As the sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains, the people lessened on the streets. Lucas was sat on the bench outside his saloon just watching the town go by, people hurrying home for dinner. He watched as Nathan mounted his horse and rode home. He saw Ned and Florence starting to close the mercantile. And he watched Henry as he left with a letter in his hand and his face unreadable, then he looked up and matched his gaze. "Evening Lucas" Henry mumbled clearly preoccupied.
"Evening Henry. Is that news from Christopher?" Lucas pointed at the letter as Henry seemed confused by the question. He fiddled with the piece of paper in his hands before answering "No it's not, it's umm from an old friend." Lucas gestured for Henry to join him on the bench to which he hesitantly took. "is everything okay with this old friend that's clearly has you taken back?" Henry kept his eyes down on the letter.
"I have regrets in my life, I have done some bad things. But this friend always believed I could do better; I could be better." Henry smirks to himself at the memories arising. "I just seem to have a more difficult time with them gone to stay on the right path." he turns his gaze to Lucas who is listening intently "and will this old friend be returning?" with a sigh and a half smile Henry replied "I don't believe so no." Lucas shifts in his seat to better face Henry "I am sorry to hear that, Henry. I have heard many great things about Abigail, and I regret us not being on the best of terms before she left"
Henry let out a deep small chuckle at the fact that Lucas of course knew who he was referring too. "Lucas I would be lying if I said I had not seen what is happening between you and Elizabeth." at this a knowing smirk appeared on Lucas' face "I am no expert when it comes to relationships but what I have learnt from experience and is a big regret of mine. Is that while Abigail being here, I never told her how I felt, and then she left and now I do not know if I ever will be able to tell her? If you have feelings for Elizabeth, tell her before it's too late." a heavy sigh leaves Lucas as he closes his eyes processing Henry's words.
"I told her I would be patient, and she wanted to take things slowly. I do not want to risk pushing her away by rushing her. I have seen how she reacted to Nathan telling her how he feels." Henry gives Lucas a sad smile as he gets up from the bench. "Sounds to me like you love her if you were willing to wait 3 years for her and longer. But perhaps Lucas she needs to hear you say how you feel to know if she's ready." Lucas stands to join Henry "I fell in love with Elizabeth the moment I saw her standing outside the saloon." Lucas notices Henry's eyes flicking to over his shoulder as a smirk appears on his face "I best be going, have a good night Lucas, Elizabeth" Henry tips his hat as he briskly walks away.
"Elizabeth. What are you doing here?" Lucas stammers as he turns to see Elizabeth staring up at him in shock. "I-I came to see if you wanted to have dinner together..."
"Perhaps we should go inside and talk" Lucas reached to open the door but stopped when he noticed Elizabeth had not followed. "What I said to Henry I did not mean for you to hear. I haven't told you as I know you want to take things slow, and I did not want to complicate things for you further." Elizabeth turned round to face Lucas.
She reached out and took his hands in hers. "I thought you said you would never be anything but honest with me. I would like to know how you feel Lucas."
"Elizabeth Thornton, I have loved you from the first moment I saw you stood right here, and I tried to hire you. I am in love with you, and I will wait however long you need to be ready for us."
Elizabeth removes her hands from his, wrapping them around his waist in an embrace. She took a deep breath in filling her lungs with his smell of whiskey and aftershave. Closing her eyes, she felt herself relax, as he wrapped his arms around her back leaning his head against hers. She felt at home for the first time since Jack. She was not ready yet to say how she feels but she knew being here in his arms that this felt right.