My eyes weren't quite looking at the flowers of my garden. I paused every once in a while as I realized I sprinkled too much water on some of the flowers. I sighed.

I was drowning my flowers, my very own special flowers. This was usually my favorite part of the day if I wasn't going to see Jack. But everything was wrong.

My work was done. There was nothing more to do for our farm, and I was watering my winter flowers... But everything was wrong.

"Molly?"

I slowly turned to Jack. "Oh. Jack." I smiled weakly.

Jack's frown disappeared as he lifted a basket. "You need to come with me." He held out his hand.

Tears formed in my eyes as I stared at his hand. I bit my tongue, trying to keep the tears from escaping. Jack inched his hand closer. "Let's go."

I stared at him, feeling the frown on my face. He was such a good man, how could I tell him? I stared at his hand again.

We could run away... right now.

"Come on," Jack smiled.

                                                                   ~~~~~~~

We climbed to the top of the hill that we slept on before, the one we ran away to every night just to see each other and talk. Without any words, Jack set up a picnic. He placed everything in a neat way that worked for us.

I felt my shoulders slowly fall as he smiled at me.

"Come on, Molly." Jack smirked. "The food could spoil before we know it."

I forced a smile and sat next to him.

He pulled me down and began handing me some pie. "My mom made some more pie. She knew you'd want some, so she let me have what was left of it." He placed the food on my lap, but I didn't budge.

I stared at the plate of left over pie. It smelled wonderful, but I wasn't hungry. I couldn't get the engagement off my mind.

Jack lowered his eyes and inched closer. "Molly? Are you okay?" He spoke lowly. "You're not talking much. What's wrong?" He lifted my chin, so my eyes could meet his.

That was it. That gaze locking with mine reminded me of why I really didn't want to be engaged to Williamson. Tears fell from my eyes, and I began to sob. Jack moved the pie away and held me. He held me tightly as I continued to sob.

Jack craddled me as he whispered, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me, just don't be sad anymore. Let it out."

I pulled back, sniffling. I began to open my mouth to tell him, but then I sobbed again. I took a deep breath and locked my gaze with his. I took a deep breath. "We can't do stuff like this anymore."

Jack froze. He stared at me like a frozen statue. "What?... Why?... Molly, I..." He looked down. "I don't understand."

I sighed after I sniffled. "My parents want me to marry Williamson. His going to meet me soon to confirm if he wants to be engaged to me."

Jack's brows furrowed. "What? The rich, cocky kid from the next village over?"

I nodded, pursing my lips.

"Do you... want to marry him?"

"Of course not. It's just that my parents are convinced that I'll be the happiest girl alive if I marry him."

Jack looked away, his eyes shifting. He stood up. "I know a way out of this."

I stood up, frowning. "My parents' word is practically law, Jack. They won't let me object."

Jack held my hands in his. His eyes locked with mine. They were fragile, but certain. "I can fix this, Molly."

"How?" I said lowly as a few tears escaped.

Jack's shoulders fell as he looked down. I paused, realizing he didn't have any idea of how to stop this. I pursed my lips, looking down and feeling a few tears escape my eyes again. But Jack lifted his chin, and I lifted mine to match my eyes with his.

Jack smiled, sweetly and caringly. He stepped back and kneeled down on one knee.

My eyes widened.

Wait...

Jack reached into his back pocket and pulled out a bronze ring with a small white flower in the middle. He held the ring up to me with a tender smile.

I smiled widely as I stared at Jack's eyes.

Jack cleared his throat. "This was my mom's ring. She told me it broke a while ago, but that if I worked hard I could get it repaired."

I felt a warm sensation bubble up in my stomach. "That's... really beautiful."

Jack let out a small laugh. "Molly Quinn Pidd."

"Jackson Overland Frost."

Jack grabbed my hand and kissed it, locking his gaze with mine. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

"Oh thank goodness." Jack grinned, putting the ring on my finger and standing up. He embraced me tightly and warmly. He picked me up and spun around. Placing me back down, he kissed me for the first time.

"Our... first kiss..." I stared into Jack's eyes as snow fell on his nose.

"Yeah... Would've been awkward if you were engaged to Billy." Jack laughed. "Just as it began to snow too."

I paused and looked around. It was snowing. I looked back at Jack with a wide smile.

Jack laughed again, picking me up and spinning me around. He held me tightly and kissed me again. Our foreheads touched as we stared into each other's eyes.

Jack stroked my hair. "We'll get married as soon as spring arrives."

"You sure we can?" I smiled.

"I promise."

I stared into his eyes. I believed him. I believed I was going to marry him. But then I paused and everything stopped.

Jack paused. "What's wrong?"

"There's... still that thing with Williamson."

Jack held me, smiling. "It's okay. We'll handle it together. The thing about being engaged is that you don't have to handle things alone. And if you're married to me first, Billy Williamson can't marry you."

"Jack--"

"Molly, I love you. And Williamson won't marry you. I will marry you." 

My eyes began to water. I buried my face in Jack's chest. "I love you, Jack." 

Jack stoked my hair, let out a small laugh. "And I love you, Molly. Let's get married in the spring."