Page 205 of Conveniently Wed
Why wasn’t he already in the wagon heading back toward the ranch? He’d been gone for two days. Surely he was worried about Miriam and the animals. For goodness sakes,shewas getting worried about Miriam and the animals. Still, she wasn’tabout to pass up a chance to spend time with him, as much as she needed to focus on finding a job.
“That would be nice.”
Gideon paid for their meals, helped her with her chair, and then escorted her out the door and onto the dusty street. The breeze played with the tendrils of hair she’d left loose around her face, its freshness releasing some of the tension in her nerves.
“I asked Ol’ Mose to stop in and check on Miriam on his way back through the mountains.” Gideon’s baritone washed through her like a soothing balm.
“Oh, good. I was starting to worry about her being alone for so long. I’m sure she was concerned when you didn’t come home yesterday.”
“Maybe, but my sister’s a tough one. She knows these mountains and how to take care of things.” He paused. “I don’t want her to worry, though.”
They seemed to be walking toward the outskirts of town, and her nervousness slid away as she focused on simply enjoying this time with him. It would likely be her last, but better not to think about that.
He spoke of the supplies he needed to pick up that day, of the wagon wheels he’d left for repair at the smithy, and other bits of small-talk. The buildings had thinned by now, and they came upon a pretty white structure with a meadow stretching behind it.
“What a lovely place. What is it?”
“This is the church. Thought you might like to see it.”
“Really?”
He must have heard the surprise in her tone, for he looked at her with a single raised brow. “You don’t want to see it?”
“No…I mean, yes. I mean…I guess I’m surprised Butte has a church. The town doesn’t even have a doctor, and it’s so…rough here.”
His chuckle was deep. They walked a few more minutes until they entered the church yard.
He stopped and turned to face her. She glanced up under the cover of her lashes, and the look in his eyes took her breath.
“Leah, I was crazy to let you leave. Can you forgive me?”
His face was earnest, waiting for an answer. But what was he asking? “Forgive you?”
His emerald eyes twinkled, and a dimple flashed in his right cheek. “Yes, and marry me?”
Could he really be…? She’d wanted to hope, but hadn’t allowed herself even that pleasure. And now he was really asking…
He stepped forward and reached up to cradle her cheek, his touch warm and inviting.
“I’m sorry, Leah. I’m not very good at this.”
Her chest hammered. Her breath wouldn’t come. “Good at what?”
“At saying what’s in my heart. At telling you how much I love you.”
It was what she’d been hoping for, praying for. Her breath came rushing back in one fell swoop. “Oh, Gideon.”
She took his face in her hands, rose up on tip-toes, and answered his question with her lips.
It was the sweetest kiss Leah had ever imagined. A breathtaking exchange of the promise of love. Gideon pulled her to his chest and nuzzled her ear. She soaked in his nearness, his breath on her skin, his love.
“So does that mean you’ll marry me?” His voice was husky.
“Yes.” She could barely think to string words together.
He leaned back to look her in the eyes, and she drank in the sight of him. She ran her hand over his smooth jaw, caressing the strong angles.
“You belong in a mansion somewhere back east.”
