“I’ve never cared for simple solutions. We’ll go for the complicated ones that will last a lifetime.” He looked away from her. “Like the one you suggested some time ago. Marry me, Jane.”

She instantly shook her head. “That wasn’t why I thought we should get married. I’d seen what marriage could be with Eve and Joe. I wanted that for us. But it’s not a Band-Aid, and I won’t treat it as one. And you’ve seen the worst marriage and family life could be, and I’d be afraid you’d be waiting for it to fail.”

“It wouldn’t be like that. We’re not Eve and Joe.” He grimaced. “And thank God we have nothing in common with my honorable parents. We’d start out clean and hope for something better.”

“Hope?”

“We’re already halfway there. I’d have you.” He added lightly, “You’d have all the heavy work. But a woman who could pull my ass back from the depths of hell would have no trouble keeping me in line.”

“Don’t give me bullshit.” Her voice was shaking. “No one’s managed that yet, Caleb.”

“I told you once that I’d die for you,” he said hoarsely. “That hasn’t changed.”

“I don’t want you to die for me. I want you to live for me. Every day. Every way.”

“We’ll get there,” he said gently. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the palm. “As long as you’ll come along for the ride. Okay?”

She didn’t answer for a moment. Then she shrugged. “It appears that’s the direction I’m heading for the time being. Did you con me, Caleb?”

“It didn’t feel like a con to me when I was balancing that beam on my neck. Did it to you?”

She shivered. “God, no.”

“Then we’ll have to accept that it was meant to be.” He smiled. “Want to go down the hill and combine camps? I’ll call Rodland and tell him that we haven’t caused irreparable damage to each other. And that it may have turned out a draw.”

She shook her head. “You said I won. Are you going back on it?”

“No, I was just trying to save my pride. I’ll tell him that I was completely vanquished.”

“Not completely. You also got what you wanted.”

“It just didn’t seem to be that way. I guess I’m accustomed to more complete victories.” His hand tightened on her own. “Maybe I’ll get used to it. Give me time. Maybe fifty years or so…”

Chapter 11

Chapter
11

Rodland looked Caleb over critically as they walked into the camp an hour later. “You don’t appear vanquished. But then that’s such a complex word. It could mean many things.” He glanced at Jane. “Is he vanquished?”