Elizabeth entered the saloon, focusing on her breathing as she recalled Lucas gushing about past adventures on his worldly travels. His face always lit up as he told Jack his tales of piloting air balloons in Germany, sailing schooners in the Tyrrhenian Sea, breaking rescued wild stallions in Wyoming, and many other ventures of the like. It had planted a seed of uncertainty in Elizabeth's heart and had been weighing on her for quite some time. Today, she had finally mustered up the gumption to discuss her concerns with Lucas. Ordinarily, she would be honest and open with him about her feelings, and she was unsure why it was different this time. Perhaps because she didn't want to face the potential outcome of the conversation. She neared his office door, forcing her feet to continue one in front of the other. Her heart hammered in her chest, quickening with each step until she was lingering eye-to-eye with the placard that read 'Private.' She drew in a breath and released it, her knuckles hovering for a moment before she knocked twice and waited for a response.
"Come in," Lucas' muffled voice called. Elizabeth turned the doorknob slowly and peeked inside with a meek smile. "Elizabeth! This is a pleasant surprise," he said, closing his ledger. "Please, come in." She entered, clicking the door shut behind her before sauntering over to him. Lucas pulled her in without hesitation and kissed her. "Hello," his deep voice rumbled, dimples prominent.
"Hi," she responded apprehensively, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Concern spread across Lucas' face.
"What's the matter?" Lucas inquired, brushing the back of his finger across her cheek. Elizabeth exhaled quickly and moved to the bookshelves. Lucas' eyes, adorned with a furrowed brow, followed her. She ran her hand along the middle shelf and eyed the dozens of trinkets Lucas had acquired from all over the world. She thumbed a framed photograph of a young Lucas Bouchard and a friend of his, whom Elizabeth did not know, standing on a cliff with their arms draped over each others' shoulders, wide grins plastered on their faces.
"Elizabeth," Lucas said in nearly a whisper. His mind raced, wondering what could be going through her head. She spun around, revealing tears welled in her eyes.
"Elizabeth," Lucas repeated more urgently, moving quickly to her. He cradled her face in his hands, and she closed her eyes, evicting the tears down her cheeks. Lucas wiped them away with his thumbs, and pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head before resting his chin on it. "What is it?" he asked, slowly rocking back and forth, ever so slightly. A tiny whimper escaped from Elizabeth's chest.
"Are you happy here?" she sniffed against his vest. Lucas pulled back to look into her eyes, squeezing her arms with his hands.
"What? Of course I'm happy here. Where is this coming from?"
"I mean, are you really happy here?"
"Elizabeth," he said with a tilt of his head and one eyebrow raised.
"You used to go on all of these crazy adventures." She gestured toward the shelves of souvenirs. "You used to travel the globe and experience all kinds of things."
"So?"
"So, if you're stuck here in Hope Valley-"
"Hey," Lucas interrupted. "I am not stuck in Hope Valley. I chose to stay here and lay roots here. This is where I want to be. This is where I belong."
"But I just think about all of the things you'll miss out on, and I wonder if you'll get restless and want to move on. I don't want you to feel tied down because of me." Elizabeth looked at the floor. "Sometimes I just wonder if we eventually won't be enough for you."
"Won't be enough for me?" Lucas asked in disbelief, lifting her chin with his index finger. He breathed deeply and shook his head once. He searched her face before continuing. "Could you come with me?" he asked, tilting his head toward the door and offering his hand. "I'd like to show you something." Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him and accepted, wiping her eyes and sniffing as she followed him out the door and through the saloon.
"Where are we going?" she asked. Lucas looked back at her with a scowl.
"Have a little patience. You'll see." They exited the building, and Elizabeth shifted to intertwine her fingers with his, squeezing his forearm with her free hand. They paraded down the wooden walkway, curiosity growing inside Elizabeth. Rosemary came into view across the street.
"Elizabeth! Lucas!" she shouted cheerfully, her hand waving high above her head. She started toward them, and Elizabeth waved back. Lucas quickened their pace, pulling her along.
"Nope, nope, nope," he said so only Elizabeth could hear. She shot him a puzzled look and scoffed. "Hi, hello, good afternoon, Rosemary," he yelled quickly before he opened the library door and pulled Elizabeth inside. Rosemary wrinkled her face and threw her hands up.
"Well alright then," she said to herself, returning to her office.
"Lucas!" Elizabeth laughed, slightly out of breath. Lucas grinned at her and exhaled, running a hand through his hair. Elizabeth looked around. "What are you showing me?" Lucas held a finger up and moved to the desk. He bent down and pulled a drawer open, shuffling some papers before pulling out a small box. He examined it and bit his lips before returning his eyes to hers. Elizabeth's mouth fell open, and her breath left her body, heart thumping in her chest. He walked slowly toward her.
"Elizabeth. I owe you an apology if it ever crossed your mind that you wouldn't be enough for me." He touched her chin and then her shoulder, running his fingers down her arm to take her hand. He lifted it to his lips and closed his eyes, shaking his head before looking back up at her. "Listen to me, ok? You and Jack? You are everything to me. Hope Valley is my home. You," he continued, cupping her face in his free hand, "You are my home. And out of all of my travels?" he swatted the air with his hand and scoffed before taking her hand in his again. "You two are my greatest adventure." Elizabeth's chin quivered, and she swallowed hard. Lucas lowered himself to one knee, and Elizabeth slapped her hands to her mouth.
"This is where you told me about your dreams, and this is where I make a promise to always be by your side, as all of your dreams continue to come true. If you'll allow me," he added with a shrug. "Elizabeth Thornton," he breathed, opening the box, revealing a gorgeous pillow cut diamond wrapped in two dozen tiny sapphires. Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Will you marry me?" Lucas asked, anticipation consuming his voice. She let out a happy sob and nodded.
"Yes..yes!" she managed to choke out. Lucas' grin spread from ear to ear, his dimples more pronounced than they had ever been before. He slipped the ring onto her finger and stood, scooping Elizabeth up in his arms, burying his face in her neck. He placed her feet back on the floor and threw the box over his shoulder before he took her face in his hands and pressed his lips fervently against hers, forcing a squeal out of her as she kissed him back. They giggled and pulled away, touching their foreheads together, joyful exuberance pouring out of them. She kissed him again before peeking at her ring on her shaking hand.
"Oh my gosh, Lucas," she said with wide eyes and a laugh.
"Do you like it?" he asked sweetly, as if there was actually a possibility that she would be dissatisfied with the gleaming rock.
"Do I like it?" she chuckled. "It is way more than I ever imagined." She looked him in the eyes. "I love it," she added, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Good. I'm glad." he smiled. After a beat, he frowned and added, "Hey, you know you're not holding me back from taking adventurous trips, right? You'll just have to come with me from now on." She rose up on her tiptoes and ran one hand through the back of his hair.
"Deal," she said, pulling him in, kissing him ardently. Lucas moved his lips against hers for several moments before he planted two more quick smooches on her lips and her cheek, and one last kiss lingering on her neck before enveloping her in his arms.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you more."
