They all stood in a frozen tableau when his attention was caught by Priscilla stepping out the back door. The animal turned and slowly started walking toward her.
“Get back inside!” Mitch screamed.
Priscilla raised her arm, shouldered a rife, and pulled the trigger. The mountain lion’s head snapped back and he collapsed on the ground. After two shudders, he lay still.
“Yay. I knew she could do it!” Ian yelled.
Priscilla dropped the rifle and ran to Mitch, jumping so hard into his arms that he fell backward, and they both landed between the branches of the tree. She kissed his face over and over. “Oh my God, I thought you were dead.”
He gripped her shoulders and moved her back. “Wh-what—?” He shook his head. “What the hell did you just do?”
“She killed the mountain lion, Pa.” Ian was still jumping up and down.
“How—”
“She can shoot like nobody I ever saw.”
Mitch turned to his son. “You knew about this?”
“Sure.” He grinned. “I caught Miss Cochran shooting cans off her back fence a couple of months ago. She’s really good, Pa.”
“No kidding.” Still stunned at what he’d just witnessed, he said, “Why did I not know about this?”
Priscilla stood and dusted off her trousers, catching his eyes as they traveled down her slim legs encased in the pants. “I win the shooting contest every year in the Guthrie Land Run celebration. Beat all my brothers.”
Mitch sat up and dangled his wrists over his knees, a grin on his face he couldn’t suppress no matter how hard he tried. “Miss Priscilla Cochran, you never cease to amaze me.”
On their way back to the house, Mitch leaned over the animal. “Clean through the forehead, right between his eyes.” He took Priscilla’s hand as they walked to the door. “I better not get on your wrong side.”
The tree was decorated, the house smelled wonderful, and Ian was ready for bed. He would sleep on a small cot in Priscilla’s room, and Mitch would return to his house for the night, to return first thing in the morning. If he had his way, they would soon be sharing the large bed at his house.
“I brought some sherry with me since you mentioned your mama favors that. I thought maybe you would like a glass.”
“Sure.” Priscilla yawned as she took the glass from him. “This day has really worn me out.”
Sitting side by side on the sofa, they sipped on their drinks, admiring the hard work they’d done. Priscilla rested her head on Mitch’s shoulder, teasing his nostrils with the familiar scent of lemons and sunshine. He downed his drink and set the empty glass on the table. “I hope you’re not too tired to answer a question for me.”
She sat up. “What’s that?”
He took the glass from her hand and set it alongside his. Then he pulled the small box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. His hand shook as he opened the lid and turned it so she could see the ring. “I want to ask you properly this time. I love you, Priscilla. I want you alongside me for the rest of my life. I think you are the most wonderful woman I have ever known, and it would be a great honor if you consented to be my wife.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She still hadn’t recovered from seeing the two people she loved most in the whole world facing the mountain lion. She’d spotted them through the window and, with shaky hands, removed her Winchester 1910 from her bedroom and raced outside. If ever she needed to be accurate and fast it was then.
The relief she’d felt as the animal dropped was so overwhelming she knew then her life would not be complete without Mitch. As much as she hated to give up her job, her place was with him, and whatever it took, she would be his.
“Yes, I will marry you. I love you, too, and can’t think of anything I want to be more than your wife.”
He blew out a breath and slid the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. He moved alongside her on the sofa and took her mouth in an explosive kiss that had her reeling. She had to grip his shoulders to keep from tumbling to the floor in a heap.
“I want so much to make love to you right now, but with Ian in your room…”
“It’s not a good idea,” she finished for him. She pulled away. “I better go to bed before we start thinking of ways to change our minds.”
He kissed her hand. “Unfortunately I think you’re right. Good night, my love. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Priscilla walked him to the door where they shared another burning kiss. Once the door was closed and locked, she hurried off to her room, wanting so much to drag Mitch back in. One glance at Ian b
reathing softly, all snuggled in the cot, and her mind cleared. They would have many, many nights together. Tonight they would behave themselves.