The Rose Ring

by Lucie Ulrich

  “It doesn’t look that way, Micah. It is that way.”

  “Okay, but I love that land. Ranching is my life. All Noah is interested in is the money. If I let him win, he’ll inherit and sell at the first opportunity.” He leaned across the table. “I’m not asking for a lifelong commitment, and I’m certainly not expecting any privileges that go along with marriage. The money gets paid out after two years, so I figure if you’re willing to go along, we’ll both benefit.”

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. She would be nothing more than a technicality in a marriage of convenience. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “And how, exactly, will I benefit from this?”

  “It’s simple. Once those years are up, we’ll file for divorce. I’ve done some checking, and all we have to do is live apart for six months before filing. Since it’ll be a mutual thing, there won’t be any major issues to deal with. You’ll agree to let me keep the property, and I’ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

  Sky gripped the napkin on the table and twisted it into such a tight knot she doubted the laundry service would ever get the wrinkles out. She’d basically been proposed to and divorced all within five minutes. He’d only gotten the news yesterday and had actually done the research. “I don’t even know what to say right now.”

  “Look, Sky.” Micah reached for her hand. “I don’t like myself at the moment, and I can’t even imagine what you must think of me. But I’m desperate enough to risk losing your friendship by asking. If you say yes, I promise to be as good to you as I know how.”

  Sky pulled her hand free and slid out of the bench. “I’d like you to take me to work now.” She struggled to put her coat on. He tried to help, but she wouldn’t let him.

  He tossed some money on the table. “I guess you’re pretty angry, huh?”

  “At this point I’m not sure what I’m feeling. I understand your dilemma, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it. I need some time to think, and I need to do it without any pressure from you.”

  “Well, sure, I can understand that.” He pushed the door to the restaurant open. “Do you have any idea how much time you’ll need?”

  She clenched her jaw. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. Guess I’m a little tense right now.”

  “You’ll forgive me if I don’t feel your pain.” She marched across the parking lot to his truck and let herself in. She was too angry to cry. There would be plenty of time for that later.

  The drive back to town was as frosty as the truck’s windshield. After ten minutes of silence Sky asked, “Do you have any idea why your grandfather threw in the marriage thing?”

  He pursed his lips. “Am I allowed to talk about this?”

  She let out an exasperated sigh. “If I ask, it’s not pressure.”

  “In that case, he did it because he could.”

  “There’s got to be more to it than that.”

  “I’m sure there is, but my grandfather never felt the need to discuss much with me. He fed me, clothed me, made me get an education, and taught me about ranching, but none of it was done with a whole lotta love. I stuck it out because once Noah left I figured the ranch would be mine. Seeing my brother yesterday threw me completely.” He slapped his palm on the steering wheel. “This whole working together thing stinks. If it were up to me, I’d let Noah have all the money in exchange for the ranch.”

  “So do it.”

  “I can’t. The will is specific about having us work together.”

  “And you’re sure your brother would sell?”

  “Positive.”

  Sky stopped asking questions. She couldn’t handle any more. By the time they reached Carl’s, her brain felt as scrambled as the eggs she hadn’t eaten. “I’ll call you when I have an answer, but I can’t promise when that’ll be.” She slipped out of the truck and stood on the sidewalk until Micah rounded the corner before entering the diner.

  Carl left the kitchen and followed her to the small employee lounge, nothing more than a table and four chairs tucked away in a corner. “What’s up?” he asked.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She rubbed her throbbing temples. “Which I will, but not until my shift is over.”

  “I think it’s better if you tell me now. You might scare away the customers with that look of doom and gloom you’re wearing. Jim can handle the kitchen.”

  Sky would have preferred to wait, but Carl had his father-face on. So over a cup of tea she told him the whole story. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen, Carl. When a man asks a woman to marry her it should be because he loves her, not because she’s convenient.” She sipped her tea, unable to wrap her mind around everything that had just happened. “Now that you’ve heard the whole sordid story, what do you think?”

