Chapter 23

She was still frowning.

Maverick's heart knocked hard against his chest. He was botching everything real bad. He should have stopped while he was ahead. Instead, he'd gone and asked her what she thought about Sterling's efforts to facilitate the proposal today.

He supposed on some level he'd been trying to figure out if she'd be open to it. Because there was a part of him—a really big part—that just wanted to throw caution away, get down on one knee, and ask her to marry him.

But look where throwing caution away had gotten Sterling—jilted on his wedding day.

"Let's forget about this." He waved his hand to the box and blanket.

She seemed to be wavering, almost as if she wasn't sure she even wanted to come work for him again.

"Please, Hazel?" He didn't care that he was pleading.

She finally nodded. "Will you do one thing for me first?"

He'd do literally anything for her. But he reined back his emotions and nodded. "Course I will, angel."

She glanced warily at his horse. "Ride with me into town?"

During those couple of days when she'd tended him after his accident, they'd talked about how she'd had no choice but to get on his horse and go for help. Even though he'd been proud of her for overcoming her fear, he reckoned she was gonna have battles to face in learning to get on a horse again. So now, with her suggestion to ride into town, he arched his brow. "You aiming to mount my horse?"

She took the reins and then brushed her hand across the gelding's forelock. "There's something really important I have to do. So I guess I don't have much of a choice."

He started to cross to her. He loved the way the sunlight streamed across her hair in a long braid, making it the finest, prettiest blond he'd ever seen. And he loved the way her cheeks were rosy, her eyes bright, and her lips set with determination.

As he reached her side, his body physically ached with the need to touch her, but he gripped his cane to keep himself from being too bold and possibly scaring her away.

She stroked the gelding another moment before more furrows appeared on her pretty forehead. "Maybe I should wait. You probably shouldn't ride that far today anyway."

"Ain't that far to town." It might cause him some pain, but it would be worth it if he could help her take one more step in facing her fear of being on a horse.

"Are you sure?" She dropped the reins. "Never mind, it was a bad idea."

"Naw." He stuck a foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself into the saddle. Even though every move was painful, he grinned and reached down a hand for her. "Let's go."

She peered up at him, her eyes wide and filled with uncertainty.

"We'll go into town, and then when you're done, we'll head back to the ranch, and you can predict how many days until Blackberry has her foal."

Her eyes narrowed for just an instant with what he could only describe as protest. But then she stuck her foot in the stirrup and grabbed hold of the pommel.

He scooted back to make room for her in front of him.

As she swung up and settled into the tight space, her proximity was almost more than he could take, with her backside tucked between his thighs, her legs touching his, and her arms and elbows bumping him.

Every curvy, beautiful part of her was there for the taking. In fact, she probably wouldn't mind if he slipped his hand onto her waist to steady and hold her for the duration of the ride. He could lean against her as he gripped the reins and guided the horse. Or maybe he could even wrap one arm around her entirely.

But he held the reins with one hand and settled the other on his thigh. He couldn't touch her now, because if he did, he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop. He'd probably end up bending in and brushing a kiss against that long, delicate stretch of her neck that was so close and practically made for him to kiss.

He swallowed hard and looked away. "Ready?" His voice came out tight, almost curt.

"I think so." She shivered. Or maybe she was shaking from fear.

He gave himself a mental slap. He was being selfish. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about how much he desired her. He had to be looking out for her and how difficult this ride would be for her.

"Hey." He spoke as gently as he could. "I'm here. You're gonna be okay."

She drew in a breath—or tried to—and then nodded.

As they started down the trail, he kept the gait even and slow for both of their sakes. At the bottom of the winding path, they caught sight of Sterling driving a stray calf from a spot of brush. He paused a moment and homed in on Hazel's finger, likely looking to see if she was wearing an engagement ring.

His questioning eyes lifted to Maverick's, as if to ask what had happened.

Maverick shook his head and tried to give Sterling what he hoped was a look of reassurance that everything was okay. Maybe their proposals hadn't gone the way either one of them had planned, but those plans had been made by young men who hadn't known the complications of love and relationships.

All that really mattered was that Hazel had forgiven him and was willing to come back to the ranch and work. He couldn't ask for more than that right now. Instead, over time, he'd win her heart and earn her love. While he didn't want to take too long, he was also willing to wait forever to be with her.

When Hazel called out that they were riding into town, Sterling's brows rose in surprise, no doubt because Hazel was on the horse again. Thankfully, Sterling hadn't stopped them or cautioned Maverick against making the longer trip, likely because he knew how important Hazel's efforts were.

During the ride, Hazel asked him about all the mares and foals, and he spent the majority of the time updating her and answering her astute questions. The discussion distracted him from his pain to a degree, and so did her nearness. He reckoned the talk about the mares had helped take her mind off her fears too.

