Promptly at 8 o’clock that same evening, Nick knocked on the front door of the house and waited for Jo to answer. He was clean-shaven and carrying a bouquet of flowers behind his back.

Jo opened the door and was surprised to see him there. "Well you look better than you did this afternoon." She laughed. "But, why didn’t you just come in?"

Nick did not answer. He stepped inside and said, "Buenas tardes, Jo, tu pareces bella. Estas son para ti."

"What?" She looked at him strangely.

"You look great. These flowers are for you."

"They are lovely. Thank you. Come on in. We can sit in the parlor. The children are upstairs."

"We have other plans, Jo, remember?"

"What is it?"

"Es una sorpresa."

"What?" Jo asked.

"It’s a surprise."

"I hate surprises. What is it?"

"Well, just be patient and you’ll find out soon enough." He spoke in Spanish again. "¿Senora, podria hacerme el favor?" Failing miserably at being patient she eagerly reached for his arm the moment he offered it.

He led her outside where his horse was waiting. "Nick, where are we going in this weather?"

"The barn."

"Why the horse then?"

"It’s a mess out here, Jo. Don’t want ya gettin’ dirty."

She smiled at his kindness and thoughtfulness as he lifted her off the porch and onto his horse. Then he led the horse across the muddy yard and into the barn. He helped her down and led her into the back room.

Jo could not believe her eyes. There was a glowing fire in the fireplace and candles lit the rest of the room. A table was set with wine, tortillas, fajitas, beans, and rice.

He pulled a chair out for her. "Sientese, senora. Your seat" He pushed the chair in and moved around the table. Jo was glowing with the surprise and excitement of it all.

"Sangria?" Nick offered. Jo looked at it strangely. "It’s just red wine, Jo, with fruit in it. That’s how they like it in Spain, Portugal, Mexico. Try it." He poured her a glass and she took a sip.

"Ummm. It is delightful."

"¿Te gustaria arroz y frijoles?" She looked at him, not understanding. He grinned. "Ya want some food?"

They sat next to each other in front of the fire while they nibbled on the goodies Nick had prepared. "So, this is what you had to get from the wagon this afternoon?" Jo said.

"Yup. Didn’t want anythin’ ta git spoiled."

"It is wonderful, Nick. Thank you.’

"It’s missin’ somethin’ though." She looked at him questioningly. "¡Musica!"

He pulled a harmonica out of his pocket and began to play. He was awful and could not stop laughing at himself long enough to improve it.

"I didn’t know that you played the harmonica," Jo said, amused.

"Can’t really call it playin’," Nick laughed. "Ya heard what it sounded like."

"True." Jo laughed, too. "And I never knew you spoke Spanish."

"Just a little. Eight months in Mexico," he replied simply.

"There’s so much about you that I don’t know."

"What d’ya wanna know? Ya ask and I’ll answer. No secrets," he said. Jo smiled. "But ya have ta answer, too," he warned with a chuckle.

"Of course," Jo said. She bit her lip, thinking hard. She wanted to ask about Theresa, but she could not bring herself to do that. "All right. What’s your favorite color?"

Nick laughed. "That’s what ya wanna know? Yer first question? That’s easy." He looked at her and smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Blue, like that dress yer wearin’. And brown like yer eyes and yer hair." He ran his finger across her lips. "And red, like yer lips - and yer cheeks," he added as she blushed. "Now it’s yer turn."

Jo was flustered. She did not know what to say.

"Come on, Jo. That should be an easy one. What’s yer favorite color?"

"Blue?" Jo said, almost asking. "Like your eyes."

"Stealin’ my answers?" Nick joked. "Now it’s my turn. If you could travel anywhere, where would ya wanna go?"

"Hmmm," Jo said. "I haven’t been anywhere. There are so many places I would love to see. I guess I would have to say Germany first, though. Fritz was from Germany and…" She stopped herself and looked at him. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be. No secrets. Remember? Germany it is then. As fer me, I got the opposite problem. I’ve been almost everywhere already. Never been to the North Pole, though," he laughed. "Guess I’d like ta go see Santa." He leaned closer to her and whispered as if he was telling her a secret. "Have a li’l talk with him ‘bout all that coal he’s been givin’ me." They both laughed.

And so the game continued with more questions and answers.

Then Nick remembered something. "B’fore I forget, Jo. I got somethin’ else for ya." He smiled as he got up and opened a cabinet, pulling out a box. Jo was almost giddy with anticipation. He handed it to her.

"Chocolates! Oh, Nick I love chocolate."

"I know. These ain’t as good as what ya get in Switzerland, but it was the best I could do." He watched her surveying the choices. "Ya can tell what’s inside by the top. It’s kinda like readin’." He chuckled. "What kind d’ya want?"

"Caramel!"

"Really? Ya like those the best? Well, alright, they got smooth tops, like this one here," he said as he picked one up. "Try it." He held it out in front of her.

Jo hesitated for a second before moving forward and taking a bite from the chocolate in his hand. "Oh, this is so good!" she exclaimed. He held the rest of it and she let him feed it to her. She was surprised when he gently wiped the trace of chocolate from her lips.

"Now I’m gonna look for one with coconut," Nick said. He ate it in one bite. "Delicious."

As they enjoyed more of the chocolates, they went on with the game. It was Jo’s turn again. "Here’s a good one," Jo said, trying to make this sound as innocent as possible. "When you close your eyes at night, who do you see?" She wondered if it would be Theresa or her.

