Bonus Epilogue
A few months later…
Spring had finally arrived in Oak Creek, and the April sun warmed Joy’s shoulders as she stood beside her pink food truck. The scent of fresh pastries and coffee wafted through the open service window, mingling with the earthy smell of newly overturned soil and freshly cut lumber. Across the field, the obstacle course rose in all its completed glory—a testament to what the community could accomplish when they worked together.
“Order up for the Lindstrom family!” Joy called, sliding a tray of breakfast sandwiches through the window. Lincoln accepted it with his characteristic precision, studying the arrangement as if calculating the exact ratio of eggs to bacon.
“The aesthetic presentation is appealing,” he noted, which from Lincoln was practically a love sonnet.
“High praise indeed,” Joy laughed. “Better get those to Eva before she sends a search party.”
She watched him walk back toward the gathering crowd, marveling at how much had changed in five months. The community had rallied around the obstacle course project with an enthusiasm that surprised even Bear. What had started as a way to redirect wayward teenagers had evolved into something that united the entire town.
“Those cinnamon rolls are going fast,” Sloane observed, waddling up to the truck. Her pregnancy had progressed beautifully, and she was due any day now. “Better save me one before they’re gone.”
“Already set aside in the warmer,” Joy assured her, reaching for the special box she’d prepared. “With extra cream cheese frosting, just how you like them.”
Sloane’s eyes lit up. “You’re a goddess.”
Joy leaned on the counter. “How’s our sheriff handling the impending fatherhood countdown?”
“Callum’s installed three different baby monitors and created an evacuation plan for the hospital route.” Sloane rolled her eyes fondly. “I think he’s memorized every pothole between our house and the delivery room.”
Their laughter was interrupted by a commotion near the course entrance. Joy craned her neck to see Aaron Johnson addressing a group of younger kids, demonstrating proper climbing technique on the wall they’d constructed. The transformation in him over the past months had been remarkable. The sullen teenager who’d stolen her ladder had become a confident young leader.
“Hard to believe that’s the same kid we caught breaking into my scrap yard,” Bear’s voice rumbled behind her.
Joy turned to find him leaning against the truck, arms crossed, watching the scene with undisguised pride. His Oak Creek Garage shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, and sawdust clung to his jeans from helping with last-minute course adjustments.
She smiled. “Well, if memory serves, you almost caught him.”
Bear grimaced. “Don’t remind me. Kid is like a fucking gazelle.”
“But yes, the change in him is so impressive. People rise to meet expectations,” she said softly. “You taught them that.”
Bear’s eyes met hers, warm with affection. “We both did.”
The past five months had been a whirlwind of planning meetings, construction weekends, and community fundraisers. Bear had worked tirelessly with the boys, teaching them not just construction skills but responsibility, integrity, and the value of earning trust. Joy had provided food for work sessions, turning Velvet Mornings into an unofficial headquarters for the project.
Who had time to sit around and be traumatized when there were obstacle courses to build?
“Looks like they’re ready for the ribbon cutting,” Bear noted as Mayor Patterson approached the entrance arch, oversized scissors in hand.
Joy quickly closed the service window. “Mind watching the truck for a few minutes? I want to see this.”
“Go ahead. I’ve got it covered.”
She hurried across the field, joining the crowd gathered around the entrance. The obstacle course stretched before them—a professional-grade training facility that rivaled anything Linear Tactical had built. Climbing walls, rope courses, balance beams, and strength challenges were arranged in a flowing circuit that could be adjusted for different skill levels.
Aaron stood with his original crew—Kyle, Jackson, and the others who’d helped steal the materials that started it all. They wore matching T-shirts that read Oak Creek Youth Obstacle Team with Founders printed below. The pride on their faces made Joy’s chest tight with emotion.
“Before we cut this ribbon,” Mayor Patterson announced, “I want to recognize the young men who made this possible. What began as a mistake became an opportunity for growth, leadership, and community building. Aaron, would you like to say a few words?”
Aaron stepped forward, his shoulders straight. “Five months ago, my friends and I made some bad choices. We took things that didn’t belong to us because we wanted something we thought we couldn’t have any other way. Mr. Bollinger and Miss Davis could have just called the sheriff. Instead, they gave us a chance to make things right.”
He glanced at Bear, who nodded encouragingly from the truck.
“This course isn’t just about physical challenges,” Aaron continued. “It’s about learning that the right way might be harder, but it’s always worth it. It’s about trust, teamwork, and second chances. We’re grateful to everyone who believed in us when we didn’t deserve it.”
Applause erupted from the crowd. Joy blinked back tears as she watched these boys—young men now—stand taller under the community’s approval.
The ribbon cutting was followed by demonstration runs through the course. Aaron led the first group, moving with the fluid grace of someone who knew every handhold and foothold by heart. Parents cheered as their children attempted simpler obstacles under the supervision of the teen mentors.
Joy made her way back to the truck, where Bear had a line of customers. She slipped in beside him, falling into their practiced rhythm of taking orders and preparing food.
“Proud of them?” she asked during a brief lull.
“Incredibly.” Bear’s voice was gruff with emotion. “Aaron asked if I’d write him a recommendation letter for college. He wants to study engineering.”
“From thief to engineer.” Joy smiled. “That’s quite a journey.”
“One that started because you convinced me to give them a chance.”
She bumped his hip with hers. “We make a good team.”
“The best.” His hand found the small of her back, a casual touch that still sent electricity through her.
