Love lost, love gained

Kane was waiting at the train station to go back east to Boston. It was 1890 and he had followed a woman all the way to California in the west. He got into fur trading, considering the game was so plentiful in California. Victoria was the love of his life, even if she was with another man.

There he was, ready to go back home because she was to marry that other man and he couldn't bring himself to watch it. Suddenly, he felt a hand rest gently on his shoulder. He turned and saw her. Her red locks of curls blowing in the wind, back and forth across her face. He got up and hugged her. She hugged him back passionately.

She asked him where he was going. He stepped back and looked at her quisitively. "Don't you know?", he asked her with a sad tone in his voice. She shook her head with a bewildered look on her face. He could tell by the blank expression on her face, she had no clue what he was talking about.

They sat down on the bench and he took her hand in his. "I have held a candle for you in my heart since we were teenagers, Victoria", he began in a slow and somber tone. "I came out here to ask you one thing, but now I can't because you are promised to another"; he finished with his head hung low and sorrow in his voice. He looked up at her and saw tears flowing down her cheek as she was listening to him.

She got up and asked him why he never said anything to her about how he felt. He responded he didn't want to loose their friendship, just in case it didn't work out. She leaned down and kissed him with such passion, he thought he would melt right there. As she tried to pull back, he pulled her back to him and kissed her back. He held her firmly in his arms, afraid if he let her go, he would never see her again.

Victoria told him she too had always loved him. She just always thought he was too busy for a girl as free spirited as her. He did a lot of fishing where they were from, so he could believe that. Years later, here they were talking about how they love each other but feel like neither one can do anything about it.

She told him that her marriage to the other man was arranged by her father for a hundred tracks of land. Kane didn't like the idea of Victoria being married off for land, seemed like slavery to him. He wanted to marry her for love, he didn't care what came with it. Victoria suggested they leave to Boston together and start their life anew. Her father already has the lands he wanted; she signed nothing yet to tie her to the deal between her father and the other man.

Kane thought it over and realized it was the only way they were going to be able to be together. He asked her if she was willing to give up her father and brothers for a life with him. She said she was willing, her father and brothers just used her to get what they wanted anyway. She felt it was time for her to have what she wanted. What she desired most at that moment was Kane.

She told him not to worry about her bags, she could get new clothes when they arrived in Boston. She wanted nothing more than to begin with Kane, all brand new. She didn't want inklings of her abusive past to linger around. He agreed and they bought her a ticket. He was overjoyed she was finally his.

The trip to Boston was a comfortable ride, even though it was a long one. Kane and Victoria were too busy enjoying each other's company to notice. They finally arrived and Kane helped her off the train. She was overwhelmed with the magnificent city before her. She was too young when her family left the east coast, so she didn't remember how beautiful it was.

They got a ride to the closest hotel and set up. There they sat listening to the commotion in the streets and happy they were together. They knew from that moment on the future was theirs to build with love and warmth. They were relieved they could finally be together without anyone intervining. They would have their love forever, through this life and the next.