“She’ll never forget you, darlin’,” Cody answered as he slipped his hand into Stevie’s and led her through the barn and out into the corral.

“What makes you so sure?” Stevie asked.

“Because I’m living proof that it’s impossible to forget you,” Cody whispered, and then kissed her on the cheek.

“That is so sweet.” Stevie’s eyes lit up when she smiled. “And there’s my sweet Dixie.”

The cria came running from the back of the lot over to her, and Stevie stooped to hug the baby around the neck. “What is this? Who put a string around your neck?”

“I did,” Cody admitted. “There’s something on it just for you.”

“What is this key to?” Stevie asked as she removed the string.

“It’s a surprise I’d like to show you,” Cody answered.

“Did you find a house for me to rent?” she asked.

“No, but come with me and I’ll show you what that key opens.” He held out his hand.

She put her hand in his without a question, which made him feel like the luckiest cowboy in the whole state of Texas.

“I love surprises,” she said.

Cody parked in front of the house on the ranch that Sonny had bought from the Hall family when they had moved out to the Texas Panhandle. He had been over to the place when he and Jesse were plowing or moving cattle from one pasture to another, but he’d never really paid much attention to the house itself.

“Is this the old Hall Ranch?” Stevie asked. “I love the wraparound porch. Can we get out and sit on the swing? It’s a beautiful day.”

Cody thought of what his folks had told him about their first date, and smiled at the idea of sitting on a porch swing with Stevie when he asked her to move in with him.

“It was the old Hall Ranch, but it is part of Sunflower Ranch now, and yes, we can sit on the swing.” Cody got out of the truck with plans of helping her, but she slid out on her own and beat him to the porch.

“You are ruining my reputation as a gentleman.” Cody took her hand in his, and they crossed the wide porch and sat down on the swing together. “Looks like this old swing could use a coat of paint. What color do you see it as?”

“Yellow,” she answered without hesitation. “Sunflower yellow, and the house could use a paint job too, and I would make it white instead of gray.”

“Why yellow?” Cody asked.

“Because that’s my favorite color and because it’s part of Sunflower Ranch,” Stevie answered. “Are y’all getting it ready to sell or something?”

Cody was more nervous than he’d ever been on a first date. “Or something…love,” he finally answered.