When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 10 Recap: Through the Valley

‘When Calls the Heart’ progresses into stirring new developments with season 12 episode 10, titled ‘Through the Valley.’ In the aftermath of Lucas’ decision to spearhead his original National Park plan as the Governor, tensions begin to rise between McGinty and the town. Consequently, Allie and her inquisitive mind end up getting caught in the crossfire as the rancher targets her and Oliver’s research into the pastures. Simultaneously, Bill finds himself reuniting with his own crime-solving partner, Georgie, who returns to town for the gold coin investigations. Meanwhile, the town itself stands on the precipice of new traditions as one of Elizabeth’s students grapples with her future while Hickam and Mei inadvertently herald in a celebration for their community. SPOILERS AHEAD!

McGinty Charges Allie with Trespassing

After Lucas passes his executive order dissolving the shared pasture use between his National Park and the ranchers, McGinty gears up for an attack of his own. He sues the Governor on various accounts, including abuse of power, profiteering, and fraud. Furthermore, after Edie resigns from her position as the Cattleman’s Association’s lawyer—likely due to her growing camaraderie with Lucas—the rancher threatens to invoke the terms of the unfair loan he had tricked her uncle into signing. As a result, the lawyer runs the threat of losing the ranch unless she can find a way to pay off the exorbitant interest prices.

These retaliations compel Lucas to confront McGinty in a face-to-face meeting—one on which Mountie Nathan, the newly promoted to Chief Constable, insists on accompanying him. The rancher remains prepared for a fight of the legal kind. Therefore, he threatens to issue restraining orders against Lucas and Edie. Worse yet, he seems to have figured out that Allie had been snooping around in his private-owned pastures. As such, he also issues a fine on her, inviting Nathan’s ire. Back in town, as the Mountie discusses the matter with Allie, she remains incredibly regretful of her actions and promises to make them right on her own.

Oliver Helps Allie and Saves the Day

Due to McGinty’s charges, Allie attempts to change her end-of-the-year project from her research into the forest’s ecosystem—a topic she has been working on for months with Oliver’s help. Once Elizabeth learns about the same, she decides to lend a helping hand to untangling McGinty’s ill-intentioned web. The teacher knows that the rancher is only pursuing Allie’s trespassing charges to hide his own unethical secrets. For the same reason, she’s against letting him get away with a few well-placed blackmail methods. Fortunately enough, as it turns out, Mountie Cadet Oliver might have just the way out of this mess.

During his excursion into the pastures with Allie, Oliver noticed that the fallen trees blocking the pathways to the area were Ashwood. Those kinds of trees only grow in one area—the land that belongs to Lee Coulter. Therefore, he has firm proof that McGinty cut down and stole trees from another citizen’s private land, opening himself up to criminal charges should Lee decide to pursue. Furthermore, since this potential case establishes Olvier’s venture into the pastures as a part of an official Mountie investigation, he legally holds the right to trespass without repercussions.

As such, all it takes is a well-placed intimidation tactic from Bill—the Judge who has recently found himself returning to his former Mountie duties. Naturally, Lee is up for helping out his friends and agrees to pursue McGinty on the charges of theft. That is, of course, unless the rancher can come to an understanding with Bill. In turn, the latter wants McGinty to drop the fine against Allie, release the Martell ranch from his hold, and erase the unlawful loans he has accumulated on every other rancher in town. Thus, they effectively neutralize all the power the greedy rancher held, eliminating him as a threat to the lives of Hope Valley residents—at least, for now. Yet, without the Cattleman Association’s bought loyalty behind him, there doesn’t seem to be much trouble that McGinty can stir up.

Sparks Fly for Bill and Georgie

This episode also sees the return of Georgie, the forensics officer who is collaborating with Hope Valley authorities on the gold coin investigation. After the Garrison cousins’ arrest in the last episode, the case has a new lead, which might offer some unexpected insight. As a result, Georgie and Bill prepare to interrogate Woody Garrison, Sonny’s cousin, who has information about the possible hidden location of the gold coins. However, he insists that while his brother Jake had shared the map with him, he had no other knowledge about the situation. Therefore, with the coins missing from the hidden chest in the woods, their mystery persists for now.

On the other hand, Rosemary—Bill’s initial investigation partner—grows restless over constantly being left out of the case. She can tell the judge is acting unusual and, in lieu of a real explanation, jumps to conclusions about the fragility of their partnership. After some advice from Millie, she decides to undertake the investigation herself as a journalist. Meanwhile, another plan brews in Millie’s cafe between Hickam and Mei. The pair are planning on celebrating the upcoming harvest with an intimate dinner, combining their family recipes for the menu. However, once Millie and the others overhear their plans, it somehow devolves into a town-wide dinner-turned-festival.

Despite the changes to their plans, Hickam manages to surprise his wife with a gift he has been planning for some time: a trip to Niagra Falls. After their disastrous honeymoon trip, he is eager to make new memories by undertaking a grand new adventure with Mei. Similarly, another connection advances in the background as Georgie stops by the festival dinner to extend her regards to Rosemary. As the forensics inspector is leaving, a conversation between her and Bill sparks, in which she ends up confessing that she still harbors some feelings for the man. As a result, the two end up sharing a kiss before Georgie takes her leave from town. What this means for the pair remains yet to be seen since it is evident that life has taken them on different paths, cementing their lives in different towns. Still, there’s always a chance that true love will find a way to their happily ever after.

Little Jack Goes Missing

Once things settle down in the town, Nathan and Elizabeth are able to take a moment for themselves. Their relationship has been pleasantly progressing—between themselves as well as their respective children. Even though Little Jack had turned down Nathan’s offer to go riding in the evening—in favor of playing baseball with the town boys—his comfort around the man reveals the true nature of their budding relationship. In turn, Nathan fuels this advancement by gifting a baseball glove to the young boy to showcase his support. However, an unfortunate development befalls the family soon enough.

While Little Jack is out playing with his friends, he abruptly goes missing. This launches an immediate search party throughout the town, with everyone—from Bill to Lee—participating in the search for Elizabeth’s son. Eventually, Nathan finds the boy, who had passed out in the fields. Consequently, the couple finds themselves at Faith’s clinic to evaluate Little Jack’s health. Although initially, a diagnosis of dehydration seems likely, the doctor runs some tests to confirm the patient’s condition. Unfortunately, when the results return the following night, Faith has some adverse news to share with Elizabeth. As it turns out, Little Jack has diabetes—a condition that doesn’t yet have a cure in the show’s 1910s period setting. As such, it seems a long and tough road lies ahead for Little Jack and the town.