When we got to the fair, Beau and the guys took the horses to the barn where they would be housed during the events the next couple of days. I wanted to go. To be completely immersed in all the inner workings of this tiny little fair.
My eyes fell to the arena. It was set up and I wanted a moment to get myself into the zone. Tonight, was about me, Oakley, and second chances.
A chance to slip into my former life before all the shit went down.
Before I met him.
Before he ruined me.
Before I broke.
I walked up a couple of steps on the bleachers by the arena and dusted off an area to sit. I sat there for a while.
Thoughts about my life with Beau came to mind. I knew I wanted everything with him. Running the farm, living our lives until we were old and gray like my parents. Raising children that ran around the farm just like we’d done as kids.
What would our children look like?
The thought popped into my mind and I quickly shook it away. No mention of marriage had been made. For a moment, I was sad and a tear slipped from my eyes. I didn’t even notice that Beau had come looking for me. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts that I never saw him sit down next to me. He put his arm around me, pulling me into his side.
“You okay, darlin’? ” He reached out lifting my chin to look up into his dark brown eyes. I sniffed and cleared my throat. “Oh yeah, just stupid happy tears. Thinking too much.”
“You ever want to talk about it, you know I’m here right?”
“What are we doing, Beau? I mean… what’s your five-year plan? Where do you see this going?”
“Marriage, kids, happily ever after…why the questions?”
“You want to get married?”
“Of course, I do, Cass. I’d marry you tomorrow if I knew you were ready.”
“But what was all that stuff you said about being written in the sand a little while ago? Sand runs away with the slightest touch of rain. It blows away with the slightest breeze. It swirls in insecurity. Is that what you see for us?”
“Cassidy Mae… when you first came home, our story was uncertain. I didn’t know that you were going to walk back into my life, but the second you did I knew I was completely gone for you. I knew that I would wish for you to never leave my side because I couldn’t breathe without you. You’ve become the oxygen in my life. The blood urging my heart to continue to beat. The love of my life and I know that it’s only been a short few months, but that’s the truth of it. So yes, you could say that our love story started out being written in the sand, but it’s going to be written in the stars forever, darlin’. And if it takes till my dying breath to make you feel my love, then I hope to live forever. You’re it for me.”
Another tear slid down my cheek, only this time it wasn’t over sadness. It was joy.
“Then ask me.”
“Ask you what?”
“Ask me, Beau Montgomery…I’ll say yes,” I whispered.
His brow quirked, “Darlin’ are you asking me what I think you are?”
A smile tore across my face and I nodded.
“I don’t have the ring with me right now. It’s at home, but I don’t want to wait any longer. I’ve been in love with you since I was old enough to recognize you as a gorgeous girl and not a day went by where I wish I hadn’t stepped up and made a move. I told you how I felt, but now you’re back and you’re here with me and I promise that I will spend the rest of my life loving you like you’re meant to be loved. Like you’re the most precious gift I’ve ever been given.”
He leaned in and kissed me as if he couldn’t wait one single second longer to do it.
“I won’t take you for granted. I promise to give you all of me for the rest of our lives until we’re old and gray. Until our kids are old and grown until I draw my last breath on this Earth. Will you marry me, Cass, and make me the luckiest damn man in the world.”
During his speech, he lowered to one knee and now he was eye to eye with me. I watched as a tear slipped and fell down his cheek. He had the biggest smile plastered to his face, but I could tell he had some nerves there too. Possibly at the thought, I’d back out last minute, not meaning to tell him to ask me. He looked at me with hope, with love, like I was his whole world, and my answer hung in the balance.
“Now you’re crying…”
“I’m just so damn happy. You gonna answer my question, woman, or make me sit here waiting until forever?”
“Yes, Beau Montgomery. I will. Forever.”
He lifted up, picked me up with him and hugged me close. My feet dangled from the ground and tears yet again streamed down my face. I was elated. I was all in. He was mine just as much as I was his. “I love you, Cassidy Mae.”
“I love you too, Beau. Always.” Our lips met and a kiss full of fire and passion consumed us. I wanted to have him right here on the bleachers like two people who wanted to be so inside each other that they melted into one another.
Beau pulled away slowly and winked at me, “Darlin’ I know exactly what you’re thinking and as much as I want to take you right here, right now, I’m not going to. You got some barrel racing to do and I’ve got a fiancée to cheer on. Go win the prelims and we can celebrate later tonight.”
“Promise?”
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“Well, no…”
“Good. Go get Oakley ready to go and I’ll adjust this raging situation