But by the time Breckenridge came into view, his body ached from not only his injuries but also holding himself back from her. When he finally reined in the horse and she slid down, he couldn't contain a soft groan.

She peered up at him, concern etching a line between her brows. "That was too far, wasn't it?"

"I'm fine, angel." He arched his aching back and then swung out of the saddle.

The town at midmorning was busy with mostly miners and businessmen milling about. A few teamsters were loading up for the return trip over Boreas Pass to Denver. Other wagons were readying to leave for the gold and silver mines farther into the mountains.

With the newly discovered silver veins—including Hazel's father's—the town was growing too rapidly to keep up. There were canvas tents around the edges of town, but clapboard businesses with their false fronts were in the majority now, taking the place of most log structures that had existed when his family had moved into the area. In addition to the small, white-painted church with its tall steeple, Main Street consisted of hotels, saloons, shops, liveries, and even a seedy dance hall or two.

The hill to the east side of town was being cleared of more trees, and already Ridge Street boasted of a bank, assay office, and newspaper office, and more buildings were being constructed with every passing week.

Hazel hadn't taken her concerned gaze from him. "I shouldn't have brought you here."

"You want me to be honest?" He steadied himself against his horse.

"Yes. Always."

He leaned in near her ear so that no one passing by would hear his comment. "Having you so close that whole ride and not being able to touch you is what's caused me the most pain."

She pulled back, her eyes widening and a flush coloring her cheeks.

He flashed her what he hoped was his most charming smile. He might not have proposed to her today, but that didn't mean he was holding back on using his wiles to win her.

She ducked her head, but not before he saw the beginning of a smile.

He drew in a breath, letting himself hope that she'd fall for him sooner rather than later. "So, what's your business in town?"

She peeked at him sideways, her gaze suddenly shy. "I need to speak to someone."

In the middle of looping the lead line around a hitching post, jealousy sliced through Maverick. "Who?"

She didn't answer him. Instead, she glanced both ways up and down Main Street and then darted across the road, dodging a mud puddle along with a wagon lumbering past. When she was across, she turned and smiled at him.

At the sight of her standing there, so beautiful with her tender smile beckoning to him and her bronze eyes filled with warmth, his chest swelled with all the love and desire that had been building for years.

He loved her and wanted to shout it so all the town could hear him, so that every man for miles around would know that she belonged to him. He took a deep breath and almost gave in to the need, but he forced it down and made himself go slow—just the way he'd warned himself out on the overlook.

"Wait for me," she called. "I'll be right out."

Before he could answer, she hurried up the few wooden steps to the church door. She opened it, stepped inside, and then closed the door behind her.

He finished securing his horse, then meandered across the street, studying the simple structure that had been built last summer with his pa overseeing the project. He and his pa and his brothers had worked hard to construct the chapel with a little office attached so that Reverend Livingston, a new young fellow with a nice wife and baby, would have a real church to work out of instead of one of the hotel dining rooms.

The reverend had made it widely known that the church would always be unlocked and that he'd be in his office most mornings, available for anyone who needed him, even if just for a listening ear. In the afternoons, the reverend could be seen riding around town and the surrounding areas, visiting with parishioners and others who needed help.

Reverend Livingston was a caring and godly man, and they were blessed to have him in their community. The question was, why did Hazel need to talk to him today?

Maverick leaned against the step rail, taking some of the pressure off his legs. It was the same railing he'd nailed in right beside his pa. Maverick could almost see his pa kneeling in the dry tufts of grass beside the building, looking up at him.

His pa's smile had been happy that day, even proud, because he'd had all his boys working with him doing something worthwhile. He'd stood and clamped Maverick on the shoulder and teased him. "Reckon I needed to get this church built so that maybe you'll think about finally getting married in it to your gal."

At the time, Maverick had laughed off the teasing about getting married to Hazel in a church or elsewhere. He'd insisted then, as always, that Hazel was his friend and nothing more.

But now, Maverick peered up into the cloudless sky. "Reckon you knew I loved her, didn't you, Pa?"

Maverick waited—not for an answer, but for the sadness and guilt that came so often whenever he thought about Pa. But strangely, a feeling of acceptance wafted through him. Acceptance that his pa was gone? Or maybe even acceptance that he wasn't perfect and didn't have to be?

Although the past months hadn't been easy, maybe in learning to ask for forgiveness and make amends, he'd finally begun to find peace.

The church door swung open, and Hazel smiled at him shyly. She'd discarded her duster coat and stood in her simple blouse and corduroy skirt, almost as if she planned to stay. Her cheeks were rosier than before, and she'd unplaited her hair so that now it hung down in long thick waves, nearly to her waist.

His breath got lost somewhere inside him and so did his voice. He could only stare at her like a bumbling idiot.

