Epilogue
Holly Jolly Ever After
One Year Later
I wake up to something wet and warm brushing against my chin.
“Shep,” I mumble with a sleepy smile.
It’s not the first time I’ve woken up to him kissing me, his beard tickling my skin. But as the kisses come faster—sloppy and relentless—I furrow my brow. I crack an eye open, confused when I spot a tiny paw resting on my collarbone and a cold nose nuzzling my cheek.
That’s definitely not Shep.
I blink against the morning light and scramble upright to get a better look at the culprit.
A blur of black-and-white fur is on the mattress beside me, pouncing into my lap, tail whipping with enthusiasm.
It’s a border collie puppy, impossibly fluffy, with bright blue eyes full of mischief and a crooked red bow tied around a shiny silver collar.
Its pink tongue darts out to lick my hand in greeting.
I giggle, cupping its face with my hands. “Hi there, little troublemaker. Where on earth did you come from?”
The puppy yips, nibbling at my shirtsleeve. Fully awake now, I realize I should figure out how this cutie ended up in my bed. Suspecting Shep had something to do with it, I glance over at his side of the mattress, frowning when I find it empty.
A clearing throat draws my gaze to the other side of the room, where he’s standing in the doorframe, arms crossed.
His Wranglers hang low on his hips, and without a shirt, the contours of his abs and the smattering of dark hair on his chest are on full display.
If I had my way, he’d be shirtless around the house all the time.
“She likes you,” he observes, nodding to the puppy.
“I like her too,” I say, scratching behind her ear. “Any particular reason she’s in our bed?”
It’s not the first time we’ve had new animals around since we got together, but it’s usually an injured horse or a small flock of hens in need of a new home. Not an adorable, tail-wagging puppy looking at me like I’m the center of her universe.
A grin tugs at Shep’s lips. “She’s your Christmas present.
I know it’s a day early, but I couldn’t wait.
” He pushes off the doorframe and comes to sit on the edge of the bed beside me.
“Birdie rescued her from a backyard breeder in Montana, and the moment I saw her photo, I knew she was meant to be yours.”
Over the past year, I’ve lost count of how often I’ve dropped hints about getting a dog.
I wasn’t exactly subtle about it, and I started thinking Shep was avoiding the topic because he didn’t want one.
Turns out, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Even though I’d only brought up border collies specifically a handful of times, he took note and conspired with Birdie to bring home the perfect furry addition to our family.
I’m sure that as soon as Shep told Birdie, she diligently searched for a rescue border collie until she found one.
She has the biggest heart, and I’m lucky to call her a dear friend.
We text almost daily, and it seems like every month she’s sending another rescue our way.
The energetic puppy in my lap is proof of her knack for finding animals she knows we’ll instantly fall for and can’t turn away.
I look at Shep, tugging my lip between my teeth. “Is she really mine?”
He pets the puppy, and she wriggles her butt, eagerly sniffing his hand.
Looks like Maple isn’t the only one charmed by the cowboy.
Shep’s joined us for several of our movie nights, and Maple always curls up at his feet like a giant fluffy dog.
At the rate she’s growing, though, we might have to move movie night out to the barn soon.
“The puppy is all yours,” he assures me.
I lift her, showering her head with kisses, laughing when she enthusiastically licks my face. “Does she have a name?”
“Birdie called her Luna, but you can pick any name you want.”
“Luna,” I whisper with a smile, studying her soft little face. “It’s perfect.”
Shep scoots closer, resting his hand on my knee. “I promise you’ll have more time to get acquainted in a few minutes, but I have another surprise, and she has to get off the bed for it.”
“What’s the matter, cowboy? If you wanted an excuse to get me alone, you should have said so.” I adjust Luna into one arm, using my free hand to give Shep’s thigh a playful squeeze.
A low laugh rumbles in his chest. “Trust me, I’d take you up on the offer on any other day, but this surprise requires you to be upright.”
