IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER
Chapter Twenty-Four

Rose sighed happily as she woke up in her husband’s arms. Today was a gorgeous day and Jack had the day off. They could spend all day together doing nothing, or doing everything. Whatever Jack wanted.

She looked up at his face and sighed. He was so peaceful, and his mouth…those pouty lips…they were just begging to be kissed, and that was what she did. He woke up instantly.

"Morning Rose." He smiled once she broke the kiss.

"Morning, Jack. Did you have sweet dreams?"

"The best, because they were all of you and Rebecca. What do you want to do today?"

"I don’t know. We could stay right here and make some return trips to my star…" Rose smiled seductively, gazing into his eyes.

"Or we can call Susan and make sure that Annette got settled in all right first." Jack got out of bed. "I still can’t believe she insisted on moving out."

"Well, she saw that there wasn’t enough room, Jack." Rose sighed. "She made a wise decision. Come on back, Jack. I really was looking forward to that trip."

"Oh, really?"

Rose nodded, her eyes serious.

"Well, then, your wish is my command." Jack began to tickle her until he had her pinned flat to the bed and he was on top of her. They both were laughing.

"Jack, stop! Stop, Jack!" Rose laughed.

*****

Meanwhile, Fabrizio and Kate were downstairs cooking breakfast when there was a loud banging on the door.

"Fabri, darling, will you answer that, please?" Kate was still stirring the popping eggs. "My hands are full."

Fabri nodded and gasped when he opened the door to Louis Dubois. He wasn’t surprised, really. He knew the crazy Frenchman would come looking for his wife. He was just surprised that he had come so soon.

"Now I know Dawson is here." Louis pushed his way into the house. "He never goes anywhere without you. So, where is he? I want to talk to him."

Then he heard the laughs upstairs, one belonging to a man and another a woman…his wife, he assumed. Well, he was going to put a stop to it. He dashes up the stairs, much to Fabrizio’s dismay.

"Wait!" Fabrizio called, going after the heavy man. "You can’t go up there!"

"The hell I can’t!" Louis snarled, heading toward the room where the sounds were coming from. He stopped and pointed. "Are they in there?"

Fabrizio could only shake his head, cursing Annette Dubois to hell for bringing this trouble to all their lives. "At least knock."

"Like hell I will," Louis Dubois growled, throwing the door open to see Jack and a red-haired girl he had never seen before in a very compromising position.

"Jack!" Rose gasped, immediately pulling the covers around herself. Jack was already partially dressed, so he didn’t have to worry about that.

"Sorry, Jack…I tried to stop him." Fabrizio turned away, embarrassed to see Rose barely dressed.

"Well, don’t just stand there! Get out!" Rose demanded angrily, their romantic morning ruined. "Get out!"

"I’ll handle this, Rose," Jack quietly replied, leaving the bed, leaving the room, and closing the door tightly behind him. "I guess you’ve never heard of knocking."

"I’m looking for my wife, Dawson, and don’t tell me she’s not here. She was seen boarding a train heading here," Louis growled.

"So you just assumed she was with me, right?" Jack asked, crossing his arms, not liking how Louis’s eyes kept lingering on the closed door of the bedroom. "Well, as you plainly saw right now, I’m not with your wife."

"Jack?" Rose exited the room, fully clothed. She glared at Louis. "Who is this, and what’s his explanation for barging into our bedroom unannounced like that?"

"This is Louis Dubois, Rose. An acquaintance from Paris. Louis, this is my wife, Rose Dawson," Jack introduced, taking her hand and pulling her closer to him.

"Have you seen Annette?" Louis questioned the redhead.

Rose was at a loss for words. She looked up at Jack, but he wasn’t looking down at her, just openly glaring at Annette’s husband.

Rose opened her mouth to answer, but an all too familiar cry rang out. "Mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Daddy!"

"I’ll go check on her." Rose left Jack’s side immediately to go check on their daughter.