  Carl tipped his chair on its hind legs, resting the back of it against the wall. “What do you think?”

  “No fair. I asked you first.”

  He righted his chair, took her hand, and peered at her through his ice-blue eyes. “You don’t want my advice, honey, you want my blessing. Thing is, I’m not sure I can give it.”

  Sky knew his thoughts were with his late wife. They’d been high school sweethearts and married shortly after graduation. She died eight months shy of their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. “It’s not like with you and Peg. You guys were destined to be together from the beginning — the jock and the homecoming queen. You never dated anyone but each other.” She pulled her hand free and pushed her teacup aside. “Me, I never dated anyone in high school. I was fat, wore braces, and had zits. The only thing missing was the glasses.”

  Carl poured more tea into her cup and slid it back in front of her. “What does any of this have to do with Micah?”

  “Micah was the only guy who gave me a second look.” She gripped the warm cup with both hands and stared into the amber liquid. “He always cared. Even though I had Mom and he had his grandfather, we were both basically parentless. That created a bond between us.”

  “Look at me, Sky. I have no doubt he cared, but he didn’t ask you out on a date any more than any of the other boys did. And do you remember the night of your senior prom? Peg and I sat up with you half the night trying to console you because you weren’t asked.”

  Sky’s throat tightened. She had hoped beyond hope that Micah would ask her, along with a dozen or so other girls who held onto that same dream. “You could have gone all day without bringing that up.”

  “I’m sorry, honey, but I don’t want you getting the wrong impression from all of this. The two of you graduated from high school seven years ago. While in school you saw each other all the time, but nowadays you see him three or four times a month. He just broke up with his girlfriend of two years, so I’m sure he’s not ready for another relationship. Don’t fool yourself into believing that if you agree to his proposition, it’ll end up being a permanent arrangement.”

  She straightened her back. “It wasn’t a proposition, it was a proposal.”

  “Sky…”

  “Okay.” She exhaled in a rush. “You’re right, and I’ll understand if you can’t give me your blessing. Just promise you won’t hate me.”

  “Hate you? I may not agree with you, but I could never hate you. You’re the daughter Peggy and I never had. I love you. Peggy loved you.” He ran his hand over the empty chair next to him. Sky had seen that faraway look many times over the last two years. He didn’t cry anymore — at least not in her presence — but the pain of Peggy’s loss never left him. After several seconds he faced her. “I wish Peggy was here. She’d know exactly what to say.”

  Sky stirred some honey into her tea. “I think she’d try and talk me out of it.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Micah entered the kitchen, thoughts of what he’d just done rumbling through his head. Would Sky go along with his plan? He couldn’t blame her if she didn’t. The aroma of brewing coffee drew him to the far cou
nter. He poured a cup, added some cream and settled at the kitchen table.

  His aunt swooped into the kitchen moments later. She lowered herself onto the chair at the head of the table and glared at him. “So, did you enjoy your breakfast?”

  The sarcasm in her voice didn’t surprise him. Annie’s breakfasts were the best in the county, and she always took it personally when he didn’t eat at home. “Hard to say since I only managed one bite.”

  “Good.” She stood, went to the fridge, and retrieved a carton of eggs. “Scrambled or fried?”

  “Neither, thanks. I’m not hungry.”

  “You going to tell me what’s going on? You hardly touched your dinner last night. I know when something’s on your mind. I also know you can’t live on coffee alone, so I’m fixing something to eat whether you like it or not.”

  The swiftness of her moves always amazed him. She could crack an egg with one hand while laying bacon in a pan with the other and toasting bread somewhere in between. Micah couldn’t imagine what he’d do without her, without the ranch. He rolled the tension from his shoulders.

  Within minutes, Annie set a plate in front of him. “Pray.”

