Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

B eau reached into his closet and pulled out the two-by-four holding all the bowties he'd worn to various weddings here on the ranch.

He'd actually been to a lot more—all the Glover Family weddings, the Walker cowboys. He'd been to their weddings too.

"So many weddings," he said. "So many memories." They flooded his mind, and all of them were good, as if God had washed away the bitter and jealous feelings Beau had endured during some of the ceremonies, dinners, parties, and dances.

"Beau," Bennett called, and Beau twisted toward his bedroom door.

"In my room."

Bennett entered several seconds later, by which time Beau had put the row of bowties on the bed. He looked away from it and toward Bennett. "Hey, brother." He hugged his best friend and together, they looked at the wedding wear.

"What's goin' on here?" Bennett asked.

"I'm getting rid of the bowties," Beau said. "Every time I open my closet to get dressed, they mock me."

"I thought you and Charlotte were getting serious."

"Yeah." Beau nodded, his smile starting in his soul before it reached his face. "We are. Real serious."

Harvest had come and gone, and they'd survived him stumbling home late and getting up early. They'd done the sunrise live-stream together a few times, and Charlotte had done it for him three more times, simply to give him another hour of sleep.

"I'm going to town to get the ring this afternoon," Beau said. "And I don't want these here anymore."

"Then let's get rid of them." Bennett reached for the first one and plucked it from the board. "And you got her a ring?" He gave Beau a side-eyed look that broadcasted his surprise. "That's huge, Beau. Really huge."

"Never bought a diamond ring before," Beau acknowledged. He started picking off the bowties from the other end of the board, the more recent weddings. Ben's wasn't on here, as Beau hadn't had space for it, and he didn't want to display a token of another wedding he'd attended as a single man.

It only took a minute to get all the bowties off the board, and he crammed the ones he'd collected into Ben's hands. "You do it."

"What do you want me to do with them?"

"I don't know. Don't we have some trash to burn on the ranch today?"

"Not with the fire danger being in the red," Ben said. "You know what, Beau? This is easy. They're trash, so we put them in the trashcan." He turned and left the bedroom, and while he was gone disposing of the bowties, Beau removed all the tags and pictures marking which wedding belonged to which garment.

When Ben returned, all he had was a two-by-four, and Beau knew what to do with that. He gave the tags and pictures to Ben, and they left the bedroom, Beau carrying the long board. Charlotte had gone out to the stables already, so she wasn't there for his bowtie cleansing, which was just fine with Beau.

He'd barely wanted Bennett to come, but he'd asked him to come over for a little "housekeeping," and to go pick up Charlotte's ring with him. Somehow, even as a forty-year-old, Beau needed a little hand-holding with the purchase.

Plus, he'd gone with Ben when he'd bought Ellie's ring. It felt fitting, and like what Beau wanted to be doing. They'd get lunch first, then head to the jewelers, and Beau had told Charlotte that he and Ben were going to lunch and picking up ranch supplies.

They had to do that too, so it wasn't a lie.

He watched Ben toss the tags in the trashcan in the kitchen, and then they took the board out to the barn where they kept scrap lumber. Beau dusted off his hands and looked at Ben. "Well? Ready?"

"Yes, sir." Ben grinned at him and threw his arm around him. "I can't believe you're getting married." He laughed, and Beau knew he wasn't teasing. It really just was joyful.

Beau grinned and stumbled under the weight of Ben's arm. "I know, right? I can barely believe it."

"Charlotte's amazing," Ben said. "I really like her, Beau."

"And the best part is, she won't have to move after we get married." He grinned at Ben, who shook his head as he chuckled.

"Oh, she'll be movin', brother," Ben said. "I mean, she's not gonna live across the hall from you once you guys say ‘I do.'" He raised his eyebrows. "Right?"

Beau had not allowed himself to think about walking into a bedroom he shared with Charlotte. But now he did. "Yeah," he said quietly.

"Marriage is the best," Ben said.

"Yeah?" Beau asked. "Are you and Ellie gonna have kids right away?" They'd already been married for a few months now, but Beau hadn't gotten any announcements.

