Wildly, Boldly (Return to Culloden Moor #4)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

#AlaskaLife #GhostHunting #StoriesOverSourdough #HeartAndHearth

“‘ G host Hunter in Alaska.’ All the haunted locations, supernatural theories, and northern lights mysteries, but based here. In Skagway.”

Whitney’s smile was bright. “Sounds like you might have found your home after all.”

The screen door creaked, followed by the sound of luggage wheels on hardwood. “Whitney?” a woman’s voice called. “We’re home!”

“Mom! Dad!” Whitney quickly wiped her hands on her apron.

Sophie turned to see an elegant blonde woman and a weathered-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair entering the kitchen, bringing with them the crisp morning air.

“How was the cruise?” Whitney asked, hugging her mother.

“Beautiful, though they had to skip Sitka because of weather,” Bonnie replied. Her eyes found Sophie. “And who’s this?”

“Sophie Marlow,” Whitney made the introduction. “She’s been staying with us, researching the aurora and local folklore. Sophie, these are my parents, Russ and Bonnie.”

“The ghost hunter?” Russ’s eyebrows rose as he set down their bags. His gaze drifted to the window where Wyatt was visible talking with Darrow. “Well, I leave for a few weeks and suddenly things get interesting around here.”

Sophie felt her cheeks warm, but before she could respond, Bonnie elbowed her husband. “Russ,” she chided gently, though her eyes twinkled. “Though I have to say, it’s nice seeing that boy finally taking an interest in something besides work.”

“Mom,” Whitney warned, but Sophie could hear the amusement in her voice.

Russ grunted, but there was approval in his tone when he said, “About time too. That ranger’s been like another son to us since he and Trace were kids. Too serious by half.”

Sophie busied herself with the dough, pretending not to hear, but her heart was doing a strange little dance. She hadn’t realized how deep Wyatt’s roots went here—not just with the land, but with these people.

“How about some coffee?” Whitney suggested smoothly. “You can tell us about the cruise while this rises.”

As Whitney got her parents settled at the kitchen table, Sophie continued working the dough, listening to their easy conversation with a mix of envy and warmth. This was what a real family looked like—the casual affection, the gentle teasing, the way they folded newcomers into their circle without hesitation.

Maybe that’s what she’d been looking for all along—not just a place to belong, but people to belong with.

She watched Wyatt through the window again, his presence steady and sure. Because sometimes home wasn’t a place at all. Sometimes it was a person who made you want to stay still long enough to find out what might happen next.

Even if that person did occasionally lecture you about proper bear spray storage techniques.