Chapter Six

Jessica pulled out of George's embrace and turned to look at Detective Boding.

"My captain says we are to cooperate with you," said Detective Boding.

"That would be Captain Fellinger?" asked George. The two men eyed each other but neither asked any questions. George nodded at him then led Jessica back inside the RV.

"George, I don't understand something. The man who died…who was he after?" Jessica was chewing on her lip.

"I believe he was supposed to shoot up the RV the detectives are using. I overheard Todd telling Regina that there was a lot of equipment inside and they obviously were there to spy on either them or the RV with the two couples." He moved closer. "His unfortunate timing meant the RV was empty though so the detectives were able to return fire."

They began washing dishes and putting away food. George refused to smoke his cigars inside the RV so he stepped outside while Jessica got ready for bed. Detective Boding was sitting on the steps of the fourth RV. They didn't have any outdoor furniture placed. He rose when George came outside and sauntered over.

"I don't understand how Scotland Yard is involved," he opened in his customary nonstandard manner.

"They were involved at the start."

"And how did you manage to get JB Fletcher to allow you to use her in your investigation?"

George stared at the detective for a minute. "I have not used her at all." He didn't mask his irritation.

"Well, we have arrested most of the principles you are seeking. The US probably won't extradite though." Detective Brody seemed pleased about it.

"We only seek one person and he isn't a citizen of the United States," George countered.

The detective seemed confused and George didn't seem inclined to explain. He said goodnight after extinguishing his cigar and went inside. Most of the lights were out but George moved around with ease. Turning off the remaining lights he entered the bedroom.

Jessica was lying in bed. The covers had been arranged over the lower half of the bed and she was underneath a sheet. Her shoulders were bare and she was looking at him, watching him carefully.

He began removing his clothes and dropping them in the hamper. Lifting the sheet, he got inside. A glimpse beneath the sheets revealed she wasn't wearing anything.

"Feeling better? You aren't sore any longer?"

"Everything is fine," she assured him. He brought her into his arms and she snuggled against him. "It's almost over, isn't it?"

"I think so. I doubt Sarah and Marnie will be able to withstand questioning for very long, especially now that someone has died." George placed a kiss on her temple and rubbed her arm.

"Will you go back early?"

"No lass, I'm going to stay here with you." His eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. "Unless you'd rather we not spend the next eight or nine weeks together."

"Oh George!" Jessica reached up to kiss him. "It will be a proper vacation for you. Fishing and hiking and long walks in the morning."

George continued with, "day trips to Laramie, Casper, even Denver."

Jessica was filled with joy. Happy tears slipped out unbidden. George kissed them away. "Darling, how wonderful." She returned his kisses and soon the passion inside grew and they gave way to their feelings.

George's phone rang at four AM waking them both. After a minute he left the bedroom to speak privately and Jessica got up. It was too early to begin the day but she showered anyway. George was crawling back into bed when she left the bathroom.

"Jason Lewis has been picked up, arrested, and will be returned to Britain later today. Fortunately, I won't have to accompany him. My cover here is safe." George kissed her, "Thank you, darling for your help."

Jessica got comfortable and wrapped an arm across his waist. "Do you think the Brody's have been arrested? Do you think they'll return?"

"Why is it you're concerned with Regina Brody?" George looked puzzled.

Jessica sighed. "I think her husband was involved but she obviously loves her family and was just trying to keep them safe. I'm not sure she even knows many details. She strikes me as the sort of person that knows something wrong is happening but doesn't know any information because she doesn't want to know."

"I supposed as a librarian she was well read? I know those two women her sons married are readers. Aye, she loves her family," agreed George.

He pulled her closer and began kissing behind her ear. "I am loving you so much, Jessie."

"It's nice being able to express it openly now," she agreed. His kisses were becoming heated. She loved kissing him over and over. Even if they didn't go any further, she would be satisfied with a makeout session. Happily, George had other ideas and soon they were dancing to a rhythm all their own.

