Page 103

GIDEON

Winnow and I work in comfortable silence as we return Juniper to her stall, brush her, and give her treats and lots of affection. My ranch hands are all just finishing up for the day when Trigger’s barking alerts us just as I hear tires on gravel.“Hush.”

Trigger grumbles pacing circles around my legs, urging me to go see who’s arrived. My ears seem to be a lot more sensitive, because all I have to do is focus on the distance and I can hear Sheriff Harlan’s argument with his wife clearly enough that he might as well be standing next to me.

Winnow’s gaze lifts to mine, and her mouth tips up in a grin as she pats my chest. “I’ll teach you how to tune in and block things out.”

Her grin widens. “Do you want to be the one to thank him for incidentally playing matchmaker, or shall I?”

Winnowand I walk out of the stable to join the little circle where Sheriff Harlan, Gertie, Levi, and Beau are standing. One by one, their gazes shift toward us. Beau and Gertie both give me mischievous grins, a question in their eyes.

Levi’s mouth twitches.

And Sheriff Harlan is smiling from ear to ear, not even trying to be discreet.

I’d spoken to all of them about the proposal. Harlan, to ask for his advice on how to propose and be romantic, because if that man is an expert in anything, it’s how to woman-speak and be romantic.

Levi and Beau are my best friends and brothers, so of course I had to tell them, and then Gertie I asked to help me pick the ring because I don’t know dick about fancy jewellery, or what a woman's taste may be in it.

Gertie gives Winnow a suggestive grin. “You two have fun?”

Winnow gives her a bashful grin, lifting her now bedazzled ring finger and giving it a wiggle. Gertie’s grin splits wide, and she jumps up and down with excitement before running toward Winnow, who meets her halfway so they can throw their arms around one another.

Levi and Harlan both give me hearty claps on my back as I join them. Beau, of course, has to give me one of his signature bear hugs. “Congratulations, brother.”

I return his hug with equal fervor. “I’m sure you’re not too far behind me.”

Beau huffs a laugh. “God, I certainly fuckin’ hope so. My dick’s about to fall off from neglect.”

As we pull back, I give his shoulder a sympathetic squeezing.

“Maybe Gertie would let you borrow her lipstick so you can draw her lips around the circle of your fist.”

Beau rolls his eyes as he calls out to Gertie, whose full attention is on Winnow.

“Hey Gertie, can I borrow your lipstick?’

There’s no way she heard us, but she no doubt gleans the general direction of his thoughts, and without missing a beat, Gertie replies without taking her eyes off Winnow.

“That would be a new low, even for you, Beauregard Griffin.”

“Anything for you, armadilly.”

Gertie glares at Beau, but it only emboldens him.

“Don’t you give me that sass, or I’ll take you over my knee, woman.”

“Don’t blame me if you lose an eye in the process.”

Beau grins all the wider. “All I need is one to look upon your beauty, my lil’ love armadillo.”

Gertie purses her lips, and I don’t miss the look of affection in her eyes the moment before her lashes dip as she tries to stifle her smile and redirects her attention to Winnow.

Beau watches her for a moment as an unmistakable look of want and determination in his gaze.

“Mark my words, I’m gonna put a ring on that woman’s finger. You’ll see.”

As soon as Beau’s back is to Gertie, her eyes dance once more in his direction, lingering, and it makes me fucking grin from ear-to-ear.