"Annette’s not here, Louis. I suggest you go and terrorize someone else." Jack turned to go in the direction that Rose went. He could still hear their daughter calling out for him. "If you don’t mind, Rose needs help with our daughter. You know the way out."

"This isn’t over, Dawson. Not by a long shot! I will find Annette!" Louis called after Jack, but he was just ignored.

"I suggest you leave now." Fabrizio crossed his arms.

"I will be back," Louis hissed before heading down the stairs and out the door.

*****

Rose was in the park with Kate and their children. Rose watched her daughter hand a flower to the younger child.

"They’re so beautiful." Rose smiled lovingly at the little boy and girl. She loved watching Becky’s blonde curls bounce in the wind. She looked so much like Jack…it was almost scary.

"They’re sure to be sweethearts." Kate smiled. "Becky and Antonio."

Rose smiled again. She was at her happiest at that moment. Her life had turned out so perfectly. She had a loving husband, a beautiful daughter, and wonderful friends. What more could she ask for?

Kate’s smile faded as she remembered that morning, when Annette’s husband had come barging into their house, ruining their morning and insisting that Annette was with Jack. Now, why would he think that? Was there something about Jack and Annette that Rose ought to know about? "Uh…Rose. Have you talked to Jack about his past with Annette?"

"She’s a old friend of his from Paris with a violent husband. That was all that he told me. Why?"

"No reason. It’s just that…it’s strange that Louis Dubois would think his wife was in bed with a friend."

"The man is paranoid and jealous, Kate. If there was anymore to Jack’s relationship with Annette…he would have told me." Rose sighed.

"Where’s my wife?" Louis Dubois loomed above the women menacingly.

"We don’t know." Kate got to her feet, her Irish temper boiling to the top. She didn’t like this man and wasn’t going to take anything from him.

"Oh, come on. I know better. Annette was seen boarding a train to this town, probably to meet up with her lover…Jack Dawson."

Rose stood up and faced the man. She didn’t like what this man was implying. Jack would have told her if there was something going on between Annette and himself. They told each other everything. He wouldn’t keep this from her…would he?

"Take that back! Jack wouldn’t do anything like that!"

"And how would Jack’s little whore know of such things?" Louis laughed at the fiery little redhead who was with Jack that morning.

"For one thing, Mr. Dubois, I am not a whore. I’m Rose Dawson. Jack’s wife! And for another thing, you do not know one thing about my husband. He is a kind, honest, loving gentleman. Something you know nothing about!"

"I know one thing, Mrs. Dawson…your husband has been less than honest with you. He and Annette were lovers! I know that for a fact because I caught them in bed together the night before Jack left Paris!"

Rose’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He was lying. He had to be. Jack would never sleep with a married woman…and if he had…he would have told her…he would have told her that he and Annette were once lovers. Why would he lie to her? Rose looked up into the eyes of the angry man and couldn’t help the feeling that he was telling the truth. "You’re lying."

"Afraid not. Your husband and that slut of a wife of mine were indeed lovers. It doesn’t surprise me that she’d come running back here to her lover!"

"Rose." Kate noticed the dazed expression on Rose’s face. She had to stop this madman before he went any further. "You, sir, stop right this instant. If you’re looking for Annette, go to the boarding houses around town, but leave poor Rose alone!"

Louis is about to argue again, but he noticed the expression on Rose’s face and silently smiled. He may have gotten the best revenge he could on Dawson. Jack obviously loved his wife very much. She was the most important thing to him, and Louis thought he might have somehow taken her away from Jack. This was good. This was very good. He tipped his hat and walked away. "Very well, then. Good day."

Kate glared after him until he disappeared and turned her attention back to her friend. "He’s lying, Rose. He’s lying."

"I have to see Jack." Rose put her hands up to her head, trying to banish the flowing images of Jack and Annette together. Annette kissing Jack, touching Jack just as Rose touched him.

"Rose?" Kate wasn’t sure that was a good idea.

"I have to see Jack now." Rose broke away from her friend and ran back towards the house, leaving Kate to watch the children alone.

