The huskiness in his voice scattered her thoughts. All she could manage was the barest shake of her head. She caught the flash of his smile before his mouth lowered to hers.
Skye snaked her arm around his neck.
There’d be time for email later.
20
Morgan spread out a blanket and set his backpack on one corner. He glanced around and smiled. Skye was helping Wayne and Betsy with their lawn chairs. Royal was chatting with Tommy and Joaquin over by the grill. Cyan, Maria, and Calvin were dragging wheeled coolers over to the area in the upper meadow they’d designated for food.
“Who needs help?” Morgan raised his voice slightly so it carried to the various groups.
“I could use a little.” Cyan stopped where he was and dropped the end of the folding table he’d been carrying. “I thought we could do it one trip. Turns out, Maria was right.”
Morgan chuckled and jogged over to grab the table. “She usually is.”
“I told you so.” Maria grinned over her shoulder and ruffled Calvin’s hair. “So did Cal.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Cyan’s voice was full of laughter. “I guess I was showing off. Thanks, Morgan.”
“No problem. Did we need another table? Tommy already set up two.”
“You haven’t seen how much food Maria made. Apparently the fourth of July is good eating at Hope Ranch.”
Morgan nodded. “It is. That’s true. I keep forgetting this is your first one with us. Feels like you’ve always been around.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Morgan’s gaze drifted over to Skye. She glanced up and smiled at him. An elbow dug into his ribs. “Ow.”
“I’m guessing I’m not the only Hewitt grandchild you’re glad to have around.”
Morgan grinned. “Royal is pretty cool, I’ll admit.”
Cyan snorted. “Uh huh. Should I ask what your intentions are toward my sister?”
“You can.” Morgan paused and set up the table where Maria pointed, then angled away from Skye and jerked his head at Cyan. “Actually, could I ask you something?”
Cyan’s eyebrows lifted. He set the cooler down, kissed Maria long enough that Calvin started dancing in place making gagging faces, then came to Morgan’s side. “I was kidding. I learned my lesson about that. Besides, my sister knows her own mind.”
“She does. And I think I mostly understand it, but I wouldn’t mind a second opinion.” He dug into his pocket and withdrew a rose gold ring that sported a large, pear-shaped veined turquoise surrounded by tiny diamonds. “I’ve been going back and forth since I bought this. It’s not—”
Cyan held up his hand. He picked up the ring and turned it as he looked at it. Smiling, he dropped it back in Morgan’s palm. “It’s perfect. She’s going to love it. If she doesn’t, she’s an idiot. And my sister’s not an idiot.”
Morgan blew out a breath, some of the nerves subsiding. “Okay. You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. Although, I’m pretty sure you could twist some aluminum foil into a circle and she’d love that, too. She loves you, man. It’s plain for anyone to see.” Cyan slapped Morgan on the back. “Welcome to the family.”
Morgan glanced over his shoulder, but Skye was still talking to her grandparents. “Thanks. It’s a little premature, but thanks.”
“Tonight?”
“That’s the plan.”
“It’s a good one.” Cyan shot his thumb up before heading back to help Maria arrange food on the tables.
Morgan slipped the ring back into his pocket and crossed the meadow to Skye. He slid his arm around her shoulders.
Skye smiled up at him. “I was just explaining that Indigo backed out again. I guess Wingfeather’s home, but talking about doing a spirit walk in the desert. She’s trying to convince him not to.”
Who did that in the middle of summer? “That seems dangerous. Especially in July.”
“Right? Anyway, she thought if she was around and making a concerted effort to get him involved with the animals, maybe he’d snap out of this notion to become some kind of shaman that he’s fixated on.” Skye sighed. “I was hoping to get some time with her. She’s always so busy.”
“We’ll keep praying. She’s going to the wedding in September, right?” Betsy patted Skye’s hand.
“So far. I’m glad Azure decided to ask her friends to be bridesmaids, not us. I love Az, but the whole bridesmaid thing?” She wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather just go and enjoy the ceremony. It’ll be nice to get a look at Peacock Hill, too. She’s sent me some photos of the paintings she done of and in the house. Stunning.”
The paintings or the house? Probably both. Morgan had looked up Azure’s work online and been duly impressed. “She’s got a lot of talent.”
“Explain again why we’re up here to watch fireworks instead of in town.” Skye turned to take in the meadow on the mountainside. “It’s beautiful, but are we really going to be able to see?”
“Sure are.” Wayne grinned and pointed to where the houses of town were visible down below. “We’ll be able to see the town fireworks with no problem. Plus,” he shifted his arm, “if we look that way, we should be able to see the Los Alamos fireworks.” He shifted again. “And if it stays clear like this, which they’re saying it will, Santa Fe for sure. Possibly Albuquerque.”
“No way.”
“Way.” Morgan winked and lifted his hand in a Scout salute. “I promise I’ve seen that many before. If it clouds up, we lose some visibility, but there are benefits to being at a higher altitude.”
“All right. I guess we’ll see.” Skye chuckled. “Can I get you guys a drink?”
