Page 98 of Homegrown Holiday

She went in for another nibble when a shower of snow flicked across her face. Scout dug furiously, kicking up layers of powder as her front paws burrowed into the soft ground just a few feet away.

“What have you got there, girl?” Holden stood and came to her side.

Rachel crammed the half-eaten cookie into the bag and raced over too.

As if locating something beneath the surface, the dog continued to dig frantically until she finally came upon the object that had her so riled up. Rachel couldn’t quite make it out, but Scout passed it off to Holden as she dropped it from her mouth and into his hands.

And then Holden dropped to one knee.

Rachel gasped. In his palm was a small, green velvet box, and in his eyes were tears that mirrored her own.

She shoved her hand to her cheek and sniffed.

“Rachel Joy?” He looked up at her, his gaze a tender question. “Will you marry me?”

There wasn’t a long speech to accompany it, but they didn’t need one. The shared years between them said it all, and her heart could read his like it was her own.

“Yes!” she shouted, certain all the town below could hear her elation echoed throughout the summit. “Yes, I will marry you, Holden Hart!”

He lifted to his feet and pulled the glittering solitaire diamond from the small box. Then he reached down for her left hand, gloved in the very mittens she’d been wearing the first day they reconnected.

He slid the ring onto her bare finger.

“See? These gloves do come in handy!” She wiggled her fingers and beamed so broadly her wind-chapped cheeks hurt.

Chuckling, Holden drew her into his arms and kissed her with all he had. When he pulled back, he said, “So, I’m not sure if you noticed, but those cookies were cut out in the shapes of letters. I was going to have you arrange them. They spelled outMarry Me.”

Rachel sputtered a laugh. “I think it’s good you cut to the chase. History shows I’m not that great at unscrambling things.”

“Oh, I don’t know. We managed to unscramble all the tension between us and create something beautiful in its place,” he said. He laughed a little to himself before asking, “Did you ever think you’d share my last name? I mean, for a while there, you couldn’t even stand the sound of it.”

“I’ll admit, there was a time when the thought of sharing anything with you made me cringe,” she said, her eyes still affixed on the shimmering jewel adorning her finger. “But now, the thought ofnotsharing my entire life with you is one I can’t even comprehend.” She pulled in a breath. “My grandma always said the sky was the limit for my dreams, but I have to disagree. I think the summit was. And here I am, at the top of it with you…my dream come true.”

He rubbed his finger over the stone and met her gaze, the depths of his moss green eyes tugging at her soul.

When it came down to it, it wasn’t the height of a tree or a score in a contest that mattered, but the enduring love they shared, which was something beyond measure.

In the end, love conquered all. And that was, and always would be, the sweetest victory.

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