The battle ended, finally, and Vaudt had taken stock of his losses. He'd lost a good many of his men but he had been victorious. Racide and Garron had both been taken down, as well as most of Garron's men.

When he thought of how close he had come to losing the single most important person in his life, his Emmy, he shuddered. Had he not reached her in time, Racide would have claimed her for his own and he, Vaudt, would now be dead. He couldn't bear to think of the life Emmy would have endured with his late brother.

When he was able to speak with her, he learned that she and his mother had both been tricked by Racide, who had convinced them he only had Emmy's best interests at heart.

His poor mother was heartsick. Angry to know her son had betrayed her trust yet sad because her other son had killed him. She knew it had to be done but her heart still ached for his loss.

And Emmy—she finally realized who really cared for her. For all his gruffness and dominance, Vaudt truly did care. She knew that now. She felt like a fool, for allowing Racide to trick her. He would have seen his own brother dead and she knew her life would not have been worth living if that had happened and Racide had claimed her for his own. And to think that she and Vaudt had saved his life when he was near death, not so long ago.

Vaudt knew he had to rebuild. This time, things were going to be different—very different. Emmy had proven her medical knowledge many times over. She nursed his wounded men back to health and he marveled at the way the men responded to her now, grateful for her help.

One afternoon, weeks after the battle, he called for both his mother and Emmy to join him in the library.

"Please, sit," he said when they entered the room.

They obeyed, both wondering why he had called this meeting.

"Let me begin by saying I appreciate the work the two of you have done in the weeks since the battle with Garron and his men. It hasn't been an easy time and I regret the loss of so many of our men. Emmy, you've managed to save every one of the wounded who survived the attack. For that, I am eternally grateful to you."

Emmy was at a loss for words. She merely smiled and waited for him to continue.

Turning to his mother, Vaudt continued, "And, Mother, you have availed yourself to Emmy, helping her, following her orders. I thank you, as well."

His mother nodded.

"Now is the time for rebuilding. I've made some decisions and I think they may surprise the both of you. It is time for a change. I am depending upon the two of you to assist me. It is crucial."

He had Emmy's full attention now. Was he actually admitting that she was a capable person in her own right?

"Emmy, I plan to build a clinic. You will be in charge of it and you will train others to assist you. Mother, I am sure that here, in the library, there must be some old books from another time that would be useful for that purpose. It is going to be your responsibility to search out those books and give them to Emmy."

"Vaudt, that is wonderful!" Emmy jumped up and ran to him, throwing her arms around him.

Surprised, he looked down at her with affection in his eyes. "You and I must talk in private. We have much to discuss."

"Yes, we do."

"One of which is your desire to run from me."

Emmy hung her head, knowing that he would punish her for that indiscretion.

His mother stepped in. "Vaudt, don't you think we have all suffered enough? Emmy, like me, was tricked."

"Mother, I appreciate your opinion but this is between Emmy and me."

"Yes, son."

"Now, Emmy, you shall go to your room and think about what you have done. I shall join you shortly. Mother, we will leave you to begin your search for books."

Both women nodded, knowing they were being dismissed.

Emmy retreated to her room. As she sat on the bed, she began to think back to the months she had spent here, with him. She had been so busy resenting him and all he stood for that she had missed the most important thing. He did, in his own way, care for her. Truth be known, she had grown to love him, as well. There—she had finally admitted it to herself. When the realization hit her, it hit full force. My God, she thought, I love him!

He joined her an hour later. When he strode into the room, he looked at her and said, "Emmy, my Emmy, have you had time to consider what might have happened?"

"Yes, Vaudt," she said sadly.

"I realize, as my mother pointed out, you have suffered greatly. I understand now that this world is very different from yours. I do not understand your world, but with your help, we will make this a better place, from now on. Having said that, you do know that I must punish you for attempting to run from me, for allowing my evil brother to involve you in his deathly scheme?"

She nodded meekly. "Yes."

"I want you to remove all your clothes and bend over the bed now."

Without speaking, she did as he said. Better to get it over with.

She heard the swish of the belt just before it crashed down on her bottom, leaving a fiery sting in its wake. She jumped and gripped the bedcovers. Another stripe across her bare flesh caused her to cry out in pain. Ten more followed, each one burning worse than the one before. Emmy was limp now, a mere ragdoll, sobbing into the bed.

She heard the belt hit the floor. Soon, Vaudt had her in his lap, holding her. "Emmy, my Emmy," he crooned as he waited for her sobs to subside. His hands rubbed over the welts on her bottom and she winced.

Finally, she looked up at him. "I-I am sorry."

"I know. From here, we only move forward. I have realized how important you have become to me. We have both made mistakes. We are from different times and different places. We both have much to learn. I feel with the combination of both, we can make a mighty new land. Are you with me?"

She looked up at him, the love shining in her eyes. "I am with you, Vaudt, forever."

He kissed her then, a kiss different than any before, a kiss filled with promise and passion—true passion. Gently, he pushed her back on the bed. This time, as he began to make love to her, it was more than mere sex. Both felt the heat rising as they discovered each other as if for the first time. It was a new beginning, and when he finally entered her, it was as if their worlds had suddenly come full circle. Release came soon for both of them, crashing around them with such force that Emmy was sure she would pass out from the sheer joy of it.

As they lay in each other's arms together, he said the words she longed to hear, "I love you, Emmy. Be my wife, my partner. We will build this new world together."

With tears in her eyes, she replied, "Yes."