Crimson Highway by David Wickenhauser (brene brown rising strong TXT) 📗

just as it has been my favorite spot,” Hugh said solemnly.

Then, he got on one knee, faced Jenny, and reached a hand into his pocket. When Jenny saw that, she brought her hands to her mouth, and her eyes filled with tears.

“Jennifer McDonald, I love you more than life itself. Will you share the rest of your life with me? Will you marry me?”

Jenny just stood there, looking down at Hugh, her eyes brimming with tears. Time was forgotten.

After awhile of waiting, Hugh said, “Uh, Jenny, this is where you are supposed to say, ‘Oh, yes, I will marry you. I love you too, Hugh.’”

“Oh, Hugh. A thousand times yes. I love you, and I will marry you.”

Hugh stood then, and opened the little box with the engagement ring in it. She put the ring on. It was a perfect fit.

“Your mom knew, didn’t she?” Jenny asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“A few days ago, we were in her bedroom, and ‘just for fun’ she had me try on some of her rings. We had found one that fit me perfectly, and your mom put it aside. It was to get the right size, wasn’t it?”

Hugh didn’t admit to anything.

“I had no clue. I guess I’m pretty naïve, huh,” Jenny said.

“Yes, sweetie, you are. But that’s one of the things I love about you,” Hugh said.

They stayed on the rock the rest of the day wanting to watch the sun set over Washington State. Jenny cradled herself in Hugh’s arms, as content as she had ever been in her life.

“Hugh, I have a surprise for you, too,” Jenny said.

“What is it, honey?”

“I had a long talk with your mom. About what we talked about. God, and all,” Jenny said with a quiet voice.

“Go on,” Hugh said.

“She told it basically like you did. I broke down, just full of repentance for my sins, and also felt a strong desire to be with God, and you and her, and all of your family in heaven. Hugh, I got on my knees and begged God to forgive my sins, then prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.”

“Oh, Jenny. That is just the best wedding present you could possibly ever give me,” Hugh exclaimed. “Thank you, Lord.”

Then he added, “But, you know? Ma didn’t say anything about that to me.”

“I asked her not to. I wanted it to be my surprise. I was going to tell you on this outing when the time was right,” Jenny said.

They sat on the rock for a little while longer, not talking, just enjoying the comfort of being together, as the sun finally began to set.

Then, as new lovers often do, they got into a conversation about when each knew that he or she might have first loved the other one.

“For me,” Jenny said, “it was at the Wells truck stop that first evening, just before I went in for my shower.”

“Really?” Hugh remarked, surprised to hear that. “Tell me about it.”

“Yeah, it was when you handed me the shower ticket, and I stood there, and didn’t pull it out of your hand. You just looked so confused, and so vulnerable.”

“Well, I … ” Hugh started to explain.

“See what I mean? You’re doing it again. You were just so cute, and nervous. I knew you weren’t the hardened type that I had figured all truck drivers to be. It was then that I decided that I couldn’t go along with my uncle’s plans. And you know the rest.”

“You sure could have fooled me, with the crappy way you continued to act at times,” Hugh said.

“I know. I still had a lot of baggage to deal with. But, that’s when my heart began to soften to you,” Jenny replied.

Then she asked Hugh, “So, when did you know?”

“You’re not going to like my answer,” he told her. “You just have to keep in mind that guys are different from girls. We’re wired differently. That Mars-Venus thing.”

“What do you mean?” Jenny asked, genuinely stumped by his answer.

Hugh then told her, “For me, it was that very first day, during that wrestling episode when you came flying out of the top bunk after sneaking back into my truck.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. I told you, guys think differently than girls. I was practically lying on top of you. You were breathing heavy. The physical attraction was definitely there for me,” he said.

“I was so mad at you, beating on you and all. How could you be thinking about … that … at such a time?” Jenny asked.

“I don’t know. I guess it’s just a guy thing.”

“You’re right. Guys are weird, different,” Jenny replied.

“No, I said ‘wired differently,’” Hugh said.

“Weird is more like it,” Jenny replied.

“Well, anyway, the emotional part came later, gradually, and I admit I fought against it for the longest time, but that wrestling episode is when I began to think of you as an attractive, desirable woman, and not just as an obnoxious, unwanted passenger. That’s where it all got started for me.”

“Well, lover, I’m glad it did then,” Jenny answered, snuggling closer against him.

Before it got too dark, Hugh spread out the ground cloth, and built a fire for their dinner.

“Do you suppose beanies and weenies is an appropriate engagement dinner?” Hugh asked. They both laughed at the shared memory of their first meal together.

‘“Sumptuous fare, m’lady’” Hugh quoted himself from way back then. “I felt so stupid saying that. You really made me nervous,” Hugh recalled.

“I was just as dumb-sounding with my ‘brave knight.’ I was very nervous too,” Jenny replied.

“Things sure have changed dramatically since those days when you picked me up off that lonesome Nevada Highway,” Jenny added.

“Amen, to that, and thank God,” Hugh replied.

As they