Jessica woke first and looked at George. He looked relaxed, contented. His stubble gave him a roguish countenance. He was a tall man, six foot four inches, but he always appeared taller. Physically, he was in terrific shape. He exercised regularly, had a decent diet, and having looked him over, she could declare him almost a perfect specimen of male masculinity. Oh, how she loved the man. Would she experience heartbreak? She hoped not but she wouldn't trade these next few weeks together for anything.

George was at least five years from retirement and the thought of a long distance relationship for such a long time was daunting. She could give up teaching, that would free up time, and she could commute a few times a year to see him but it felt like stolen moments, a week or two at a time. Would it be enough?

Determined not to dwell any longer on their future, she pushed the thoughts from her mind and decided to dress. They were going to take a long walk this morning. She woke up George with a kiss and a caress.

Dressed with applications of sunscreen shining on their faces, they left the RV and started strolling. Most of the campsites were quiet but occasionally they passed a few sipping their morning cups of coffee or heading out with rod and reel to do a little fishing. It wasn't hot yet so it felt good to take in a few miles.

"I think I should get back to working on my book," began Jessica. "I need four or five hours a day, I think. It depends on inspiration and luck."

"Don't let me cramp your days, Jessie." George held her hand as they walked. "I can fill my time easily. When you're free, I'd like to spend time with you but we'll have our evenings together?"

"And our weekends, dear," assured Jessica. "I found so much information on Wyoming that I think I have enough material for another novel after this one."

Walking each morning became an activity they enjoyed. An hour to talk and listen, often holding hands. Showers and breakfast followed and George usually went fishing while Jessica worked although she accompanied him when the words weren't flowing easily with her book.

The Brody's didn't return and someone they didn't know came and removed their RV. The other RV was eventually towed away and others filled their spots. The fourth RV had left a few days after the investigation wrapped up. Jessica didn't want answers this time. She wondered about Regina occasionally and hoped she was well but she didn't ask George and he didn't volunteer information which probably didn't bode well.

She spent weekends with George visiting other towns or staying at the campsite. Her love for George was deepening as the days passed by. Waking up in his arms was wonderful. Thankfully her body had adjusted and there weren't anymore 'sore' days. George still teased her about blushing despite days in the sunshine. She began to miss Cabot Cove. Her hair was growing out and she needed a cut. George's hair was also getting long and she threatened to pull it into a ponytail until he left one day and returned with shortened locks.

She made her weekly call to Seth to find out how he was doing and to check on her house. She invited him out but he said he could wait until she returned. He was not going to be a third wheel, thank you very much.

"Seth, I've fallen in love," she said softly. "I don't know what to do."

"What do you mean, Jess." Seth was quick to make her specify the problem.

"We live so far apart." She sighed. "Long distance relationships are so hard to maintain.

"From what I can see, you've been in one going on ten years already."

"He'll have to go back in three or four weeks and we'll be apart again."

"I recall when you were married to Frank, he was away plenty, months at a time, even longer during the war." Seth tried to speak gently. "I don't think it's the distance. I think it's the fear."

"You're right," admitted Jessica. "I'm afraid."

Seth spoke soothingly to her. "It's simple, Jess. How often have you seen Amos since he retired? Twice in Cabot Cove and once in Kentucky. Is he less of a friend? He emails, he calls. You still love him. Not in the same way as George, of course."

"What about you?" she asked. "I can't bear to only see you a couple of times a year."

"Things change, Jess. Sometimes for the better and sometimes not but I'm thinking you'll miss George more than anybody and he's been mighty patient."

"Cabot Cove is my home," argued Jess.

"Is it Cabot Cove you don't want to leave or is it Frank? Seems to me like you're trying to hold on to something that's already gone."

"You're correct again. Thank you, Seth," she whispered.

"I wouldn't mind coming out for a week or two every year for a visit. Wouldn't have to pay for a hotel either." chuckled Seth. "I plan to retire in two years and I can stay for a longer visit then."

