Chapter Two

Heath opened his eyes. It took a moment to get his eyes to focus. Slowly, everything came back to him. He tried to sit up only to find a black haired woman laying her hand on his uninjured shoulder and telling him to rest.

"Where am I? How long have I been here? Who are you?" Heath asked, unable to take his eyes off the beautiful woman standing next to his bed.

The fact that she could tell Heath was impressed by her appearance made Agniece blush just a little. "My name Agniece Bonnaveture. You in doctor's office. You here four days. This," she pointed to his wound. "It got infection. Good you awake now."

Doctor's office? The room didn't look like anything one would see in a medical building. He had seriously thought he was in a private home. "Where's the doctor?" Heath asked, and immediately wondered if she was the doctor. The idea made him automatically clutch at the blanket that lay over him. It made Agniece laugh.

"I not doctor, I nurse." She went on to explain in the best English she knew that the doctor had not been available at the time Heath was attacked. "I keep you here, take care of you." Due to the fact she'd seen the way his eyes had studied the room, she explained the small medical office had one bedroom for her to use. "I have no home of my own. Do not worry," she had to suppress a laugh as Heath's eyes widened. She could only imagine what he was thinking. "I sleep on chair," she pointed towards a brown chair that sat to the side of the bed. "Or, I sleep on couch in waiting room."

Heath was amazed. He remembered waking up in some pretty uncomfortable places before when he'd been hurt. It was nice to wake up in a comfortable bed instead, though it amazed him she'd slept on the chair and couch so he could lie someplace beside an uncomfortable examining bed...which he knew from past visits to the area was the only other option. "You have no home?"

"No, I flee bad uncle in France. Friend help me, get me job here, but now she married and not here. Doctor let me use this room." She began checking his shoulder as she took the bandages off, checked and care for the wound and then rewrapped his shoulder with new, clean bandages.

The next couple of weeks seemed to fly. Heath and Agniece visited, got to know more about each other and, once Heath was able to get out of bed, they went on a couple of walks and even a picnic. Of course, Heath had sent a telegram to the family only…all he'd said was 'Unavoidably detained, have pump, will be home next week'. He wasn't about to admit that he was staying longer to be around the French nurse.

Heath, who had been waiting for the stagecoach, had thinking about Agniece. He thought on their talks, their walks and the picnic. He remembered how she'd slept on a couch so he could recover. Most of all, he thought on the fact that-while he'd had other people do the same as she for him-he'd never felt anything close to what he was feeling now. As the stagecoach had entered, Heath had turned and hurried down the street towards the medical office. He wasn't three feet away when Agniece stepped out; she was surprised to see Heath.

She felt her heart skip a beat. She had hated knowing he was leaving town while she had to stay behind, but had told herself there was nothing she could do about it. "I thought you left."

"I couldn't." Heath took a hold of her shoulders. "I want you to come with me. I want you to make your home with me. I love you."

Agniece's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. She too had quickly fallen in love with the blonde haired, quiet spoken cowboy, but she had never dreamt he felt the same way. She tried to answer, but her shock made it impossible for her to speak.

"You don't have to answer me, now." Heath, who didn't want her to feel rushed, told her. "I won't be leaving for a couple of days." He hadn't had to wait a couple of days, though. She'd stopped him when he let go of her shoulders and started to walk away.

"Yes," Agniece smiled, even though she actually spoke the word in French. "I will be your wife."

When the train rolled into Stockton, Heath woke up. He gently shook Agniece's shoulder to wake her up as well. "We're here. There's my family." He pointed out the window to Victoria and the others. He'd sent a wire asking them to meet him at the station, said he had a surprise for them.

Agniece looked at the people Heath was pointing at. She felt herself starting to get nervous again. However, Heath-who could tell what her problem was-smiled and asked, "Do you remember what you said to me when we were waiting to board the train?"

It took her a moment, but soon Agniece was smiling as she repeated her words. "Cela ne me dérange pas if je viens juste de te rencontrer...mon coeur me dit que j'ai fait pris la bonne décision."

Heath chuckled. She was definitely nervous. "In English, please."

Agniece smiled. "It not matter…we just meet. My heart says this is right."

Heath smiled and stood up, holding his hand out as he did so. "Let's go meet the family."