*****

Jack was in the parlor, looking out the window, when Rose returned home. She just stood there for a couple of minutes, watching him. She had memorized everything about him, from the top of his blond head to the bottom of his toes. There was nothing she didn’t know about him…or so she thought. She knew that Louis Dubois was lying, but she had to hear it from Jack himself in order for her to put it behind her.

Jack, at first, was lost in his own world when he felt her eyes on him. He turned and smiled. His smile faded when he saw the desperate look on her face. "Rose?" He got to his feet and went to her. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "What’s wrong?"

Tears appeared in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, to no avail. "Tell me he was lying, Jack."

"Who was lying?" He was confused. "Rose, what happened?"

"Louis Dubois, Annette’s husband, said that you two were lovers. That he caught you two in bed together the day before you left Paris. Tell me it’s not true. I’ll believe you, Jack. I promise I will. Just tell me that you never slept with her."

Jack exhaled, all the light going out of his eyes. Dubois. That bastard. How could he do this to Rose? She was an innocent in all this. If Dubois wanted revenge, he should have come to Jack himself, not taken it out on Rose. Looking into her eyes, begging him to deny the charges, Jack knew he couldn’t outright lie to her. There was no way. He had to tell her the truth.

"Jack?" Rose was frightened by the solemn look in his eyes. "Tell me it’s not true."

"Rose…we weren’t lovers…but we did sleep together."

"What? You lied to me?"

"No, Rose, no. I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t tell you that part. I didn’t want to hurt you."

"I thought I was your first…" Rose whispered, looking away from him.

"You were, Rose. You were. What happened with Annette was just one of those things that happens. I didn’t love her. But I love you, Rose. Our wedding night was my first time with the woman I love. That thing with Annette…she was upset…I was wanting to help her…"

"So you lay with her? Do you do that for all the upset women you come across, Jack? Lay with them to make them feel better?" Rose’s voice grew loud and she jerked out of his grasp. "Is that all making love is for you?"

"No, Rose, no. It’s nothing like that. Please, Rose…you have to understand…I was young back then…seventeen years old…Rose, please…" He was cut off by the sharp sting of Rose's hand hitting his face. Hot anger burned in her eyes.

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I didn’t want to upset you, Rose."

"I was so stupid…to think that you truly loved me." Rose sniffed.

"Rose, please. I do love you. What happened with Annette…it meant nothing to me. Please." Jack was now crying himself, not bothering to stop the flow of tears.

"I have to get out of here." Rose headed for the door.

"Rose, no! Please, don’t go!" Jack reached out for her, but she backed further away.

"Just leave me alone, Jack. I don’t want to see you." Rose bolted out of the room and out of the house.

"Rose, no! Come back!" Jack cried, falling to his knees in desperation. She was gone. His whole world was gone.

*****

Rose found herself outside the boarding house. She had nowhere else to go. She had forgotten that Annette was there also until she walked in and found her sitting on the couch with Susan and Cal.

"Rose?" Susan got to her feet, noticing the tears and anguish in Rose’s eyes.

"You…" Rose glared at Annette. "How could you?"

"How could she what?" Cal came to Susan’s side.

"How could you sleep with Jack?" Rose sniffed.

"What?" Both Susan and Cal turned on Annette angrily.

"So, you know. How did you find out? Jack told you?" Annette got to her feet.

"Only after I confronted him after your husband told me." Rose faced the other woman, anger burning in her eyes. "I didn’t give Jack much of a choice after that."

"Louis’s here?" Annette’s face paled.

"Don’t worry. He doesn’t know where you are. But he was so kind to tell me about your affair with my husband."

"How could you? How could Jack? I never thought he was one to cheat on Rose," Susan hissed, pulling Rose into a protective hug.

"No, you don’t understand. Jack didn’t cheat on Rose. It happened before Jack and Rose even met…it happened in Paris…it was just that one time, Rose, and it didn’t mean anything."

"You slept with him and it didn’t mean anything?" Rose asked, disgust in her eyes. "How can you say that? How can you sleep with him and not have any feelings for him?"

