Page 96 of Unforgiven

“Even when I was too afraid to speak to you?”

He nodded. “Even then.” Carefully, he opened the pouch in his hands and pulled out a ring. A white gold band with one perfect diamond. He held it out toward her. “Please say yes.”

“You . . . where did you get this?”

“I bought it, honey.”

Still stunned, she shook her head. “I mean, when? How come it was in your pocket?”

“I’ve been carrying it around for two weeks, Tabby.”

“Really?” It was hard to imagine.

“Yep.” Looking right proud of himself, he smirked. “I’ve been holding it for you since that day we talked in the hospital.”

“You should have said something.”

“I didn’t mind waiting. I knew one day the time would be right.” Studying her face, he murmured, “This seems like the perfect moment.”

She looked down at him, feeling the way his lovely, lovely words affected her. “I . . . I guess it is.”

“So what do you say?”

She laughed. “Yes. Yes, of course! But you have to stand up to give the ring to me. With my wrist, I’m afraid to join you down there on my knees.”

With a look of triumph Seth rose to his feet, reached for her left hand, and then slid the ring onto her fourth finger. It looked perfect.

Gazing down at the glistening diamond gracing her hand, she murmured, “I never thought I’d ever wear a ring, but I like how it feels.”

“I like how it looks on you.”

“I won’t ever take it off.” She wrapped her good arm around him and kissed him with all her heart.

Seth held her close, telling her how pleased he was without words. When they finally broke apart, Tabitha had to lean against him to catch her breath.

It seemed Seth Zimmerman had taken her breath away.

Yet again.

Epilogue

Only God knew how the five of them had ended up sitting together on the back field of Seth and Tabitha Zimmerman’s property on Independence Day.

A year ago, Tabitha wouldn’t have imagined that she would leave the safety of her house, let alone be in the company of Seth Zimmerman, his sister, Melonie, her fiancé, Lott, and Lott’s sister, Bethanne.

Obviously God had had other plans.

At one time, she’d been their teacher. Now she was married to Seth and living in the house that she’d been both afraid to leave and afraid to stay in for the rest of her life. Smoothing the red-and-white-checked tablecloth underneath her, she leaned back on her hands and watched the sun slowly make its descent in the west. Chance, who was sprawled out by her side, stretched a paw.

“You look awfully pensive, Tabitha,” Melonie said. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something in the house?”

“She couldn’t have done that,” Seth quipped. “We have half the kitchen out here.”

Seth was right. They’d made BLTs and fried chicken for their picnic. There were also three carafes of fresh lemonade, two bags of potato chips, a container of pickled cucumbers, thick slices of watermelon, and giant chocolate-cherry cookies individually wrapped in waxed paper. With the cheese, crackers, apples, and cold cider Melonie and Bethanne had brought, it was a feast.

“My husband’s right,” Tabitha said, feeling her cheeks heat. They’d only been married one month, and she was still a bit giddy that Seth was hers.

“I like how that sounds,” Seth teased.

---