I raise a brow, holding Luna out to him. “Consider me intrigued.”
Shep takes her from me, carrying her over to a crate in the corner that he must have put there before I woke up.
There’s a dog bed inside with several toys.
He gives her a duck toy to play with and pats her on the head.
He leaves the crate door open, but she’s too preoccupied with playing to notice Shep returning to my side of the bed.
He takes his time, walking slowly. I notice his shoulders are tight, and he keeps rubbing his hands along his pant legs. Usually, he’s calm as a clear sky—but right now, he’s visibly on edge.
In the past year, a lot has changed for us both.
He spends most weeknights at High Noon, and I often join him to record a podcast or to keep him company while he works.
He even participates in a weekly poker game with Casey and some locals now.
I usually spend those evenings with Amy and their baby, Cam.
We order pizza and binge-watch the latest episode of Love Island.
I’m glad for the friendships I’ve built in Pine Haven.
The small town has quickly become my favorite place, and I’m proud to call it home.
I scoot to the edge of the bed, swinging my feet over the side.
“You alright?” I ask Shep, noticing a sheen of sweat on his forehead.
He nods, moving to stand in front of me.
“Reckon I’m nervous. I have a very important question to ask you, and I don’t want to mess this up.
” My stomach does a flip when he drops to one knee and takes my hands in his.
“You’ve become my constant—the sunshine that chased away every bit of gray.
I’ve wanted to make you mine since the day you showed up on my doorstep, and I can’t think of a more perfect time to ask you to be my wife than on this Christmas Eve morning with just the two of us.
” He pauses, swallowing hard, and I give his hands a reassuring squeeze.
“You’re the person I want to wake up next to every day for the rest of my life, and nothing would make me happier than you agreeing to spend forever with me. ”
My heart is hammering so hard it feels like it could burst, and I realize this is the easiest decision I’ve ever made.
“Yes, of course. I’ll spend forever with you.” I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck.
This is what I’ve been hoping for since the day he asked me to stay in Pine Haven.
I fall more in love with Shep with each passing day, and being with him has been nothing short of a dream.
Together we’ve learned to cherish every moment—the mundane ones, the silly ones, and the life-changing ones like this.
I’ve pictured him asking me to be his wife so many times, and now that he has, it feels surreal.
When I pull back, Shep fishes a ring from his pocket and slides it on my finger. The three-carat pear-shaped diamond glints in the morning rays.
I trace the intricate design with my fingertip. “It’s beautiful.”
“Only the best for my sunshine girl.” He cups my cheek and kisses me, leaving me dizzy.
“I can’t wait to tell Gemma and my parents,” I exclaim.
In the past year, Shep has met everyone important in my life.
My parents have spent most of their time on cruises and traveling through Europe, but fortunately, we were able to spend two weeks with them in New York this past summer.
My mom was smitten with Shep the moment they met—though that might have something to do with the two dozen yellow roses he brought her.
My dad, on the other hand, was initially skeptical because of our age difference. However, after seeing how happy I am with Shep and how well he treats me, he gradually came around.
Shep chuckles. “You won’t have to wait long to tell everyone.”
I furrow a brow. “Are they expecting a call from us?”
He shakes his head. “Not exactly.” Shep takes a seat next to me on the bed, his hand resting on my leg. “You’re going to put on a pretty dress and the cowgirl boots we picked out last week because we’re going to Cactus Bloom Café for Christmas Eve breakfast to celebrate.”
One of the things I love most about Shep is that he always thinks of everything.
“You’re just full of surprises this morning, aren’t you?”
“Gemma, Birdie, and your parents all flew in to Pine Haven last night, and we’re spending the next week with them.
” He lifts my left hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my ring finger.
“After I asked your dad for his blessing last month, I knew we’d want everyone here to celebrate our engagement and your favorite time of year. ”
My mouth falls open, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “Are you serious?”
