“Why don’t y’all give that back to Maverick, darlin’? Before you drop it or something.” Kate says.
“Can I try it on first?” Myra asks, as we hear the front door open, and mama and Ellie walk back inside.
“No!” Practically all of us shout, startling Myra, and she jumps, accidentally dropping the ring on the floor. It lands with a tiny ping, and then it makes a sound, similar to when a coin drops on the floor.
“What in Sam Hill are you all yelling about in there?” Mama asks. The room is silent as Ellie walks in, and I can’t pick up the ring without making it blatantly obvious. Myra crawls down under the table to pick it up, and I watch her tuck it into her pocket. I wink at her as Ellie approaches me, giving me a quick kiss on the mouth. “I asked a question.” Mama says, smiling.
“I’m going to go for a walk.” I say too quickly. Ellie gives me a look, but follows me, nonetheless. I’m not worried about the ring. I know that Zack or Kate will grab it for me and get it to me safely, nonchalantly, at some point before I leave.
I head outside, holding Ellie’s hand in mine. “You okay, baby?” she asks me.
“I’m always okay when I’m with you.” I answer honestly, wrapping my arm around her, as we walk to the pasture. When we reach the wooden fencing, we lean on it, and I stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her, as we watch the horses graze.
“God, I love you.” She breathes, holding me close.
“I love you, too, darlin’. With every beat of my heart.”
“Yeah?” she says in conversation.
“Um hm.” I whisper in her ear, then I kiss her tenderly on the neck. “What was mama showing you out here in the garden?”
“She wasn’t showing me anything. She just wanted to talk to me.”
I lift my head. “Everything okay?”
“Fine. Word got around town about what happened with Will. She just wanted to make sure that I was okay and all. Concerned. If I didn’t know her better, I would think that she was making sure that I wouldn’t go back to him, ever. That his little stunt put the nail in the coffin.”
“Oh yeah? And what did you tell her?”
“I said that the nail was in that coffin long before the divorce went through. Even long before we actually broke up.”
“I hope she wasn’t meddling.”
“Na, I think she’s just looking out for you is all. And as long as she did it out of care for you, it’s all good. I’d never want to see you get hurt, either.”
“I appreciate that, darlin’. And I feel the same. I’d never want to see me get hurt, either.” I can’t keep a straight face. She scoffs and turns around to see me smiling.
“Out of all the guys I’m sleeping with, you’re my favorite.” She jokes, and we both chuckle, holding each other close.
I kiss her lips and it slips out. “Marry me.”
She pulls back, a ‘v’ forming between her brows quickly, but then it disappears, and she smirks softly. “Did you just ask me to marry you?”
“I think I suggested it. I didn’t actually ask.” I clarify, still on the joking vein.
Little Myra walks outside the house and approaches. “Zack told me he’d give me fifty dollars if I gave you something back, but I told him I had to ask you if you wanted it first.”
I can’t help but chuckle. Perfect timing. Not so perfect tact. Nice going, little brother. “Well, let’s just see if Ellie wants it first.” I state, matter-of-factly, playing along.
Myra hands the ring to me and I pinch it between my thumb and forefinger, and then drop down on one knee. Ellie’s warm smile is telling. “What do y’all think, love? Do you want to marry me? Give this here ring a home?” I ask her. I can feel eyes watching us through the front door.
Ellie nods. “Yes, I’ll take the ring, and I guess I’ll take you, too.”
“It’s…sort of a package deal, if you want the truth.”
“Then I’ll take it.” She says, as I slide the ring on her finger.
The front door opens as I kiss Ellie quickly, and then lift her up into my arms, so her feet aren’t touching the ground. I can hear hooting and hollering and cheers coming from the peanut gallery behind us, as I spin Ellie around a couple times. Myra squeals with glee next to us.
