The chauffeur went on his way. Randy made his departure after the registry was signed. Tim nudged Jack a couple times suggestively before making his way back to his truck. Jack made him promise not to tell a soul what he had just witnessed, though he fretted the man would not be able to keep silent about it for very long.

"Shall we?" Jack said to Lisa, taking her arm to lead her inside the main cabin.

"We shall," Lisa said, walking with him across the threshold.

Once inside, Jack immediately crossed over to the hearth to stoke up the fire. It had been burning earlier while he and Randy waited for Lisa, and to ensure the cabin wasn't freezing cold when it was time to retire there following the ceremony. He had banked the fire prior to her arrival for safety purposes, but now it was time to get it blazing again.

Lisa gazed in wonder around the cabin, touched by all the effort Jack had evidently put into making both the exterior and the interior special. Knowing he had done it all by himself was even more impressive, given the fact no one in the family except Tim was aware of what was happening that night. Dozens of tea candles covered various surfaces, and now Jack set about lighting them, too. Once they were all lit, he shut off the electric bulbs. A soft, muted glow from the fire and the candles bathed the space with a cheery warmth. The duvet on the bed was covered with a multitude of rose petals, and their fragrance wafted about the room, mingling with the smoky odour emanating from the fireplace. Lisa felt herself relaxing as she sat down in one of the easy chairs, removing her boots, faux fur-lined cap, and overcoat.

"Champagne?" Jack asked, reaching for the bottle from the ice bucket.

"Yes, please," Lisa said, extending her champagne flute to him. He filled both her glass and his before sitting in the seat opposite her.

"To us," Jack toasted.

"To us," Lisa said, and they touched their glasses together. The couple drank to their health and their new union, each basking in the moment.

"How long until Tim spills the beans on all this?" Lisa asked presently, as she leaned back in the chair, wondering how the man had somehow managed to guess what they were up to.

"Oh, I don't know," Jack said, setting aside his drink. "He won't, if he knows what's good for him."

Lisa smirked at this. "When would you like to tell everyone? We can't keep it a secret forever. In fact, I'm so thrilled we've done this, I'm bursting to tell the whole world." She glanced admiringly at the ring on her finger then, thinking how right it felt.

"Let's keep it under wraps for just a little while," Jack suggested. "I want us to just enjoy us. No intrusions. No wild questions or speculations. We have time. We'll figure it out. But for now, let's not tell anyone. Okay?"

"Okay," Lisa said with a nod. "I'm happy with just enjoying us for as long as we can."

"Okay, then. We wait to tell them until we both agree it's the right time," Jack said, relieved she agreed.

Lisa sipped her champagne while Jack got up to add another log to the fire. When he turned back, there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. A soft chuckle rumbled from his throat.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Oh, I was just thinking how I think I've just won our little bet," Jack said, his eyes dancing mischievously.

Lisa pursed her lips as she herself tried to suppress a giggle. "What, that we didn't kill each other after spending too much time together?"

"Exactly," Jack said. "You were wrong about how our time apart is what makes us work, Lis."

"Go on," Lisa said, wanting him to elaborate on this point.

"It's not our time apart that makes us work. It's our commitment to how we feel about each other, and it's about respecting the fact we have our differences."

"Can I add something?" asked Lisa.

"Sure," Jack said with a nod of encouragement.

"It's also about admitting when we're wrong, and it's about forgiving each other," Lisa said honestly.

"I'll drink to that," Jack stated, as he raised his glass again to finish the remainder of his champagne.

He watched as the reflection of the flames danced in Lisa's blue eyes, and the flame of ardour blazed anew in his heart. He thought of all the obstacles that had previously stood in their way—mostly self-made—and how now, finally, they had tied the knot after so many years of struggle.

Lisa stared at her new husband's careworn face, and read there a passion and tenderness that took her breath away. She recalled their first real planned date, how she learned so much about him then, and how much more she realised she wanted to learn.

Despite all your obvious flaws, I wouldn't mind if you called me sometime, she remembered telling him while they were parked in the yard at Heartland, hoping he understood her intent. With a small smile, she also recollected how they had attempted a quick kiss, only to be interrupted by the slamming of the screen door and the curious looks of Ty, Amy, and Mallory on the porch.

This time, there would be no such interruptions. This time, nothing would stand in their way. No voyeuristic onlookers, no arguments over vacation homes or misplaced fears over age gaps. And where once a bitter argument over a hospital bed drove them apart, tonight, a bed would help unite them in a most perfect way.

Jack did not even need to mention to Lisa about Dr. Virani's assessment of his virility, for after all, he was not a man of words; he was a man of action and deed. He got to his feet and reached out to take Lisa's hands in his. She stood to face him, anticipation racing through her.

"Come here," he said, guiding her to take her place beside him, shedding his suit jacket and setting his hat aside.

"I love you, Cowboy," Lisa managed to say between his eager kisses. "I'm all yours tonight, and for the rest of our lives."

"And I'm all yours," Jack added, drawing her closer to himself.

As they fell into each other's embrace, the years between them fell away; a consummation of the vows they had pledged earlier that evening.

"You're so beautiful," Jack murmured later as they lay side by side, gazing wonderingly into her eyes. "How come you're so beautiful?"

"Because you love me," Lisa answered. "Your love makes me beautiful."

"Hmm," Jack uttered softly, tracing a finger along her lips. "I could have sworn you've always been beautiful."

"And you're the only one I ever want to hear saying that to me," Lisa whispered.

"And I'm so glad that I get to be the one to say it," Jack whispered back. "You're beautiful, and I love you."

"I love you more," Lisa stated, snuggling closer to him and laying her head against his chest.

"Is that so?" an amused Jack asked.

"Mm-hmm," Lisa responded in the positive.

"Well, I think you're going to have to prove it," Jack challenged.

Lisa raised her head to look at his face, then pressed her lips to his. "Like this?" she asked after pulling back.

A reflective expression came over Jack. "It's a start," he said in a teasing manner.

"Well, then I'll just have to keep going until you're convinced," Lisa responded, covering his mouth with hers again, this time enfolding him in her arms, and he eagerly responded to her embrace.

"If it takes the rest of tonight or the rest of our lives together, Jack Bartlett," Lisa said, "I'm never going to stop proving how much I love you."

And I'm going to let myself be loved by you, Lisa, and I'll do everything I can to love you right back, Jack thought, amazed by how foolish he had been for ever thinking her care for him was out of pity. No, her love for him was pure, and fulfilled longings he had not known were lying dormant for so many years of being a widower.

Everything I've ever wanted is happening right now, Lisa contemplated with joy. Here, being with Jack, becoming his wife, I've waited so long for this. And it's wonderful.

The year had started on a bitter note for Jack and Lisa, and it seemed no resolution was in sight for them. Now, their lives were back in sync, and they were about to embark on a new stanza together in perfect harmony, a new song that would last for a lifetime.