The Prince

A diamond glimmered in Wesley outstretched hand.

Nora’s eyes widened at the sight of it.

“Wesley?”

“Everything you see down there is mine. Or will be. I hate being called the Prince of Kentucky, but only because it’s kind of true. I have a kingdom and that’s it. And there’s nothing in the world more beautiful…except you.”

“Wes…you…”

“Stay with me, Nora. Stay here. Forever. Everything you see…I can give it to you. And you can love it and keep it, or hate it and burn it to the ground. I don’t care, as long as you’re here with me and you never go back to him. I know he can give you things I can’t—loneliness and pain and shame and humiliation. But I can give you a few things he can’t. Marriage. Kids if you want them. No kids if you don’t. A life together out here in the sun, where everyone can see us. You’d never have to hide if you were with me, or pretend. You’d have the whole world. You’d never have to work again. You wouldn’t have to even write another book if you didn’t want to. Or you can write until your hands fall off, and I’d hire the best doctor in the world to sew them back on. You can name all our horses, like you name your characters. You can drive my parents crazy by making riding crop and pony jokes every single day of your life. You can…” Wesley’s voice faltered. Bob grew restive underneath him. Drawing a breath, Wesley took Nora’s hand in his and held it tight, the diamond ring pressed into her palm. “You can be safe and no one will ever hurt you again. I won’t hurt you and I won’t ever let anyone else do so. Not now. Not ever. Not even if you go crazy and decide you want them to. I’ll make you happy. I’ll keep you safe. Just please say yes or no before these damn horses bolt and kill us both.”

Nora stammered and shook her head. “—I don’t know, Wes. I mean, are you asking what I think—”

“Dammit, Nora. You always have to make things harder than they are. Will you marry me? That’s what I’m asking. Yes? No? Maybe?”

Nora pulled her hand away from his, but took the ring. He waited, praying she’d put it on her finger. Instead, she only stared at it.

“It was my great-great-grandmother’s on my mom’s side. It would have been my sister’s had I had one. Lucky me—only child.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“They said my great-great-grandmother was the most beautiful woman in all of Georgia in her day. She had men fighting duels over her. I thought that was the craziest thing—two guys killing each other over a girl. Then I met you and I swear the thought of seeing Søren’s body being dragged through the streets behind Farewell to Charms made me smile like nothing else.”

“I’ve had the same thought a few times,” she said with a nervous laugh. “But, Wesley—”

“No buts. You don’t have to answer. You can think about it if you need to. I hope you don’t need to, but if you do…then you do. Actually, don’t answer. Don’t say anything about it. Just think about it. You can tell me yes, no or maybe when we get back to the barn. Okay?”

Nora took a shallow breath as she studied the ring in her palm. Wesley didn’t know much about it other than his mom had once said something about ten carats and two million dollars.

“Okay…” Nora wrapped her hand tightly around the ring and held it close to her chest.

“We’ll head back. We shouldn’t talk on the way down, anyway. It’s pretty steep.”

“Lips are sealed.”

Wesley watched as Nora slipped the ring onto her thumb—close enough to her ring finger to give him hope—before taking up her reins again. They started back down the hill, the only words spoken between them the occasional “watch out there—big rock” and an “I see it.”

A half hour later they made it back to the stables. The return trip had been torturous with waiting, and yet Wesley loved Nora enough not to panic her or push her.

He forced himself to go slow with the horses, to take his time. He unsaddled them carefully and brushed them both down—actions that calmed his racing, waiting heart. He wanted to rush, to get it over with and find out Nora’s answer. But he feared the answer as much as he wanted it, and so went as slowly as he could, delaying what he feared was the inevitable.

“Good girl,” Wesley said to Nickity as he put her back in her stall and offered her a fistful of oats.

“Nice to have such a pretty girl eating out of the palm of your hand, isn’t it?” Nora asked as he ran his hand down the horse’s long nose.

“She’s really not the girl I’ve got my heart set on.”

“Too bad. I hear she’s kinky.”

“Let me guess—she likes riding crops and pony play?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Nora…”

Nora sighed and raised her hand to Wesley’s face.

“Goddammit, I missed you while we were apart. I wish you knew how much.”

“I know how much I missed you, and never want to feel that way again. And I know we never have to. Just say yes. You know he can’t give you the life I can. You know he can’t…Nora?”

Nora’s eyes had left his face and now looked over his shoulder. Wesley glanced back and saw nothing but shadows in the corner of the stable.

“Nora?”

She said nothing, but Wesley saw fear in her eyes. Fear? Of who? Of what? They were alone apart from the horses. Did the thought of marrying him scare her that much?