Epilogue
One Year Later
Austin pocketed his phone as he stepped up into the driver’s side of his pickup truck. Kitt was on the passenger side waiting for him. Austin smiled at him.
“That was my attorney. They found the guy that hacked my email. He’s a she named Dunc.
They’re arrestin’ her in Mexico as we speak.
Ironically, it was my nemesis who helped find her.
Rich and Mercedes filed charges against her for stealin’ their money.
She’s apparently livin’ it up, not stayin’ discreetly hidden.
She’ll be returned to the U.S. to stand trial. ”
“Dunc’s a girl?”
“I guess, who knows? But jail time should be fun for her.” Austin reversed the truck until he got a clear path to head out into the pasture.
The land immediately behind theirs had come up for sale and Austin had bought it. Now they had a combined twenty-five thousand acres.
They had officially merged the farms, now operating as one.
Kitt moved in with Austin at his house. They gave Kylie his cabin for when she came home for the summer or Christmas breaks.
Then once school was out, she’d have a place to live for as long as she wanted it.
Their cattle breeding program as well as that of the quarter horses were coming along better than expected.
Hooch and Little Lady were entering the racing world this next season.
As Kitt expected, Austin started a new project, another film.
It’s one he decided to produce, as well as star in.
It was filming primarily in Texas, mostly here on the ranch in the farthest back pastures on the newly purchased land.
It was a remake of the Great Gatsby. Austin decided to build a replica of the house here on the ranch.
He wanted them to live in it after the filming was complete.
Austin was constantly asking for Kitt’s input.
He listened endlessly to all the details on the movie and house.
Okay, it was more like Kitt pretended to listen to all the details.
Austin wanted Kitt to be happy there. It would take years to film correctly, but he wanted the home perfect for Kitt.
As they drove to check out a problem with a back fence, Austin was already back to the list of actors he planned to hire for the various roles.
For the most part, Kitt kept his nervousness to himself.
Austin was just so excited about acting again, but it concerned Kitt.
They were together now, and he needed to live in the now for as long as he got the opportunity.
It’s what his father and Verne’s relationship had taught him, so he sat in the truck, watching the fence line, letting Austin talk.
It was already dusk outside. They needed to get a move on to see the fence line properly.
Kitt started to say something, but every time Kitt opened his mouth to speak, Austin kept the flow of conversation going.
Austin kept taking his time until he diverted from the path heading out into the open pasture.
The move caused Kitt to narrow his eyes, and he looked over at Austin, who continued the steady stream of words, not letting him interrupt.
Out of nowhere Kitt saw lights. It looked like maybe a small fire until they drove closer.
There were candles burning. A smile spread across Austin’s lips and he sighed.
“I was afraid I was gonna have to start talkin’ about the Declaration of Independence. Surprise!”
“What is it?”
Austin laughed at Kitt’s confusion.
“It’s the house, honey. See it roped off?” Austin stopped the truck, turned off the ignition, but left the lights on and jumped out. “This is the first floor. Come on, I’ll give you a tour.”
The first floor was so huge, it took Kitt a minute to even comprehend the size of the place, and there were two more floors in the plans.
Austin made a production of walking them through the front door, stepping into a huge grand entrance, a staircase separating the living room.
The kitchen and guest rooms were at one end, their bedroom at the other.
That was the part Austin had sectioned off with candles.
In the middle of the room was a sleeping bag, pillow, and an air mattress.
To the side of it sat a picnic basket and a champagne bucket, with a fire pit close by.
Austin slowed a little, walking to the bed.
It was getting darker outside, not quite night, but it took a minute to see the small black velvet box and envelope in the middle of the bed.
“Marry me,” Austin said, bending down to take the box and the envelope. “Kitt, I can sometimes see the anxiety of all of this in your eyes. This is the only way I know how to relieve it. Marry me and honeymoon here with me.”
Kitt opened the envelope as Austin opened the box for him to see a simple gold band sitting on the dark velvet.
Austin used his cell phone for light and Kitt got the gist of what was in the envelope.
Their honeymoon would be at the Kentucky Derby.
There was also a signed contract from the trainer Kitt had wanted, agreeing to come work with their horses.
Kitt’s smile must have said it all. Austin grabbed him up, wrapping him in his arms. “Thank you. Thank you, I love you! Now let’s get Hooch ready to race!”
The End