“So you'll grant that I've seen this many times before, no?”
“Yes, you have, Mr. Mayor,” he agreed. “I have no problem acknowledging that.”
“Well, I'll put this as simply as possible,” he stated. “Lisa Freeman is deeply in love with you. There's no doubt about it.”
“Really?”
“Really. I've watched the two of you together, and you two look exactly like every other couple that's fallen in love and gotten married in Last Chance,” Owen observed. “More or less.”
“I. . .I didn't realize that,” Willard said.
“Well, now you do,” the mayor said, nodding at the ring box in Willard's lap.
“You do want to marry her, right?”
“Oh yes!” Willard said. “She's wonderful! Everything I dreamed and then some.”
“I thought so,” Owen replied. “Then take the ring, take her up to the observatory, and propose to her. That would be my advice, pure and simple.”
Willard began to protest, thinking of more objections and counterarguments. Before he could do so, though, the mayor was up and out of his chair, leaving Willard sitting in front of an empty desk.
But what about the ring, he thought to himself. It was obviously expensive, and Willard hadn't paid for it yet. Moreover, he wasn't sure he had the resources to do so, at least not right away. Willard was frugal, so it was definitely affordable, but it was a serious shock to have the extra expense thrust on him in such a sudden fashion.
He desperately wanted more time to think about it, and Willard continued to sit in front of the desk, pondering the situation. Once the mayor had left the room, though, he realized the most important thing of all.
Lisa was waiting for him.
Oh my goodness, he thought to himself—I can't just leave her sitting there in the conference room. That simply wouldn't be right.
The mayor was absolutely correct in his assessment, Willard realized, and he was suddenly galvanized by the thought of how much of a cad he was being by leaving her alone.
The moment is right for this, and God always provides, he thought. And all things happen for a reason.
With that, he strode confidently from the mayor's office, unable to believe what he was doing. Perhaps if I can do an imitation of a confident man, he thought, then my nervousness will fade and I can somehow manage to do this.
Then he stopped in the hall, thinking of his work. When it came to details—writing plans, making charts and graphs, and doing all the things it took to keep Last Chance running—Willard was one of the most confident men in the world.
He was very good at his job, he knew that for sure, and Willard also knew he could have kept a much larger town running smoothly with just a little extra effort.
So why was this any different?
He loved Lisa Freeman profoundly and completely, and Willard knew she felt the same for him. All of the details of their life together would flow from that, and if their love was sufficiently rooted in faith and love, they would succeed together, on every level. It really was that simple.
Willard pondered that notion as he walked to the door of the conference room, fighting the part of himself that wanted to make things complicated and detailed. What the moment called for was simplicity, he thought, and action. And for leaving details to take care of themselves.
Simply put, it was time.
With that, he walked into the conference room, giving the door a gentle tap to let Lisa know he'd arrived. He opened it slowly, and Willard was greeted by her beaming smile. His heart leapt, and he thought of what a joy it would be to be greeted by that smile every day.
“Hi there,” Willard said, returning her smile as he poked his head in the door. “I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“It's no trouble at all,” Lisa said. “But I was slightly worried. Is everything all right?”
“Just fine,” he said, regretting the fact that he would have to tell a little white lie to hide the true nature of his conversation with the mayor. “Owen just needed to talk to me about a town matter.”
Lisa turned around and started to stand up. “If it's important I can wait for you,” she said. “It's really no bother at all.”
“No!” Willard replied, perhaps a little too vociferously, as he fingered the box in his pocket. “Nothing is more important than you or our time together right now.”
“Well, I don't know about that,” Lisa said, grinning. “But it is sweet of you to say it.”
“Well, trust me, it comes straight from the heart,” he said, summoning one last rush of courage before speaking again. “So. . .we're all clear for this afternoon.”
“Really?” Lisa said, grabbing the basket on the table. “That's wonderful!”
“And the town stagecoach is out back waiting for us,” Willard added.
Lisa giggled slightly. “I feel a little like Cinderella,” she said, “being escorted to the ball.”
Willard smiled and took her hand as she rose. “Well, it's not a ball, unfortunately,” he said wryly. “It's a bluff.”
She grinned. “And here I thought you were serious,” she said. “Bluffing a poor innocent girl like me.”
Willard blushed. “You know what I mean,” he said, turning an odd shade of crimson. “And you know how serious I am for sure.”
“Oh, absolutely,” she said, curtsying as she took his hand. She took a deep breath and sighed.
“And it's simply wonderful.”
The ride to the observatory was the most romantic experience of Lisa's life by far.
They sat side by side in the coach, and Willard pointed out different parts of the prairie to her—their history, where the trails led, what they looked like at different times of year during the various seasons.
The prairie may have looked all the same from a distance, but Lisa quickly realized how unique it was, and how lucky she was to be here.
She and Willard were both famished, so they cheated a bit, opening the basket and pulling off a slice of the fresh baked bread. The aroma of it filled the coach, and they fed each other tiny pieces, enjoying the small romantic gesture and all the subtle meanings it held.
