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“I mean to correct that oversight right now.”
“Bennett, what are you—” Her eyes darted to Harriet, who, even if she was okay with a little rain, certainly couldn’t appreciate this happening on her big day.
“Don’t worry, I got Bill and Harriet’s approval for this. In fact, it was her idea and he agreed as a way of saying thanks for what we did for his cattle. But enough about cows.”
Maggie let fly a nervous giggle.
“Margaret Lily Newman, a whole lot of years and bad decisions ago, I didn’t fight for you the way I should’ve. And I’ve spent every day since regretting that decision. But I’ve learned a lot since then.”
He whistled and Gander came running from the tent, his shaggy hair flinging water everywhere. It didn’t matter, though. Maggie was already soaked. Bennett took a cord from around Gander’s neck while the mutt just sat there, smiling like he always did. This time, the smile fit the mood.
Bennett took Maggie’s hand and slipped a ring with a yellow diamond the size of a nickel on her finger.
“If I promise to talk to you, to never let misunderstandings get in the way of our life together, to be honest with you each day—”
“And vulnerable,” she added.
“Honest and vulnerable with you each day—”
“And passionate.”
He laughed. “Anything else?”
“No, that sums it up.”
“Okay, then. At the risk of being rejected twice for the same question…”
She tipped back her head and laughed, the rain washing away their past and paving the way for a future together.
“Maggie, if I promise to give you each of those things every day for as long as we both shall live, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She shrugged noncommittally. The corner of her mouth curved into a thoughtful twist.
“I dunno. I might need some time to think about it.”
“Margaret Lily, don’t make me get Grace involved in this,” Bennett warned.
The sparkle of his eyes and megawatt smile said he was only half-teasing. So was she, though.
“Of course I’ll marry you, Bennett Tucker Marshall. I can’t imagine spending one more day on this plot of land without you as my partner in every sense of the word.”
Bennett stood up, and though he looked strong enough to twirl her in celebratory circles, his injuries were still healing beneath the thin fabric of his linen dress shirt. Instead of jumping on him, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his forehead against hers.
“Have I told you in the past five minutes how much I love you, Bennett?”
He shook his head, keeping his skin against hers while rain fell in sheets over and around them. “Maybe but tell me again.”
“I love you, Bennett. So very much. Thanks for being so patient.”
“Ah, it was only what? Fifteen years?”
Maggie just laughed. Maybe rain was a sign of good luck because she finally had everything she wanted.
“Oh, wait. I have something to show you. It won’t get here till next week and we’ll be gone, so I took a photo of it.”
Bennett’s eyebrows arched in curiosity. “What else could I ask for? I already have everything I’ve ever wanted.” He took her left hand in his and kissed it, the diamond sparkling despite the lack of sunlight.
Maggie pulled the photo up on her phone and showed it to Bennett. As recognition dawned on his face of what she was showing him, she marveled at how beautiful her soon-to-be husband was.