"Rose…I was nineteen years old when it happened, and Jack was only seventeen. He was just a boy. All he knew about that day at the time was that I was extremely upset and the only time I was happy was when I was with him. If you asked me if I loved Jack, I’d be honest with you…I did. I wanted to be close to him that day…know what it was like to be with a man I knew would never hurt me. Of course, Jack didn’t share my feelings of love, but he was young and inexperienced…and I’m ashamed to say that I took advantage of that. He asked me what he could do to make me feel better…and I showed him. Afterwards…I felt horrible and ashamed. I took advantage of not only Jack’s kindness, but also of his innocence. When he told me that was his first time…that made me feel even worse, because I knew it should have been with someone he loved…not with someone like me.

"Then Louis came in and he was angry. He didn’t even let me explain. He threatened Jack and dragged me away. The last I saw of Jack up until two weeks ago was at the Eiffel Tower, where we could barely look at each other. He told me that the day before was a mistake and he wished it had never happened. I apologized and cried, knowing that he could never return my feelings for him. That whoever the lucky woman was who possessed Jack’s love was, it would never be me. But after all was said and done, he was still kind and generous, telling me that if I was ever in any trouble to come to Chippewa Falls to stay. I bet he wished I hadn’t taken him up on that offer…and so do I."

"Do you still love him?" Rose crossed her arms. She needed the answer to this.

"Yes. I do, Rose. I’m sorry, but I am still in love with Jack Dawson. I wish it were me who was his wife, not you. I resent it that I’ll never know what it’s like to be the one he truly loves. The one he’d do anything for. Rose…please don’t be mad at Jack. The only reason he didn’t tell you was because he didn’t want you to be terribly hurt. He loves you so much…"

"Annette…will you please leave us alone with Rose now?" Susan coldly replied, clear disgust for this woman in her eyes. At first, she had felt sorry for Annette. She was a poor woman who needed help. But now all she felt was disgust and contempt. This woman had taken advantage of one of her friends and caused nothing but pain and heartache to both him and his wife.

"Sure." Annette nodded, walking out the front door. She already knew where she was going. Since Rose wasn’t there, Jack needed someone, and she might as well be it.

"Rose?" Susan forced her friend to look at her.

"I thought I was his first, Susan. I thought I was his first love…"

"You are, Rose. You are Jack’s first love. That Annette woman was nothing to Jack. You heard her. She took advantage of him! Scientifically, yes, she was the first woman he slept with, but Rose…in all ways that matters…you’re the first girl he’s made love with. You’re the first woman he’s been with that he truly loves and adores. Nothing else matters."

Rose thought about this as she sobbed. She knew that Susan was right. She knew that Jack truly loved her and perhaps she was the one and only woman he truly loved. But the fact that Annette had had him first…it tore her apart. And the fact that the woman was still in love with Jack, whether he returned those feelings or not…

"Rose." Cal interrupted her thoughts. "Do you really want to be with Jack?"

Rose looked at Cal as if he’d gone mad. Cal should know the answer to that. She had broken off their engagement just to be with Jack. So how could he ask if Jack was really the man she wanted to be with? "Yes, he is, Cal. You should know that firsthand."

"Well, then, fight for him, Rose! Fight with everything you’ve got. For yourself, for the little girl that you two share. Fight to save your marriage. I know women like Annette. She preys on the vulnerable, just like she did all those years ago. You walking out on Jack like that must have left him pretty devastated."

"What are you trying to say, Cal?" Susan turned to her fiancé.

"Where do you think Annette is on her way to? Hmm? Not another boarding house, for sure. She knows how upset Jack must be right now…how vulnerable. Are you going to sit here, Rose, and let her take advantage of that? Or are you going to go back home and fight for what’s rightfully yours?"

Susan stared at Cal in disbelief. She had never heard him sound so cold and calculating. She knew that this was the man Rose had left to be with Jack. This was the man who had first arrived in Chippewa Falls searching for his wayward fiancée.

