‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 9 Episode 6 Recap: Will the Mine Reopen?
Hope Valley is growing, and not everyone is happy about it. In the April 10 episode of the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart, the town’s longtime residents confront the consequences of growth, from traffic jams to unfriendly newcomers. Plus, the investors buying the oil company have ties to a past tragedy and Mike struggles with his mayoral duties.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for When Calls the Heart Season 9 Episode 6, “Past, Present, Future.”]
Hope Valley is changing in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 9 Episode 6
More cars, more strangers, and more noise. Hope Valley is changing, but not necessarily for the better, at least in the eyes of some who’ve lived there for years. Nathan (Kevin McGarry) finds himself acting as a reluctant traffic cop, while Florence (Loretta Walsh) and Molly (Johannah Newmarch) are appalled by the newcomers’ bad manners. Lee (Kavan Smith) even ends up in a scuffle with a workman hired to put up a new billboard. Thankfully, Joseph (Viv Leacock) is on hand to intervene.
“I don’t like what’s happening to this town right now,” Lee tells Bill (Jack Wagner).
“Well, neither do I, Lee,” Bill replies, “But neither one of us is mayor.”
Mike charms Faith
The task of guiding Hope Valley through its growth spurt falls to Mike Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum), who still hasn’t found his footing as mayor. A frustrated Lee, still smarting over losing the election, pens a critical editorial for the Valley Voice that takes Hickam to task for his shortcomings.
We don’t actually see Hickam’s immediate reaction to Lee’s criticism. But based on the way he tries to batter down the door to his office after he locks himself out, he’s feeling the strain of his new role. Bill, who knows a thing or two about following in another mayor’s footsteps, takes pity on him. In politics, perception is everything, Bill explains as he and Hickam take a stroll around town, waving to everyone they see. His public show of support for Hickam should help quell some of the discontent, he says. After that, they can talk strategy. Hickam certainly needs Bill’s help. But let’s hope this is a true partnership and not just a chance for Bill to act as shadow mayor.
It’s not all bad news for Hickam in this episode. He makes Faith’s (Andrea Brooks) day when he compliments her new hairstyle. Later, he awkwardly asks her to dinner. He wants to get her “clinical and dispassionate” take on issues affecting Hope Valley. Faith insists it’s just a friendly outing, but it’s just the kind of quasi-date that often precedes real romance on When Calls the Heart.
Memories of a past tragedy resurface
Last week, Fiona (Kayla Wallace) took the initiative and sealed the deal with Jerome Smith and the other investors who want to buy the oil company. But her girl-bossing had unintended consequences. Gowen fears that Smith and the other investors might be using the purchase of the oil business as a backdoor to reopen the long-shuttered mine, which has been closed since the tragic collapse that killed dozens of men back in season 1.
Gowen (Martin Cummins), Lucas (Chris McNally), and Fiona take their concerns to Bill, who promises to see what he can do about preventing Smith and associates from reopening the mine. In the meantime, he orders everyone to keep quiet. He doesn’t want rumors getting around that will only upset people who lost loved ones in the disaster.
Still, Elizabeth can see that something is weighing on Lucas’ mind. But she thinks it has to do with Wyman Walden. Lucas admits that one of Walden’s goons gave him a black eye a few episodes back. But he assures Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) that he has no intention of selling the saloon to a man like Walden. (And if he was going to sell, he’d discuss her first, he says.)
“I gave Walden some pushback … I’ve dealt with grifters before,” he says. “You have to stand up for yourself.”
Allie and Robert cause chaos in the pharmacy
Meanwhile, there are shenanigans at the pharmacy when Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) and Robert (Jaiven Natt) get into an ice cream fight. Later, Allie confesses to Elizabeth that she feel like she hasn’t fit in since she returned from visiting her grandparents. Plus, she’s jealous that Robert gave Angela a ride on his bicycle. Elizabeth suggests she try to put her crush aside and focus on being friends with Angela and Robert.
Since his accident, Nathan has had trouble getting back in the saddle (literally). And it’s not just due to Newton’s skittishness. He opens up to Mei Sou (Amanda Wong) about how the accident was a big blow to his confidence. It brought back memories of a serious fall he took when learning to ride. Later, Mei Sou tells Bill that she’s worried about Nathan. But when that gets back to him, he’s rightfully upset she blabbed about something he told her in confidence. However, his ongoing struggles with Newton do inspire him to set up a driving lesson with Elizabeth.
What else happened in this episode of ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 9
Elsewhere in this episode of When Calls the Heart:
- Joseph urges Minnie (Natasha Burnett) to pursue her dream of becoming part-owner of Abigail’s Cafe.
- Lucas is definitely not interested in letting Florence and Molly host etiquette classes in the saloon. Fortunately, Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) is open to a Miss Manners-style advice column from Molly.
- Bill thinks Mei is lying about not being married to Jeffrey.
- Walden has checked out of the hotel, and Lucas thinks he’s running scared. But chances are, Hope Valley hasn’t seen the last of him.
- Elizabeth has a new plan to start a book wagon. “There’s a real need for books in neighboring areas … this is what I feel led to do,” she says.
The next episode of When Calls the Heart Season 9 airs Sunday, April 17 at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.
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