Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(112)
Rachel grinned. “I guess it did.”
“What do you mean, Rachel?” Eli asked.
“That boy told everyone how Daddy answered the door, and all the boys from around here knew what that meant. They always came and asked permission to date me before they asked me out. During the fall for several years, Daddy had a new hunting buddy, and we always had deer sausage in the freezer because they knew he liked it. And they all knew how to use a gun and a knife. I felt like a two-for-one deal for years. Date me and get a chance to go to my dad’s deer lease in the fall. And none of them ever laid a hand on me.”
“Good Texas boys, all of them. Mitchell brings sausage every once in a while.”
Rachel smirked. “Ah, he just wants to know if you still have the same deer lease.”
“The two us are talking about going on a hog hunt next month,” her father said in passing. Rachel rolled her eyes, but her father’s statement had Eli’s attention.
“You’re planning a hog hunt?” Adam asked, interest clear in his eyes.
“Yeah, over at a friend’s ranch in the hill country. You ought to all come. Heaven knows there are enough of the damned things to go around.”
Feral hogs multiplied prolifically and could lower land values and damage crops with their destructive habits.
Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets
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“Think we might take you up on that offer,” Ethan replied, tipping his beer to his lips.
“Goody! You know what that means!” Kelly squealed. “Girl time!”
“That’s right!” Grace said. “You could all come out to the ranch and we could have a girls’ weekend. Goodness knows we have enough space!”
Rachel looked at Eli for confirmation, and when he nodded, she said, “It sounds like we have a plan.”
“They would be safe out there.” Jack said, grinning at Grace’s
enthusiastic response.
“Then I’ll let you know when I get all the details,” her father said.
“Isn’t the sunset pretty tonight?” her mom commented.
Rachel had to agree as she admired the fiery hues. The setting sun cast the last of its rays for that day, shades of pink, orange, and purple over the puffy little clouds that filled the sky.
* * * *
Eli’s heart galloped as he made eye contact with Rachel’s father. Peter grinned at him and nodded his head. Renata sat next to Peter, and Eli noticed her lips tremble when she looked away from the beautiful sunset and wiped a tear that trickled down her soft cheek. She smiled at him and looked lovingly at her daughter.
Eli stroked Rachel’s upper arm as she snuggled to him. “Yes, Renata.
The sunset is beautiful tonight, but not nearly as beautiful as your daughter.”
Rachel looked out at the sunset, watching the colors fill the sky, but Eli could plainly see the rosy blush that swept across her cheeks.
The velvet covered box had rested in his pocket all evening as he waited for the perfect moment. That moment had arrived.
End of Part 1: No Regrets
To be continued in
Part 2: Remember to Dance
256
Heather Rainier
THE END