“Tell me how.”
“Stonewall Crossing’s a small town, Ash. And Renata is well loved.” He nodded at his sons. “You need to win them over, and they’ll stop at nothing to help you win my daughter’s affection.”
It was his turn to feel nauseous. “Isn’t that a little manipulative? I don’t want to force her into—”
“Oh, you won’t. We both know how stubborn that girl is when she makes up her mind.” The older man clapped him on the shoulder. “But they won’t run you out of town if they know you want to marry her—even if she does say no.” His brows rose.
“Oh.” He nodded. There was no arguing with the older man’s wisdom. Stonewall Crossing was his home now, but what happened next could determine whether or not he remained welcome here.
“She okay?” Hunter asked, eyeing Ash with suspicion.
“Ash might have gotten her a little riled up.” Teddy smiled. “She’ll be fine.”
Hunter shot his father a sidelong look. “What’s going on?”
Teddy looked at him, shrugging. “Up to you.”
Ash pulled the ring from his pocket—right about the time Fisher arrived.
“What the hell?” Fisher practically growled. “I don’t know what you said to her but—” He broke off, his gaze falling to the ring Ash held.
Hunter chuckled. “That was her answer?”
“I was still asking the question when, well, you saw.” He looked down at his feet.
“Sounds like an answer to me,” Fisher bit out, turning his scowl on his father. “You’re telling me you’re okay with this?”
Teddy Boone’s brows rose and his jaw locked. “I am. And so should you be. That baby is his.”
“Babies,” Ash interjected.
“Of course.” Teddy chuckled.
“She doesn’t love him.” Fisher’s posture eased, the respect he bore for his father obvious. But the edge to his voice remained. “He doesn’t love her.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Teddy spoke with such confidence even Ash almost believed.
“Is Renata okay?” When Lola Stephens joined them, he wasn’t sure. But she was craning her neck to peer around Fisher Boone. Her gaze darted between them before honing in on the ring and instantly brightening. “Oh my! I knew it. I knew it. Ask Carl. I just knew you were sweet on our girl.”
Ash didn’t argue.
“And that, right there, is enough to make any girl a little overexcited. Winnie’s over there trying to turn it into something it’s not—you know how that woman is.” She shook her head.
“Well,” Teddy interrupted. “Sometimes there’s a grain of truth to things.”
Lola perked up.
“We might have gotten things a little out of order.” Ash mustered as much enthusiasm as possible. “But I have every intention of remedying things as soon as I can.”
Lola was all smiles. “Sometimes things can get a little carried away.”
Fisher’s jaw looked ready to pop off.
“I’m glad to hear it’ll all work out in the end.” Lola hooked her arm through Teddy’s, excited. “And that there are still folk that believe in old-fashioned values.”
It took no time for word to spread. He smiled, sho
ok hands and got so many congratulations it felt like the town had accepted they were already engaged. But he knew the truth. And tomorrow, when he faced her, he suspected she wouldn’t share in the enthusiasm. Or be eager to accept his proposal.