Chapter Fifty-Five
The next day Maya and Josh, after sleeping in and having a leisurely morning with lots of coffee, decided to head out to her
cabin. She knew the builders had been able to get a lot done and she wanted to see the progress. The dogs had also slept all
night long and while Juniper was a little tired, she still had plenty of energy. Maya figured they could go run around and
play while she and Josh studied how the build was going.
They all piled into Maya’s personal vehicle, an off-road Jeep, and headed out. She was driving and as she shifted gears, she
could see Josh was once again acting nervous.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. You’re anxious about something.”
“No, I’m not,” Josh said.
“You’re like me, you’re a terrible liar. But I also know that you’ll talk to me when you’re ready. You are tense about something,
though.”
Josh laughed and shook his head. “How about I talk to you when we get out to the cabin?”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Maya said.
“I hope you do.”
They drove the rest of the way in silence. The air still had some haze from the fire, but it was much improved. The latest
report was that the fire was about sixty percent contained and thanks to some rain coming later that week along with low winds
and slightly lower temperatures, the firefighters would probably have it contained soon and move into the mop-up stage.
Maya was glad that the firefighters had been able to hold the line and save Pinecone Junction. That risk was part of living
in the mountains and she knew it. But that didn’t necessarily make it easier to handle when the threat became real. She slowed
down as a mule deer and her fawn crossed the road in front of them. Juniper was staring at the deer intently and was ready
to bark when Maya said, “Quiet.”
Juniper, much to Maya’s amazement, listened but then Finn realized what Juniper was looking at and started rapidly barking.
“That’s your dog,” she said to Josh.
He laughed. “Juniper only listened because she’s tired. Finn didn’t get to work at all. Poor guy needs to blow off some steam.”
Maya chuckled and once the pair crossed the road, she accelerated again, but carefully. The fire had displaced a lot of wildlife
and driven them down to lower elevations. Normally they would stay at higher altitudes during the summer. Earlier that morning,
Maya had even seen a bull moose walking through town like he owned the place.
The farther out of town they went, the thicker the trees became and Maya relaxed. She loved living with Josh in town, but she was excited to move back to her slice of heaven with him. At one point she’d been worried he might not want to go, but Josh was excited too and that made her happy.
She turned onto the road that led to her cabin and parked, shutting off the car. Everything was so quiet. Including Josh.
What was up with him? He said he would tell her, but now she was starting to feel nervous.
They each stepped out of the car. Maya let Juniper and Finn out her side of the Jeep. The two dogs took off and started running
big circles, chasing each other and at times getting down in the play position and then running zoomies again. Maya loved
watching them.
She and Josh went to the front of the Jeep and leaned back against it, taking in the surroundings. Birds chirped off in the
distance and the air seemed less smoky here. Maya took a deep breath and then let it out.
“It’s good to be here and the cabin is starting to look like a home,” she said.
“It is. I love it out here,” Josh said.
“I’m glad you do. I honestly can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“Same here.”
“You going to tell me what’s going on?” Maya asked.
She’d thought about the possibilities and was wondering if Josh no longer wanted to run for sheriff.
She felt better hearing him say he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
The thought had crossed her mind that maybe he didn’t want to live out in the middle of the woods year-round.
Josh nodded and reached for her hand. “Yes, but come this way with me.”
She placed her hand in his. “What’s up?”
“Come with me and I’ll explain why I’ve been so nervous,” he said, with a smile.
Maya followed and they went up a small hill. It was one of her favorite spots. From the top, she could see the creek that
ran behind her cabin. It was low and barely running right now, but as the seasons changed so would it. Come spring the stream
would have mini whitewater rapids. She and Josh had come up here many times to have a picnic or just sit and talk. He knew
it was one of her favorite spots. Now she was uneasy as her mind went down a different road. Was he going to ask her what
she thought he might? Stay in the moment, she told herself. She would wait and see what Josh wanted.
They stood together watching the dogs, who had tired slightly, trot around, sniffing in different areas and exploring. From
this angle, Maya thought the cabin really seemed complete. She could finally picture it as a home. Their home.
Josh turned and faced her, then he got down on one knee and, hand shaking, pulled out a small black box.
“Josh?” Maya said. Now she knew for sure why he was nervous.
She was excited. There was a time when she never thought she’d find someone who loved her for her.
She’d figured she’d grow old alone and had come to terms with that.
When she met Josh she hadn’t been looking for a relationship, but now as her heart pounded, Maya knew he was the one.
“I planned to do this when we went away for our trip, but then things changed. Maya Thompson, you are the love of my life.
I can’t imagine being with anyone else. You make me a better person. You make me so happy. I’ve only been nervous because
I want to be with you forever and I hope you want to be with me. Will you marry me?” Josh opened the box and inside was an
antique ring with several small diamonds surrounding a larger one.
Maya was speechless. She didn’t know what to say. No wonder he’d been so anxious. She had no idea he was planning this.
“Will you?” Josh asked, now getting a little pale.
“Yes . . . yes. Yes,” Maya said as she processed everything.
Josh let out a breath of air and slid the ring on her finger. Then he stood and drew her in to him, kissing and holding her
tight. When they parted, he said, “I hope you like the ring. It was my grandmother’s from Italy.”
“It’s beautiful,” Maya said, admiring the ring. “I love it.”
“My grandmother was a spitfire. She would have liked you. A lot.”
“I’m sure I would have liked her too,” Maya said, thinking about earlier. “Is this why Nick winked at you?”
Josh laughed. “It is. He and I got to know each other better when we were trying to figure out where you were after you and Hope were separated from me at the lodge. He’d learned that we were a thing and wanted to know how serious we were. He’s already like an overprotective older brother.”
“That was nice of him. What about Pops? Does he know?”
“Of course,” Josh said. “I asked his permission and for a guy who tries to hold back his emotions, let me tell you, he was
all teared up and happy. You’re his granddaughter and little girl all in one. And I even asked Eric.”
“Really?”
“Really. I wanted to do this right and since I knew that somehow, he was going to be a part of our lives, I wanted to ask
for your hand in marriage from him too. Now that he’s going to be staying around, I’m happy I did that.”
Maya shook her head. “Everyone knows then? Isabelle and Hope too?”
“Not sure about Hope, but we’ll be meeting them for that barbecue soon. I’m sure she’ll be excited to hear it from you.”
“And I’m sure she’ll be excited to have another uncle.” Maya placed her hands on Josh’s chest. “I never thought I would be
this happy. Ever. I never thought I’d meet someone like you. You are my everything. I love you and I can’t wait to be your
wife.”
“I can’t wait to be your husband. I love you.”
She reached up and pulled him closer, kissing him tenderly, wanting and loving everything about him. Parting for a moment, she said, “I love you, Josh Colten. I always have and always will.”
Josh ran his fingers over her cheek, caressing it and then moving down her back, pulling her in close. “I love you too, Maya.
I’ll love you forever.”
There was a nudge on her leg. Juniper had noticed something serious was going on. She and Finn had stopped playing to investigate.
Juniper sat down, tilted her head and poked Maya again with her nose.
“I think she’s making sure you know we’re a package deal,” Maya said. “Did you ask her permission to marry me?”
Josh laughed. “I didn’t. Juniper, would you allow me to marry your mom and become your adoptive dad?”
Juniper stood, danced around in a circle and then gave some excited yips.
“That’s a yes.” Maya pulled Josh in for a kiss. She never wanted to let go.
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