She had learned a great deal about her Crow heritage, including that Pryor family history had also passed down the legend of Leaping Star and Charles Susland, and their role in it. A legend Clark Pryor had told his young wife, and had used as an example in a letter to her of how unlikely it was that her mother would ever accept him.
“You turn away from your children, so your blood will be alone. You turn away from my people, so your blood will have no home. You turn away from me, so your blood will be lost. Only when someone loves enough to undo your wrongs will the laughter of children live beyond its echo in Far Hills.”
The words of the legend hung long in the air after Marti spoke them. She cleared her throat and spoke in her usual tone.
“But we have loved. And old wrongs have been undone. Again, her gaze went from Kendra and Daniel, to Grif and Ellyn, to Rebecca and Luke. “And Leaping Star can rest now.”
Marti pulled the cloth off the simple marker that Luke’s men had set into a boulder at the side of the overlook, and everyone moved to get a closer look.
Everyone except Rebecca and Luke.
“You know,” he said, “some folks think this is crazy, putting a plaque up here, where nobody’ll see ‘cept us.”
“Tough.”
Luke tilted his head, surveying her with a grin. “You trying to tell me you don't care what people say?”
“Some,” she admitted. “I care more about Marti, and everyone at Far Hills, and you – especially you. And I've gotten better at shutting out the voices of people.”
“That so?” His tone was still light, but she saw something deeper in his eyes. “Well, maybe we should get married so you don't have to work so hard at shutting out those voices.”
“Maybe we should get married?” she repeated, her breath coming in short puffs. She and Luke had not been apart since that night Marti came back from China. He’d made it clear in so many ways that he expected them to remain together. But he’d never said anything. He never said marriage. And neither had she.
“Yeah. You're still learning to defy all those conventions, so I guess we shouldn't tax you too hard just yet.”
Despite the hammering in her chest, she had to ask, “Is that the only reason?”
“No. The other one’s because I love you. And because if you weren’t here, Far Hills would be just another stretch of dirt.” His gaze touched her lips, her throat, her forehead, her cheeks, then came back to her eyes. “So what do you say? Will you marry me?”
“I say yes.”
The kiss they exchanged was an announcement of a sort, but they followed it up with the words to tell their friends – their family – that they would be getting married.
Excited talk of dates and arrangements followed, interspersed with laughter – the laughter of adults and children alike, carrying over the land of Far Hills Ranch, rolling on and on. And never ending.
######
PATRICIA McLINN books
THE GAMES
Available in print: ISBN: 0-9765185-1-1
E-book available at www.AWritersWork.com
Hoops
RITA Finalist
NJRW Golden Leaf winner
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
A New World
Affaire de Coeur Contemporary author of year finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Prelude to a Wedding
(Wedding Trilogy Book 1)
GRW Maggie finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Wedding Party
(Wedding Trilogy Book 2)
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Grady’s Wedding
(Wedding Trilogy Book 3)
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Not a Family Man
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Rodeo Nights
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
A Stranger in the Family
(Bardville Trilogy Book 1)
VRW HOLT finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
A Stranger to Love
(Bardville Trilogy Book 2)
VRW HOLT finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
The Rancher Meets His Match
(Bardville Trilogy Book 3)
GRW Maggie finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Widow Woman
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Lost and Found Groom
(A Place Called Home Book 1)
Affaire de Coeur Reader-Writer Poll:
Best Contemporary Category Novel finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
(A Place Called Home Book 2)
VRW HOLT finalist
Hidden in a Heartbeat
(A Place Called Home Book 3)
SARA Rising Star Award winner
VRW HOLT finalist
Almost a Bride
(Wyoming Wildflowers Book 1: Paintbrush)
GDRW Booksellers Best Award finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
Match Made in Wyoming
(Wyoming Wildflowers Book 2: Fireweed)
WisRW Write Touch Readers Award finalist
OCRW Orange Rose Award finalist
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
My Heart Remembers
(Wyoming Wildflowers Book 3 Bur Marigold)
Available as e-book at www.AWritersWork.com
The Runaway Bride
(sequel to Wedding Trilogy)
More Than Magic Award winner
Wedding of the Century
(Book 1: Something Old …)
National Readers Choice Award finalist
Golden Quill finalist
Voted eHarlequin readers’ Favorite
The Unexpected Wedding Guest
(Book 2: Something New …)
Voted eHarlequin Readers’ Favorite
Least Likely Wedding?
(Book 3: Something Borrowed …)
Baby Blues and Wedding Bells
(Book 4: Something Blue …)
What Are Friends For?
(Spring: Seasons in a Small Town)
The Right Brother
(Summer: Seasons in a Small Town)
The Principal of Love
(Fall: Seasons in a Small Town)
E-book available at www.AWritersWork.com
Word Watch
Look for Patricia McLinn's non-fiction book Word Watch
Now Available from P.A. McLinn
The Caught Dead in Wyoming Series
An exciting new mystery series being published by Bell Bridge Books
Sign Off, Book 1
More about Patricia McLinn’s books:
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PAMcLinn.com
AWritersWork.com
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