He takes the reins from me after handing me the mug of coffee.
“What’s in there?”
“Huckleberry muffins,” he responds casually, knowing that the sweet treats are my favorite.
“Did your mom make these?”
“Yep.”
“God, I love you.” I open the fabric and pull out a muffin, still warm from the oven. “Oh, sweet Moses,” I moan, and chew the muffin.
“Can I have a bite?” He chuckles as I hold the muffin up for him to bite. “Mmm . . . good.”
“They are.” I settle my back against his chest. “You’re sure spoiling me this morning. A girl could get used to this.”
“I hope so,” he whispers, and kisses my head. “You deserve to be spoiled.”
“You’re sweet.” I lean my head back and kiss his chin.
“Has Jill settled into your old place?” Josh takes a sip of our coffee.
“Yep, she’s all settled. She got her Montana real estate license, so she’s getting back to work and into the swing of things.”
“Good. It’s good having her home.”
“It is.” I take a deep breath. “It smells good out here.”
We settle into comfortable silence as Magic takes us to our special place. Twilight begins to spread through the sky, casting the trees and mountains around us into gray shadow.
“Look,” Josh whispers, and points to our right.
“Oh, wow!”
Five deer are grazing in the field and stop, their heads rising in the air and ears perking up at the sight of us.
“They’re so beautiful. I never get tired of them.”
“You’re going to have to be extra careful this winter when you drive in to work every day,” he reminds me. “I don’t want you to hit a deer and have an accident.”
“I’ll be careful,” I whisper, still watching the majestic animals.
We finally arrive at the big maple tree, just as the sun is about to rise over the mountain peaks ahead.
“So, could you maybe show me a sunset or two, rather than pull me out of bed at the butt crack of dawn?” I ask sarcastically, secretly relishing the warmth of Josh’s arms around me, his solid chest against my back, and the treat of coffee and muffins on our way out here.
“I could”—he nods and tugs on a piece of my hair—“but then we’d miss out on this.”
The very top of the sun peeks over the mountain and I sigh. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He kisses my neck and then my cheek before resting his lips on my head, breathing me in.
“You’re sweet.”
“Are you waking up?”
“I think so.” I yawn and then giggle. “Maybe.”
“Hmm.”
“I want to see the tree again.”
I feel him stiffen behind me. Did I say something wrong?
“Okay,” he whispers, and guides Magic over to the tall, thick-trunked maple. The leaves are just beginning to turn orange.
I gaze lazily at the initials carved in the trunk, then my heart stops in my chest.
“Um, baby?”
“Yes.”
“Am I still half-asleep and dreaming?”
He chuckles and kisses my hair. “I don’t think so.”
There in the tree is a new, fresh carving. In the center of a large heart are the initials C.D. + J.K.
I whip my head around and gaze up at Josh with wide eyes. He’s smiling gently down at me, his brown gaze soft and happy.
“This tree”—he looks up into the thick branches—“has been a part of this land for a few hundred years. It has deep roots here, just like my family does.”
His gaze finds mine again and he brushes the backs of his knuckles down my cheek. “Are you still with me?”
I nod numbly and watch him carefully.
“These couples”—he points at the tree and I follow his gaze, taking in each set of initials separately—“all had a deep love for one another and this ranch. They made their homes here, raised their children here, and loved each other here.”
He tips my chin up with his fingers and smiles as he holds up a ring, gripped between his finger and thumb.
No box.
I swallow hard, feeling tears flood my eyes, and listen.
“This belonged to my grandmother. The one who always brought me here.”
The ring is gorgeous. The center stone is a large blue sapphire, and round diamonds surround it.
“No measure of time with you will ever be long enough, Cara. I need you with me to make a home, raise our children, and love me. I want us to be part of this legacy.”
He cradles my face in his hand and stares deeply into my eyes. “Marry me, Carolina. I promise you, I will spend every day making you happy.”
Tears run unchecked down my face, and I’m shocked to see tears in his eyes. I glance back at the tree, the initials there, and take in the land around me.
He’s offering me so much more than I ever dreamed possible.
“You do make me happy,” I whisper, and smile up at him.
“You’re killing me,” he whispers, and leans his forehead on mine.
“Of course I’ll marry you.” I grip his face in my hand and wipe a tear with my thumb.
He takes my hand, kisses my knuckles, and then slips the ring on my finger. Light dances in the stones in the early-morning sunshine.
“I love you so much.” He kisses my lips softly and wraps his arms around me, pulling me against him tightly.