The last rays of sunlight are just disappearing behind the western mountains when Evangeline finally begins to stir. Opening her eyes, she takes in her surroundings and recognizes them as belonging to one of the bedrooms of the local inn. Slowly, she shifts her head to the side and is startled to be met by a pair of warm, hazel eyes. Immediately, the events from earlier flood her mind in a dizzying rush. With her heart rate quickening and her pulse drumming in her ears, Evangeline props herself up onto one elbow and pulls the blanket closer to her chest.

     “You stayed,” she states with a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

     “You asked me to,” the hazel-eyed stranger replies.

     “What’s your name?”

     “Luke Andrews.”

     “It was you,” she accuses softly. “You were the one who saved me. When I was a girl, I mean.”

     Glancing away briefly, Luke shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “You remember?”

     “Only your eyes. I have dreamt many times of staring up into those eyes while surrounded by flames.”

     He responds only with a slight nod while diligently examining the calluses on his hands. Unsure of how to take his sudden timidity and a little embarrassed at her forwardness, Evangeline tucks a strand of wayward hair behind her ear then readjusts herself into a sitting position. With Luke’s eyes averted, she takes the opportunity to study his dark, wavy hair, which is slightly tousled as though he'd recently run his fingers through it.  Her eyes travel to the front of his shirt and she feels her face begin to warm as she notes a few of the top buttons are undone, revealing a firm chest underneath.

     Tearing her gaze away, Evangeline finally works up enough courage to ask the one question that has weighed on her mind every day for the past ten years, “Why did you leave me?”

     He shrugs his shoulders before meeting her gaze once again. “You were out of danger. I was no longer needed.”

     “But why did you never come forward afterward? I’ve wanted more than anything to be able to thank you, and now that you’ve rescued me again, I want to do so even more.”

     Raising his hand in a pleading gesture, he stops her from continuing, “Please, understand, Miss Waters. I am a simple man, and I live a quiet life. I never came forward because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I only wanted to make sure you were safe. Once I knew you were, I took my leave. You do not have to express your thanks. I would gladly do it again and much more to keep you from harm.”

     A crimson blush flares on Evangeline’s cheeks at the sincerity in his words, and she is mildly surprised to see a similar color spread to the tips of his ears as well. Briefly, she wonders how it is she never noticed this man before since their town wasn’t very large. It seems he wasn’t exaggerating when he said he prefers a quiet life, she thinks to herself.

     In an attempt to learn more about him, Evangeline begins thinking of more questions to pose, but before she can ask them, her mother knocks on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Claire opens it and steps through carrying a tray of food. At the smell of the food, Evangeline’s stomach starts to rumble in protest at not having been fed all day. A small smile spreads across Luke’s face as he rises from his seat and moves toward the door.

     “Well, it seems you are feeling much better. I will leave you to your supper then.”

     “Wait,” Evangeline calls out before he could leave. “You will come back, right? To visit, I mean.”

     “If that is what you wish—”

     “It is,” she interrupts hastily.

     “Very well, then. Until next time.” Turning away once more, he gives Claire a nod before disappearing down the hall and out the door.