"Susan?" Rose turned to her friend. "Do you think Cal’s right? Do you think Annette would try to take advantage of Jack?"

Susan solemnly nodded. "You two love each other, Rose. You belong together. I’ve known Jack my whole life, and I have never once seen him as happy as he is when he’s with you. Don’t let her take that away from you, Rose. Cal’s right. Fight for what’s rightfully yours. Fight for your family."

Rose looked at the floor, not sure what to do. She wanted to go back home to Jack, but she was still angry that he hadn’t told her everything. She had to think about things before she could make a final decision. "Um…can you two leave me alone for a while? I really need to think," Rose requested, staring at the wedding band on her finger.

"Sure. Come on, Cal. Let’s go sit on the porch." Susan smiled.

*****

One hour later, Rose emerged from the house, determination written on her features.

"Rose?" Susan looked at her.

"I’m going back. I love Jack, and I’m not letting something that happened long before he even knew me tear us apart," Rose replied. "Thank you, you two, for talking some sense into me. I just hope it’s not too late."

"Oh, Rose, I have a feeling that with Jack, it’s never too late." Susan stood up and hugged her friend.

"Well, I’m off. I’ll see you later." Rose waved as she walked down the path, disappearing into the night.

*****

Jack and Annette were in the parlor. Jack sat with his head in his hands, inconsolable that Rose was gone out of his life again, maybe this time forever. For the past hour, Annette had tried to cheer him up, but nothing had helped.

Secretly, Annette was glad it had come out and that Rose had left. Now there was a space left open for her to step into. There was still Louis to deal with, but she’d deal with that later. Right now, she had to get Jack to forget Rose and remember Paris, try to get him to see that their one night together really did mean something.

"Really, Jack, I’m glad that the truth is out. It’s really for the best. Now we can really evaluate what that night meant for both of us." Annette touched his cheek, forcing him to look up at her.

"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked.

"This." Annette leaned over and placed her lips on his. She kissed him long and deep, trying her best to get him to respond, but he didn’t. Instead, he broke away and got to his feet.

"What are you doing?"

"Showing you how I feel. Jack, we were meant to be together. Don’t you know that? From the moment I saw you, I knew we were meant to be. Doesn’t the fact that Rose walked out of here over something that happened years ago mean anything?"

Jack looked at Annette as if he were seeing her for the very first time, and in fact, he truly was. This was what she wanted all along. Even that night…he had always thought it was his fault, that he had unconsciously taken advantage of her situation. But now the truth was clear. It was all Annette. She was the one who had made the first move, just like she had now while Rose was gone.

"I can’t believe you. My wife has just left me, and you’re here trying to take her place. What kind of person are you?" Jack turned his back on her.

"The woman you belong with, Jack." She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and laid her cheek against his back. "Can’t you feel it, too?"

"No, I can’t, Annette. In fact, I think you’d better leave." Jack pulled away from her embrace.

"Leave? Jack, I just got here, and we’re just having fun." She advanced on him again. "What are you so worried about? Rose? She’s over there at her ex-fiancé’s, probably begging him to take her back. She’s not even thinking about you. You’re probably the farthest thing from her mind. You and that precious little daughter of yours. You and Becky deserve so much better. Of course, we can’t stay here in Chippewa Falls. Louis is here, and it’s best if we avoid him as much as possible. I’m sure Fabrizio will take very good care of this house. It’ll be great, Jack. Just the three of us. Let’s just pick up and leave. Right now."

Jack looked at Annette as if she had three heads. He wondered whatever had happened to the sweet girl in trouble who he had met in Paris. What had happened to make her so cold and heartless? Didn’t she even care that what she was suggesting would destroy Rose? That leaving his wife would destroy him, as well? Fabrizio was right all along. Annette was nothing but trouble, and Jack was just too stupid to see it. Now he wished he had listened to Fabri. Maybe Rose would still be with him right now if he had.

"Jack?" Annette looked at him before kissing him again, trying to convince him that her plan was for the best.

