Elizabeth was sure that no one saw her leave. The sun was going down and it was a dangerous time for women to be out on the streets alone. She kept going over the events of the parlor in her head over and over. Her father would want her to marry Carter for the pure fact that he was of good decent. Elizabeth didn't care. She didn't love him.

She didn't even like him.

It was only a short walk from the fort to the blacksmith's shop. Will would be there until sundown. Sometimes it seemed like the boy was just a slave to his work. He was so passionate about it. Carter didn't seem to be passionate about anything except maybe his wealth and his estate.

Elizabeth tried to stay as far from crowds as possible. If her father knew the she was walking around the streets after dark, she wouldn't leave the house until she was married. Her father didn't understand that she didn't have many true friends who didn't judge her just by what she had. Will liked her for what she was, not who she was. For this Elizabeth trusted him more than anyone else. He would know what to do.

She arrived outside the shop and was relieved to see that the lanterns were still lit. The door was heavy and made a loud creaking noise as she lifted the bar. It was hot inside and she found herself sweating the instant she stepped in.

"Whose there?" she heard a voice say. Will turned around the corner, a sword in his hand. When he saw it was her, he lowered his weapon and walked towards her. "Miss Swann! What are you doing down here so late? It's to dangerous for you to be out," he said with concern. He saw her lip begin to tremble as she walked past him and sat on a soot covered chair.

"Oh Will!" she cried. Will's eyes widened. He had never seen her cry before. "It's just so awful! I don't know what to do!"

Will didn't know what to do either. She was upset, yes, but he was a gentleman. Should he comfort her? Should he even go near her? Will rocked back and forth on his heels.

"The stupid pig! I bet he finds this amusing!" she cried. She stood up from her seat and started walking around, her arms crossed and crying uncontrollably. A light bulb went off in Will's head.

"What has Carter done?" he said, rage echoing in his voice. Elizabeth turned on him. Without warning, she threw herself at him and began to cry into his neck. At first he was shocked, then he realized that she really did need him. He put his arms around her and began to rub her back in small circles.

"It's so bloody awful, Will!"

"Miss Swann, I can't help you if you don't tell me what he did to you."

"He… he…"

"He didn't harm you, did he?" he said, pushing her back and examining her for any cuts or bruises. Elizabeth choked back her tears and pulled his hand from her cheek where he was checking every inch of her face for some kind of injury.

"He asked me to marry him!" she cried. Will's face dropped and his eyes went cold. Elizabeth felt his hand tighten on hers. She began to sob uncontrollably again and Will pulled her back into his chest. He bit his lip and tried to hide the hurt and resentment he was feeling. He had been expecting something like this to happen soon. Now that she was of age, men would be throwing themselves at her. She would never want someone as lowly as him when she could have captains, commodores, barons, princes, governors…

"I don't want to say yes, but I know my father will want me to," she said, still crying lightly into his shirt. Will tried to hide his enthusiasm that she didn't want to marry Carter.

"In the end, it's about what you want," he said, trying to make her stop crying. She sniffed and pulled back. Her milky skin was red and blotchy. He hated that jerk Carter more than ever.

"I don't want to go back. Can I just hide out here for two more days?" she said. Will smiled.

"We wouldn't be able to hide you, Miss Swann. Your father would worry too much," he said. Elizabeth began to pout.

"I don't know if I can face him, Will. I mean, I can't stand him!"

Will thought about her predicament for a moment. She would have to face him eventually, but they could at least prolong this event.

"Can you meet me in the stables tomorrow morning? I have some more business to take care of. We can talk more then, ok?" he said, pulling back from their embrace. Elizabeth nodded and sniffed back her tears. For the first time since she had arrived, a smile played at her lips.

Will escorted her from the shop and up to the fort gates. They said goodbye and Will started back to Mister and Misses Swank's house. He was grinning from ear to ear about his plans for tomorrow.