Jack and I walked through the park. We walked hand and hand. Every now and then he'd stop and wrap his arms around me and kiss me.

"Maria how about we go back to the boarding house just you and me?" He asked.

I smiled. "Alright," I said. "let's go."

We walked there together. Just a bit passed Broadway.

"Hey Kloppman." Jack said as he opened the door.

"Oh hi Jack. Maria lovely to see you today." Kloppman chirped

"Thank you Kloppman. Lovely to see you also." I said.

"We're heading upstairs. I'll see you in a little while." Jack said.

Jack took my hand and led me upstairs and into his room. I noticed something on the bed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"What's what?"

"That." I said pointing at the thing on the bed.

"Oh that's nothing you should worry about. You can look at it if you want."

I walked over to it.

"Santa Fe." I read aloud.

It was a brochure for Santa Fe with a cowboy on the cover.

"Yeah," He laughed. "My old obsession."

"What exactly do you mean by obsession?"

He laughed some more.

"When I was younger about seven, I herd one of those stories about cowboy's and how they take care of themselves always save the day and get the girl at the end. I wanted that. I wanted to be that. Not only that but as I got older I hated the city more and more. I just wanted to get out. I thought why not go to New Mexico and start over. I wanted to forget what had happened to me with my dad and all that... You understand, don't you?"

"Of course." I said.

It wasn't like I'd never wanted to just run away and leave the past behind. I knew exactly what he meant.

"So," I started. "do you still want to go to Santa Fe?"

"I don't know I was thinking of it after Sara and all that. But it doesn't seem to matter much now." He looked into my eyes for a while.

I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I love you." He whispered then he kissed me.

"I love you too." I said as the kiss ended.

"You staying over tonight?" Jack asked.

"I don't know..." I teased. "Maybe if someone wants me to."

Jack smirked.

"Alright then, good."

It was nice to feel wanted, safe and loved. Yes of corse I'd been in love before, this was just different. It isn't easy to describe. But once you've felt it things just seem different and new. The whole world is light and everyone and everything around you is beautiful in their own way.

A few hours later we were getting ready for bed. Jack let me borrow his clothes again. It was nice to be out of my corset for a while. I heard a knock at the door.

"Jack you can come in!" I called.

He opened the door looked at me and smiled. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"

I felt the heat go to my cheeks.

"Your so sweet." I said.

"I try."

Jack and I climbed into bed. I rested my head on his chest.

"Goodnight honey." He said.

"Goodnight."

He kissed my forehead and I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night only to find that I was alone. I looked around the room until I saw Jack standing by the window.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He turned around and looked at me.

"Yeah I'm fine. Did I wake you up?"

"No. You sure you're alright?"

He shrugged.

I got out of bed and wrapped my arms around him.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't know... I'm okay."

"You don't look so okay. What's wrong? Have a bad dream or something?"

"No... I just started thinking about well my dad and all that. Just gets to me sometimes."

"I understand."

Even though I would probably never know what it was like to watch somebody die in front of my eyes. I could understand what is was like to be hurt by a parent.

"That's all in the past now. It doesn't matter." He mumbled.

"You want to go back to bed? You should relax, it's late."

He nodded.

"Alright come on." I said as I lightly pulled on his sleeve.

We got into bed.

"Goodnight." I said.

"Goodnight."