by Liz Isaacson
She tipped her head back and laughed, revealing that slender, kissable neck. “I’d really like to see you do that, cowboy.”
A month later, Tucker hauled case after case of water from his garage to his truck. The horse show at Steeple Ridge Farm was starting in a couple of hours, and he had a full day ahead of him.
He glanced into the cab of his truck for the tenth time, as if the little black box holding a big, beautiful diamond wouldn’t be right where he’d left it. He hadn’t sold the farm to Missy, but he was going to give it to her one way or the other. Honestly, he wanted the other, because it meant he got to wake up next to Missy, and go home to Missy, and spoil, spend time with, and share his life with Missy.
“I’ll see you out there,” he called into the kitchen, where his parents sipped coffee and snacked on the cinnamon rolls Gladys had brought over the previous evening.
His nerves rioted as he pulled into the farm and found Missy’s truck already there. He left the water where it was and collected the jewelry box. It seemed to weigh twice as much as all twenty cases of water he’d hauled that morning.
Missy came out of the main barn with Diamond King behind her. “Hey,” she said when she saw him. “You’re early.”
“I could say the same thing to you.” He held the box behind his back, his throat so dry he thought it would stick together.
“Wanted to ride for a few minutes.”
“Can I ask you something first?”
“Sure.”
He collected Diamond’s reins from her and dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me?” He swept the diamond out from behind his back, everything happening in less than three seconds.
Missy stared down at him, blinking once, twice before she blurted, “Yes!”
He laughed, leapt to his feet, and twirled her around. With steady hands, he slipped the ring onto her finger, liking the way it looked sitting there. Gazing down at her, he said, “I came to Steeple Ridge to start over.” He swallowed, reminding himself that she’d already said yes. “And I want to do that with you. I love you, Missy, and your loud family and your passion for horses, and I even like that old dog of yours that cornered me the first time I came to this farm.”
With a beam of happiness in her eyes, she said, “I love you too, Tucker, even if you are a city slicker.”
“I’m gonna let that comment slide,” he said, his voice lowering to nothing more than a murmur. “After all, I brought in that horse after you missed ’im.” He kissed her before she could slap his chest in protest or tease him for his cowboy twang. The way she matched his movement and melted into him sent his happiness soaring.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my parents,” he whispered as he held her close to his heart. “Then I can introduce you as my fiancée.”
She pressed her cheek to his heartbeat. “You wanna ride with me until it’s time to set up?”
“’Course.” Tucker stepped out of her embrace and went to saddle his horse, his step light as he walked. As he saddled the black stallion, he thanked the Lord that he’d been led to the town of Island Park, to Steeple Ridge Farm, to Missy, and that he’d been given the opportunity to restart his life.
THE END
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Liz Isaacson is the pen name for Elana Johnson as she writes inspirational romances. She loves all things cowboys, and will write romance in Texas, Montana, and anywhere else she can find horses and mountains. Find her at http://lizisaacson.com.
Her first inspirational romance series, the Three Rivers Ranch Romance series, is an Amazon #1 bestseller and includes 7 full-length novels and 6 novellas, with the last one coming in March 2017. Start with Second Chance Ranch, and read them all! She likes to write by the pool, on the couch, and definitely with a pile of Ferrero Rocher nearby. Her next series, the Gold Valley Romance series, takes place in the wilds of Montana and begins with Before the Leap.
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Check out our Timeless Regency Collections:
Don’t miss our Timeless Romance Anthologies:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Other Works by Liz Isaacson
About Liz Isaacson