Ria laughed. “Well, I’m grateful to her.”
“Truth is, so am I.”
“What happens now?”
Cam pulled a modest engagement ring from his pocket. He’d kept it in his pocket these last few days, hoping it would serve as a talisman to bring them luck as their time together wound down. He didn’t have a fancy box. The diamond wasn’t the size of a golf ball, like the one Dirt Bag had offered her. But the ring had special meaning to him. It had been passed down in the Grey family. It wasn’t extravagant or gigantic, but he wanted Ria to have it.
“I wondered if you would marry me.”
Ria’s hands went to her face. She sucked in a deep breath of surprise. She stared at the ring like it was a life preserver and she was drowning. She reached for it slowly, as if it would be snatched away if she grabbed for it too quickly.
“Now that you seem to be free from your previous obligation, I want to ensure you understand my feelings. I love you. I want you to be my wife. I want to wake up every single day like we did this morning. Please say you’ll marry me, Ria. I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy.”
“I would love to marry you.” Ria held her hand out so Cam could slide the ring on her finger.
“Do you want to get married today?”
“Canwe get married today?”
“Sure. Wearea full-service way station. Wedohave a Justice of the Peace on call and at the ready for couples arriving on ships, wanting an official Earther-style wedding upon their arrival.”
Ria looked like he had just handed her the moon. “I love you so much. I want to marry you as soon as possible.”
“I love you, too. Let’s go.”
“Should we tell anyone?”
Cam shrugged. “We can. Or we can tell them afterward.”
Ria nodded. “Yes. Afterward is a great idea.”
Epilogue
Two months later, the lakeside cabin
Ria was so happy, she could have skipped to the bedroom. Common sense, and the two cups of hot coffee she carried, kept her steps even. So she grinned ear to ear with joy and thought about skipping down to the dock later.
In the bedroom, she paused to gaze at the breathtaking view out the window of her new home. “Have I ever told you how much I love the view from right here?” Ria asked, handing Cam his morning coffee.
“Once or twice,” he said with a grin. “I’m glad you still enjoy it.”
She seated herself at the little table they’d put on the deck outside their bedroom.
“I will never get tired of it, husband of mine.” Ria leaned close to get a coffee-flavored kiss. She loved saying “husband” and thinking it and, most especially, living it.
“What shall we do today, wife of mine?”
“I have to go into town for a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Juliana and I have formed a two-person group called the Grey Brothers Wives’ Club.”
Cam laughed. “So you just have the two members so far, then.”
“Right, but eventually I’m certain there will be more.”
