Chapter 36 #3
“It’s a beauty, Sheila. I ain’t never seen anything so fine. Thank you.”
She beamed happily for a moment and then grew serious. “I asked Imala if she wanted to join us tonight, but she said no.”
“I ain’t surprised.”
Caleb understood completely. Talking to her, he knew that Imala would never replace her people’s spiritual beliefs with what was expected by white Christians. Celebrations like this weren’t for her.
“The rifle scabbard you have now is so worn, and I thought you could use a new one.”
“You’re right. And you done beautiful work on it. Thank you.”
Her face glowed. She was obviously happy with his reaction. “Should we go back? I’m going to force you to dance with me, you know.”
“Before we go...” He reached inside his pocket and took out the small box. “I got something for you too.”
Hesitantly, Sheila took it from him. “What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
She shook it beside her ear.
“It ain’t gonna talk to you.”
“That’s disappointing.”
“Open it.”
Smiling, she lifted the lid. Nestled inside on a bed of satin lay a delicate gold ring. For a moment she simply stared.
“Caleb...”
“It ain’t much.”
Her eyes flashed up at him. “Don’t you dare.”
He almost laughed.
“Don’t you dare say that.”
Carefully, she lifted the ring from the box. The gold gleamed in the lamplight. Then she noticed the engraving inside the band.
Her breath caught.
S.B. and C.M.
Her fingers trembled. “Oh, Caleb...”
The sounds of the celebration faded for them both. The music. The laughter. The voices. All of it seemed so far away.
Sheila forced herself to breathe as Caleb took her hand. His fingers felt rough and warm around hers.
“I spoke with your father tonight.”
Her heart was pounding. “You did?”
“I asked for his permission to marry you.”
“What did he say?” she finally managed to whisper.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “He said asking him was the easy part.”
A laugh escaped her, despite the sudden burning sensation in her eyes. “That sounds like him.”
He nodded. “Henry and I are staying.”
She already knew. But hearing him say it made something inside her grow quieter.
“And I told Paddy he’s coming to live with us.”
Us.
Not me.
Us.
The single word wrapped itself around her racing heart.
“The ranch ain’t perfect,” Caleb continued. “Money’s tight. There’s more rebuilding left to do.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know what trouble might be coming round the bend.”
“Neither do I.”
“But I know where I want to be to face it.”
His voice had gone low. Steady. Certain.
“And I know I want to face it with you.”
He swallowed hard.
“I love you, Sheila. I love your courage. I love your stubbornness. I love the way you never stop believing in people...even when they have a tough time believing in themselves. And I can’t imagine living a day of my life without you.”
Caleb tightened his hold on her hand.
“Will you marry me?”
Sheila gazed into his dark, serious eyes. For months she’d hoped. Prayed. Dreamed. She’d watched him fight his past. Fight his loneliness. Fight the belief that he was meant to walk through life alone.
And now, here he stood. Not running. Not drifting. Choosing. Choosing a home. Choosing a family. Choosing her.
The realization struck with such force that she had to blink back the tears that threatened to spill out onto her cheeks.
In her mind’s eye, she saw the ranch. The new barn. Paddy racing through the yard. Her father playing chess on the porch. Henry causing trouble. Bear sleeping in front of the fire.
Christmases. Summers. Years. A lifetime. And Caleb beside her through all of it.
She’d fallen in love with him long ago. Fallen in love with his strength and his loyalty. His rough hands and his gentle heart. She’d fallen in love with the man he thought he was and the man she knew him to be.
“Say something,” Caleb said softly.
His voice sounded nervous. The realization almost made her laugh. Caleb Marlowe was nervous. She reached up and touched his face. The familiar scar. The roughness of his jaw. The man she intended to spend the rest of her life loving.
“You impossible man. I love you so much.”
His shoulders eased.
“That a yes?”
Instead of answering, she kissed him. Not quickly. Not playfully. A long, trembling kiss that poured every hope, every prayer, every promise into the space between them.
When they finally pulled apart, her forehead rested against his.
“Yes.”
The word came out little more than a whisper.
Caleb stared at her. “Yes?”
A tear slipped down her cheek. And another.
“Yes, Caleb.” She laughed through the tears. “Yes, I'll marry you.”
For a second, he looked as if he couldn’t quite believe she’d said it.
Then, she held up her hand. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“The ring, Marlowe.”
He blinked. Then laughed. Actually laughed. Carefully, almost reverently, he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
She looked down at it. Then back at him. “Now what?”
His arm slipped around her waist.
“Now,” he said, pulling her close. “I reckon we go dancing.”
“Good answer.”
And when he kissed her again, the cheers that erupted around them barely registered at all.