Bonus Epilogue
Hannah
Five dogs were a lot of dogs, but there was no way I was leaving the babies home at Christmas time.
So here we were: Moose driving, me in the passenger seat, Daisy in the middle, and four pups in the back.
All of us packed into my SUV on the drive from Colorado to Springwood, BC, where Moose’s brother lived.
When we planned the trip, we knew it would take a solid twenty-four hours.
We didn’t want to drive straight through; that was how you ended up with puddles in the back seat courtesy of the pups.
We’d planned lots of stops, sightseeing through Salt Lake City and a few other tourist spots along the way.
It was our first vacation with our little family, and we’d both been looking forward to it.
Now we were on day three of driving eight to twelve hours a day, and the shine was wearing off the plan. The pups were restless, and Moose and I were tired of staring at snow and trees. We were eager to just get there.
We’d crossed the border into Canada that morning, earning a few extra looks thanks to the dogs and my very intimidating boyfriend. Now we were on the home stretch—four hours along the Coquihalla Highway until we reached Springwood.
“When was the last time you were home for Christmas?” I asked.
He shifted his tattooed hand on the steering wheel and sighed. “Too long ago.”
I nodded. He had a complicated history with his hometown. The fact that he wanted to go back at all still surprised me.
I let the subject drop. He was probably feeling all kinds of ways about going home—not to mention meeting his brother’s new girlfriend, who was apparently from some rich family in Vegas.
“I’m going to call and check on Peaches before we lose cell reception in the mountains.”
Moose snorted but didn’t reply. He had a love-hate relationship with Peaches. Mostly because Peaches loved him, and Moose hated admitting he didn’t mind the big fluffball.
I was only checking in because I wanted to, not because I was worried about danger. Not this time. The court sentenced the awful men involved in what had happened.
Finally.
There was a while where they were out on bail, and I felt like I was in witness protection. I didn’t take a step anywhere without a Fallen Souls member with me. It was scary, but it meant Moose was in my bed every night.
I hit the number on my speed dial and waited.
“What?” Wrench said when he picked up.
I smirked. “How’s your houseguest doing?”
Usually Peaches roamed wherever he pleased between the garage and the rescue, but since it was winter, I didn’t want him getting cold. So he was staying with Wrench.
Wrench acted as if the whole thing put him out, but he was a big bad biker. He could’ve said no when I asked—and didn’t.
“The little shit’s been sleeping on my pillow,” Wrench grumbled. “Getting hair all over the fucking thing.”
“Aww. Cuddle time with Uncle Wrench.”
Moose snorted beside me.
“Don’t push your luck, Doc. Being Moose’s old lady only gets you so far.”
“And you loving Peaches gets me the rest of the way. Let us know if there are any problems.”
He muttered something I chose not to hear. “Yeah, yeah. Just get your asses back here and get this beast out of my house.”
I laughed and hung up.
Moose just shook his head. Still a man of few words. “You really have faith in my ability to protect you with the way you talk to some of the guys.”
I leaned over and rested my hand on his muscled thigh. “I do. Besides, they all love the rescue animals more than they’ll ever admit. You’re all more bark than bite.”
He shook his head again.
I watched out the window as the elevation climbed and the slow drizzle of rain turned to ice and snow. We were used to it from living in Colorado, but that didn’t mean I liked it.
The pups whined as my anxiety crept up, and Daisy lifted her head from my lap, sitting up straight to peer out the front window. Moose’s jaw tightened as he navigated the winding road.
I curled my fingers around the edge of my seat, trying not to give away how tense I was. I just wanted to get there and start celebrating my first Christmas with my man and the pups.
Moose steered my SUV around a corner, and despite the road being four lanes wide, a semi-truck had veered into our lane.
“Son of a bitch.”
Moose gripped the wheel with both hands, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with the out-of-control truck. The SUV’s wheels hit the soft shoulder where snow had piled up from the plows, and we lost traction.
The snow grabbed at the tires. We slowed, then slid to a stop, half in the ditch.
I wrapped my arms around Daisy, who whimpered softly beside me, taking comfort in her warmth and the familiar smell of dog fur.
Moose threw the SUV into reverse and tried backing out the way we’d come. When the tires only spun, he shifted into drive and tried steering us back onto the road.
After a few failed attempts, he put the SUV in park and slammed his hands against the wheel.
Daisy whimpered again, and Moose glanced at her, his eyes softening.
“Sorry, girl.” He scratched behind her ears.
“We’ll have to get a tow truck,” I said, pulling out my phone.
No bars.
I knew there were dead spots on this highway, but what were the odds we’d need a tow in one?
Moose patted my shoulder. “Truck driver will hopefully radio that he ran us off the road like an idiot. Someone will respond. Let’s give it a few minutes.”
A knock on the window made me jump.
We both climbed out, leaving the pups in the warmth.
A tall, broad man in navy coveralls stood beside a truck that read Safe and Sound Towing.
“You folks need a tow? I can pull you out. If the SUV is still drivable, great. If not, I can tow you to Merritt.”
If Moose’s tattoos or the small army of pit bulls fazed the man, he didn’t show it.
“Seems to be running,” Moose said, extending his hand. “Just need out of the ditch. We’d appreciate it.”
The man shook it. “Sam. Good to meet you.”
We introduced ourselves, and he got to work.
He moved quickly and efficiently, and within minutes the SUV was back on solid ground.
“Where are you folks headed?” Sam asked while filling out a receipt.
“Springwood,” Moose said. “So, a few more hours.”
Sam nodded. “Just heard on the radio there’s a wreck past Merritt. You could detour, but with the snow today I’d suggest getting a hotel there if you can. Continue on to Springwood tomorrow, once the plows have been through. Better to be safe at Christmas.”
He handed me a business card.
“Give us a call if you get stuck again. I’ll be off after today—Christmas with my wife and daughter—but we’ll still have drivers around.”
We shook hands again, then Moose and I climbed back into the SUV.