***************

At first Tom thought he might be rushing Mac, but after spending every night since the dance in her arms and seeing the look of love in her eyes, he knew he wasn't.

Looking into her eyes, he saw the same look. "Ah! I see what you were thinking about."

She could sense that he was too. "Like you weren't?" Lifting her head up, she licked his bottom lip. "Yummm, you taste so good!" She slipped her hands down to his bottom giving it a caress. "What do you say we head back to the Homestead and I show you exactly what I was thinking?"

Just as she finished saying that, AJ walked in. He laughed as he related, "You two are just like a couple of teenagers."

Groaning, she leaned her head against Tom's chest thinking, 'Why me?'

Tom retaliated, "Well, AJ, from what I saw just a few minutes ago, we aren't the only ones. Isn't that right, Ester?" He had seen them in another stall and saw that things were getting pretty steamy.

Mac peeked out from behind Tom. She burst out laughing. There standing next to AJ was Ester with the reddest face Mac had ever seen on her and hay sticking out everywhere on both of them. That set them all laughing as well.

Mac, wanting to still take Tom back home to have her way with him, said, "Well, I'm done brushing Sundance. Is Butch all taken care of?"

Knowing what she was thinking, Tom replied, "Yes, he's all set, so we can head out for a late lunch or early dinner."

"How about late lunch then a snack in the evening?" She was thinking they might need the extra energy for later.

AJ and Ester knew what Mac and Tom were up to because they were having similar thoughts of their own. AJ said, "Well, we're going to head into town for dinner and a movie." Looking down at himself, he continued, "After we clean up and change. Zek said we might get a mixture of snow and freezing rain. So if the roads are bad when we start back, we're most likely staying in town."

Tom knew what AJ was really saying. That he would be staying at Ester's place, so with a smirk on his face, he said, "Okay, Hoss, just be careful and protect your…selves…from the cold" As Tom said the last, he and Mac came to realize that neither of them had thought about protection. They really had been thinking and acting like teenagers.

Turning to face each other, Tom and Mac were not sure what to say. They were having similar thoughts, 'I have just ruined any chance that I had with him/her.'

AJ cleared his throat, he had figured out what was going on and hoped for the best, whatever that might be. "Well, we're going to head out, talk to you both tomorrow."

After they left, Mac was not sure what to do. Turning away from Tom so he would not see the tears in her eyes, she grabbed the brush saying that she would be right back. She had to think about this, away from everyone, away from Tom.

Tom knew what she was doing. He needed time to think, too. "Sarah, why don't you take care of what you need to do and I'll meet you at home." As he walked out, he flat out refused to give up. Turning back to Mac, he grabbed her, kissing her with all the love he felt. When he moved back from her, he said, "Dress in your sexiest dress. I'll pick you up at six for dinner." Giving her one last kiss he ran out the door.

She stood there staring out the stall door for five minutes before she moved. Once her brain engaged again, she came to realize her actions. 'What have I done? I knew I should have asked Debbie to refill my birth control pills when I first came here, but I thought there was no need. I wasn't seeing anyone, but now look at the mess I made. But what if I am pregnant, would that be so bad? I do want children. Having Tom's would be so wonderful. I need to talk to Debbie to find out when I can take a test to be sure.' She ran out heading for home to get her car so that she could drive into town to see Debbie.

****************

The Homestead

6:00 p.m.

Tom pulled up at the front door, climbed out of the car and went up the porch. He was about to knock when the door opened to reveal Mac in a black dress coat.

He was dressed in a tux looking very handsome. Wondering where on earth Tom found a tuxedo, she thought, 'He looks so handsome. Maybe I'll just get him to stay here instead.'

Handing her a single red rose, he said, "This rose pales in beauty compared to you, Sarah," then gave her a light kiss on the lips.

"Thank you, Tom," Sarah sighed, not knowing how else to respond.

As they were driving she asked where they were going. All he said was, "You'll see." They only drove for about four miles where they stopped at one of the cabins.

Wondering why they were stopping, Mac asked, "Tom, what are we doing here?"

Smiling, he replied, "Patience, Sarah."

When Tom had left the stalls this afternoon, he caught up to AJ and Ester. He knew they were aware of what just happened. He requested their help setting up his dinner plans. He wanted to have a romantic dinner with Sarah. He even went so far as to tell them that even though they were not sure if she was pregnant or not, it did not matter to him; he was in love with her.

So while Ester cooked the meal as well as set the cabin up, AJ and Tom went to see about renting a tuxedo and purchasing an engagement ring. He had found one that was perfect for Sarah. It had a large diamond, with two slightly smaller pink diamonds on each side, set in a silver band. It was beautiful and it came with a matching wedding band which he planned to have engraved. He had been so nervous that when he was getting ready at Ester's, she had to knot his bowtie for him.

