"Seemed practical."
"For what?"
"Guests."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Guests?"
"Yes."
"How many guests are you expecting?"
Daniel smiled.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Whether a certain family of three sisters decides to visit."
Abigail laughed.
"Daniel Mercer, are you trying to tell me something?"
He looked at her.
For a moment, his expression became serious.
"Maybe."
She felt her heart quicken.
But before he could continue, Rachel appeared carrying a bucket.
"Daniel!"
He closed his eyes.
Abigail laughed.
Rachel approached.
"The north fence is leaning."
Daniel sighed.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"I fixed it yesterday."
"Then you fixed it badly."
Abigail laughed harder.
Daniel looked toward the sky.
"Lord, give me patience."
Rachel smiled.
"Patience won't fix the fence."
She handed him the bucket.
"Tools are in the barn."
Daniel stared at her.
Then looked at Abigail.
"Your sister enjoys tormenting me."
Abigail smiled.
"She likes you."
Rachel turned.
"I heard that."
Daniel laughed.
For the first time in years, laughter came easily.
The proposal happened on a warm evening in late May.
The sun was setting behind the mountains.
The sky glowed orange and rose.
A gentle breeze moved through the cottonwoods beside the creek.
Daniel stood on the porch of the new house, holding two cups of coffee.
Abigail sat on the steps, watching the horses graze.
He handed her a cup.
"Thank you."
He sat beside her.
For a while, they watched the sunset in silence.
Then Abigail said, "It's beautiful here."
Daniel nodded.
"Always has been."
She looked toward the mountains.
"I understand why Eleanor loved it."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"She never saw this place."
Abigail turned.
"What?"
"I bought the land after she died."
He looked toward the creek.
"I thought if I built the home she wanted, somehow it might make up for the one we lost."
Abigail listened.
Daniel continued.
"But the house never felt right."
"Why?"
He considered the question.
"Because I was building it for someone who wasn't coming home."
Abigail looked down.
Daniel turned toward her.
"Then you arrived."
Her heart quickened.
He smiled faintly.
"Three women hiding in my barn. One pointing a gun at me. One barely able to stand. And one asking whether I had a wife and children because she didn't want to put them in danger."
Abigail laughed softly.
"I remember."
"I thought you were trouble."
"We were."
"The worst kind."
She smiled.
Daniel grew serious.
"But you brought something else."
Abigail looked at him.
"What?"
He took her hand.
"Life."
She felt tears rise.
Daniel continued.
"For five years, I thought the best part of my life was behind me."
He looked toward the house.
"I thought I'd already had my chance at happiness."
Abigail squeezed his hand.
"Daniel..."
He shook his head gently.
"Let me finish."
She nodded.
He took a slow breath.
"I loved Eleanor."
"I know."
"I always will."
Abigail's eyes filled with tears.
Daniel looked at her.
"But loving someone who is gone doesn't mean a man has nothing left to give."
She stared at him.
He reached into his coat.
Then removed a small wooden box.
Abigail covered her mouth.
Daniel opened it.
Inside lay a simple gold ring.
Not large.
Not expensive.
But beautiful in its simplicity.
He looked at her.
"Abigail Whitmore."
Her tears began falling.
"Daniel..."
He smiled nervously.
"I've faced gunmen, storms, and more trouble than any sensible man ought to survive."
She laughed through her tears.
"But I've never been as frightened as I am right now."
He took her hand.
"Will you marry me?"
Abigail stared at him.
For a moment, she could not speak.
She thought of the night they met.
The storm.
The barn.
The fear.
The kindness.
The long journey through the mountains.
The gunfire.
The losses.
The rebuilding.
And the quiet moments when she had begun to realize that somewhere along the way, she had fallen in love.
She smiled.
"Yes."
Daniel blinked.
"Yes?"
She laughed.
"Yes, Daniel Mercer. I'll marry you."
He closed his eyes.
Then laughed with relief.
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Abigail leaned forward and kissed him.
It was gentle.
Unhurried.
A kiss filled with gratitude for everything they had survived and hope for everything still to come.
When they finally pulled apart, Daniel rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you."
Abigail smiled.
"I love you too."
From somewhere near the barn came a loud cheer.
They turned.
Rachel stood beside Lucy and Martha.
Benjamin Carter was behind them.
Peter Bellamy was waving his hat.
Reverend Collins smiled from the fence.
Abigail stared.
Then laughed.
"You knew?"
Rachel grinned.
"Of course."
Daniel groaned.
"How long have you been there?"
Lucy smiled.
"Long enough."
Martha folded her arms.
"And about time, too."
Everyone laughed.
Daniel looked toward Abigail.
She was smiling through her tears.
He took her hand.
Then stood.
"Well," he said, "I suppose we have a wedding to plan."
Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"A wedding?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Good."
Then she pointed toward the north pasture.
"But first, you still need to fix that fence."
Daniel stared at her.
The others burst into laughter.
And as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, the ranch that had once been filled with silence echoed with the sound of family.
They married in September.
The ceremony took place beneath the cottonwood trees beside the creek.
Reverend Collins officiated.
Rachel stood beside Abigail.
Lucy carried a small bouquet of wildflowers.
Martha cried openly and denied it whenever anyone mentioned it.
Benjamin Carter took notes for the newspaper.
Peter Bellamy helped decorate the fence with ribbons.
And nearly half the county attended.
Daniel wore a dark suit.
Abigail wore a simple ivory dress with lace sleeves.