“No, honey. We’ll grab something when—” Betsy broke off when Maria hollered that it was time to eat. “Now, I guess. That was fast.”
Morgan offered Betsy his arm. “Everything was ready but the burgers. Those never take too long when Joaquin’s on the grill.”
Betsy slipped her arm through Morgan’s and laughed. “They’ll still be mooing. Ah well. Variety is good.”
“You making time with my girl, Morgan?” Wayne shook his head. “Guess that leaves us, Skye.”
Skye laughed.
There was more laughter all through dinner as they shared stories from the ranch and the sun slowly sank, painting the mountains red.
When the food was packed away, save for a plate of brownies and some sodas in case people needed a snack, the little groups spread out to their fireworks watching points.
Morgan sat with Skye snuggled against his chest. There were a few minutes before it was dark enough for the first of the light displays to begin. He worked his fingers into his pocket and hooked the ring. His heart raced.
“You okay?” Skye tipped her head back to study his face. “Your heart feels like it’s on overdrive.”
Morgan cleared his throat. “I actually wanted to show you something and get an opinion.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Hold out your hand.” The confusion on her face was adorable, but she did as he asked. With a deep breath, he set the ring on her palm. “You know I love you, right?”
Skye looked at the ring then wiggled so she could see him, too, her eyes wide. She nodded and her voice was hoarse. “I love you, too. What is this?”
“I’m hoping it’ll be an engagement ring. Marry me, Skye. It doesn’t have to be soon if you’re worried that we’ve only known each other three months. You’re the one God made for me. I know it. We can wait—I mean, I’d rather not wait too long, but—”
Skye put her finger to his lips. “Shh. You’re asking me to marry you.”
“I am.” His mouth was dry and he could barely hear over the blood pounding in his ears. Had he botched it that badly?
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.” Holding his gaze, Skye slipped the ring on her finger and leaned up. She pressed her lips to his as the first shower of red and white sparks exploded overhead.
Morgan wrapped his arms around Skye and deepen
ed the kiss. They had a lifetime of fireworks to look forward to.
A note from Elizabeth…
I love a happy sigh, don’t you? Skye and Morgan are on the road to their happily ever after—and knowing her diagnosis is only going to help. But there are still a lot of things for Skye—and the rest of her family—to handle. A new half-sister. Indigo’s husband. The whole situation with their parents. If you’re ready to see how Royal handles his end of things, grab your copy of Hope for Love, book 3 in the Hope Ranch series.
Acknowledgments
This book was one of the most challenging for me to write. I started it in November of 2019, but I couldn’t make progress. I was struggling through the holidays—missing my mom more than ever before combined with a goof-up on my thyroid medication that together resulted in a terrible depression.
That depression bled into the first attempts at the story, and Skye’s initial reasons for coming to Hope Ranch were much darker than an undiagnosed illness.
Stuck, I let my sister and a friend read the 12,000 words of the story that I had. Neither one had much positive to say—it was gloomy and depressing and…awful.
So I tried again. Pitching that much work was hard, but in the end worth it. I think Skye’s story is stronger for it and, more importantly, it doesn’t leave the reader sad. I’m grateful to my sister and friend for their honesty and their encouragement to not let a bad start be the end.
Thanks, as ever, to my beta readers - Valerie Comer, Heather Gray, and Lynellen Perry. You always have such good advice and my stories are better for your input.
I so appreciate my family letting me carve out time to write in the midst of our busy lives. I couldn’t do any of this without their support. Nor would I want to.
And finally, although it really should go first, I’m so grateful that God continues to give me stories to tell. It’s my earnest prayer that I write the words He gives so that my stories can touch the lives of those who read.
Other Books by Elizabeth Maddrey
Hope Ranch Series
Hope for Christmas
Hope for Tomorrow
Hope for Love
Peacock Hill Romance Series
A Heart Restored
A Heart Reclaimed
A Heart Realigned
A Heart Redirected
A Heart Rearranged
A Heart Reconsidered
Arcadia Valley Romance – Baxter Family Bakery Series
Loaves & Wishes
Muffins & Moonbeams
Cookies & Candlelight
Donuts & Daydreams
The ‘Operation Romance’ Series
Operation Mistletoe
Operation Valentine
Operation Fireworks
Operation Back-to-School
Prefer to read a box set? Find the whole series here.
The ‘Taste of Romance’ Series
A Splash of Substance
A Pinch of Promise
A Dash of Daring
A Handful of Hope
A Tidbit of Trust
Prefer to read a box set? Get the series in two parts! Box 1 and Box 2.
The ‘Grant Us Grace’ Series
Wisdom to Know
Courage to Change
Serenity to Accept
Joint Venture
Pathway to Peace
Prefer to read a box set? Grab the whole series here.
The ‘Remnants’ Series:
Faith Departed
Hope Deferred
Love Defined
Stand alone novellas
Kinsale Kisses: An Irish Romance
Luna Rosa (part of A Tuscan Legacy)
Non-Fiction
A Walk in the Valley: Christian encouragement for your journey through infertility
For the most recent listing of all my books, please visit my website.
About the Author
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
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