Adam let Greybird set her own pace as they raced through the pasture. He owned several horses now, but Greybird was still his favorite. He knew she couldn’t catch up with Devil, but that was okay. Ashley liked winning these races and he loved it when she roared with laughter every time she beat him.

They pulled up alongside their river and dismounted. Each looked after their horses before they set out their snacks. It had become their thing to come up here every Sunday, no matter who was around or what was going on. Their relationship took priority over everything else. That much Adam insisted on.

“Someday I’ll have to ride Devil. At least then I can wipe that smug look off your gorgeous face.”

“As if,” Ashley said. “I can beat you no matter what horse you ride. I’m just better with the horses. They love me.”

“Everyone loves you, Ashley.”

“I don’t care about everyone else. So long as you and the horses do, that’s all I need.”

He grinned over at her. He couldn’t believe it had been over a year since he’d first met Ashley. She was everything he wanted in a woman. Aside from one thing that was missing.

“Was Declan happy with the results of your board meeting?”

“It wasn’t a board meeting Ashley. Just me, Dec, Mack, Charity and Loretta chatting about the ranch. You could have come too if you wanted to, but you said you were seeing Gracie.”

“I was. I’m just teasing. Although I couldn’t just turn up. I’m not a shareholder, remember?”

“Oh right, can’t tell you anything then. You might sell our success secrets to our riva—” She cut off his last word by kissing him firmly on the mouth. They fell back onto the blanket, neither of them breaking the kiss. “You are one heck of a woman Ashley Baker. Have I told you I love you?”

“Only once so far today. You should say it more often.”

They sat back up watching the river, their hands entwined.

“Do you remember when you first took me up here and explained the difference between fool’s gold and real gold?”

“Yes. I think that was the first time you kissed me.”

“I kissed you? You mean you kissed me.” He kissed her again. “Do you think we found gold?”

“You and I have something infinitely more precious than gold.”

“True. But I still wonder if we could find a piece of real gold. What do you think?”

She watched him reach his hands into the river. “I don’t think you’ll be that lucky. I reckon the gold miners of days gone by got everything there was to find.”

“Look closer.”

He held onto her as she reached over the side of the riverbed to stare into the water. He saw her eyes widen in delight as she saw it. She reached down and retrieved the golden box. He had wedged it between two stones so it wouldn’t float away.

“This for me?”

“Well, I hope it's for both of us.”

She squealed as she opened the box. Taking the ring out, she handed it to him, tears falling down her cheeks. “Put it on for me, please.”

“Ashley Baker will you marry me?”

“Oh yes.”

He put the ring on her finger, thankful Loretta had helped him with the sizing.

“Oh, Adam I’m so happy. I’m fit to burst. Thank you. It’s gorgeous.”

“It’s only the start. Come on, I have another surprise for you.”

He pulled her to her feet and started running back to the horses.

“What’s the rush?”

“Come on. Before I blurt out my secret.”

They mounted and rode back toward the larger guest house.

They dismounted and then he led the two horses to the trough to drink. “I’ll be back to you in a few minutes, okay?” He whispered into Greybird’s ear, “Wish me luck.” The horse nudged him on the shoulder.

“Adam, what’s going on?”

“Nothing darling. Just come into the house, I forgot my keys.”

He opened the door and she walked in ahead of him. She nearly hit the ceiling as she jumped to the shouts of “Surprise!”

The lights went on to show all their family and friends were assembled, bottles of bubbly in hand.

“You guys knew?”

“Your boyfriend did things properly,” Ashley’s dad said, walking over to embrace her. “He came and asked my permission. Congratulations, darling.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Welcome to our family, Ashley. Not that we don’t think you’re part of it already.” Declan hugged her close. Then she moved toward the center of the room where Gracie was waiting in a beautiful new dress.

“Hello, darling. You look beautiful today. I can’t believe you kept the secret.”

“Adam said it was a good secret, not a bad one. He said I would make you happy when you came in and saw my dress. Are you happy?”

“Oh Gracie, I have never been happier.”

Gracie gave her a hug before asking her.

“Can I be a flower?”

“Of course you can, darling. But I think you mean ‘flower girl’.”

“Yes, flower.”

Ashley looked up at Adam. His mouth was dry and he got all choked up at the look of complete joy on her face. “Thank you,” she mouthed up to him.

* * *

Ashley couldn’t believe everyone had known and nobody let it slip. Mack hugged her close telling her how proud he was of her and everything she had achieved in the last year. Graduating top of her class was only one thing on his list of accomplishments.

Charity and Loretta were both sobbing noisily into their hankies. “You’re going to make a beautiful bride.”

Ashley hugged them both and then came face to face with her mom.

“Thanks for being here, Mom.”

“Come here, darling.”

To Ashley’s amazement, her mother pulled her into a tight hug. “I love you, Ashley and want only happiness for you. I’m sorry for what I put you through. Kayleigh would have kicked my butt. She’s very happy for you, honey. I can feel her looking down on us and smiling.”

Ashley couldn’t respond. Her voice was completely gone, blocked by a lump in her throat that wouldn’t disappear. She squeezed her mom back in thanks.

Ashley looked up as Adam came over to her. She let him lead her away from their friends.

“I want to ask you something but I didn’t want them to overhear,” he explained.

“You already asked me, I said yes, remember?” she joked back at him but stopped at the expression in his eyes. He looked kind of anxious. “Adam?”

“I know you said one day you would love to adopt Gracie. I was wondering if you still felt that way.”

“Of course I do, I love her. She is such a wonderful little girl.”

“So how would you feel if we started the adoption process when we come back from our honeymoon?”

She squealed and threw her arms around him. He lifted her up and swung her around.

“I take it that’s a yes.”

“I love you Adam Malone.”

Gracie walked over to them before he could respond.

“Is it forever and ever?”

Adam whispered into Ashley’s ear. “Well, are you going to answer our daughter?”

“Yes darling, it’s forever and ever.” She cuddled Gracie close to her and leaned up to kiss Adam. “I love you with everything I have Mr. Malone.”

“I love you too, soon to be Mrs. Malone.”

* * *

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading my book. Declan’s story was supposed to come before this one but Adam kept pushing in so I gave in. I hope you enjoyed the

story of Adam and Ashley. to find out when Adam’s brother Declan’s story will be released.

Until next time,

Best wishes

Jill