March came in like a lion. A blinding blizzard dumped less snow than the last storm, but still it whirled around the icy crystals in such a fury that Dixon wondered if God’s own finger stirred the wind. When Sunday came with sunshine, he needed to escape the confinement of the barn and walked to the low hill north of the building. Life had changed for him these past months.
He watched the steam of a train passing Gleichen thirty miles across the flat of the white prairies, a good reminder of how life passes. His new collie puppy, Jasper, played about his feet. He scratched the pup behind his ear and sighed. A more peaceful pace suited him.
The crisp air set sun dogs in the sky, a clear sign of a cold night ahead. The past months, since his discharge, had been happy ones. He shared the barn with Joab’s few animals, but he didn’t mind. It gave him plenty of quiet to pour over the Bible Ruth had given him for Christmas. Who would have thought he’d spend his days helping a family get on their feet, caring for livestock, and reading the very book he once claimed to hate?
The pup raced westward after a white rabbit. Little did Jasper know that his new home would be in that direction. Dixon had recently leased 160 acres west of Surbank, land deserted by the previous settler who’d returned to Ontario. That was barely enough property to start ranching once the snow melted. It was a giant step for a middle-aged man, but Dixon wasn’t taking the risk on a whim. He’d thought it all through carefully and was convinced it was the best move he could make right now.
He rolled a small box in his pocket with his gloved hand. One more step to take and his new life would feel complete.
“You best get inside before you catch a chill.” Ruth’s voice sent shivers of joy up his spine.
He turned to greet her. A grin played on his lips. “I thought you’d never leave the soddy.”
“I wanted to help Sarah with the babies. It’s been awhile since I held such a small child in my arms.”
She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and offered him a hot cup of tea. He tipped the tea to his lips. “Ah, thank you. Nice and hot.”
“Those twins are adorable, Clarence. I don’t know how Sarah keeps up with two at a time.”
Dixon smiled at her and took a few more slurps of tea. “David and Jonathan Black. Fitting names.”
“I’ve never seen a prouder father.” Ruth slid her arm around his, and he beamed at her.
“Do you miss being a mother?” His heart beat at the thought of her glowing with motherhood. She would be beautiful.
Ruth’s lips quivered to a faint smile. “Not when it comes to changing diapers, especially two at a time.” She looked off to the west. “I think I’d rather be a grandmother now.”
“You’ve got to have children to have grandchildren.” He chuckled, finished his tea, and set the cup in the snow by his feet. “I once thought I’d have a dozen or so.”
“And who did you have in mind for the mother of such a large brood?”
He looked at her porcelain face and drank in the scent of lavender that went with her presence. A future, with or without children, would be wonderful with this woman at his side.
She ignored his silence. “Do you like it here, with the Blacks?”
Dixon sighed. He’d never experienced such peace as he had the last few months. “I’ll help them get on their feet again, and then I’ve plans to start that horse ranch I’ve always talked about.”
Her eyelashes rested on her cheeks as she looked to the ground and rubbed his sleeve with her finger. “I see.”
His skin tingled in anticipation of his intended question. He removed his gloves and took her hand into his own, and then lowered himself to one knee. The cold seeped through his pant leg just enough to cool the heat of apprehension.
“What are you doing? You’ll catch your death of cold.” Her eyes sparkled.
Dixon swallowed. He’d thought about this moment for the past several months. The weather, now no longer snowing but bright and clear with sundogs, was perfect. The lowering afternoon sun completed the ambience. “Ruth, would you give me the honor of being my wife?”
She gazed across the land to Surbank. “I have a restaurant to run, which is doing quite well.”
His heart sank.
She pulled away from his hand and walked a few steps down the hill. He watched her look toward the town as the wind swatted her skirts and tugged on the ends of her coat. “I could use a man though, to repair some of the floorboards and the chairs.”
The rise of joy brought him to his feet. “Ruth.” Did she not realize her power over him?
“And the building could use a painting. And I tire of the figures. Someone with a mind for math would be so helpful.”
