Page 72 of Wagon Train Honor
As soon as they began to move again, she walked behind the horses, waiting for him to join her. They walked for half a mile and then a mile. Still, he hadn’t dropped back, so she hurried forward until she spied him riding next to Carson with a lead rope in his hands.
She waited until he noticed her and lifted her hand to wave and mouthed, “Please, come.”
He nodded, handed the horses off to Carson, and then joined her, swinging from his saddle to walk at her side. “Missing me?” His tone was teasing, but his eyes remained sober.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Go ahead.”
Her laugh was short and mirthless at his tone. “I can’t let you sacrifice the piece of land you want.”
“There will be other pieces.”
“But I want to see the view from the kitchen window you described.”
His feet stilled. “What are you saying?”
They faced each other, gazes seeking truth and hope. “Robert, you must file on that land. I’ll write and tell The Society I’ve changed my mind.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“I know you’re wanting to do what you think is best for me, but I want the same for you. What can we do?”
They stared at each other.
“Maybe—” They spoke at the same time.
“It will require a sacrifice on your part,” he warned. “But what if I file right away, and we spend a few weeks there, and then I go with you to Banff?”
“I love that idea.” But oh! Such problems that choice would cause. “I had planned to accompany them into the mountains to find flowers.”
He grew thoughtful. “My land—if I get it—is close to alpine slopes. You and I can explore. You can draw the flowers we discover and mail them to The Society.”
She considered his suggestion. “I like that.”
“Then you’ll marry me, and we’ll do all this together?”
In answer, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Or did he kiss her? It didn’t matter.
At the end of the day, she and Robert stood before Ma and Gabe.
Robert addressed her ma first. “Mrs. Miller, if it meets with your approval, I would like to marry Ruby.”
Ma barely registered surprise. “You have my blessing.”
Gabe held out his hand to Robert. “And mine.”
The rest of the family surrounded them, patting Robert on the back and shaking his hand. The ladies hugged Ruby.
Carson hugged her and said how pleased he was. But Bertie’s hug was the tightest of all.
Carson eased his brother back. “She needs to breathe.”
Ruby laughed at Bertie’s enthusiasm.
They were plied with questions. “Where? When?”
Robert and Ruby grinned at each other.
