December 1st, 1853
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hannah disembarked from the train dressed in the finest clothes. Hair coiffed. Beautiful large hat tilted to the right, matching her dress. Carpet bag in hand. White gloves. She stood there and looked to her right and then to her left. There, in the distance, in the thick fog, stood a striking man in silhouette. She could only make out his form. Broad shoulders, tall. The fog whirled around him. He just stood there, motionless, staring at her. She knew it was Talbot. He did not move. She did not move. After minutes, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the fog.
Forever gone.
A horse, carriage and driver waited at the train station for her arrival. She put her foot on the step of the carriage and just before she entered she took one last look to see if she could see Talbot but, there was no sign of him. She wiped a lone tear with her gloved finger, stepped into the carriage and as it were took her place in society once more.
The driver closed the door.
She had just reentered her previous life.
Talbot watched as the driver closed and secured the door of the carriage then mounted the front of the carriage and moved off. He had guarded her with his life, now he made sure that she could not see him, but he watched her safely into the carriage that awaited her. She was magnificent. He wanted to burn that sight into his memory forever. Where would he ever find another just like her? He wouldn't. Now that she was safe in the carriage and soon to be in her husband's arms.....he leaned with his back against the side of a building slumped his shoulders, lowered his head ........
....... and wept.
