Chapter Sixteen #2
He moved his chair around the side of the table so that their knees touched and raised her hand to kiss her knuckles. “I should have asked you to marry me a long time ago. If it’s not too late, what do you say?”
Sloane blinked, her heart thumping as if she was racing for the gold. “I love you, Jonas. I think I’ve loved you since I was in the sixth grade.”
“Stupid me,” he said, dropping to one knee and pulling a small box from his pocket. “Sloane Michaels, will you marry me?”
“Oh yeah.” Without hesitation she threw her arms around his neck. All Sloane’s uncertainty vanished as she looked down at the open box and whispered, “You have a ring.”
“It was my mother’s. She left it to me in her will, hoping I would find the perfect girl to wear it. I have.”
Sloane’s heart turned over. Jonas was everything she wanted. “It’s beautiful.”
Slipping the ring with its bold diamond surrounded by delicate silver filagree on her finger, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her breath away as he promised, “You are my best friend and the love of my life. I give you my heart. I’m yours forever.”
Sloane leaned against his chest. “And I am yours.”
Their meal completely forgotten, Sloane got down to the serious business of showing Jonas just how much she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her BFF, interrupted only by two flutes of champagne brought by their waiter and the round of applause from the other patrons on the balcony.
*
One month later...
“Mom and Dad would be proud,” Nathan said, as Jonas leaned on the pasture fence with his brothers, watching the mares in the field.
Duke, his head lifted high, mane waving in the gentle breeze, called to his ladies. The mountains seemed taller. The sky was a victorious clear blue. In his mind’s eye, Jonas could see his mom and dad walking in the field with the mares.
“Duke’s DNA results and registration with the Colorado Ranger Horse Association came just in time.
” It was good news but not nearly as great as Sloane agreeing to become his wife.
“I got a call from two ranchers back east who want to breed their mares with Duke. Dad’s breeding program is back in business. ”
“The Triple L broke even this month,” Blake added. “I’m happy to say the ranch is well on its way to being out of trouble.”
“It doesn’t hurt that Duke placed first in the barrel racing event at the rodeo, and Rosie second,” Nathan said, beaming.
Jonas had to give his brothers kudos. Despite their past difficulties, they’d worked through it all and saved their parents’ dream. “We make a good team.”
“Yup,” Nathan said at the same time Blake agreed, “You bet we do.”
The year had started with the family and ranch in dire circumstances, but they’d pulled together and become the close family they were meant to be.
“Congratulations, Blake. I notice your latest Timmy book made the New York Times list.” Jonas was putting together a scrapbook for Blake and Timmy. And one for Nathan and Duke for their rodeo successes. He planned to give them as gifts to his brothers for Christmas.
He couldn’t ask for more, except...
Sloane, with Clara in the front passenger seat, parked in front of the barn. Malorie, Andee, Reece, and Timmy were right behind her. At the same time, Izzy came from the guesthouse, where she was staying until she and Nathan got married in the spring.
Jonas grinned. “We have company, boys.”
“Speak for yourself, big brother. Malorie and the kids, they’re my family.” Blake wrapped his arms around his wife, watching with pride as the kids climbed the fence beside them to watch the horses.
“Yeah,” Nathan agreed, as he pulled Izzy close, her back to his chest as they turned to watch the horses too. “I can’t wait until we get married.”
Too impatient to wait for Sloane and Clara to reach him, Jonas met them halfway. “How are my girls?”
Clara grabbed a quick hug and then ran to join the other kids on the fence.
He wrapped his arms around Sloane. That night at Stephanie’s, he’d been afraid she wouldn’t give him a chance, but he was the lucky one.
He couldn’t get enough of holding her next to his heart.
She rose on her toes, kissing him on the lips.
He couldn’t get enough. When he finally let her go, it was to whistles and clapping from the fence line echoing the marathon racing in his chest.
“I know it doesn’t leave much prep time, but what do you say we get married the week before Thanksgiving?
” He rested his forehead against Sloane’s.
“It’s not like we need a lot of time to get to know each other.
We can get married at The Wedding Cottage.
I checked the calendar. There are several open dates—”
Sloane placed her hands on each side of his face, her eyes shining brightly. “I think mid-November will be perfect.”
He turned to his brothers and their families. “Did I mention that I think I might have found who bought Dad’s hundred acres?”
That brought them all to their feet.
Yup. He was one lucky cowboy. His heart had finally found home.
The End