The Engagement: According to Leann

Jon cautiously agreed to come home with me to help us brand and enjoy Memorial Day Weekend. The Sarpy Creek branding was a new experience for Jon, but he caught on admirably well. He was thus “approved” by the neighbors.  After the work was finished, the delicious meal eaten, and rests taken, Dad mentioned that I could take salt and mineral blocks to the cows in the next day or two if I wanted to get out in the hills. With quick weekend trips being the only opportunity to get home, I always jumped at any chance to go enjoy the land. It was a beautifully green spring and I hoped to get a few pictures.

Sunday morning I awoke at 7:00 AM. This was particularly early for the day after branding around our house, but the birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and it was a clear and beautiful morning.  I thought it was a great chance for a walk to relish the great spring we were experiencing. Apparently, Jon thought the same, heh, heh, heh. He appeared by my bed with his usual cheerful smile and happy to be awake attitude (even when he’s tired) and asked if I wanted to go for a walk.  After a brief debate, and the first bit of ambition had worn off, we both decided we’d rather sleep more and enjoy an afternoon excursion. Se we slept late and savored a relaxing lunch of branding leftovers. As we ate, Mom, Dad, Jon, and I decided to go see Star Wars Episode III that evening in Forsyth (the closest movie house). Jon and I had already waited in the opening days’ line to see it, but Mom and Dad hadn’t had the chance to go yet. Jon is a big Star Wars fan so I knew he wouldn’t mind going again. I admittedly like Star Wars also, but I wouldn’t classify myself at Jon’s level.  Anyway, with supper out, it sounded like a fun night.  Meanwhile, we then spent the next two hours doing the dishes from the branding meal. Really romantic!  Somehow, Jon gets fun jobs when he comes to visit.  ;-)

The whole family then began puttering. I went out and started working on the yard and watering plants. Larry and Jon went out below the house to test Larry’s newest gun purchase. Mom did some office work and took a nap, while Dad checked out gates, fences, and waters, and worked in the shop.  After while, it started getting late and I knew I had to get the salt out soon or I wouldn’t be back in time to get to the movie. Dad came over, and I, with a touch of annoyance since Jon was still out bonding with Larry as they attempted to shoot popcans, said that I would just go out to do the chore myself. Dad quickly said, “Oh, I think Jon wants to go with you.” Straight faced, matter of fact, but emphasized. (Why/when did Jon come back?)

So we loaded up the pooch (Sir Baron), salt and mineral blocks into the red pickup and headed into the hills. We reached the flat and saw the fat, happy, black and red cows and calves (brilliantly) contrasted against the unusually lush green grass and trees. I stopped at the spot with the best view of the Sarpy Creek valley.  Incidentally, Jon and I had camped here almost exactly a year before when it was so dry there was hardly any grass. It is also the spot where Jon and I shared our first kiss. Since we were on a time deadline, I told Jon he could jump out and take a few quick pictures while I waited in the pickup. I was still a little annoyed that we had to be in a hurry at all (because of male bonding shooting guns). I was also completely oblivious and not really thinking about the significance of the spot we were in. He got out and headed to the viewpoint, taking a couple of pictures.  He finally said, “You should come out too and help me take the pictures.”  “Oh, I guess, it won’t take too long,” I thought as a little bit of sentiment crept into my thinking.

So Jon and I stood on this little outcrop of sandrock, gazed at the beautiful surroundings and snapped a few photos. Then we both got a little sentimental. Jon wrapped me up tightly in his arms and we shared a couple kisses, balancing on the sandrock the whole time. Jon said something like, “I love this land as much as you.” I think he meant, “I love you as much as you love this land.” I immediately “perked up” because that was the first time Jon had told me he loved me. I replied as I had been longing to do for several months, “I love you, too.” Then I felt him digging in his pants pocket and I knew. Jon knelt on one knee, missing all the nearby cacti, yucca, and cow turds, and not falling off the sandrock. He held up the most beautiful diamond ring and with an earnest look on his face said, “Leann, would you marry me?”  I didn’t even hesitate as I squealed, “Yes!”

We giddily kissed and hugged for a bit and then slowly became aware of our surroundings once again. We looked at the pickup and saw Sir Baron watching us with a very concerned expression. When he saw us look at him, he quickly hid behind the spare tire and then a little later sneakily peeked at us again. Meanwhile, the cows on the flat were all turned toward us and watching curiously. The animals were definitely on to us.  ;-)

We decided to get a picture of the two of us, and once again, the salt blocks played a role. We balanced the camera on two blocks in the pasture, set the timer, and jumped into place with the green grass, trees, and cows as a backdrop.

