to invite Ollie to, and she wanted more one-on-one time with Bishop’s mother.
“Can you come over here for a minute?” Bishop asked, but Montana couldn’t get her feet to move.
“Mom,” Aurora said. “Go on.”
“Yeah,” Aunt Jackie said. “Get over there, darling.”
Oliver appeared in front of her. “I’ll help you.” He linked his arm through Montana’s and walked her across the hall to Bishop, who tipped his hat at Ollie.
“Thanks, son.”
“Sure thing.” Oliver’s boots clicked against the hard floor on his way back to the table, but Montana couldn’t look away from Bishop.
“Montana,” he said. “I remember the moment you came into my life. I’d barely eaten breakfast, and I wasn’t even all the way dressed.”
She grinned at him, because she remembered that moment clearly as well.
He picked up a pink rose from the barrel beside him. “I remember the moment you said you’d go out with me.” He added a second rose to his hands. “I remember when you let me meet your daughter. I remember when you introduced me to your aunt and uncle.” He added a flower to the growing bouquet in his hand with every statement.
“I remember the moment I knew I was in love with you. I’m a bit of a dreamer, and though I knew you didn’t love me—yet—I started thinking about our life together. I know it’s not always going to be rainbows and sunshine, but I only know that because Mother keeps telling me it won’t be.” He kicked a smile in his mother’s direction.
He held a bundle of roses now, and he tied a ribbon around them with a smile. Then he dropped to both knees and held the flowers up to her. “I love you. Will you marry me?”
“Wait,” Aurora said as Montana took the flowers and breathed in their heady scent. “You skipped ahead.”
“I did?”
“Yes.” She came running over. “You were supposed to say a line about being my dad. You don’t even have the ring.”
“Oh, right.” Bishop looked up at her, his face turning a ruddy shade of red.
“What were you going to do? Tie a ribbon around her finger?” Aurora shook her head. “You were supposed to call me over and say—”
“I got it,” Bishop said. “Do I have to stand up again?”
“I would,” Aurora hissed.
Montana couldn’t stop smiling, and she watched as Aurora held out her hand and Bishop used it to stand. He brushed his pants off and said, “I remember when I thought about what it would be like to be Aurora’s father. I’m terrified of that, but I’m going to do my best.”
“You’ll do great, Bishop,” Aurora said in an overly theatrical voice, moving to stand beside him.
“Oh, this is bad,” Montana said, giggling. She could see the handoff of the ring box easily, as Aurora almost dropped it trying to slide it into Bishop’s hand, which he held behind his leg.
“Did I miss anything else?” he whispered.
“No, you’re good,” Aurora murmured.
“I don’t have the flowers anymore.”
“Improvise.”
Montana started to laugh, her joy filling her over and over again. “Yes,” she said among her giggles. “My answer is yes.” She closed the distance between Bishop and Aurora and together, they made a three-way hug. “I love you guys.”
“I love you too,” Bishop said.
“I love you three,” Aurora said. “Bishop, put the ring on her finger.”
“Oh, right.”
Aurora stepped out of the way as Bishop opened the box and showed Montana the ring. “Bishop, it’s beautiful.”
“Aunt Jackie helped me,” he said, sliding the ring onto her finger. She admired it as Bishop added, “I really messed that up. You’re not going to tell everyone about it, are you?”
“I’m going to tell absolutely everyone,” Montana said, smiling up at him. “It was perfect, Bishop. You’re wonderful.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Kiss me, cowboy.”
He did, and Montana kissed him—her fiancé—right on back.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“It has to cure for another couple of days,” Bishop said, his arm slung around Montana’s waist. The wind kicked up, blowing around the powdery snow that had been on the ground for a couple of days.
He turned away from the newly poured foundation of their house and closed his eyes. “We’re probably going to start out behind,” he said.
“That’s construction in the winter,” Montana said. “Don’t worry about it, baby. It’ll cure, and we’ll frame it. It’s going to be a great house.”
“I know, because you designed it.” Bishop had worked with her on the plans, and he was pleased with the final drawings. They’d have plenty of room for dogs and teenagers,