Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“A ll aboard!”
The steamship conductor’s voice increased Victoria’s heart rate when she realized that she was really doing this. She was leaving Texas for Paris. She wished she could think of this as an exciting new adventure, but there was no way she could when she was leaving her heart in Houston.
Victoria would forever have memories of the day she and Waylon spent together at their cabin. She got goose bumps whenever she thought about how she’d given herself to him, totally and completely, and how he’d done the same for her, knowing it would be their first and last time. Their lovemaking had been beautiful, passionate, and special—just as she’d always dreamed.
Afterward, they held each other, not saying anything. There was nothing left to be said. However, he had made her promise that if their time together resulted in a pregnancy, to write and let him know. Promise or no promise, they would marry.
Later that day, when they re-dressed, she began crying. He’d drawn her into his arms and, with misty eyes, told her that he loved her and would always love her. His heartfelt words made her cry even more.
In consideration of her soreness, he hitched his horse trailer to the back of his truck and returned to the fruit grove for Magic. Hoping Milton and Fee had not returned from shopping, he had driven her home.
“Last call. All aboard!” the conductor’s second warning sounded, interrupting her thoughts. Scanning the crowd gathered on the dock to see the passengers off, she saw her entire family was there. Uncle QT’s visit had greatly helped with her father’s rehabilitation. He was no longer using a cane, and his facial features showed no sign he’d had a stroke.
When the steamship whistle sounded, Uncle QT, who’d gone below to check out their cabins, returned by her side. “You’re okay, Victoria?” he asked her with concern.
She forced a smile. “Yes, Uncle QT, I’m okay.”
When she felt the ship beginning to move, she waved goodbye to her family, blowing kisses to them. Suddenly, she felt an intense stirring in the pit of her stomach. Shifting her eyes from her family, she searched the crowd and saw him.
Waylon.
He was standing on a section of the dock—alone. Seeing him and the mistiness in his eyes and the look in his features, displaying all the love he had in his heart for her, nearly brought her to her knees. She also saw his pain. The same pain she felt in every part of her body. Not bothering to fight back her tears and not caring if any of her family members were watching, she raised her hand in a final wave to him, and knowing he could read her lips, she mouthed the words, “I will always love you.”
She watched him raise two fingertips to his lips to blow her a kiss. She read his lips. “And I will love you forever, Victoria.”
Their gazes held until they could no longer see each other.