Chapter Twenty #2
“He’s got some notion that I stole your innocence.” Beau turned and fixed her with a withering look. “Now, where do you suppose he’d get an idea like that?”
“I never told him any such thing. In fact, I told him the opposite.”
“You stole my innocence?” Beau’s eyebrows shot up.
“I’ll be giving that man a piece of my mind. He’s too bossy by half.”
“You’re preaching to the converted on that one,” Beau said dryly.
“I’m not marrying you in any shotgun wedding.”
“And why not?” Beau bristled.
“There’s no romance in it!”
“So, you’re just going to steal my innocence and leave my reputation in tatters?” Beau seemed offended.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be marrying you, but I’m not doing it at gunpoint.”
He gave her an opaque look. “Morgan’s hard to argue with.”
“You can do it. I believe in you.”
He snorted. “I don’t know why.” He went back to staring moodily at the creek. “Who says I want to marry you anyway.”
“You do.” Ellie dug around in her pocket and pulled out a letter.
Her heart felt like it might beat out of her chest she was so nervous.
“I have it in writing.” She cleared her throat and then began to read.
“?‘I wonder how it would feel to tell you all these things in person, rather than spilling them out in ink and sending them off. I’d like to watch your face, to see your thoughts happening, to know how you feel.’?” Ellie heard the waver in her voice and cleared her throat.
“?‘I was walking the woods the other day, not for any purpose, other than thinking about you away from people, where I could give it my full attention. And the fall color was in full riot, the leaves falling slow and spiraling, like gold and orange snowflakes, and I wanted with all my body for you to be here with me.’?” Now she was here.
Only all those gold and orange leaves had fallen. Their season was over.
Ellie’s hands were shaking so much that the letter trembled in her fingers.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, for fear of what she might see.
“This is the important bit,” she warned him, and then she kept reading his words.
“?‘I know this is rash and hasty, and my brothers will never understand it, but it’s what I placed the ad for in the first place… Would you do me the honor of making me a happy man and becoming my wife?’?” She tapped the page, trying to seem braver than she was. “See? It’s a proposal.”
He swore. “That was written to Diana.”
Her heart pinched. “No,” she disagreed, holding it out for him to take. “It was written to me; you just didn’t know it yet.”
“You’re impossible.” But there was a twitch and a twinkle. She was sure there was.
“Fortunately for you, I’m not. I’m very possible. In fact, I’m a sure thing.” She dragged her chair closer to his, until her knees were touching his leg. She pulled his legs down from the post and tugged him around to face her.
“What are you doing?” He sighed. “Cain’t you ever just speak plain?”
“I am! Hush and listen. You’re ruining it.” She smacked him on the knee. “I’m here, in person. You can watch my face, and see my thoughts happening—”
“Half the time all I see is you turning vacant and staring into space.”
“Hush. When I read that letter, I wanted with all my body to be here with you too. I imagined walking through the fall woods with you so hard I thought it must have happened. And I’d like nothing more than to make you a happy man and accept your proposal of marriage.”
“I ain’t proposed to you yet!”
“You have. It’s there in writing.”
“I think if you put this in front of a judge—or even old Bascom—they’d tell you that the Dear Diana at the beginning would nullify your contract.”
“Well, I’m not putting it in front of a judge or Mr. Bascom. I’m putting it in front of you .”
“Is this your idea of romancing a man?”
“Oh, you want romance?” She perked up. Romance she could certainly do.
“What are you doing?” he asked, alarmed, as she began unbuttoning the neck of her rose-pink gown.
“Diana says I should show off my collarbones when I seduce you. She says they’re my best asset.” Ellie pulled her neckline back to show them off.
“Diana don’t know what she’s talking about,” he said wryly. “And I never said anything about seduction. I said romance.”
“In my experience, they’re bedfellows,” Ellie told him cheerfully. And then she slid over into his lap, making sure to keep her collarbones in his line of sight. Although she noticed his gaze dip down lower. She threaded her fingers through his dark hair. “Now close your eyes.”
“Do I have to? I’m enjoying this.” He tore his eyes regretfully from her cleavage.
“I need to paint a picture for you.”
“No, Ellie, you don’t.” He leaned into the stroking of her fingers against his scalp, his eyelids heavy. “I like this. I don’t want to leave it for any imaginings. This is all I’ve wanted.” His voice was thick as his hands travelled up her spine. “So you can shut up now and kiss me.”
“That doesn’t seem very romantic.”
“Trust me, it’s all the romance I’ll ever need.” He pulled her down to him and as his lips touched hers, he melted back into the rocking chair. Ellie turned to press her full self against him, kissing him with every last shred of longing she’d hoarded.
And it was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to her, at least until Morgan showed up with his shotgun.