When Calls the Heart - Season 4

Abigail takes on her duties as mayor and it seems nearly everyone in Hope Valley wants her attention. The National Pacific Railroad wants to run a new route through Hope Valley but not all the residents are convinced it's in everyone's best interests and a heated debate ensues. Meanwhile, in an effort to integrate Elizabeth's new students from the settlement with the Hope Valley children, Jack suggests a friendly game of baseball, prompting he and Elizabeth to coach the two teams. When it's time to hit the field, the whole town turns out for the game and one of the new children becomes a hero thanks to Elizabeth's encouragement to overcome his fear.helps him come to terms with it as she and Jack coach the children in baseball.

After Robert tells a lie about seeing a bear outside of school, he is called a hero. However, Jack and Elizabeth suspect he isn't telling the truth and tries to get him to come clean. Abigail tries to play mediator when the residents of Hope Valley start to take sides on whether the town will benefit from the railroad coming through town. A local farmer is accused of causing problems with the railroad surveyors near his farm.

Abigail finalizes a deal with Ray Wyatt to bring the railroad to Hope Valley and new families flock to the town with the promise of work. When word reaches the town that a notorious gang is at large and may be heading their way, Jack and Bill enlist Frank's counsel in thwarting their plan to rob the incoming stage carrying the railroad's payroll. Elizabeth takes a strong interest in new student Philip Cantrell, whose single father Shane is working overtime at the mill and has little time left over for his son. Elizabeth plans a carnival to raise much-needed money for supplies the school needs to accommodate the new students and the entire town turns out in support. Rosemary's new job at the café comes to an abrupt end but she quickly sets her sights on a new opportunity.

Abigail's tenure as mayor is threatened as Gowen plots in the shadows to be reinstated. Ray Wyatt promises Elizabeth that the railroad will help the underfunded school but in a shocking turn of events, she ultimately finds her teaching position in jeopardy. Jack has a brief reunion with a younger Mountie he mentored at the Academy as he passes through town, while newcomer Carson Shepherd lands a job at the café after sustaining an injury sidelining him from railroad labor. Abigail and Frank's relationship is still in limbo but Rosemary schemes with Cody on a plan to get them back together. Not swayed after the stagecoach heist was thwarted by Bill, Jack and Frank, the Tate brothers return to Hope Valley with their sights set on carrying out a daring bank robbery.

With the key witness against him suddenly and mysteriously nowhere to be found, Henry Gowen reassumes his position as mayor of Hope Valley and, without warning, summarily fires Elizabeth as the school's teacher, citing a hidden scandal from her past as the cause. With the support of nearly the entire town - especially the children - and an impassioned Abigail at her side, Elizabeth travels to Cape Fullerton in hopes of resolving the false allegations against her. Certain that big money is at play in Gowen's favorable dealings with the railroad, Bill lays out a plan to find out what underhanded business is going on between Gowen and Ray Wyatt. Following days of instruction under Mr. Stoneman, the school's strict and demanding new teacher, Cody takes a stand in defense of Emily and leads the students in a walkout. When Jack delivers the Tate brothers to Mountie Headquarters, he receives bad news about a young Mountie he mentored, which weighs heavily on him.

Elizabeth spends her days tutoring Hope Valley's children after school while continuing to fight for her rightful job as their teacher. Abigail and Cody spearhead a letter-writing campaign for Elizabeth's reinstatement while an unexpected ally steps in on Elizabeth's behalf. Henry Gowen continues to act as the puppet of Ray Wyatt, who remains intent on controlling the town and its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Bill Avery redoubles his efforts to locate the missing witness, an accountant whose testimony could help bring Gowen to justice once and for all. Jack attends the funeral of a young Mountie who died in service and begins to question his own devotion to duty.

Elizabeth has problems in her classroom when the nephews of Ray Wyatt come to her class and bully other students; Lee loses his voice and Rosemary does the talking for him; Bill finds AJ foster; Ray Wyatt opens a commissary.

Tension between Elizabeth and her new students continues; Lee and Rosemary fight about Rosemary learning to drive; Abigail struggles to hold the cafe together while the railroad's commissary thrives.

Elizabeth takes Opal in while her parents are away; a newcomer to Hope Valley has some insight into Carson Shepherd's mysterious past; an unlikely turn of events puts Cody in harm's way.

The town gathers around Abigail as Cody fights for his life; Carson comes to terms with his past and gets a chance at redemption.