Ben's face fell. "I'm not sure about that," he said. "Ellie's been having some health issues." He flashed a smile at Beau that held more pain than happiness. "She might not be able to carry a baby. She's been goin' to the doctor for only a month or so. We don't know much yet."

Beau's whole body turned to lead. "I'm sorry, Ben."

"We don't know much yet," he repeated. He tried on another smile. "I'm trying to stay positive, and Ellie doesn't want anyone to know quite yet."

"Of course," Beau said. "I won't say anything to anyone."

They piled into his truck, and Beau started the drive to town. He and Ben were so close and had been through so much, that he didn't expect Ben to wallow in silence and sorrow, and he didn't.

They started talking about the upcoming holiday festivities on the ranch, and Ben said, "I hope Squire and Kelly have another multi-ranch party. That ugly sweater contest was a hoot." He laughed, and Beau joined in.

"Sure was," he said. But he hadn't heard head nor tail of a Christmas party, though Kelly could definitely put together a meal and a get-together faster than the weather changed in Texas. "I'm headed to Preacher's for a Friendsgiving next month," he said. "Me and Charlotte. They want to meet her."

"Yeah, I'm sure they do."

"Why don't you and Ellie come with?" He glanced over to Ben. "I know her sister lives here, but it's a Friendsgiving. We'll go to Charlotte's for Thanksgiving Day, but this is the Saturday following."

Ben's face lit up. "Do you think I'm invited?"

"Yes," Beau said without missing a beat. "You've met the Glovers, right? They won't care at all. I'll call Preacher right now."

"Don't do that," Ben said. "Just ask him later. But I think Ellie would like that. She was saying that all we do is drive out here, work, drive home, and collapse in bed."

Beau laughed. "It's just busy right now," he said. "Fall always is."

"Sure is." Ben sighed as he leaned his seat back. "I'm gonna take a nap, so maybe I can stay up past eight o'clock tonight."

Beau grinned over to him, and he let Bennett have his nap. They enjoyed lunch, and then Beau found himself opening the door of the jeweler where he hoped to find a ring for Charlotte. They'd talked a little bit more about a wedding and marriage, but Beau hadn't come right out and asked her what kind of ring she'd like.

Charlotte didn't wear any jewelry that Beau had seen—maybe a small pair of earrings on his birthday. But no rings, bracelets, or necklaces. A lot of cowgirls didn't, so he smiled at the woman who approached him and Ben and said, "I need a ring for a woman who works with horses and probably won't wear it much."

The woman didn't miss a beat and her smile didn't slip a centimeter as she said, "We have sets where she can wear one when possible, like to church or when she's not working, and when she can't, it can be worn on a chain around her neck."

Beau wasn't sure Charlotte would even do that. He didn't care. The diamond ring wasn't the thing that made her his. The way she relaxed around him did that. The way she kissed him and gave herself to him—mind and body and soul—did that.

"All right," he said, and he went with her to look at rings. Within only a few minutes, he got overwhelmed with settings and cuts and gold versus white gold. Thankfully, Ben was there to ask questions, and after a half-hour, he looked at Beau.

"Which one do you like?"

"Is it about me?"

"Yeah, which one do you like for Charlotte?"

"Beau?"

He turned in the direction of the familiar voice, and he found Mason entering the jewelry shop. "Hey, Mace." He moved over to his college best friend and man-clap-hugged him. "You made it."

He scanned the jewelry cases in front of him, his eyes landing on Ben for a moment, and then the saleswoman for another. He then switched his eagle-eyed gaze to Beau. "You're buying a ring for my sister."

"Yes, sir." Beau grinned and rocked back on his heels. "We've looked at a lot, and I've narrowed it down to three. I'd love your help in choosing one."

"You've picked three?" Mason asked, seemingly determined to be grumpy. "Where are they?"

"I'm getting them now." Beau went back down the counter with the saleswoman, and he pointed out the three rings he liked best. The three he hoped Charlotte would like the best. She set each of them on a black velvet tray and set them in front of Beau, Ben, and Mason.

Mason whistled and said, "Whoo-ee, Beau. You can afford these?"

