Then his eyes widen as he watches me get down on one knee, in the dirt and all. I hold out a ring. “I like our simple bands, but they were chosen when we didn’t have our full faculties about us. I want to love you in the sober light of day. With nothing around us but nature. No lights, no strippers, no drinking, no dancing. Just us, the dogs, the horses, and”—I gesture—“the sunset. So, whadda you say, cowboy? I love you more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Yes, Kurt. I’d … yes,” Johnny says. He tugs me up into his arms and kisses me. “I love you,” he whispers fervently against my lips, his hat sheltering me from the breeze.
“The entire world is better when you’re in it with me,” I say.
“I feel the same way. When do you wanna get hitched again?”
“I don’t care. I just want to know what I promise you.”
“Oh, precious. I know what I promise you. I promise to love you in good times and bad. No matter how good the good, and no matter how bad the bad. I just plain love you. We can talk about it more, but there’s no need for talkin’ when two people understand each other. And I understand you, and you understand me.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I do.”
“As Mama says, there’s plenty of good hay in the barn, and a smart horse finds his way home. I found my way home with you.”
I kiss him hard. “Tell me what else your mama says?”
“I intend to spend the rest of my life doing that.”
