Page 77 of River Legacy
“What is this?”
She gave him an impatient look. “It’s your great-grandmother’s wedding ring. I think it would be perfect for Victoria.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little soon for this?” He had to ask since it was something he’d been asking himself.
She made a dismissive sound. “You’re in love with her. Do both of you a favor, don’t put it off. Get on with your life. It’s the best advice I can give you.”
He opened the box and saw the simple gold band and the tiny diamonds around it. “It’s perfect forher.” He looked up, surprised that his mother somehow would know that.
She smiled. “I promise you that your life is going to be blessed. Ask her to marry you. Don’t worry about the future.” Her smiled broadened. “It’s already written in the stars,” she said, glancing skyward at the blazing galaxy.
And then Holden was there, taking her away. Ryder pocketed the ring as he returned to Vicky.
“They’re playing our song,” she said, taking his hand and leading him toward the makeshift dance floor in the middle of the arena.
He laughed. “We have a song?” But the moment he pulled her into his arms, he remembered it. They’d heard it that night in town, which now seemed like so long ago. It was something about a storm coming. “You sure you want this to be our song?”
Nodding, she said, “I now love storms, and I love you.”
Ryder could feel the small velvet box in his pocket as he smiled. “It’s perfect, just like you.” He pulled her close. It wasn’t too soon to ask her. The timing was perfect.
It was late afternoon before they saddled up for their ride. Once in the saddle, Victoria turned her face up to the low-hanging summer sun and knew this was exactly what she’d needed. The wedding had been amazing, meeting the family, partying with friendly people until the starlight.
Ryder’s brother-in-law Cooper McKenna had taken care of the animals while they were tied up in Billings. She’d been worried about Vic, the new colt, but Brand had gotten out of the hospital and assured her that Vic was doing great.
She’d loved seeing the colt when they returned. “He’s grown so much,” she’d exclaimed. “He’s so beautiful.”
Ryder had smiled as they watched the colt run around the pasture for a moment before the two of them headed out.
As the sun lolled in the sky over the mountains to the west, they rode out toward the wide-open spaces. Victoria breathed in the afternoon as if she could tuck it into her heart and never forget it. She closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face, enjoying being back in the saddle.
When she opened her eyes, Ryder was riding next to her, looking at her. She smiled, feeling his love in his gaze. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy, yet she was going to have to go back to Dallas soon. She’d been debating if she should keep her apartment. If she didn’t, she’d have to pack up her things and move them. She also needed to talk to the art center where she’d worked.
Ryder loved her, she knew that. She just didn’t know about her future. It felt more tenuous than his. Where were they going to live? She and Ryder had fallen in love and talked about buying their own ranch, but they really hadn’t talked about the immediate future. Everything had happened so quickly.She was going to have to make some decisions pretty soon.
She pushed that thought away, determined to enjoy the rest of this day. Tomorrow she would tell him that she had to leave for a while. She wasn’t sure how he would take it. His future was up in the air as well. How could either of them plan on tomorrow at this point?
As they rode, Ryder was also thinking about the future. His mother was right. It was time to make plans for the future—their future. He loved her. He wanted to be with her always. He knew it was a huge step. Did he really know this woman? He looked over at her.
He knew Vicky, but he wasn’t sure about Victoria. She hadn’t mentioned going back to Dallas. He knew she had an apartment back there. Her old life and all her belongings were there. Not to mention the short time they’d even known each other. He could just imagine what Brand would say, let alone Tilly. Oakley would be all for him asking Vicky to marry him, but that was Oakley.
You can’t seriously be thinking of asking her to marry you?That was Brand adding his two cents’ worth in Ryder’s head.
If Ryder wanted Vicky to stay, he had to make his feelings known. As they reached a rise, he reined in his horse, and Vicky did too. The view of the river bottom was beautiful from here. Soon summer would be over. The cottonwood leaves would beginto turn, and winter would come sweeping in with snow and cold.
He dismounted and ground-tied his horse as she climbed down as well.
“I think this is my favorite spot on the entire ranch,” Vicky said as she moved to the edge to look down at the dark-leafed cottonwoods that marked the long trail the Powder River flowed to reach the Yellowstone River.
“This is my favorite spot as well,” he said as he joined her. He hated to think that her father now owned it. He feared what the man would do with the ranch. But like his mother, he knew the land was lost and they had to move on.
He’d never been afraid of much, yet right now he felt terrified that Vicky might say no. He had nothing to offer her. No ranch and a questionable future, and they had spent only days together. She’d never seen a Montana winter, never mind come home to find a newborn calf in her bathtub because it would have frozen to death if he hadn’t brought it inside.
For some reason, he recalled once overhearing his mother telling a friend that she’d fallen in love with Holden at first sight when they were kids. She’d said to herself that day, “I’m going to marry that man.”
And look how that had turned out, he reminded himself. It had taken them years to finally be together. Ryder sure as the devil didn’t want to make that mistake.
He took off his Stetson, raked a hand through hishair and dropped to one knee. Vicky looked over at him, at first appearing alarmed, then surprised. “I know this is probably something you aren’t ready for, might never be ready for, but dang it, Vicky, I have to do it. Nothing about our meeting or our falling in love has been typical. I never dreamed that you might come to enjoy this life, let alone want to stay. But I sure want you to. I love you. I can’t see that ever changing. I want to marry you. You can take all the time you need to think about it. You don’t have to say anything right now—”
