“Nothing,” I mutter.
Seth sighs, resting a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be dumb. You know Joey’s got that thing.”
“What thing?” Joey asks.
Seth lifts a brow. “He’s had a soft spot for Sedona forever. I think half of this town is in love with the girl.”
Joey sputters. “I do not?—”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s Billy’s, and he’ll do right by her. Won’t you, Billy?” Seth counters.
I’m too stunned to comprehend what he just said about everyone having a thing for my girl. Does that include him? What the hell?
“You’re too young to be thinking of marriage. I’m not arguing about it,” Joey says.
“You’re my brother. But I’m not a kid anymore, and this ain’t steer riding where I hop on, pray I stay on, and hope I don’t bust my ribs. This is…” My throat works. “This is her. Everything about her feels right.”
Seth nods. “He means you can’t muscle through something like this. You choose it. That’s all.”
Joey studies me for a long moment. “You really like this girl, huh?”
“Yeah,” I answer. “More than like.”
He exhales, then pulls his wallet out of his back pocket. “Then I guess you need this.”
I blink as he pops it open and slides out a small, worn ring wrapped in tissue. My breath catches.
He holds it out to me.
“We don’t have anything else from Mom,” Joey says quietly. “Just this. So you’d better be a hundred percent sure.”
“You’ve had it in your pocket the whole time?” I ask.
“No. I just.. I had a feeling we would be having this conversation soon, and I needed to be prepared,” he says.
I unwrap it slowly. The ring glints in the fading light—yellow gold with a simple oval garnet in the center, the sides engraved with tiny curling leaves.
Mom wore it every day until the accident. My throat goes tight seeing it again.
Seth leans in, smiling. “She’d love that Sedona’s the one getting it.”
I swallow. “I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure.”
“Then take it,” Joey says. His voice isn’t teasing now. “But if she says no, I’m throwing you in the creek.”
Seth shoves him lightly. “Shut up. He’s gonna be fine. Sedona loves him. Why the hell would she say no?”
He always comes to my defense. It hits somewhere deep.
I slide the ring into my pocket, palm pressing over the fabric like I’m anchoring myself to it.
“Thanks,” I say. It’s all I can manage.
Joey claps a hand on my back. “Just don’t screw it up.”
I let out a low breath, the barn settling into quiet around us. The horses shift in their stalls. Dusk deepens outside. And hope flares warm in my chest.
I picture Sedona’s smile, the way her eyes softened when I told her I loved her. I picture her in this barn, sunlight catching her curls, holding out her hand for this ring.
