Chapter 9 - The Promise
Two years later.
The farm had flourished into a sanctuary of beauty and peace. The pastures were filled with wild horses from a local rescue foundation I had partnered with, and Wyatt’s woodworking shop had expanded to employ three local military veterans.
Lily was nearly three years old—a vibrant, intelligent, and fearless toddler who spent her days running across the green lawn, chasing butterflies, and calling Wyatt "Daddy Wyatt."
On a crisp autumn afternoon, Wyatt took me down to the wooden gazebo he had spent three weeks building near the edge of the pond.
The gazebo was surrounded by blooming white roses, illuminated by soft string lights hanging from the cedar rafters. The sun was setting over the hills, casting a golden glow across the water.
Lily ran ahead of us, holding a basket of yellow rose petals, tossing them into the grass with pure joy.
"What's all this, Wyatt?" I asked, laughing as I looked around the decorated gazebo.
Wyatt stopped in the center of the wooden deck, turning to face me. He looked sharp in a dark brown tweed vest and white shirt, his beard neatly trimmed. He looked nervous—a rare sight for a man who stood nearly seven feet tall.
He took both of my hands in his.
"Elena," Wyatt spoke, his deep voice carrying a soft, emotional tremor. "Three years ago, I stood in a supermarket aisle and watched a woman fight with everything she had to protect her unborn child. I saw the strongest, braves, most beautiful person I’ve ever met in my life."
He dropped down to one knee on the wooden floorboards of the gazebo.
Lily ran over, leaning against his leg, watching him with wide, curious eyes.
Wyatt pulled a small velvet box from his vest pocket and opened it. Inside sat a stunning ring—a sparkling oval diamond set in a band of hand-carved rose gold shaped like delicate oak leaves.
"You and Lily gave me a purpose, Elena," Wyatt whispered, tears shining in his eyes. "You gave me a home. I want to spend the rest of my life building a fortress of love around both of you. Will you marry me?"
I fell to my knees in front of him, throwing my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder.
"Yes!" I sobbed happily, kissing his cheek, his lips, his forehead. "Yes, Wyatt! A thousand times yes!"
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Lily cheered, clapping her hands wildly. "Daddy Wyatt! Mommy said yes!"
Wyatt lifted both of us into his arms, spinning us around in the golden light of the setting sun, our laughter echoing across the hills of our farm.
