The Golden Bachelor featured Mel Owens guarded during hometown dates, which left the families desperately seeking reassurance, before he broke Debbie Siebers' heart during the Season 2 episode that aired Wednesday night on ABC.

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Mel ousted Debbie, a 65-year-old fitness professional from Denver, CO, after his Final 3 bachelorettes' hometown dates.

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"I put myself out there in such a giant way only to have yet another disappointment. It's beyond painful," Debbie cried in her final words.

Mel's Final 2 bachelorettes as a result are Cindy Angelcyk Cullers, a 60-year-old retired biomedical engineer from Austin, TX, and Peg Munson, a 62-year-old retired firefighter and bomb tech from Las Vegas, NV.

The Golden Bachelor broadcast began with Mel traveling to Las Vegas for his first hometown date with Peg.

"This is going to be a difficult decision, so I'm not taking this lightly at all," Mel told the cameras.

Mel said he was smitten with Peg because she's so full of life and energy. He felt like he had already known her for a long time.

Peg welcomed Mel into the firehouse where she works, and she joked about how she had a career on the pole.

Peg showed Mel her locker, trucks, equipment and more. She said she was proud of her accomplishments because being a woman in a man's world isn't easy.

Peg said she hadn't brought a man home in four or five years and that she was looking for a fireplace -- not fireworks -- because she wanted a love that could grow and burn slowly forever.

Afterward, Mel met Peg's daughter Dakota and her boyfriend Kohl, mom Dorothy, and brother Guy and his wife Brenda.

Peg knew her family was going to be protective, but she noted, "That's a good thing!"

When Mel talked to Guy, he acknowledged, "I really like your sister. She is special."

Peg, meanwhile, gushed about how she'd probably accept Mel's marriage proposal if he wanted to get engaged.

Mel proceeded to tell Dakota that he loved Peg's spirit and she's so alive.

"Are you in love with my mom? Have you told her that?" Dakota asked.

"No, I'm not in love with your mom -- yet," Mel admitted. "I'm not in that stage yet."

Dakota asked Mel if he thought he could get there by the end of the process, and Mel confessed, "I don't know."

"But if you don't get there by the end of this with any of these women, are you going to say, 'Hey, I'd just like to date at the end of this?'" Dakota asked.

"I don't know," Mel replied.

Mel said his goal was to find someone, "whatever that means," and Dakota seemed unsatisfied with his answers.

Mel said he liked being married and being in a partnership and if he wasn't serious about finding someone, he wouldn't have signed on for the show.

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Dakota asked Mel if he could protect her mother's heart, and he said he'd do the best he could.

Dakota just asked Mel to let Peg go if, at any point, he realizes or decides she's not the woman for him.

Dakota wished she had received more answers from Mel and that he was more sure about her mom. Dakota pointed out how Peg deserved more and that Mel's lack of strong feelings worried her.

Dakota told her mom that she didn't want her to let her guard down and then get hurt in the end, but Peg said, "Nothing risked, nothing gained."

Dakota expressed to her mom her concern that she wasn't being appreciated.

Dakota, however, said she thought Mel was genuine and would be a good match for Peg if they ended up together.

Mel decided that he could fit in with Peg's family easily, and he kissed Peg goodbye at the end of their date.

Mel traveled to Denver, CO, next for Debbie's hometown date.

Mel said his connection with Debbie was on "a soulful level" and he loved her love for life. Mel said he could picture a life with Debbie after the show and he was excited to see a new side of her.

For the day portion of their date, Debbie took Mel on a hike at Red Rocks Park.

It had been 14 years since Debbie had brought anyone home to meet her family, and she explained to Mel that she's been single for so long because her last boyfriend was going to propose marriage but he struggled with depression and their relationship became unhealthy.

Debbie said she couldn't live with this man or without him, and she ultimately broke up with him.

"Two weeks later, the horrible thing is that he took his own life, and it altered me forever. I felt a lot of guilt and I had to work through a lot of pain. It took me 10 years. I have not dated," Debbie shared.

Debbie recalled the suicide being "such a shock" because she was still in love with him at the time of his death.

But Debbie insisted she was ready for a relationship and wanted to have a great time with Mel. She told the cameras that she was "all in" with Mel.

Mel then met Debbie's older brother Ron, youngest brother Steve, sister Judy and her husband Mark, and twin sister Donna.

Mel tossed a football around with Debbie's brothers and gushed about how Debbie was "so sincere" and has a great personality.

