“I can’t marry you”—she dropped her gaze to their joined hands—“under those conditions.”
“Do you want to live here? I’m sure I can find a way to get this place. Reynolds isn’t going to be needing it, but if I get married before the end of the year, then you can’t believe the part of the 7 Heart Ranch I’ll receive.”
She jerked her head up, her molasses-colored eyes wide. “What?”
He started to repeat himself, but she stopped him. “Chisholm, this isn’t about where we’d live. You’re a Texas Ranger—”
“Caro, I said I’ll give that up.”
“But I don’t want you to.” She pulled from his arms and turned. “It’s who you are. You’re fiercely loyal. You’re a man who feels a responsibility for helping Texas, and the world needs men like you.”
Chisholm shook his head. “So you won’t marry me if I’m a Texas Ranger, and you won’t marry me if I’m not?”
“Not exactly.” She smiled. “I now realize that being a Ranger is part of what makes me love you.”
His lips curled upward at her admission. “Go on.”
“Like it or not, I’ve fallen in love with a man of duty, a Texas Ranger to his core, and the only way I’ll marry you is if you promise to keep doing what you love as long as you like.”
“But what about you? I can’t hurt you every time I have to go away.”
“I imagine Bluebonnet and I will do fine at the 7 Heart Ranch, waiting for your return.”
What did she mean? This didn’t sound like a refusal. “So you’re saying yes?”
“Sí, mi amor.” She placed her hands on his broad chest. “Now stop standing there with your mouth hanging open and kiss me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He removed his hat and pulled her close, branding the lips of the future Mrs. Hart with his own.
Caro adjusted her position in Angel’s saddle and glanced at Chisholm, who rode beside her. After five days driving nearly three hundred head of cattle from the Walking Diamond to the 7 Heart Ranch, she was ready for a bath and bed. Whit, Ricardo, Chisholm, and her mamá all seemed in a similar state. While she was glad Chisholm had hastily arranged purchase of the incarcerated rancher’s stock, it had certainly made the journey longer. One look at Bluebonnet, however, made her glad the docile animals had joined them.
Caro looked down at her dusty skirt and sighed. She was not going to make a good first impression. Her hair refused to remain tied back, she reeked of horse sweat, and her clothes needed a thorough washing. She’d begged Chisholm to let them have a day to clean up before she met his family, but he’d pressed on, eager to be home.
She couldn’t blame him. He’d not been with his family for months. He’d explained his father’s ultimatum regarding his share of the ranch, and she couldn’t help but tease him about having no choice but to marry her.
“Are we close?” Caro leaned over her saddle horn.
“We’ve been on the ranch for the last two hours, Caro.” Chisholm chuckled and swept his arm over the area. “This will be Crockett’s place. Ours is on the Little Bianco Creek southwest of El Regalo.”
“El Regalo is your house? ‘The gift’?” Caro tucked a loose hair behind her ear.
He nodded. “Pa built El Regalo as a gift to my mother. And, Caro, you can stop fussing. They’re going to love you as much as I do.”
The largest stone ranch house she’d ever seen came into view. In the front, a tower seemed to touch the sky. She gasped. “This is your El Regalo?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Who has to clean it?”
“Not you.” Chisholm laughed. “I wired my brother that I was bringing home a bride, and hopefully they’ve already started framing our house, which will not be this large in case you’re worried.”
“Gracias.” She looked again at the massive home in front of them. “Chisholm, what if your father doesn’t approve of me? I’ll understand, and you’ll still have time to find another bride.”
He flashed her a grin. “Nah. I’ve gone through enough roping you, so I reckon I’ll put up a fight to keep you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Chisholm’s face hurt from grinning. He stood in his old bedroom, adjusting the small tied cravat about his neck. It had been so long since he wore a frock coat and vest that he chafed beneath its constriction, but the discomfort was worth it. In a few minutes, surrounded by his family, he’d meet his bride in El Regalo’s parlor.
The whole house smelled of Perla and Maria’s spicy Mexican cuisine. Between the two women, his pa said that he and Caro’s wedding supper would be something no one would ever forget. He recalled the first meal Caro served him and smiled. He’d warned her that he liked things spicy, and Caro was all that and more.