"Oh Wes, I'd be proud to wear her ring."
He kissed her hand and looked into her eyes."I love you Kate, I always have, since the day you drew that rifleon me."
She laughed. "I don't know when I fell inlove with you, I just know that everyday I loved you more."
"We can make a go of this place now. This isa good start. We'll sell some off to the army, and breed some."
"I'm glad you ran into Black Feather andthey helped you."
"I gave them some mustangs too, I had somany and they were a great help to me. The boys might come back tohelp out too."
"That would be great."
After they kissed forever, he settled herclose to him on the porch. "I would have told you sooner how Ifelt. But Kate I had to make this trip. It was important tome."
"Tell me why?"
"I've been drifting a long time and gettingnowhere. I had nothing to offer you, but my love." He told her.
"That would have been enough," shesmiled.
"Maybe, but I couldn't hold my head up if Icouldn't provide for you Kate. I had to prove something to myself.A man doesn't feel like much unless he can prove he's a man. ThatFrank could have provided more for you, but I knew what kind ofmarriage you had before, and I had to make things better for you.Farming is a lot of work and if the weather doesn't cooperate youhave troubles. Many have tried and failed. And I'll give yourhusband this much, he was a good farmer. I knew that when I sawyour field. But he didn't give you much, personally. That I cangive easily. I love you Kate, and I'll never leave you, ever."
"I love you Wes, and I'll work along sideyou for the rest of our lives to make you a good wife."
"I don't doubt that a bit, honey. You'veproven that already. I gotta admit, I was taking a big chanceleaving you here alone, with no promises. I could easily have lostyou."
"No you couldn't. I was yours long beforeyou left, you had to have known that."
"I hoped."
She took his face in her hands and staredinto her eyes. "You didn't have to hope. I'm yours. Don't you knowthat by now?"
"I worried because I had nothing to offeryou."
"I found out a long time ago, that havingthings, doesn't make you happier. When I first kissed you, I knewthere was something good between us. You worked so hard to get thecrops in, finding buyers for the hay. And… Dickens told me what youtold the Smiths'."
"You told them I was your girl!" She kissedhim.
"I was pretty sure I was right, when yougave me that goodbye kiss."
"I couldn't hold back my feelings anylonger," she told him softly.
"I've got some big plans now that we have afuture. And my first priority is to make you a happily marriedwoman." He smiled his heart thundering in his chest.
"When do you want to get married?"
"As soon as I sell some of the horses. I'vegot some plans for us that I think you are gonna like."
"Tell me about them." She insisted.
"Can't, it's a surprise." He sent her a sexysmile.
"Look, I know Jim scared you on your weddingnight. But I promise, I won't hurt you. You gotta know I want you,but if I'm too rough, just let me know."
"I can't imagine you being rough with me inany way." She sighed hugging him. "I'm not afraid of you."
"I love you too much to ever hurt you,Kate."
"And I promise to do my best to show youjust how much I love you, Wes Dolan."
Finally they walked inside, and Kate madethem all comfortable for the night. No one slept in the barn. Shemade pallets for them all and Black Feather and his boys were verycomfortable on the floor. Wes slept with Dickens and she went tobed, dreaming of the day she'd be Mrs. Wes Dolan.
Even Lucky and Moby slept inside, as it wastoo cold to keep them outside now.
The next morning Kate fixed them a hugebreakfast, and everyone ate to their hearts desire.
"What is this," Black Feather asked her.
"They call it speckled gravy." She smiled athim. "Do you like it?"
"Very much, I must learn to fix it."
"Fine I'll teach you," she told him.
"Could you and the boys stay on a while?"Wes asked after they finished eating.
Black Feather studied on it a moment, thenthe boys nodded. So they agreed to stay a while.
Kate looked around her house now and smiled.It had finally become a real home, as laughter filtered through thehouse.
When she looked a bit melancholy Wes came upto hold her and asked in a whisper, "What are you thinking?"
She turned to kiss him on the nose. "I'vehad a house for a long time. But I haven't had a home since myfolks died. It feels so good."
He squeezed her and kissed her on the tip ofher nose.
"Wait until we have kids… "
She blushed, "I can't wait." She sighedhappily. "How many do you want?"
"I think you should decide that. It's yourbody, and it depends on how hard it is for you to have them." Hesaid kissing the top of her head as he spoke.
"Well then, we'll have a couple and see howit goes from there." She said glancing at his reaction.
"Sounds good to me."
ChapterTwenty-Six
While Wes was gone, Dickens had bought somehogs and built a pen for them. Wes was surprised at how much workthe old man had done around the place. He'd even repaired the roofand put a railing around the porch. It looked as if Dickens washealthier than ever.
But since Black Feather was staying a fewdays, Wes spent his daytime hours breaking the mustangs. He wasvery patient with them and the boys, Blue Dog and White Fox watchedand helped to break them. Wes saw how good they were and decided toask Black Feather to stay on.
Since Wes was sharing a bed with Dickens, hesuggested they could sleep in the barn since there was a stove outthere to keep them warm. They agreed.
Before trying to sell the mustangs, Weswanted
