Maybe it could feel like being recognized.
She took his hand again.
“I love you too.”
Reid’s eyes closed.
He exhaled.
“That sounded painful.”
“It was.”
“Do it again.”
“No.”
“Lena.”
“Sleep.”
He smiled until he did.
Reid did not propose after recovering.
Lena expected him to.
Then became annoyed that he did not.
Then became annoyed that she expected him to.
Three months passed.
Spring came.
The ranch thawed.
Bakery orders increased.
One morning Lena entered the converted smokehouse and found every worktable moved.
“What happened?”
Reid stood in the center holding a measuring tape.
“I’m expanding.”
“You’re what?”
“South wall.”
He pointed.
“Another twelve feet.”
“Why?”
“You need two ovens.”
Lena stared.
“We discussed this.”
“No.”
“I mentioned it.”
“You mentioned it while half asleep.”
“That counts.”
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“Who is paying?”
“You.”
She blinked.
Reid handed her a paper.
Loan agreement.
Simple.
Interest.
Repayment.
Materials itemized.
No gift.
No hidden ownership.
Lena read twice.
“You wrote this?”
“Attorney did.”
“You saw an attorney?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you distrust generosity.”
“I do not.”
He stared.
She sighed.
“Fine.”
She looked again.
“Terms are fair.”
“I know.”
“That is arrogant.”
“Also true.”
She placed the paper down.
“Why are you smiling?”
Reid took something from his pocket.
Lena’s heart jumped.
Ring.
Simple silver.
Small green stone.
He held it but did not kneel.
She appreciated that.
Getting back up from kneeling was difficult for both of them after winter injuries.
“I had a speech,” he said.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It was.”
“Good decision abandoning it.”
Reid smiled.
Then:
“Marry me.”
Lena stared.
“Terrible speech.”
“I panicked.”
“You don’t look panicked.”
“I’m dying.”
She laughed.
He continued.
“Marry me because I love you.”
“Not because Emma needs you.”
“She does love you.”
“But she needs a father more.”
“I’ll do that job.”
“Not because the ranch needs your bakery.”
“It survived before.”
“Not because I saved you in winter.”
“You remind me of that too often already.”
She smiled through tears.
Reid stepped closer.
“Marry me because I want every ordinary day I can get with you.”
“Burned bread.”
“Broken fences.”
“Bad harvests.”
“Emma becoming impossible at thirteen.”
“Me becoming impossible at fifty.”
“You’re ahead of schedule.”
She laughed.
He held out the ring.
“I want you at my table.”
“Not as a guest.”
“Not as charity.”
“Not because there happened to be an empty chair.”
“Because I want the chair to be yours.”
Lena looked toward the doorway.
Emma stood there.
Of course.
Hands over her mouth.
Trying and failing not to smile.
Lena pointed.
“Were you spying?”
Emma shook her head.