His expression changed.
“No.”
“Then why haven’t you asked me to stay?”
Caleb stared toward mountains.
“Because I don't want gratitude mistaken for choice.”
Clara felt tears rise unexpectedly.
“You carried me through a blizzard.”
“Yes.”
“Protected me.”
“Yes.”
“Believed me.”
“Yes.”
“Think I’m beautiful.”
His ears reddened.
“Yes.”
“And somehow you’re still afraid to ask.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
Clara set down cup.
She took his hand.
“I don't want to stay because you saved me.”
Caleb waited.
“I want to stay because this is first place where I have never had to apologize for occupying space.”
His throat moved.
Clara continued.
“You never push your chair away because mine needs more room.”
“You never watch what I eat.”
“You never look embarrassed walking beside me.”
“You look at me like…”
She stopped.
Caleb’s voice softened.
“Like what?”
“Like wanting me is not an act of charity.”
He crouched.
“Clara.”
Her eyes filled.
“You have no idea what that means.”
“Maybe not.”
He placed one hand near hers on blanket.
“Can I tell you what you mean to me?”
She nodded.
“I wake up listening for you.”
“Juniper likes you better.”
“Bear steals your side of fire.”
“You argue with my medical advice.”
“Terrible habit.”
She laughed through tears.
Caleb continued.
“When you laugh, cabin doesn’t sound empty.”
“When you go into town, I count hours.”
“When you look at me…”
He smiled slightly.
“I continue having control problems.”
Clara laughed.
Then wiped her cheek.
“Still only kissing?”
“Mostly.”
Her eyebrows rose.
Caleb looked horrified.
Clara laughed harder.
He shook his head.
“You enjoy this.”
“Immensely.”
Caleb stood.
Then did something Clara never expected.
He lowered himself onto one knee in snow.
She stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Poorly planned thing.”
He reached inside coat.
No ring.
Caleb looked embarrassed.
“I forgot ring.”
Clara covered mouth.
He continued anyway.
“Clara Whitmore.”
“I have cabin.”
“Dogs.”
“Some horses.”
“Enough land to keep us tired.”
“I don’t have polished speech.”
“Clearly.”
He glared.
She smiled.
Caleb continued.
“I can’t promise town becomes kinder.”
“I can’t promise winter.”
“I can’t promise nothing bad happens.”
“But I can promise you never have to make yourself smaller here.”
Clara began crying.
“And I can promise that when you say stop, I stop.”
“When you’re frightened, I wait.”
“When you ask me to stay…”
His voice weakened.
“I stay.”
Clara whispered:
“Yes.”
Caleb blinked.