Debbie, meanwhile, told one of her sisters that she was falling for The Golden Bachelor star and they had a very natural connection.

"He is everything I've ever wanted and more, and I feel he is sincere," Debbie said.

Debbie's sisters were afraid that Debbie was going to get hurt because she seemed so happy and hopeful, but Mel said Debbie was close to his heart.

"After today, our connection has gotten stronger. I think our future is bright," Mel told the cameras.

After the couple said goodbye to each other, Debbie told the cameras she would be "extraordinarily devastated" if Mel didn't choose her in the end.

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Next up was Cindy's hometown date in Austin, TX.

Mel said he and Cindy connected on an intellectual level and he loved her joy and little quirks.

Cindy said she couldn't stop thinking about Mel when they were apart and she wanted him to see her condo. Cindy said she had to recreate her world after her divorce and she'd be willing to adapt and create a new life with Mel after the show.

Mel met Cindy's three daughters Caroline, Sarah and Emily as well as her son-in-law Fred and soon-to-be son-in-law Alex.

Cindy told her daughters that she felt safe and secure with Mel, which she never experienced with a man before, according to her children.

"These feelings are big," Cindy admitted. "It may mean me moving to California."

Cindy's daughters could tell Cindy was glowing, and they said they'd be happy for her if she wanted to move for Mel.

Mel talked about how Cindy was intelligent and sophisticated, but he said the same thing he had told Peg's family.

"I like your mom a lot," Mel told Sarah, "but I don't know what's going to unfold in the next few weeks or months or whatever. I just want to let it come naturally."

Sarah could tell that Mel was either unsure about Cindy or was intentionally being tight-lipped about his feelings for her.

"I don't think he really gave a lot of straight answers," Sarah complained in a confessional.

"I'm a little bit worried about the long-term relationship that we know my mom wants. I think I really need to have a heartfelt conversation with my mom before I can be onboard with Mel being a part of the family."

Sarah subsequently talked to her mom, which said she felt "grounded and at peace" with Mel.

Cindy had been divorced for seven years, and she cried to Sarah about how she had to put her life back together.

"Does he love you so much that he's going to choose you and you only forever?" Sarah asked her mom.

Sarah could tell that Cindy loved Mel, and so she just hoped everything was going to work out.

Cindy then welcomed Mel into her beautiful condo.

"I know that I feel 'the big L' for Mel," Cindy admitted in a confessional.

"But the downside is, my kids are not sure for me. That makes me question, 'Am I missing something?' I'm not going to 'big L' you unless you're there with me."

Cindy therefore asked Mel flat out how he was feeling about her.

"I just want you to know I really, really, really am falling for you," Cindy told Mel.

Mel responded by saying he was in a "complicated" situation and had some "difficult" choices to make.

Mel said he at least felt closer to Cindy, who said, "I know somebody is going to pick me; I hope it's you."

Cindy had been hoping for more assurance from Mel that night, but she said she was not going to push. She felt like "an option" to Mel at the end of the date, which bothered her.

Mel then confirmed in a confessional that he was "not there yet" with Cindy.

Mel said he didn't use the word "love" lightly because he's only been in love once in his life and the relationship ended in a painful divorce.

Mel said his Final 3 women were deserving and it was going to be a very tough choice.

Heading into the sixth Rose Ceremony of the season, which was held back at The Bachelor mansion, the three ladies were all nervous and anxious. None of the women knew where they stood with Mel, but they were all falling in love with him.

Cindy said if Mel dumped her, it would feel "terrible" because she thought they were "a perfect match." Cindy admitted she had fallen fully and deeply in love with Mel, which she never expected would happen.

At the start of the Rose Ceremony, Mel made a sweet confession in reference to the ageist comments he had made on a podcast this past summer.

"I thought that I wanted a certain type of woman. I still do, and they're right here before me -- beautiful, accomplished, brilliant and spiritual," Mel insisted, before adding, "I stand before you humbled with an open heart."

Mel proceeded to hand out roses to Peg and Cindy.

Debbie took a deep breath and put her hand on her neck, trying to maintain her composure.

Mel said, "I'm sorry," and asked Debbie if he could walk her out.

Mel told the cameras that it was "very, very difficult" to let Debbie go and his heart didn't "feel okay with" the decision.

Debbie cried and told Mel that his decision was "very upsetting" but she knew getting her heart broken was a real possibility.

"You've touched my heart in more ways than one," Mel told the bachelorette.

"Take care of those girls," Debbie noted. "Be happy, okay?"

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS) 

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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