by Jean Oram
How had she missed him? She’d taken the exact trail they’d taken the other day.
Unless there was another one that she didn’t know about. He’d come here often as a kid with his brother. He probably knew the whole area really well—and if he was trying to avoid her, what better way than to take a path she didn’t know about?
“Canyon!”
If he was nearby, he wasn’t coming out. All she managed to do was to scare some birds who flew away when she called out his name.
Her heart thundered in her chest and desperation ran through her. A path tucked away almost behind the waterfall caught her attention.
Could that be where he’d gone? It seemed to go in the opposite direction as the restaurant. Maybe that was it, especially if he wanted to get away from everything and think.
If that was the case, should she leave him alone? She hadn’t wanted anyone around the night before, so she could understand the need for space.
As much as Maggie wanted to dart down the path, she hesitated. She didn’t want to invade his space if he needed time alone. He probably needed to process everything that had happened in the last day. It was a lot to take in.
She pulled out her phone and texted a quick message saying she wanted to talk to him. After pressing send, the message got stuck halfway through sending.
It was a really weak signal. She’d have to get back to the parking lot before it would send.
Maggie glanced back and forth between the path near the waterfall and the one she’d taken. One might lead her to Canyon but the other one would definitely take her to cell reception.
Something rustled behind her.
She spun around, heart pounding. Could it be Canyon, or was it someone else? She was out in the woods without anything to protect herself.
More rustling.
Her throat closed up. She wanted to scream, but her voice wouldn't cooperate. Her feet wouldn't move. In fact, the blisters throbbed and her leg muscles ached.
What if it was a wild animal? Or a predator in the human form?
More rustling noises.
She spun around and ran toward the trail she'd taken to get there.
“Maggie?”
She froze.
“What are you doing here?”
Maggie turned back around slowly.
Canyon stood by the waterfall. Twigs and leaves were stuck in his hair and mud covered his clothes.
“What happened to you?”
“Let’s just say the path hasn’t been well maintained while I’ve been gone.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What are you doing out here?” He frowned.
“Looking for you.”
“Why?” His tone was rough.
“Because we need to talk.”
Canyon’s expression contorted. “About what?”
He may as well have slapped her across the face. “What do you mean? About us?”
“Don’t you mean Dan?”
“What? No.”
“You don’t want to talk about him?” Canyon’s brows knitted together.
“What’s going on, Canyon?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
She took a deep breath. “That’s all I’ve been doing. You were acting strange at the beach before running off, then I ran all over Indigo Bay trying to find you before realizing you had to be here.”
He shrugged.
With each indifferent word and gesture, her heart broke more and more. She blinked back tears. “Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?” He crossed his arms and leaned against a tree.
“This! Angry and refusing to tell me what’s going on.”
“Me? You’re going to put this on me?”
“You’re acting weird, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why!” A lump formed in her throat. She wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears much longer.
“I’m the one acting weird? Unbelievable!”
“Just tell me what’s going on!”
“What’s to tell? You’re going back to Dan!”
She stared at him, trying to digest his words. “What? Why do you think that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the text you sent me. Or Dan answering Lucille’s door and telling me you chose him. Any of this ringing a bell?”
Everything spun around as Canyon’s words filled in all the blanks. Dan had texted Canyon while he’d had her phone and he’d answered the door and spewed more lies.
It all made sense. Except why Canyon believed any of it could be true.
“You don’t have anything to say?” His mouth formed a straight line as he glared at her.
Maggie stepped closer and studied his jaded expression, and it became clear why he’d believed it.
Underneath the tough exterior, he was hurt. It shone through his eyes. Canyon could hide it everywhere else, but the window to his soul gave him away.
She took a few more steps toward him. “I never sent that text.”
Canyon flinched but didn’t say anything.
“I also didn’t know Dan answered the door, or that you were there.”
“Why was he staying there?”
“Aunt Lucille invited him. I locked myself in my room to stay as far from him as I could.”
Different expressions flickered across Canyon’s face. “So, what’s really going on?”
Maggie closed the distance between them, not leaving much space at all. “He showed up, thinking I’d run back to him—something that would never happen.”
“Why’d you run off last night?”
“I needed to get away and think. To process what he’d said about the test results being wrong.”
They held each other’s gazes. Canyon’s expression softened with each passing moment.
“You’re saying that at no point did you consider going back to him?”
Maggie scrunched her face. “Never. If he was the last man on earth and I was the last woman, humanity would be doomed.”
The corners of Canyon’s mouth twitched. “Really?”
“I swear.” Maggie put her hand on his arm. “I only want to be with you.”
He stared at her with a deep intensity in his eyes, then pulled her into his embrace. His heart thundered in her ear.
Chapter 34
Canyon held Maggie tightly and breathed in her sweet scent. It was a fruity combination of her hair and perfume. His heart warmed, and his entire body relaxed having her so close.
