AN: Okay, guys, I can continue this story because I have a plot that I think I can develop (just a few more chapters of development) from here – reason why I didn't kill Hoyt off. However, I will take a short break for awhile to plan and write it out. Not only that, I also am starting to film a movie, which means I won't have a lot of time.
I will try my best to end this chapter with a something good enough to just end it here, yet, can be picked up and continue into the next chapter. Do let me know what y'all think! I will definitely try to continue to post - only if you guys want. So let me know.
AN2: So, I did continue it, and I don't really like the way it's going. I am just going to say that for those who just want a normal ending, you can stop here. For those who just want a few more chapters, I will be posting a new story - Love I not Honour More (Appendix).
It fell on Jane and Korsak to prepare the breakfast. Frost, Cavanaugh, Maura heartily ate of the meal the other two had prepared. A simple affair of cornbread and black coffee.
As soon as they had all sat down, Jane asked the question she had been itching to ask. "Korsak, how did you and Cavanaugh know where we were?"
"Elementary, my dear Watson." Korsak quipped. "I think the sequence of events were partly pure coincidental. When we decided to go to Maura's house, there were actually proceedings that the Confederates are surrendering.
"'Most all the Rebels are moving camp already. Cavanaugh and I thought it was time to bring you back, but Susie informed us where you went and why you went. So, Cavanaugh and I simply came as fast as we could. We heard the gunshots when we were in the woods."
"Ah, I see. I thought more people were going to come running out of that forest, what with all everyone just bursting onto the scene."
They all shared a light smile at Jane's attempt at humour. Maura cleared her throat before saying, "What are we going to do now?"
Frost was the first one to respond. "You guys are welcomed to stay here as long as you like – although, I would prefer it not be an indefinite stay." He grinned.
"I think that Korsak and I will be heading back to the army. We actually are supposed to be en route to somewhere else, but we decided to pay Jane a visit before we reached our destination. Talking about which, what are we going to do with Hoyt? He can only move his arms, head, and a little bit of his shoulders. I just found out that the guy can't even use the darn toilet by himself. I'm glad we put him on the hay." Cavanaugh said
Jane spoke up. "Hey, Frost, do you think if you bring him down to the holding cell and leave him there, the sheriff would transfer him to that state prison they just opened for those prisoners with medical needs?"
"I would think so. They have no choice to, anyways."
"All right, let's do that then. I don't want him in the same town as I am. Korsak and Cavanaugh, you two can be witness enough to put this bastard away for a very long time, right?"
"I am sure we can, Rizzoli." Cavanaugh replied.
"Okay, that's settled then. And I will bring Maura back to Florida. I am sure that her house must be in needs of its ship captain."
All three men shared a secret look. They may have just met Maura for a day, but they knew that she was something special to Jane. They had never seen Jane so subdued or refined when she was with other ladies. Although, yes, that was partly due to the fact that she usually had been Jedidiah at that time. They had never seen Jane care for anybody as strongly as she did for Maura.
The rest of the day passed with all of them doing what they said they would do. Jane helped Frost out with a bit of the farm work, first, but was soon in the house packing up hers and whatever Maura needed for their trip back.
They decided to take one of Frost's horses. Jane insisted that she at least pay him back some down payment. However, Frost would have none of it.
"Just take it as a gift. Maybe a wedding gift." He teased. The reaction of Jane's face was priceless and he had to move as fast as he could away from Jane to avoid her roughhousing.
Before Maura and Jane, however, Jane quietly slipped into the barn house. She found Hoyt lying on the straw bed, looking miserable and sallow. She stared at him for a while before approaching him.
Sensing that someone was here, Hoyt turned to face her. "Janie! So good to see you. You miss me already? Or you regretted your decision not to kill me?"
Jane had to fight the urge to punch that guy in his face. "Maybe I should have killed you. But don't you think this is better? Now you have a scar too. But this one is in your back, and it also will be a daily reminder; because, you will never, ever be able to walk or move your lower limbs at all. At least I still have my hands, ya know. Don't you find that keeping you alive is so much more fun?" Jane snarled back at him. Her eyes were ablaze with raw fury, and Hoyt flinched slightly when she came to close to his face. "I win, Hoyt, you lose. The prey turns out to be the hunter, and now you will be the deer rack hanging in my living room."