“Sure am. They’ll all be waiting at the diner in an hour.”
“Thank you, Shep. Having them here will make it even more special.”
“Anything for you, Sunshine,” he vows.
God, this man is incredible. He knew how down I was about spending another Christmas without my parents and how much I’ve missed Gemma, too. We’ve seen her a few times when we’ve met in New York for business, but it’s not the same after living in the same city for so long.
With her help, my podcast has been thriving.
When I first told my audience I was dating Shep, he admitted he was intimidated by the thoughts of millions of people knowing we were together.
I’ve kept most of his personal details private, but it was important to me to show that I was finally ready to live authentically—even if it meant facing scrutiny for our age gap or how we met.
I wanted to show the world that age is just a number and that love deserves to always be celebrated, never judged.
It turns out people appreciated my transparency, and the episode where I shared the news about Shep and me became one of my most viewed.
My audience was equally supportive when I decided to cut back to three episodes a week.
The change has given me the work-life balance I didn’t realize I was missing and has allowed me time for all the things I love—including bingeing mafia romances on my e-reader, tending to our barn full of rescues, and soaking up lazy mornings with Shep.
“I have a surprise of my own,” I say, barely able to contain my excitement. “I’ll be right back.”
Shep nods, leaning back on his hands, getting comfortable while he waits.
I hurry into the bathroom and crouch down to open the cupboard under the sink.
Pushing past a stack of towels and a box of tampons, I grab the washcloth I tucked in the back.
I carefully unfold it to reveal the white stick I tested yesterday while Shep was in his workshop.
He’s not the only one with life-changing news.
When I return to our room, Shep’s right where I left him, sitting on the mattress. But the moment he notices what I’m holding in my hand, he scrambles to his feet.
“Is that what I think it is?” he murmurs, almost trembling with anticipation.
I close the distance between us and hold out the test so he can see the two blue lines. “Merry Christmas, Shep.”
He stares at the object in my hand, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
I stopped taking birth control this past summer, and after a few months, we decided not to let it dominate our thoughts, trusting that one day we’d get our chance to be parents.
His eyes widen, disbelief and joy on his face as the news sinks in. “I’m… really going to be a dad?”
“You are,” I say, unable to stop smiling. “The best one there is.”
Shep exhales a shaky laugh. “This is the best gift anyone’s given me. Thank you for making my dream come true.”
He winds his arms around my waist, lifts me, and twirls me around, laughing without restraint.
I throw my arms around him, the pregnancy test still in my hand, loving to see him so genuinely happy.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that he’s finally getting the family he’s always longed for, and that I’m the one he wants by his side through it all.
He slows down, gently setting me on the ground, but keeps me secure in his arms.
“I love you so damn much, Noelle.”
“I love you too, Shep.”
He leans in, capturing my mouth in a kiss—this one fierce and passionate. As he moves his hands along my curves, deepening the kiss, we’re interrupted by a cheerful yip. I pull back to find Luna at our feet, chasing her tail.
“Looks like someone’s eager to be part of all the action,” I say.
Shep settles his hand on my belly. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this coming year, huh?”
I place my hand over his, grinning from ear to ear. “We sure do, Daddy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Neither would I, Sunshine. Neither would I.”
Our story is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see all the memories we’ll make as an engaged couple—and soon, as husband and wife.
Shep’s not one to drag his feet, so I have a feeling it won’t be long before we tie the knot, especially now that we have a little one on the way.
It’s a good thing he’s been set on wanting to build a bigger cabin near the barn come spring.
I can already picture us there next Christmas Eve with our baby in my arms, living our own version of happily ever after.
Looking back, it’s clear that fate stepped in during that spontaneous trip last year. One impulsive choice changed the trajectory of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
If you loved Dreaming of a Cowboy Christmas, be sure to keep reading for an excerpt from my small town, fake dating, age gap, spicy workplace holiday novella: If You Give a Grump a Holiday Wishlist.