Jeff smiled as he looked at Gunner and then my father. “One day, I just decided I wanted my girl back. I was tired of just sitting back, so I didn’t let her push anymore, and she pushed like hell for me to leave her alone, but I stood my ground.” He smiled and looked at Luke. “Your mother and I firmly believe that on the day she came back to me, we made another life.”
Luke smiled as his face blushed.
“You see, boys, I know y’all look at us and think you want the perfect relationship that you see with your own parents. I’ve overheard y’all talking about it. Just know that some beautiful sunsets have had rainstorms that came before it, but the rain only makes the sunset that more beautiful.”
“Dad?” Colt asked.
“Yes, son?” Gunner said.
“My heart hurts so bad for Alex.” Colt was beginning to get choked up.
I had to fight to hold back my tears. I was pretty sure Luke was feeling the same, but there was no way I was going to look at him.
“I know, son, I know. As do all of our hearts. Just watch over her this summer, boys. Show her how much you love and care about her. Just be there for her if she needs you. And know that none of you could have protected her from this. Don’t let guilt play a hand in this, boys. You can’t be with the girls twenty-four/seven.”
Each of us nodded. My father walked up to me, pulled me into his arms, and held me. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I let go of the anger, fear, and guilt that had been building the last couple of days.
“I love her, Dad. I love her so much,” I cried out.
He held me tighter. “I know you do, Will.”
“Oh God, Dad…why? Why did this happen to her? Why?” I no longer cared what Luke or Colt might think. I cried out as my father held me.
The next thing I knew, Gunner had his arms around me. I wasn’t sure how long the three of us stood there, but I finally regained some composure. When I pulled away, I saw both my father and Gunner wiping their tears away.
I knew what I had to do, and I needed to do it right now. “Gunner, sir, may I speak with you alone?”
Gunner looked at me, surprised, but he nodded his head. I looked back at Luke and Colt, and they both smiled. Luke and Libby had both asked me why I said I was Lex’s fiancé. I’d told them that Lex and I were secretly engaged. Then, I’d told Colt, Lauren, Meagan, Grace, and Taylor. I was sure Colt and Luke knew what I was about to do now.
Gunner walked a ways away and leaned up against a fence. He looked at me as I gathered up the courage to ask him the one thing I’d been dreaming of asking for a few years now.
I cleared my throat, took a deep breath, and looked Gunner in the eyes. “I’d like to ask Lex to marry me, sir. It wouldn’t be anytime soon. I know she has a lot to deal with, but I want nothing more than to make her my wife. I’d like your blessing, sir.”
Gunner didn’t do anything at first. I silently prayed to God that my life wouldn’t end here, in the east pasture, at the hands of Gunner Mathews. I held my gaze and didn’t back down. I loved Lex, and I wasn’t going to walk away from her—not now, not ever.
Gunner slowly let a smile move across his face. Finally, his full crooked smile appeared, and he let out a small chuckle. “William Gregory Hayes, do you have any idea that you just proved what type of man you are?”
My mouth dropped open. Anytime my parents used my full name, my ass would be in trouble, so I wasn’t sure how to read this situation.
“Um…no, sir, I guess I don’t. Truth be told, your smile used along with my full name has me all kinds of confused.”
Gunner threw his head back and laughed. When he looked back at me, he shook his head. “Will, after what happened to Alex, not very many guys would stick around—let alone, ask her father for her hand in marriage. I’m proud of you, Will. I’m proud that you never once backed down when I pushed you and Alex for a break, that you never gave up on the one thing you loved. It shows the man you’ve become. Your daddy and mama have done a fine job in raising you, Will.”
Gunner smiled as he reached his hand out for mine and shook it. “Will, I’d be honored to have you ask Alex to marry you, and I’d be even more honored to call you my son-in-law—after y’all graduate from college and Alex starts her career, and not a second before then.”
I smiled, and the sense of relief washing over my body was unreal.
“When are you planning on asking her?” Gunner’s face became a bit more serious.
“I wanted to ask her this summer, but I know she has so much going through her head right now. Even though we’ve talked about it, I think it is best if I wait for a bit.”
Gunner nodded his head. “I agree. Thank you for taking her feelings into account, Will.”
“Always, sir. I love Lex more than anything. I’ll spend every day of my life loving her and protecting her the best I can, sir.”
Gunner pushed off the fence, grabbed me, and pulled me in for a hug. “Jesus, it was just yesterday when you were riding on top of my shoulders, telling me you wanted to be a rancher.”
He slapped my back hard—probably harder than he needed to—before he pushed back and winked at me. “Now, was that so hard, Will?” He turned and walked toward Jeff and my father.