Everything felt right in the world again. Especially knowing everything Dan had said was nothing but lies.
Canyon should’ve known. He should’ve fought harder for the woman he loved.
He ran his hands over the length of her hair. “Can you forgive me for being an idiot?”
“You’re not an idiot.”
“I believed Dan instead of insisting on finding out the truth from you.”
She looked up at him. “You thought that text was from me. What did it say?”
He frowned. “Basically, that you’d chosen him.”
Maggie’s beautiful face contorted in anger. “What did I ever see in him? I don’t even know how he got my phone. It was locked in my room and it had my passcode on it.”
“People like him find ways of getting what they want no matter what it takes. You might want to make sure there isn’t any spyware on it. I’d hate to think he installed something like that.”
Her eyes widened. “You think he would?”
“You think he wouldn’t?”
Maggie frowned. “I’m really sorry for everything, Canyon.”
He cupped her chin. “It’s not your fault. Let’s just hope he decides to stay away.”
“After what Aunt Lucille said to him, I’m sure he will.”
Canyon chuckled. “I can imagine. That woman can be scary.”
“Just don’t tell her that.” Maggie laughed.
His heart warmed at the sound. “Oh, I’m sure she knows.”
&
nbsp; “That’s true.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
Canyon held her, never wanting to let go. “Where did you go last night? Nobody could find you anywhere.”
“It’s going to sound stupid.”
“Why?”
“I found an empty field outside of town, and I sat there just thinking until I fell asleep. The last thing I wanted was to worry anyone. I just needed to process everything without anyone around.”
Canyon kissed her temple. “I understand, but next time can you tell someone where you’re going?”
Maggie nodded. “Hopefully that’s the last time I receive news so mind-blowing.”
He cupped her chin again and stared into her eyes. “Did you confirm that he was telling the truth? About the medical report, I mean.”
“Yeah. I spoke with the doctor’s office. It’s some other poor woman who can’t have kids. I’m perfectly fine.”
“You certainly are.”
Pink colored her cheeks.
Canyon laughed. “You’re so easy to embarrass.”
She shrugged.
“I hope you know that any man would be lucky to marry you, whether you could have kids or not.”
Maggie looked away.
He kissed her cheek. “It’s the truth. I’d marry you in a heartbeat, and the news of your test hasn’t changed that one bit.”
She turned back to look at him, her eyes huge. “You want to marry me?”
“I’d be the luckiest man alive.”
Tears shone in her eyes.
Canyon brushed his lips across hers. She kissed him back eagerly, and her tears spilled onto his cheeks. He opened his eyes and kissed her tears from her eyes.
She smiled at him, a tear clinging to the lash.
A crazy idea flashed through his mind. He had to follow it.
Canyon cleared his throat, then stepped back. His pulse raced through him as he lowered himself to one knee.
Maggie’s mouth dropped open. “What are you doing?”
He took her hand in his. “I may not be rich or handsome, and I won’t be able to buy you nice things, but there is one thing I can give you. My heart. It’s already yours, Mags. It has been since we were kids running around the beach. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved even though I always thought you were out of my reach. If you marry me, I promise to love you every day and treat you like a princess.”
“Canyon—”
“I’m not done. The last two weeks with you has been a dream come true. Something I never thought I’d get to experience. I know this is sudden, and we haven’t been dating all that long, so we can have a long engagement. But please say you’ll marry me. I’ll never take you for granted, and I’ll appreciate you always.”
“I—”
“And I’ll get you a ring. A beautiful one. I just need some time to save up for the down payment. And—”
“Yes! I’ll marry you, Canyon. Happily!”
He rose to his feet and kissed her. The whole world melted away other than the sounds of the rushing waterfall off to the side.
She’d actually agreed to his spur-of-the-moment proposal!
Magnolia Lucille Kendrick had agreed to marry him.
One moment he’d thought he’d lost her forever and the next she had agreed to spend the rest of her life with him.
He pulled back and stared at the gorgeous smiling face of his fiancée. It hardly seemed real, but it was true.
Canyon brushed some dirt from his shirt. He’d slipped off a narrow path, down into a muddy ravine. “Sorry to be such a mess for the proposal.”
She pulled a twig from his hair. “It’s perfect.”
“Perfect?” He laughed, then felt his hair, which had more twigs stuck in it. “I’m a wreck.”
“A perfect wreck. I think that fits us, don’t you?”
He traced her jawline with his thumb. “You’re not.”
“I am.”
“No, you’re perfect and I’m a wreck. A perfect wreck describes us to a tee.”
She pulled more things from his hair and kissed his nose. “I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Maybe.”
Chapter 35
Two months later.
Canyon wiped his brow after walking through the little house.
“Not bad, huh?” Harry grinned.
“It looks like a whole new home.”
“That it does. It’s going to be the perfect starter home for some newlyweds.”
Canyon beamed. Even after being engaged for two months, he still hadn’t wrapped his mind around the fact that he and Maggie would soon be living there as husband and wife.
