Chapters 15 & 16

Chapter 15

Katie pondered the idea of giving her father a loan if he needed it.  The ranch had done very well from the breeding, training, and selling of some of the top horses in the country.  Some were even World Champions.  Katie was training a horse, named Cherokee, to barrel race and it was doing very well.  After looking at the books, she determined that the ranch had made almost $1.3 million in the fifteen months she had owned it.
Mark was excellent with horses.  He would go to auctions and buy horses for a few hundred dollars to train.  He really had an eye for finding the perfect horse to train for any purpose.  After buying them, he would train them to barrel race, rope, show, race, ride, show jump, or just about anything anyone wanted.  When they were trained, he would sell them for several thousand dollars.  One horse he had trained for jumping sold for $75,000 and became the World Champion three months later.  He of course was ecstatic. 
Katie enjoyed watching him train a horse.  He had such a gentle nature and the horses loved him.  The horse Mark rode was saved from death.  A man had been very cruel to it and the horse became mean.  The owner was getting ready to kill it when Mark discovered him.  A month later, it became that most gentle and top riding horse and working horse on the ranch.  It followed Mark around like a dog everywhere for three months.
The ranch was going well.  Katie was even surprised at the figures she had found.  She never expected it to prosper so much in such a short time, but then again with Mark’s training anything was possible.  Finally, she decided that her father would never accept the money, and she would not insult him by the offer.
Katie wandered around the ranch for several days without really saying much.  Mark could tell something was wrong but didn’t bother her.  It finally got to the point where he couldn’t stand it anymore and finally asked her.
“I don’t want to burden you with my problems, Mark.”
“Katie, if it bothers you this much, it certainly bothers me.  It obviously is really hurting you.  I just wanted you to know I am here if you want someone to just listen.”
That was another thing Katie liked about Mark.  He was great at just listening.  After dinner that evening she decided to tell him.  They sat and had another one of their chats by the fireplace.
Katie told Mark all about her father and the trouble he was in.  She also told him about the bitterness she had felt and then how guilty she had felt.  As she talked, Mark sat there and just listened.  As she finished, she began to cry.
Mark wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.  Katie cried on his shoulder, while Mark gave her words of comfort and encouragement.  It was in times like this that Mark made her forget all about Billy.
After the crying, Katie and Mark talked for another hour or so.  It was about midnight when Katie went up to bed.  She laid in bed over an hour thanking God for Mark and all he had done for her.  She knew how much God had really blessed her even through Billy’s death.  It was then that she decided to let Billy go and not pursue the case anymore.  She knew if she continued, she might lose Mark.  Katie knew that she didn’t want to lose love for the second time.  This was God’s way of giving her a second chance and she wasn’t going to pass it up.


 Chapter 16
The next morning, Katie woke up with a whole new attitude.  She was very happy, joyful, and carefree.  As she came downstairs, Mark was sitting on the couch with his morning coffee and newspaper.  Katie greeted him, “Good morning handsome.”
This caught Mark by surprise.  It was the first time Katie had purposely flirted with him out loud.  He loved it and couldn’t wait for more.
Katie just smiled at Mark during breakfast.  When everyone had finished and was going to work, she asked Mark to talk a minute.  They went to their usual spot by the fire. 
“Mark, last night something happened.  Well, it actually happened sometime ago but last night really confirmed it.  I don’t think I will ever discover what really happened to Billy.  That doesn’t matter now.  I am putting that behind me and am ready to start a new life.  Mark, I want you to be a part of that life, a very important part.  Do you understand what I am saying?”
“I…I…I think so, but let me see if this is what you mean.”  Mark pulled Katie close, looked deep into her eyes and began kissing her.
It was no ordinary kiss.  It was a very passionate and very long.  After several minutes, Mark finally looked at her and said, “Katie, I love you and have loved you for awhile now.  I know this may be too soon for you but I am only saying what’s in my heart.  A few weeks ago, I bought you something but was to afraid to give it to you because of the situation concerning Billy.  Maybe I still shouldn’t but I feel I must.”  Mark pulls a small box out of his shirt pocket.  “Katie, I have kept it near my heart at all times because that is where you are and I want you to stay there.  Katie, what I am trying to say.  I mean I want to know if you … if you…” Mark couldn’t say it.  He was too nervous. 
Katie took his hand, smiled at him and said, “Yes, Mark, I will.”
“You will?  You will what?”
“I will marry you.  That’s what you are trying to ask me isn’t it?”
“Well, yes but how did you know?”
“I just know.  Now put this on my finger, kiss me, and make if official before I change my mind.”
“Oh, of course.”  Mark opened the box and pulled out the most beautiful diamond ring Katie had ever seen.  “I had this specially made just for you Katie.”  Mark slipped it on her finger, and they gave each other another long passionate kiss..
Finally, Katie looked at him, “Okay time to get to work.  I am not paying you to sit around the house all day.”
“Yes ma’am”
They walked out to the porch hand in hand.  As they went out Katie saw that her first riding student of the day had already arrived.  She looked at Mark smiling, “Well hun, gotta go.  I love you.”
“I love you too K.”
They gave each other one last kiss and went to work.
By lunch, all the workers had heard the news.  They all wanted to see the ring and know the details.  As Mark and Katie shared, everyone just sat there and smiled.  They wouldn’t leave them alone. 
All the guys began teasing Mark.  “Mark’s in love with the boss.”  “Guess he’s gonna get a raise.”  “Hey, Mark knows how to move up in the world.”
Before leaving to go back to work, Mark gave Katie a kiss.  This, of course, made the teasing worse.
Katie spent the afternoon just thinking about the wedding.  Of course she and Mark hadn’t set a date or made any plans, but she still thought about what they might do.  Then Billy came to her mind.  She knew she would always love him and that she should be honest with Mark about it.  Mark would soon be her husband and that made her happy.  Just being with Mark made her happy, maybe even happier or at least as happy as Billy had made her.  She knew Mark would understand but she still felt like she should tell him.
After dinner that evening, she did just that.  She told Mark that she loved him and wanted to marry him but that he should know that she would always love Billy.
Mark looked at her saying, “Katie, I am not asking you to stop loving Billy.  What kind of person would I be to do that?  I know you will always love him.  I also know that we might have to deal with him and these feelings again.  I am ready for that.  I love you for that.”
Katie knew he would understand.  She loved him for that.  Loving Mark was different from loving Billy.  Mark was so caring, giving, and loving back.  Billy was more quiet, reserved and set in his ways.