Charlotte was briefly aware of his changed attire, worn boots beneath the buckskin pants, a uniform jacket over the faded shirt.  She kept coming, holding him with her gaze as he was holding her.  He stood, waiting.  She closed the distance between them.

Here was the face she’d held in her memory, in her heart.  His eyes were as troubled as when they’d first met.  She wondered if they always would be.

“It’s you,” she said softly.

“It is, but I need to know that it’s okay.”

“You aren’t old yet.”

“I feel like I am.”

“I thought the canyons were where you wanted to be.”

“So did I.  But it wasn’t the truth.”

She reached up to touch him.  “It’s more than okay,” she said.  “I’ve been waiting for it.  Praying for it.”

He took her hand and held it against him, then wove his fingers into her hair.  His mouth found hers gently, the kissing thoughtful, long and slow.  She pressed her hands into the front of his coat and the kisses grew more intense, filled with wanting, until they were both lost in the longing and pain there was between them, the warmth and tenderness, all that they’d been to each other.

Ada almost felt she had to turn away.  She’d never in her life seen someone kissed like that.  The sight sent strange sensations all up and down her and made her toes curl in their boots.  She couldn’t understand at all what was happening, who this person was, where he’d come from, anything.

When the kissing ended, still neither of them let go.

“There’s just one important thing I need,” Charlotte said.  “Tell me you’re here to stay.”

“I’m here to stay.  I won’t leave you again.  Ever.”

She took his hands and laid them under hers against the tight hard outward curve of her belly.

“Do you regret this?” she said, her heart momentarily stopped.

“How could I regret it?” he said.  “It means more to me than you’ll ever know.  I didn’t start out to have it happen though.”

“You tried hard to resist,” she said, smiling though her eyes were filled with tears.  “And I appreciate that.”

“If it hadn’t been for the barn.  And the rain…”

“Night was the problem.  If it hadn’t ever got dark…”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her again.  “It’s all coming back to me now,” he said.

“And that’s a good thing?”

“It is.”

She was trying hard to keep herself together.  “Come with me then.  I’ve left Ada back there too long.  She’s likely out of her mind wondering what’s going on.”

They started walking, close, touching.  Chace led the gray by the reins with the mule following behind.

“They don’t know?” he said.

“They have no idea about anything.”

“Are Ellis and Miller here?”