"You always act so high and mighty, don't you, Leroy?" Pa shakes his head, spits onto the floor of the porch. No respect for the home my uncle has built, a home that has kept me safe when my father wouldn't.
"This is pretty typical of you, isn't it? Showing up here drunk, demanding things,” Uncle Leroy answers.
"I ain't demanding nothing. I just need my daughter to come back home. She leaves whenever it's convenient, forgetting about me.”
My dad reaches for my wrist and I shriek. “Let go of me!”
Just then, Cole runs across the yard. He must have seen what was happening because there's fight in his eyes as he marches to my father. "Get your hands off of her."
"Who are you?" he asks, but somehow Cole's words alone have caused my father to let go of me.
Cole steps between me and my father. "I'm Cole. Laura's... forever. And, well, I'd ask you for her hand in marriage considering you're her father, but you don't deserve that kind of respect. Not showing up here like this, touching her like that."
Tears fill my eyes, and Aunt Ella joins us on the porch.
"Oh, my word. Timothy, what are you doing here?"
My dad stumbles. He's drunk out of his mind. "I'm coming for my girl. She's my property."
"She's your nothing," Cole says. “She belongs to no one but herself. You understand that? I don't want to see you touching her again, hurting her again. You caused her enough pain."
Aunt Ella wraps her arms around my shoulders. "Should we go inside?"
I shake my head no. I don't want to walk anywhere that Cole isn't. I want to be in his presence, because right now he's my protector.
My father is drunk, reaching for the porch swing and sitting down on it. Lying splayed out like the fool he is.
"He's going to be passed out in minutes," I say. "You cannot let him back on the road, Uncle Leroy, you understand?"
"Of course not."
My dad keeps pointing a finger at me. "You're coming home with me, Laura. That's where you be… be… belong."
I shake my head. "No, I'm not. I'm never going back with you again. I'm done with this, with your abuse."
Cole turns to me. "What do you need right now? Laura, tell me whatever you need and I'll make it happen."
"I just want to get away from him. I want to be somewhere with you. I just..." Tears fill my eyes.
My father's snoring already.
"Can you believe this? It's so typical of him. He comes here, shouldn't have been driving. He touches me like that, threatens me." My shoulders fall. "I'm exhausted by it."
"I know, sweetie," Uncle Leroy says, "and you don't have to deal with him. I'm going to get him away from here."
"Well, he can't go now,” I say. “He's drunk out of his mind. You have to take his keys."
Leroy clears his throat. "Cole, I have a solution. I heard you a moment ago saying you planned on asking for this niece of mine’s hand in marriage?"
Cole nods. "Yes sir, that's my intention."
"In that case, why don't you and her go have yourselves a honeymoon? Pack your bags and go for a week or two and let me deal with your father once and for all. Okay, Laura? I don't want you to feel scared by him anymore."
I take a deep breath, looking at my uncle, feeling gratitude for him, my Aunt Ella nodding at his side. "We're not even engaged yet; he hasn't even proposed. I can't go on a honeymoon," I say, emotions spilling out of me.
Cole smiles as he pulls out a black jewelry box. "I was planning on doing this tonight. I wanted to surprise you, but..."
Tears fill my eyes. "I'm surprised," I say.
"I know it's fast. More than fast. And I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy for trying, but..."
"No," I say, cutting him off. "I don't think you're crazy. I think you're a real man who knows what he wants. And for some reason, you want me. Me, Laura Callaway, who comes from nothing. Who's had her heart broken, but never by the man she loves. Oh, Cole. If you marry me, you'll make me the happiest girl in the whole state of Texas."
"You mean it?" Cole says. "You'll be my wife?"
“I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be marrying a cowboy, but yes. Yes, Cole. I'll be your wife. I'll be your forever. You're going to build me that big old house on Meadowbrook Lane, and you're going to get me a horse too. And I can ride that horse down there like I used to when I was a little girl. Cole, you're making all my dreams come true. You understand that?"
"I understand that," Cole says. "And I reckon you're making me the luckiest cowboy in the state of Texas."