Elizabeth and Lucas continue wedding plans and pick their best man and maid of honor. During tough economic times, Leland stretches his finances in an effort to employ as many men as possible. Nathan is assigned a failed Mounty dog and Allie bonds with it.
Elizabeth's sister and aunt come to town. Mei encourages Nathan to mend fences with Faith. At Henry's long awaited hearing, Bill is surprised when he pleads guilty. Children in town discover a hot springs and it gains the attention of the whole town as a possible tourist attraction which they name Hope Springs.
Tourists begin to come to Hope Valley. A surprise baby shower is held for Rosemary. After Faith is attacked by a bandit, Nathan accompanies her on her rounds. Lucas negotiates a pardon for Henry.
Rosemary goes into labor and gives birth to a girl. The bandit that attacked Faith is caught and in the spirit of giving second chances, he is hired by the Yosts to work in their store.
Elizabeth and Lucas enjoy a date night, while Rosemary and Lee babysit their newborn. Nathan and Allie go camping with Joseph, and Madeline tries to buy land from Bill.
Mrs. St John (Madeline) asks Bill to help her find a property to buy, but insists on one that includes a stream that she can't find. They begin meeting daily for breakfast and when he learns she plans to leave town because she can't find the right property, he offers to sell her the property he has owned with the plan of building on it himself someday.
While Madeline is out of town, Bill tries to get the cabin ready for her on the land he sold her - only to discover that Madeline is engaged. Meanwhile Lucas intends to surprise the town with the purchase of the town's first radio, but technical problems slow down the reveal. When Henry finds out that Rosaleen Sullivan is back in town ( a daughter of one of the miners that was killed when he ran the mine) and struggling to afford college, he anonymously starts a scholarship fund in hopes of maki
Allie offers to babysit little Jack, and panics when she can't find him during hide and seek. Nathan comes to her aid but they find him hiding in the living room and Elizabeth has no hard feelings. Rosaleen realizes that the scholarship is from Henry and so rejects it and plans to leave town to avoid him and the memories of the mining disaster. Her mother convinces her to forgive and she meets with him to tell him that she does. Elizabeth has growing suspicions that the workers on the land Bill
The governor is coming to Hope Valley and Rosemary reveals that she made a number of elaborate promises to get him there - and they have just 24 hours to make them come true. As the town scrambles to be ready, they learn he will be there in 3 hours. Meanwhile Bill and Nathan respond to a hostage situation with Pinkerton guards. They get there and side against the Pinkertons and get away. A tourist discovers that Hope Springs has run dry. They discover that Montague who is doing the building on B
After Jack's departure from Coal Valley, Abigail learns her husband might be at fault for the mine disaster. Julie unknowingly nurses wanted outlaw Nate Tolliver back to health and gives him directions to the cabin where they met, and where his loot is stashed. Julie confides in Elizabeth about her newfound love, but a suspicious Elizabeth goes to tell Abigail, just as the trouble arrives. The Thatcher women are put in danger, and Elizabeth realizes that love is stronger than fear.
When the governor's opponent drops out, his political party convinces Lucas to run. Elizabeth struggles with the idea that if Lucas wins it will mean him moving away from Hope Valley. As he gets ready to leave for the convention, she tells him she can't go with him and they are not meant to be together.
With Elizabeth at his side, Election Day has the entire town supporting Lucas, hoping he will save Hope Valley. Meanwhile, Rosemary and Lee discuss who should be their baby’s godfather.