Lisa crouched down by the fire and attempted to coax some more life out of the dying embers while Jack went out to get some more logs to keep it alive through the night. She sighed and stood up once it was clear all the fire wanted was more fuel and no amount of coaxing would help that. Slipping her hands into her pockets Lisa walked over to the window of the dude ranch cabin, enjoying the peace and quiet. Even though Lou and Peter had found a place of their own, not so far from the ranch, the Heartland ranch was still as busy as ever, what with Amy's business expanding more and more, Ty and her made the decision to stay at Heartland with the kids, employing Georgie as a babysitter quite a bit. To her apparent delight; Georgie never got tired of the ranch and seemed to love showing the two toddlers the ropes. With all the comings and goings there was never a dull moment, or even a peaceful moment at the Heartland ranch. So the rare occasions herself and Jack could escape to an empty cabin at the dude ranch were much appreciated. Seeing as Jack always insisted he can never get a full night's sleep at Fairfield, most nights were spent at Heartland, saving lunches and trail rides for Fairfield. Lisa smiled and shook her head as her mind wandered, who would've guessed they could make life as a married couple work so well over the years. Somehow their lives just melded together, through it all.
She absent-mindedly stared out the window, over the lake. Even as the years passed, Lisa would never forget one of the most beautiful moments of her life taking place just by the lake. One of the reasons she loved so much to come up here, it had become a special place to her and her husband. She glanced around as she heard footsteps on the porch and realised she had been subconsciously twisting her rings around and around her finger. They hadn't left her hand since the day their secret broke to the family.
Jack came in shaking snow from his boots, an early snowfall had hit Alberta even though it was only October, his arms laden with logs. Lisa met him at the door to unload his arms so he could take off his coat and hat. As she walked back to the fire she said over her shoulder, "Do you know what I was just thinking about?"
"I can't say that I do," chuckled Jack, hanging up his coat and hat on the back of the door.
"I just got thinking about that day you had me convinced we were over, for good, the day we finally managed to announce our marriage, or rather Tim did. Remember how you ran out after me only to ask for the ring back?" said Lisa, dropping a few logs into the fire and letting the rest lie in the rack.
"How could I forget, you only remind me at least once a year Lis," laughed Jack, settling into the armchair.
"Oh I do, do I? Do I also mention how you nearly made me break down right there in your driveway? Or how it took every inch of my strength not to throw the ring in your face and run away crying? Hmmm?"
Jack couldn't help smiling up at his wife, "Yes you may have mentioned those points too. I don't know about you but I recall getting down on one knee, right then, too?"
"Oh yes, how thoughtful of you," Lisa sighed, settling down on the arm of the chair, "You really made the intention clear from the start". Jack laughed and pulled Lisa into an embrace and she melted against him.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am very sorry about that, it seemed like a good idea at the time, I thought I was being romantic. And you held out on me too, you had me hanging in there for a yes, Mrs. Bartlett!"
"Well of course I did! I couldn't let you have all the cruel fun, Mr. Bartlett, that j-"her indignant reply was interrupted by a heartfelt kiss from Jack.
"What was that?" Jack said, after a few minutes.
"I..I forgot," murmured Lisa.
"Mm hmm, well I don't know about you but I'm cramping up in this darned armchair," muttered Jack. Lisa's warm laugh filled the cabin.
"Well is that so?" she tried and failed to pull herself out of the chair, she had inadvertently slipped down inside the arm and gotten wedged in there next to Jack, "Well as soon as I can untangle myself here maybe I can help you up, because that bed piled with blankets is looking more comfortable and cosy by the minute, let me tell you."
The couple's laughter filled the night as more snow fell around the dude ranch creating a scene not unlike the one forever ingrained in both their memories, of that secretive, beautiful night by the lake.