Chapter 29
Gabe
It’s a lazy morning at the Double Trouble Ranch. Mindy delivered Cowpoke Muffins and a pot of coffee earlier. I managed to eat two of them even though I’m still full after the Cowboy Buffet. They really know how to put out a large spread of food here at the ranch.
The cabin backs onto a stream, and we both watch the water while we eat breakfast on the patio, mesmerized by the sound of the babbling brook.
“Look! There’s a hammock out back! Let’s go,” Izzie says, pointing to a hammock strung between two trees.
I follow her, then carefully inspect the swing. Throwing her a dubious look, I say, “I’m not sure it will hold me. You go ahead and try it.”
She laughs, then climbs in, her weight causing the hammock to flip, and she tumbles out, landing beside my feet.
Restraining laughter, I extend my hand and say, “Come on, I’ll hold the hammock steady while you get in.”
She’s much more cautious this time, carefully climbing on and getting settled, all the while I hold it steady for her. Laying flat on her back and staring straight at me, she says, “What fun is this? You need to join me.”
“Okay, but if we end up on the ground, it’s not my fault,” I say as I carefully climb in beside her, keeping a foot on the ground until the swing stops swaying. After I lay down, Izzie snuggles into my side. I’ve got to admit, this is nice.
“Wake me for lunch,” I say with a yawn as I close my eyes. The gentle swaying of the hammock is going to lull me to sleep.
“We need an activity so we stay awake,” Izzie says. I remain silent, hoping she’ll get the hint that I’m okay to chill. “I know! We’ll work on that crossword puzzle Mindy brought for us!” Izzie struggles to sit up, but eventually she shifts her weight enough to fall out of the swing in an inelegant dismount. But she did manage to land on her feet. “Be right back!”
Maybe she’ll be content to quietly work the crossword by herself, so I can nap.
Izzie’s back in what feels like two seconds flat. I’d just closed my eyes, but she wiggles so much as she climbs in that I’m awake instantly.
“Okay, this is nice,” she says, cuddling close and grinning over at me. With a pen poised over the paper, she says, “First clue for One Across, a romantic or passionate attachment. Twelve letters.” She nibbles on the end of the pen as she thinks.
“You’re pretty sure of yourself using a pen,” I comment.
“Couldn’t find a pencil,” she says.
“Dalliance,” I say.
“Dalliance?” she replies.
“You know, the answer to the clue.”
She spells dalliance on her fingers. “Brzzt! Only nine letters.”
“Hookup?” I suggest.
“Gabriel, that’s fewer letters! Are you even trying?”
The expression on her face is worth making the dumb guesses. She’s not going to be content to quietly work the crossword by herself, is she?
“Let’s try One Down, maybe it’s easier. Love story, seven letters.”
Boy, whoever created this puzzle was sure hung up on romance.
“Romance?” I say.
Izzie nods and scribbles the answer in. “Now we know the first letter for the previous clue! A romantic or passionate attachment. Twelve letters, starts with R.”
Yawning, I settle back into the hammock and close my eyes.
“You’re no help,” Izzie says, elbowing me in the ribs.
“Relationship?” I grumble. Maybe she’ll leave me alone once she gets a couple clues solved.
“That’s it!” she says, then fills out the boxes. “What about this one? Starts with P, eight letters, an offer of marriage.”
I grunt. “What’s the theme on this puzzle?”
Izzie giggles. “Will You Marry Me.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Is that a proposal or the name of the puzzle?”
“Proposal!” she shouts, and scribbles on the paper.
“Well, in that case, I accept,” I say, intentionally acting dense.
Her pen pauses, mid-scribble. “Really?” she whispers, her eyes big as saucers in her face.
I meant my flippant response as a joke, but the minute I said the words, I realized that I meant it for real. Ours is truly a whirlwind romance, but I almost lost Izzie to a crazy stalker. Having someone you love threatened makes you want to live life to its fullest, and I can’t see waiting another day to start doing so with Izzie.
Pulling her closer, I say, “Ismeralda Harrington, somehow during our road trip, my feelings morphed into a romantic or passionate attachment. Starts with R.”
“Relationship,” Izzie supplies.
“Yep. Might as well call it what it is.” Leaning closer, I say, “I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She blinks at me. “You have?” she breathes.
“I have. Do you love me?”
A slow smile crosses her lips. “Yes, Mr. Martin, I believe I’ve fallen in love with you as well.”
My heart soars. Tugging her closer, I place a gentle kiss on her luscious lips. She twines her arms around my neck, and the kiss heats up like striking a match against dry kindling. I lose track of time as we kiss, lost in this romantic bubble. The swing sways and she burrows closer, all without breaking the kiss. When we finally come up for air, we’re both breathing hard. We probably shouldn’t be making out beside this stream. What if the fly-fishing class sees us?
Clearing my throat, I say, “Shall we tie the knot and spend our honeymoon right here at the Double Trouble?”
Resting her head back on my shoulder, she says, “Might as well have the wedding here, too. I just love the little chapel beside the mess hall.”
Surprised, but happy about the turn of events, I say, “Just tell me when to show up and I’ll be there.”
Izzie squeals. “This is going to be fun! Father is going to faint.” She tumbles from the hammock and rushes off to talk to Mindy about planning a wedding.
Looks like I’m getting hitched.