Major's eyes swept across the endless old fashioned shops that lined the streets of downtown Ellijay, enjoyment was written all over his face. He told Nanna that he wanted to take her shopping. It had been over a half a century since he'd dated, but he did know that was something that his beloved Judith used to love doing, God rest her soul. She'd given him 63 beautiful years, four children and eight grandkids. When she passed away 5 years ago, light went out in Major's heart. When he met Nanna, everything became bright again, like sunshine.

The driver that Major hired while he was in Ellijay kept the limo at a reasonable distance. He'd watch the couple as they shopped and when he saw the bags piling up, he'd drive to where they were and help them to put the bags in the car. If Nanna even glanced at something, Major bought it. She was grinning like a girl experiencing her first crush.

"There's just something so precious about love when you're older, Arabella."

"It means more."

"Yes, it does. You realize that you must embrace the time that you have left."

Nanna nodded. She slipped her hand in his gloved hand, threading her fingers through his. They casually strolled from shop to shop. Nanna reflected on how happy she'd been over the last few days with Major. It seemed that she'd been kissed and hugged and held in those few days more than any time in her life.

She and Harvey had been so busy manning the inn and raising Jas, that though they'd had a wonderful relationship, time for focused affection was not always available. Major was a very affectionate man. Giving Nanna the romance that she'd always longed for, but thought she was too old to find.

After they deposited the last load of bags into the limo, they got in the car and drove over to the Gilmore Arts Museum. Major commented positively on the local art that was so professionally done.

"This whole town reminds me of fairy tales I read as a child. Texas is quite a bit different, Arabella, but it has its own charm."

He glanced over, observing her reaction. Nanna knew that what he said was not a statement but a question. She'd often thought about what laid ahead. Sometimes it made her extremely joyful, other times it scared the hell out of her. She'd even cried on Aiden's shoulders many times about it. Nanna's life was about to undergo a seismic shift.

"I loved the pictures and face time video that I've seen of the ranch. Never seen so much land in all my life – acres and acres of wide open space."

Major's family had been in the cattle and oil business for generations. His ranch was not what most people think a ranch is – an establishment with maybe a few head of cattle and some horses. No, Stallworth Ranch was a true working ranch. It was a profitable independent economy in Dallas.

The 800,000-acre spread had been blessed with earth that yielded oil, the cattle that they raised was part of the food chain for grocery stores around the world, the agricultural business on the ranch produced grains, sugar cane and citrus fruits. In addition, Major's ranch was a part of state recreation such as rodeo's, they sold luxury items like high end apparel, hunting gear and saddles, rented out cabins and charged fees for people to come onto the ranch for recreational hunting.

Their eyes met. She gave his hand a squeeze. "I will not change my mind, my love."

Nanna watched as relief flitted across Major's face. After what he'd seen of beautiful Ellijay, the glorious mountains and the quaint community, and most of all her lovely inn, well.

"You've been here your whole life, sunshine. This place has taken my breath away and I must admit, I began to doubt whether I have asked too much of you. Then there's the whole matter with Jas."

Nanna walked over to a bench that was in one section of the art museum. She patted the seat so that he would sit down next to her. "When your Judith died, did you ever think that you'd fall in love again?"

Major shook, no.

"Then one day you realized that you didn't want to be alone and you opened your heart, right."

"That I did," he said kissing her cheek. "It was one of the best decisions that I've made in my life."

"You've been without her for 5 years and had that longing. Can you imagine what it's been like for me after 33 years?"

Major draped his arm around Nanna's shoulder. His heart was stirred when he saw tears glistening in her eyes.

"I lived my life for Harvey, I lived my life for the preservation of the inn and I gave two lives for Jas being both her father and mother. I've done this willingly and happily. Now, it's my time. I'm living for me."

He wrapped her up in his arms and gave her a big hug. "Oh Arabella, how I love you and how you've made my older age worth something. Thank you, darling."

"I've never been more excited and nervous in all my life. I love you too, Major."

He leaned down and kissed Nanna. "You've made me a very happy man."

"We've had a pretty busy day, are you ready to go back to the inn?"

"I've never had homemade hot apple cider and I know this would be the best place to get it. I'd like that memory along with the Brunswick stew."

Nanna chuckled, "I know just the place. The Red Apple Barn has the best cider in the world. We can take a wagon ride and drink our cider, you'll love it."

"All right."

Nanna and Major casually walked out of the art museum. Major pointed to the limo that was parked about a block away. They headed that direction, enjoying a good conversation. They didn't see Michelle and Bruce, being trailed by Jordy and Samantha across the street. When Michelle saw them together, she froze. "Oh, no."

Bruce turned to her, "What?"

She snapped back around. "It's nothing."

"No, you said, oh, no – what's the matter?"

Michelle wanted to tell Bruce so badly what she saw the other day and now that same man was walking down the street with Nanna. Why is that man harassing her? Please God, don't let him convince her to sell the inn. She'd promised Nanna that she wouldn't tell. Her mind spun trying to think of something to tell Bruce. The best she could come up with was this.

"I think that I left the oven on. I was making a roast for dinner."

"You asked me to turn the oven off, remember?"

"Oh, I forgot."

"You've been a little distracted for the last few days," he said gently rubbing his thumb across her hand.

"No, I'm fine."

"Do you know how long I've known you? You're not fine, but I also know you won't talk about it until you're ready." He kissed her on the cheek. "Forget about whatever it is and let's enjoy lunch with the kids."

