It’s been a week since our time in the cabin, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this happy. I get to wake up every morning with Sage in my arms, and I get to start my day inside her. We get up and shower together then head down to breakfast.
After breakfast, we go our own ways on the ranch, sometimes meeting up for lunch. After dinner, we go for walks and talk about everything and anything.
We’ve talked a lot about the past and our feelings and how we hurt each other. We’ve worked out several misunderstandings and talked about how we should have handled it and how we would handle things in the future.
We’ve had many talks about our plans as well as where we see us going and how we’d be as a family. When that topic came up, I don’t think I can keep the smile from my face. Picturing Sage round with my child and us starting a family that we’ve both always so desperately wanted.
After our walks, we come in and watch TV. I get to spend every night in bed with her and fall asleep with her in my arms.
This is how I always pictured our life when we were making plans for our future. This is the life I want. If I thought Sage would say yes, I’d ask her to marry me today and then run off to Vegas to make her mine.
I know Sage though. When I do pop the question, I don’t want any doubt in her mind about us. I want to give her the big romantic proposal she deserves and the wedding she has always dreamed of.
I look over at Sage, still asleep with her hair fanned out on her pillow. She looks like an angel. I’ve always thought so. Back when she had all her nightmares, and I’d be in bed with her, I wouldn’t sleep much. I would be up watching her sleep. She would catch me a lot and just smile and snuggle in closer to me.
I lightly move the hair out of her face, and it causes her to stir. She blinks, opens her eyes, and smiles at me. This makes my heart clench every time. My Sage is so not a morning person; having her wake up and smile at me makes me feel ten feet tall.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asks me, and I can’t help but smile and kiss her forehead.
“Yes, I woke up about ten minutes ago.”
Sage doesn’t move; she keeps watching me then slowly brings her hand up to my face. I close my eyes and soak up her touch. It has healing powers, I swear it does. When I open my eyes again and look at her; the look of love and passion in her eyes takes my breath away.
“I love you, Colton. I don’t know how you’ve managed to do it, but you’ve healed by heart and managed to steal it all over again. I love seeing the little things you do for me to show you love me. I love hearing it when you say it. I love starting and ending every day with you, and I love the future we have planned.”
I can’t stop my eyes from misting over. “I love you too, Sage. I’m not me without you, and I don’t ever want to be without you again.”
I lean in and kiss her as we ignore the alarm clock and make love soft and sweet that morning. By the time we get downstairs, everyone is already gone.
I know what I need to do today, so I head off to find Blaze on the east side of the ranch, saddling up a horse at the barn.
“Late start today, huh?” he jokes.
I smile. “What are you up to today?”
“Riding out to check a few pastures. We need to move the Delta cattle herd next week. I also want to check the fences.”
“Want some company?” He looks me over and then nods.
I saddle up my horse, grab some supplies, and off we go.
I can’t help but notice the difference just a few weeks can make. Before Sage and I started talking again, I would love the monotony of ranch work like this. You can zone out, and it’s quiet. I used to love that. No one out here to bug me.
This is where I’d come to think. I’d do my job and before I knew it, it would be dinner time. Days would fly by, and I’d look forward to the next time I could get out in the fields again.
Now, not so much. I’d rather be by Sage’s side, watching her, listening to her talk and laugh. I now hate being all the way out here and away from her. Time seems to drag on.
Even when I try to put her out of my mind to focus on what I want to talk to Blaze about, she’s right back there, taking over. What is she doing? Is she thinking of me? Can I get back and pull her into the barn office and bend her over the desk?
Shit, I need to get my mind off Sage. Riding a horse with a hard on isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world.
We’re silent for the first twenty minutes before Blaze speaks, “What’s on your mind, Colt? I know you aren’t out here for my bubbly personality.”
I shake my head and take a deep breath. I just need to say it, “I want to ask Sage to marry me.”
Blaze is silent. “Have you guys worked through your shit?”
“Yeah, we’ve been talking nightly. What we should have done differently, what we’ll do from now on. She’s always been the one, and it doesn’t matter if it’s now or ten years from now. I’m going to do everything possible to make her happy and marry her.”
We cross the creek, and I continue, “I know we hurt you keeping this a secret, and I’m sorry for that. I want you to know I came to you first. I haven’t talked to anyone else about this. I need you and me, and you and Sage to be okay before moving forward.”
He sighs. “Sage came to me last week. We had lunch and talked it all out. She cried, and I gave my blessing to all this. I think she cried on purpose, but I can’t prove it,” he grumbles. “You two are my best friends, and I hate that you hid this from me but so long as you promise not to do it again, and you make her happy, I’m okay with it. But I still stand by Sage. If you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass. I’ve spent my life keeping people from hurting her, and that includes you.”
I smile. “Good. She needs you. I swear it. I’ll go to my grave doing everything possible to make her happy.”
He nods. “I forgive you guys, but I still reserve the right to bring it up and pick on it anytime I want.” He smiles.
“Understood.”
“You’ll be my best man. If I have to suffer Riley and Sage’s wedding planning twice, so do you.”
With that, I laugh. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Please keep this between us. I’m going to talk to Mom and Dad tonight, the guys tomorrow, and Riley and Megan last. Those two can’t keep secrets.”
“I don’t keep secrets from Riley…” He pauses. “Make sure you talk to her tomorrow, or I will.”
“Deal.”
Heading back to the ranch, I stop at the graveyard. Mom and Dad told me as soon as they knew both of my parents were dead, they were adopting me. It was never a question. For that reason, they asked if I wanted my mom buried in the family graveyard here at the ranch, and I agreed.
I tie my horse to the fence before heading through the gate toward the front right corner under the cedar elm tree. I sit next to my mom, take a deep breath, and let it all pour out. I tell her about everything going on with Sage from the time she was in the hospital until now.
