Realizing that she had upset Joe more than she knew, Lucy decided to find Joe and apologize. She only made it out the hotel door before she saw Joe sitting on the front steps of the hotel.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Mr. Whittfield. I just don't think that we're compatible. We have so many differences."
"Do you think that helps my pain? I love you, Miss Cole. I thought that you loved me."
"I've only known you for a few weeks. How can you find true love so quickly?"
"I don't know. I just know that if I lost you....I wouldn't have a reason to live."
Lucy sighed and sat next to Joe on the steps. Although reluctant, Lucy slipped her hand into Joe's and faced him face-to-face.
"I do want to love you, Mr. Whittfield. I just don't know how. How can you love someone who is so different from you?"
Joe brought his hand to Lucy's cheek and gave a small smile.
"You can forget the differences. Miss Cole, I may not be rich and I may not have all the things that you do, but I love you. Shouldn't that be enough?"
"I don't know."
Lucy turned away from Joe, tears were streaming down Lucy's cheeks. Joe wrapped his arm around Lucy's shoulder and then pulled her close. Lucy grabbed onto Joe and hugged him tight. Soon, Lucy looked up and
slowly brought her lips to Joe's. After pulling apart from the brief kiss, both Joe and Lucy broke into a laugh.
"I guess you're my beau now." Lucy said.
"You're not angry, are you?"
"No. Actually, this is the happiest I've been in my entire life. I've made my own choice."
Joe smiled and grabbed Lucy into another kiss. For two minutes, the lovers had their lips pressed against the others. It was only when Virgil and Everett came across the street, that Joe and Lucy stopped their kiss.
"Lucy?" Virgil said.
"Hello, Uncle Virgil. Have you found that shooter yet?"
"No. I just came to collect Joe, it turns out that he has a bit of business across the road. Of course, it seems he's attending to other matters at the moment."
"I'd better see to this." Joe said.
As Joe stood up, he gave Lucy a small kiss on the lips.
"I'll be back soon." Joe said.
"All right." Lucy said.
Joe walked away from Virgil, Everett, and Lucy. As soon as Joe was gone, Virgil turned to Lucy and raised his eyebrow.
"Don't give me that look, Uncle Virgil. I'm sure my Ma and Pa will give me enough hell."
Lucy stood up and brushed the dust off the edge of dress. She then stepped back inside the hotel but Virgil would not let Lucy get away without an explanation.
"I left you alone with him for a few hours and all ready you have succeeded in kissing him and I'm pretty sure if we hadn't come along then you would taken him to your room and se...se...Everett, what's the word?"
"Seduced?" Everett said.
"It's not like that, Uncle Virgil. It's true that I've fallen in love with Joe but we wouldn't do anything to hurt you or my parents."
"I'm glad that you are happy, Lucy. I just don't want you to make a mistake."
"A mistake?"
"Your parents left you in my charge. I can't write a telegram and say that you've been kissing Joe."
"Why not?"
"Because he's below your class. Even I know that."
"I would expect these words from a prejudice person, Uncle Virgil. I just never would expect these words from someone that I've idolized." Lucy said.
Lucy ran up to her room and threw herself on her bed in tears. She wanted to be with Joe now and she was truly happy. She just didn't know if could hurt the man who had practically raised her.