Chapter 16
Ten months after the trial, Rae and Bear perched on a rock formation on the side of a streambed in the Superstitions. Rae threw pebbles in the creek that was swollen from yesterday’s monsoon rain. The air smelled of rich earth, pine, and rain-washed air.
Rae felt like a changed woman. Her life had made a sharp turn for the better and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere but King Creek, and with anyone but Bear McLeod. The acceptance by the people of the town, including Bear’s family, had been utterly amazing. She felt blessed and that she had a rich life and a future.
Her hair was blonde again, and Bear seemed to like the look. In all ways, she felt like herself again. Actually, better than her old self.
Bear shifted on the rock beside her and she looked at him. He looked lost in thought, and she wondered what was on his mind. The silence between them was comfortable, and the sounds of birds in the trees covered up the quiet.
Arthur sniffed along the streambed, clearly enjoying being up in the mountains with them. He’d turned out to be great with all of Bear’s animals, and since they couldn’t find a family he belonged to, Bear had adopted him.
Rae tipped her head back and looked up at flashes of sky she saw through the waving tree branches. She definitely had a good life now.
Within days of the trial, Rae’s story had been lost in the sea of much bigger news stories on the national level, then on the state level. The furor on social media died down over the next month, and since she was away from Coyote Lake City, she didn’t have to face anyone who had a problem with her.
She still lived with Marlee but spent most of her time with Bear. She had considered buying her own home, and she probably should, soon. After all, she’d been living with her cousin for over a year now. Marlee had insisted she loved having Rae live with her, but it really had been too long.
“What’s on your mind?” Bear’s deep voice broke into Rae’s thoughts.
She lowered her head and met his gaze. “I was just thinking it’s time to buy my own place. I’ve been living with Marlee long enough that I’m probably cramping her style.”
Bear gave her his sexy grin and she sighed. Life couldn’t get much better than sitting next to this man who meant everything to her.
He whistled to Arthur, who loped toward them. Bear rubbed the dog behind his ears and said something low to him that she couldn’t hear.
Bear raised his head. “Looks like Arthur’s got something on his collar.”
Rae reached up and stroked the side of Arthur’s neck. “I don’t see anything.”
Bear cocked his head to the side, watching her. “Check again.”
She looked closer and caught a glimpse of red—a ribbon. “How did that get there?” She reached up and touched the length of satin and found that it was tied to his collar. A tiny white envelope was attached to the ribbon. She pulled it toward her and read the familiar scrawl that just managed to fill the space on the envelope.
Special Delivery for Rae Fox.
She glanced at Bear. “What are you up to?”
He shrugged. “Might help you in finding your new home.”
Brow furrowed, she pulled the end of the ribbon and it came free from Arthur’s collar. The dog looked at her, panting happily, as she caught the envelope.
She shook her head and looked at Bear. “This is supposed to help me find a new home?”
He gave a slow nod. “Yep.”
Arthur laid down beside her and rested his head on her thigh. His look said that he was in on it—whatever it was.
Bear had such a mischievous grin that it made her grin, too. The tiny envelope was white and thick, something small and hard inside it. She broke the seal and dumped the contents onto her palm.
For a moment she stared at a beautiful ring. A large diamond winked in the flashes of sunlight, and the gold felt cool against her skin.
Rae couldn’t process what she was seeing. A ring? An engagement ring?
She met Bear’s gaze and he raised a brow. “Give you any ideas on where you can live?”
Her throat worked. “Are you…”
He captured her hands in his, and she gripped the ring, tightly.
“I love you, Rae, more than anything. Yes, I’m asking you to marry me.” He opened her hand and took the ring from her. “Will you?”
“Yes.” She threw her arms around him, trying not to cry from joy. “I love you, Bear. My honey bear.”
Bear drew back and smiled as he took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. “Guess you’d better start packing.”
With a smile just as big as his, Rae raised her hand and studied the solitaire. “I guess I’d better.”
Arthur wiggled his way between them, insisting on attention.
Rae laughed. “He’s just making sure we remember who brought us together in the first place.”
Bear rested his arm around Rae’s shoulders as he stroked the dog’s silken head. “Don’t worry, boy. You can be the ring bearer.”
Arthur barked once and Rae smiled at Bear. He kissed her, sweet and gentle, before drawing her closer to his side, letting her know that they belonged with each other—for keeps.