The grins on our faces could hardly be contained as we finally got the salt blocks put out and got back to the house. I ran inside eager to tell Mom and Dad. Of course, Dad wasn’t in yet, but Mom was in the bathroom. I told her I had something to tell her, but asked if she had been in on it. She acted like she didn’t know anything. When I said that I was going to ask Dad first, then she squealed, “Wait, honey, maybe I do know something! What is it?”

In the meantime, we had to get ready for the movie and I wanted Mom and Dad together to tell them. By now I had the connection between the salt run and the ring and knew that Jon had talked to Dad first. I didn’t know for sure whether Mom knew anything. So, I jumped in the shower and got cleaned up. When I came downstairs, Dad was at the table. I went over, draped my arm around him and commented on how sneaky he thought he was.  He tried to be innocent and said, “What? What do you mean?” I said, “About this!” And held up my left hand with the sparkly diamond. He grinned and said, “Oh, Jon got it done, huh.” Then he asked if I’d hesitated at all before saying yes. Somewhat mortified, I answered no and kiddingly asked if I should have. Dad added that of course, I should have made Jon squirm a little.  ;-)  Meanwhile, Mom had come over and quickly gave it away that she had known. Apparently, Jon had called the Tuesday before and she hadn’t been home and didn’t get home until late. Dad mentioned the happenings of the day and nonchalantly said that by the way, we got a call from Jon today.

Jon and I told how he had proposed. We all had fun discovering how the story had unfolded. We shared stories and thoughts, and admired the diamond. Mom guiltily admitted that she waited two long days, but even though it was supposed to be a surprise, she hadn’t been able to keep the happy secret. She just had to call Grammy and Grampy and tell them that Jon might be proposing to me this weekend, but it wasn’t for sure.  They had all agreed that Grammy and Grampy should and would act surprised if indeed I called with the happy news. Needless to say, everyone gave Mom a pretty bad time for spilling the beans, especially Dad.

The story doesn’t end here, however. Because we spent the time talking and laughing, we had a quick dinner at home (leftovers) and then the four of us (Mom, Dad, Jon, me) headed to Forsyth for the movie. We got in and picked seats. Popcorn and bathroom runs proceeded. As we all got situated, the small town effect began to influence our story. The theater wasn’t that full and I didn’t see anybody I recognized. Then, up walked the Hysham postmistress’s husband, Al Lenz. He put his hands on the back of Dad’s shoulders and asked if Dad and all of us were celebrating being done with branding.  Dad grinned huge and said, “Leann just got engaged!”  Congratulations went around and we settled in to watch Star Wars.

The next morning we had to let people know. Of course, Mom got another round of razzing for telling Grammy and Grampy what might transpire over the weekend.  They acted surprised and very happy to hear the news.  They both commented how much they liked Jon when they had met him in Florida and how they hoped then that it would work out. Larry got home in the later morning and went right to his room. I ran up and knocked on his closed door, saying I had something to show him. He was smirking as he opened his door and said, “I think I already know, but what?” I was incredulous as I inquired what he “already knew.”  Apparently, he had stopped in at the Friendly Corner in Hysham before coming home. Who just happened to be there? Al Lenz. Al asked Larry what he thought of his future brother-in-law. Larry looked back at him like he was crazy and asked, “What? I don’t know what you are talking about. Last I knew he was just a boyfriend and that was yesterday afternoon.” So Larry knew before we could tell him and I know that their conversation was overheard by others, so the “rumor” was out!

After some more fun discussions about how the small town effect worked and teasing Mom about tattling, I mentioned that I needed to call Mim. And Dad pipes up, “Yeah, you should call her. I think she’s expecting a call.” Come to find out, Dad had told Mim the very next day after Jon had called. So Dad, not Mom, had spilled the beans first. Lorena was the last to be called and she acted hurt that we had told her last, but I assured her that it was just the way it had worked out.  ;-)

The Engagement: According to Jon

The time of the year was spring, a particularly wet spring that had left a green covering over much of the Montana countryside. After many weeks of studying the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight of diamonds, Jon had finally mustered the gumption to call Leann’s Dad(Phil) to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. A recent spring snow storm had dumped a couple of FEET of snow over the Hysham area. Most people wouldn’t consider that a sign of luck, but for Jon it provided the “small talk” necessary to get a conversation going. The other lucky thing for Jon was that no one could see him dancing around the house trying to use up nervous energy as he prepared to ask quite possibly the hardest question of his life. The conversation was a blur, but the result was Phil’s blessing on a plan that was to unfold that weekend. Leann would have no idea, but Phil would have to tell his wife Laurie and she would be the only other keeper of the secret.