Chapter 18 #3
“You’re happy.”
It wasn’t a question, but Claire answered anyway. “So happy. Sometimes I can’t believe this is my life. I can’t believe I get to have this.”
“You deserve it, sweet girl.” Granny Mama’s needles paused. “Your parents would be proud of the woman you’ve become and the life you’re building.”
The familiar clog returned to her throat, and she waited for it to clear before she spoke. “I think about them sometimes. Wonder what they’d think of Luke and Covenant Creek.”
“They’d think you made a brave choice.” Granny Mama resumed knitting. “That’s all they ever wanted for you. To be brave enough to love well.”
Luke appeared in the doorway, drying his hands on a dish towel. “I’m heading out. Early morning tomorrow.”
Claire stood. “I’ll walk you out.”
They stepped onto the porch together. The night had turned cool enough that Claire wished she’d grabbed a sweater.
Luke noticed and immediately pulled her close, sharing his warmth. He cupped her face, the touch familiar and so achingly sweet her eyes burned. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Church?”
“Of course. Granny Mama wouldn’t let me miss it even if I wanted to. Which I most definitely do not.”
He kissed her goodnight, whispered “I love you” against her lips, and took a step back.
“I love you too.” Claire kissed him once more before he moved out of range. “Drive safe.”
He nodded and walked backward off the porch and all the way to his truck. Claire hugged her ribs and waited until he cranked the engine to go inside.
Granny Mama still sat in her chair, but her sly smile said she’d seen their goodbye.
“Don’t start.” Claire held up a hand in warning.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking about it.”
“A grandmother’s allowed to think things.” Granny Mama’s needles clicked faster. “Especially when those things involve weddings and great grandbabies.”
“Granny Mama!”
“I’m just saying. I’m not getting any younger.”
Claire laughed and settled into her chair, picking up the book she’d left there yesterday. But she couldn’t focus on the words. Her mind kept drifting to Luke and their planned ride after church.
She stayed with Granny Mama until her eyes drooped, then headed up to bed.
The church service gave her exactly the kind of deep, meaningful message she loved and appreciated, and even after the lunch at the ranch where they all laughed so hard her ribs ached, she could not get enough of the Calloway bunch.
Until Luke stole her away for their trail ride.
They walked back to the house hand in hand, taking the long route past the calving barn and through the hay fields where green shoots waved thick and rich in what Luke claimed might be one of their best years yet.
The ranch was waking up for summer, shedding the last remnants of spring and moving into the season of growth.
They saddled horses together. Luke had taught Claire, but he still checked in on her when she tightened the girth on the gentle mare Ruth always lent her.
Luke rode his favorite gelding, and they rode out toward the line cabin, taking the same route as three months ago when a spring storm had trapped them and changed everything.
The cabin appeared in the distance, weathered wood against green grass. They dismounted and stood looking at it.
A mosquito buzzed past her ear, and Claire swatted it away while looping the mare’s reins around a low post Luke had set up for these occasions. “I was so scared that day. When you asked if I wanted to stay, I knew what you were really asking, and I couldn’t answer.”
“I shouldn’t have pushed.” Luke’s arm came around her shoulders. “I was asking you to jump without letting you know I’d catch you.”
“But you would have.”
“Always.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll always catch you.”
They stood there in the afternoon sun, the horses grazing nearby, and she turned in his arms to meet his gaze. “Thank you for showing me what home feels like.”
Luke kissed her there in the shadow of the line cabin where their story had begun.
The Montana sun warmed their backs and the future stretched bright ahead and the absolute certainty that this, their love, this life, was exactly right.
When Luke ended the kiss, he held a box up in front of her eyes.
“You are my home and my heart. I plan on spending the rest of my life making sure you understand how much I love you.” He popped the lid open with one hand. “Any chance you’d marry me?”
“Yeah, I think I’d like that a lot.” She held out her hand, her eyes misting as he slid the ring into place.
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading Luke and Claire’s story.