OCTOBER 18, 1861

Jewel smiled at Stone, who was riding beside her. "What?" He wanted to know why she kept turning her head to look at him and smiling at him. "Why do you keep smiling at me?"

"Is there something wrong with me smiling at you?"

"No, I'm just curious as to why? Is there something wrong with me?" He looked down at his shirt wondering if he might have some mud on it or something.

"No, there's nothing wrong with you. I'm just happy. I can't believe everything's working out so well. I have a family who loves me, my real family, and I have you." Her smile grew wider.

Maybe this was the right time to ask Jewel to marry him, but before he could utter the words, Jewel took off in a flash. Jewel thought she might had said too much, but she felt so unbelievable happy. Her life was wonderful. "I'll race you to the trees up ahead." She called over her shoulder. Stone smiled and took off after her. Of course since she had a big lead she won. "What does the winner get?" She teased.

"How about supper in Broken Bow?" Stone thought that supper might be a good time and place to ask Jewel to marry him. He was getting tired of waiting. He wanted her to marry him and go away, move somewhere else. He didn't want to stay in Dreamville any longer than he had too. He was afraid that Daniel might soon recognize him. "Even though you did have a head start." He teased back.

"Ohhhh! Are you making excuses as to why you lost and I won." She smiled. "Supper it is."

About a mile and half outside of Broken Bow there was a horse ranch known as Poker Ace, that's where Jewel and Stone stopped at before heading into Broken Bow for supper. The owner was an elderly man by the name of Theo Brunswick. He was a frail old gentleman in a wheelchair. He told Stone and Jewel that busting a wild crazy bronc had put him in the wheelchair. He had his servant go and get his son.

Jamar arrived on the scene. "Pa, what's going on?"

"This here is Jewel Hunnewell Davis and her friend Stone. They've come to buy a couple of horses, son. Could you show them the stock?"

"Sure pa," Jamar looked Jewel and Stone over. Jewel was very beautiful. "If you'll follow me." He turned and headed out. Stone followed right behind him.

"Good day Mr. Brunswick." Jewel said before following the two men.

"Good day Mrs. Davis," Theo said. Stone studied the stock very well. He knew Jewel's top price was thirty dollars, but she hoped to spend only twenty if she could. Stone picked out to fine looking horses that any owner could be proud to own. Him and Jamar went to dickering. Jamar's price started out at thirty-five dollars, and Stone counter offered with twenty dollars. Jamar shook his head and then went a little lower, thirty dollars.

"Nope sorry our rock bottom price is twenty-five dollars." Stone said. Jamar didn't say anything at first. He was studying Stone. "Well, come on Jewel, we'll just have to look somewhere else." Jewel smiled at Jamar and then turned and started following Stone.

"Wait, wait a minute now. Alright, I'll go twenty-five dollars on each of them horses, and now you're getting a real good bargain for those two fine good animals." Jamar stated.

"I'll even throw in some lead ropes so you'll be able to lead them out of here." Jewel's charming smile had won him over.

Stone and Jewel took the horses and headed to Broken Bow for supper. The restaurant was noisy and busy, so Stone didn't get a chance to ask Jewel to marry him, but on the way back to Dreamville, Stone had them stop for a few minutes, and he proposed to her. Jewel accepted and the rest of the way home, they were both tremendously happy. They put the horses in the stalls, and then Stone headed to town, and Jewel went inside her home. She wanted to tell Jacy, Jaslyn and Melissa about her and Stone getting married, but they were already sound asleep. She would have to wait and tell them in the morning.

While laying in bed, Jewel wondered why Stone wanted to have a very small wedding. Well, it didn’t matter. She didn’t have very many friends in town anyway. He wanted to get married tomorrow and leave town on their honeymoon, but she had persuaded him to wait a while, till after Buck and Caly’s wedding. She wanted to have a special wedding dress made. Thinking of her wedding dress made her smile. She would have to go see Grace tomorrow and have her make her a special beautiful wedding dress.