Skill.
Courage.
Responsibility.
Those were worth measuring.
A year after the blizzard, Jasper stood in Ellie’s clinic doorway holding a parcel.
Ellie looked up.
“What did you break?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you here?”
“That is insulting.”
“You usually avoid town.”
“True.”
He placed the parcel on her desk.
Ellie opened it.
Inside was a dark burgundy dress.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Made from expensive wool.
She looked at him.
“What is this?”
“Dress.”
“I see that.”
“Samuel’s sister made it.”
“Why?”
Jasper looked uncomfortable.
Ellie narrowed her eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Jasper.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Walk outside.”
Ellie stared.
“What?”
“Please.”
She followed him.
People stood on the sidewalk.
Too many people.
Ellie stopped.
“What is happening?”
Jasper’s ears turned red.
Samuel stood across the street grinning like an idiot.
Clara covered her mouth.
Ellie slowly looked at Jasper.
“No.”
His eyes widened.
“I haven’t asked anything.”
“You are about to.”
“Possibly.”
“In public?”
“I thought…”
He looked around.
Then his face fell.
“I thought maybe people should see.”
“See what?”
“That I’m not ashamed.”
Ellie froze.
Jasper continued quickly.
“Not that I thought you believed…”
He sighed.
“I’m ruining this.”
She almost laughed.
Jasper looked miserable.
“Start again.”
He took a breath.
Then, to Ellie’s horror, lowered himself onto one knee.
The crowd gasped.
Ellie whispered, “Jasper Cain.”
He looked up.
“You can say no.”
Someone in the crowd laughed.
Ellie glared.
Silence returned.
Jasper continued.
“You can say no today.”
His voice was strong.
“Or next month.”
He held out a small ring.
“You can say yes and change your mind before the ceremony.”
Ellie’s eyes filled.
“You can keep the clinic.”
He smiled faintly.
“Obviously.”
She laughed through tears.
“You can keep your room in town.”
He continued.
“You can work until you’re ninety if you want.”
“Probably will.”
“I know.”
His expression softened.
“You can argue with me.”
“I definitely will.”
“You can leave dishes on the table.”
“That was one time.”
“Six.”
“Focus.”
The crowd laughed.
Jasper smiled.
Then became serious.
“I don’t want a wife because I need someone to cook.”
He looked at Ellie.
“I can cook.”
“Debatable.”
“I don’t want a nurse.”
“Good.”
“I don’t want someone to make the cabin less lonely.”
Ellie’s throat tightened.
“I want you because when you walk into a room, I feel more awake.”
Her tears escaped.
“Because you rode through a storm when every sensible person stayed home.”
His voice roughened.
“Because you are kind without being weak.”
Ellie pressed one hand over her mouth.
“Because you are stubborn enough to make death reconsider.”
Samuel shouted, “That part’s true!”
Ellie laughed.
Jasper did not look away from her.
“And because every day since you left that first time, I have wanted to ask you the same thing.”