Jacks joins us this week to continue our Season 13 viewing of the hit Hallmark Channel show, When Calls the Heart.

Elizabeth welcomes new students as Nathan and Bill investigate wildfire.

January 18 2026 | Hallmark Channel

• Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thornton
• Kevin McGarry as Nathan Grant
• Chris McNally as Lucas Bouchard

It’s the first day of school, but the classroom just isn’t ready. Nathan shows up with flowers for Elizabeth and encourages her, though she wonders if it might be too soon for these new kids to be back in school at all.

Speaking of new kids, Gwen is not thrilled about school—and even less thrilled that Rosemary is trying to dress her in ugly, scratchy outfits.

Edie talks with Lucas about needing a place to stay and casually starts doing jumping jacks. Lucas is enjoying every second of it.

At school, there’s a new kid named Rupert who is a total nerd and absolutely not interested in putting up with Allie’s nonsense. Unfortunately for both of them, they’re clearly the two smartest kids in the class. Competition incoming.

The day starts off slowly, so Elizabeth encourages the Hope Valley kids to get to know the Benson Hills kids. Instead, the Benson Hills kids immediately start talking about how much they hate it in Hope Valley.

Molly thinks she saw someone carrying something into the woods before the fire. Lee is convinced it was McGinty. Bill and Nathan want to handle things by the book, but Lee is frustrated that they aren’t arresting McGinty without proof. Honestly, he should move to America.

Allie tries to talk to Ollie about Julius Caesar, but the guy could not care less.

Later, Lee spots McGinty having a drink at the saloon and confronts him with the accusations. McGinty refuses to engage and storms out. Lee follows, bumps into him, and McGinty falls—leading to Lee getting arrested.

Elizabeth catches Oliver reading Julius Caesar. He explains that he wants to talk to Allie about it, so Elizabeth hands him The Grapes of Wrath instead. You know, something a little more contemporary.

Elizabeth decides to make the next school day a fun one, complete with an obstacle course. She notices Toby and Cooper are moping, and they explain they’re dealing with something like survivor’s guilt.

Lee gets home from jail and ends up bonding with Gwen. She’s really starting to warm up to him.

Edie gets angry with Lucas when he skips a meeting with wildfire victims after getting talked into attending a fancy dinner with a hotshot dealmaker instead.

The episode ends with Toby and Cooper finally opening up to Elizabeth. They confess that they started a fire to make stew and thought they put it out properly—but what if they didn’t? They’re terrified. Elizabeth promises them they’re not alone.

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