Chapter 16

Danny managed to get Lindsay on her own a few times over the next couple of days; however the time never felt right to bring up a huge subject like their future with an off-hand comment whilst they were loading bags of meal into the truck or picking out the best of the tomatoes for canning over the winter. He realised that he spent a lot of the time obsessing about it though and wishing that he knew what was going on inside her head. They had told each other that they loved each other, which was a huge deal to him: there had been several girlfriends in the past, but he had never come close with them to what he felt for Lindsay. It was true what Jem said, he had been considering marriage with Lindsay and he knew that she was it for him. He didn't want to be apart from her anymore.

As the weather gradually became colder they planted the winter vegetables which would be ready in early spring to put on the table. The rhythm of the seasons was a surprise to Danny, coming from a large city where so much was imported from across the country and the globe. Here in Montana they ate largely what they could grow and buy from the local markets, and anything exotic was a novelty. The whole idea had been a revelation to Danny, who had been a little taken aback at Lindsay's enthusiasm when he had given her an orange a few weeks ago. Mr and Mrs Andreucci from town had gifted the fruit to Danny when he had gone over to help fix some shelves in their small house in town. Since arriving in Montana they had looked out for him, sympathising with being so far from their homeland and he had made a point of checking they were alright on his day off. When he had finished with his repairs, Mrs Andreucci had given him the pair of oranges on the proviso that he brings his 'bella amica' with him next time he came. He chuckled, remembering Lindsay's pleased reaction when he presented her with the treat and she readily agreed to go with him next time he visited.

By late October the temperature had started to plummet, and the population of the county began to dig in for the coming winter. Many of the migrant workers had moved on to other states looking for work, but without the prospect of being taken on elsewhere due to still being relatively unskilled (and admittedly, not wanting to leave Lindsay), Danny and a few other workers stayed on the ranch and helped out. Unfortunately that included Simon and Ian 'the idiots' who he still shared a dorm with. He had a sneaking suspicion that they knew no one else would give them any work and they were lucky to still be employed here. His correspondence with Mac had given no hope of returning soon as he wrote of just making ends meet in the economic climate.

There was still work to do: piecemeal jobs and daily upkeep activities which they all pitched in with. It seemed strange sitting around the vast kitchen table with only ten or so people and having to begin and end their work day in pitch darkness.

Mr and Mrs Monroe seemed to have accepted that they were 'courting' as they called it; however there was always a watchful eye on them when they would venture out to sit on the porch and read under a blanket in the evening. Over the weeks they had devoured many of the classics, often with a playful argument thrown in. Danny declared Dickens too 'melodramatic' much to Lindsay's chagrin, however he objected to her calling H G Wells 'fantastical'. They were happy though, and Danny would often wonder at the way he was entranced by her mind as well as her body. For the first time he wanted to talk to a woman endlessly, to know what she was thinking, her opinions on everything from the weather to the local elections to how she felt when her tickled her just beneath the line of her bra. She in turn was happy to supply the answers (fair to good, corrupt, and achingly good).

He continued to bide his time, waiting for the right opportunity to talk to her about the future, and it turned up at the most unexpected time…

November the first had been a miserable day all around, with the truck breaking down necessitating riding into town and picking up a spare part whilst everyone else attempted to fix the rust bucket. It had been spitting with rain all day, and when the heavens truly opened late in the afternoon Mr Monroe called it a day and had everyone troop inside to wait for dinner. They all retired to bed early knowing that they would have a busy day ahead of themselves tomorrow if they were going to get caught up with their work from today.

Danny woke with a start during the night, and could not think what had woken him until he heard a second deafening crack of thunder outside. A few of the other men stirred and then rolled over and went back to sleep when they realised it was just thunder. Danny rolled out of bed and relieved himself in the bathroom. Through the window above the toilet he could see forks of lightening illuminating the sky like cracks in the universe. The thunder was getting louder with each beat and Danny realised that this storm was not going to end any time soon.

However, with the next flash of lightening he caught a glimpse of something unexpected: a split-second silhouette of someone entering the barn. Danny recognised the figure, and wondered what on earth Lindsay was doing outside in this weather.

He quickly pulled on his clothes, careful not to wake anyone else and begin tongues wagging, and slipped out of the door. Once outside he pelted it across the barnyard and yanked open the door of the barn to get in out of the rain. He was met with a startled-looking Lindsay.

"Jesus Danny, you scared the life outta me", she gasped, putting her hand to her chest as she tried to slow her breathing down, "what are you doing in here?"

"What are you doing in here?" he countered with a grin.

She smiled back and turned to head towards the stalls at the end of the barn,

"I came to check on Violet", she said over her shoulder, "she tends to spook with the thunder, needs soothing or she may try to bolt and hurt herself."

Danny followed her down and jointed her in the stall grooming Violet and keeping her calm. After an hour or so the thunder died down and Violet settled in her stall to sleep. Danny and Lindsay retreated out into the main area of the barn.

"Still raining", she commented, peering out through a crack in the door. She sighed in resignation at the prospect of going back out to get wet.

"Wait", Danny said, swallowing loudly with nerves "don't go yet. Can we sit for a minute and talk?"

He realised this might be his only chance in weeks to get her alone for any length of time.

"Please. Sit with me."

She joined him on top of a heap of hay in the corner of the barn, looking inquisitively at him at his sudden nervousness.

"Are you okay Danny? Couse you're looking a little -"

"Please," he interrupted, "I wanted to talk to you about the future." He left that statement hanging there, unsure where to go with the conversation now that he had gotten up the nerve to begin it. After a pause she said in a quiet voice,

"Are you leaving?"

"What? NO", he spluttered, realising she had misunderstood, "I mean, I want to talk about our future, together. I love you Lindsay, very much. Hopefully I will be able to go back to New York in the future and restart my training. But I'm not leaving you. In fact, I was hoping that when I go you would come with me." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Look, I have no money, no good connections to speak of, hell I don't even have a ring, but I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours. Forever. So I guess I'm offering you myself, if you'll have me, and I'm asking you to marry me.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to overcome his urge to stare at his shoes. She listened carefully to everything he said, letting him say his piece.

"Danny, you're all I've ever wanted. I love you too. Yes Danny, I'll marry you".