Dancing that night had been more fun then they thought it would. Charles and Emily were two-step champs. As for Linda and Hartley, he had done this before and wasn't that bad, Linda tried but she couldn't get it right. They laughed as they tried again. But when the music slowed down, he held her close to him. "Now this I can do." She smiled. Angie was content to sitting down and talking with people, she was not yet up to dancing but she was having a great time. They decided it was time to head back to the cabin. Emily went with Angie into the cabin. Hartley sat with Linda outside and she told him about eh call from Vince before dinner. "He's probably realizing what he's missed and given up for all this time," he said thinking about it and looking at her "What are you going to do if he wants to fix things?" "I can't imagine it," she said honestly, "But I realized that when I talked to him tonight. I can't go back again. We can't undo the last year or what happened to Shane. I don't think I can forgive him for what he did or said." "What if he comes back to you and tells you how much he loves you and how wrong he was?" He wanted her to think about that before they made a mistake. They were both attracted to each other, but they were being very cautious. "I don't know Hartley, I'm not sure. I believe it's all over for me, but I suppose there are no guarantees until I see him again." "Why are you waiting?" It was a question she was honestly asking herself too lately. "I think it's a good idea," he said gently. They had known each other for five days and it had been an extraordinary experience for both of them, but it was possible it was all a dream, all illusion or maybe it was real and something very special. Only time would tell. And as tempting as it was to fall into bed with each other, she knew they wouldn't, not until everything was all settled. "I'm going to go and talk to him as soon as I leave her." She said thinking out-loud. There's something special about these mountains that gives me the answers to many things. I missed coming here after Sharon died." He smiled at her then and took her hand, "It would be amazing if I found my new life here, if I came here to find you," and then he looked at her sadly, "But even if nothing comes from this, if you go back to him, I want you to know how happy you made m. You've shown me that I'm not as alone as I think I am, that there is someone out there who can make me fall in love again. You're a beautiful gift I never expected, you're a vision of what life can be when two people love each other and are happy," he was exactly the same for her. He was living proof that there was someone who cared about her, could talk easily to, someone who loved her. And she wasn't ready to let that go. He wasn't asking her to either but he wanted to make sure that she knew what she wanted to do with her husband before moving toward him. "I don't think seeing him is going to change anything," she said. He was so dear to her, she had grown so fond of him in such a short period of time and they felt incredibly protective about each other. "It was rather strange when he called tonight. I had no clue who it was at first, and I can't figure out why he even called. It's sad to feel so distant from someone you once loved." "You survived one of life's cruelest blows. Its amazing that you made it this far." He said kindly. "I guess we weren't." She said. "I love being with you Linda," he said smiling at her and changing the subject. He wanted to move ahead with her, to be in New York, to travel in Europe, to share his friends with her and his life and his career. There was so much he wanted to do with her, and he was anxious to get started. He had been alone for two years and he knew he had to wait just a bit longer while she did what she thought was best. But once she as gone the possibilities were limitless and he knew that. There was nothing else to hold them back from each other, although he was still a bit concerned about her daughter, he wondered if she would blame him for the divorce of her parents. He had spoken to Linda about it that afternoon and she admitted that Stephanie was need to be talked to, but she was old enough now to understand that things played themselves out and it just didn't work. They sat together for a long time and talked about the past, the present and the future. And it was all agreed. That she was going to go see Vince right after she left Wyoming. She didn't think she's be gone long talking with him. "Would you come to fisher's island with me when you come back? He asked cautiously, "I have a old house there and I thought I would spend some time there in August." She looked at him and nodded, "I'd love that." "Good," he said nuzzling her neck. He wanted nothing more than to wake up next to her, to listen to the ocean and make love to her all afternoon and all night and talk into the wee hours and share his favorite books with her. He had already discovered that she was a passionate reader and they loved almost all the same authors. He had things he wanted to share with her. He wanted to walk down the beach holding her hand. Things were already wonderful and it could only get better. It was late when he pulled himself away from her, and they were both satisfied with what they had talked about. And as he said good night to her he asked her one last question. "And if he wins you back?" "I don't think he will." She said kissing him. "He would be a fool not to," Hartley whispered and then kissed her. And if he did Hartley knew he would have to find a way back without her. " But what.." "Stop worrying," she said and they kissed again. But he couldn't help it. "I love you" she said and she meant it to the depths of her soul. She barely knew him and she could spend the rest of her life with him and never regret a moment.