Page 71 of The Rancher's Wedding

It was past the point where she had any choice in the matter. Now, it was completely a matter of necessity and he wasn’t here to tell. She got to work making herself a quick breakfast of eggs and potatoes, wishing she had just spent the extra few minutes the day before to bring home fresh bread, then began the daily duties on the ranch, starting with the hogs.

She kept one eye out at the entrance path to the house with everything she did, hoping that Michael would arrive before Ethan. Ideally long before.

The work around the farm occupied her mind and calmed her a little, though there was still a feeling in the pit of her stomach that kept her on edge.

Eventually, a shadow did appear off in the distance, coming down the trail towards the house.

Which man was it? Estelle stopped her work cleaning out the stables to watch the figure slowly approach.

It was a man on a horse. Did Ethan know how to ride a horse? Likely not, but it was possible.

However, when the figure made it close enough for Estelle to make out his broad shoulders and relaxed manner, she knew it was Michael. She ran out to greet him.

“Howdy, there,” Michael said, a cheerful look across his face. “I missed you.”

He dismounted the horse, came over to Estelle and kissed her cheek. She nearly broke down and cried. Were they happy tears? Sad tears? Likely a combination of both. She’d been so focused on needing to talk to him that she didn’t realize how much she missed him. His face, rugged with a thin layer of stubble, instantly filled her heart with happiness, even though it was also full of fear.

All the emotions were building up inside her simultaneously and she didn’t know how to handle them. Yes, she was happy to see him, and madly in love, but she was also nervous and scared, worried that she may never see him again. Mostly, she was queasy at the thought of having to interact with Ethan, the man she thought she’d escaped for good when she came out to Utah.

“I missed you, too,” she finally said to him.

They walked Buttercup back to the stables together.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” Michael said, reaching into his jacket.

Just blurt it out, Estelle. Close your eyes and just shout it. He needs to know. Every second he doesn’t know is another second that you’re lying to him. Another second wasted which you both could spend trying to figure out what to do next.

Michael stopped his hand when it was in his jacket.

“Wait,” he said. “Let’s wait until we get to the stable.”

He picked up his pace and Estelle kept up with him, running at his side, trying to keep up. “Michael, could you slow down?”

“I’m excited, Estelle! We’re almost there.”

They reached the stable and Michael put Buttercup in her stable.

Now’s your chance, Estelle thought as she was catching her breath.

She closed her eyes, but the words wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard she tried. It felt like she was pushing the words to her throat, but there were so many that they got stuck, like too many cattle through a small entranceway into a barn.

Michael put something in her hands.

“Take a look,” he said.

She opened her eyes and saw a long box, wrapped in thin paper. Michael smiled at her and gestured for her to open it, which she did methodically.

Once the paper was gone, she opened the box and saw a beautiful necklace, chained with what looked like silver, and a beautiful gem in the center. It was a sweet gesture, but not one she needed or expected from Michael. Perhaps Ethan would use such a thing to try and buy her love, but it would mean nothing from him as he had more than enough money to cover such a luxury item. Michael did not. This may have cost him several months worth of income to purchase. And she did appreciate the gesture.

But it was the kindness and devotion of the gift that hurt Estelle more than anything. How could Michael love her so much when she’d been lying to him from the moment they met?

“It’s lovely,” she said, looking back and forth between the gem and Michael. In both, she could see his love for her, but it was love she didn’t deserve and she felt wrong accepting it. He didn’t truly know her. And she’d dragged him into a mess of a situation.

Start slow, Estelle. You can do this.

This was it. It was going to happen. She was finally going to tell him.

“Michael,” she began, “I need to tell you something.”

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