Page 117 of Conveniently Wed
But this was all he had to offer her. It was snug, but small. He’d modeled it after Oscar’s place, with hewn logs for the walls and glass windows where he could fit them.
It was a house that could survive many Wyoming winters, a place they could grow old in together.
Maybe with a passel of kids around them.
“All right.” He drew up the horse a few yards away from the front door. “No peeking.”
He slid off the horse and reached up for her.
She came into his arms, eyes still closed, totally trusting him. It was a gift he couldn’t take for granted, not after what had happened—and what could’ve happened—with Underhill.
Her nose wrinkled adorably. “Did you light a fire?”
With her waist already in his hands, he took the opportunity to draw her to his chest, tucking her in close. “Had to test the new cookstove,” he said against her temple. “Didn’t want the place burning down around you the first time you make my supper.”
She hummed, the soft noise vibrating through his chest. Then pushed against him. “I thought you were going to show me the house, not sneak me away up here to steal kisses.”
He brushed one across her cheek. “Maybe it was both.”
Then he let her go, gently spinning her with his hands at her waist to face the house. “All right, you can open your eyes now.”
With her in front of him, he could only see the side of one cheek, but she gasped and then looked back at him, and her eyes were shining.
And all the long nights and backbreaking work were suddenly worth it.
“You planted flowers?” she asked, turning back toward the house and taking several steps forward. He followed.
He’d thought the two scraggly bushes and overturned mud that Seb had insisted on planting on either side of the doorway had been ridiculous, but maybe his brother had been right.
“Roses,” he said. “Gift from Seb and a lady in town.”
“And you’ve washed the windows,” she murmured.
“Emma.”
She paused halfway to the building and craned her neck back. “The roof looks good. Nice and watertight.”
He couldn’t help that his chest puffed with pride.
“And you didn’t let Daniel fall and break his neck, either.”
And he deflated with a laugh. Fran definitely didn’t allow his pride to get out of control. “It was a close call. Several times.”
Her eyes danced at him.
He had been surprised that Fran’s brother had wanted to help with their new place. The city-slicker was as out of place as a peacock in a henhouse. But he’d promised to stay until the girls were settled. Who knew? Maybe the fresh Wyoming air would do him some good in getting back to full health.
“Can we go in?” Fran asked.
He ushered her to the front door.
She went still so quickly that he was half outside the threshold, eyes trying to adjust from being in the bright sunlight. He guessed she’d seen his wedding gift for her.
“What did you do?” She barely breathed the words.
“You wrote a letter on my behalf,” he said. “I took it upon myself to do the same. Dan told me that his health had kept him from saving most of your parents’ belongings when the mortgage defaulted, but I was able to get in touch with a nice lady who sent this on the train for me.”
He’d left the cedar chest in the dead center of the living room, so it would be the first thing she saw when she came in.