Jessica hung up the phone in better spirits and did some hard thinking. She was trying to hold on to Frank. Her memories would travel with her but his hometown was a piece of her now and she was afraid to let go. She could rent her house out for a few years and maybe when George retired, they could spend part of their time in the US and part of their time in Scotland. She would have to discuss things with George. Why is it so hard to speak about things, lay your heart right out there? Being vulnerable was so difficult for her.

George returned to the RV and knew immediately that something was up. Jessica was typing like a speed demon and then growling and deleting whatever she typed. He knew better than to intrude so he kept his distance by cleaning up the RV, doing laundry, even cooking.

Two days later he wasn't sure how much more he could take. His Jessie was touchy and irritable. He made a mistake asking how her book was coming along and had to listen to a ten minute rant.

She was at her desk grumbling when he brought her a glass of white wine while he drank a whiskey. She sat back and took a sip.

"I think we need to talk, lass," George began. "Something is bothering you."

Jessica dropped her head. "I'm not ready to talk about it yet," she said.

"There's no point in stewing over it, Jessie."

She took a deep breath. "I love you, George. I don't want to be separated from you."

George's eyes turned sad. "Darling…"

"No, don't interrupt me. If I stop talking I won't be able to find the courage to start again." She got up and went over to him and sat on his lap. He put his drink down and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"One of the reasons I hesitated in furthering our relationship is because I know what it's like to wait months and months for someone. I was miserable. I don't want to do it again. We're not going to live forever and I've wasted enough time prevaricating over it." She leaned down and kissed him, pouring everything she had into the kiss. She broke apart and rested her forehead on his. "I want to move to England and live with you." Her voice was barely above a whisper but he heard her clearly.

"Jessie?" To say he was shocked was an understatement.

"You're years from retiring and I don't want to wait that long. I can write anywhere, I think." She looked hesitantly into his eyes. "I didn't want to leave Cabot Cove before and I do hope we'll go back to visit but in reality I didn't want to leave the place where Frank and I created so many memories."

George took his thumb and wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Even though it has been years, I didn't want to let him go completely but now I have the chance to create memories with you, in another place. It's time for me to cut the last tie to my old life. I have a new life now. I have a career I love, I get to travel and meet people. Now I want to share a home with someone I love."

"Jessie," George started but kissed her instead. Several minutes passed without a word, only the sound of their passion exploding within.

"Of course, I have the castle but I think we'll need to look for a place for the both of us, love. My flat has one bedroom and one loo. Nine hundred square feet with no tub, no oven, and a tuba player that practices all day and plays somewhere at night."

Jessica laughed. "I guess we can look at places to live."

"Are you sure? We can live in London but where would you like to live?"

"I just want to live with you. I like those houses, we call them townhomes, that are two or three stories and attached to each other? Georgian style, I believe, with a small garden in the back and fireplaces in most of the rooms."

George chuckled. "Aye, those eight hundred thousand dollar homes that the Yanks buy up."

"I will only teach the upcoming semester. That will give us time to find a place to live and I'll leave after finals in December." She smiled brightly. I've been thinking about it for a while and I talked things over with Seth, of course."

"Of course," smiled George. "I hope he's planning on staying more than a week when he comes. I know he will hate paying for a hotel so I'm guessing he's planning to stay with us."

They both laughed. "Darling, wouldn't you rather marry?" George looked at her seriously. "We can shop for rings now."

"Maybe one day, George, I'll want to marry but right now I don't want to rush things. I already planned to move in with you, move across to another continent, and we'll have a lot of adjustments to make. You have to travel for your job, I'll have to travel for mine."

"You've made me the happiest I've been for a long time, love." George looked at her earnestly. "What will your family say?"

"Most won't say anything and those that do, won't say it to me." There was a glint in her eye as she said it and George hoped no one would say anything against them living together.

"Besides, it's no one's business but our own." She finished. She kissed him again. This time she wasn't planning on stopping. Their lovemaking was driven and they didn't quite reach the bedroom. The trail of clothes from the living room and down the hallway attested to the attempt.

