Page 62 of When I Forgot Us
“Mm-hm.” A pitter-patter of unease fluttered her heart. She ignored it. Things had been fine between them. More than fine. They were closer than ever, something her eighteen-year-old self would’ve scoffed at. But it was true. They talked every day, worked side by side, and always consulted each other while increasing their relationship with God.
She’d never thought a walk with God would become this important to her.
Now that she’d shifted her mindset, her relationship with Chase grew stronger.
The worry over her memories lingered in the back of her mind. Did he worry about something she still hadn’t remembered? No. He’d have mentioned it.
His sorrel gelding led the way along their favorite trail, her strawberry roan following behind so close that her nose brushed the gelding’s tail. He swished it in annoyance, and her mare snorted what sounded like a laugh.
They broke through the trees and Chase stopped. A low valley spread out in front of him, the fall colors just beginning to turn. Another month and they’d hit their peak, the reds and golds taking over every hill with God’s great majestic creation.
Chase gripped the saddle horn and rocked toward her. Their knees bumped, and she tilted her foot to knock her boot into his.
Silence stretched thin, taut but somehow comfortable.
“I wasn’t sure when I’d finally get to do this.” He held out his hand. A brand-new black jewelry box sat in his palm.
The pitter-patter turned into a full-fledged storm of emotion.
He turned his horse in a tight circle so they faced each other and took her left hand from the reins. Her fingers curled easily around his, the familiarity of his touch reminding her of all they’d been through together. His voice rumbled with a rare roughness. “I’ve been waiting my whole life to marry you.” He opened the box to reveal a single square-cut diamond in a gold band.
“Yes.” No hesitation. No second guesses. This was what she’d wanted for months. Years. She held out her hand. “I want to marry you too.”
“Good.” He chuckled while sliding the ring into place. His body relaxed by degrees.
“You were worried I’d say no.”
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckle above the ring. “Not worried. Well.” He corrected when she arched a brow. “I tried not to be worried.”
“I broke both our hearts last time you asked. I don’t blame you for being nervous.” The horses shifted closer, almost like they knew she needed to close the distance. “You’re not getting away this time. I’ve learned my lesson. God’s not done working in us or through us, but I’m done fighting him. This is where I belong. With you.”
She reveled in a short, sweet kiss broken by the horses nipping at each other and stomping their hooves. A laugh burst from her, pushing back the threat of happy tears.
Chase scolded his gelding; his words tinged with laughter. “You’re supposed to be on my side, dude. Where are you going?” The gelding turned his head and bumped Chase’s boot with his nose, almost as though to apologize. “Yeah, I know you want to run. Can you give me a minute.”
“If I didn’t know you, I’d worry about you.” Her smile stretched so wide it made talking difficult. “You carry on conversations with your horses.”
“Oh, don’t give me that.” He turned the gelding toward the ranch house. “You talk to them too. I’ve heard you. At least I don’t play in barrels of corn.”
She scoffed and her mare mimicked the sound. “Don’t even. I saw you yesterday. All the way up to your shoulders in the corn barrel and giggling like a schoolgirl.”
“Did not.” He swatted a fly from her mare’s neck.
“Did too.” Any other time she would have continued the banter. The glint of the ring on her finger brought up a new conversation that demanded attention. She wiggled her fingers, first her engagement ring, then the promise ring on her other hand. “Mind if I jump right into wedding talk?”
“Go for it.”
“What do you want?” She’d never asked him. Years of wondering drove the question out.
He angled his head to look at her while ducking beneath a tree branch. Leaves rustled across his hat, a few of them fluttering to the ground in a silent cascade. “Sounds like a trick question.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Tell me. You must have some idea.”
“I always hoped we’d get married at the ranch. Other than that, I wanted to support you in whatever dreams you had for our wedding day.”
Sweet. Unhelpful except for the wedding on the ranch part, but still sweet. “On the ranch is fine with me.”
They planned the entire ride back. By the time they put their horses in the field and walked up the porch steps, they had a basic timeline and each of their wants lined out.
