Page 130 of Valley of Dreams

“Love won’t you marry me,

“O, marry me, marry me?

“Love, won’t you marry me

“And keep me out of danger?”

Patrick stepped toward his love while singing, on his own this time, the chorus once more. The crowd parted as he drew nearer her.

“Love, won’t you marry me,

“O, marry me, marry me?

“Love, won’t you marry me—”

He took a breath and took her hand.

“And build a life together?”

Silence fell over the gathering, all eyes on the three of them. Patrick tapped Lydia’s little button nose. He offered the little girl a reassuring smile before looking fully to Eliza once more.

You need only ask her.Time to discover how wise his ma truly was.

“Build a life with me, Eliza,” he said softly. “I’m far from perfect and nowhere near ideal, but I love you, darlin’. And I love our Lydia. And I’ll spend all m’life doing all I can to prove that to you, if you’ll let me.”

She reached up and brushed her fingers along his cheek. “I’ll give you an answer under one condition.”

He hadn’t expected that. “What is your condition?”

“That your brothers sing the chorus again and sing it with gusto.”

He didn’t even have to make the request. The lot of them burst immediately into the most enthusiastic version of “Love, Won’t You Marry Me” that he’d ever heard or could possibly have imagined.

She laughed, and he couldn’t help but do so as well. The townspeople picked up the tune, and the two of them were soon being serenaded by the entire town.

“What’s your answer, darling?” he asked as the crowd posed the question again and again in song.

“Of course I’ll marry you, my love. I’ve been hoping you’d ask me for ages.”

Patrick kissed her and kissed her thoroughly. The musicians began playing, joining the enthusiastic voices. Dancing broke out all around them. Still, he kissed her. He’d come to Hope Springs looking for mere survival, but he’d found so much more. He’d found hope. He’d found a future.

He’d found love.

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