The sweeping frontier drama that captured the hearts of millions returns for a fourth season. Abigail (Lori Loughlin) is now mayor while her predecessor undergoes investigation for misappropriation of funds. The railroad comes to town and presents her first real challenge when she has to strike a balance between doing what’s best for the future of Hope Valley without compromising the individual interests of residents. Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Jack (Lissing), the town’s favorite couple, continue their romance but life is not without bumps in the road – in a surprising turn of events Elizabeth must fight to keep her job as teacher and Jack suffers a personal loss that leaves a great impact on him. Bill (Jack Wagner) agrees to head security for the railroad and raises an eyebrow from those mistrustful of the venture but his true intentions remain unclear. While new faces come to Hope Valley and the town evolves one thing remains constant – the sense of family that bonds them as a community is as strong as ever, making the tough times easier to bear and the happy moments more special.