"Yes," Beau said without further explanation. "Mason, I'm in love with your sister, and she loves me."

Mason looked at him fully then, maybe for the first time since he'd moved to Three Rivers, despite the dinner he and Charlotte had gone to a couple of weeks ago. He searched Beau's face, and he apparently found what he was looking for.

Everything about him softened, and oh, Beau had seen that exact same thing happen to Charlotte. They really were cut from the same DNA.

"I see that." Mason slung his arm around Beau's shoulders. "All right then, brother. I'd go with this one." He pointed out the middle ring, the one with the smallest diamond and the most white gold. "My sister doesn't like gold, and she's not flashy. She just wants to be seen and appreciated, and this will convey that just fine."

"I like that one too," Ben said.

Beau didn't want to hem and haw. He wanted this job done, so he could move on to the next thing: Asking Charlotte to be his wife.

"That's the one then," he said to the saleswoman. "Oh, and I did get her ring size." He tapped to open his phone, where he'd noted it after Felicity had gotten it for him. "It's a seven."

While she went through the paperwork and started checking him out, Beau looked at the two men with him. "Thank you both," he said.

"Of course," Ben said while Mason barked out a "Yep." He gave Beau a squinted look and then started to smile, then laugh. "I can't believe I came to town to do this ."

Beau grinned back at him. "And you're not done yet. Now, I'm going to need some help with this proposal…."

Beau pulled up to Mason's mansion on his million-dollar ranch, a familiar pinch of jealousy making his lungs tight. When he didn't get out and grab the bags of salad they'd brought to contribute to the meal, Charlotte hesitated too.

"Do you really want to be with me?" Beau asked as she looked at him.

"What kind of question is that?"

"It's a real one," he said, watching the house. "Look at this place. I'm not this, Charlotte. I have a cabin that isn't mine, on a ranch that isn't mine."

"I want everything you have," she said firmly. "Beau."

The use of his name got him to turn and look at her. She gave him a pretty smile with those pink, pink lips. "I don't want a big ranch that I have to run. Can you imagine me hosting lunches and holiday parties and being friends with all the cowboys?"

Beau smiled at her, but he felt tired. "No, ma'am."

"No, ma'am is right." She reached into the back seat and picked up their grocery bag of salads. "Now, let's go. The wind is howling, and I just want to be inside for the next few hours."

He followed her inside, and they entered the homestead together, Charlotte calling, "We're here."

Beau's heart started to freak out, and if he had her health condition, he felt certain he'd be slumping to the floor right this moment. He swallowed when he saw Charlotte's only nephew.

"Beau," the boy said. "Come see the new kittens."

"Oh, boy," he said. "They were born?"

"Last night," Felicity said as she entered the living room with a smile. "Hey, you two." She beamed at them with only sunshine in her soul, and she hugged him and Charlotte at the same time.

"Where did Tabby have them?" Charlotte asked.

"Guess." Felicity sounded unamused. "I told Mason we'll have to get a washer and dryer in the barn or something, because there's no way Tabby's letting me do laundry while her kittens are in there." She rolled her eyes and turned around. "Come get a drink and have some appetizers. Dinner will be in about a half-hour."

Beau detoured into the laundry room with Garrett to see the kittens, and they were definitely newborn cats as they didn't have their eyes open yet, and they mewed with the most pathetic voices. Still, he held the one Garrett gave him, and he looked at the boy. "We're all set?"

"Yes, sir," Garrett said. "Daddy says you're all set."

Beau smiled at him, gently handed the kitten back, and said, "All right. We better get this show on the road then."

It had been a couple of months since he'd first told Charlotte he loved her, but they'd dated so fast, and she needed a little more time to come to the same decisions he had, that he hadn't rushed into an engagement. She hadn't said a single word to him about it either.

She didn't know he'd bought a ring weeks ago, and she didn't know that he hoped to sit down to dinner in less than thirty minutes an engaged man.

Please let her say yes , he begged God, though Beau didn't really think Charlotte would say no.

He left the kittened laundry room and entered the main room of the mansion, which was a big combo room with a kitchen, living room and dining room. Charlotte's parents had come from the Hill Country, and Beau hadn't met them yet.