He stepped toward her. “Ruth.”
“But I suppose, I’ll …”
“You just need to ask me. I’ll do it for you.” It would be so easy to slip into that life—a life with her always by his side.
She pivoted toward him, and her eyes crinkled into a smile so large it filled every part of her face. “You could help me between raising foals and training.”
Dixon nodded. “Of course. But—are you saying yes?”
She cast her head back and laughed then threw her arms wide apart. “Yes.”
He laughed and rubbed his hands together. Never had yes sounded so good.
Jasper bounded toward them and jumped against his pocket, causing the box to cut into his side. “Oh. One more thing.” He slipped his hand into his pocket. “Before we left Manitoba, my mother gave me this.” He drew the box from his pocket, opened it, and lifted out a gold band with a solitary sapphire. “I’d like you to wear it.”
He liked the way her lips quivered just then. He leaned toward her until he could feel her breath on his cheek. “It’s—it’s more beautiful than anything I’ve ever seen!” Her hands trembled slightly as she removed her glove and held out her hand. Dixon slid the ring onto her finger, the feel of her soft hands increasing his pulse.
Memories of his mother mingled with the scent of Ruth’s lavender until a lump formed in his throat. “A perfect fit,” he said huskily.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and he wiped them away. She tipped her face upward and whispered, “I’d like a June wedding, if that is all right with you.”
The lump tightened. “June would be perfect.”
She smiled and took his hand in hers. Dixon looked at the ring on her hand. He remembered when his mother wore it. This ring was all he had to remember her by. He touched it again and twirled it gently around her finger. “When my mother gave me this ring, she made me promise to reserve myself for whomever I chose to give it. I—I want you to know that I have kept that promise, while I dreamed of finding a woman worth loving. Now I know I was dreaming of you.” He studied her face, rosy from the cold, eyes glimmering in the setting sun.
“I wish to wait for our first kiss until the pastor declares us man and wife before God. Then to kiss you as my wife, the only woman I’ve ever touched in such an intimate way.” He swallowed. Lord, let her understand.
Ruth caressed the back of his hand with her thumb, and her eyes glowed with something he took to be pride. “I love that you desire this. You are so honorable, so respectful. These I cherish in you. I will be pleased to help you keep that promise. It is only right.”
He squeezed her hands and whispered, “Thank you for understanding, my love.” My love. Words he once thought he’d never say to anyone.
“I love you all the more for your desire to wait. It’s a beautiful example of love and honor.” She looked up at him with an expression of tenderness.
Pride surged through him. This woman, this beautiful woman, would complete his life like no one else. He grinned and let go of her hands. “I love you, too.” Then he lifted his fist in the air and whooped. It echoed across the prairie, followed by her laughter.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever been happier.” She twirled in the dying sunlight as though a young girl, the smile on her face never broader.
It was true then. If the bounce in her step were any indication, he’d made her happy. He chuckled, delight filling every part of his body. “I know I’ve never been happier.” And he jumped up and clicked his heels together. They laughed until Dixon wiped back tears. “It’s good to see you so happy.” Ruth beamed at him with eyes reflecting the beauty of the setting sun.
Just then, a gust of wind carried a baby’s cry. “I best go now,” she whispered and stopped in front of him. “I love you, Clarence Dixon!”
“And I love you, Ruth Clumpit!” His heart swelled. “I’ll go with you. We can share our news with Joab and Sarah.”
She grabbed his empty tea cup from the snow and looped her arm through his. Jasper nipped at his feet as they walked to the soddy. Life couldn’t get much better than this—a wife, a dog, land, and above all, eternal life by the mercy and grace of God.
Later that evening, he fed and bedded down the animals, and then settled beneath the buffalo robes. Didn’t the Bible say, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord”? Ruth would be an excellent wife. Most definitely through her he would obtain favor. He already had the day she led him to the Lord. With a smile on his lips, he drifted to sleep, dreaming of his future with Ruth, and God, and any little blessings the Lord might send their way.