Begin Again

Chapter 24

(RYAH)

"Yes it does," Torin whispered. I was wrapped in his arms and he was wrapped in mine. I could imagine how we looked together. I knew that my hair was a mess. My shawl was on the ground. He didn't have a shirt on. I was only in my nightgown. It was the middle of the night. 

If someone opened the door of the barn there would be a lot of questions. I didn't know how I would answer those questions. Torin traced his finger down my arm and I shivered giving him my attention again. 

"What are you thinking about?" He asked. 

"I don't know."

"What don't you know?"

"I don't know how I feel. I know that I have feelings for you but I don't know if they are the right ones." 

He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. I immediately responded. We broke apart and I put  my head against his chest closing my eyes. I felt him sigh and he held me tighter. 

"Do you want to know what I know?" He asked and I nodded. "I know that you are kind and that you are strong. You are stubborn and you are smart. You are also the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen." 

"Is it enough?" I mumbled.

"Enough for what?"

"For the rest of our lives," I replied. 

"Did you just propose to me?" He laughed. 

"If I remember correctly you already did that," I laughed. 

He eased backwards out of my arms and he dropped down to one knee in front of me. I felt myself blush and I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Torin reached forward and took my hand in his. 

"Will you marry me?" He asked and I stared into his eyes. His eyes were saying everything that he couldn't. 

"I will," I replied and he slowly rose to his feet. He wrapped an arm around me again and pulled me in for a slow kiss. The candle behind us flickered and we were plunged into darkness as the wick burned out. Torin closed the kiss and took a step back away from me. 

"You should really get back inside the house," He said and I was reluctant to let him go. Torin bent down to pick up my abandoned shawl. He tucked it around my shoulders and took my hand in his to lead me back towards the house. On the porch he placed a lingering kiss on my lips and opened the front door for me. He released my hand and watched as I walked through the doorway and closed the front door behind me. 

I tip toed through the house back to the bedroom I was sharing with Susan. I slipped back into the room suddenly feeling exhausted. 

"Where were you?" Susan whispered causing me to jump. 

"I was just out getting a drink of water," I said. 

"Mmmhmmm," She sighed sleepily. "More like out getting a tall drink of water." 

I was grateful for the dark room because it ensured that she couldn't see me blush. I slipped back underneath my covers that were now cold and dreamed of Torin's warm touch. 

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(RYAH)

"How did you know that Ben was the one for you?" I asked Ellie the next morning.

She burst out laughing and Ben gave her a funny look. "I didn't!" She said. 

"What?"

"I hated him when I first met him. I thought he was awful and I wanted nothing to do with him."