“What was that about?”Ben asked.
“About Milly,” she said.He didn’t need to know the truth.“But let’s not talk about it.”
“Okay.”As Ben drove, he took her hand.She held it tightly, wished she’d never have to let go.All she wanted to do was throw herself at him, wrap her arms around his knees, and beg him not to abandon her.
In truth, she wasn’t altogether certain she’d be able to refrain from doing that.Why, oh why were men so obtuse?
The long depressing days and nights ahead without him stretched out in a sea of loneliness.Ben would no longer be a part of her life.Ben, whom she’d grown to love more than she’d ever thought possible.Ben, whose babies she longed to bear.
It was the mightiest struggle of her life to sit silent at his side.She could feel the violent sobs stacking up inside her chest, a domino effect of agony just waiting to fall.He wouldn’t want to see her cry.It would make him uncomfortable, and she sure didn’t want him to see her humiliation.So, it became her job to hold back the weeping torrent until she left him at the airport.
Mile after mile, as the truck rolled, she held her act together, exhorted herself to let Ben wing away in the waiting aircraft and keep her dignity.
As he drove them into the area just outside of town, they neared the acreage Old Man Turner had put up for sale.Sarah stared at the sign.Something was different.It said SOLD.
She pointed at it.“Someone bought Old Man Turner’s land.”
Surprising her, Ben jerked the steering wheel and crossed traffic lanes to veer onto the property.On unpaved dirt, the truck bounced, and he pulled to a stop beneath the sign.Opening his door, he got out, went around the hood, and opened hers.
“Come on,” he said.
“What are you doing?”She allowed him to take her arm and help her out.What in the world?
He bent to grab a handful of the rich Montana soil.Slowly, he let it fall through his fingers.“I bought it,” he said.“Yesterday morning.”
“Youbought it?”She couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d told he was moving to China.“W-Why?”
“Turns out Mountain Wood, Montana, is the perfect place for a satellite location for Paxton Security.I’ll build it and from this new, second facility, start winter warfare training.Doesn’t snow in Austin like it does here,” he said.“My men need to know how to operate under all conditions.”
Sarah gaped at him.Her heart slammed to a stop, then sped up on the beating wings of a hummingbird.
“I cut a deal with a shooting range in Billings,” he went on.“They’ll contract lanes to us for practice.Down in Texas, Rio can run the other side of the business.I’m making him a full partner.”
“You’ve discussed this with Rio?”What could this mean?It appeared that Ben had been busy making plans without telling her.Making plans for afuture.She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t trust her own ears.Her mouth went dry.
“Yep.If you give the go-ahead.”Holding her gaze, he gestured at the acreage.“We’ll build your feed barn right here.There’s room for both businesses.”His eyes clung to her face.
Lost for words, Sarah’s head buzzed so loud that Ben’s voice sounded like it was echoing.“You—you’re moving here?”
“Yes,” he said simply, “to be with you.It’s what I want.In fact, I long for it.I hope you want it, too.”The stark question in his eyes was open, honest, almost begging.
When she didn’t immediately answer, he cupped her elbows in the tender way she’d come to adore.“You don’t have to go to New York.I’ll take out a business loan, make the feed barn construction part of it.But if you go, no matter how long you’re gone—a year, two years, whatever—I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
Sarah felt a sob rising from deep within.Afraid to find this was all a dream her wishful heart had conjured, she remained mute.Her eyes burned, filled with tears.
Seeing them, Ben raised her hand, kissed her knuckles.“I don’t have a ring.Yet.And you don’t have to answer me today.Think about it.I love you, Sarah.I swear I’ll make you a good husband.Marry me?”
“Think about it?”She blurted the words, and her voice gurgled with erupting tears.“Okay, I did.I thought about it.Damn you, Ben Paxton.”She gave him a fierce scowl.
“What?”He frowned, looking worried.His hands on her elbows tightened.“Tell me I didn’t mess up.I wanted to get everything settled, so that you’d see I’m serious.About you.About us.Tell me you want me, too, Sarah.I’m dying here.”
On her arms, she felt his grip shaking.That was okay.She was shaking, too.
“Oh, Ben,” she whispered, “couldn’t you tell?”She reached up to place her hands on his face.Her heart thundered in her chest and her fingers shook.“You had to know.Of course I want you.And I want us.”
