The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

the lump just above his temple to hurt.
    “I don’t have the education—”
    “That’s a bunch of bull and we both know it.” At his startled expression, she smiled. “We all have our place in life, and you have a gift that I’ve always wanted, but will never have. You can grow just about anything, anywhere your heart desires.”
    He shrugged one shoulder. “Anyone can do it.”
    She shook her head. “No, they can’t. Do you want toknow the reason I went into veterinary medicine, instead of agriculture?”
    “Because you like animals?”
    “That’s the main reason,” she said nodding. “But the other reason is because I kill everything I try to grow. I can’t even keep a houseplant alive. Whenever I bring one home, Uncle Grant and Ford make jokes about another innocent plant being doomed to an untimely and torturous end.”
    “You’re probably just trying too hard,” he said, chuckling.
    “I don’t think so.” She took hold of his hands. “Don’t you see, Russ? Your talent is right here in the calluses you have from making things grow. You may not have a college degree, but that doesn’t make you any less of an expert at what you do.”
    He looked thoughtful and she could tell he was digesting what she’d told him. “I’ve never looked at it that way,” he finally said. “But you might have a point.”
    “Well, it’s about time you came to that conclusion.” When he acted as if he was going to get up, she stood up and gently pushed him back down on the stretcher. “I’m not finished talking.”
    He grinned. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a bossy little number?”
    “I think I’ve heard that before.” She laughed as she remembered what they’d said to each other that first dayin the stable. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re slower than molasses in January?”
    Chuckling, he reached up to pull her down to him. “Come here, honey.”
    Abby shook her head. “I told you, I have more to say.” When he started to protest, she placed her index finger to his lips. “I love you with all my heart, Russ Gannon.”
    “You love me?” His sexy grin caused her stomach to flutter.
    “Yes, I do. But I have something I need to confess.”
    He suddenly looked a bit wary. “What’s that?”
    “Do you know why I remained a virgin while most girls my age have been sexually active for years?”
    “You were worried you’d turn out like your mother.”
    “That’s true,” she admitted. “But that’s not the entire reason.”
    His smile was understanding when he nodded. “You were afraid most guys would be like old Harold and not take ‘no’ for an answer.”
    “Not even close.” Smiling at his surprised expression, she cupped his lean cheek with her palm. “Russ, I waited to give myself to the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And whether you like it or not, you’re that man.”
    His grin was back full force. “Is that a marriage proposal?”
    “Call it what you will, it’s the truth. You’re all the man I’ll ever want or need,” she said softly.
    “God, Abby, I love you more than life itself,” he said, sitting up to pull her to him. “If you’ll have me, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
    “I’m going to hold you to that, cowboy,” she said, kissing him until they both gasped for breath. Grinning, she added, “Oh, there’s one more thing that you probably need to know.”
    “What’s that, honey?”
    “After we get married, there won’t be an issue of you not owning your own place.” At his questioning look, she smiled. “A third of that big Nebraska farm is mine, and once I’m Mrs. Russ Gannon, it will be yours, too.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t want your land. All I want is you. We’ll move to Nebraska and I’ll help work the farm, but we’ll have a prenuptial agreement drawn up—”
    “No, we won’t.” She kissed him again. “We’ll be in this marriage together. Forever. What’s mine will be yours and what’s yours, will be mine. You got that straight, cowboy?”
    He laughed. “Yeah, I think I’ve finally got it.” His expression turned serious. “I love you, Abby.”
    “And I love you, Russ. With all of my heart.”
    A week later, Abby glanced at her checklist. The cake would be delivered tomorrow morning and so would theflowers. She and Russ had their marriage license and their rings. But it felt like she was forgetting something.
    “Oh, dear God, I forgot to pick Ford up at