The View

The View: Part 8 - The Next Step

Gabe was woken up by Ruby's tossing and turning. She was laying with her back to him, but he could tell that she was awake.

Ruby let out a sigh. She had woken up in the middle of the night worried. The day before had been hard and she had put on a brave face all day trying to hide it from everyone. She was concerned that she would not have what it takes to make it out in the bush, no matter how much she wanted to, and that shooting lesson had really gotten to her. Now, in the night she had become overwhelmed by doubt and worry.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Gabe didn't know what was going on or what to do. He rolled her over so that he could see her face.

"I can't shoot." Tears were spilling from her eyes. "What if is never get it?"

"Its fine, it doesn't matter." Gabe tried to comfort her by pulling her close to him. He wiped the tears from her face with his thumb.

"But Gabe, I am so bad. I don't think I'll ever get it. And I know that I need to know how to shoot." The tears continued to stream down her face. "I just don't know. I don't think that I can do this."

Gabe grabbed the sides of her face gently with his hands and looked her straight in the eyes. "I know you can and will."

"But what if I don't? You said you need to know how to shoot a gun to be safe out here."

"Oh sweetheart. Please don't cry."

"Gabe, I need to know how to shoots. If I don't how can I live out here."

"Is that what this is all about, you think that if you can't shoot you can't stay? Why?"

"You need someone who will be able to do that. And if I can't, then maybe you won't want me."

He sat up on the bed and pulled her up so that she was looking directly at him. He wanted to make sure that he had her full attention.

He spoke softly, "I fell in love with you before I knew you couldn't shoot. I am not going to fall out of love with you if you can't shoot. Even if you never pick up a gun again to try, I will always love you. If you pick up a gun tomorrow and you're magically Annie Oakley, I will always love you. If I have to follow you around with my gun, every step that you take, just so you don't have to learn how to shoot, I will. I will be there to protect you, always. I don't need someone who knows how to shoot. I NEED YOU. You are all that I need, all that I ever wanted, all that I ever prayed for."

She stopped crying somewhere in the middle of his monologue because she was upset about the whole shooting thing, and started crying because of what he was saying. His words were so honest and heartfelt. She had never been told anything like that before and was overwhelmed at how much he loved her. She wished she could find the words to tell him that she loved him just as much. She knew that word would not be enough, so she would show him just how much she loved him. She pushed him back onto the bed and started kissing him passionately.

"Wait, are you sure?" Gabe asked.

"After that speech, I am more than sure."

~~~~~~~

The next morning they stayed in bed, entwined with one another. There was things that needed done, but the moment they were having was too good to leave.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

"Hey you'll guys up," Bear yelled from outside the front door.

"No, go away," Gabe hollered.

Bear apparently didn't hear him, or maybe he did, but he kept knocking anyway.

"We need to get up," Ruby said as she stretched and sat up in bed.