The Promise

By Denise

I woke to the door latching shut as I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I lay there looking at my ring; I felt like I had dreamt all of this, but as I looked around the room it became real. I sat up and noticed one of my dresses was hanging on a hook, so I got up and put it on. I was glad that I didn't have to wear that wedding dress again, it's beautiful, but it was uncomfortable. I needed to go find the outhouse so I opened the door and looked around the corner and saw the small building on the backside of the house. When I finished, I saw Antonio walking up the road.

"Where did you go?" I asked.

"Just for a walk. I like being in the mountains again."

"You like it here, don't you?" I asked as I walked towards him.

"I was wondering if we should buy some property up here and have two homes. What do you think?"

I stood before him and put my arms around him. "Sure…we can do that." I then gave him a good morning kiss. I backed away and started to walk back to the cabin when he grabbed my arm pulling me back into his arms, capturing my mouth with a hot demanding kiss. He then led me back into the house, making love to me again.

***

The next thing I heard was a pounding on the door. I shook his shoulder to wake him up. "Antonio, wake up! Someone is pounding on the door!"

"What?" he asked as he opened his eyes.

"I said…someone is pounding on the door."

He then looked at the clock on the wall. "Shit! We have to get going, or we will miss the train!" He jumped out of bed and pulled his pants on then his shirt. He opened the door and found a man outside the door. "Can I help you?"

"Oh I am sorry…I didn't know anyone was staying here."

"Yes, I am renting this house for the weekend."

"Oh, I see," the man said. "Well the people just up the road thought you were trespassing, they also heard strange noises coming from here. I am the owner's son, Tom."

"Well, Tom, I will be leaving today. I gave your father a check for the rent, would you like to see the receipt?"

"No, that won't be necessary."

"We were married last night so we are on our honeymoon."

"Well congratulations! Sorry to bother you, have a good day."

"Thanks I will." Antonio then looked back at me and said, "Cassie, why don't you get dressed and I will be right back." He then went out and closed the door.

So, I got out of bed and got dressed, again. A few minutes later he came back in to see if I was ready. "Are we leaving now?" I asked.

"Yes." He looked at the clock. " It's 12:45…we don't have time to go out to the ranch, like I wanted to."

"But I can't leave."

"Why?"

"I need to stay…Dr. Johnson said he would have the tests back in a few days from the blood he took."

"Oh…I didn't know he took blood."

"Why can't we stay a few days?"

"I told Mr. Richards I would be back on Monday."

"He wouldn't give you the time off?"

"I did take Friday off, but I want to save my vacation so we can take a real honeymoon."

"Oh." I smiled. "Why don't you go on home and I will stay until I get the results from the blood test?"

"Are you sure? Do you feel comfortable traveling alone?"

"Yes, I will be fine."

"Okay then…let's go!"

***

We took the carriage back to the livery and then we walked over to the train station. We sat together on a bench outside waiting for the train to arrive. About 30 minutes later the train came around the bend as I watched it begin to slow down and then stopped in front of us. Antonio waited until the last moment to board the train as he embraced me and then kissed my lips. We stared into each other's eyes knowing it could be several days before we saw each other again. He turned away from me and boarded the train. He chose a window seat as he could see me on the platform as I waved goodbye. Then the train started moving taking him away from me. I waved until I couldn't see him anymore.

Then I went to find someone to give me a ride home. I walked over to the general store and smiled as I walked past the barbershop, thinking about the day I met Antonio. When I approached the store, Brett and Justine came out of the store together.

"Cassie. Why are you still here?" Brett asked.

"I have to stay until I find out my blood test."

"The doctor took blood?" Justine asked.

"Yes, he just wanted to test it and make sure I was all right. Besides I had to have it done to get married, anyway."

"Cassie, I am happy for you," Justine gave me a hug.

"I want to thank you for being my maid of honor."

"Cassie, I will always be here for you and I hope you will return the favor when Brett and I get married."

"What?" I was in shock.

"Yes, Cassie, we are getting married," Brett said.

"When did this happen?"