Opening the front door, he let Sarah go in first. Her breath caught in her throat, everywhere she looked there were candles lit and a fire going, as well as soft romantic music playing. There were also vases of red roses everywhere, petals had been scattered on the floor leading to the bedroom. When Sarah looked in she saw that there were petals on the bed as well. She came back out to him placing her arms around his neck. "No one has ever done anything like this for me. It's wonderful! Thank you, Tom!" She did not have to stand on her tip toes to reach him like she usually did since she had her heels on so was able to give him a kiss that he would remember until his dying day.

After stepping back to help Mac take her coat off, he was able to see the little black dress she had on. "Well, I'm glad I didn't know that was what you were wearing, we might have never left to come here."

Smiling as he held her chair out for her, she said, "That was what I was thinking when I saw you in your tux."

They ate their food talking about small things that were not really important. When they finished he carried their plates to the kitchen and brought out desert that was hidden under a silver lid.

As she was lifting the lid, Tom went down on one knee. Mac saw the little black box on the tray. She stopped breathing for what seemed like minutes, but was really seconds. That was when she noticed that Tom was on his knee. All she seemed able to do was open and close her mouth, nothing would come out. She wanted to ask why, how come, but her voice did not want to cooperate.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he told her, "Sarah, you know that I'm in love with you and I know that you're in love with me." He stopped when she tried to answer, but all she could do was nod. Tears were streaming down her face. "We also know that there could be a chance that you're pregnant, we don't know for sure, and that's not why I'm asking. It did make me think about how wonderful it would be to have a child with you. I'm asking you to take a chance with me. You know that I have never asked anyone to marry me, never wanted to until now. So, Sarah, my lady love, will you take a chance with me? Will you marry me?" Tom slid the ring on her finger as he looked into her eyes.

Mac just kept crying. She could not believe he wanted her, baby or no baby. Opening her mouth a few times she finally managed to squeak out as she nodded, "Yes! I'll take a chance with you."

Tom wiped the tears from her face with his hand and then pulled her towards him for a tender loving kiss. It soon turned passionate, which prompted Tom to pick Mac up, and carry her to the bedroom so they could celebrate their engagement.

As they were taking off each other's clothes , Sarah asked, "I know it's kind of late to be asking this, but do you have protection? I went to see Debbie today and conferred with her. She said that it wouldn't be a good idea to start back up on my birth control pills until I have had a period, in case I am pregnant."

Caressing her face, he said, "Sarah, I bought some condoms today while I was out, but even if you're not pregnant this time, I would sure love to try again. Having a child with you would be icing on the cake. So, it's up to you. Do you want children?"

She grabbed his hand that was on her cheek, saying, "Nothing could make me happier than to have your children." They kissed each other thinking of the children they might have.

*********************

Next morning

Mac stretched in the bed as she was waking up and wondered if it was all a dream. 'It almost seemed like the dream I had the first night I came to Peaceful Valley Ranch.' Sitting up, she realized, 'The man from my dream was Tom and I dreamed we had babies.' As she sat back against the headboard, she smiled and looked at her engagement ring thinking, 'How did I get so lucky?'

Tom entered the room carrying a tray filled with food. He paused at the door and watched Mac, thinking, 'She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.'

Looking up, she saw him staring at her. She laughed saying, "Are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to bring that food to me? I'm starving!"

He came over setting the tray on the nightstand and grabbed her giving her a good morning kiss. "Good morning, Sweetheart."

"Wow! If that's how you're going to greet me every morning, then it will be a good morning," Mac commented. She looked over to the tray and saw all kinds of food. He had eggs, bacon, fruit, toast, pancakes and juice, but no coffee. "Where's the coffee? I know that you're aware that I don't start my day without coffee." Mac informed Tom, then she stressed, "I need my coffee!"

"Well, I heard that coffee isn't a good idea to have if you're pregnant, that juice is better, so got you a large glass of orange juice instead." He was backing up, because he knew how she felt about her coffee. It was the same as him. They needed it.

Mac looked at him as he was talking and thought, 'He is so wonderful to me.' Reaching a hand out to him, she said, "Tom that is the most considerate thing anyone has done for me in a long time. I do have to say though, that having a cup or two of coffee a day will not hurt anything. Harriet always had at least one cup that I know of. She and her babies were fine, well, except baby Sarah, but that was for other reasons. I do love you for thinking ahead, besides we don't even know for sure if we are going to have a baby."

Rubbing his hand over her stomach, he said, "You might not be pregnant now, but someday our baby will be growing in your womb and I can't wait for that day to come." He leaned in giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. "I think we should eat before the food gets cold and then we have to let everyone know what you said."

Mac looked at him in surprise, "They know you were going to ask me?"