Chapter 36
Lady’s breathing stayed even beneath her stethoscope, steady in the chill of the late afternoon air. Kristie rested a gloved hand on the mare’s shoulder as she listened, reassured by the rhythm. She stood tall and patient, coat glossy under the fading sun.
“You’re doing great, girl.” Kristie gave her a soft stroke down the side of her neck. “I’m so proud of you.”
She finished her exam and jotted down a note on her tablet, glancing up to see if Mission was on his way across the field toward her.
He wasn’t, and he’d always come when she checked on Lady.
Usually, by the time she’d packed up her supplies, he’d be leaning against the fence, arms folded, watching with that quiet steadiness that somehow made her feel both safe and seen.
Then he’d carry her cases back to her car, and they’d make the trek from the administration barn across the farm to his cabin.
She glanced toward the tree line. Nothing.
Her heartbeat skipped, and she moved to put Lady away properly.
Molly would be thrilled that Kristie could now pronounce Lady fully recovered from her summertime injury, and she fed Lady a strawberry candy from her pocket once she had her back in her stall.
She packed her case and backpack of supplies back to her car, and slightly out of breath, she leaned against the bumper of her car and pulled out her phone. She only had a text from Lennie about this month’s dessert night. Still nothing from Mission.
She updated Molly, Hunter, Deacon, and Mission on Lady’s recovery, ending with, So she’s good! I won’t have to come see her again unless any of you have any concerns about anything.
Molly responded instantly with, Thank you so much, Kristie! I am SO grateful!
Both Hunter and Deacon responded too, but Mission had mysteriously gone radio silent. She tapped over to the thread with just the two of them and sent him a text.
I’m done with Lady and walking your way. We’re still on for dinner?
She knew the unpredictability of a farm better than anyone, and perhaps Mission had gotten caught up in something outside of his control. He had promised her breakfast-for-dinner, and her stomach growled as she started along the fence toward the back of the farm.
A slip of nerves moved through her when she thought of Briar getting attacked by a coyote. Thankfully, the woman had been healing really well, at least according to Deacon’s second-hand reports.
The sun had dipped behind the mountains, leaving a rose-gold sky painted with streaks of indigo.
The air carried that unmistakable Rocky Mountain scent—pine and hay and a hint of snow not far off.
Her boots crunched over the path, each step sending up little puffs of dust that caught the last light.
Kristie pulled her coat tighter. The air nipped at her exposed skin, just briskly enough to remind her she better keep moving. Her mind certainly did, reviewing a conversation they’d had since he’d come to the Stag Hollow Lodge
She’d curled up on his couch with coffee, cookies, and Mission, and they’d talked about what came next. Marriage wasn’t a maybe. It was a when.
Flowers bloomed in her mind, and Kristie wanted to tell him she’d like to be married in the spring, with mountain wildflowers all around them, the two of them and their closest friends. She’d tell him tonight over bacon and eggs.
Her breath clouded as she made it past the pastures and the equipment shed, and Mission’s cabin came into view. Kristie froze.
The porch light glowed soft and golden. Tiny string lights wound around the railing, warm against the twilight. String lights that hadn’t been there last night. Kristie actually glanced down the road to make sure she hadn’t accidentally wandered onto someone else’s farm.
She looked back at Mission’s house, noting the curl of smoke that came out of the chimney too. That promise of warmth had her moving toward the front porch and those so out-of-place string lights.
She climbed the steps slowly, her heart beginning to tap a faster rhythm. She hadn’t knocked or rung the doorbell here for a while, but tonight, she hesitated for a moment. She gripped the doorknob, then reached up and knocked a couple of times as she twisted.
“Mission?” she asked as she walked inside. The scent of salty bacon meshed with the sweeter, distinct smell of peaches hung in the air, making Kristie pause once again.
She’d walked into the wrong cabin—because this one had been transformed. Candles flickered on the table, three vases of flowers sat on the bar, and someone had hung enormous purple ribbons from the edge of the bar.
Most notably, her three best friends worked in the kitchen with Mission.
He wore an apron—a black number that had his name embroidered on it—and stepped over to the stove, where Lennie pointed to something. None of them seemed to have realized she’d entered the house, and Kristie quickly closed the door behind her.
Then Jocelyn looked over to her. She smiled and turned back to the others without even a wave. Kristie almost felt like she’d arrived too early, and she watched as her friends all said something to Mission.
He nodded, the half of his expression she could see the ultra-serious mask he sometimes wore. He finally cracked a smile, and Kristie’s heart nearly burst when all three of her friends stepped into him, creating a four-way group hug.
