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I stopped walking and looked at him. “Are you serious?”
He smiled as if recalling the memory. “I was so excited. I was exhausted from hiking through the snow and kept telling my father we were wasting our time. We came up over that ridge and bam! A herd of mule deer was standing there. Two huge bucks fighting. It was a sight I’ll never forget.”
“So the property already has memories for you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, it does.”
I stopped walking and looked at the rolling foothills that led to the mountains beyond. “It doesn’t even look real, it’s so beautiful. The deep green mixed with the light green. Even in the beginning of fall, it still looks breathtaking. Can you imagine what the sunsets must look like?”
“I can,” he replied. “There’s something about that big sky and sunsets. No matter where you are in Montana, they’re beautiful.”
“So true,” I whispered as I dropped Ryan’s hand and stared out over the raw land. “Ryan, we have to get this place. It feels right. Like we were meant to be here. To live here and build our life here. Can you imagine raising our kids on this property?”
When I turned around to look at him, I sucked in a breath and stumbled back a few steps. Ryan was down on one knee—with an open ring box in his hands.
“I can imagine it. And if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife, Morgan Elizabeth Shaw, I will try every day for the rest of my life to make you the happiest woman alive.”
Falling to my knees in front of him, I cupped his face and tried to speak, but all that came out were sobs. Nodding my head, I whispered, “Yes. Ryan, yes!”
Ryan crushed his mouth to mine and kissed me with so much love, I swore I felt it coursing through my body.
When we broke apart, he leaned his forehead on mine. “I’m so glad you like this place…because I already own it.”
I drew back and looked at him in shock. “What?”
He scrunched his nose and asked, “Are you mad? Please don’t be mad! I had already asked Mr. Owens about buying it before we were…well, before we were serious. I’ve always loved this piece of land. The sale went through last month, but I was scared to death to tell you.”
I felt a sobbing laugh escape, and I shook my head. “Ryan Marshall, why on earth would you be scared to tell me?”
“Well, it’s a pretty big step, and you weren’t part of the decision.”
“If you already built a house, I’m going to be pissed.”
He laughed. “No, no, I haven’t built a house.”
I placed my hand on the side of his face and felt such a sense of contentment. I wasn’t the least bit upset because I knew in my heart of hearts that we were meant to own this land. “We’re home.”
He took my hand, placed it over his heart, and then put his hand on top of mine. “We’re home.”
“Put the ring on her finger already, so I can take the picture!” Georgiana shouted.
I whipped my head to the side to see Georgiana, Blayze, my parents, and Ryan’s parents all standing there. “You all knew?”
They erupted in a chorus of laughter before my father shouted, “Yes! Now put the ring on her finger!”
Turning back to Ryan, I looked down at the beautiful cushion-cut diamond on a twisted band of white gold with strands of Pavé diamonds intertwined along each side.
“Ryan,” I whispered. “It’s beautiful.”
“I hope you like the platinum band.”
I smiled. “I thought it was white gold.”
He shook his head. “You mentioned once that you like platinum.”
Frowning, I asked, “When?”
A blush crept over his cheeks as he looked down at the ring on my hand. “I don’t know…a few years ago. I was hoping you still liked it.”
I sucked in a breath. “You remembered that?”
His eyes lifted and met mine. “There isn’t anything about you, Morgan, that I’ve ever forgotten.”
Tears rolled down my face as I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his neck. “I love you so much,” I said softly.
Ryan held me tighter. “Not as much as I love you.”
Drawing back, I smiled and let out a small laugh. “I want to do something crazy.”
Glancing at our families, now standing a few yards away, Ryan looked back at me and lowered his voice. “I don’t think your dad would appreciate us sneaking off and…you know.” He wiggled his brows.
I shook my head, laughing. “No. I want to get married here, on our land.”
“Okay, I love that idea.”
“As soon as possible.”
His eyes went wide while his mouth opened and closed. He stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Did I hear you say you wanted to get married as soon as possible?” my mother asked, rushing over to us.
