Before they could get very far, Miss Acacia ran away from the carriage.
She had wondered whether Jack would be okay and if Madame Madeleine could fix his heart; Joe mentioned that Madeleine had passed away in prison when they couldn't find Jack. She died presumably of a broken heart and so would her son.
Miss Acacia raced out of the carriage with a quick apology and disappeared into the night. Clementine hoped she would reach Jack in time. Joe had tried to go after her, but wasn't able to follow when another carriage had blocked his way; by the time it passed, Miss Acacia was nowhere to be seen.
Joe stood alone outside, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed slightly.
Clementine stepped out of the carriage. "Joe. I'm so sorry."
She couldn't bear to see him this way; she had never seen him look so defeated.
"I can't do anything for you." Clementine thought sullenly. "You and I are in the same boat."
"I don't need your pity." Joe said after some time; he walked past her and made his way to the carriage. "Get in, we're going home."
"No."
Joe turned to her sharply, but she wouldn't let him say anything.
"You go back to Edinburgh. I'm going to stay here for a while. Have a nice life Joe."
Clementine walked away into the desert; she was tired of love, tired of her heart beating too fast or feeling ready to tear in two.
"I thought you loved me."
She turned back with her mouth gaped open; Joe was standing right behind her.
"What are you talking about?" Clementine asked averting her gaze.
"I read your letters. I'm sorry." Joe said quickly at her enraged expression. "I meant it when I said I wouldn't but then you…"
"Then I what?"
"After you stood up to me that day, when you helped Jack, I found my thoughts slowly consumed by you. I never really saw you until that day; I became curious about you, who you were...and what you thought about me." Joe confessed. "It was your influence that made me see what I was doing wasn't right."
Clementine was still confused. "Then why did you let me come with you? You weren't worried that my feelings would get in the way?"
"No. You're a good person. Not selfish like me." Joe smiled ruefully. "I just wanted you to come with me. I didn't want to go anywhere without you."
"Why?" Clementine approached him; what in the world was he saying?
"I think I'm in love with you. I knew that Jack was Miss Acacia's love, and that he would find her before me. I'm not entirely sure of what I feel or how it happened." Joe said uncertainly. "I just know I won't be able to live if you leave now."
Clementine frowned. "Joe, you love Acacia. I accepted that a long time ago. Don't give me false hopes."
"Please believe me." Joe took her hands in his tightly. "You stayed with me the whole time I was in the hospital. You wanted to know me for who I was, you had some faith in me, you helped me even when it meant you would be hurt in the process."
He lifted one of her hands to his face and smiled sadly. "I'm just sorry I didn't tell you earlier, that I wasted so much time on someone who wasn't meant for me."
"Joe, if Miss Acacia was here right now and didn't love Jack, would you still be standing here with me?" Clementine looked up at him doubtfully.
Joe stared right back into her eyes sternly. "I love you. If you don't think I'm the most despicable person you've ever met, then please, give this fool a chance." he chuckled. "Even if you say no, I won't stop going after you."
"I'm sorry Joe, I don't know what to believe. I think you're confused. I don't know if I can trust you." Clementine pulled away. "Goodbye Joe." she ran off back to the circus holding back tears.
"Clementine!" Joe yelled after her; but she too was gone.