"A few days ago," Justine said.

"Oh I am so happy for you!" I hugged both Brett and Justine. "I hate to ask, but could I get a ride home from you?"

"Yes, I will take you home." Brett said.

***

I finally arrived home and walked into the house, mom looked up from her magazine she was reading. "Cassandra, what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. I also need to stay to find out about my blood test."

"The blood test?" she asked.

"Dr. Johnson took blood and said he would get back to me about the results."

"Where's Antonio?"

"He went back to Denver."

"He left without you?" Brendan asked as he came into the living room.

"Yes, it's only for a few days."

"Well, I am glad you are here," Mom said as she hugged me.

"Where is dad?"

"He and Keith went into town, I am surprised you didn't run into them."

"No, I didn't see them, but I did see Brett and Justine. They are going to get married!"

"They are?"

"Yes and Justine wants me to be her maid…or I should say Matron of honor," I laughed.

"Well, that is good news."

"Brett gave me a ride home…I am happy for him."

***

So I spent the next couple of days helping out around the house, like I always did, so I could stay busy and not think about Antonio. I would lay awake at night craving his kiss and his touch. I never want to be apart from him ever again.

It was Tuesday afternoon when Dr. Johnson came to visit me and he gave me the good news that I was pregnant. I was thrilled at the news and I hoped Antonio would be too.

That night I had supper with my family and said my goodbyes, since I was going back to Denver in the morning. I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep. It was around 3 a.m. when I decided to go into town and waited for the train to come. I wrote my family a note to tell them that I loved them and hope to be back soon. I then went to the barn to saddle my horse and rode into town. I left my horse with Mr. Jackson; he's our blacksmith and livery owner, who would keep my horse until Brendan came into town to take him back home. I stopped at the telegraph office to send Antonio a telegram of when I would be arriving in Denver, I would have called but no one else was awake at this time of day.

I took a book with me to read and drank hot chocolate that Mrs. Taylor, the wife of the conductor, made for me. She was waiting for her husband to come home, after being gone for a week. I had been there for about 3 hours when the door opened and Brendan came in.

"Cassie, what are you doing here?" Brendan asked.

"Waiting for the train."

"How long have you been here?"

"Since about 4."

"Why?"

"I couldn't sleep and all I want is to go back to Denver."

"Tired of us already, huh? he teased.

"No." I sighed deeply. "I just miss him."

"Okay, I understand."

"But I will be back. Antonio told me that he wants to buy some property here in Meredith and so we will have two homes."

"Cassie…that would be great! I know mom and dad would like to have you around again."

"Yes, I know."

The time went quickly, I was glad Brendan came into town.

"Looks like your train as arrived."

"Yes…thanks for being here." I gave him a hug.

"Goodbye Cassie, have a good trip and tell Antonio hi for me."

"Yes I will. Thanks for being such a great brother." I kissed his cheek and then went out to board the train…I was going home.

***

It was raining when I stepped off the train in Denver. I looked around the platform searching for the man I was dying to see. I started to go inside when I heard, "Good afternoon, Miss Cassandra." My heart leaped into my throat when I heard those words and then felt him behind me. My body trembled as he grabbed my arm, turning me around to face him.

My heart pounded as I looked into his eyes. "How long have you been here?"

"Most of the day."

"You have? You didn't go to work?"

"I went… but I had a hard time concentrating. Mr. Richards gave me the day off when I told him you were coming home."

"I was at the train depot at 4 this morning waiting for the train."

"Why so early?"

"I couldn't sleep and all I wanted to do is come home to you," I sighed deeply.

He then took me into his arms holding me tight. "You are home. I never want to be without you again." He whispered as he gently kissed me and then offered me his arm.

"I now have a secret," I said as I took his arm.

"You do?" he asked as he escorted me through the train station. "Now it's your turn, I suppose I had it coming," he teased.

"Yes, but I won't tell you until we get home," I teased.

"Well then…we should hurry so you can tell me."

"Yes we should." I said as I thought about how truly happy I was to finally be home and I knew this is where I would spend the rest of my life.