This one's short but sweet. Just wrote it very quickly, so hope you enjoy =]


A series of small, overgrown, dirt roads through woods I had never seen before later, and the headlights of the truck illuminated what appeared to be a small field surrounded by the woods, but bordered on one edge by a cliff. He turned off the ignition, and we both stepped out.

"I used to come here a lot, with my older brother," he said when he stepped beside me. "The best way to get here is by horseback, but I thought it would be too dark tonight."

"It's so beautiful here," I murmured, taking in the beautiful little field. Illuminated by the moonlight, everything was colored in various hues of blue and grey, with long black shadows extending from them. The ground was covered in soft grass and the sturdiest of wildflowers were just beginning to bloom as Spring approached. Though I couldn't tell in the night, I was sure the colors here would be fantastic on a sunny day. "What's over the cliff?" I asked.

"That's my favorite part," he said. He grabbed hold of my hand in his and began to lead me to it. With every step, though, the spiky heels on my shoes sank into the dirt, so I quickly took them off and tossed them back near the truck and continued barefoot. When we reached the cliff we were afforded a beautiful view of the same valley I could see from my window, but from another angle. A silvery river cut through the valley, providing water for the silhouetted cattle dozing next to it. Content to spend the rest of my life here, I sat down on the rocky edge of the cliff without taking my eyes from below, the cool stones rough against my skin, and watched the beautiful valley. Mr. Rowe settled beside me with just a few inches of space between us. I waited a breath, and then scooted so the space was filled and rested my head on his shoulder.

"I could stay here, in this spot, forever," I said, voicing my earlier thought.

"I used to think that too," he replied.

"We could, you know," I said, with a half laugh. "No one could ever find me, or you, or us here." The fantasy played before my mind as we lapsed into silence, listening to the night. Being lost forever somewhere, where no one could find or hurt me. Where no one would find or hurt me. Paradise.

"What are you thinking?" he asked after a long silence.

"About what I said, being lost here."

"You wouldn't have to be lost, you know." His hand found mine again, and his thumb began to stroke circles on the back of my hand. "But you could stay here, forever." I hummed a sound of satisfaction. But a little thought nagged in my mind.

"But what about Brittany?" I asked, pulling away from him and sitting up when I remembered her.

"Brittany?" He said, looking at me.

"Yes, Mrs. Fairly told me about how the two of you are likely to get married, to connect your ranches. I thought you were."

"Well, I suppose that is a possibility." My heart stopped, and the happiness that had leeched into me began to drain away.

"She's beautiful," I said. He nodded. "And clever." Another nod. "And she is definitely rich," I concluded.

"That she is," he said. For a few moments he looked down, and as I observed him I could not make out what he was thinking. But suddenly, he looked up. "But, do you know what she's not?" I shook my head, unsure of where this was leading. "She's not you."

In shock, I didn't respond, and instead just stared at him, unsure of what to say or how to respond. But then I laughed a little, and broke our eye contact, looking into my lap and letting my curls curtain my face.

"Yes, she's not me, she has a family, and not a terrible past no one can handle. She has stability and knows her place in life. She's not me. I have none of that, not even a clear future." His hand reached under my chin and turned my head, forcing my eyes to his. He leaned forward a bit, and in a very soft voice, one I had not hear before, said,

"Say yes, Jen, and you can have me." He waited a breath, and as I tried to take in what he said, leaned forward, and pressed his lips against mine. For a moment I lost myself in the kiss, closing my eyes and letting my mind become overwhelmed with the emotions and bliss. And suddenly, when my mind cleared I broke away from his soft lips and looked down again.

"You don't mean that," I said, my throat beginning to choke up and my eyes swimming. "I promise that you don't really mean that."

"Jen," his hand was still under my chin and he lifted it so my eyes were looking up to his again. "There is no one, not a soul, on this planet I would rather say the words 'I love you' to rather than you, and that will always be true." I searched his eyes and expression for any doubt for a moment, but to drive his point home, he said firmly, "Jen, I love you," and brought his lips down to mine again.

"I'm not beautiful," I whispered when our lips parted for a moment. He took my face in both hands and kissed me again, then broke away and replied,

"Never say that to me. I am not handsome, but you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." And his lips were on my, soft and gentle.

"Nor do I have any assets," I said again, but less determinedly. This time he ignored me and continued to kiss me, the soft kisses turning more heated as time went by. I felt his tongue outline my lips, and timidly I opened mine. His tongue traced just inside my lips, and gently he pulled me down to lay on the grass beside him.