Page 136 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Amelia looked up at Ford, and he said, "I asked Amelia to marry me, guys, and she said yes."

"Yes!" Hunter punched the air, and Nat grinned. "Really? You guys are going to get married?"

Amelia nodded. "We are."

"But..." Nat’s skeptical look was back. "Not just for us. Not just so that..."

"No," said Ford. "Yes, it'll make things easier for us to adopt you. But that's not the only reason." He leaned across and pressed a kiss to Amelia's forehead. "I knew even before we met you guys that I wanted to marry this little lady. You've just done me a favor in speeding things up."

Nat grabbed Amelia's left hand and scowled when she saw there was no ring. She looked up at Ford again. "Are you lying?" she asked.

Ford scowled right back at her. "No. I'd never lie to you."

He stepped away from them and ran his hand through his hair. Amelia went after him. "What's wrong?" she asked.

He shook his head sadly. "Don't worry. I'm not mad at any of you. I'm mad at myself. I'm a damn fool. I didn't even think about a ring. I just... I came right out and asked. Didn't plan anything. Cash was right. It was the least romantic proposal ever."

Amelia wrapped her arms around his waist. "No, it wasn't. It was perfect for us. I've told you before, I don't get romance anyway."

Nat came to them and wrapped her arms around their waists again. "Don't be mad," she told Ford. "Amelia's right. It sounds like it was perfect for you guys. And it's not like it's too late to get a ring, is it?"

"No, but I screwed it up," he said.

"No, you didn't, Uncle Ford," Hunter piped up as he stood on their other side, mirroring his sister in wrapping his arms around their waists. "It's all good."

Amelia met Ford's gaze and held it. "They're right, you know. And it wasn't just you who forgot. I didn't even think about a ring myself until Nat mentioned it just now."

She had to chuckle when Nat rolled her eyes at them and said, "It's a good thing you guys have me now to help you out with this kind of thing."

"And me," said Hunter. "I can help, too."

Ford finally smiled. "I think I'm probably going to need your help, all of you guys. But I promise you, I'm going to do my best for all of you. I'll learn. I'll learn how to be a good husband and..." He looked down at the kids, and Amelia could tell what he was thinking.

She held her breath when Hunter said, "You already are a good dad."

Even he seemed to realize what he'd said. He looked at Nat and said, "I know he's not Dad. But..."

Amelia had to close her eyes to keep in the tears when Nat said, "No, he isn't. But..." She shook her head. "I don't think I'll ever be able to call you Dad." She looked at Amelia. "I even struggle to call you Auntie."

"I know, sweetie, and that's okay. You don't need to."

Ford nodded his agreement. "We’re Ford and Amelia to you."

"Uncle Ford and Auntie Amelia to me," added Hunter.

Nat shook her head slowly. "Even if we don't say the words, I love that we get you as our parents."

"I love it, too," said Amelia.

Ford nodded. "And me."

Hunter grinned at them all. "Does this mean we're a family now?"

Amelia and Ford both turned to Nat, and she brushed away the tears from her cheeks as she nodded and said, "Yeah, it does. But only if I get omelet rolls for breakfast."

~ ~ ~

After they were done with breakfast, and Amelia had gone upstairs to take a shower, Ford went to his office and started up the computer so that he could do a search. He had an idea of what he wanted, but he needed to make sure that it was going to be possible before he took the day off to head up to town.

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