Nick looked at her and furrowed his brow. "I’ll answer that if ya want me ta, but tell me this first. Do ya want me askin’ you that question?"

Jo looked away and shook her head, no.

They were both silent for a moment. She tried to come up with a lighter question. "All right. First broken bone," she laughed. "I bet you were jumping off roofs and out of trees since you were little."

Nick looked away, his eyes clouded.

"Let me tell mine first," Jo went on, unsure of what else to say. "Well, I did not actually break it, but when I was 18 I thought I had broken my little finger when I slipped stepping out of the bath tub. It hurt so much I thought it had to be broken." She looked at Nick.

"I was 12," he said, still not looking at her. Hearing the age and seeing his expression, Jo dreaded to hear what he was about to say.

"You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, Nick."

"No secrets, remember?" he said quietly, looking at her. "I really did break my finger, two of ‘em, actually. And it does hurt bad." Jo breathed a little sigh of relief at his simple answer, but then he went on.

"Broke my arm, too. And my ribs - four of ‘em." He paused for a moment and Jo prayed that he would stop. She could hear the pain, frustration, and anger in his voice. "Ben had got himself a slingshot, ya see. I tol’ ‘im ta get rid of it, but, he didn’t." Jo cringed. "He ended up puttin’ a rock through our uncle’s winda."

"Then why did…," Jo stopped, realizing something. "You told your uncle that you did it?"

Nick nodded his head, swallowing hard. "Couldn’t let ‘im hurt Ben."

"Oh Nick," she said without judgment. She took his hands in hers, imagining the courage and love it took to do that.

He lifted her hands and kissed them both gently. Then he shook the memory out of his head. "My turn. First kiss." He grinned at her.

Jo was taken by surprise. She looked at him grinning and grinned, too. "It was with Fritz. I was 26."

"I was a little younger than that," Nick said, laughing. "Twelve, actually."

"Twelve?" Jo laughed. "Let me guess. Becky Cooper?"

Nick was surprised that she even remembered the name. It had only been mentioned once when Ben was there. "Yup," Nick said, smiling. "When we was leavin’ for our uncle’s. She kissed me and then she said she was gonna marry me someday, too." He laughed. "Alright. That’s a good one. First marriage proposal."

"It’s my turn to ask, Nick."

"Alright, but I’ll ask it next turn anyway," he teased. He looked at her while she tried to think of a question. "But, I don’t see what the big deal is. Just tell me how he proposed. No secrets, remember?"

Jo looked at him and looked away.

"Ya don’t have ta if ya don’t wanna, Jo."

"Well, it is a little embarrassing."

"It’s alright, Jo."

"It wasn’t Fritz," Jo said, to Nick’s surprise. "It was…," she hesitated. He looked at her questioningly, his eyebrows raised in anticipation. "It was Laurie," she blurted out.

"Laurie?" Nick confirmed. Jo nodded her head yes. "Ain’t surprisin’."

"It’s not surprising?" Jo questioned.

"Nah. You two ‘ave always been close. Figured that out a long time ago. ‘Sides, he woulda been insane if he hadn’t o’ noticed ya," he said with a wink. "S’pose ya said no, huh?"

Jo looked at him and smiled. "I had already met Fritz and I knew he was the only man I’d ever want."

Nick caught his breath, taken aback. He shifted uncomfortably.

Jo took his hand. "I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I just meant that he, I mean I, I mean…"

"Shhhh," Nick interrupted. "It’s alright."

"So how did Becky propose?" Jo asked, changing the subject.

"Aw, that don’t count. A man has ta ask fer it ta count."

"Excuse me? Why does it have to be the man? Why can’t a woman ask?"

"Well, uh, that’s not what I meant, exactly," Nick said, trying to figure out how to get himself out of this one. "What I meant was that we was just kids. Proposin’s serious. Gotta be done just right."

"So, you can’t answer the question then," Jo said.

"Not exactly. Ain’t never done it before, but I know how ta do it right."

"Oh, you think so?" Jo teased.

"Sure I do. First, ya find the woman that makes yer heart skip a beat every time she’s near ya. The woman ya can tell anythin’ too. The woman that makes ya crazy." He spoke softly, smiling at her. She smiled back, liking the sound of this. She leaned closer.

"Then ya make sure ya got some privacy, some nice food, a bottle o’ wine, just candles lightin’ the room, unless it’s cold, then ya make sure ya got a nice fire ta set by."

Jo looked around the room, seeing all the enchanting pieces as he spoke.

"Ya should have some nice music, too, if ya can."

"Like a harmonica?" Jo asked, smiling.

"That could be alright," he replied with a chuckle.

"Then I would take her hands in mine." He moved in front of her and took her hands in his. "Then I would get down on one knee and look right at her." He knelt in front of her and gazed into her eyes. She caught her breath.

"Then I’d say her name, like this. Jo, you are the most incredible woman I have ever known. You make me feel like no other woman has ever made me feel. I would be forever in your debt, if you would do me the honor of sayin’ that you would be my wife." He paused for a moment. Their hearts each skipped a beat as they looked at each other. "I love you, Jo. Would you marry me?" Their eyes were locked. Jo stared at him, speechless.

Nick gasped and stood up quickly. "Fire’s gettin’ low," he said abruptly. He moved to the fireplace and put on another log, leaving Jo watching him from behind.