“I think he was getting scared that after she left his home and found Amelia Bishop, the truth of Amelia’s fear of him had come out. Then somehow he found out Rachel came back. He must’ve known, or that lawyer from Casper wouldn’t have waylaid her. Hawkins is cruel to women all the time, but it just came out meaner and faster when he was under so much pressure.”

Wyatt leaned close and kissed her again.

She really had to tell him to stop doing that. But maybe not just now.

“Every night I controlled the urge to speak of how much I care about you.”

“You did?” She cared so much it was frightening, and wonderful.

“Yes, but you can see it was impossible at night, alone as we were, can’t you? I didn’t want to treat you so disrespectfully.”

Molly’s heart was feeling as warm as her poor bruised arm. But with her heart, it was a nice kind of warm that she didn’t ever want to go away.

Wyatt leaned forward and dropped to his knees. He might have lost his balance just a bit, but he seemed like he was coming to her as a humble man, a man who wanted something desperately.

“Molly.” He was close enough he could have kissed her, but instead, he asked, “Will you marry me?”

She gasped. After a wild surge of hope, common sense returned. “No. I’ve decided to never marry.”

“You said your pa was unkind to your ma, and you didn’t want a man to rule over you. But, Molly, I would be good to you. You’ve known me long enough to believe that, don’t you? And if I ever overstepped into unkindness, well, Kevin’s right here to beat on me until I behave better.”

A laugh escaped her lips, which trembled with the longing to say yes.

“And if I ever overstep into unkindness toward you”—Molly reached out and took his hands—“Cheyenne is here to beat on me until I behave better.”

Wyatt grinned.

Their smiles matched for a time, then Molly’s faded. “You don’t know me, Wyatt. You don’t know the woman you are proposing to.”

“I don’t believe there is anything I could find out about you that would make me change my mind.”

She reached a hand to brush the dark hair off his forehead. Her fingers shook. “There are things you should know about me before we decide to marry.”

“I’ll listen. We can talk about anything you want.”

Closing her eyes, Molly drew in a deep breath, let it out, and looked at him again. “Now isn’t a good time to talk with everyone one room away and probably listening at the door.”