Epilogue - Reese
Seven Months Later
The courthouse is filled with people, Lucy’s story has caught the attention of the media.
We’ve kept the press off the ranch, thank God for Lin and Mason.
They’ve been the best after the news blew up since protecting Lucy’s peace has been my top priority.
She’s been healing in therapy, both of us go sometimes, and I’ve learned a lot.
Yates died a few weeks after Lucy moved in and that really put me on my ass.
But, with my woman in my corner, I’ve been able to cope with his loss and help Mama learn a new way of living.
Jare’s been the most helpful since Yates’s passing, helping Mama with things around the house.
He moved back in with her until she gets back on her own two feet.
My biological father seems to have done the work to repair his own issues, and now he’s focused on repairing the damage he caused me and Mama.
He visits every couple of months, and despite my reservations, we’re getting to know each other.
It’s been an interesting process. I found out I have a half-sibling, and a step Mama.
I haven’t met them yet, I’m not ready, but one day I plan to.
Sheriff Folley and his wife join us in the row behind the district attorney. Lucy and the Sheriff both agreed to testify today. Her hand’s firmly in mine and the other’s holding on to the Sheriff. His wife smiles at her and we sit back.
Lucy was incredible, her detail was heartbreaking, and the Sheriff was just as compelling.
The jury found Brent guilty and the judge sentenced him to three consecutive life sentences in prison without the option of parole.
Turns out when you try to kill a local legend, and a uniformed sheriff to boot, the hammer of the law comes down hard.
Brent tried talking to Lucy on his way out, but between Sheriff Folley and me, we blocked him before she could see.
“You two celebrate tonight,” Folley says, looking down at his wife who’s still dotting her eyes with a tissue. “I think the Missus and I have had enough for today.”
It’s a long drive home, we ended up in the big city for this event.
Reporters and cameras rain down like birds on prey when we exit.
I shield Lucy with my body, blocking the reporters’ microphones.
Their questions are loud and she draws her shoulders up but keeps moving behind Sheriff Folley and his wife with my arm across her back.
Safe in the truck I turn and she leaps, throwing herself over the console into my lap. She sits there, straddling my legs and cries into my chest. Running my hand through her hair, the other rubs circles along her back.
This couldn’t have been easy, especially seeing him again. But she’s as strong as they come so I know she’ll get through this too. We sit there, until her tears have gone and her head lifts.
“Thank you,” she whispers, “thank you for bein’ the man for me.”
“I’ll always be the man for you, Goldie, and I can’t wait to get home and be smothered and covered in you.”
I chuckle and bring her in for a kiss, it’s slow and unhurried, because Goldie and me? We’ve got all the time in the world.