Page 63 of The Soldier and the Cowboy

Bailey rubbed his back soothingly. He breathed into the bag a few times and faced her. “I realized I’m already whole, and you’re the reason why. You’ve brought me back to health, back to living. Without you there I…”

The plane began to accelerate and he pressed the bag back to his face, breathing hard and squeezing her hand.

He lowered the bag and blurted a quick stream of words. “Without you there, I’m half a person, half a heart again. I need you with me, and I want you with me. I love you.” He closed his eyes and pressed the bag to his mouth again, taking a few puffs. The plane began its ascent and his face drained of color.

Bailey peeled the bag out of his fingers, turned him to face her, and kissed him, sliding her fingers across his scalp so when he reached out it was for her and not the bag. Once they were safely in the air and the bumps and jostles of ascension were over, she pulled back a bit. “Yes. I realize you haven’t actually asked me anything, but I’m saying yes preemptively because I’ll say yes to whatever you want of me for the rest of our lives. Yes to you, yes to babies, yes to the ranch, yes to Texas, yes to anything you suggest. If you want to sell the ranch, move to Siberia, and become ice mongers, I’ll say yes to that too.”

“I don’t think ice monger is a thing, but let’s go back to the part about the babies. Exactly how soon can I get you pregnant, and is there enough time to make an honest woman of you first?”

“That depends.”

“On what?” his said, his tone wary.

“On whether or not Estralita can make enough stew and cornbread for a crowd.”

“She has, she can, and she will,” Cal promised.

“Then two weeks ought to do it.”

“Do you really want to get married at the ranch?” he asked.

“Yes, I’ve always wanted to get married at home,” she said. He reached for her, but she put up a hand. “Are you sure you don’t want to save that for the landing?”

“We’re floating through the sky in a metal death box. We’re not guaranteed a landing,” he said.

“Good thing you’re not about to marry a pilot,” she said.

“We all have our crosses to bear. Mine is that the woman I’m in love with hates gravity. You know when I get you good and pregnant, you’re going to have to keep both feet on the ground.”

“We’ll talk,” she promised.

“It’s non-negotiable,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“Are you doing the thing where you pretend to agree with me but in reality you’re going to keep doing exactly what you want to do?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“You’re going to make me crazy, aren’t you?” he said.

“For the rest of our lives.”

“Promise?”

“You have the word of a marine.”

“Remind me what that’s worth again.”

“Everything,” she said.

“I believe it completely,” he said and kissed her again.

Epilogue

The first time Calhoun Ridge got married, it was in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. He and Isabel each had eight attendants and a total of five hundred guests. The pictures of their wedding madePeoplemagazine, and Isabel was on a pre-wedding reality show for rich bridezillas.

The second time Calhoun was married, it was in the barn of his ranch with a few chairs and lights hastily assembled. His brother stood up for him, and Bailey’s sister Jane stood up for her. There were less than fifty people in attendance. His housekeeper made a spicy stew and cornbread. Sully’s mother, an amateur photographer, took a few photos for free, and any reporters who might have tried to show up would have been tossed out on their heads.

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