  Micah bowed his head out of respect for his aunt, but nothing more. Annie’s God wasn’t to his liking, and prayer seemed like a waste of time. He dipped his toast into the egg yolk and took a large bite. “Great as always, Annie.”

  “Go on with you.” Annie turned to the sink and washed the frying pan and bowl. After drying her hands, she sat at the table across from him. “Now, talk to me.”

  He took a deep breath. “I asked Sky Baxter to marry me this morning.”

  In all of his twenty-five years, Micah had never known his aunt not to have an instant comeback. No matter the situation, Annie had an answer for everything. After her mouth opened and closed three times, he let her out of her misery.

  When he finished filling her in, she bellowed, “You mean to tell me your brother’s back in town after all these years, and you’re letting him stay at a motel? I’m ashamed of you, Micah Preston Cooper. If your mother were alive, she’d tan your hide.”

  He laughed. “What are you talking about? My mother never tanned my hide in my life. Now you, on the other hand…” Annie narrowed her eyes, and he knew better than to go on. “I love you, Annie, and I owe you a lot, but Noah made his choice. He left his family behind, and I don’t see why I should be forced to open my home to him.”

  “Your home? Doesn’t sound like it’s yours yet. And I don’t care what you say. Your brother is still your brother.”

  “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean—”

  She threw her hands out in front of her. “And what on earth were you thinking, asking a complete stranger to marry you?”

  “Sky’s not a stranger. I’ve known her since the ninth grade. You know her, too.”

  “I know her as the nice, young woman who’s worked at the diner for a lot of years. From what I’ve heard, she seems to have overcome some hard times and made a life for herself. Can you honestly say you know more about her than that?”

  “Yes, I can.” He pushed the plate of unfinished eggs away from him. “You know how we became really good friends in high school.”

  Annie arched her brows. “Oh, yeah? What’s her favorite color?” He couldn’t answer. “Okay, her favorite perfume?” Again, no answer. “Does she like roses or daisies? Chocolate covered caramels, or chocolate covered cherries?”

  “I don’t see what any of that—”

  “Don’t you?” She reached out and placed her hand over his. “Micah, you just proposed to the girl. It may be a simple business deal to you, but I doubt Sky is going to see it that way.”

  Micah pulled his hand free and reached for his coffee mug. “Again, I explained all of that to her this morning. I made her an offer, and she said she’d think about it.”

  “And what exactly is she going to be thinking about? You’re a handsome young man with a large inheritance coming his way. What’s to say she won’t hold out for more than you offered?”

  He shook his head. “No way, not Sky.”

  “Why not Sky? Other than being a nice person, what does she have to show for her twenty-five years?” Annie let out a long breath. “I don’t mean to sound unkind, Micah. I admire Sky for taking in her mother, and caring for until she passed, but—”

  He banged his mug onto the table, sloshing coffee over the rim. “But what? Nice isn’t enough for you?” He stared at his aunt, who showed no anger. He took a calming breath. “I won’t deny she’s had a rough life, and I’m not saying this is the best solution to either of our problems, but if we can help each other out, I don’t see the harm in it.”

  Annie picked up his mug and set a napkin under it. “All I’m saying is that by asking her to marry you, you’ve just asked her to share your home, your hopes and dreams, your passion for ranching, basically your life. Let’s be honest here. If Sky is like the majority of young women in this town, she’s looking for love, and unless you’re willing to give her that love, I hope with all of my heart she turns you down. But if she doesn’t, I suggest you see Everett Brown and have him draw up a prenup before you say I do.”

  ****

  Sky and Carl spoke only in business terms the rest of the day. There was a tension between them that had never existed before. She blamed Micah for putting her in this situation, Carl for not understanding, and her mother for everything else.

  Once home, she stripped out of her work clothes and stepped into a hot shower. Her muscles eased under the steamy spray. It felt good to wash the day’s smells out of her hair. She made herself a cup of hot chocolate and settled down in front of her fifteen-inch television to watch an old Cary Grant movie. Midway through, she sighed — another Friday night without a date. Even without love, she figured married life couldn’t possibly be worse. At least she’d have someone to talk to in the evenings. When Cary gazed into Deborah Kerr’s eyes, Sky turned the movie off and went to bed. No point in torturing herself.

