Tessa glanced around at the crush of smiling people, at the artists sketching and the reporters filling their notebooks with words. “David, you’re making a fool of yourself in front of the whole town.”
“It’s time I did.”
“But you’re causing a scandal!” She tugged on his hand, trying to pull him off his knees.
“I’ve caused them before.” David grinned. One eye was swollen shut. His jaw was bruised. His injured shoulder throbbed with pain once again. He had a cut on his lip, and his stomach hurt like hell. But he’d never felt better. “So have you. I doubt this will be the last one.”
“David…”
“I love you, Tessa Mary Catherine Roarke,” he said finally, offering her the sapphire ring. “I love you with all my heart.”
“Oh, David…” She bent down to hug him, but he lost his balance and sprawled in the dirt. “I love you, too!” Tessa knelt to kiss him.
David groaned. This wasn’t the way he’d planned to deliver his proposal.
Tessa broke off the kiss. “I’ve loved you for the longest time. Ever since we—”
David kissed her again to keep her from incriminating herself. And him. He kissed her until they both needed to come up for air. “You are going to marry me,” David said. “Aren’t you?”
“Of course.” Tessa flung her arms around his neck. “I may need a good lawyer again someday.”
David wiped the sapphire and diamond ring against the fabric of his trousers, then slipped it onto her hand.
Tessa looked down at her finger, admiring it. “It’s beautiful!”
“It matches your eyes,” David said. “That’s why I bought it.”
Then she whispered, “Was it awfully expensive?” She winced as she asked the question, afraid of his answer. At the rate he spent money, they’d never have a house.
“Awfully,” he answered.
“Oh.” She frowned, sounding disappointed.
“What’s wrong?” He pressed a kiss against the worry lines on her brow. “Don’t you like it?”
“I love it.” She managed to smile at him. “But after we get married, I plan to save money for a house with a yard and some flowers”—she broke off when David hugged her to him—“and a small flock of sheep.”
“No sheep,” David said. He got to his feet and pulled Tessa up with him.
“Why not?” Tessa asked. “I like sheep. I thought maybe merinos.”
“No sheep,” David repeated. “They won’t go too well with five hundred head of beef cattle.” He draped an arm over her shoulder and picked up her suitcase with his other hand. She placed one arm around his waist. “Tessa, do you remember Coalie telling you about the ranch?”
Tessa raised a hand to her mouth. “Coalie.” She glanced around. “Where is he?” She looked up at the hotel window. Mary was alone.
Sensing Tessa’s concern, David glanced up at his sister. “Where’s Coalie?” he shouted.
“There.” Mary pointed to Coalie, who was dragging his feet down the street, following her instructions, taking his time. “Coalie,” she yelled from the window. “You can run now. David asked her to marry him!”
“What did Tessa say?” Coalie looked up at Mary, cupping his hand around his mouth to make himself heard.
“She said yes!” David and Tessa shouted in unison. “Yes!”
“Yippee!” Coalie’s whoop of joy echoed through Peaceable.
David dropped the suitcase, knelt, and opened his free arm. Tessa went with him, opening her free arm, too. “Come on, son!” David encouraged as Coalie caught sight of them and raced forward. “Let’s go home!”
Coalie ran into their arms.