"Ready?" She held out a hand to him.

He didn't know what he was expected to be ready for, but he took her hand anyway. He couldn't have resisted her even if he'd tried. She could have been leading him to his execution and he would have gone with her.

She tugged him up the last of the stairs and into the chapel, closing the door behind them. She didn't release his hand but instead situated hers more securely within his, intertwining their fingers intimately.

He looked down at their hands, speechless again. When he searched her face to try to make sense of her sweet interaction, she nibbled at her lip. "Is this okay?" she whispered with a nod down the aisle.

There, at the front of the chapel, stood Reverend Livingston along with Mr. Dewitt, the hotel owner from next door, who appeared disheveled and breathless, as if he'd just been dragged into the church—and sure enough, the side door was wide open.

The reverend and Mr. Dewitt were both grinning broadly, the reverend in his suit looking especially short and thin next to the large-boned hotel owner, like a young steer next to a strapping ox.

Hazel began to move down the aisle.

Maverick was loath to let go of her hand and kept in step with her. He reckoned that now that he had hold of her hand, he probably wouldn't let go of it ever again—or at least, not for a long while.

Mr. Dewitt was smoothing back his scraggly hair and at the same time trying to tuck in his flannel shirt. "If I'd known you needed a witness, Reverend, I would have changed into something nicer."

"You're fine just the way you are," the reverend said in his soft-spoken tone. "This won't last long." He was flipping open what appeared to be his prayer book.

Were they having a service of some sort? What exactly was going on?

With only a dozen or so wooden pews on either side of the aisle, the walk to the altar was over before Maverick could make sense of what was happening, and he found himself standing beside Hazel in front of the reverend and Mr. Dewitt.

Hazel gazed at the reverend as if waiting for him to begin the service.

Maverick lifted his brows at her in question, but she kept her focus ahead.

Reverend Livingston made the sign of the cross, then began to read from the book in front of him. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of... this witness, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate instituted of God—"

"Wait, what?" Maverick blurted.

"It's. Instituted. Of. God." Mr. Dewitt enunciated each word.

"I realize that—"

"Hush now, Maverick." Hazel's hand in his tightened. "You're interrupting our marriage ceremony."

A strange, excited tremor flowed through him. "We're getting married?"

She peeked at him sideways. "I know you said you'd wait, but I don't want to wait."

The trembling in his core trailed to his limbs, so that he was suddenly weak. "You don't want to wait?"

"No. I've waited long enough to be with you."

Was this really happening to him?

He glanced to the reverend and Mr. Dewitt, who were now watching him with wide eyes, clearly as unprepared for this twist in the ceremony as he was.

Hazel turned so that this time she was facing him squarely. Her expression was more serious than he'd ever seen it before, and she lifted her chin almost defiantly. "I want to marry you today. Now. And I never want to be away from you ever again."

He was usually the impetuous one, but he'd tried earlier to be cautious and go slow and be responsible. Now Hazel was turning everything upside down.

She clutched his hand and tugged him closer. "I love you, Maverick."

He couldn't formulate a response. All he could do was pull her into his arms and lower his lips to hers. There was no gentle start. No, he couldn't restrain himself any longer. His kiss was hard and hungry, filled with all the wanting that words couldn't express.

Her kiss in return was almost desperate, as if she was afraid he wouldn't accept what she was offering. Surely she had to know he would have taken whatever she'd been willing to give him, even if it had been only crumbs. And surely she had to know that if she was offering him everything, he was gonna take it without a single question.

But just in case she had any doubt, he broke the kiss and nuzzled her neck. "You're the love of my life and the only thing I'm living for, angel."

Just to make sure she understood how much he loved her, he touched his lips to hers, this time softly but with enough promise to let her know that the kiss was just the beginning of many more.

The reverend was smiling and looking at his prayer book, and Mr. Dewitt was whistling under his breath and staring at the ceiling. "Guess I know who will be using my best room when this is over."

Hazel's lashes fell against her flushed cheeks.

Maverick grinned at the idea of using Mr. Dewitt's best room for a day or two or three. That was definitely gonna happen. But first...

Maverick released her hand, dug in his pocket, then pulled out the velvet bag. He opened the drawstring and slid out a ring. It was a gold band, delicate like Hazel and yet so strong.

Maybe she would have accepted it today if he'd proposed to her on Lover's Overlook, but he liked how this had worked out. It had happened in a way he never could have planned even if he'd tried.

He held the ring up. "I've been ready to marry you for a long time too. No more waiting."

"Does this mean you're done interrupting, and we can finish the ceremony?" Hazel smiled, and the beauty of it went straight to his heart.

He slipped the ring on her finger. "It means I can't think of anything I'd like to do more." And he meant it.