“Doesn’t take a lot of skill to get shot,” Jed grumbled, but he was obviously enjoying the attention.
Cab laid a hand on Jed’s shoulder. “Truly. I wanted to congratulate you on being such an exemplary deputy, even so long after retirement.” He turned to Steel. “I want to congratulate you, too. Get over here, Cooper.”
Stella squeezed his hand before ushering him forward to shake hands with Cab.
“You did good work out there. Wish I’d known earlier you were on our team. I think some of your fellow deputies owe you an apology—Sheriff Holden, too.”
“Time for all of us to move forward,” was all Steel said. In a way he’d bought into his own undercover act. Had conducted himself like a man with things to hide. He looked forward to forging a new identity out in the open.
“Time for me to get going,” Cab said. “Just stopped by for a minute, but I’m needed out there. We’ll have a real celebration soon. Cake and everything. I’m sure Sheriff Bolton will want to take part.”
“That won’t be necessary.” But hell if it didn’t sound nice. “The roads in town are still passable?”
“Most of them. All the low-lying land is swamped. Everything within a few blocks of Chance Creek, which means there’s no way to get out to the ranches or Silver Falls,” he added. “Anything close to a creek or river is flooded.”
When they were gone, Steel was surprised to find himself still at the center of attention.
“You did good, Steel,” Virginia told him. “Dale would be proud of you. I think he’ll rest a little easier from now on knowing you finished what he started.”
“I think it’s about time we all held our heads up and learned to be proud of ourselves—both our families,” Steel said. “No one needs to feel ashamed about the past anymore. And look at what we’ve done for this town. All of us.” He looked around, trying to get used to the feeling of standing at the center of the crowd rather than the edge of it.
“Here, here,” Stella said—and kissed him.
“Well,” Virginia said. “What about that?”
“What about it?” Stella challenged her. “Don’t you think I’m good enough for your nephew?”
Virginia hmphed and looked her up and down. “I guess you’ll do.” She snapped her umbrella open and shut, getting everyone’s attention. “For goodness’ sake, will you all give Jed a little room to breathe?”
There was nowhere to be alone in the hospital, but once again, Steel found them a quiet corner where they could sit on a cot, lean up against the wall and talk.
“I’d meant to save this for someplace more special,” he began when they’d gotten comfortable, “But I have a feeling we’ll be busy for a long time when the water goes down.” He pulled a little velvet box out of his pocket, and Stella’s heart stuttered before it began to beat again.
It couldn’t be.
“I know I had no right to even dream of such a possibility, but after the night we made love in your pasture, I knew you were the only woman I wanted to spend my life with. Hell, like I told you that night, I’ve known it for years, even if I didn’t let myself think it.”
“Steel—”
“Let me finish.” He opened the box and showed her the ring, a delicate swoop of platinum embellished with a diamond that glittered in the dull hospital light. “I love you. I have since the day I saw you flatten Leon with a math textbook.”
Stella smiled.
“I’ve loved you for the way you’ve always stood up to injustice. The way you’ve been true to yourself. The way you’ve carried yourself with pride and the fierceness with which you’ve defended those weaker than you.”
She was growing warm under his praise, and her hands were shaking. Was he truly proposing to her?
“I have waited so long to be able to throw off the past and step into the life I want to live. I want it to be right here on our families’ ranches. I want to help keep our town safe. I want to have a family with you someday—if that’s what you want. Participate in all our town has to offer. Most of all, I want to be a man you can be proud of—and a man I’m proud of, too. Stella Turner, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Stella leaned close, breathed in the scent of him, which was becoming so familiar. “I’ve always wanted this—for years. Long before it made sense. I think I’ve always known who you were.”
“Who’s that?”
“The one man in the world for me.”
“You’re all right with staying here in Chance Creek, no matter what we find out there when the water recedes?”
“Of course. This is my home. It’ll always be my home.” Never once during all the hard times had she wanted to leave the Flying W.
“Then let’s do this together—you and me for the rest of our lives.” He slid the beautiful ring on her finger, and Stella swallowed in a dry throat, thinking her heart might burst. It was beautiful, and Steel was everything she’d ever wanted. A true partner—on their ranches, at work—and in her heart.
“Now all I need to do is pass that test,” she exclaimed, then whooped as Steel bowled her over and kissed her until she could barely breathe.
“I propose to you, and all you can think about is a test?” he demanded when they finally came up for air.
“I can’t be a deputy with you until I pass it,” she explained. And she pulled him close to kiss him again.
Chapter Twelve
It was several days before the water went down far enough that they could get home. Finally, they were given the all-clear, and Steel loaded Virginia, Jed and Stella into his truck. Mary, Maya and Liz were to follow behind, so he set a cautious pace.
Even when they were on the long stretch of highway between the ranches and town, he stayed well below the speed limit. The last
