When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 9 Recap: Buried Treasure

In ‘When Calls the Heart’ season 12, things continue to unravel in the lives of the Hope Valley residents, sparking new beginnings and conclusions alike. Episode 9, titled ‘Buried Treasure,’ finds the town with a cause for concern as Sonny Garrison escapes the prison with intentions to return to town for his nefarious plans. Meanwhile, Ava’s long-running con finally arrives at a place of unmasking as Rosemary turns her inquisitive eye onto her. Simultaneously, Lucas strives to right past wrong by finally making good on the entirety of his National Park promise. However, even the governor knows his actions don’t come without the risk of dooming his future. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Ava Comes Clean About Her Past

Since her arrival in town, Ava has invited an air of suspicion around her. She claims to be an heiress in town to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Yet, excuses about her parents’ trip rack up a substantial unpaid tab in the town’s store and hotel while the woman boasts no teaching skills but seems to have a knack for acting. Therefore, it remains evident that the alleged heiress is hiding a secret from the kind folks of Hope Valley. After her participation in Rosemary’s radio performance of an Oscar Wilde stage play, the latter agrees to lay off her perpetual suspicious perception of the other woman. However, the arrival of an intriguing telegram sets Rosemary back on her pseudo-detective track.

As it turns out, a stranger, Elmer Peterson, also lost his luggage at the station on the same day on the same train as Ava. For the same reason, the station wants her to give them a call to confirm the retrieved green suitcase she received earlier truly belongs to her. Although she readily agrees that the trunk indeed belongs to her, the truth remains that it housed men’s clothing. Even though Rosemary is oblivious to the same fact, her suspicions are still raised by the news that two identical suitcases got stolen at the same time. Therefore, she recruits the help of a reluctant Elizabeth to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Initially, Rosemary tries to nudge her husband, Lee—the Queen of Hearts saloon owner—into letting her access Ava’s room to confirm her speculations about the trunk. Nonetheless, he effectively steers his wife away from the blatant breach of privacy. However, Ava overhears this conversation and realizes that holding on to the suitcase may be more trouble than it’s worth. Consequently, she tries to rid herself of it by tossing it out the window. Inevitably, this only brings attention to it after Hickam finds it. Thus, Ava has no choice but to reveal the truth.

Ava admits that she made up the story about being a heiress. Instead, she actually worked with a popular mentalist, Clive Maxwell. However, Clive was no magician but rather a conman. He employed Ava’s help to scout out his targets and learn information about them before pulling off mentalist tricks on the stage and making a lucrative living. Once she learned about the con, he threatened to call the cops on her and bought her silence. Eventually, Clive began forcing her into a new trick, in which she pretended to faint on stage, allowing him the opportunity to rob unwitting audience members. However, he eventually ended up robbing a Pinkerton private investigator.

In the aftermath, Clive pushed all the blame on Ava, forcing her to go on the run from the authorities. Consequently, she ended up in Hope Valley, following in the footsteps of the protagonist from her favorite book, penned by Elizabeth. After she confesses to her lies, Elizabeth and Rosemary are sympathetic toward the other woman’s plight. In fact, they even help her report the entire incident to Nathan. Eventually, with his help, Ava is able to cut a deal with the Pinkerton, as they agree to wipe her slate clean if she testifies against Clive. Ultimately, as Ava leaves the town, a heavy weight has been lifted off her shoulders, allowing her to find a new start.

Sonny Garrison Takes Allie and Oliver Hostage

While Elizabeth and the others are engaged in unraveling the truth about Ava, Allie and Oliver find themselves on their own adventure. The pair are engrossed in studying the woods and its wildlife, continuing their research-based partnership. Thus, their knowledge about maps and the forest catches the attention of a stranger in town, Woody. Consequently, he approaches them for help with a map of his own, claiming he’s looking for a tree where his parents carved their initials. The hand-drawn map he sports is barely legible, but the kids agree to accompany him and help him with his search.

However, unbeknownst to Oliver and Allie, Woody is actually a dangerous man. Earlier, Sonny Garrison had escaped from his imprisonment, compelling Nathan and Bill to conduct out-of-town stakeouts to find him. They believe that the criminal would be after the ranch that belonged to Edie’s uncle. Nonetheless, his real goal is in the woods near Hope Valley, which his cousin, Woody, will help him find. Once the latter is in the forest with the teenagers, he realizes that Oliver is actually Cadet Mountie, which could only spell trouble for him and his outlaw brother. Yet, before he can make a hasty retreat, Sonny reveals himself, asserting that they will use the kids’ help to find their treasure.

As such, Allie and Oliver get taken hostage with no real defense for themselves. Still, the young girl cleverly leaves behind her hair ribbon in foliage to indicate her location. Soon enough, Elizabeth realizes that the teenagers are missing from town. Fortunately, Molly was able to eavesdrop on their previous conversation with Woody, which helps the teacher connect the dots. Consequently, Elizabeth takes off to look for the kids with Henry and Hickam by her side. While she’s trying to reach Nathan and Bill and recruit their help, she spots Allie’s ribbon, which helps her find the teenagers.

Allie’s exceptional map-reading skills had paid off, allowing Oliver to find the exact spot marked on the treasure map. Nevertheless, once he digs down to the hidden chest, Sonny finds that the trunk is empty. Allie uses this opportunity to sow seeds of doubt between him and his cousin, suggesting that Woody could be the thief. As a result, the teens find an opening to bolt. Yet, Sonny catches them, compelling Elizabeth to come to their aid. With her help, they manage to stall the criminal long enough for Nathan and the others to find them through Allie’s ribbon. Ultimately, her brains and Oliver’s courage allow Nathan to apprehend Sonny, returning him to his prison cell. However, a new mystery arises regarding the empty treasure chest and the possible thief responsible for it.

Lucas Makes a Bold Decision About the National Park

So far, Lucas’ plans for the National Park have presented a tumultuous journey for the character. However, his recent discovery of McGinty’s hold over the Cattleman’s Association has made the governor rethink some of his previous decisions. Initially, he had agreed to the shared pasture usage of the National Park to ensure the ranchers weren’t inconvenienced out of their grazing ground. Nonetheless, this ends up backfiring onto the forest’s natural ecosystem, which is thrown off by the ranchers’ herd. Worse yet, despite the availability of an alternative solution, McGinty, who holds an unethical monopoly over the ranchers, refuses to cooperate in the matter.

Consequently, Lucas realizes he must resort to adverse methods. Following a helpful conversation with Henry, the governor decides to put down an executive order that would dissolve the shared pasture agreement and return the National Park’s exclusive rights over the previously pitched land. This will affect his political popularity—something Lucas is already lacking in. Still, it’s the only way he can stand up to McGinty and his unwavering plot. After making this decision, Lucas runs into Edie—the lawyer for the Cattleman’s Association and a rival-turned-friend. He asks the woman out for dinner the same night for a discussion.

Even though the dinner between Lucas and Edie remains ripe with small flirtations, things take a serious turn once the governor reveals his plans. In turn, the lawyer respects his decision but knows that it won’t go over well with McGinty and the association. For the same reason, she warns him about waging war on a dangerous enemy. Even so, despite the complications Lucas’ decision with the Park may bring for his career, it seems it wouldn’t have any negative effects on his growing friendship with Edie.