Charlotte swooped toward him and linked her arm through his. "My heart is freaking out," she whispered.

"I've got you, little bird," he whispered back. "I should be the nervous one. They already know you." His eyes darted around, and he caught her momma looking at him. "Introduce me."

Charlotte took a deep breath, and with her hand tight in through his arm, she led him over to where her momma sat at the dining room table, braiding together yellow, orange, red, and brown papers to make a chain with her granddaughter.

"Ella, I'm going to interrupt, okay? Beau hasn't met Grandma yet." Charlotte leaned into him, and Beau looked at her. She didn't seem pale, but that didn't mean much. "Momma, this is Beau Peterson. Beau, my momma, Linda." She nodded across the table to her daddy, who had a cup of steaming coffee in front of him. "And my daddy, David."

"Oh, Beau." Her momma swept up onto her feet and grabbed onto Beau. "It's so wonderful to meet you. Char has told us so much."

He laughed, putting on his meeting-parents skin. He had done this before, though not for a while. "Has she now?"

"So many good things." Linda stepped back and shone her light right on her. "Dave, come meet Beau."

Her daddy stood and leaned across the table. "Good to meet you, son."

"You too," Beau said. "I'm so glad to finally meet both y'all." He smiled at everyone, and then looked at the braided chains. "Ella, are those ready?"

She looked at him, her face turning bright red. With wide eyes, she said, "All ready."

"Why don't we hang them up?" Linda asked, and she slid Beau a knowing look too. He glanced at Charlotte to see if she noticed her family acting kind of off. She didn't seem to, and she helped Kennedy start to clean up the paper strips.

Beau stepped out of the way and let Ella take one end of the strips to her grandfather while Mason opened a high cupboard in the kitchen to let down the banner he'd taken a picture of and sent to Beau.

He swallowed, suddenly scared out of his mind. Then Felicity met his eyes, and she nodded with so much encouragement in her smile that Beau's fears flew away. He followed everyone over to the setup they'd done for him and stood in front of them.

"Charlotte," he said into the silence, and she lifted her head from the table. She stilled when she saw her whole family standing with him, the Thanksgiving decorations behind him.

"Get down on your knees," Mason hissed, and Beau dropped to his knees.

He held out his hand for the diamond and Felicity handed him the black velvet box. He cracked it open and looked at Charlotte. "How's your heart, little bird?"

"Um." She looked over to her mom, but Beau didn't dare look away from her in case he lost his nerve.

"I hope it belongs to me," he said. "Because if it does, I promise you I'm going to take real good care of it. Because I love you, and I want you to live in my cabin with me, only in the same room."

Charlotte started to cry, and Beau had not anticipated that. He hadn't prepared a speech, because he'd never really had a problem saying what he wanted to say. Or what he felt.

"I love you with my whole heart, little bird. Will you marry me?"

Charlotte sniffled and clenched her fingers together. She needed time to think and collect her response, and Beau wasn't too concerned yet.

"Charlotte," her momma said.

"It's okay," Beau said. "She's almost there."

Charlotte looked at the banner and decoration behind him. "You made a banner for me."

He grinned at her as her eyes finally came to his.

"It has a little bird on it."

"It sure does." He'd had Charlie Glover help him get in touch with a graphic designer who'd made a banner with a pair of hands cradling a little bird. Then, he'd asked her nieces and nephew to make a chain of Thanksgiving colors that read, "Marry me."

And he'd enlisted her family to be there, minus the two brothers who couldn't travel for the holiday.

She rushed at him and fell to the ground in front of him. "I love you, Beau."

"You sure do." He nudged the ring box into her hand. "What do you think? Do you want be my wife?"

Her eyes searched his, and he loved the moment they lit with everything she held so dear. "Yes," she whispered. "I really want to be your wife."

"And there it is." He took the ring out of the box, and since his forty-year-old knees begged him to get up, he'd explain about the necklace later. He slid it on her finger and met her eyes again. "There. You're mine."

She grinned and took his face in her hands. "Yes, I am, and you're mine, cowboy." Then she kissed him while her family whooped and hollered and cheered behind them.