She Proposed Marriage to Silent Rancher to Stop Her Aunt—He Said Yes Before She Finished Asking
Chapter 3
The engagement became the subject of every conversation in Bell Creek.
People wondered why Elias had agreed so quickly.
Some thought Clara had trapped him.
Others believed she wanted his money.
Clara hated the rumors.
Elias ignored them.
He simply continued preparing the ranch for winter.
Clara moved into the guest room.
Their arrangement was supposed to last only until the wedding.
But living together under the same roof revealed things neither had noticed before.
Elias woke before sunrise.
Clara stayed awake reading late into the night.
He drank coffee without sugar.
She preferred tea.
He liked silence.
She filled it.
At first, Clara found his quietness frustrating.
One evening she finally asked:
“Do you ever have anything to say?”
Elias looked at her.
“Yes.”
She waited.
He returned to his book.
“That isn’t fair.”
“You asked.”
She laughed despite herself.
Then she noticed something.
He was smiling.
“You smiled.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“No.”
“You’re terrible at lying.”
He looked down at his book.
But Clara saw the smile again.
And for the first time, she wondered whether the silent rancher might be far less frightening than she had believed.
