“Yeah,” I say with a grunt. “There's family dinner tonight.”
Prairie twists her lips. “What does that entail, exactly?”
“Well, you know everything about my family already, right?”
She laughs, not understanding the weight of what she’s just brought up. “Everything? I don't know about that. I mean, I know you have six brothers and sisters. I know you're the oldest. I know your mom named you all after the food she was craving when she was pregnant. I know that your brother Bartlett got married less than a month ago.” Prairie taps her finger to her chin. “Your younger brother Rueben's wife died a few years ago and he has a little girl named Plum.” She's ticking things off on her fingers now. “I know your parents are really nice if a bit overprotective and that you have some crazy cousins over in Burly. Right?’
I chuckle. “Yeah. Good memory, Prairie.”
“Was it a test?” she asked. “Did I pass?”
“I’m not testing you.” I kiss her. “I don’t play games, Prairie.”
“If we're going to your parents’ for dinner, are you going to tell them that you asked me to marry you?” she asks, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Course I want to. But I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable situation. Hell, I don’t want to putusin a situation that we're not ready for. We don’t have to go tonight.”
She swallows. “Do you not want me to meet your family?”
I run a hand over my beard. “I didn’t say that.”
She sighs, thinking I’m hesitating over the proposal, but really it’s Luke. It’s the past. It’s the last damn year catching up to me. When I brought up marriage before, Prairie said she wasn’t ready to say yes.
“I know I didn't give you the answer you wanted the other night,” she says, her hand on my chest.
I shake my head. “That's not it. I know me blurting that I wanted you to marry me and make you my wife right after we had sex for the first time wasn't the best way to go about making a proposal. But I still intend on marrying you. Sure, I need to give you some space. Make sure you know what you're getting into.” Prairie smiles. “ButI know what I want. And that's you.”
“Rye, I don't need space. I just—”
“You need a ring on that finger?”
Prairie laughs, shaking her head.
“It's a more traditional approach to an engagement, I suppose,” I tell her with a chuckle. “I know I'm a dumbass. I need to get you a ring and properly propose, and yeah, you should meet my family because, well, they're family. But I’m warning you, Prairie. They're also a lot.”
“When you saythey're a lot, what does that mean?” she asks. “I'm only asking because I don't exactly have experience with family. I haven't really had one since, well, forever. It was my mom and me until I was about seven years old, and then she died and I was just placed in home after home. But those were just houses. There was never a place I belonged.” She looks around my cabin. “I never felt like I belonged until I met you, Rye. And I have a feeling your family might not understand that. We just met, they think I'm damaged goods, and—”
“Hey,” Rye says, cutting me off. “Don't say that. You're not damaged anything. You're perfect. You're my everything. Prairie, you’re light itself. So don't say you're damaged. My family believes in good intentions and purity of heart. I don't want you to go into tonight thinking you have anything to prove, all right?”
She nods. “I’ll try to remember that,” she says softly.
I take her hand. “So, with that settled, when you imagine getting married, what kind of proposal are you hoping for?”
Prairie shakes her head, laughing. “Rye, you may be the oldest brother, but you did miss a few things. You're not allowed to ask a girl what kind of proposal she wants or what kind of ring she wants. Those are things you have to figure out yourself. I was locked up for four years and yet somehow, I know that information. Go ask your younger brother Bartlett. He's the married one, right? I bet he could give you some pointers.”
I groan. “I’m not asking Bartlett for advice.”
Prairie laughs. “Well, I better go figure out what I'm going to wear tonight because I have no clothes and I can't exactly show up at your parents’ house wearing rags or this robe.”
“Maybe Leila could take you shopping?” I suggest.
At that, Prairie perks up. “You wouldn’t mind if I went out for a few hours and went shopping with her?”
“Hell, it’s probably good for you. Treat yourself. I’ll get some cash and make sure you’re set up. All right?”
“All right,” she says. “Thanks, Rye.”
“Anything for you, baby.”