Epilogue
“Are you sure about this?”
Bryar gazed at her husband affectionately. “It’s time. I’ve always kept a piece of him with me.” She touched the locket at her neck.
Puma now had an identical one.
“Let’s lay him to rest.”
Together, they walked to the lake’s edge, a place filled with cherished memories, where Blake had been conceived. They scattered his ashes into the water, illuminated by sunlight filtering through the trees.
“Fly with the angels, my boy,” she said.
Once the ashes had been released, she and Puma lingered, offering their final farewells to their son. “He will always be with us. I believe he had a hand in this…” Puma wrapped his arms around Bryar, placing his hands over her growing belly.
Bryar placed her hand atop Puma’s. “I thought I might feel guilty for being pregnant again, but I feel a sense of peace. My capacity for love has exceeded what I thought possible.” She took out the letter Puma had written her. “I believe this letter belongs with our son. Is that okay?”
“Yes, my love.”
She bent and dropped the letter into the water. The ink faded, and the paper turned soggy. The words written in ink so long ago blurred and disappeared, never to be seen again. Just like in the past, they were a memory.
Birds chirped nearby, signifying that the first day of spring had come. New flowers dotted the fields around the lake.
Taking her hand, Puma led her up the rocky slope to their family, who watched from the edge of the trees, including Crystal and Lane, who had recently been released.
Lane hugged Bryar, and he and Crystal returned to the car.
Rory stayed behind.
He shifted in his boots. “I know there’s been a lot between us, Puma, but seeing how happy you make my daughter makes me happy. I hope you and I can get beyond the past. I want to be a part of my granddaughter’s life.” He thrust out his hand.
Puma accepted the offer. “Sir, I love my wife and my child, so I’m willing to do what I must.” He turned to Bryar and said, “I’ll meet you at the truck.” He took the empty urn with him.
She nodded and, alone with her father, she said, “I’m glad you could make it today. It was the first step in showing forgiveness on both of our parts.”
He nodded. “I know I’ve been an ass, darlin’ but I’m not willing to lose any of my kids.”
“Then do better, Daddy. My daughter will need a good grandfather. You’re the only one she will have.”
Tears filled his eyes, but they quickly vanished. He gave her a tight hug, and together, they walked to Puma’s truck.
“I hope you two are coming to the Crazy Shades for dinner,” Rory asked.
“I wouldn’t mind some wings,” Puma said.
“We'll be there. But don’t try to convince me to come back to work yet. You have Lane and Crystal,” Bryar said.
“I won’t.” Rory squeezed her shoulder, shook Puma’s hand again, and went to get into Lane’s car.
“Well, that went better than expected,” Bryar said as they watched Lane drive away.
“He’s stubborn, but he’s logical.”
She swung around to look up at her husband. “I love you.”
“I love you more,” he said, kissing her softly on the lips. “By the way, I just heard from Charley. Reno has been arrested.”
She cocked her head. “Arrested?”
“It seems like he betrayed the wrong person, and karma finally caught up with him.”
“Did you have something to do with this?” She cocked a brow.
“What makes you say that?” He laughed.
“Because I know my husband.” She walked to the passenger-side door.
“I’m going to give a call to the crew and have them come to Crazy Shades. They could use a good evening too.”
“Sounds wonderful. But I don’t want to stay out too late.”
“Are you tired?” Puma asked with concern.
“Not at all. I want to make love with my husband.”
His smile radiated warmth and joy. “Maybe we should skip Crazy Shades.”
“We can stay an hour but then I want to curl up with my cowboy.”
Not the end but only the beginning.
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