Page 56 of A Family With the Cowboy

His eyes mere slits, Hayden glared at her. “I love you, damn it. We’re way past a freaking fling.”

“So what are we then, Hayden? This time,Ineed to hear the words.”

He opened and closed his mouth a few times before he inhaled deeply. “That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Her throat too clogged up to talk, Laura nodded.

Without another word, Hayden started his truck and drove further. Those stupid butterflies were going crazy. She didn’t want to be excited, but the light in his eyes was making it difficult. Was it possible that they could…? Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her breathing. She’d have to wait.

A few minutes later, they stopped under a huge tree. Right next to it, neatly fenced in with a white gate, was a graveyard. Hayden helped her down from the truck.

Lacing his fingers with hers, he opened the gate. “The family graveyard. These two here,” he said as they walked past the first graves. “These are where our great-grandfather and great-grandmother lie. He tamed the land with her by his side. These two,” he continued as they walked past the next two graves, “Are Grandpa’s and my nana’s. Dad lies here.” He swallowed. “I still miss him every day. And this”—he pointed toward the next one—“this is Walker’s grave, and here…” he said as walked to the last grave. “Lies Madeline.”

For a long time, they just stood there, the cold slowly seeping through their clothes. A deep sadness filled Laura. Madeline had been so very young, it had to have been heartbreaking to leave her son and husband behind.

Finally, Hayden took her hand and they walked back to the truck.

The inside was nice and warm. Turning to her, Hayden pulled her into his arms. With a sigh, she leaned against him. For a while, he didn’t say anything, just holding her tightly until their breathing slowed down.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “I don’t know how this works. I don’t know whether showing you my dead wife’s grave is something one is supposed to do or not. I’m trusting my gut here. I loved her, we had a son together, and she will always be a part of me and Luke. I also wanted you to see Walker’s grave. I’ll probably always feel guilty about the night he died. I fell for you the moment I saw you, but I didn’t think…I couldn’t believe I deserved a second chance at love. It didn’t seem fair that I wanted to marry again, and Walker would never have the chance to do that and to raise a family.”

Marry again.Hayden was still talking, but after those two words, she didn’t hear another word. She turned to face him.

He stopped mid-sentence before he rubbed his face. “I shouldn’t have brought you here,” he sighed. “I just thought…”

“You said ‘marry again.’”

Frowning, he nodded. “Yes, I’m working up to that.”

Happiness exploded inside her. “Why don’t you just ask me?”

He looked puzzled. “Ask you what?”

“To marry you.”

“You mean…”

“Ask me.”

“I wanted to tell you about Walker and Madeline first, so that…”

“We’ll get to that. Ask me.”

The grin that lit up his face was a picture she would always carry in her heart. “I don’t have a ring—”

“I don’t need a ring right now.”

Slowly, his smile faded. He took her hands in his. “I don’t know how fair it is to ask you. I come with baggage, something you specifically mentioned you don’t want—a son, a ranch, an interfering mother, a sister who knows things, a brother who talks to animals, and I worry about Becket. He isn’t happy, and I’m not sure why. We have people who work for us, who are our responsibility. Right now, the ranch is doing well, but it could change at any minute. There’s Madeline and Walker and…I don’t even know whether you’re going to like living out here—”

She put her hands around his face. “Ask me.”

He stilled. Blue eyes watched her. Breathlessly, she waited.

“Laura,” he finally said, his eyes suspiciously bright. “You told Molly something that stuck with me.”

Surprised, she looked at him. “How do you know what I’ve told Molly? Don’t tell met you’re another Willow?”

“No.” He smiled. “You called me without realizing it. So I heard what you said. When you fall in love, it would be with someone who wants to be with you, always. Well, I’m that guy. I can’t believe that I’ve found you. I love you, and I want to be with you as long as we live. Will you marry me? And my baggage?”

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