He visibly tensed as though he intended to draw her back into his embrace, but then he let his arms drop to his sides.

A tight ache formed in her throat along with the need to cry. She didn’t want to lose him. He was her glimpse of beauty amidst the bleakness of life.

He closed his eyes. Was he fighting his own inner battle? She guessed he was and that she could help him best if she stayed strong. That way they could both move on separate from each other.

“I wish you well, Joseph.”

His eyes flew open, almost frantic as he took her in. “I also wish you well.”

The music coming from the dance hall wafted their way. Mercy didn’t want to return to the festivities. Suddenly all she wanted to do was to run back to the Marine Barracks to her bedroom and throw herself upon her bunk where she’d be alone.

“I shall never forget you,” Joseph whispered.

“Nor I you.” Mercy let her eyes feast upon his face one last time before spinning and walking away. With each step, she waited for him to chase after her, grab her arm, swing her around, and tell her he couldn’t live without her.

But an instant later, when she glanced over her shoulder to the front of the dry-goods store, Joseph was gone.

Joseph’s lungs burned. His eyes stung. And his legs wobbled.

He wanted to fall to the ground and weep, to shout out his misery and frustration, to pound his head with his fists.

She’d walked away. And he’d let her . . .

Blindly he stumbled down the street, fighting the urge to turn around and sprint after her. This time he’d take her in his arms and wouldn’t let her go. He’d kiss her until they both were breathless, and then he’d kiss her again.

But he knew he couldn’t do that. Even though everything within him wanted Mercy, especially after holding her one last time, he needed to let her go. She wanted her freedom more than she wanted him. And he loved her too much to take that away from her when it had been so hard-earned.

After all, he’d asked her to marry him twice, told her he loved her, sought her out to say good-bye, and apologized for his arrogance in their relationship. If he hadn’t persuaded her by now, what made him think he ever could? Besides, he didn’t want to win her through coercion.

He should have stuck to his original plan not to say farewell. He’d known deep down that doing so would tear him apart. But he’d gone to the dance anyway, and once he heard Mercy say his name in front of the other men, he became nearly crazed with the need to be alone with her—to discover if she’d changed her mind about him.