flashed from both sides of them, as people began to crowd around.
“Cat got your tongue?” he asked, a smile sliding across his face, as he used the same phrase on her that she’d once used on him.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely, positively certain.”
She merely gaped at him, unable to believe what he was saying—what he was doing. And in front of an audience, no less.
His words and his sweet romantic gesture were being recorded for all the world to see—or read about in the tabloids.
“My old polo injury is starting to flare up. Are you going to keep me down on my knees?” he asked. “Or do I have to grovel?”
“Oh, my gosh. I’m sorry, Jensen. I was just so taken aback. And speechless, I...Oh, for Pete’s sake.” Amber dropped to her own knees. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too. And yes! I’ll marry you. I have no idea what our life will be like together, but it will be a thousand times better than living apart.”
Then she kissed him for all she was worth.
When they came up for air, the entire bar hooted and howled and whistled and clapped. Lady Josephine was the first to congratulate them, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you two. I knew Jensen would eventually find true love—when the right woman came around.”
Jensen stood and drew Amber to her feet. “It seems that I’ve found my soul mate, too, Mum. She isn’t at all like you, but she’s every bit as sweet and loving. She’s not soft-spoken—and she can raise quite a ruckus when she wants to. But that’s fine with me. I’ve come to enjoy, as my good friend Elmer Murdock would say, a little spit and vinegar.”
Amber gave him a gentle punch in the arm. “Did you know that Gram and Elmer are going to be married?”
“Yes, he told me.”
“Goodness, Jensen. Did everyone know you were coming back to town but me?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Even the tabloids knew. But I didn’t believe them!”
“I saw that. The jeweler must have leaked a photograph of the ring. Apparently, that’s one story they actually got right!”
“By the way,” Lady Josephine said, “I have so much to celebrate. Oliver is going to visit soon. He’d told me he was too busy to come, but apparently he’s had second thoughts and wants to meet little Clemmie. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to order some champagne for everyone here!”
“That’s nice that Oliver is coming,” Amber said. “I’ll look forward to meeting him.”
“I’d like to introduce you,” Jensen said. “But something doesn’t quite add up.”
“What do you mean?”
“There might be more to the story than what he’s told Mum. But I suppose we’ll find out when he gets here.”
Gram and Elmer were the next to congratulate them.
“I’m so happy for you, dear.” Her grandmother leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I know that your young man will make you just as happy as Elmer has made me.”
“Your grandmother has her heart set on a simple wedding at the courthouse,” Elmer said as he, too, kissed Amber’s cheek, then shook Jensen’s hand. “But if you two have a mind to do one of those double ceremony thingies, I’m sure we can get us a twofer one special at the Grange Hall.”
Amber’s gaping stare must have conveyed her distress at the suggestion of a double wedding in a multipurpose venue because Jensen rushed in to save her from hurting the old man’s feelings.
“Actually,” Jensen said, “that’s terribly kind of you to offer, Mr. Murdock, but since the town would have already experienced attending a quadruple wedding, I wouldn’t want our special events to pale in comparison.”
“I got you, son.” Elmer winked at them. “Originality is important, especially to the little ladies. Forget about the dual wedding then. We’ll just rent one of those jumbo RVs with the extra pop-out sides and do our honeymoons together.”
“Lord help us,” Amber murmured as Lady Josephine tried to distract Gram and Elmer from further suggestions. “So what about after the wedding and honeymoon,” Amber asked Jensen. “Where will we go from there?” They still lived worlds apart.
“I wouldn’t mind settling in Horseback Hollow,” he said, “although I’d have to travel to London regularly.”
“Seriously? That’s so sweet. But you don’t need to make that big of a concession. I can certainly relocate to England—after I fulfill my one-year commitment with Cowboy Country USA.” She supposed she could talk to her attorney about breaking the contract, although she really didn’t want to. “Wait, they still don’t try to make the ladies ride sidesaddle in the UK, do they?”
“Of course not, although the English tack is certainly a lot more popular. But don’t worry about that. Since I’ll be purchasing our own jet soon, I’ll be more than happy to cart all your eccentric Western riding equipment back and forth for you.”
“Back and forth?”
“Well, I assume that with both of us having commitments in different countries, we’ll just make the most of both worlds and spend time in each other’s hometowns as needed.”
Would she truly be getting the man of her dreams and the travel that she’d always craved? It was more than she could’ve ever hoped for.
“And don’t you worry none about the Broken R,” Elmer chimed in before Lady Josephine could rein him back. “Your gram and I will take good care of it while you’re sipping tea over yonder with those scone lovers. I’ve got some big ideas about turning that northern pasture into a drag-racing strip for my hot-rodding club.”
“Maybe we should stay in Texas for the time being,” Jensen suggested quietly.
“Are you sure?” Amber asked.
“No. But I’ve discovered that I am quite capable of living with uncertainty—as long as you stay by my side.”
“Always.”
“I know my mother has ordered champagne to celebrate, but I’ve taken the liberty to create a private celebration for you later this evening—if you’re so inclined.”
“I’m definitely up for a private party. What did you have in mind?”
“There’s a limousine parked out front, and a hotel suite reserved in Lubbock. I was going to be quite lonely if you would have turned down my proposal.”
“I could have never done that, Jensen. You’re not just my best friend and lover. You’re my soul mate. We were meant to be together.”
Then she gave him a kiss that promised him all of her love,
