Mystic Mountains

right, isn't it? You held me back. I remember you told me that if I died you wouldn't want to live. Well, let me tell you, sweetheart, I feel the same about you. Come back to me, Bella. I can't live without you. And you know you don't want to live without me."
    "I can live without you, Tiger. I 've proved it. We're doing nicely here, Tim and I. And with Johnny's help we've got a vegetable garden going. I had a visit from our nearest neighbors. Mrs. Hawkins said I only have to ask for anything I need."
    "Enough. " Tiger sliced a hand through the air. "No one but me will provide you and our children with anything you need. Your place is by my side. We belong together. All right, I'll admit you can manage on your own, but I can't manage without you. Are you going to make me beg?"
    "Beg? No, Tiger, I have no desire to see you grovel. It 's just that I'm scared, don't you see."
    "I understand, although you probably doubt that." His eyes roved over her face, filled with tenderness. "I know I behaved like a selfish and blind pig at times, but I want to make it up to you."
    " 'Tis best if we just forget the past now. I made a few mistakes of my own, I admit, but yours far outweighed mine." Isabella finished the bandage and took a step back.
    Tiger grasped her hand. "Does that mean you won 't come back and give me a chance?" he asked, a wealth of feeling in the question.
    "Did you fetch me anything back from Sydne y, Tiger?" Tim interrupted to ask impatiently.
    Tiger drew his eyes from hers to look down at their son. With a hand on Tim 's head he said, "Yes, I brought you something back, son. Books and boots and lots of other things. And I brought something for your mother too. A few things in fact."
    "For me?" Isabella eyed him warily. "I don 't expect gifts from you." He was staring at her with a savage kind of hunger that made her shiver with awareness.
    One of his hands came up and he tapped her on the nose with a finger, then reaching into th e hip pocket of his breeches brought out a small velvet purse.
    Isabella frowned as he placed it in her palm.
    "Open it."
    She pulled on the drawstring around the neck, and fished about inside with her fingers as he sai d softly, "It dawned on me I've never actually given you a gift, Bella. Oh, I've fed and clothed you, but I wanted to get you something special. This jewelry is merely a token signifying the love I hold for you, will always have in my heart."
    "Love?" Isabella whispered as she pulled out a necklace.
    "Aye. Love, Bella."
    Her other hand went to her throat and she made a small excl amation of surprise. The necklace was made of diamonds with a large pearl dropping from the center front. The last time she'd seen anything so beautiful and obviously expensive was around the plump throat of the wife of one of the gentry. "It's beautiful."
    Her eyes misted as she gazed first at him, then at the expensive piece of jewelry.
    "Here, let me put it on."
    He turned her about, kissing her nape as he secured the clasp, lingering over the task. Isabella felt a tremor in his fingers, one that matched hers.
    "And where would I have the occasion to wear it? I can hardly see myself parading around here decked out in such splendid jewels."
    "Before long there'll be many free settlers coming across to start a new life here alongside us, Bella. You'll have many times to wear it if you're beside me as my wife. What do you say eh? Don't refuse me, love. We've wasted too many good years. Or perhaps I should say I've wasted them. Just one more thing." Delving into the small pocket beneath his waistband he brought out a ring matching the necklace for brilliance, its huge center diamond sparkling as he held it between a finger and thumb. "The necklace is for giving me Tim. And this is for our daughter Annie."
    Reaching for her left hand he pushed it onto her third finger then pressed his mouth to her knuckle.
    Isabella blinked as tears prickled at the back of her eyes. She moved her hand from side to side, admiring the ring while touching the necklace. Her lips trembled while her heart felt ready to burst at the depth of her love for him; a love she knew would never fade. Shaking her head, she whispered in a voice husky with unshed tears, "I don't know what to say, Tiger."
    "Then say naught, my love." He touched his mouth to her knuckle again. "Except that you 'll come back to me and we'll be wed as soon as possible." He turned to signal to Johnny who stood a short distance away, beside Agnes who