WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Merle remained in place, utterly dumbstruck. She called him a jackass? He smiled and couldn’t help it. He hadn’t seen her fired up before and had to admit he liked it.

“Evening, Merle.” Jensen entered the kitchen. “Looks like it’s just the two of us tonight.”

Oh, crap.

“Sir, I didn’t mean to upset Peggy.”

Jensen waved him off. “Let’s eat.”

Eat? Merle didn’t feel like eating. His chest burned as he thought of Peggy running out of the kitchen upset, upset because of him.

Still, he sat in his chair when Jensen took his own. They spoke about nothing of importance while eating the best meal he’d ever had. Peggy was sure a fine cook. One day she’d make a fellow damn happy. The thought gutted Merle. It wouldn’t be him.

Jensen cleared his throat, tossing his napkin on the table. The air in the room thickened instantaneously.

“She’s up in her room crying…” Jensen’s voice trailed. “I don’t like it when my daughter cries.”

“Sir, I’m sorry…”

Jensen raised his hand. “No. Hear me out.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Peggy is all I have in this world. This ranch doesn’t mean half as much to me as my daughter does. When her mama died, my heart did too. Virginia was the heart of our home. I could’ve tried to find another woman, someone to be a mother to Peggy, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand having another woman in this house.” Jensen sighed, wiping his brow with tips of his fingers. “Tomorrow isn’t promised, Merle. Some people die far too young, like my Virginia. I want to be sure my sweet Peggy is taken care of.”

Taken care of? What was Jensen saying?

“Sir?”

“I like you, Merle. You’re a good, honest, hardworking man. You have my blessing.”

“Sir, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”

“She likes you, Merle. She likes you more than I’ve ever seen her like a boy. And I like you. You have my blessing to marry my daughter.”

Marry Peggy? A lump caught in his throat. He’d like nothing more than to make Peggy his wife. But how? Where would they live? How could he afford to take care of her?

“Unless I’ve been reading you wrong, of course.”

“N… no, sir. But you told me to stay the hell away from her.”

Jensen laughed. “I did.”

“What’s changed?”

“Peggy is stubborn. Any time I brought a boy around and encouraged her toward him, she’d reject him. You see, nobody tells Peggy what to do or who to like.” He chuckled. “She’s so much like her mama.”

Peggy’s beautiful face flashed behind his eyes, and his heart swelled. After only a few weeks, he loved her. Loved everything about her. The only question remaining was if she could love a guy like him.

“Sir, I’m honored to have your blessing, but I have nothing to offer her. I only have the money I’ve earned working here. No car. No home. Nothing. Peggy wants to live on the east side of town. She wants a man who wears a suit. That ain’t me.”

“Son, the east side isn’t her either. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Jensen cupped Merle’s bicep and gave it a firm squeeze. “As for the rest, what’s yours is hers and what’s hers is yours. This house and this ranch would be yours. You and your sons will run it when I can’t. Merle Hart, all I ask is that you do right by Peggy and love her with everything inside you.”

Merle gave Jensen a lopsided grin. “Loving her is the easy part. There’s nothing I’d rather do than make her happy, sir.”

“Good man, Merle. Now, go up and talk to her. I’ll check on the horses.” Jensen rose from his chair, then paused. “Second door at the top of the stairs. No funny business. You save it for your wedding night.” He winked.

Merle’s face heated, knowing full well what Jensen meant by funny business.

“Yes, sir.” He stood, reaching his hand out to Jensen. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t, Merle. Now go make her happy.”