It was a month till their wedding was to be held and the weather had started to cool. Halt had arrived a little earlier than usual and he and Abelard stood patiently by the gate Pauline saw him approach from her seat in the garden but she noticed his saddle bags were packed as well this time. Something wasn't right. She hurried down the stairs and through the garden to the gate.
"Halt? What's wrong?" She asked.
"I am being sent on a mission I am to leave today" he said studying her carefully.
"A mission?! Now? We are to be married in a months time Halt!" She pleaded she knew he had to do his duty but she couldn't help herself.
He climbed down from his saddle "I know Pauline but I have to go" he said.
She calmed down and centered herself taking a breath then nodded this was a part of their relationship she would have to learn to take, him leaving and not knowing when or if he would come home "how long will you be gone?"
"Hopefully only a few weeks" he said gently his tone had softened to her, he was less gruff when he knew she was hurting and even had a tender side for her now.
"Come back to me" she said stepping close to him.
He nodded gently and she touched his scruffy cheek. He held her gaze steadily he wanted to kiss her but he did not instead he caressed her hand with his rough one for a moment before mounting his horse her hand slipping from his face. He had never been good at goodbyes.
She wanted to tell him she loved him but she didn't, she did not know why. Instead she folded her arms across her chest and watched him go turning his horse and setting off at an easy canter away from her. She turned and hurried to the house going to her room and closing the door she watched him from the window until she could no longer see him. She sank to her bed she would not let herself cry she was stronger than that but she wished she had told him that she loved him, but now it was to late she just had to hope he came back so she could tell him, she was in love the man she never would have expected and he had taken her heart.
There was a soft knock on her door a short while later.
"Come in" Pauline said.
Her mother entered with an envelope in her hand Pauline identified it by the green ink and oak leaf. It was a summons from the Corps apologizing for having to take Halt away before the wedding.
"I already know..." Pauline said unable to stop a tear from slipping from her eye she looked up at the ceiling to keep it from falling.
"I'm so sorry my darling" her mother said sitting near her hugging her.
Pauline wiped her eyes "no I am sorry, I don't know why I am so emotional over it" she said, she had never been emotional and she had no intention of starting there was no room for weakness in politics.
"Because you love him" her mother said simply, Pauline didn't argue she just nodded "Did you tell him?"
"No and I wish I had mother instead I just let him go" Pauline said.
Her mother patted her hand "all the more reason for him to return then. For now the best thing you can do for him is to be strong. Halt is a ranger and always will be and you as a Rangers wife will have to deal with this happening time and time again you cannot let it destroy you every time it won't help you or him," her mother said softly.
"You're right I know you are... I did not think I would fall for him so quickly... thank you mother" Pauline said smiling at the older woman.
The older woman tilted her head "what for my dear?" she asked.
"You knew. I don't know how but you knew I would choose Halt and that he was the right man for me" Pauline said shaking her head.
She smiled at her daughter "A lucky guess my dear and he loves you too darling don't worry" she said brushing a strand of hair behind the younger woman's ear.
"Do you think so?" Pauline asked.
"I saw the way he looked at you at the Harvest Festival and have seen him grow even fonder every day since my girl, don't you worry about that when he comes to his senses past his own stubbornness he will confess it to you," her mother said with a smile patting her daughters cheek.
"There is a lot of stubbornness to get past" Pauline stated with a smile and soft laugh.
He mother smiled "Once you get past that you will never find a better man you just have to hang in there and you will be alright my love" her mother said softly kissing her hair and standing to leave the room.
"Thank you, Mother" Pauline said softly.
The older woman just nodded softly with a smile and left the room. She walked down stairs to deal with her quit angry husband and Sister-in-law about the temporarily hiatus wedding.