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She laughed, “You’re stuck with me now, cowboy.”
“Good.”
As Portia had been hoping, he eased her close and kissed her so thoroughly she was left spinning.
“Been looking forward to that since we rode out at sunup,” he said afterwards. “Once we’re married it’ll be nice to be able to kiss you every morning to start the day.”
She agreed.
“Be nice to do other things every morning, too,” he added, waggling his eyebrows.
“I’m looking forward to that, too.”
He gave her another short kiss. “I’ll see you soon as I’m done.”
She returned to the living area where Rhine was still talking with Eddy and the others, so she asked him, “Can I speak with you in your office for just a moment?”
“Sure.”
He kissed Eddy on her forehead, which Portia found endearing, and they left.
Inside he said, “Take a seat. What can I do for you?”
She sat and, thinking about his generosity, emotion welled up inside her with such potency she felt the sting of tears. “I just want to say thank you, for the land, for raising me and Regan—for all you’ve done for us these past fifteen years—for everything.”
He looked at her with wonder. “Portia, are you crying?”
She dashed away her tears and chuckled. “No.”
He stood and came around to where she was sitting and opened his arms. She stepped into the embrace and as they hugged each other tightly, she savored how much he meant to her, too. Just like she’d done with Eddy, she whispered, “Thank you, Uncle Rhine. Thank you so much.”
He finally leaned back and held her eyes. “Eddy and I were never blessed with children so I always considered you and your sister as mine. Whatever I can do to make you happy makes me happy as well.”
When she first arrived in Virginia City, their initial relationship had been rocky but once she learned to trust him, she’d given him her heart.
“And I’ll be letting Kent know that if he puts even one minute of sadness in your life, I’ll be taking a bullwhip to him.”
He handed her his handkerchief and she blew her nose through her smile. “I love him very much.”
“Good to know. He’s the younger brother I never had, and he’s grown into quite a man.”
“He told me about the Mexican prison.”
“He was filled with hubris back then.”
“He called it stupidity.”
“That too.” Rhine pulled her close again and kissed her brow. “I’m so glad you found someone worthy enough to give your heart to.”
“I am, too.”
They spent a few more minutes talking about Rhine getting together with her and Kent to draw up plans for their new house and where they might find a carpentry crew to get it built. “We can talk about it all after the wedding,” he said.
“I’d like that. I’ll let you get back to Aunt Eddy. Thank you again, Uncle.”
“You’re welcome.”
At dinner that evening, Ruth announced that she would be taking the train home in the morning. Everyone voiced their disappointment. “I’m due back at school soon even though my students would probably love for me to stay away longer.”