That was when the door opened and in stepped Louis Dubois, in time to catch his wife kissing Jack.

"Well, what do we have here?" Louis snarled, causing Annette to break away from Jack. "I was just outside the door when I heard my wife making plans to run away with her lover. It’s a good thing I got here, or I might have missed out on killing you both." Louis pointed the gun in their direction.

"Louis, don’t be crazy." Annette left Jack’s side to face her husband. "Killing us won’t solve anything. You still won’t get me back. Just put down the gun."

Louis paused, then nodded his head. "You’re right, my love. Killing you both won’t bring you back to me. That’s why I’ve just decided to kill one of you. Once your young lover here is out of the way, you’ll be all mine."

*****

Rose stood outside and took a deep breath, ready to repair her marriage. Jack was the most important thing to her. She wasn’t going to let Annette Dubois take that away from her. She walked in just in time to see Louis Dubois, with Annette by his side, pointing a gun at Jack, who didn’t notice Rose enter.

"I hope you said good-bye to your lovely widow, Jack. It’s a shame for such a beautiful girl to be widowed at such a young age." Louis removed the safety latch on the gun and took aim.

"Jack!" Rose gasped, running towards him.

For the first time, Jack noticed Rose and stared at her in horror as she ran towards him. The next thing he knew, he was being pushed out of the way as the gun went off. He looked towards Rose to see her crumpled in a pool of her own blood.

"Rose!" He was at her side and taking her in his arms, cradling her as if she were a child. "Rose, no!" he sobbed, stroking her hair. She looked up into his eyes, love shining in her eyes.

"You’re all right," Rose whispered, ignoring the pain in her side, relishing the feeling of Jack’s arms around her.

"Why did you do that, Rose? Why?" Jack asked, knowing he should be the one lying there, not Rose. His beautiful Rose, who had nothing to do with this whole mess, was the one constantly getting hurt.

"You jump, I jump. Right?" Rose smiled, touching Jack’s tearstained cheek.

"Oh, Rose!" Jack sobbed, hugging her closer.

Jack was so involved in his grief that he didn’t notice that Louis had re-aimed the gun. Fortunately, Fabrizio returned home just in time. He immediately knew what had happened when he saw Jack with Rose and Louis aiming the gun.

"Jack!" Fabrizio grabbed Louis from behind and caused him to drop the gun. Louis struggled to break Fabri’s hold, but was unsuccessful. Fabri soon had Louis on the couch and tied up.

"Fabri, call the doctor and the police. Tell them to get here now!" Jack ordered, not taking his eyes off his wife.

Rose felt her eyes growing heavy, and she began to feel like she was floating. "Jack."

"Shh, Rose. It’s okay. Everything will be okay. I promise. Just hang in there a little longer. The doctor will be here and fix you right up."

"Jack." Her vision became blurry and she could barely see him. Jack tightened his hold on her as he heard the fear in her voice. "I love you, Jack."

"Don’t you do that. Don’t start saying your good-byes." Jack made eye contact with her. "You’re going to get out of this. You’re going to go on, and you’re going to make a lot more babies and watch them grow, and you’re going to die an old, old lady, warm in her bed. Not here. Not this night. Do you understand me?"

"I’m so tired."

"Rose…you must do me this honor…promise me that you will survive…that you won’t give up. No matter what happens…no matter how hopeless…promise me now, Rose…and never let go of that promise."

Rose stared up at him in shock, remembering that first dream she had had in Southampton. He had made almost this exact speech. It was as if he had been meant to make this speech. She didn’t know what to say except, "I promise."

"Never let go."

"I promise. I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go." Rose began to cry as the darkness overtook her.

Jack held her in his arms and cried, not knowing whether she was still alive or not. All he could do was hold onto her and wait for help to come.

“The police and doctor are on their way, Jack." Fabrizio reentered the room. Jack didn’t answer. He just stared straight head, rocking an unmoving Rose in his arms. Fabrizio prayed that she wasn’t dead. It would be tragic if she was, leaving behind a husband and a baby girl who needed her.

