The blow had been so quick and hard that Roland was picking himself up off the ground almost before he’d realized that he’d been struck by a flying hoof. He hadn’t lost consciousness, but for what seemed like an eternity, he hadn’t been able to think straight. Johanna’s matter-of-fact question had much the same effect. He was stunned. “What did you say?” he stammered. Around him, the laughter and happy shrieks of the children, the red balloon that had come loose from its mooring and was floating skyward, and the sweet smell of ripe strawberries faded. For a long second, Roland’s whole world narrowed to the woman sitting beside him. Johanna rolled her eyes. “Are you listening to me? I asked if you would marry me.” He swallowed, opened his mouth to speak and then took a big gulp of air. “Did you just ask me to marry you?” he managed. She folded her hands gracefully over her starched black apron.
