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She agrees readily, leaning into my side as we meander down the paved path. I'm keenly aware of her soft curves pressed close and take deep breaths of her rose-scented hair.
"Sure is a pretty night," she remarks. "I'm glad you brought me here. It's nice to get away for a bit."
"Well, it ain't over yet." I steer her to a bench beneath a willow tree and gently ease her down to sit. "There's something I need to ask you, Sam."
Her brow furrows in confusion as I crouch down in front of her. "Colton? What are you doing?"
"Something I should've done properly the first time." Her eyes go wide.
"Sam, I ain't a man of many words. But I do know my life wouldn't be worth much without you in it. You're my partner, my helpmate, and my best friend. Marrying you was the smartest thing I've ever done. But I want you to know, it's more than just an arrangement to me now.
"I love you, darlin'. With everything I got. And I'm asking if you'll be my wife. For real this time. Because you want to. Not because you need to."
Now, I know I ain’t got a ring, but I’ll let you pick out whatever one you want from the jeweler up the street.”
Tears glisten in her eyes as she presses a hand to her mouth. "Oh, Colton..."
"Is that a yes?" I prompt hopefully.
"Yes!" She launches herself into my arms, nearly knocking me back on my rear. "Yes, of course I'll marry you. I love you too!"
Joy like I’ve never known floods through me. I crush her to my chest, burying my face in her neck. "I'm gonna do everything I can to make you happy, sweetheart. I swear it."
"You already do," she whispers. "You already do."
We hold each other there under the lights, breathing each other in, and then I take her straight to the jewelry store. She picks out a ring. Nothing too flashy—just something simple and elegant.
Like her.
When I pull back to slip the ring onto her finger, I swear my hands are shaking. But it slides on true.
A perfect fit. Just like her in my life.
"What do you say we make this official?" I ask. "Not a big affair, but maybe your friend from town could come along with my brother as witnesses."
I was happy when Sam struck up a friendship with the girl who works at the diner. She needed some female companionship.
She winds her arms around my neck and nods happily. "I think that sounds wonderful. You, me, a simple ceremony. It's all I need."
"Me too, darlin'. Me too."
The very next day, I stand across from her in the town's little whitewashed chapel as her friend Ellen and my brother Pete take their seats. Sam's a vision in an ivory sundress, daisies woven into her fiery waves.
My hands swallow hers as the preacher leads us in our vows. But I’m not nervous anymore. Just deep-in-the-bones certain that this is right. That she's mine and I'm hers.
The words "husband and wife" are music to my ears. She smiles up at me with tears on her lashes. I don't wait for an invitation to kiss my bride.
I may not have much. But I have her. And that's everything I need.
***
After a few congratulatory hugs, we bid our guests goodbye and head back to the ranch. A life of hot, sweaty chores threatens to loom over us, but with Sam by my side, I know we can handle it.
"You up for some celebrating?" I ask, waggling my eyebrows as I grab two cold beers from the pantry.
"Celebrating, huh?" she says with a playful lilt in her voice. "What did you have in mind, cowboy?"
"Oh, I've got a few ideas."
