When Calls the Heart Recap: “Two of Hearts”

The much anticipated season finale of When Calls the Heart air last night, focusing on:

At the Founders’ Day Festival, Elizabeth makes a move that might affect her future; an orphan struggles to accept his new life; Bill finds startling information about Gowen.

Little Jack’s Christening

As the episode opened, Elizabeth’s sister Julie arrived in Hope Valley for little Jack’s christening, and it was revealed that her parents and other sister Viola were unable to attend the blessed event due to their trip to England. However, their parents had Julie bring a very special gift to Elizabeth: the baptism gown worn by Elizabeth and both of her sisters at their christenings.

The christening was short and sweet but touching with seemingly everyone from Hope Valley stuffed inside their little church for the service. Lee and Rosemary were pointed out as being little Jack’s guardians while Bill and Julie stepped up to the alter as little Jack’s godparents.

A small party was then held at the café with plenty of gifts stacked in the corner for Elizabeth and little Jack. There was a cute moment during the brief scene of the party where Mountie Nathan took little Jack in his arms, allowing Elizabeth a quick respite to visit with some friends. The funny faces he made to entertain little Jack were quite comical and seemed to touch Elizabeth’s heart.

Grand Opening of the Library

It was apparent as Lucas and Elizabeth cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the town’s new library that Nathan was still unsettled by Elizabeth’s ‘closeness’ to the saloon owner. It is understandable given what happened in last week’s episode where Lucas’s past came back to haunt him and almost caused harm to Elizabeth. She even said as much to Lucas earlier in the episode when she told him that his past could have taken her from her son.

The Trouble with Spencer

Meanwhile, Grace was shown with young Spencer, who was obviously mourning the recent loss of his parents. Grace was doing her best to entertain the sorrowful little boy [it was SO great that she was reading “Peter Pan” to the little boy], but with not much success. In fact, during the Founder’s Day Festival [more on that shortly], the little boy ran off, hiding inside Carson’s clinic. His brief disappearance upset Grace, and set off many in the town looking for the little boy. In the end, Grace was able to reach Spencer once she told him about her own unfortunate circumstances of her youth. [I’m sure we’ll see more of Spencer either in next season’s episodes or in the spin-off series When Hope Calls that will debut on Hallmark Movies Now in August.]

RELATED: Check out the rest of our When Calls the Heart articles

Founder’s Day Festival

It was time for most of the episode to focus on the Founder’s Day Festival with lots of games and fun for everyone – young and old alike – as well as a petting zoo, a hairstyling booth, plenty of balloons and cotton candy and so much more.

Perhaps the most entertaining moment was watching Nathan and Lucas try to “out man” the other with the high striker-strongman game only to have Carson come in and hit the bell with his first strike, winning little Allie, Nathan’s niece, the fishing pole she wanted her uncle to win for her.

Gowen’s Regret and A Not So Surprising Proposal

As Bill was clearing out his files since he needs to find a new office now that he is a Judge, he discovered a long hidden letter that got stuck inside a cabinet drawer that revealed that Gowen reported his concerns over the then Coal Valley mine before the horrible cave in that took the lives of so many of the men of that small community. Bill was obviously, once again, very upset with Gowen for his decision to choose the mining company over his friends and community but Gowen was even harder on himself, still feeling guilt even 6 years after the accident. It was Elizabeth, though, who spoke to him before the Festival Dance got underway, telling him that he should move on from the mine tragedy. That might be easier said than done, though, but Elizabeth knows just how difficult it is to move on from a horrible tragedy.

Meanwhile, it has been a long wait, but Jesse finally popped the question to his love Clara right in the middle of the saloon at the Founder’s Day Festival Dance, getting down on one knee and presenting her with a ring. Obviously, she said yes, and the town all cheered for them.

Ladies Choice

In an effort to ‘shake things up a little’ at the Founder’s Day Festival Dance, Fiona suggests to Rosemary a ladies choice dance. As each woman makes her selection, Gowen quietly walked out the door of the saloon while both Lucas and Nathan seemed to be looking around for a partner. It was clear throughout the episode that Elizabeth was seeing different sides of both men, and while to some it seemed that Elizabeth would choose Nathan she actually asked Lucas for a dance. But it was the looks shared between Nathan and Elizabeth as she danced with Lucas that was a bit telling.

What are your thoughts on the season finale? Did you enjoy the Founder’s Day Festival? What do you think will happen with Gowen next? Do you see Jesse and Clara getting married next season? Do you think Elizabeth made the right choice of dance partners? Please comment below.

[Photo Credit: Hallmark Channel]

The seventh season of When Calls the Heart will return to the Hallmark Channel sometime in 2020.