“You still planning to help with the yellow cottage over on Seaside Boulevard?”
“I’ll be there bright and early Monday morning.”
Harry put a hand on Canyon’s shoulder. “You’re a great worker. I wish you’d consider coming on as a permanent hire.”
“I’ll keep that in mind as a backup plan.”
“How’s the dance studio coming?”
“Maggie and I have it up to tip-top shape. Mostly her, though. While I’m here, she’s working hard over there.”
Harry nodded. “I’m sure the kids around town will have a blast taking lessons from you two.”
“What I can’t believe is that we already have a waitlist. Everyone in Indigo Bay seems to want dance lessons.”
“A waitlist? Maybe you’d better add me to it. My wife has been nudging me to sign up at your studio.”
Canyon grinned. “Really? We’ve been talking about a couples’ class if there’s enough interest. I’ll put you two down for sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to tell her. Have a great weekend.”
“You too, Harry.”
“Oh, these are yours.” Harry pulled a key off his keychain. “Congrats on your new home.”
Canyon’s heart swelled. He’d been half-expecting to wake up and find it all to be a dream. But it wasn’t. Maggie still hadn’t backed out from his proposal by the waterfall.
He said goodbye to Harry, locked the front door—his future front door—and headed to his car.
A text came in from Maggie.
Maggie: Still on for tonight?
Canyon: I’ll be there at exactly six.
Maggie: Can’t wait! Xoxo
Canyon: Me too.
He added in some kissing emojis before climbing into his car and heading home to get cleaned up. In an hour, he and Maggie were having dinner at Lucille’s again.
At precisely six o’clock, he rang the doorbell.
The door flung open before he’d even let go of the bell, and Maggie threw her arms around him. “I missed you so much!”
He kissed her and winked. “It’s been torture since lunch.”
“Come on in. Auntie ordered Chinese—with chopsticks. I’m sure you’ll both get a good laugh out of my attempts.”
Canyon threaded his fingers through hers. “I would never laugh at you.”
“You might just eat those words. I’ve been practicing, but it hasn’t helped.”
“I’m sure you’re better than you give yourself credit for.” Canyon held out a chair at the table for Maggie. Once she was seated, he helped Lucille pour the takeout into fancy dishes. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Maggie practicing with the chopsticks.
As soon as she had food piled on her plate, she picked up a piece of sour chicken and ate it just as well as Canyon, who had been using chopsticks for years.
“I’m impressed.”
“Oh, stop.”
“No, really. I am.” He glanced over at Lucille, who appeared amused watching them.
After everyone was done, Maggie stretched. “I ate too much. I could go for a walk on the beach.” She turned to her aunt. “Can I help with the dishes?”
“Not tonight. I’ve got it. You two enjoy the night.”
“Thanks, Auntie.” Maggie slid her hand into Canyon’s, and they strolled out of the kitchen.
Before they reached the front door, Lucille stepped in front of them.
She stared down Canyon. “Come with me. We need to talk about something before you two leave.”
His heart skipped a beat and he glanced at Maggie. “Um, okay.”
“You don’t have to ask her for permission. Follow me.” She nodded at Maggie. “We’ll only be a moment.”
“Sure, Auntie.”
Canyon squeezed Maggie’s hand, then followed Lucille up the stairs and into an elegant bedroom. “Miss Lucille?”
“We’re practically family. You can drop the Miss.”
“Okay.”
She strolled over to a desk and opened a drawer.
Canyon studied her, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what was going on.
Lucille rifled through the contents before pulling something out. A tall jewelry box hid whatever she was now looking at.
“Come over here.”
He held his breath as he made his way over.
“Sit.” She nodded toward the bed.
Canyon sat, still unable to see what was in Lucille’s hands.
She met his gaze and waited a beat before speaking. “I have to admit to being nervous about you and my Maggie being together.”
He nodded. “You made your feelings toward me clear.”
Lucille smiled. “But Maggie convinced me to give you a chance. I worried every time she left with you, but you’ve proven yourself to be a man of good character. You treat the both of us with the utmost respect.”
Canyon swallowed and waited for her to continue.
“You’ve won me over. I couldn’t be happier to have you marry my sweet niece.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“If I don’t want you calling me miss, I definitely don’t want you calling me ma’am.”
“Sorry. What would you like me to call you?”
“Aunt Lucille is fine.”
“Okay, Mi—Aunt Lucille.”
She walked over, her hands clasped together. “I want to give this to you. For you to give to Maggie. Hold out your hand.”
Canyon opened his palm, and she dropped a ring onto it. It was silver with an enormous diamond in the middle and a swirly pattern around it filled with smaller rocks. The sides had intricate carvings that matched the front design. It was elegant enough for a princess.
“It was my engagement ring, and I’ve been widowed for two decades. I’d say it’s time the ring gets some use, wouldn’t you?”