He turned and spied Annette just staring at Jack and Rose, no emotion showing on her face. He’d had it. This was all her fault. If she had never come to Chippewa Falls, Rose would be all right and Jack wouldn’t be devastated like this.

"I hope you’re happy, Annette."

"What?" She turned to Fabrizio.

"Look at Jack. He’s a basket case. And Rose…if she dies, I’ll see to it that not only your husband pays…you will, too. Why couldn’t you just have kept going instead of coming here to Chippewa Falls?"

"You can’t talk to me like this. You have no right." Annette angrily turned to Jack. "Jack, are you going to let him talk to me like this?"

"Shut up, Annette. Fabri can say whatever he wants to you for all I care. He’s right. You did cause all of this. I wish I had never told you to come here if you were in trouble. I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been."

Annette’s eyes widened in shock. How could Jack say this to her? How could he be so mean? "Jack…what’s gotten into you?"

"What’s gotten into me?" Jack glared at Annette. "What’s gotten into me? Have you forgotten so quickly, Annette? You showed your true colors tonight. Begging me to run away with you…kissing me when you knew I didn’t feel the same way! And that night in Paris…don’t even get me started on that!"

"Jack…"

"Just sit down and shut up, Annette! I don’t want to hear it!" Jack glared at her and turned to Fabrizio. "Where are Kate and the kids?"

"At Susan and Cal’s. I’ll call and have her keep them there until things settle down here." Fabrizio went for the phone.

"Hang in there, Rose." Jack pulled her closer, tears streaming from his eyes. "Help is on the way.”

A Half Hour Later

The doctor had just exited Jack and Rose’s room and sighed tiredly. He had worked long and hard to save the young Dawson woman’s life and it seemed as if he had succeeded. The only thing now was for her to wake up.

"Well?" Jack asked as the doctor came downstairs. "How’s my wife? Is she going to live?"

"Mr. Dawson, you have married a fighter. She’s going to be fine, just as soon as she wakes up. The bullet just grazed her, even though she has lost a great deal of blood. I suggest plenty of bed rest and no strenuous activity for at least two months, until she’s completely healed."

"Oh, thank God!" Jack happily replied. His Rose was going to be all right after all. He couldn’t wait until she was awake. He was never going to leave her side again.

"My bill will be in the mail. Good night." The doctor left Jack with Fabrizio.

"You hear that, Fabri? Rose is going to be okay. The bullet just grazed her." Jack hugged his best friend. "I was so afraid that I was going to lose her."

"You almost did, Jack. I hope you’ve learned your lesson about Annette Dubois."

"Don’t worry. I have. Don’t worry, Fabri. I put her on the next train to Texas. We’ll never hear from her again."

"Good." Fabrizio nodded happily. "Now, let’s go in and see Rose."

Two Hours Later

Rose woke up to stare up at the white ceiling. Where was she? Where was Jack? The last thing she remembered was promising him never to let go, and then she had passed out. Now she was in a bed, staring at a ceiling. Where was Jack?

"Rose?" a familiar voice asked. That was when she noticed the weight on the bed and a hand tightly holding hers. She looked down to see Jack kneeling beside her, holding her hand tightly, his blue eyes shining brightly.

"Jack?"

"You’re awake! Thank God!" He immediately embraced her, causing her to wince from the sharp pain in her side. Noticing this, he immediately pulled away. "I’m sorry, sweetie. I forgot about the wound."

"What happened?" Rose asked, looking around their room.

"The bullet just grazed you. You’ll be fine. Oh, Rose, I was so worried. I thought I had lost you."

"Well, you didn’t. I had a promise to keep…remember?"

"Never let go." Jack smiled, taking her other hand.

"Never let go," Rose repeated. "And I didn’t, Jack. I didn’t. Every time I felt like giving up, I heard your voice calling to me and telling me to hold on…not to let go."

Jack just grinned and leaned down to kiss his wife, happy that she was safe and alive.

Chapter Twenty-Five
Stories