When Calls the Heart

: Previously, on When Calls the Heart...

: Meet Douglas Burke.

Leading a squad of Mounties up to the Northern Territories.

Perhaps we'd find it easier

dealing with a more reasonable man.

: Henry?

: Your services will no longer be needed.

: You won't be able to perform strenuous labor for some time.

- You still need help? - I'm your replacement.

Mayor Gowen, why is there someone in my classroom

claiming to be the new teacher?

It's not your classroom, Miss Thatcher.

It's the town's.

Answer my question.

A letter in your employment file

was brought to my attention,

and given the contents,

well, I was forced to replace you.

What letter?

According to this, you used your family's influence

and the promise of financial gain

to secure your first teaching assignment.

It's quite a serious allegation.

That isn't true.

Well, it is,

according to Thomas Higgins.

Superintendent of Schools for the Western Territories,

based out of Cape Fullerton.

He was the Superintendent in Hamilton,

before I moved here.

Well, then, apparently, he can be trusted.

He's lying.

He is a well-respected official,

so you'll forgive me if I take his word over yours.

If you'll excuse me.

This isn't over.

This is low... even for Henry Gowen.

You can bet the railroad's behind it.

Ray Wyatt isn't the kind of man who's used to being told what to do.

There's no doubt that Gowen is in Mr. Wyatt's pocket.

All that talk of expanding the school,

and he was planning on getting rid of me all long.

That letter is a forgery, Elizabeth.

We're gonna prove it,

and you're gonna be back in that classroom in no time,

I promise.

It isn't a forgery, Jack.

I know Thomas Higgins.

You'd never bribe anyone.

No, and I didn't.

But when my mother heard Higgins was sending me West,

she tried to use influence and money

to keep me in Hamilton.

But you didn't take the job in Hamilton.

No. I turned it down to come here.

Then why did Higgins write the letter?

Revenge.

Revenge? For what?

When I met with Thomas Higgins, he made...

advances.

Oh, Elizabeth.

I turned him down.

Of course you did.

And that made him angry.

I just never realized how much.

He must've written the letter

as soon as I started working here.

So you didn't know about it until now?

Right, but now that the letter has come to light...

I won't be able to teach anymore.

Not in Hope Valley, not anywhere.

Then you'll visit Mr. Thomas Higgins

and get him to tell the truth.

I have to take the Tate boys to Union City for trial.

They've escaped before, so I can't take any chances.

But we are gonna go to Cape Fullerton

as soon as I get back.

That's very sweet of you, Jack,

but I have to leave as soon as I can.

I'll be back at the end of the week.

No, this is my reputation and my career.

My students are too important to me.

It can't wait.

Elizabeth...

I'm going with you.

Oh, Abigail, you don't have to do that.

Yes, I do.

I don't want you going alone.

But what about Cody and the cafe?

Well, Clara can watch Cody,

and Carson can manage the cafe.

We won't be gone long.

Excuse me.

I'm worried about you.

Don't be.

Are you sure you don't need me to go with you?

I am sure.

: Let's see...

Mr. Cantrell?

Could you please recite your homework lesson

from last night?

Recite the homework?

Yes. I assume you memorized your lesson?

Miss Thatcher never made us memorize our lessons before.

How very unfortunate.

From now on, when I give you an assignment,

I expect you all to be prepared for recitation

the next morning. Is that clear?

What's "recitation"?

It means you have to know it by heart.

There will be no talking out of turn, young man.

Now, we have a great deal of work to do

to prepare for the regional exams.

Please open your readers to chapter seven,

and...

Yes. Miss...

Weise?

I don't need to be examined. I'm not sick.

: That's enough.

Quiet.

And there are no toys

in my classroom.

Brownie's not a toy!

- Give him back! - After school.

And if I see this in my classroom again,

you will spend the rest of the day

standing in the corner.

Is that perfectly clear, Miss Weise?

Good. Now.

Open your readers to chapter seven

and copy...

Yes, Mr. Cantrell?

I forgot my book.

Then you shall receive a demerit for being unprepared.

I expect more from you in the future, Mr. Cantrell.

But he's new.

Would you like a demerit, too?

No.

Then do what you're told.

: Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

: About what?

How Gowen keeps landing on his feet.

The evidence against him

was rock-solid,

until the accountant

who was gonna testify against him

changed his testimony.

Stranger things have happened.

It must've cost a pretty penny to make that happen.

What I can't figure out is how Gowen got his hands

on that much cash.

Bill...

I know the two of you have a history,

but I need you to set it aside.

Business comes first.

What are you trying to say?

Now that Henry Gowen's back in the Mayor's Office,

I want you to reach out to him.

All right.

If it'll make you happy, I'll clear the air with Gowen.

Good.

I can't afford to have bad blood between the two of you.

And to show my thanks,

I'll put a nice little bonus in your paycheck this week.

Make it a big bonus.

: I can assure you,

I'll look into the matter personally.

Thank you again for bringing it to my attention.

Sometimes, I wonder how you sleep at night.

I gather you're here

to talk to me about Miss Thatcher.

You had no right to fire her,

and you know it.

I had every right.

The evidence clearly showed that she's unfit to teach.

That letter isn't evidence. It's a false allegation.

I see.

Like the false allegation

that got me suspended as Mayor?

I guess the criteria is different

when the person who's under the cloud

is your lady friend.

My relationship with Elizabeth

has nothing to do with this.

Why are you so angry then?

You and I both know that the railroad wants her gone

because she had the guts to stand up to them.

She's done nothing to deserve this.

People don't always get what they deserve,

now, do they, Jack?

She'll just have to learn that.

Oh!

My dear Elizabeth,

I just heard the news!

I want you to know you have my complete support

and all my sympathy.

That's very sweet of you, Rosemary, thank you.

You are a wonderful teacher.

I can't believe something like this could happen to you.

Neither can I, to tell you the truth.