  After a dreamless night, Sky awakened to bright sunshine and blue skies. She ate a quick breakfast, then loaded her rolling cart with a basket of laundry and headed for the Laundromat around the corner. Between loads, she did a bit of grocery shopping. It was nearly noon when she finally returned home.

  The sight of Micah’s truck sitting in front of her building had her stomach doing flips. She wasn’t ready to see him yet. Running away, however, wasn’t an option. He was already out of the truck and headed her way.

  “Please don’t be mad, Sky, but I need to talk to you. I know I promised not to pressure you, and I’m here to do just the opposite.” He nodded toward her front door. “Can I come in?”

  She was such a sucker where he was concerned. “Sure. Are you hungry?”

  “I could eat.” He peeked into one of two grocery bags sitting on top of her laundry. “Whatcha got good?”

  “Tofu, sprouts, and hummus.”

  Micah wrinkled his nose. “Want to go out?”

  “No.” She laughed. “I’m just kidding. I have ham, turkey, two kinds of cheeses, and some canned soups. Sound better?”

  “Much.”

  By the time Sky returned from putting her laundry in the bedroom, Micah had emptied the grocery bags. “I put the milk, eggs and butter in the fridge, but I didn’t know what to do with the rest.”

  “Leave out a can of vegetable beef soup and the sandwich fixings. You can put the rest in the far right cabinet.”

  He gave her a quick salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She fixed a thick ham and cheese sandwich, topped with lettuce, tomato, and spicy mustard, sliced it on the diagonal and put each half on a plate. When the soup was hot enough, she ladled it into bowls then set everything on her cheap wooden bistro table.

  Neither spoke much as they ate. “Good sandwich,” Micah said when he finished.

  She’d only taken a few bites, and he was already through. Why on earth hadn’t she made him a whole sandwich? Just becau
se she ate small portions didn’t mean he did. “Would you like another?”

  “No thanks, this was fine.”

  Sky tilted her head to the side. “Are you going tell me what’s on your mind?”

  He swiped a paper napkin across his mouth. “I came to apologize for my behavior yesterday and to tell you that I want you to forget about what I asked.”

  Her breath caught. Whatever she’d expected him to say, this wasn’t it. “Why?”

  “Because the whole idea is crazy. It wouldn’t be fair of me to ask you to give up two years of your life just because I find myself in a tough spot.”

  “But won’t that mean losing the ranch?”

  Micah rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. Maybe Noah’s lawyer friend will figure something out.”

  “That’s not what you thought yesterday.” She stirred her soup, willing the alphabet noodles to spell out some sort of magical, fairy godmother-type message that would let her know everything would be okay. She lifted her spoon. There, between one small piece of meat, two carrots, and a green bean, swam the letters D U M.

  Thanks a lot, fairy godmother. She tossed the spoon back into the bowl. “What exactly did Noah say?”

  “Nothing specific. Just that he’d run the will by this friend of his. I gotta tell you, between Sam’s decree and Noah’s appearance, I flat-out panicked. Seemed one way or the other everything I’d ever worked for was about to be taken away from me.” He took hold of her hand. “So, I turned to a friend and asked her something out of desperation. And now I’d like to take it back.”

  A lump formed in Sky’s throat. Yesterday he’d hurt her by his blunt proposal and today, despite his honorable intentions, he’d hurt her by letting her off the hook. She swallowed hard and eased her hand out of his. Her smile was forced, but she hoped he wouldn’t notice. “Thanks for coming by. I hope everything works out for you. You deserve it.” She stacked the dishes and carried them to the sink. “Guess I’ll see you next time you’re in town.” Without looking back she turned on the water and waited for him to leave.