Ch 4

Jason watched as her lips curled into a soft smile, her blond hair falling over her shoulders. She was the most breathtakingly beautiful woman that he had met--his Caroline. But she wasn't his and he wasn't hers. As she lay next to him in the boathouse, he realized that they were operating on borrowed time. He was to get married in a day to Robin and Caroline would be leaving his life forever. He could make her his mistress, but Luke and Lucky wouldn't allow that. He wouldn't allow Caroline to be something that he would stash away when company came. He wanted her by his side forever.

He sat up and stared out at the rain-soaked world surrounding them. They could take Emma and run, never return, but he couldn't do that either. Caroline loved her family and Anna would come after him. He heard the gallop of horseshoes clicking against the ground. Caroline stirred slightly and smiled.

"I love you," she whispered, covering his mouth with hers. She threaded her fingers through his hair and climbed on top of him. The door swung open and Lucky entered, a smirk on his face.

"Good morning all. Time to rise. Robert is searching for Jason," he said. Caroline stood, sadness sweeping her body. It was over; their little fairytale was over. The enchanted evening had ended.

******************

Anna tied the corset tighter and Robin took a sharp breath. She glanced down at the ring that adorns her finger and she felt the tears swell in her eyes. It wasn't a wedding, it was her death. She felt her mother rustle the hoop of the skirt and then lightly kissed her cheek. Happiness spread through her, her baby daughter was getting married. To a prominent Morgan nee Quartermaine. Anna left to visit with Felicia, leaving Robin to her sorrow.

Robin slipped the ring off of her bony finger and looked in the mirror. Her elaborate wedding gown fit her, complimenting her figure. She opened the small jewelry box and removed a thin band of metal. Stone wasn't a wealthy heir like Jason, he was a street hustler taken in by Sonny and adored. He slipped this ring on her finger before he died and lightly kissed her. She brought her lips to the ring and slipped it into her corset. Stone would be with her, no matter what this horrid day would bring.

******************

Caroline glanced around the estate that had been her home for so long. She learned how to ride a horse, how to clean and sew, how to shoot a rifle with Lucky and Sly. She met Jason in the tavern down the road, but she had brought him to the boathouse. It was their special place--Emma was conceived and born there. Lucy gave her a sympathetic smile and pats her arm softly.

"It's hard giving up on love."

"Scott?"

"He wasn't the one for me. Kevin was my Prince Charming, but I did love Scott. Very much so." Caroline hugged her and handed Laticia, the wet-nurse, Emma. Kevin opened the door to the stagecoach and offered a hand to help Caroline in.

"Stop!" a voice called. She turned and saw Lucky coming toward her. Her cousin hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek softly. Soft tears streamed down her cheeks. She hugged Lucky again.

"I love you Caroline. You can't leave me."

"You have Elizabeth and Luke. You can visit us."

"It won't be the same. I won't have my best friend with me."

"Oh Lucky." She kissed his cheek lightly and pulled away. With a gloved hand she brushed the tears from her eye and took Kevin's hand once again. She climbed into the coach when she heard a man fighting with the driver.

It was Jason.

************

Robin stood at the altar, hoping that Jason wouldn't show up. Anna was seething, tapping her foot impatiently for the wayward Bridegroom. Robert's eyes roamed the crowd and he noticed someone was missing--Hannah. He stole a glance at Robin and couldn't help but notice that Robin looked relieved due to Jason's delay.

************

"Don't go," Jason yelled. Caroline's head popped out of the coach and smiled. She climbed out and leapt into his arms.

"I love you. Please don't leave me." She kissed him deeply, feeling his hand placed on the small of her back. She looked up into his eyes and saw the love for the first time. He did love her.

"Your wedding. What do you propose I do?"

"Run away with me. We'll leave and live away from Robin and Anna..."

"And Lucky and Luke. You want me to leave my family?"

"Caroline, you were already doing that."

"It's different. I don't want to run away with you. Robin will chase after us." He kissed her deeply, trying to silence her protests with passion.

"Well, isn't this cozy," Hannah cracked, making her spot in the bushes known. Jason pulled away from Caroline and narrowed his eyes at Sonny's mistress.

"What can we do for you Hannah?"

"Your bride is waiting for you at the altar Jason. Her father is standing beside her, waiting to hand his property over to you." Caroline's eyes locked with Jason's and she kissed him lightly.

"Go." Jason started to walk off. She drew a sharp breath and felt her world crashing around her. Hannah smiled at Caroline.

"I know what it's like, to see the man you love wed someone else." Caroline nodded slightly, not even caring that it was Hannah the Banana that was trying to console her. Kevin and Lucy started to walk toward the main house, fetching supplies for their trek home. Hannah opened the door to the coach and pushed Caroline in.

"To the lake," she ordered.

***************

Anna saw Caroline walk across the garden. She stormed up the young woman, her eyes narrowed in rage.

"You hussy!" she hissed, slapping Caroline across the face. "You no good whore. What have you done with my daughter's fiancée?" Caroline was silent, her hand touching her stinging cheek. Lucky stood up and wedged himself between Anna and Caroline.

"Why don't you sit down love," Robert suggested. Her brown eyes narrowed.

"Shut up you! This little bastard child is ruining Robin's wedding."

"You're ruining it Mother! I don't want to marry Jason," Robin declared, hurling the bouquet of roses into crowd. Hannah grabbed at them and held them tightly.

"What are you talking about darling?"

"I don't want to marry Jason Mother. I don't love him."

"Of course you do."

"No," she said, shaking her dark hair. "I love Stone. I was marrying Jason because it was what you wanted."

"Robin!" Jason called as he ran across the garden. "Robin! I need to talk to you!"

"I'm not marrying you Jason," she said. He looked at her with surprise. He pulled her into his arms, her face covered with shock.

"I don't want to marry you. I love Caroline." Relief rushed over Robin's body. She lightly kissed Jason and then looked at her mother.

"I won't do you the shame of having a spinster daughter, a daughter that refuses to marry. I will depart for the convent in the morning." Robin marched up the aisle, her face brimming with happiness.

"It's a shame that the preacher came here for nothing," Felicia said. Luke smiled and covered his hand with hers. She knew that they couldn't marry, not while Laura was still alive and living in Beecher's Corner.

"Why don't we get married," Hannah suggested. Sonny looked at her with shock and surprise. The idea of having his Lily/Brenda clone as his wife never occurred to him.

"Mi amore," she whispered before kissing him. She stood and started to head toward the preacher when Lucky knocked her into the lake. She stood, her body covered in leaves and weeds.

"Marry me Caroline," Jason said. Tears of happiness stained her cheek. She kissed him lightly and nodded. He took her hand and faced the preacher.

The marriage of Jason Morgan and Caroline Spencer commenced. And they lived happily ever after.

THE END