Page 80 of Declan
“Wait. How did you know my middle name?” she asked.
He grinned. “I called your parents for their blessing. Your mom told me.”
Elise stared at the diamond, its facets catching the light. “She never told me.”
“She wanted it to be a surprise.”
“It’s beautiful,” Elise breathed.
“If you want to pick another—”
She shook her head. “No. This one’s perfect.”
“Wait. I forgot. Take that off.”
“What?”
“Just for a second. Elise, I love you,” he said. “I’ll put it right back, I promise.”
She handed him the ring; bare-fingered, she missed it on her finger already.
He turned the band to her. Etched inside were their names joined by an ampersand and the word Forever.
“I love it,” she whispered.
He slid the ring on her finger again. “Now let’s get dressed. I want to show you something.”
“I’ve seen it,” she said as she snorted out a laugh.
Declan shook his head. “And you can see it anytime, but that’s not it.”
After dressing in her new coat and hat, they stepped out into the sharp December air. The sunshine painted frost patterns on the barn doors as he unlocked them. Inside, the scent of hay and horses warmed her. Declan guided her to a stall, and Elise peered in. A sleek Paint mare with blue eyes lifted her velvety muzzle and nickered softly.
“Oh, my goodness,” Elise murmured, running a hand along the horse’s broad forehead.
“She’s six years old and all yours,” Declan said. “I picked up a saddle too. How can you wear a cowboy hat if you don’t have a horse?”
Elise laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re going to spoil me rotten. I love her.”
“When the snow stops, we’ll go riding. I love riding in the snow.”
Later, back home after a visit with Declan’s family, they nestled on the couch beneath a quilt of colorful stockings and fairy lights. Elise gazed at the Christmas tree, its ornaments gleaming like captured stars.
“I love your family. I want you to come with me to New York to meet mine,” she said, snuggling closer.
“We will, I promise, once the weather clears. Then your parents can visit here, and they’ll meet mine. We’ll all get together in spring.”
“Sounds good, cowboy.”
“Everything sounds good as long as we’re together.”
“We will be, just like the ring says; forever.”
“I believe that” Declan whispered, leaning in for a tender kiss beneath the softly flickering lights.
* * * The End * * *
