Page 53 of The Cowboy's Downfall

“This visit is about the McCray family, not you and me. I’m along for moral support. That’s it. I’ll give you plenty of alone time with them,” she said.

She was so much more than that. He planned to propose—but not on this trip, because she was right. This was about his family, and he wasn’t going to hijack their Christmas by making it more about him than it already was. Shauna, too, deserved a moment that was only for her.

He’d spoken to his parents a few times on the phone, and he knew they were happy that he was coming, but he was uneasy about seeing them face-to-face for the first time in years.

The ranch was about an hour’s drive outside of Abilene. Long road trips were a great way to get to know one another, and other than a few tense moments when they got lost outside of Denver thanks to a detour, they’d made out just fine. They passed through a snow squall that amounted to nothing and arrived as dusk shook out a shadowy blanket that settled over the land. He stopped at the gate that blocked off the drive. He hopped out of the SUV, unfastened the gate to drive through, then closed it behind them. The wind had a serious bite.

The sprawling, one-level ranch house hadn’t changed much, other than a fresh coat of white paint on wood siding that butted against the red brick. The house was decked out for Christmas, blazing with lights and a giant wreath on the front door, exactly as he remembered. The barn, a short distance from the house, looked empty, which made sense. His dad had retired a few years ago and he’d sold off his stock. They’d kept the property but rented out most of the land.

He parked the SUV next to the house. His mother came running out the front door in her slippers. She was older and thinner, with gray hair he didn’t remember, but he was caught in a fierce hug that let him know immediately that he was home. His dad followed more slowly behind her. The two men shook hands.

Shauna hung back, intent on letting them have their family moment, but his mother wasn’t about to allow that to happen, and she got a hug, too.

There was plenty of awkwardness—especially when it came to the sleeping arrangements, which Shauna resolved by taking the guest room—but overall, the visit was a success. There were a few new little nieces and nephews for him to acquaint himself with, and he might have gone overboard on the toys. Family parties, and dropping in on a few old friends, meant there was little free time.

His mother and sisters didn’t warm up to Shauna right off, although they made it clear that they’d give her a chance. Shauna didn’t work at it. She left them to make up their own minds about her, then met them halfway when they did. By the end of the visit, they were all on good terms.

A day after New Year’s, they packed up the SUV and started the return trip to Grand. His parents promised to come visit them in the spring.

Now Grand was fast approaching, their trip together was over, and he was nervous for a whole different reason. He’d had a long talk with his mother, and he’d had to make plenty of promises in exchange, but he had an extra gift for Shauna from her and he wasn’t sure how long it should wait now that they’d put the wholehijacking holidaysproblem behind them.

“Mind if we take a short detour?” he asked. “I have something I need to take care of.”

“Go ahead,” Shauna said, because she was as chill about certain things as she was uptight about others. He’d taken the wheel outside of Billings and she’d been half asleep ever since. She perked up, however, when she saw which way they were headed. “Why are we going to the ranch? Shouldn’t you take me home first?”

“We’re not going to the ranch.”

Nix pulled into the Methodist churchyard. Floodlights lit the front of the building, capturing a nativity scene, Christmas tree, and colorful, stained-glass windows.

He drove around to the back of the building. They’d had snow at some point, but the churchyard had been plowed and waist-high banks of white butted against the naked, bony cottonwoods overlooking the river.

“It’s a little cold out,” Shauna said, “but at least we’ll steam up the windows, so Pastor Addams won’t know for sure what’s going on.”

Nix shook his head. “Twice last night and once more this morning at the hotel. There’s just no satisfying you.”

Shauna smiled and his heart began swimming laps. “I’m satisfied,” she said. “But I’m not against being satisfied again.”

Every time he thought it wasn’t possible to love her more than he already did, she surprised him.

“I was going to wait until next year to bring this up, but here it is, next year already, and I decided, why wait any longer?” He reached in his jacket pocket and withdrew a gold antique jewelry box. “My mother told me to give this to you. But before I can do that, first, I have to ask you a question.” He cleared his throat, so nervous now he almost wished he’d put this off. Almost. She’d know how hard this was for him, and therefore, how much she meant. “I know we both said at first that we weren’t interested in marriage, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m a lot more interested than I expected.” He cleared his throat again. “Will you marry me?”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked, rather than saying yes right away, proving she did, indeed, know him well.

“I’m sure.” He opened the box. Inside was a square cut, 3-carat diamond in a simple gold setting on a narrow gold band worn with age. “This was my great-grandmother’s ring. Tradition is that it goes to the eldest son in each generation. My father gave it to my mother. My mother’s giving it to you.” He smiled ruefully when he thought back on their conversation. “You’ll notice it skipped a generation. She says I can’t be trusted with it any more than my grandfather could, but that she’s confident her judgment about you is sound.” He took the ring from the box. The sinking sun caught the facets and color flashed from the stone. “You haven’t said yes.”

“I’m not going to say no.” Shauna held out her hand and he slipped the ring on her finger. She looked at it for a long moment, then met his eyes. “If you change your mind, I’ll give it back.”

The uncertainty in her eyes broke his heart. “Not much wonder my mother was willing to give the ring to you. You don’t trust my judgment either.”

“I trust you in every way imaginable. But trust goes both ways. Marriage is a commitment, not a trap.”

She was telling him without coming right out and saying that she understood how bad his first marriage had been. He appreciated her understanding, but this would be their marriage, and there was no room for anyone else in it. His headspace was crystal clear in that regard.

“I won’t change my mind. That ring is yours.” This was, without question, the best decision he’d ever made. She was too good for him, and she’d always be more than he deserved, but she was also exactly the woman he needed. The least he could do was try and measure up. “I don’t have any great plans for the future, but until you came along, the future wasn’t something I thought of at all. Now I think about it every day, and while I might not have any plans firmed up for it yet, I do know that you’re always in it. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Shauna’s eyes softened. He loved it when she looked at him that way, as if he were something special. “I don’t need you to have great plans. All I need is for me to be in them, and for you to be happy, because I’m never happier than when I’m with you.”

“There it is,” Nix said. “I’ve found it. My great plan.” He gathered her in his arms while she was admiring the ring on her finger. “I can’t guarantee every day will be happy, but I can guarantee that I’ll make it my mission to try.”

The End