To help Marin get rid of issues that weigh her down, Cash takes her to visit a guru. On the way back down the mountain trail, an arctic cyclone erupts.
When Marin and Cash make a bet to see who can make the best stew, Marin ventures into the forest to find a special root. She gets lost and Jack, who is filming a nature documentary, finds her.
Now that Lynn has left town, everyone in Elmo assumes that Marin and Jack will get back together. Mai's cousin, Lucy, an ice skating star, comes from China to visit. Mai wants her to stay, so George offers to marry her -- much to Terri's dismay. Meanwhile, Annie and Patrick are having trouble planning their wedding, and once Celia discovers that her boyfriend, Dick, is much younger, she wonders what the consequences will be.
Romance finds its way back into Marin's life in the way of gifts from Jack, as well as her publisher, Stuart Maxson, who'd like to pick up where they left off.
Wild wolves descend on Elmo, which leads to a heated fight between Marin and Jack. A series of ill-fated events threaten to ruin Patrick and Annie's wedding, including a beauty blunder that leaves Annie looking less than picture perfect.
Marin has second thoughts about her feelings for Jack and invites him to be her wedding date. Patrick and Annie's wedding is threatened by dangerous and unforeseen events.
With Jack away on a research ship, Marin begins to question the terms of their relationship especially when she finds a mysterious woman's phone number amongst his things.
Jack's ship has gone down in the Bering Sea, but Marin doesn't know this and is upset by his lack of communication. And when she finds herself being romantically pursued by her publisher, Stuart, she must decide whether or not the possibility of Jack is worth waiting for.
With Jack still away at sea, Marin gets an unexpected visitor. Cash re-enters her life in a big way and brings with him a shocking secret. Sara provides a temporary haven for Eric while he re-builds his church, but complications quickly arise for the celibate couple.
The town of Elmo hopes for the best when they learn that Jack's life may be in danger. Eager to stay positive, a hopeful Marin focuses her energy on helping Cash through his illness. Patrick decides to take life by the horns and asks a young girl out. Annie discovers surprising news about Jerome's past life. Tensions arise between Sara and Pastor Eric when Eric's church group catches Sara in a compromising position.
Jack and Marin decide to move in together, but the happy couple doesn't anticipate the difficulty of merging their different lifestyles. Meanwhile, Jane is on a mission to get her marriage to Sam announced in the coveted New York Times; Patrick gets an adrenaline rush while flying Buzz's plane and wants to experience more, much to Celia's chagrin; and after doing a favor for Sara, Theresa has a su
Jack is feeling very amorous towards Marin, but she fears that it may be for the wrong reasons. After Patrick's adventure-seeking stunt, Celia throws him in jail and he takes full advantage of his "right to remain silent." Marin, Jack and Jerome are off to New York to celebrate Sam and Jane's wedding. And Sam is surprised when he learns the truth about Jane's parents.
Upon Marin and Jack's return from New York , they discover Cash is in the hospital and needs a kidney transplant. Terri still feels guilty for Patrick's being struck by lightning because of the bobby pin he put in his hair at the wedding.
Morgan Fairchild comes to Elmo to sing the national anthem at the opening game for Ben's hockey team. After running into Marin and getting swept up by how living in Elmo has changed her life, she decides she wants to buy Marin's life rights for a movie.
Since Marin has yet to meet Julia, Jack invites her and her husband, Jim, to their home. Over dinner the couples learn some surprising things about themselves. Meanwhile Jane has mixed feelings about the diamond engagement ring that Sam gives her from the sanitation department's lost & found, Mai learns some disappointing news about Buzz, and Annie finds Patrick in a compromising position with Ivan's wingwoman, Greta.
When Cash is discharged from the hospital, Marin asks Jack if it would be OK to let him convalesce in their house. Patrick's life discovery trip takes him to New York, where he gets a job with Jane's company.
Marin helps a nervous Jack as he prepares for his first lecture as a college professor in Anchorage. Upon his return, he brings Marin a gift – four puppies that she ends up taking care of and which keep her from getting any of her book writing finished. Meanwhile, as Annie puts together auditions for Elmo's First Annual Talent Show, she thinks she might be falling for Ivan. In New York, Patrick is unclear about Pilar's advances toward him.
Marin celebrates the completion of her book by taking a spa trip to Anchorage. While there, she is surprised to see Julia's husband, Jim, with another woman and wonders if she should tell Jack.
As everyone prepares for the First Annual Elmo Talent Show, the townsfolk display some very unlikely talents. Meanwhile, Marin receives a hefty check for her latest book, but the money may come between her and Jack when she wants to do something expensive for him.