*Edited*

Today was the day; the day in which John had made his decision that he would ask for Grace's hand in marriage. He shook with unfamiliar nerves as he stood upon the cliff of Gully where they always met at high noon. Only two weeks have past since the start of their courtship and if anything; John has fallen deeper in love with red haired angel. His hand in his pocket fumbling the the small box within that held a ring of simple taste with hope the Grace would accept his proposal.

He pulled out his pocket watch his his free hand and looked to the hands which told of twelve forty. He snapped the watched shut with slight worry fluttering through his being. Grace was never this late to their meetings; if anything she was always the first to arrive.

He huffed a breath and pivoted on his heels before walking briskly into the forest. He brushed past the trees with haste in his steps and towards the rotten old house the Grace lived in with her mother, Sally.

The small hut came into view as he briskly walked up to the door and knocked. He waited for a few moments, but with no answer as he returned his knuckles to the wood once more. Still with no answer; John pushed open the door and walked in.

" Excuse the intrusion." He muttered through his life time of manners. The old door opened slowly and gently hit against the wall, bringing it to a stop.

" Grace?" He asked to find the house empty. Such a strange sight it was for Sally not to be lay or sitting on her stack of hay cover in a few blankets. The fire place was cold with no fire light and no water in the bucket. The chipped cup sat in its rightful place upon the fire ledge as the house was dark and had a somber feel. He walked over to the room which he took lodging in and opened the door to find it also empty.

" Grace?" John called as he rushed out the house and looked at the clearing around the hut to try and see if there was any sign of her, but found none. His pace quickened as fear coated his mind as to the thought that floated through it.

" Grace?" John called hoping to find her around the bend of the trees, but to no avail. He continued in his pursuit to find his love with hopes and prayers that she be well and not hurt or worse.

He stopped in his haste and took a heavy sigh before closing his eyes and rubbing them with his thumb and middle finger of his right hand; while the other placed itself firmly onto his waist under his coat. It was then he heard the sound of a quiet cry. His head slowly looked to the sobbing as he stepped forward cautiously. What came into his view broke his heart, for kneeling in front of three crosses standing out from the ground, was Grace.

" S-she passed t-this morning." Grace whispered quietly to him as he walked over. She had changed from her usual blue or green dress and dressed herself in a black gown with a tight waist. Her shoulder jumped up and down softly as her breathing hitched from her silent cries of sorrow and loss. John slowly walked closer until he was behind her.

" I am so sorry." John said to her as she cried silently with her back hunched over and her hand to her mouth.

" I have lost my whole family." She said before she took in a deep breath and straightened her back and stood to her feet. She patted down her dress and wiped away her wetness on her cheeks. Grace shook herself to compose her emotions that ran wild within her.

" On with work. There are people that need tending too." She muttered as she turned and walked past John with a stone solid face void of any emotion. John quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to face him. Yet even though her body was turned to him, her face continued to stare at the ground to her right.

" My love. You have just lost your mother. I know how it feels, but I cannot know how hard it is for you after caring for her so long." John said as he lifted his hand and turned her face to look at him. Her eyes red and puffy from her previous tears that had fell.

" I have work to do. If you will excuse me." Grace spoke in an almost whisper as she tried to turn from him. But John kept a tight grip on her wrist while wrapping another around her waist and pulled her to him with a firm grip. Grace tried to push away from him but his grip was too strong, she hit her fist against his chest as he held her tightly. Saying nothing, but just holding her.

" Let go!" She cried to him but he held her tight and placed a hand on her head bringing to his shoulder as she gave up and collapsed into a cry of sorrow for not only her mother's death, but her father's and brother's as well.

"Hush, my Love. You are safe. I have you now." John cradled her with a gentle rocking back and forth as she released her tears which she had bottle up for so long.

" Why? Why did she have to go?" Grace cried and John ran his hand soothingly through her red hair as she cried heavily to him.

" I am left in this world with no family." She cried silently into his chest and he rocked her calmly.

" Hush now. I will take care of you, that I promise you." John whispered to her ear holding her close to him in comfort.

" I do not know what to do, John. I feel so lost." Grace whimpered softly to him as she could not bare the thought of staying by herself in the middle of the forest. John felt ill at the sound of complete helplessness with her tender and fragile voice.

" Why don't you come and stay with me. In my home, I would not be able to sleep if you were out here by yourself." John said to her as she nodded softly into his chest as she turned her head to the left.

" Indeed, I do not feel safe out at night on my own." She whispered as she closed her eyes. She took in a deep breath as she buried her head closer into John's chest.

" Are you tired?" John asked her. Seeing the freshly dug grave; undoubtedly dug by her own sweat and at energy. Grace nodded her head against his chest causing him to pull her closer to him rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

" Then get some rest. No harm will come to you." John whispered as she nodded into his chest. John nodded softly and took her arms around his neck and pulled an arm under her knees and one over her back. He lifted her into his arms lovingly as he gently walked through the forest as she slept.

~~0~~0~~0~~

Grace peeled open her dry eyes to see nothing but a red blur. She quickly blinked a few times to regain her vision once more. Sighing she twisted herself and felt a brush of some of the smoothest cloth she had ever felt. She subconsciously ran her fingers over the soft fabric under them, as she slowly sat up; her hair falling down over her shoulders.

Over her body was draped the deepest red silk her eyes had been graced with. Deep thick pillows and the soft under bed screamed luxury and wealth, something which she could not even imagine. Her eyes left the blood bed and looked around to see a room which matched the bed accordingly with a small fireplace directly across the room from the bed. The walls painted in a red with a high white ceiling; dark wooded furniture scattered around the room with a rug in the centre covered in different colour patterns placed upon a wooden flooring. Two large windows decorated with long red drapes stood proudly to her left. As she continued to admire the room she woke to find herself in, there was a quick knock at the large wooden door to the right hand side of the bed.

" Miss?" A small voice called behind the door as it was opened gently to reveal a small lady not to far from her own age. She was draped in a black dress with a white apron and cap as she dipped her body and head before standing to once again.

" Good mornin' Miss. That master 'as sent me to assist you in yer mornin' matters. He wishes fir the Misses company at mornin' meal." She spoke to her softly as she walked over to the wardrobe. The maid opened it and racked through the garments within of all different colours and styles. She then pulled out a yellow gown with a smiling face.

" Come on, miss. The master be waitin'." She smiled to her as Grace slipped easily from the sheets.

" Not yellow. Black, my mother passed yesterday. It is too early for such colours." Grace whispered slightly taken aback by the things she has just witnessed. The maid nodded and grew a sad frown over her face.

" Beggin' yir pardon. I be sorry fir yer loss." She told her as she returned to the wardrobe to place the yellow gown back into the array of dresses and searched for a black gown; finding it the maid extracted the gown and walked over to Grace.

" Now, let's get you washed 'nd dressed." She smiled to her before quickly ushering her behind a screen. Grace still was in a complete daze to the maids pondering around after her. Grace stayed in a daze as the maid rushed around her, getting her ready and dressed for the day ahead.