, and she noticed that Miss Hazel sat at the other. Joel and Elijah sat on either side of her. Elijah had that one curl hanging down over his forehead again. She watched as he swiped it away, but it fell right back to where it was.

Theodore bowed his head and said the blessing for the table. When he was finished, the men all immediately reached for food. “I can't remember the last time I had a decent pot roast. I think it was the last time I was back in Regina.” Nolan reached for the platter with the meat on it, and piled food on his plate.

“I hope you enjoy it.” Jess knew she could cook for these men every day, because it was so obvious they enjoyed every single bite. Her brothers had liked her cooking, but they been used to good meals growing up with their mother, so it hadn't been such a big deal to them.

“Teddy tells me that you play the guitar,” Jess said to Kendall. “I'd love to hear you play sometime while I'm here.”

Kendall seemed embarrassed. “I'd be happy to play sometime. Do you play?”

Jess shook her head. “I had some piano lessons when I was younger, but I haven't played in years.”

Theodore smiled at Jess. “We’ll make sure we have at least one night in with Kendall playing for us before you go. If you go.”

Jess was surprised. He hadn't really talked about the possibility of her staying. Was it possible that she wouldn't be going back to Ottawa embarrassed? “I'd like that a lot.”

“What I'd like a lot is to plan a wedding before I leave.” Miss Hazel took a bite of her potatoes. She was obviously not at all shy about saying what she felt. Jess wished she could be just a bit more circumspect. She looked down at her plate in embarrassment.

“Mom, please don't embarrass Jess. I want her to want to stay here. She's going to run far, far from our family if you keep that up.” Theodore knew it wasn't true, but maybe if his mother believed it was she’d stop.

Miss Hazel shook her head at her son. “You underestimate Jess. She was raised with two older brothers. She's seen more than her share of teasing over the years. I promise you she can handle anything I have to say.”

Theodore shrugged at Jess. “I tried.”

“And I do appreciate it. I know Miss Hazel well. We just have to take everything she says with a grain of salt. At least I know she loves me.” Jess took a sip of her water, watching Theodore over the rim of it. She still couldn't believe he was interested in her as a woman.

After supper was done, Jess went to the basin to start washing the dishes. Miss Hazel walked up behind her. “You've been working all day. Go on your walk. I’ll wash up.”

Jess looked between Theodore and his mother for a moment, wondering if she should take Miss Hazel up on her offer. “I don’t know. I should help.”

Miss Hazel put her hands on her hips. “Teddy, tell Jess that since she worked all day with no help from me, it’s perfectly acceptable for her to let me do the dishes, so she can walk with you.”

Theodore looked at his mother with surprise. “You really didn’t help her at all today? Not even a little?”

“Not one bit. I figured she needed to learn what it would be like being a wife out here in the wilderness before she made any final decisions. So she’s seeing what it’s like.” Miss Hazel poured hot water into the basin and added the dishes. “I’ve got this. Have fun.”

Theodore didn’t need to be told again. He grabbed Jess’s hand and pulled her outside the cabin. “There’s a lake about a five-minute walk from here. Would you like to go there?”

Jess nodded, surprised that he was thinking the same way she was. She thought walking by the water would be very romantic. They strolled along slowly, not saying anything until they’d reached the water. “There’s a bench where we can sit and watch the water, or we can really walk for a while. It’s up to you.”

Jess shrugged. “I don’t mind either way.”

“With all the work you did today, are you too tired to walk?” he asked.

“Not at all. I’m used to hard work.”

“Then I’d like to walk if you don’t mind. I was sitting all day, and I’m used to hard work too.” As they walked along the shoreline, he looked down at her. “What do you think of my little town?”

She smiled. “I’ve always dreamed of living in a place just like this. It seems almost idyllic.”

“It is for the most part. It’s a quiet little town where little happens. I think it would be hard to be a woman living here with no other women for friends though.” That was his biggest concern about her staying. He would hate for her to marry and stay with him and hate it there.

“It might be. I had two friends who I did absolutely everything with back in Ottawa. One of them threw a shoe at me when she found out I was moving out here. She’ll be happy to see me, I’m sure.”

His eyes widened at that. “One of your closest friends threw a shoe at you? Is that how she shows her friendship?”

Jess laughed. “Lisa was upset with me for agreeing to move away, and it was her way of expressing herself. She deliberately missed if that helps.”

“Only a little.” He sighed, wondering why women were such odd creatures. “Do you think you could live out here without other women around?”

“I do think I could. I’m sure your friends will marry eventually though, so I wouldn’t be the only woman out here forever.”

“That’s true.” He led her to a log from a tree that had been knocked over by lightning. He sat down and invited her to sit beside him by patting the log. “I know things didn’t start out well between us when you arrived, but I’m glad you’re here now. Very glad.”

