And the old leather glove.
The rancher noticed that she placed the glove inside a small wooden box.
He smiled.
“Taking that?”
She looked up.
“Of course.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
She hesitated.
Then asked quietly, “Will there be room for all this at your ranch?”
He looked toward the boxes.
Then toward her.
“Darling, my house has been empty for four years.”
She lowered her eyes.
He continued.
“There's room.”
She looked uncertain.
He recognized the expression.
Then he crouched beside her.
“But I don't want you to think I'm taking you away from your home without asking.”
Her lips trembled.
He continued.
“If the cabin can be repaired safely, we'll decide what to do with it.”
She nodded.
“And if it can't?”
He looked toward the walls.
The stone fireplace.
The reinforced chair.
The table where they'd eaten their first supper together.
For a moment, he felt the same sadness she did.
Then he looked back.
“Then we'll build something new.”
Her eyes filled.
He squeezed her hand.
“Using what we can save from here.”
She looked at him.
“And my plans?”
He smiled.
“Especially your plans.”
She began crying.
He gently brushed a tear from her cheek.
“Darling?”
She looked up.
“I don't want to become a burden.”
The words struck him.
He shook his head.
“You're not.”
She swallowed.
“You'll have to change things. Doors. Furniture. The way you live.”
He considered her.
Then he answered carefully.
“Yes. Some things would need changing.”
Her expression fell.
He continued.
“And so would mine.”
She looked surprised.
He smiled faintly.
“I've spent four years living like a man who expects nobody to visit.”
He glanced toward the fire.
“My house isn't ready for company, let alone a life with somebody.”
Her lips trembled.
He continued.
“If we make a home together, we'll both have to change things.”
She stared.
Then he took her hand.
“That isn't a burden. It's what sharing a life means.”
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she whispered, “I love you.”
The rancher went completely still.
She looked frightened.
Her cheeks flushed.
“I didn't mean to say it like that.”
He stared.
She tried to look away.
But he gently lifted her chin.
“Darling.”
Her eyes filled.
He swallowed.
For four years, he'd believed those words belonged only to his past.
Now they stood between him and a woman who had saved his life, challenged his stubbornness, kissed his damaged hand, and offered him a place at her table.
He took a slow breath.