Recap: Harvest Moon - Season 13 - Episode 12

As they are getting ready at home, Elizabeth is still struggling to get LJ to not be upset about the rock climbing. Nathan arrives to pick up supplies for the Harvest Festival and tries to cheer LJ up by talking about the festival. Nathan heads out with the supplies and asks Elizabeth if they can try having dinner together again. She agrees.

At their café, Cooper arrives late to help Minnie, who is curious why Cooper has been running late. Just as he is about to respond, Joseph excitedly rushes through the door. He is raving about an incredible roadside plum stand but has no plums with him. He laughs that he brought back the sweetest plum and brings their daughter Angela through the doorway. Minnie and Cooper are thrilled to see her. Angela wanted to visit home after hearing everything that the family had to go through and thought the week of the Harvest Festival would be a great time to come surprise her family.

At their home, Rosemary and Lee are surprised when Gwen comes downstairs wearing a dress. Rosemary mentions that she doesn’t have to wear it if she doesn’t want to, but Gwen insists that she likes it.

At the schoolhouse, Elizabeth teaches about what the cornucopia symbolizes, and being thankful. She mentions that many of the students must be feeling thankful that can return home to Benson Hills soon. One of the young students, Missy, mentions that she is afraid of things being different in Benson Hills. Rupert adds that they are going to miss everyone in Hope Valley. Gwen asks if they can come back to visit, and Elizabeth replies that they are always welcome.

At the saloon, Nathan fills Bill in on his plans to propose to Elizabeth. Bill tells Nathan about his past engagement and warns him to not get caught up in grand gestures, because proposals mean so much more than that. Nathan arrives at the schoolhouse during lunchtime and tells Elizabeth that he has something to ask her.

On the way up to his office, Lucas carries a large stack of boxes. He accidentally bumps into a passerby, and a box falls from the pile. Luckily it is caught by Edie. Lucas is surprised to see her, and she informs him that she is in town to help her clients wrap up their claims now that National Insurance has been found guilty. They head up to his office to catch up.

Now in his office, Lucas tells Edie that the boxes are for his Harvest Festival magic act. He asks if Edie will be there and she says she will try. Lucas then asks about her life in Union City. He tells her that he will be passing through in a few weeks and asks if he can take her out for tea while he is there. She then tells him that she will be busy traveling to New York to help set up a new women’s settlement house. Edie mentions that it seems like they’ve both find their place, which Lucas responds that he hasn’t yet. He then asks when she will be back again, to which she replies maybe in a couple months.

Nathan takes Elizabeth, LJ and Allie to the water tower, where Oliver is there setting up a rope harness. Nathan tells LJ he has a way for him to see the valley and offers to bring him up to the top of the water tower. Elizabeth is uncertain of first, but Nathan explains that it is totally safe. Allie and Elizabeth watch with anticipation as LJ climbs up the ladder while strapped into the rope harness. LJ reaches the top, and Nathan tells him to ring the bell up top. He rings the bell with a huge smile on his face. Cooper and Toby even see him from the distance and tell him that he is flying. Elizabeth looks at Nathan with a warm smile. Once he makes it back down, LJ tells everyone how amazing it was. Elizabeth thanks Nathan, and Nathan tells her that they can find their way through anything together. As he leads into a more serious conversation, Toby interrupts to ask Nathan if he can have a turn going up the water tower. A large line of kids starts behind Toby to wait their turn.

Later, back in the classroom, Elizabeth introduces a new symbol to represent their recent past: a hawk. The hawk represents being able to fly above and look at things from new perspectives. She then asks them to make two lists - things that they have gained recently and things they have lost recently.

After school, Nathan meets with Allie at the store to go over his new proposal plan. He informs her that his new plan is to have no plan at all, and to let the moment find them. While Allie thinks it’s sweet, she warns him to not wait too long and let the moment pass. She then sees Angela in the store and excitedly greets her.

Back at the Coulter home, Gwen is anxiously scrubbing mud off her dress. Rosemary arrives home and Gwen profusely apologizes. Rosemary tells her it’s no big deal, but Gwen seems ashamed and mentions that she won’t be a problem for them anymore because she is leaving soon. Rosemary consoles her, telling her that they have loved having her and can’t wait for her to visit again.