That lasted only a few seconds, and then Lennie, Jocelyn, and Harper stepped back and pulled their aprons over their heads. Harper had to have taken a day off of work to be here right now—and so had Mission, for that matter.
He’d told her he’d make breakfast for dinner, because it was fast and easy, and they could eat within a few minutes of getting off the farm.
“He’s so amazing,” Harper said as she approached. She hugged Kristie and sighed. “I wish I could meet a cowboy like him.”
“There are lots of single cowboys here,” Kristie said.
Lennie took Harper’s place after draping her apron over the back of Mission’s couch. “I hope you know how lucky you are.” She moved past Kristie, and Harper had already opened the door, letting in the cooler night air outside.
Jocelyn gripped her tightly, sniffled, and then followed the others outside, the clicking of the door behind her sealing Mission and Kristie in the cabin together.
With wonder wafting through her, she looked over to him, her eyebrows lifted up toward her hairline. “What is going on?”
The low hum of country music met her ears, and Kristie stepped over to Mission. He moved around the island to greet her, positioning himself right next to the third vase of colorful flowers and all those purple ribbons hanging from the counter.
She reached him and traced her fingertip along the letters of her name, then the item that had been stitched right above it—immediately over his heart. “That’s me.”
“Mm, it sure is.”
She looked up at him, his handsomeness everywhere—in his stature, the sexy cowboy hat, the hint of color in his face, and those dark, dreamy, devouring eyes which held hers.
“You baked,” she said.
“I did,” he said, easing her into his arms. “And I can whip up dinner in only a few minutes.”
“You haven’t even started on dinner yet?” She wrapped her arms around him and sank into the beauty of this amazing man.
“I’ve worked hard on this farm every day since I got here,” he murmured. “But today, I worked harder than any of those. Because I wanted tonight to be right.”
Her breath caught as she pulled back and looked up into his eyes.
He focused on her too. “I’m a simple cowboy,” he continued, his voice low, a little rough. He backed up a step and took both her hands in his.
“I’ve never been good at finding the right words. But I do know this—every prayer I didn’t have the courage to speak, God answered when He brought you to me.”
Tears stung her eyes, because while Mission didn’t say a lot, when he did speak, it was with power, and he said such beautiful things.
Mission dropped to one knee, never looking away from her. “I want to spend my whole life learning how to love you better. Day by day, quiet and steady and…simply. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, kitten.”
“I thought you wanted a dog,” she whispered.
He grinned at her. “Besides the dog.” He reached up behind him, twisting slightly, to pick up a black, velvet box. It squeaked when he opened it, and Kristie sucked in a breath at the glorious diamond nestled inside.
“This is a real diamond,” he said as he lifted it out. “And it’s studded with sapphires, because when I look into your eyes, I see the same type of blue stars.” He looked up at her again, his smile gorgeous, if somewhat nervous.
“I need you in my life,” he said. “Through all the highs and all the lows; through third place losses and purple ribbons; through harvest seasons and long, dark winters and many, many beautiful summers like we just experienced.”
Kristie dropped to her knees too, heart so full it felt like it might spill over. Her fingers stroked down his beard, warm and real beneath her touch.
“I love you, kitten,” he whispered. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, tears crowding into her eyes now. “Yes, Mission. Of course I’ll marry you.” And then, without hesitation, she added, “I love you too.”
His eyes softened, and his smile filled his whole face. A somewhat nervous chuckle escaped his mouth as he slid the ring on her finger, then placed a kiss right over the gems. He looked up at her then, and Kristie leaned forward, closed her eyes, and touched her forehead to his.
“I made you a peach pie,” he murmured.
Kristie lifted her head. “Mish, you’re joking.”
“With that recipe you love.” He grinned at her and groaned as he got to his feet. “Oof. I’m too old to be down on the ground that long.”
He pulled her up too, and right into his arms. “Dinner first; pie second.”
“Kissing right now.” Kristie grinned at him, the world so still and small when she stood in his arms.
“Mm, I think I can do that.” Mission lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, and Kristie thanked God Above for the blessing of this amazing cowboy in her life.
He started to sway with her, dancing to the slow ballad piping through his house—their tenth dance that would lead to forever.
I love Kristie’s friends, and Kristie with Mission, and Mission and his grandfather! I hope you thought so too. If so, please leave a review for His Tenth Dance here.
You can read the first two chapters HIS ELEVENTH HOUR now!