It’s calming to tell my mom, and I feel bad. I should be out here more.
“Mom, I’m going to ask Sage to marry me. I know you always liked her. I wish you were here to help her pick her wedding dress and stand by me for photos. Sage will want to get married at the ranch church here on the property, I know it. We’ll give you the grandkids you always wanted, and I promise to bring them here. We can do afternoon picnics as I tell them stories of their grandma who watches over them.”
My eyes tear up. Mom always did the best she could to protect me and take care of me. So many times, she went without, so I had what I needed. I always wanted to grow up and take care of her. That was the plan, but best laid plans and all that.
I spend another half hour talking to her before heading back to the house for lunch.
After lunch, I head over to Mom and Dad’s house. I enter via the kitchen and instantly smell her homemade banana bread. It’s my favorite, and it makes my mouth water, even though I had had Sage’s baked mac and cheese for lunch.
I walk up behind Mom and give her a hug.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, can I talk to you and Dad about something?”
She wipes her hands on her apron and turns around to study my face.
“Of course, baby. Your father is in his study. Head on in and let me clean up. I’ll be just a minute.”
I head into Dad’s study, and even though the door is open, I knock on the doorframe.
He has always had an open-door policy for us kids. We’re free to come and go from the study. He has never hidden anything from us. No matter how many times he tells me I don’t have to knock, I still feel like I need to.
His study commands authority and attention. When you walk in, there’s a large window on the back wall that looks out over the barn, so he can watch the ranch hands from his office. Sage loved the idea so much, she set up her office at the house the same way.
The windows let in a lot of light, so the study is always bright, but it has dark-wood walls lined with bookcases filled with books. Lots of books on the history of the area and the ranch. Many journals from the family and tons of ranching books.
All of us kids loved being in here reading them, especially Sage. That thought brings a smile to my face. Dad has a large wood desk, the kind you picture in any large office; he uses it mostly used for storage.
In one corner of the room, we have had many talks in a comfortable sitting area. We would come in, sit, and read while he did the bookwork.
Dad looks up when he hears me knock and smiles at me.
“Hey son, come on in. Did you stop in and see Mom already?”
“Yeah, she’ll be here in a minute. I was hoping to talk to you both.”
I watch Dad’s face fall just a bit. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s good news, I hope. I hope you’ll take it that way anyway,” I say, getting nervous.
Dad stands from behind his large wooden desk and sits in one of the armchairs in the little seating area with the couch and a second armchair. This is the same seating area mom and dad would have many talks with us kids growing up and My nerves are now getting the best of me.
Mom walks in and closes the door. I take a seat on the couch and Mom sits in the other armchair. I watch Dad look at Mom like she hung the moon. He reaches over and takes her hand in his before giving me his attention. I have a brief glimpse of moments like this with Sage and our own kids one day.
I rest my arms on my legs, rub my hands together, and take a deep breath. Then I look up and look Dad in the eye like he taught me.
“Sage and I’ve been working things out. We’ve been talking every night, and we’re in a good place. A better place than when we were eighteen. We aren’t hiding us from anyone anymore.” I pause. They are watching me, so I take a deep breath.
“I love her. I have for as long as I can remember. I think I fell in love when I first saw her in the barn when we were six. I think I realized it when we sat on my front porch after she saved my life when we were fourteen, and I knew I’d never let her go when I sat by her hospital bed after she saved Mac’s life when we were sixteen. She’s it for me, and I want to ask her to marry me.”
There, I’ve said it. I look at Mom first, and I see tears in her eyes. I look at Dad, and he seems… proud. Without a word, Dad walks over to the hidden safe in the bookcase. He pulls out a small box and closes the safe before sitting back down.
“After Sage came to us, I watched her bio mother and every move she made. I didn’t trust her. She sold off anything of value, trying to hold onto the property. She sold a bunch of jewelry, and I picked this up.” He hands me the box, and I open it.
It’s an antique wedding and engagement ring and a matching men’s wedding ring. The engagement ring is stunning, and I know I’ve seen it before. It’s white gold, which I know Sage loves, with a large diamond in the center and three smaller diamonds on either side in a swirl design.
I look up at Dad, and I can tell he sees the question in my eyes.
“This was Sage’s grandmother’s wedding set and her grandfather’s wedding band.”
I take a deep breath. Sage loved her grandparents. They died when she was eight, only a few months apart from each other in a nursing home a few towns over. Mom and Dad took Blaze, Sage, and me many times to see them on the weekends. Then we would go out for lunch and ice cream or catch a movie. That’s why the ring looks familiar.
Tears well up in my eyes. “Thank you.” My voice is husky with emotion.
“We’ve seen how you two are together. We’ve watched, and I can tell how much you love each other. Honestly, the day you showed up at church with her, I knew this day was coming. You treat her right. Marriage isn’t easy. There will be hard times but don’t give up, and don’t walk away. She kicks you out? Sleep on the couch in your room. Put as little space between you as possible. We’re always here if you need advice, but I’m so happy for you both,” Dad says and then stands to hug me.
Mom hugs me next, but then she pulls back to look me in the eyes, keeping her hands on my shoulders.
“That day Sage went to your house and… everything happened. When I showed up and saw you two huddled on the front porch together, I knew. I knew in my heart then you two were meant to be. I love you both. You share a bond no one else does, but you will have to work on it every day.” She leans in and hugs me again.
“Now, any special plans on this proposal?” she asks.
“Not yet. I talked to Blaze first, but I still need to talk to the guys and Megan and Riley. I think I want to do something that includes all of them.”
“I have an idea, if you’re interested,” Mom says with a twinkle in her eyes. Dad and I laugh.
We make plans over some sweet tea and fresh banana bread before I head out to find the guys.