***

Aiden reached back and grabbed Jas's hand helping her to climb up the steep mountain trail. After the meeting was over, he and Jas changed clothes and decided to clear their heads with crisp mountain air. The trail on Aiden's property was scenic, matching the glorious vistas of Ellijay.

"It was nice for you to let the staff stay over in the cabins." Aiden had 20 rental cabins nestled in the woods that Anna and Ted also maintained. She'd learned from Anna that the cabins were busy all year round.

"Leaving this time of day, they'd be stuck in traffic. The business dealings we've all gone through have been way too intense, to allow them to spend hours in traffic. I also told them to go back to work Monday."

Wow, a day off and a relaxing weekend in his cabins. The Aiden that Jas knew wouldn't have done that. He'd been a task master in the past. Where did this compassionate side come from? Something had humbled him. "You've changed."

He turned towards her. When she saw the beatific expression on his face, another shield of glass around her heart shattered. Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't think straight. He could've asked for anything in that moment and she would have done it. He was etched with the most innocent look she'd ever seen. It was almost like the wonder of a child on Christmas morning. The next thing Jas knew is that she was being enfolded in his strong arms to the point of feeling crushed. He held her so tight, burying his face in the top of her hair.

"Oh, my God," he whispered, "I so desperately wanted you to see that. I have changed, Jas."

His strength felt so good. Jas melted into it, her body warmed like she was standing in front of a blazing hearth. She didn't want to move, just stay suspended in this heavenly moment. She'd always had the secret desire to hope that he'd changed. Nanna was right in that no man that dated her had ever been good enough. It was always Aiden's love in the shadows, that had kept her from getting serious.

She wrapped her arms around him, clinging onto him like a thick vine. Jas face nuzzled against his chest, deeply inhaling his spicy cologne that made her heart soar with memories of their past and present. That scent had always been in her life and right now it was making her weak.

"I want this to work, Jas. You and me. Losing you changed me," he whispered. "The best of me doesn't exist without you."

Jas's mind was being tossed about like the autumn dust swirling at her feet. She wanted so badly to believe that all of him was converted, but there was a gnawing in the back of her mind that his other self hadn't been dealt with. The Aiden, that hated Ellijay and much of the life he'd experienced there.

Jas's brain was screaming, don't do it, don't give in. Yet, her lips spilled out what her languishing heart desired. Though the words came out thin as a whispering wind, he heard it as if it had been an explosion.

"Marry me."

When it registered what she'd said, it was already too late to take it back. He'd already tipped her face up, staring intensely in amazement. His eyes locked into hers, searching the depths of her soul. Aiden watched as she began to shrink, her face scrunched in vulnerable embarrassment. Aiden had planned to take eternity to get her back. He knew those words had slipped, but there was no way in hell he'd let her take them back. Jas just made his work easier.

She opened her mouth hoping to do damage control, "Aiden, I didn't..."

He quickly placed his finger over her lips. "Shhh." He noted that the weight of his gaze made her squirm and scrunch her face even more. But he held her like a vice grip. He whispered, "But you did mean it, babe. Don't think for one moment I'm going to let you take it back."

Aiden's head was pounding, his heart was pounding – his entire being felt like he was being beat like a timpani drum. Shock was not strong enough to describe how he'd been obliterated. No way had he ever expected that to happen. He watched as her face cloud in desperation. Had she really said those words? He kissed the top of her forehead. It distracted her enough to settle down.

Aiden listened to her sharp inhale as the soft kiss made contact. He knew she was as charged as he was now. His hand gently trailed down the side of her face. He could see that she was an emotional mess. "I haven't answered your question yet, have I," he whispered, "I would marry you every day for the rest of my life if that was possible."

"Oh Aiden, I really asked you to marry me?"

"Yes, and I accepted."

"This is really happening?"

"It's happening, babe."

"Oh....my...God." The words flowed from Jas's mouth, labored like stretching a thin silver chord across a huge chasm. He could see the rapid pulse throbbing on the side of her neck. She started hyperventilating.

Aiden grinned, "Babe, it's going to be okay. You're head just needs to catch up with your heart."

He stroked her all over, attempting to calm her frazzled nerves. Aiden felt so sorry for his babe in a really good way. He knew how trapped she must have felt. "We're going to be so good together."

Then he lowered his face to hers, gently parting her lips. He placed the palm of his hand on the pulse of her neck. He didn't want the kiss he'd intended, to give her a heart attack. As the hammering beneath his palm, quieted, he took the kiss much deeper. Their lips played and danced against each other raw and sensual. Fire spread through Aiden's body. Feeling her arms wrap around his neck, drawing him closer, made him know that her head had truly caught up with her heart.

He possessed her mouth with hunger, causing her to moan. Thoughts of having her in his life forever, unleashed something primal in him. They kissed as if utterly obsessed. So much love welled up in his heart that he could barely breathe. He tore himself away to get air. His heavy puffs formed tiny clouds in the chilling breeze. They were too hot to feel any cold. He gazed upon her, seeing a trace of doubt. He knew the man he'd been and the fears that she'd had. He placed her face between his hands and kissed gently across her face.

"I'm not going to let you down again, babe. This is too precious to me."

Something hopeful lit in her face, slamming straight into his heart. "My dear, Jas." He leaned in and kissed her deeply again, scattering her troubled thoughts like leaves drifting in the wind.