facility on her own property alongside the man she loved. The proposal seemed almost perfect.
She gazed out at the pasture beyond Lightning Creek. Almost, but not quite.
The green hills swelled and nearly boasted of their beauty. To her, there was nothing more perfect than this tranquil land she cherished, the cattle it fed, and the people who tended it.
A tear coursed down her cheek.
She knew what her answer had to be.
FIFTY
GIL WIPED THE TEAR FROM HER FACE, UNSURE WHETHER MATTIE cried from joy or sorrow. He took the ring from the box and slipped it on the tip of her finger. “Say yes, Mattie. We’ll be happy together, I promise.”
Mattie stared down at the ring on her finger, and new tears filled her eyes. “It’s beautiful, Gil, but I can’t marry you.”
At her rejection, Gil’s muscles tensed. Blood rushed to his head in a flash of frustration and pain. “You don’t love me?”
“I do love you. I love you with all my heart. That’s why I have to say no.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Is it because of Jenna?”
She took the ring from her finger and gave it back to him. “I once believed God meant for us to be together. But I was wrong. We’re too different. I could never accept your proposal knowing I’d grow to resent you some day for taking me from here, this land of my heart.”
“We can visit as much as you and Dad want. I know you love it here, but you’ll grow to love California. We can be together there. At least think about it.” He pressed the ring in her palm, praying she’d reconsider.
She shook her head. “I don’t need to think about it. I’ve known all along that we wanted different things. I clung to the hope that you’d remember your love for this place — that it would be enough for you. But it’s not.” Mattie wiped the tears from her cheek, then gestured toward the pasture. “All of this could have been ours, Gil, if it weren’t for the burden you carry.” She dropped the ring in his lap and stood. Her boots scraped against the flat stone.
Gil watched as she moved to the oaks where Tulip munched on some fresh new grass. “That’s all you’re going to say? You’re going to turn your back on us because of this silly land?”
Her face pinched, wounded by his callousness. “I’m going to take Dusty and your father’s mare to the barn,” she said, her words barely audible. “I’d appreciate it if you’d give me some time alone.”
With a heavy heart, Gil watched Mattie ride away. He wove his mother’s ring between his fingers as the horses’ metal shoes retreated against the flint rock. Why had God put Mattie in his path if they weren’t meant to be together? He lay on the rock and heard his new mare fuss as the other horses abandoned her. His heart ached with grief, much as it had when the pallbearers carried his mother to her grave — only worse. This hurt even worse.
Mattie had turned him down.
GIL PUSHED HIMSELF HARD THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, FORCING MATTIE from his head and heart. He longed for earlier days when he could plow into a lineman and crush him to the ground. At least then, he’d work off some of his aggression.
On Thursday, he tore his shirtsleeve on the barbed wire fence he and Jake were stringing. He kicked the fence post, angry at the world and everything around him.
“It’s about time we finish this job. I’m sick of building fence on this rocky soil.” Gil removed his straw hat and wiped his forehead with a red bandana before taking a swig from the water jug on the four-wheeler.
Jake waited for his turn. “Heard anything from that realtor of yours?”
Gil handed the plastic thermos to the ranch hand. “Nope.”
“You surely offered enough, didn’t you?”
He glared at the old man. If the estate owners didn’t accept his offer, they were stupid. “If my bid doesn’t buy it, nothing will.”
Jake scratched his bristly chin before taking a drink. “You’d think they’d snatch it up for fear you’ll back out.”
It did seem strange, which made Gil even edgier. To make matters worse, this first week in May yielded temperatures in the low nineties, and sweat dripped from Gil’s nose and down his back. At least in California, he wouldn’t have to deal with this lousy humidity.
“Won’t be the same here without you.” Jake dropped the spout on the