A Dream for Tomorrow (46 page)

“I appreciate you giving your consent, Ruth. But we need the approval of both of you.” Eli looked at JT now. “What do you think about this, JT? I realize you’ve been the man of the house.” Eli glanced over to the stone foundation. “Well, there’s not much house yet, but you’ve been playing the role of the man in this family. And doing a good job too.” He grinned. “Your ma told me about how you helped drive the livestock through the Columbia Gorge. Takes a man to do that.”

JT nodded proudly. “I know.”

“So, JT,” Elizabeth began, “what do you think?”

JT looked from Eli to Elizabeth, and a smile slowly broke over his face. “I think it’s a good idea. I approve.” He stuck out his hand to Eli, and they shook on it.

“I appreciate that,” Eli told him. “You had me worried there for a bit.”

JT chuckled. “Sorry. I just wanted to give it my careful consideration.”

Elizabeth laughed now, patting him on the back. “I appreciate that, son.”

“Does anyone else know about this?” Ruth asked. “Grandma and Grandpa or—”

“Nobody but you two,” Elizabeth assured her. “Remember what I told you—you and JT would be the first to know.”

“Can we go tell them now?” Ruth asked.

Elizabeth glanced at Eli, and he just shrugged. “Don’t see why not.”

“Yes, but let’s ask them to keep it to themselves until after Malinda and Will’s party tomorrow. I don’t want to steal their thunder.”

“Good thinking,” Eli agreed.

And so they all headed over to share the good news with Asa and Clara and Matthew and Jess and Brady. Naturally, everyone was nearly as happy as Elizabeth and Eli, and they all promised to keep it under their hats.