She Proposed Marriage to Silent Rancher to Stop Her Aunt—He Said Yes Before She Finished Asking
Chapter 2
Elias Boone was the quietest man in Bell Creek County.
He owned one of the largest ranches in the region.
Thousands of acres.
Horses.
Cattle.
Wheat fields.
A sawmill.
Several tenant farms.
Yet he lived more simply than many men who owned a fraction of his wealth.
He rarely attended dances.
He disliked crowded taverns.
He never gambled.
And when people spoke to him, he answered only when he believed an answer was necessary.
Some called him cold.
Clara knew better.
She had known Elias since childhood.
He had once carried her home after she fell from a pony.
He had repaired her father’s broken wagon wheel.
He had silently left sacks of flour at their door during a harsh winter.
But he had never told her why.
Now she was standing in his barn asking him to marry her.
Her aunt, Margaret, entered moments later.
She looked from Clara to Elias.
Then she laughed.
“You cannot possibly mean this.”
Clara lifted her chin.
“I do.”
Margaret turned to Elias.
“And you?”
“Yes.”
Margaret stared.
“You would marry my niece?”
“Yes.”
“You barely know her.”
Elias’s expression remained calm.
“I know her.”
Margaret narrowed her eyes.
“You have no idea what you’re taking on.”
Elias looked at Clara.
“I do.”
Margaret left in fury.
Clara turned toward him.
“You’re very certain.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
Then quietly said:
“Because I’ve known for three years.”
