A/N: Thanks for the review, Give us Peace! It's much appreciated. But don't worry about not reviewing the previous chapter. After all, we can't be good at everything. ;)
Thanks everyone who read and/or reviewed!
Yes, this is the last chapter. I hope you've enjoyed the ride. :)
Chapter 12
"Jack?" Sue asked, wondering why they were leaving the rest of the family for the moment. It couldn't be for Levi, he was still dog-tired from the long trip with the horses that morning. Besides, despite it being early autumn, the temperature was nice, and the sun was shining, so most of them were outside anyway.
Jack led her to a small secluded area of the garden. There he stopped, and they sat down on a bench. This area had been semi-kept, so most of nature had been able to go its own course, creating a beautiful wild scene.
"It's beautiful, Jack," Sue said, taking in the scene's beauty. When her attention went back to him, Jack spoke softly.
"Yes…"
Sue blushed.
"Sue, I…I… You…" Jack sighed in frustration, then took a deep breath. "Sometimes you just got to go for it, so here goes: I love you, Sue Thomas."
For a moment, Sue forgot to breathe. Then she gasped. "Did… did you just say?"
"I love you, Sue, I've loved you for a long time."
Delight swept through her. "I love you too, Jack Hudson."
"You do?" Jack asked, taken aback a little, but excited at the same time.
"Yes, yes, I do!"
She threw her arms around him, reminding both of them of the day he'd hired her. Smiling at the memory, Sue drew back a little. Jack's arms had wrapped around her waist, while his eyes searched for permission. Their first kiss was tentative, soon followed by one more passionate.
Suddenly Sue drew back. "But, don't you mind that I… that I'm deaf?"
Jack looked at her incredulously. "No, not at all. Do you mind that I'm hearing?" he asked, suddenly afraid.
"Never!" Sue said firmly. They chuckled, and their lips found each other again.
Later that evening, the whole family was aware of the change in relationship between Jack and Sue, and everyone was happy for them. The evening was spent in the living room, a fire going in the fire place.
A hand settled on Sue's shoulder, and she looked up to see Clint sitting down next to her. They hadn't had a chance to talk alone much yet, but now Jack and Nancy were catching up together with Paul, and Jack's parents.
"You ok?" Clint asked.
"Yes, I couldn't be happier," Sue said, the emotion showing clearly on her face.
"Good. I'm happy for you two too."
"It's sometimes strange how things work out," Clint said after a few moments of silence. At Sue's questioning look, he continued. "I'm sure you didn't expect to be spending the evening with a whole group of strangers, when you came down to New York to testify. And I'm sure you didn't expect Jack's declaration of love either when you decided to come to this family reunion as a friend."
"That's true," Sue admitted.
"I hope we weren't too overwhelming," the doctor said, referring to the first time they'd met.
"Oh, no, absolutely not," Sue assured him. "I think the biggest surprise was finding out you were a cowboy and doctor rolled up into one," she teased.
Clint chuckled.
"Well, that and finding out Jack actually had a cousin and uncle living in New York," Sue amended. Clint looked at her, then ventured a calculated guess.
"You didn't know he had an uncle or cousin, or other family besides his parents, did you?"
Sue sighed. "No. But that's alright. It just never came up I guess." For a moment they both remained silent, but then Sue realised something – she really didn't mind that Jack hadn't told her before; he had told her now, had taken her with him to meet them, even when they were 'just friends'. "I'm glad he asked me to come and meet you though."
"So am I, Sue," Clint said. "And I'll be honest with you… you guys felt like more than just friends when you showed up on our doorstep in New York. Not just to each other," Clint explained, "but to us. You're more than friends… you're family."
Sue thought it over, remembered her own feelings on the matter, and smiled at the country doctor. "I agree."
THE END
