Page 113 of A Rancher's Heart

Chapter Twenty-Five

Caleb guided her back to the horses, slightly shocked at how well everything had gone.

She’d proposed? Hell if he’d let her take it back, though. She was his, and there was nowhere to go from here but forward.

He lifted her to Stormy’s back then mounted his own horse, riding side by side along the path back to the house. She didn’t seem to want to talk and he didn’t mind a moment of silence.

He was thinking plenty about what he needed to say in a few minutes.

He sent off a quick text to Luke, asking him to be there when the girls got off the bus. The world had pivoted in one moment, and the changes weren’t done yet.

Caleb plotted and planned and debated as they took care of their horses, quietly working. Glancing at each other often, exchanging meaningful looks. Tamara wore a smile as wide as his.

Caleb would’ve said Tamara was the best thing that ever happened to him, except that’d be a lie. He had two little girls he loved beyond reason, and a family that was a part of him right down to the tips of his boots.

She wasn’t better than that, but she was what made everything else complete. She was the love that wrapped his world into a firm, steady bundle, the binder twine securing the broken pieces of his heart.

Seems as if he could think it, he should be able to say it.

He waited for her to finish washing up then grabbed hold, walking hand-in-hand back to the house.

“You ready for this?” she asked as they stepped on the porch.

He opened the door for her, looking her over from top to bottom as he let every bit of his love show best he could. “Are you?”

Emma and Sasha were seated at the island. Luke stood by the counter, hand in the cookie jar, guilt twisting his smile as Caleb eyed the handful he already held.

“Didn’t know when you’d be back,” he explained, “and everybody’s hungry.”

Everybody?

Tamara leaned around him to peek into the living room. Sure enough, his other two brothers were there as well, Walker relaxing in the easy chair, Dustin with his feet up on the coffee table.

Caleb hesitated for a moment before figuring what the hell. It looked as if he was going to have an audience, but he’d put this off for long enough.

Tamara wouldn’t mind.

“Everyone in the living room,” he ordered.

His family moved, questions on all their faces. Dustin’s gaze stuck on where Caleb had caught hold of Tamara’s fingers and refused to let go.

Emma and Sasha perched on the edge of the coffee table, staring at them in confusion.

He shook a finger at the audience and told them sternly, “Sit for a minute and just listen.”

Then he turned to Tamara and took both her hands in his. He looked her in the eye and ignored the fact they had five additional gawking witnesses.

“I know you said you didn’t expect me to say it yet, but I’ve been working my way up to this for a while, so I don’t see why I should hold off any longer. I don’t have anything to give you except my heart. It’s been a little bashed up and bruised, but I think it still works all right. I’m ready to trust you with it.”

Tamara tilted her head, eyes brightening with moisture.

He hurried to carry on before she could speak.

“I fell in love with you that very first moment, when you stepped in front of me, so bold and so brave, and so right. And then you came out here and stepped into our family”—he waved a hand toward the living room, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on hers—“and you just kept being you. Thoughtful and caring and everything we needed, but this isn’t about them. It’s aboutus. I’ve fallen in love with you, Tamara Coleman, and while I hope everybody else feels like I do about you joining our family, I don’t want to wait anymore to tell you something important. I love you.”

Her eyes sparkled, her grip on his fingers tightening. Was it possible he’d actually rendered her speechless?

“Daddy?” Sasha spoke quietly.