Satisfied that she had gotten her point across, she turned to leave. But before she reached the door way, Hoyt's voice slithered over. "This is not over, Janie. Not yet. While I am still alive and breathing, you and Maura will always be in my mind. And I will still be your nightmare."
Jane paused for a while, wanting to lash back in any way. But that's what Hoyt wants, a reaction. And I will not be giving him anything. And with that, she turned to walk back to Maura.
Jane and Maura made their way safely back to Florida. True to Korsak's word, the Confederate army was staring to disband or move out. By the time the two ladies had reached back to Maura's home, the army base that had been nearby was gone.
Maura nearly didn't want the journey to end. She enjoyed the closeness between her and Jane, who was sitting behind her on the horse, dressed once again, as Jedidiah with his checked shirt, tanned pants, and brown suspenders. She could feel Jane's breath ghost across her neck, the warm feeling of Jane's arms around hers, holding the reins. She had given Jane a haircut just before they left, keeping the wild locks tamed.
All through their journey back home, Jane was silently thinking. She wanted to tell Maura something. But, Jane was nervous.
As the sun slowly sank back down to disappear beneath the earth, the house slowly came into view when Jane suddenly pulled on the reins, effectively stopping the horse. She jumped down and held out her hands to help Maura down.
"Jane, what is this about? Why'd ya stop suddenly?"
Jane set Maura down on the ground, then she herself bent down on one knee to kneel in front of Maura. She took one of Maura's hands, and looking up at Maura's beautiful, hazel eyes, Jane said, "Maura, before we step into your house, I would like to ask you one thing. I know we said that we loved each other, and, I, uh, know this probably wouldn't come as a shock to you. I have been thinking about what you said to me, regarding marrying you. And, I would like to do this the proper way, so, Maura – do you happen to have a middle name?" Jane broke off and asked.
Maura chuckled lightly at the abrupt question. "As a matter of fact, I do. But, it is such an old name, it will be funny when you hear it."
"Oh, come on, Maur. I won't laugh, and I will even tell you mine. It can't be worse than yours."
"Fine, it's Maura Dorthea Isles."
Jane's body shook when she heard the middle name. She yelped when she felt Maura smacking her shoulder and crying, "You said you wouldn't laugh!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was that bad. Your middle name reminded me of a distant relative that I had. She was one of the most repulsive yet intriguing person I ever knew!"
"Oh, you rascal!"
"Okay, okay. I will tell you mine. My middle name is Clementine. Jane Clementine Rizzoli."
Now it was Maura's turn to laugh. "My goodness, that does sound weird for a person like you! It's a good thing I didn't promise I wouldn't laugh."
"Yeah, whatever. Now that we got that part straightened out, let me continue."
Maura stilled her laughing and looked seriously back at Jane.
"I have never met someone like you. There has been no one that I have met before that made me want to spend the rest of my life with him or her. I am not going to waste my time describing what you are to me, because that feeling is indescribable. It is, like you said, words that can never be used to describe it, only actions can. Maura Dorthea Isles, would you marry me?"
Tears of joy were staring to slide down Maura's cheeks. She threw herself at Jane, causing them to fall to the grass. The horse snorted, and pulled his hoof back, annoyed that they had nearly landed on his leg.
"Yes, I will! I will, I will, I will!" Maura kissed Jane on the mouth before each I will that she said. Jane was elated and she caught Maura's lip between hers. She took the opportunity and kissed her tenderly, putting as much gratitude and honour as she could within that one kiss.
They both came up gasping for air. Jane gently tucked a lock of Maura's curls back behind her ears. "Come on, let's get back home. I am almost afraid of what kind of damage Pike has done to my house." Maura said as she stood up and offered her hand to Jane and pulled her up.
Jane took the bridle, tugging at the horse to follow.
And both Maura and Jane walked towards the house, with the setting sun painting a beautiful picture in the background.