““Marry me,” he said, searching her eyes for some sign, some indication of how to proceed. Her gaze held his. His heart beat in his chest like a drum. “Why should I?” she asked, her voice hushed and oddly hopeful and terribly vulnerable. He swallowed, feeling lost and uncertain. “Well,” he said, trying to sound reasonable, “I’ve got a few more horses now.” She stared up at him, the blood draining from her face. Then she slugged him.””