In Oporto

She grinned. "I'm awfully unpresentable."

"Well, then you'll have to get presentable. Here." He pulled her over to the corner where he'd put his things. He dug out a canvas roll containing his shaving kit and passed her a comb. "That'll help with the hair, anyhow."

"Just give me a minute and I'll put on my blue dress," she said as she fought with the tangles in her hair. "It's probably mostly dry. He won't mind us coming in to ask tonight?"

"He ain't got any guests, an' if you'm serious about gettin' married tomorrow, we'll have to ask him tonight." He grinned "Want any help?"

"No, Gabe," she laughed. "Unlike your officers, I can get dressed on me own!" And in a few minutes, she was ready. "Do I look all right? Good enough to marry a rifleman and officer's batman?" she asked, starting to be slightly apprehensive about the captain.

"More than good enough for me," Cotton said. "Though your good shawl's soaked through. Have you got another one? Or a bonnet or summat?"

She fished her white muslin cap out of her pack. It was damp but not soaked like most of her things. "Is this all right? Everything's wet. Gabe, can I wear my locket?" She thought that perhaps the little trinket would add a hint of respectability to her costume. "Oh, you're missing a button! Let me cut one off from your sleeve and sew it there quick."

"You do fuss so," Cotton said, and gave in. It would be useless to tell her that the captain cared about more than missing buttons. He raised his hands to unclasp the locket from round his neck, and held it out. "Here you are, lass."

Now at last it seemed there was nothing left to fuss over. She took a deep breath and grasped his hand. "Ready?"

"I'm ready. Here." He put a hand under her chin and gently tilted her face up. "Love you, sweeting," he said, and kissed her forehead.

She smiled. "Love you too, Gable. Now come on. Let's go before I lose my nerve."

"You lose, we'll help you find it." Cotton grinned at the silly joke, though he was just as nervous as she was. "He's upstairs, Maggie. This way."

Maggie waited anxiously while he knocked on the door.

There was a knock on the door and Vickery looked up. He wasn't expecting anyone and Cotton didn't need to knock.

"Come in."

Cotton pushed open the door, feeling incredibly nervous.

"Um, sir?" he said, coming in and standing to attention.

Maggie was not quite sure what she should do. She decided to hover just outside the door.

Vickery laid down his pen, raising an eyebrow.

"Unusual for you to knock, Cotton," he said, looking at the Rifleman, who looked even more embarrassed, if that were possible.

"I... Sir, I... please..." Oh, bother. He took a breath. "Sir, please... can I have permission... to get married, sir... please?"

There.

There! He had said it. Maggie's heart was pounding as she listened.

He glanced towards the doorway, where he'd seen a flash of blue.

"Is that your intended waiting outside?" he asked, and didn't wait for an answer. "Do come in, Miss Evans!" he said raising his voice slightly.

Maggie's heart jumped into her throat when the captain called her name. She walked into the room, treading softly and hearing the quiet squelch of her wet shoes. Perhaps she should have left them at the door? Were wet shoes worse than being barefoot? She dipped a quick curtsey but said nothing, staring at Vickery anxiously.

He smiled at her, leaning forward with his hands clasped.

"Miss Evans, Cotton here tells me he wants to marry you. Well, actually he's asked my permission to marry you, which comes to the same thing. I have to confess that it is not entirely unexpected, either. How do you feel? Do you want to marry him?"

Cotton's heart stopped, almost. Would Maggie still say she wanted to marry him, now it was the Captain asking her?

"Yes, sir," she answered, still staring earnestly.

"Well, if you are both happy with it, you have my permission to marry. I don't need to ask Major Davy, because you are officially on the strength already." He smiled at them. "When were you hoping to do it? And do you need me to find a priest?"