Page 53 of Westbound Awakening

"Come with me." He took her elbow and steered her toward the house. "I will not accept no for an answer."

Soon they were riding away from the ranch on the front bench of the same wagon they'd rode from Virginia on. A stoic John beside her, Mae slid glances to him from the corner of her eye. "Where are we going?" The rambling road soon turned to a more open space and she took in the scenery. They did not head towards town but away from it and in the direction of where they'd come from so many months ago.

"Look." John pointed to a huge eagle flying overhead.

"He's beautiful," Mae replied as the bird swooped and gracefully lifted again toward the sky. "Where are you taking me John?"

"To a place where you'll accept my proposal."

"What?" She placed her hand on his arm and he faced her. Her eyes drank in his features before she could speak again. "I don't understand."

The sun was setting when they finally stopped at a familiar clearing. She climbed from the wagon and walked toward the cusp of trees near the shallow stream where they'd stopped and refreshed during their trek westbound. Without speaking, John joined her, and they walked side-by-side for a few minutes.

Mae inhaled deeply of the fresh pine air and closed her eyes imagining the day they'd been here. She didn't quite understand the significance of returning, for nothing memorable had happened here.

"The day we stopped here, we took a walk to this exact spot. You did your best to keep your distance from me, just like you are now. But I took your hand and pulled you closer beside me to walk." John voice remained even and calm and Mae found herself wondering what he'd say next.

He smiled as if reading her thoughts. "We didn't speak of much. As a matter of fact, you spent most of the time looking at flowers sprouting from between the trees. Those violet ones there." He pointed at a small crop of brilliant foliage.

Mae stepped away from him and leaned to peer at the blooms. "They are so beautiful, are they not?"

"Yes," he replied, but his eyes were on her.

Mae reached for several of the blooms and picked them. She lifted them to her face and inhaled the soft perfume. "I'm sorry, but I am not sure I remember this place; it was one of many along the way."

She looked around when noticing John's rare smile. "Unlike you, I remember it vividly because a realization came to me, and I became so angry I could barely stand it. I knew we were very close to our destination, and I pledged to leave you with your father, find Wesley and after having my leg removed, head further west. The plan was never to see you again, and I could not wait to follow through."

"I don't understand. Why were you angry?"

John took her hand and lifted it to his lips. The soft kiss on her knuckles sent a shiver down her arm. "Because I'd fallen in love with you, and I was blindsided. Surprised such a thing happened to me. I'd always been in control of my emotions, until spending time with you. No matter what I did, where I went and thought about, you were forever present foremost."

"I didn't know." Mae pulled her hand away. "Now I understand why you barely said a word when you left me at my father's ranch. Why are you telling me all this now?"

"Because you need to understand how much you mean to me. Yes I admit, I tried to fight against it, convinced myself that I could move on. But it’s not true. I recognize it now." John took her hands in his and knelt before her.

"Accept me Mae. I can only offer you what I am now a man with little to offer other than my heart. I will be proud to be your husband if you allow me to be such."

Could she do it? To marry him would put not just John in danger of social disgrace, but also Wesley.

As if reading her thoughts, John reached for her other hand and looked into her eyes. "It's different here Mae. Everyone comes here to find a new life, and your past is not as important here. Say yes."

Gravity pulled her forward so that she felt as if she was about to step off a cliff to fall into the unknown, but it felt good. Freeing.

Mae nodded, and her lips lifted into a wide smile. "I love you John. I can't bear the thought of a future without you and Wesley. I've been terrified actually." She took a deep breath. "Yes, John McClain, I will marry you."

Before she could say another word, he stood and pulled her into an embrace turning in a full circle until she became dizzy. His laughter rang over the trees and hers joined it.

"Put me down," Mae laughed and then wobbled when he placed her on her feet. "Kiss me John."

His lips covered her, the kiss tentative at first, but then becoming heated when she wrapped her hands around his neck.

John's hand slid down her back, and he pulled her against him. Soon their breathing became harsher the kiss more demanding. Mae planted her palms on his chest and pushed away gently while looking up at him. "I'd like to wait until we're married before being intimate again."

He nodded and kissed the tip of her nose. "I agree."

"When would you like to plan our marriage for?" Mae took his hand and led him back toward the wagon.

"How about today?"