Page 40 of Forbidden Cowboy
“They look delicious,” Levi tells Wilma.
She plants her hand on her hips. “They sure are. They win first place at the fair every year.”
The main course is eaten in silence. Our fathers ignore each other or cut off any conversation our mothers try to start up.
I regret sitting so far away from Levi. The space between us feels stretched out by every minute that ticks by and we’re no closer to our fathers even pretending to smile at one another.
When the ladies take away our plates with promise of pecan pie, my papa tosses his napkin on the table. “Let’s cut to the chase and y’all can tell us what we’re doing here.”
“We all know what we’re doing here.” Levi’s father sticks a toothpick in his mouth. “These two are shacking up.”
Levi’s elbows dig into the table. “Pa—”
“Am I wrong?”
Levi laces his fingers together.
“No.” I stand up. “But it’s more than shacking up and I think you already know that.”
Levi comes to my side and slips his hand in mine. “We gathered you here to—”
“Nope.” My papa’s chair legs scrape over the floor.
My mama clamps a hand on his shoulder to keep him from standing. “You’re not leaving until you’ve heard our daughter out.”
“I don’t need to hear her out. The answer is no.”
“You would argue with a fencepost,” my mama snarls.
“At the least the fencepost isn’t disrespectful.” His gaze lands on mine and my heart sinks.
“With all due respect sir, I love your daughter. I’ve loved her from the first time I saw her pigtails bouncing on the other side of the fence.”
“I told you we should’ve built a solid fence along the Wilde line,” my papa grunts at my mama.
“Hush now, and let the boy speak.”
“She’s sunlight on a cloudy day. I don’t believe in a Fox luring a Wilde, but I was captivated by Hope. Even at the young age of six. Through her eyes, the world was her adventurous land to explore. Her wholehearted laughter sounded for miles.” Levi faces me with glossy eyes. “I admire your strength, the kindness of your words, your patience and understanding.” He kneels to the ground.
My heart swells. My breathing hitches. My legs buckle and I sit down in the chair. I knew he’d planned on marrying me, I just had no idea he’d be proposing today. Here. Now.
“Hope Fox, you complete me. I didn’t understand just how much until you weren’t catching lightning bugs with me, or hiking up the ridge or swimming in the creek.”
“The ridge?” My papa interrupts. “You took my daughter hiking up the ridge?”
Mr. Wilde curses under his breath.
My mama’s hand slides over my papa’s arm. “Henry, calm down.”
“Did you take my daughter hiking on the ridge?” He breaks down every syllable.
“Yes, sir.”
I don’t even know who moved first, but in seconds my dad has Levi backed up against the unfinished wall. His arm is across his throat. “You son of a bitch.”
“Papa!” I grab his arm.
“Get your hands off my son!” Mr. Wilde grabs my father’s shoulders and pulls him off Levi. They both stagger backward into the table. Glasses fall over and plates smash on the ground.