Men in Trees

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. Jack goes out to look for them and a pregnant Lynn can't do anything to stop him. Everyone hunkers down at the Chieftain to wait out the storm, and they learn some surprising things about each other. Mai and Buzz argue over his first choice of a wife, the engaged Patrick and Annie see her competitive spirit at work, Celia and Dick take their relationship to a new intimacy level, and Sara tells Ben about her mysterious court summons -- much to the chagrin of wife Theresa.

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. Meanwhile, the newly-engaged Lynn wishes Jack would exhibit more passion toward her, like what she sees in Ben and Buzz toward their wives; Patrick wants to change his surname to better reflect who he really is; and Sara, who is no longer in the "service" business, gets a summons from her ex-husband, who now wants full custody of their son.

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. She also juggles being both maid of honor and best man for Patrick and Annie while trying to make their dreams come true for their bachelor and bachelorette parties. Meanwhile, Sara struggles with minister Eric's church policy of no sex outside of marriage, and Ben, feeling off his game since his heart scare, considers purchasing a professional hockey team.

In the first of a two-part story arc, 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. Meanwhile, Annie's mother, Mary Alice, comes to town to prepare for the wedding and finds that three "moms" is a crowd; Ben's new purchase of a hockey team could lead to possible disaster; and the congregation at Pastor Eric's church questions the nature of his relationship with Sara.

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. Meanwhile, Jane flies in for their nuptials and has an impulsive reaction when she sees Sam with his date; Mary Alice develops a relationship with a very unlikely Elmoian; Dick and Celia become way too attached; Sara helps Eric deal with the fallout of his actions toward his congregation; and Cash returns to Elmo.

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. Meanwhile, attempts to jog Patrick's memory fail, and Celia suggests that Annie go to extreme lengths to help him remember his old life. Theresa questions Ben's priorities when he continually puts his newly-purchased hockey team ahead of his friends and family. And, as sparks fly between Jerome and Mary Alice, Buzz and Mai offer them dating advice.

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. To complicate matters further, Patrick, still suffering from amnesia, also takes an interest in Marin -- which proves very upsetting for Annie. Meanwhile, on a trip to a snowplow convention, newlyweds Jane and Sam come up with a unique living arrangement; Sara and Eric take a step forward in their relationship, which also means a step back; and, adrift at sea, Jack must make a very tough decision to save his life and Julia's.

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. Buzz's efforts to help Patrick regain his memory produce nearly disastrous consequences. And Sam discovers Jane's controlling side when, unbeknownst to him, she throws out one of his favorite flannel shirts.

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; and 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 surprise announcement for her unsuspecting husband, Ben.

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. Patrick continues to be upset with Celia for putting him in jail, and Celia is having issues with Dick's smothering ways. Meanwhile, Ben's sexy, young, new hockey player, Ivan, arrives in Elmo and is immediately enamored with Annie.

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. Also, now that Terri will be donating his kidney to Cash, Terri wants them to bond before the transplant surgery. Meanwhile Sara discovers Eric's band is more popular than she thought -- especially when she meets his fan club, The Pastorettes; Patrick meets a wing woman who has designs on him; and Buzz breaks his promise to Mai and bets on the hockey game.

Since Marin has yet to meet Julia, Jack invites her and her husband, Jim (Josh Stamberg), 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. Meanwhile, Jane is trying to woo Pilar who, like Marin, writes relationship books. Back in Elmo, Celia adjusts to the newly-separated Mai living in her home, and Buzz takes a job at the inn in Patrick's absence to try and pay off his gambling debt.

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. Now that his memory has returned, Patrick gets several surprises when he comes home to Elmo: Annie and Ivan have grown closer and Celia has redecorated his bedroom -- for her new dog. Meanwhile in New York, Sam becomes an unlikely hero and Jane wonders if all the attention has gone to his head.

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. While Jane and Sam drive from New York to Elmo, his budget-friendly ways frustrate her. Sara has fantasies about other men, but not about her boyfriend, Eric. And Patrick goes to extremes to rekindle his romance with Annie.