Angels Fall

yearned so that she had to harden its rim to keep it from spilling right out at his feet.
    "It's pretty and it's romantic. And it won't work, Lo."

    "That's your special rose. You need to take your rose there. The one on the bed. Please," he said when she didn't move. "Do that one thing."
    On a windy sigh, she crossed over, snatched up the rose. "There, are you…"As she turned, the ribbon tied to the stem swung, and what was looped through it banged gently into her forearm. It shot sparks and light.
    "Oh my God."
    "Now maybe you'll be quiet for a minute." Smug, he drew the ring off the ribbon. "I went out to buy this the evening I said I was working. I wanted to keep it to myself, that's all. I go telling any of the boys I'm hunting up an engagement ring, they're going to rib me about it until I have to punch somebody in the face. So I lied to you because I didn't want you to know what I was up to. I wanted to give it to you. to ask you when it was special. Like this."
    Her heart was actually fluttering. This, she realized, was what they meant when they said it was like your heart grew wings. "You lied so you could go out and buy this?"
    "That's right."
    "And when I found out you lied, you wouldn't tell me."
    "I didn't want us yelling at each other when I gave it to you. Before, after, that's fine, but not during."
    "You did this, all this, for me."
    "About time I got started. You like it? The ring?"
    She hadn't really looked at it. The  idea  of it, of all of it, was so huge. But she looked now at the sparkle of the diamond in a gold band. As simple, she thought, as traditional as a plate of warm apple pie. And absolutely perfect.
    "I like it. I love it, I do. But there's a problem."
    "What? What now'"
    She looked up, smiled. "You haven't asked me yet. Not officially."
    "You're going to have to marry me, Linda-gail, and save me from wasting my life on wild women. You do that," he continued when she choked out a laugh, "I'll work hard to make you happy."
    "I'll do that." She held out her hand for the ring, "and I'll make you happy right back." The minute the ring was on her finger, she jumped into his arms. "This is the best Saturday night date in recorded history."
    When his mouth met hers, she thought she heard a car on the road outside. But she was too busy to care.

    BACK IN TOWN, Reece flew down the street. She still wore her apron, and it flapped around her legs as she ran. People stopped strolling to stare at her or to scramble back before she could plow through them. She burst through the door of On the Trail.
    "The necklace."
    Debbie turned from showing a couple of customers a selection of backpacks. "Reece." Her gaze registered surprise, followed by faintly amused annoyance. "I'll be right with you."
    "You have a necklace."
    "Excuse me," Debbie said to the customers, "just one minute." With her business smile in place. Debbie crossed over, took Reece's arm in a firm grip. "I'm busy here, Reece."
    "A symbol of the sun on a gold chain."
    "What the hell are you talking about?" Debbie demanded in a whisper.
    "I'm crazy, remember. Indulge me or I'll probably make a scene. I saw you wearing that necklace."
    "And so what?"
    "A sun," Reece repeated. "'It came from Delvechio's in Jackson."
    "Very good, you win today's trivia contest. Now go away." Instead, Reece turned into Debbie, all but nose to nose. "Who gave it to you?"
    "Rick did, of course. Last Christmas. What is  wrong  with you?"
    "You're his sunlight," Reece murmured. "I heard him say that. That's the opposite of the dark side of the moon."
    Debbie backed up a step. "You really are crazy. I want you out."
    "Where is he? Where's the sheriff?'"
    "Let go of my arm."
    "Where?"
    "In Moose, he has a meeting tonight. But in about two seconds I'm calling the office and having Denny come down here and haul you out."
    "Call whoever you want. Where was he the night we had the break-in at Brody's cabin'"
    "What break-in?" Debbie said with a sneer. "Or do you mean the night you imagined, again, somebody was there?"

    "Where was he, Debbie?"
    "At home."
    "I don't think so."
    "I've lost about all patience with you. I'm telling you he was home, right out in his workshop. And he'd have more time to relax out there if it wasn't for people like you dragging him away on false alarms and stupidity. I had to go out there myself and get him when Hank called."
    "Oh? No phone in the workshop?"
    "He had the music on, and the saw…" Debbie drew herself up. "I've had about