"Never His"
His heart constricted in pain as he watched the scene before him unfurl. The possessiveness and hope in the preacher's eyes angered him. She did not belong to the Reverend, nor did she love him. But the young schoolteacher was not his either, nor would she ever be. The realization felt like a blow to the stomach. Gulping, he glanced one final time at the beautiful young woman, and the blue velvet ring box nestled in her hands, the hands that held his heart. Spurring his horse towards the shelter of the forest, he galloped off, bits of earth trailing behind. Had he lingered just one moment, he would've witnessed the young woman shake her head and whisper "no".
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