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“She’s right in here.” Billy pointed at the stall and stepped back. “Don’t go in yet, okay?”
“I know that.” Maria rolled her eyes as if she’d lived on the ranch forever. “Why don’t you two go in? Chase can keep an eye on me, and Jay was looking for Mrs. Williams.”
“Then we’d better go,” Bella said.
Maria had one last thing to say. “You know, Grandpa, if you keep behaving like this you should do what I suggested and ask Mrs. Williams to marry you.”
Billy nodded. “I just did and she said yes.”
Chase grinned and slapped Billy on the back. “That’s awesome! Congratulations. I can’t wait to see Jay’s face when he finds out about this.”
“Then maybe we’d better mention it to him before Chase starts spreading rumors,” Billy murmured as Chase and Maria walked away hand in hand. “Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, better to be safe than sorry,” Bella agreed, and squeezed his fingers as they retraced their steps through the snow to the guest center.
They paused outside the kitchen door to remove their boots before returning to the warmth of the dining room beyond. Leaving Bella in the kitchen, Billy went and found Jay and persuaded him to step away from the noise, and into the quieter part of the building.
Knowing Jay was a plain speaker, Billy didn’t bother with a long, flowery speech.
“I wanted you to know that I asked your mother to marry me, and she said yes.”
Jay stared at him, a muscle moving in his cheek. “Okay.”
“That’s all you’ve got?” Billy asked.
“She loves you. That’s all I need to know.” Jay took a step closer to Billy. “And all you need to remember is that if you hurt her I’ll come after you, and no one will ever find your body.”
“Understood.” Billy nodded.
“Then we’re good.” Jay stuck out his hand. “Welcome to the family.”
* * *
Bella helped clear away the food and then returned to the dining room to watch Jay and Erin cut the cake. She’d barely had a moment to speak to Billy, but seeing as both he and Jay were still alive and smiling, she assumed everything had gone as well as it could’ve.
Billy wanted her to marry him . . . and the funny thing was that she wanted it, too. She hadn’t expected him to propose so quickly, but as Maureen would probably remind her, they weren’t spring chickens so they might as well enjoy their time together. The thought of that—the thought of being with him every day made her so happy she still couldn’t quite get her head around it.
She watched him now, as he passed Erin the knife to cut the cake, his blue eyes gleaming, and the harsher lines on his face disappearing beneath his smile. A man who had disappointed others, had paid dearly for his mistakes, and yet had come home to face his demons, and repay his debts.... That took courage and humility, qualities she could appreciate and strive to improve in herself.
And what about her? She pictured Ron and imagined him smiling down at her. She truly had been blessed in her life.
“Mom?”
She looked up, startled as Jay called her out to stand beside him and Erin.
“I’d like to thank my mom, Bella, for organizing this amazing party for me and Erin. I’d also like to thank Erin’s parents for coming all the way from the East Coast to celebrate with us.”
Everyone clapped, cheered, and drank champagne.
“And I’d like to thank Billy and Sonali for providing all the amazing food and Morgan Ranch and their staff for their hospitality,” Jay added. “I had completely the wrong idea about why Mom was making me come up here to the ranch this evening.”
“What did you think she wanted then?” BB called out.
Jay’s smile was crooked. “I knew she was up to something, but I thought it had to do with her and Billy Morgan.”
“Well, we all know about that,” BB joked. “It’s hardly a secret that they’ve got the hots for each other.”
Jay raised an eyebrow. “As it happens, there is something to announce about that as well, isn’t there, Mom?”
Bella tried to frown him down, but Billy stepped forward.
