Harlan nodded. “I think you’re right, but how do we get out of this room?”
Elise replied, “You tell Millie you have a mother all picked out for her, and you’ll ask her to marry you, soon. That should make her happy.”
“What if she doesn't like the woman?”
“Millie? She’s such a sweet girl, she’d love any woman you choose; I’m sure of it.”
Harlan hesitated while stroking the arms of the chair. “What if...”
Elise waited for the rest of his sentence, but he’d stopped short. “What if?” she asked.
“What if you were that woman?” Harlan blurted.
Chapter Eighteen
Elise was stunned at first, but then she thought that he might just want her opinion as a woman. “If it were me? I’d love to be Millie’s mother. I love that child. However, when you’re talking about marriage, feelings for each other would have to be mutual. You can’t marry a woman because of your daughter’s like or dislike of her.”
“That’s not what I meant, Elise.”
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest she feared he’d hear it. “Did you mean what if I were the woman you’d proposed to, and I didn’t feel the same way about you? I’d tell you how honored I was to have such a fine, successful, smart, and handsome man confess his love for me, but I’d explain that I didn’t feel the same. Then, I’d suggest we continue being friends. Is this woman someone here in Russell, Harlan?”
“I’m afraid she’s someone in this very room.”
Elise gasped, and she noticed the hurt in Harlan’s eyes. “No, Harlan... I was surprised is all. Are you saying you love me?” she whispered.
Harlan simply nodded.
Elise felt tongue-tied for a few moments, and she saw Harlan’s face prepare for disappointment. “I love you, as well.”
Harlan smiled. He fell down on his knees before the bed. “Will you marry me, Elise?”
Once Elise had calmed down her heart and pulse, she said, “It’s not that simple... yet.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Love comes in many forms. I love Millie, too.”
“So, what are you saying?” he asked, resuming his seat on the chair.
“I’m saying that I want to know what makes you think you love me, then I’ll tell you why I think I love you. It really has to be genuine, Harlan."
“All right. I’ll start with the first time I realized I might be in love with you. It was during our walks together and when we were working together. It was the way you treated Millie and Clay. The way they both loved you, although I had no idea Millie was looking for a mother. The idea of love was there, but it was not yet definite enough to admit it, even to myself. Then, Millie was kidnapped, and I blamed you. I was truly angry, and the whole atmosphere in the house changed. You’d brought so much life and laughter into the home, but now, everyone was sullen and cross. That’s when I knew I’d been wrong to be angry with you. Before I had the chance to properly apologize, I had to leave town to go after T.J. and his friend. During that trip, I thought about you all the time. I dreaded coming home because I thought you might have left.
“Then, before I had a chance to know if you were still here or not, you were kidnapped, and I thought I’d go out of my mind. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I couldn’t live without you—I was in love.”
All Elise had to say was, “Oh, Harlan,” and the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Now, it’s your turn,” he said.
“My story isn’t as poignant as yours. I felt it sooner. I loved that you were such a loving father to two orphan children. I loved how you treated the horses, your staff, and Martha. The walks we took were definitely a part of it. When you were angry with me, I felt more than guilt—I felt as though I’d lost you forever. The moment I knew that I loved you for sure was when you held me in your arms after I was kidnapped. I felt so safe, and the trauma I’d endured evaporated as soon as you held me, but I had no inkling you’d ever feel the same about me.”
Harlan stood and hugged her. It was awkward because she was lying down, and he was bent over her.
“Please, help me to stand,” she said.
Harlan obliged.
Elise threw her arms around his neck, and he hugged her properly.
“So, what is your answer?” he whispered in her ear.
“I think we should kiss before I decide,” she whispered back.
“I’d love to, but why?”
“Because if you kiss like a fish, I couldn’t marry you.”
Harlan threw his head back and laughed while Elise giggled. When he finally stopped laughing, he said, “Pucker up, then.”
He kissed her gently on the lips. “Oh.” Elise sighed. “My answer is yes.”
“So, I don’t kiss like a fish?”
“Goodness, no. You are a very talented kisser.”
“Hm. By the way, how do you know how a fish kisses?”
They both laughed. Harlan held her closely and said, “This will be a happy marriage, I know it will be.” Harlan put his finger to his lips for her to be silent. He tiptoed to the door and said, “Well, Millie, you’re getting a mother—now, open the dratted door.”
The door opened, and Millie flew into Elise’s arms. “My prayers have been answered.”
Harlan laughed. “I think all of our prayers have been answered.”
Troy was apprehended by Sheriff Conn, simply because he was too drunk to remember T.J. telling him not to return to the ranch. He had counted his money and realized he hadn’t gotten his share from the cattle drive, so he