The morning flew by in a blur of coffee orders and congratulations. Joy watched the community embrace what these boys had built, seeing parents who’d been skeptical now signing their kids up for training sessions. Mrs. Fuller cornered Aaron to tell him how impressed she was with his leadership speech.
As the crowd began to thin for lunch, Bear pulled Joy aside. “Walk with me?”
“What about the truck?”
“Sloane agreed to handle things for a few minutes.” He took her hand, leading her away from the main activity.
They walked along the course perimeter, past the climbing wall where Jackson was patiently teaching a group of elementary school kids basic techniques. Past the balance beams where Kyle demonstrated proper form to a cluster of admiring preteens.
“Remember when we first found them out here?” Bear asked, stopping at the edge of the clearing. “That mess of stolen materials and half-baked plans?”
“I remember thinking they were in way over their heads.”
“These past months, working on this project, building something positive from something that started wrong—it made me think about us.”
Joy’s heart rate picked up. “Us?”
“About how we started. All those years of bad timing, missed opportunities, not being at the same place at the same time.” His hands found her waist. “Like those boys, we needed the right moment, the right push, to build something real.”
“Bear—”
“Let me finish.” He reached into his pocket, and Joy’s breath caught as he pulled out a small velvet box. “I’ve loved you since you were eight years old and skinned your knee falling off your bike. I’ve loved you through every phase, every change, every triumph and setback. I love the woman you’ve become—strong enough to face your fears, brave enough to chase your dreams, generous enough to give others the chances they need.”
He dropped to one knee, and Joy’s hands flew to her mouth.
“Joy Davis, will you marry me?”
The ring nestled in the box caught the sunlight—a stunning solitaire surrounded by smaller stones that sparkled like stars.
“Yes,” she breathed, then louder, “Yes!”
Bear slipped the ring onto her finger, then stood and swept her into his arms. The kiss was tender and passionate, full of promises and shared dreams.
Applause erupted behind them. They turned to find they’d drawn an audience—the boys had noticed and alerted everyone. The entire community stood watching, cheering their approval.
“About damn time!” Hudson called out.
“I knew it!” Mrs. Fuller declared triumphantly. “Didn’t I tell you all they’d be engaged before summer?”
Aaron approached, grinning. “Guess we should add wedding planning to our community service hours, huh?”
Bear laughed, keeping Joy tucked against his side. “Don’t push your luck, kid.”
The celebration shifted seamlessly from obstacle course opening to impromptu engagement party. Joy found herself passed from hug to hug, accepting congratulations from what felt like every resident of Oak Creek.
“I call dibs on making the wedding cake!” Ella O’Conner, owner of Fancy Pants bakery announced.
Charlie and Finn rushed up to them. Charlie grabbed Joy and pulled her close.
“Welcome to the family, officially,” she whispered. “Though you’ve been ours in every way that matters for years.”
Finn clapped Bear on the shoulder. “Took you long enough, son.”
“Had to wait for the right moment,” Bear replied, his arm secure around Joy’s waist.
“The right moment was probably years ago,” Lincoln observed with his characteristic bluntness. “But statistically, your chances of marital success are higher now that you’ve both reached full emotional maturity.”
“Thanks, Lincoln,” Bear said dryly. “That’s very romantic.”
As the afternoon wore on, Joy found herself overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. This community that had watched her grow up, that had rallied around her during her darkest moments, now celebrated her happiness with unbridled enthusiasm.
She stood by her truck later, watching the sun set over the obstacle course. Bear joined her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
“Happy?” he murmured against her hair.
“Beyond happy.” She turned in his embrace. “You know what strikes me most about today?”
“What’s that?”
“How it all connects. Those boys stealing materials led to this course. The course brought the community together. That togetherness created the perfect moment for you to propose. It’s like everything happened exactly as it should.”
Bear smiled. “Even the hard parts?”
“Especially those.” Joy touched his cheek. “Every challenge, every setback, every moment of doubt—they all led us here. To this moment. To us.”
“No regrets?”
“Not a single one.”
They stood together as the last light faded, watching their community—their family —celebrate around the symbol of second chances and new beginnings. The obstacle course rose against the darkening sky, a testament to what could be built from broken pieces when people chose to believe in possibility rather than punishment.
“So,” Bear said, pressing a kiss to her temple, “when do you want to get married?”
Joy laughed. “Well, we’ll need to wait until Sloane has the baby so she can be my matron of honor.”
“And Aaron will insist on building some sort of architectural marvel for the ceremony.”
“And Mrs. Fuller will want to organize the entire town...”
Bear grinned. “So, next spring?”
“Perfect.” Joy turned to kiss him properly. “Just enough time to plan the wedding Oak Creek will talk about for generations.”
As if on cue, a cheer went up from the course where the small boy, Jackson, had just completed his first successful run through the advanced section. The boy pumped his fists in triumph while Aaron and the others applauded his achievement.
Joy leaned into Bear’s solid warmth, her ring catching the firelight from the celebration bonfire someone had started. This was what happiness felt like—not the absence of struggle, but the presence of love strong enough to transform struggle into strength.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too, Bug. Always have, always will.”
And as the stars emerged overhead and their community celebrated around them, Joy knew that everything—every fear faced, every challenge overcome, every chance taken—had been worth it for this moment, this man, this future they would build together.
···
The Heroes of Oak Creek will continue with Lincoln’s story, HERO’S TOUCH .
And I would like to personally invite you to check out new author Dominic Pierce .
This former Marine turned writer has taken his adrenaline-fueled past and turned it into absolutely gripping romantic suspense stories.
Turn the page for a sneak peek of DUTY UNBOUND !