Acquiring Trouble

‘KHS Foot b all Sta te Champions’ on the far side . Bill frolicked through the field be com ing a p est to some of the cows close to the fence line , but she didn’t have the heart to tell him no. The little dog with the gray face was practically smiling as he went off chasing a butterfly.
    The sun warmed her as they walked in comfortable silence down a small path through the beautiful flowers . Miles leaned over and picked a bunch of beautiful white daisies that were dancing in the spring breeze. Morgan smiled and reveled in her happiness as they came to a stop and Miles handed them to her. His eyes seemed to match the gre en of the field today.
    “So, all those years ago when you vandalized the city’s water tower, did you think it was romantic?” Miles asked as he slipped a beautiful dee p purple flower behind her ear.
    “ Kinda . A part of me thought you’d finally see me and come to your sen ses and see how wonderful I was. T he other part just wanted you to finally be in trouble with Red,” Morgan teased.
    “I t was worth it. If you hadn’t kissed me all those years ago and painted the water tower, I’d never have remembered you. Instead I’ve never forgotten you. You have held a place in my heart all the se years.” Miles paused and then shot her a killer grin, “Of cou rse I was madder than hell at you , but you still managed to get a hold of me and n ever let me go. Instead , I fell in love with you and now you have my whole heart, not just one piece. I want to spend the rest of my life with you showing you how much you mean to me.”
    Morgan felt tears spring to her eyes. She had never thought she would hear those words from him and now here she was with his heart in her hands. However, she realized what an idiot she had been all those years ago. Morgan had thought she loved Miles, but she didn’t. She didn’t know the meaning of those words until now. Until Miles showed her what love was really like.
    “Close your eyes, sweetheart,” Miles whispered gently. Oh my G od! Was he? No, he couldn’t be! But it felt like he was. If she opened her eyes and he was on one knee she thought she’d faint. Instead she felt Miles turn her around. What? Was she going to pin t he tail on the engagement ring?
    “I ’ve got a surprise for you , ” he said . She could tell he was proud of it and she could also te ll he was still standing. Damn . Morgan had to admit she was slightly embarrassed for jumping the gun on the whole marriage thing. She had been thinking about it constantly, but they hadn’t even discussed it. That’s why she was so nervous . She was going to tell him and his family that she had decided to stay in Keeneston permanently. “Oka y, open your eyes, sweetheart.”
    Morgan opened her eyes and saw Miles standing next to her.  Double damn. Then she saw the field. The cows. Bill frolicking in the flowers . T he water tower that read ‘Morgan, Will You Marry Me?’ T he car parked... Morgan snapped her eyes back to the water tower and read it again. She was pretty sure she was imagining things until Miles dropped to one knee and pulled out a black velvet box.
    “ Ohhh , you’re going to be in so much trouble with the s heriff,” Morgan laughed through the tears st arting to roll down her cheeks.
    “It’ll be worth it if you say you’ll marry me.” Tears fell faster as Morgan realized how nervous Miles really was. The box was shaking slightly as he wait ed for her answer.
    “Yes! I’ll marry you!” Morgan squealed as Miles’ s unsteady hands slipped the oval diamond surrounded by two purple amethysts onto her finger . “I love you!” She leapt into his arms and planned to spend the rest of her life loving this man with her whole heart .

 
Chapter Twenty-Five
     
    Mor gan couldn’t stop star ing. It was so beautiful! And how it spark l ed when the light hit it. Morgan finally relinquished her hand to Miles w hen they had gotten in the car to head to the family dinner. He kept running his thumb over it , making su re it was really on her finger.
    “I just can’t believe this! I think I’m still in shock.” Morgan laughed as they pulled up to t he Davies farm. “Are we late?” s he asked , as she looked around at all the cars alrea dy parked by the old farmhouse.
    Morgan looked up at the house and found faces plastered to all the windows looking out at them. “Did you tell your parents you were going to propose?”
    “Sweetheart, I asked you by painting the