Outside of their café, Cooper shows Angela a braille plaque that they installed next to the door. Joseph and Minnie arrive, and Joseph asks her to step back outside of the café. Cooper pulls down a white sheet and reveals a beautiful sign above the entrance that reads “Minnie’s Café.” Minnie is thrilled and now realizes Cooper has been busy in the mornings because he was helping make the sign. Henry arrives to take a photo of the Canfields in front of their new sign.

The Harvest Festival begins! All the townspeople are present, and it is filled with laughter and excitement. Lucas performs some amazing magic in front of a large crowd and notices Edie in the audience. Lee gathers the townspeople and shares a complete model for the Benson Hills rebuild, thanking Rupert and Opal for helping design the school. While the crowd is still gathered, Lucas announces that he is going to be stepping down as governor after his term is complete. He then publicly endorses Mayor Hickam, and the audience applauds. She then thanks him and everyone applauds his work on the Benson Hills rebuild. While still at the podium, he thanks Edie for all her work. As Lucas’ speech concludes, Lee pulls a sheet over him and he magically disappears. The townspeople all gasp and applaud.

Still at the festival, Elizabeth gathers everyone to hear what the students wrote on their different lists. She has the idea of tying their lists to balloons and releasing them after they share. Rupert, Missy, Allie and Gwen all share their lists in front of everyone. Gwen specifically mentions how the Coulters took her in and how she now has two families. All the students then attach their lists to the balloon string and release them into the sky.

Mei and Mike oversee serving everyone food at the festival. While Maisie is getting her food, he tells Mike and Mei that she doesn’t plan to run for governor, even though Lucas endorsed her. When they question her, she tells them that she doesn’t have a likable personality and she wouldn’t do well running for a larger role; her style is suited to smaller towns. While she is about to walk off, Mike challenges her and tells her that she is just afraid. She just needs to believe in herself, and she laughs that her brother knows her better than herself. Mei offers her a piece of pie as her first “campaign contribution,” which Maisie accepts. To her surprise, all the townspeople could hear the conversation and cheer to the news that she will be running for governor.

At the saloon, Edie finds Lucas playing piano and brings him a piece of pie from the festival. Edie asks him about what led him to making the decision to step down as governor. He tells her that things have changed, and he realized it when he worked with her to secure the private grant for the Benson Hills school. He looks at Edie and tells her that she is his North Star. Their gazes are locked, but Edie quickly snaps out of it and questions Lucas’ timing. She is scheduled to leave for New York tomorrow and suggests that they pick things up when she is back in a few months. Lucas asks if they will need help in New York and suggests that he could join when his term is complete. Edie grabs him and they kiss.

As the festival wraps up, Rosemary and Lee are walking together, reflecting on their time with Gwen. Lee tells Rosemary that she is exactly what Gwen needed to make her feel better, especially because she has been without a mother for some time. Gwen eventually catches up with them and brought gifts. She first hands Lee his gift, a hand-carved fish lure. He promises that he will save it for when they go fishing together. Next, she gives Rosemary a beautiful hand-carved picture frame, with flower details around the edges. She then hands them two handmade dolls to give to Goldie. They all hug while saying that they love one another. Gwen joins the other Benson Hills residents on the wagon that is heading back home, waving goodbye as the wagon sets off.

While working the drink station, Allie and Oliver fill Angela in on all their stories, including the fossil that they discovered. Oliver leaves to go get more sugar for the drinks. Now that he is gone, Angela tells Allie that she can tell how Oliver and Allie like each other.

Nathan asks Elizabeth if they can go for a walk, glancing at Allie from a distance with a smirk.

While they walk together, Nathan finally starts his proposal speech. Elizabeth interrupts him and says that she has a crazy idea. They arrive at the water tower and begin climbing together. While enjoying the view from the top of the tower, Nathan continues his words of appreciation for Elizabeth. He tells her that she is the reason for everything good that he does. He compares her to silver, because she reflects the best of anyone who stands within her light.

Nathan then presents the ring from his pocket. He explains how it has four stones to represent their family. As he begins to place the ring on her finger, he asks if she will marry him. Before responding, Elizabeth kisses him. Nathan chuckles and mentions that she hasn’t said anything yet. She says yes to his proposal, and they embrace in front of a beautiful sunset and a view of the town atop the water tower.

In her journal, Elizabeth reflects on being thankful for what has happened but also hopeful for things to come.

Later, a taxi arrives in Hope Valley. The driver opens the door and Abigail emerges. She says to herself, “It’s good to be home.”