Epilogue
Four weeks later...
Wyn tried not to express her apprehension as Eli sat perched on the back of a dark golden-bay gelding named Scout. Chase stood beside the horse, his hand on his son’s back, as Scout ambled slowly across the corral.
In the weeks they’d been on the ranch, Eli had opened up a bit. Oh, their son would never be a chatty Cathy, but he was doing better at using his words.
She personally thought Rocky was a big part of the reason. Eli loved that dog, and the two could always be found snuggled together on the sofa. Chase had noticed that, too, and had thought that Eli might do better with communicating with animals than with people.
Hence his first horseback riding lesson.
Eli didn’t look at all scared to be up on Scout. One hand was wrapped in the horse’s soft mane, and the other clutched the pommel of the saddle.
She could almost hear her son whispering, “Soft and hard.”
They’d explained that Chase was his daddy, and Eli seemed to accept the news in stride. But the little boy hadn’t called Chase “Daddy.” Although he had allowed Chase to carry him to bed and/or to put him in and out of his car seat.
All in good time , she thought. Watching Chase with Eli, she knew this was where they belonged.
She’d spoken to her father twice since she’d come to stay with Chase on the ranch. Both times her father had begged forgiveness. Because she knew Jesus would expect her to do that, she had found it in her heart to forgive him. And so had Chase.
They’d even agreed to have her father visit them on the ranch over the upcoming weekend. It was a start. As much as she resented her father’s interference with her life, she couldn’t help but wonder if this hadn’t been God’s plan all along.
God had brought her and Chase together for Eli’s sake. And that was a bond that would carry them forward. Or so she hoped.
Griff had let them know that Julia Stone was an alias for Tonya Redstone. Carl Longfoot had been a former boyfriend of Tonya’s, and when Ian Dunlap had done the DNA tracing, it turned out Carl was Alecia’s biological father. Carl had no knowledge of the kidnapping, and his alibi had proven he wasn’t involved.
Tonya and her cousin Joshua had concocted the scheme with the help of their grandfather, Hank Redstone. And all three of them would go to jail for a very long time.
She smiled at Chase walking beside Eli. Chase had been spending as much time with Eli as possible, and it showed.
“Good job, Eli,” Chase praised. “Are you ready to get down?”
“Yes,” Eli said. When Chase lifted him off the horse, Eli wrapped his arms around Chase’s neck. “Thanks, Daddy.”
Wyn’s eyes filled with tears as Chase hugged Eli close and kissed the top of his head. “I love you, buddy.”
Eli paused, then said, “I love you and Mommy too.”
Chase turned and crossed over to where she stood waiting. Rocky was there, too, as if to make sure nothing bad happened to Eli. Chase set Eli down next to Rocky, and the two ran up toward the cabin.
“Did you hear that?” Chase asked as he slid his arm around her waist.
“I did. I’m so happy for you, Chase.” She kissed his cheek. “You’re an awesome dad.”
“I think that makes it official.” Chase pulled a small ring box from his pocket. “I bought this for you a little over five years ago. Wynona, will you please marry me?”
“Yes, Chase. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She laughed when he swept her off her feet, twirled her around, and kissed her before setting her back down. “I would have said yes back then too.”
“That’s nice to know,” Chase admitted. He took a moment to slide the modest engagement ring on her finger, then glanced over to where Eli was standing beside Rocky. “Yet despite missing out on Eli’s early years, I somehow think this is the way things were meant to be. That this was exactly God’s plan for us.”
She hugged him close. “I agree.”
“We’ll have to let your father know we’re getting married when he comes up to visit.” Chase flashed a wicked grin. “I can’t wait to tell him he’s going to be stuck with me as a son-in-law after all.”
“He’ll be okay with that.” Her father looked as if he’d aged ten years in the time she’d spent off the reservation. And as much as she loved him, she wasn’t going to live her life the way her father had planned. Her father had tried to force her to stay on the rez. His actions had caused the exact opposite of what he’d intended.
“Your father is welcome here to visit anytime.” Chase’s expression turned serious. “And I would never stop you and Eli from visiting him either.”
“I know, and that’s just one of the many reasons I love you.” She gazed around the ranch. “I might visit him, but I’ll never leave. I love it here, and so does Eli. We belong here with you.”
“I love you, Wyn.” Chase kissed her again, and she knew she had found her home here on the Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue Ranch with her son and the man she loved.
She couldn’t wait to become a part of the Sullivan family for good.
I hope you enjoyed Chase and Wynona’s story in Scent of Panic . The Sullivans and their K9s are always finding a way to get into trouble.