Author's Notes: Well, sometimes the words just seem to fly from my fingertips through the keyboard onto the screen. This chapter was an example of that. (Of course, there are those chapters that don't come quite as easily- in fact, I feel like I've been pulling all the hair out of my head after some chapters!) I hope you enjoy it! I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please post a review! (This is my second When Calls the Heart fanfiction story. You might want to read Faith, Hope, and Love, my first fan fiction story, before reading this.)

Chapter Eleven

"You know, sometimes love isn't fireworks.

Sometimes, love just comes softly."

~Janette Oke, Love Comes Softly

It was almost midnight when the musicians finished their last song. The ladies cleaned up the dessert table and people began to leave the saloon. Caleb Dunbar approached his mother, who was talking with Mr. Graves, and asked, "Ma, can I walk back to the house with Albert and some of the other boys?"

Mary glanced at Graves and then back at her son. "I don't know. It's awfully late, Caleb."

Caleb looked at Graves and then back at his mother. "Please, Ma?" he pleaded. "We'll go straight back to the row houses."

"My Ma and some of the other Mas are going to walk behind is," Albert called from a few feet away, as anxious as Caleb was to hear Mary's answer.

Mary studied Caleb for several moments. Graves watched Mary, trying to discern what she would decide. Finally, he saw her eyes narrow slightly and he knew she'd made her decision. "Okay," she told Caleb. "But you go straight back home. No dilly-dallying," she cautioned.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Caleb agreed as he ran off to join his friends.

Mary sighed. "He's growing up so fast," she said to Graves, her gaze following Caleb as he headed out of the saloon with his friends.

Graves leaned in and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "No worries, Mary. He still needs his Ma," he reassured her. Mary smiled and leaned back against Graves. They both watched the door close behind Caleb. "Okay," Graves said into Mary's hair. "I guess that means I get to walk you home."

Mary turned around to face him, smiling. "That would be very nice!" She took Graves' offered arm and they headed out of the saloon. As they reached Main Street and turned towards the row houses, they noticed that another couple was walking several yards in front of them.

"Looks like Mountie Jack and Miss Thatcher are taking a walk in the moonlight, too," Graves observed. They looked at each other and shared a laugh.

As Mary and Graves walked arm-in-arm, they watched as Jack's and Elizabeth's heads bobbed in animated movements while they walked and talked. At one point, Jack laughed loudly as Elizabeth scoffed at him. "Jack!" they heard her reprimand him. However, that was the only word of their conversation that was discernible to Mary and Graves.

A few moments later, Elizabeth and Jack stopped short as Jack leaned closer to whisper something to Elizabeth. Mary and Graves stopped walking, too, clearly enthralled by the younger couple. They saw Elizabeth slap Jack's arm but he deftly grabbed her hand and kissed it. He then tucked her arm in his as they continued walking.

Mary and Graves, also, resumed their walk. Graves cleared his throat and stated, "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" He was trying to focus his attention on Mary, not Jack and Elizabeth. However, that was providing to be difficult.

"Yes, it is," Mary concurred. "The stars are so pretty and bright." However, she wasn't looking up at the stars. She, too, couldn't seem to take her eyes from Jack and Elizabeth.

Graves nodded. "And the moon is so bright, too," he said rather flatly, not focused on what he was saying.

Their awkward attempt at conversation was interrupted again, this time by Elizabeth's laughter. They looked up just in time to watch Jack pull Elizabeth down a side path. A few moments later, as Mary and Graves passed the path, they saw Jack and Elizabeth kissing, their silhouette illuminated by the moonlight. Mary seemed embarrassed and looked away as Graves directed her down the road, away from Jack and Elizabeth. "Those two have certainly gotten close," he observed.

Mary nodded. "It must be exciting for them," she said. "To be so young and in love." Then, she bravely met Graves' gaze. "But, I think it's nice to be comfortable with someone. So comfortable you just enjoy being with them. I mean, it's nice to just spend time with someone and enjoy being quiet." The words had come so easily, it surprised her. She smiled, hoping she'd conveyed her meaning well.

Graves grinned and, emboldened by Mary's remarks, stopped walking. He turned to face her and took her hands in his. "Mary," he began, "you are such a wonderful, beautiful, kind woman."

Mary blushed. "Mr. Graves!"

"You are a terrific mother to Caleb. You have such a kind heart." He searched her eyes and took a deep breath before he dropped to one knee.

Mary inhaled sharply when she saw him on his knee. "Mr. Graves!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I love you, Mary! Will you marry me?" Graves asked.

Mary was overwhelmed, unsure of what to say. She held her hand to her mouth as she fought back her tears. Her eyes met his and he knew what she was thinking.

"Don't worry," Graves assured her. "I already asked Caleb for your hand before we left for the dance. He gave it. I want you, Caleb, and I to be a family." He looked at her, expectantly, "Mary?"

Mary shook her head in disbelief. Then, her tears began to fall as a laugh escaped her mouth. "Yes," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "Yes, I will marry you, Mr. Graves."

Graves quickly stood, smiling from ear to ear. "I think you might want to call me Dewitt now," he said with a laugh. He scooped her into his arms, kissed her, and then swung her around in circles. She screamed as he released some loud whoops.

Jack and Elizabeth rushed out into the road, startled by Mary's squeals and Graves' yells. When Graves saw Jack and Elizabeth, he stopped swinging Mary, placing her carefully back on the ground, and called to them, "She said yes!"

Postcript: I loved the Mary Dunbar-Dewitt Graves storyline! They make such a sweet couple! I just had to get them hitched!