Eric's hand closed around her arm to halt her. Not a rough hold, but as firm as it was gentle. He turned her to face him. He could definitely see her face now. She wouldn't be able to hide from him. And maybe he needed to know the truth of her feelings.
His voice was rough, almost painful as he spoke. "What's wrong, Naomi? Please. Talk to me."
Her heart squeezed at the concern etched in his expression, the depths of sincerity in his eyes. She exhaled a breath. She needed to be able to share these things with him. "I can't bear the thought of you leaving." She glanced away. She didn't want this to feel like an accusation, not now that she knew he'd not abandoned her intentionally. But he needed to understand the pain she wrestled with.
"Every time I close my eyes, I see you walking away back in Wayneston. It might be irrational, but part of me fears that if you leave, you won't come back. I can't live through that pain again, Eric. Not again." Her voice broke on the last words, and her entire body shuddered.
Eric gripped her arms, drawing her toward him. She resisted only a heartbeat, then let him pull her, giving in to his comfort. He wrapped his arms around her, and her tears surged past her barriers. As they streamed down her cheeks, she rested her head on his chest, letting his warmth soothe.
"I will come back to you, Naomi,” he murmured. “To you and Mary Ellen. There's nothing on this earth that could keep me from returning to you." The rumble of his voice resonated in her ear, working its way deep inside her. Soothing the raw places bleeding inside her. This was what she needed. If he held her long enough, spoke these words enough times, she might believe them. The pain of the past would ebb away, replaced by the love surrounding her now.
He would come back to her. And...what? He'd said nothing yet about marriage. They hadn't had much time alone, not since that midnight kiss. What was he thinking for their future?
As if sensing her turmoil, Eric gently eased back, cradling her face in his hands. He lifted her chin so their eyes met—his so full of emotions. "I love you more than anything in this world. I want us to be the family we once dreamed we could be. Naomi Wyatt, will you marry me?" His voice was laced with a raw honesty that cut through her defenses, laying her soul bare.
Her heart swelled to the brink of bursting. Joy, pain, disbelief, and hope merged into a tumultuous storm within her. She had yearned for this moment, prayed for it during those long nights when the ache of his absence throbbed like an open wound. The emotions choked her, but through the tears, she found her voice—a whisper that carried the weight of her entire world. "Yes," she managed, the syllable laden with all the love and fear that warred in her heart.
His lips met hers then, in a kiss so tender it felt as if he were imprinting his promise onto her very soul. This wasn't the fiery kiss of passion they'd shared under the cover of darkness. It was a vow, a silent oath that spoke louder than words ever could.
Yet with her eyes closed and her face upturned, a memory slipped in. A reminder that she still had a secret from Eric. Could she stand to tell him what his cousin did? She had to. He deserved to know. But not now before he left. When he returned. Before they wed.
He lifted her face to look into her eyes, his own shimmering with a fierce determination that mirrored the resolve in his words. "I am coming back, Naomi. And when I do, we'll plan our wedding. I won't deny you the ceremony you deserve, but I also don't want to waste a single day without you as my wife. Our family...I want it to start as soon as we can manage."
His words made her heart yearn even more. She smiled at him. “I want that too.”
He brushed a finger down her cheek. “We’ll need to work out where we can live until the river thaws in the spring.” He met her eyes. “I’ll speak with Jericho to see what’s best.”
Unease niggled through her. “I’d like to stay here in these mountains. Maybe build a log cabin in one of the clearings near here.” She glanced around. “Maybe this one in fact. We could cut a few more trees to make it larger.” She sent him a hopeful smile. “We already have memories here.”
His brows gathered, uncertainty marking his features. “We can talk more when I come back. I want you and Mary Ellen to be safe. And happy.”
Then he pressed another kiss to her lips that stole every other thought.
Fort Benton at last.
Eric sat beside Jonah on the wagon bench as the other man skillfully guided the team around other rigs, riders, and pedestrians clogging the street. It'd been so long since he saw this many people at once, it felt almost like entering a strange country.
The journey here had actually turned out to be enjoyable. After a hearty send-off at the ranch, their first few days on the trail had been quiet, and civil. But not uncomfortable. At least, not after the first tense hour. Eric had made sure to do at least his share of the work, taking his turns driving the team and helping when they stopped to rest the animals or camp in the evenings.
Eric asked questions about the land they passed or the territory in general. As Jonah answered, the wealth of knowledge he possessed became clear, as well as his instinctual wisdom. The man had a good head on his shoulders, and even better, he possessed a dry humor that Eric enjoyed.
This last week of their trip, he actually enjoyed the days, seeing the landscape they traveled through and learning from Jonah the skills that came so easily to the man.
Now that they'd reached Fort Benton, though, Eric had his work cut out for him.
Jonah reined the team to a stop outside the livery, and the sharp scents of hay and manure mingled with the dust in the air. As he set the brake, and secured the reins, Eric climbed down from the rig. "You sure you don't want me to stay and help with the animals?"
Jonah stood and jumped from the step to the ground. "Nah. Go get your wire sent before Nash closes the mercantile. Irish'll help me." He spoke the last part as a man with a bushy head of red hair stepped into the sunlight.
He grinned a gap-toothed smile as he strode to the horses' heads. "It'd be my pleasure. 'Tis not often I get to stable beauties like these."
Eric grabbed the satchel that held his clothes and what few belongings he'd brought. "I'll head off then. See you at the hotel."
He'd spent two nights in Fort Benton when he first arrived on the steamer, and he remembered the route to Nash’s mercantile easily enough. Just one street over. The sun had already turned the western sky into a brilliant canvas of blue and purple and pink, so the shop would likely be closing soon. Eric had already written out the message to his father. This errand should be quick enough.
As he crossed the final street, a call sounded from his right. "Eric? Eric LaGrange!"
The voice made him stop as much as hearing his name called. That sounded like Harvey, but it couldn't be. Not out here.
