Black Hills

know I’ll be sticking close to home, so you don’t need to worry.”
    “This screwed up your plans for last night.”
    “I was hoping I could work things out for a picnic maybe. That’s romantic, right?”
    “Meets the top ten requirements.”
    “But spring’s a busy time around the farm and around here.”
    “Go raid the pantry in my cabin. Use the picnic area over there.”
    “Here?” He gawked at her. “Now?”
    “I’d bet my budget for the next five years you’ve got the ring in your pocket here and now.”
    “I can’t take that bet. I need to save my money.” He looked back around, his face full of excitement and concern. “You think I could ask her here?”
    “It’s a pretty afternoon, Farley. She loves this place as much as I do, so yeah, I think you could ask her here. I’ll make sure everyone gives you some room.”
    “You can’t tell them why.”
    “Have some faith.”
    He had plenty of faith in Lil, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right thing. After all, he and Tansy had gotten to know each other right here at the refuge. He’d fallen in love with her here. And she with him, something he thought she was just about ready to admit.
    Lil didn’t have much in the way of picnic food, but he found enough to put a couple of sandwiches together. He took apples, a bag of chips, and two Diet Cokes—since that was all she had.
    Then he nagged Tansy over to a picnic table.
    “I can’t take much of a break.”
    “Neither can I, but I want to spend what I’ve got with you.”
    She went soft, he could see it. “Farley, you just kill me.”
    “I missed you last night.” He tipped her face up for a kiss before he gestured her to the bench he’d already brushed off.
    She sighed. “I missed you, too. I really did. But I’m glad you went back. It was the right thing. Everyone’s trying not to be jumpy, and that makes me more jumpy. I spend a lot of my time in what most people consider a danger zone. And there is risk, of course. But it’s calculated and it’s respected and understood. I just can’t understand any of this. Humans are, to my thinking, the most unpredictable of animals.”
    “You got that scar right here.” He reached out to trace the mark on her forearm with his finger.
    “From a cheetah who saw me as a threat. And my fault more than hers. None of this is Lil’s fault. None of it.”
    “We’re not going to let anything happen to her. Or you.”
    “He’s not interested in me.” Tansy laid a hand over his. “And I’m spoiling this quick picnic. What’ve we got?” She picked up a sandwich, laughed. “Peanut butter and jelly?”
    “Lil didn’t have a lot of choices on the menu.”
    “She always has pb&j.” Tansy bit in. “How are things at the farm?”
    “Busy. Time for spring plowing soon. And we’ll be turning some calves into steers shortly.”
    “Into . . . oh.” She lifted a hand, made a scissor motion with her finger. “Snip, snip?”
    “Yeah. It always pains me a little.”
    “Not as much as the calf.”
    He smiled. “One of those got-to-be-done things. Living on a farm, well, it’s a lot like here. You get to see things as they are. You get to work outside, feel a part of things. You’d like living on a farm.”
    “Maybe. When I came out here to help Lil, I really thought it would be temporary. I’d help get her up and running, train some staff, and then go to work for one of the big outfits. Make a big name for myself. But this place got its hooks into me.”
    “You’re home now.”
    “Looks like.”
    He drew the ring out of his pocket. “Make home with me, Tansy.”
    “Farley. Oh.” She held up a hand, thumped the other on her heart. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”
    He dealt with the problem by spinning her around then shoving her head between her knees. “Take it easy.”
    “This is crazy.” Her breath hitched and pitched.
    “Just in and out a few times.”
    “Farley, what have you done? What have you done?”
    “Bought a ring for the woman I’m going to marry. Couple more times in and out.”
    “Marriage is huge! Huge. We’ve barely dated.”
    “We’ve known each other a long time now, and we’ve been sleeping together regular the last little while. I’m in love with you.” In firm strokes he rubbed her back to help her settle. “And if you weren’t in love with me, you wouldn’t have your head between your knees.”
    “That’s your gauge of love? That I’m dizzy