“Me too.” She was startled when he moved a bit closer to her on the log.

He cupped her cheek with one hand. “I know I probably shouldn’t kiss you yet, because we only decided today to try courting, but our time together is so limited. Everything has to go at a very fast pace. May I kiss you, Jessica?”

Jess nodded nervously. She’d never let a man kiss her before, though a few had tried. She’d never seen the point when there was no way they could ever have a serious relationship because her heart belonged to Theodore. “I guess so.”

He looked down into her eyes before slowly lowering his head and brushing his lips against hers.

Jess felt her heart jump into her throat. Her whole body felt alive. She put her arms around his neck, moving closer to him. She never wanted him to stop kissing her.

When he lifted his head, he smiled at her, one thumb tracing her bottom lip. “I think we can put kissing on the list of things we enjoy doing together.”

She giggled. “Are we making a list?”

“I think we should. We have to evaluate everything logically, don’t we? I mean…you have to decide if you can put up with me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think you can be terribly logical about matters of the heart. If my heart wants to stay, then I’ll stay. If you want me to that is.” Please ask me to stay. Please ask me to stay.

“So if your heart told you to marry an outlaw who murdered people, you’d marry him?”

“Well, first of all, where would a sheltered young lady like me meet an outlaw to fall in love with? And secondly, I don’t see my heart wanting a man like that.” She shook her head. “It’s not who I am.”

“No, I know it’s not. Mom said you helped out a lot for all of her fundraisers and quilting parties. You were always one of the ladies who worked the hardest.” He ran his hands over her arms when he noticed she was chilly in the cool night air. “She mentioned you in every letter she sent me, telling me all the wonderful things you’ve done for the community. I was starting to think you were some sort of saint.”

Jess laughed. “I’m not a saint at all. Trust me I have lots of faults.”

“Oh?” Theodore raised an eyebrow as he studied her. “Like what?”

She shook her head adamantly. “I’m not telling you that! You’re going to have to find the faults for yourself.”

“Is that a challenge?”

She laughed softly. “How can it be a challenge when they’re right out there in the open for the whole world to see?”

“I’ve known you for your entire life, and I’ve never noticed one.”

“Oh really?” Her look was skeptical.

“Well, you did have an annoying habit of following me around at recess. And you broke your slate over Tommy’s head when he made fun of you for not understanding a math problem once.”

She grinned. “I remember that day. The teacher used her ruler on my palm and sent home a note to my mother, who was not happy with me. I wasn’t allowed to leave the house except for church and school for two weeks.”

“Tommy deserved it, though. He was always picking on you.”

“He picked on all the girls, but I was the only one who broke a slate over his head.” Her temper was one of her biggest faults, and she knew it.

Theodore grinned. “That’s true. I was secretly cheering for you from the back row.”

“Really? I thought all the boys were on Tommy’s side.”

“Not me. I thought you had a lot of spunk even then.” He stood up, taking her hand. “We should get back to the cabin before Mom sends out a search party. She’ll think I ran off with you.”

“I don’t think she will.” Jess shrugged. “She knows both of us better than that.”

“Yes, she does. But that won’t stop her from worrying.” He walked back slowly, not wanting his time with her to end. “We’re all coming over for breakfast again. I’ve decided to leave the extra table and chairs until Mom is ready to leave.”

Her heart skipped a beat when he mentioned his mom leaving and not her. Was it possible he was seriously contemplating keeping her and not just joking about it? It was what she wanted more than anything. “I think that’s wise. I have a feeling your cabin is going to be the gathering spot for meals as long as we’re here.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Jess shrugged. “It’s nice to be appreciated. I don’t mind them all being around. I’d be cooking anyway. It’s just a little more work to cook for more people.”

“What do you have planned for breakfast?” he asked.

“Don’t you think you should be surprised with the rest of the Mounties?” She knew he’d be pleased with anything she cooked, so she didn’t feel the need to tell him. It was fun having her cooking so very appreciated.

“Probably. Do you mind that I’m a Mountie?”

She frowned. “Why would I mind that you’re a Mountie? You’re serving your country.”

“It’s a dangerous job. A lot of women aren’t willing to tie themselves to a man who goes out, never knowing if he’ll return.”

“I’m made of stronger stuff than most women. I can handle it. It might be hard for me at times, but I’d manage.” They stopped walking as they reached his cabin.

He cupped her face in both hands, kissing her once more. “You’re a very special young lady, Jessica.”

She sighed, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “I hope you always think so.” She kissed him quickly before heading into the cabin. “Goodnight, Teddy. I’ll see you for breakfast.”

As the door closed in his face, Theodore stared at it for a moment. “And I’ll see you in my dreams.”