They reached the observatory quickly, so it was still early afternoon when they arrived.
“Would you like to walk a bit, or see the observatory itself?” Willard asked, hopping nimbly off the stage and then helping Lisa down.
“Let's walk a bit,” she said, looking around. “It's quite lovely up here.”
“It is indeed,” he said, taking her hand. “Folks come up here all the time when they need to think and take a rest from the demands of daily life.”
Lisa smiled. “Does that include you?”
He returned her grin, then shook his head. “I wish!” Willard exclaimed. “I really should make more time for such things.”
“Perhaps we will now,” Lisa replied, and he felt a shiver of delight when he heard her use the word “we.”
“You know I'd like that a lot,” he said softly.
“Well, I don't see why not,” she asked. “I'd certainly love to.”
“Then we shall,” Willard said, his confidence growing by the moment.
They walked slowly toward the edge of the bluff, warming up slightly as they did. Lisa took in the whole panorama, loving all of it, and she tried to suppress her innate curiosity and just enjoy it.
Still, she couldn't help herself when they reached the edge.
“Which direction is this?” Lisa asked as they scanned the horizon.
“Hmm,” Willard said, looking around. “I'm not quite sure. The bluff isn't square, so you have to use the mountains to orient.”
“Oh!” she said. “Silly me. . .that makes sense.”
Willard turned and wheeled until he found the Rockies, which were slightly behind them. He pointed them out to Lisa, then put his arm around her as they looked back over the edge.
“So we're looking southeast?” she asked.
“Umm. . .yes, I thi
nk so,” Willard replied, distracted by the warmth of Lisa's body against his own, even through the overcoats they were wearing.
He pointed slightly to their left. “So that would be Kansas City in that direction, over there,” Willard explained. “And Wichita as well, which I imagine is where you came from.”
“Yes,” Lisa replied, thinking back on the journey and how arduous it had seemed when they first started. “It was something I never thought we could do when we started out.”
Willard shook his head in confusion. “The trip, you mean?”
“Yes,” she said. “The circumstances were quite frightful, I'm afraid.”
“I can only imagine,” he said. “I've heard so many stories about the trip west. . .they make it sound quite perilous.”
“It can be,” Lisa agreed, smiling at him. “But it really wasn't that bad once we got going.”
“You and Sally must both be incredibly resourceful,” he noted. “To have managed such a thing.”
Lisa laughed slightly, remembering how distraught Sally had been.
“Sally was in quite a state,” she explained. “Normally she's extremely capable, but she was mortified by her situation with her father.”
“I have heard something about that,” Willard said. “I'm just glad you made it.”
He gave her hand a squeeze. “And it really is quite impressive that you managed all that.”
There was a brief pause, and Willard wondered if this was “the moment.” Should he pop the question? He asked himself that several times, and at first Willard thought he was going to need more time to consider it.
Then he looked in Lisa's eyes. They were bright with hope and adoration, and she was positively beaming up at him. The mayor had been right—she was as in love with him as he was with her, and there was almost no chance she would reject him.
On the other hand, though, there was plenty of risk if he waited. Feelings and sentiments got misinterpreted all the time, which was just one of several reasons why Willard preferred working with facts and figures, which were tangible and easier to understand.
But his feelings for Lisa were just as simple to comprehend. He wanted a life with her, one based in Christian faith that included marriage and children. Willard knew she wanted that too, and if that was what he truly wanted, waiting could damage his chances.
So he reminded himself once again: It was time to act.
Lisa turned as if she expected to keep walking, but Willard managed to turn her back toward him. He must have been blushing to beat the band, because she looked at him curiously, and Willard fumbled around and reached into his pocket, then pulled out the small box.
He handed it to her awkwardly, and Lisa took it, looking at him in confusion.
“I. . .I wanted to show you something,” he said simply.
“What is it?” Lisa asked, slowly beginning to figure things out.
“It's. . .um. . .it's a ring,” Willard stammered.
She opened the box, staring at it in wonder. “It's. . .is this what I think it is?” Lisa said, her voice thick with wonder and amazement.
“Yes, it is,” Willard said, finally able to sound firm and confident. “And I should like you to wear it. Always.”
“Oh!” Lisa exclaimed, and Willard heard her gasp. For a moment he thought Lisa was going to pass out, and he briefly wondered what he'd do if that actually happened.
“Why, Willard. . .I think its wonderful!” she said, holding the open box in her palm. She reached up and delicately stroked his cheek. “And yes, I'd be delighted to wear it. . . forever!”
“You would?” Willard asked, slightly stunned. He cursed himself for asking, thinking that he really did need to develop a better sense of the moment and be more decisive.
“Of course, silly!” Lisa exclaimed, holding out her hand. “Will you put it on for me?”
“Absolutely!” Willard said enthusiastically, unable to comprehend his success. The woman he was in love with, totally and completely, was actually going to marry him!