The weeks that followed were busy. Jessica contacted her publisher and told him she was relocating to England but of course would fly to New York when necessary or he could fly to London. She told him she would finish teaching in December and hoped to move across the ocean in time for Christmas. She informed Seth, her family, and various friends. Eve Simpson would take care of getting everything she owned into storage and then renting out her house. Naturally, if she ever decided to sell, Eve would get the listing.

She was keeping her New York apartment simply to save herself from staying in hotels when she met with her publisher, Vaughn. She informed the University about her intention to leave at the end of the semester.

Seth pleaded to use her RV so she agreed for the time being. His apartment above his practice was probably smaller than her RV. He was going to keep it in his backyard but would winter in the house just in case it wasn't warm enough in the RV.

After Labor day she spent a week in Cabot Cove packing her personal belongings. The fall semester flew and it was Thanksgiving before she knew it.

She hosted what might be her final dinner at her house with just about every friend and neighbor invited to drop by for dessert or drinks after six. She had dinner for eighteen of her closest friends. She shed many tears and made promises to write, email, or call. George was unable to make it but she had seen him just before Halloween.

George had found the exact house she was hoping to find. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, several rooms for entertaining that she hoped they'd use. The kitchen was large, a medium sized dining room, and an office near the front of the house. George turned the basement into a billiard room and bar for when the guys needed to hang out without the presence of females. Their first disagreement was over buying the house. George felt he ought to do it while Jessica felt she should and neither wanted to compromise.

George called her a lot of unflattering names like mulish, stubborn, and pigheaded but was smart enough not to say them out loud. Jessica could read it on his face though. The solution came from Seth, who told them both they were two peas in a pod, and George should buy the house and Jessica could pay for the renovations. Everyone was satisfied with it, especially Jessica since only her opinions mattered when it came to decorating and everyone laughed over it, eventually.

Life in London was exciting. Vaughn, her publisher, was thrilled. Jessica wrote a three part series that was selling out on both continents. The headlines of the newspapers lauded her ability to solve murders, so much so that George was hounded by his supervisors to 'marry her already, she's making us look bad.' George would just smile and say he tried but she's a stubborn lass.

They weren't always together. George would be called away at a moment's notice and be gone for weeks sometimes. When this happened, Jessica would be on a flight to Cabot Cove or New York and returning before George. The first year went so quickly that George decided to surprise her for her second Christmas. Seth was coming, as well as his new female friend, Veronica. George planned to spend a week in Wick, alone with Jessica during January so Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's would be in London.

Jessica had just stepped from the shower. They were having twelve for dinner and their guests would be arriving soon. She was excited to see Seth again. Amos Tupper and his new wife were coming. He had been having health problems and hinted it might be his last chance to travel abroad.

"Darling," George walked into the bathroom. "You have thirty minutes before guests arrive." He took a peek down the front of her towel.

"You are not going to make me late, George Sutherland," cautioned Jessica. "You're always doing this!"

"Doing what?" he asked as he started to unwrap the towel. She grabbed at it before it could fall to the floor. She was about to scold him when she saw something in his hand. A ring.

"George?" She was confused.

"It's a promise ring. By wearing this ring, you promise to marry me one day." He kissed her softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with abandon which was exactly what he wanted. His hands discarded the towel and time was forgotten.

He was kissing her shoulders as their heartbeats slowed to normal when the doorbell rang.

"George! They're here."

"I'll let them in. Don't worry."

"Do not tell them why we're not ready yet," warned Jessica. "Nevermind, stay here."

"I don't know. I'm thinking it will make a good story," teased George.

Jessica ran around the room pulling on clothes while George watched. "And a fine sprinter you are, love."

Five minutes later, Jessica opened the door to Seth and Veronica, welcoming them inside

"Good thing it isn't snowing. We stood outside for almost ten minutes," grumbled Seth."And knowing you two, I know why."

Jessica blushed and George smiled.

After dinner George walked around holding Jessica's hand out to everyone, showing off the ring. Jessica just smiled and shook her head. Life was certainly unscripted but for Jessica and George it was a soothing balm. Once again, Jessica was taking charge of her life and this time George was with her all the way.