With her ears ringing from Lucas' words last night that disturbed her sleep, she did not hear Rosemary calling after her asking where she was going in a hurry. Each stride from Sergeant was a moment closer to Lucas. She did not realise how deep her feelings for Lucas ran until he set her free.
It does not take long from her house to the saloon, but it felt like an eternity with the thoughts rushing through her mind, and the thought of his face last night with tears in his eyes at the hurt she had caused him.
Where she had not slept last night, she was up with the sun, so the town was empty. As she came to a halt out the front of the saloon, she quickly tied up Sergeant and went inside. The first thing she noticed was how eerily quiet it was, Lucas was not there setting the place up like normal or stood by the bar looks at the books. She made her way out back towards his office, reaching for the handle her heart fastened at the thought of seeing him.
But it fell with a sudden uneasiness when he also was not in his office. At this time there was not many other places he would be. She stood there frozen with the handle in her hand, her gaze fixed on his chair behind his desk. "Elizabeth?" questioned a French voice from behind her.
Breaking her from her thoughts she turned to face Gustav, who had a knowing sad smile on his face. "Lucas has gone out of town on some business." She did not realise her heart could drop any lower until she heard those words. It must have shown on her face as Gustavs face changed to almost hopeful "He only left say 10 minutes ago you may catch him if you have a fast horse."
Without a second thought Elizabeth gathers up her skirt and heads back towards sergeant "Bonne Chance!" as she swings up on Sergeant, she can see Gustav standing in the doorway as he points what direction Lucas left in, with a smile towards him she kicks readying herself for Sergeant to gallop off.
As she rides, with her eyes sharp looking for his car, she can feel the chill the sped is causing as the chase after Lucas. Losing track of how far out of town they are when she sees his car, she starts to call his name but eventually gives in after the first few failed attempts. "I just need you to go a little faster boy then you can rest. Please." She urges Sergeant, as she finishes like he heard her he speeds up.
With his hooves like thunder, they attracted Lucas' attention and he turned round to look in their direction with a look of shock then worry on his face as he pulls over. "Elizabeth? Is everything okay? Is Little Jack okay?" he rattles off the question full of concern as he leaves his car and walks towards the back. Not sure if her legs can hold her up, she slowly gets down making sure to keep tight hold of the horse.
"Lucas" she breathes part exhausted for the ride, part trying to form the words she needs to tell Lucas. He takes a few steps closer to her, his face still full of concern but awaiting her to speak first.
"Lucas I..." being a writer she had thought it would be easy to get the words out, but after she felt like she had lost him last night she seems to have lost her words too. That's when his words come back to mind 'love is not just an emotion. It's also an act of will'.
She takes a determined step forward closing the gap between them, watching as his eyes try to read her face, read the situation. "Elizabeth?" she reaches her hands up placing them on his chest, gently moving them up and onto his shoulders. She positions her lips just inches from his and then with one last look at him she kisses him and feels him gasp against her lips.
She's pulls away slightly to look him in the eyes "I choose you Lucas. I love you." with the smile that fills his face of pure happiness she can't help the little chuckle that leaves her lips as she kisses him again. His hands on her hips, wrapping around her waist as he gives in and kisses her with all the passion that he has held back over the past 3 years waiting, hoping for this moment.