He completed his proposal awkwardly, removing the ring from the box, which then tumbled to the ground. Fortunately, Willard managed to hold onto the ring, and he slipped it onto Lisa's finger, clasping her hand in his.
“I. . .I like the way it feels,” he said, stuttering slightly.
“As do I,” Lisa said as the warmth emanating from his hands streaked through her. She smiled and gazed in his eyes. “And I would be more than honored to be your wife.”
“And I your husband,” Willard replied, finally regaining his equilibrium.
“Will you kiss me?” Lisa asked softly, realizing that he was somewhat stricken by the enormity of what was happening, and the kiss wouldn't happen without her prompting him a bit.
“Why, yes!” Willard said, his heart suddenly flooding with joy. “I do believe I'd like that a great deal!”
Lisa leaned into him, and Willard kissed her, hoping for a repeat of their earlier kiss. This kiss, however, was much different, mostly because it was fraught with another kind of meaning.
It lasted longer than the other one, and Willard pressed Lisa to him, wanting to show her the seriousness of his intentions. He enveloped her in his arms, hoping this would make her feel safe and protected, which was the way he wanted to make her feel for as long as they were together.
It was at that moment that Willard realized that he would do anything for her, make any sacrifice, and do whatever it would take to fulfill her hopes and dreams. And Lisa responded exactly in kind, just as he hoped she would, until each was convinced of the other's love beyond a shadow of a doubt.
After that they continued to walk around the bluff for a bit, taking in the sights. Lisa held his hand firmly, thinking of the events of the last two days, and the days and weeks before that.
How completely her life had changed, she realized, and so much for the better! The enormity of the change was impossible to comprehend, unless it was broken down into smaller bits.
Once they completed their walk around the bluff, Lisa and Willard realized that the sun was beginning to set, which was happening earlier every day now that it was nearly winter.
“Would you like to see the observatory?” Willard asked her.
“Briefly, perhaps,” Lisa replied. Then she grinned. “I do feel a bit caught up in the moment right now.”
“Me, too,” Willard said, beaming with the joy of a small boy who had just received exactly what he wanted for Christmas.
“What about our driver?” Lisa asked, suddenly concerned. “Will he be waiting for us?”
“Of course,” Willard said. “He does that sort of thing all the time.”
“Well, I shouldn't want to keep him waiting for too long,” Lisa said, feeling slightly guilty.
“He'll be fine,” he said, grinning. “If you wish to see the observatory, then we should do so.”
“I do!” Lisa said. I've never been in one, and I've always wanted to see the stars that way.”
“Then you shall,” Willard replied, extending his arm in the direction of the observatory. “For as long as you'd like.”
She smiled as they walked toward the observatory. “I already feel like my head is in the clouds,” Lisa said. “Perhaps this will be similar.”
“Mine is there as well,” Willard added. “And perhaps even higher up than that. So we can share the experience together.”
They walked into the observatory together, and Lisa was shocked when she realized that it had been left unlocked. This would have been an invitation to disaster back east, an open invitation to burglars and vandals.
“It's left open!” she noted, unable to keep the surprise from her voice.
“Always has been, since the day it opened,” Willard said.
“That's truly wonderful,” Lisa marveled, “that it's possible to do that here.”
Willard took her hand. “I think you'll find that many such things are possible here,” he said softly.
“I've already learne
d that,” she said.
He walked her to the telescope, which was left set up in the proper position for visitors to use. There was a placard explaining the particulars of the set up, and Willard gracefully guided Lisa through them, having regained his composure now that his proposal had been accepted.
“We won't be able to see the night sky, of course,” he explained. “But I'm told its still possible to see certain stars in the daylight from this high up, and perhaps the fact that the sun is beginning to fall will assist with that slightly.”
“I hope so,” Lisa said. “I think it's marvelous that it's even possible.”
“Well, we'll certainly give it a try,” Willard said. “Let me see if I can line it up properly.”
He began fussing with the telescope, and within a few minutes Willard began to realize that this was exactly the sort of thing for which he was well-suited.
“There we go,” Willard said, stepping aside. “Try that.”
Lisa stepped up to the telescope tentatively, as if it might reach out and turn on her. Willard prompted her slightly, placing his hand on her back, as she leaned into the instrument and became more comfortable using it.
“Oh!” she said with some excitement. “I can see some stars!”
“Which ones?” Willard asked, smiling at her enjoyment. “Can you identify any of them?”
Lisa giggled. “Of course not,” she said. “I know nothing of stars or where they're located or any of that.”
“I happen to know just a little bit,” Willard said proudly. “Here, let me help you.”
He stepped up and repositioned the scope slightly, finding exactly the star he wanted.
“There,” he said, being careful not to move it. “The one in the main sight, right in the middle. That's the North Star.”
“Oh!” Lisa said, stunned at the brightness of it. “I had no idea it was like that.”
“From this elevation it is,” he explained. “It's one of the first things that most people want to see when they come up here.”
Lisa looked back at him, then at the telescope. “Well. . .it seems I have two shining stars,” she said.
“What do you mean?” Willard asked.
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