Epilogue
EPILOGUE
A few weeks later winter swept through Smoky Hill coating the community in a blanket of pristine snow. Doug and Katy had finished blanketing the horses and were driving back to the guest house when he rolled to a stop at the top of the small knoll above the pond.
“How gorgeous is that?” he murmured, staring down at the glistening lake and the pretty home. “Livin’ in that tiny cabin and seein’ you in that pastry shop feels like years ago.”
“It does. When I came out here to visit Annie I never expected to end up staying here…especially not with you at a place like this. I feel like I died and went to heaven.”
“Katy…”
“You look serious all of a sudden.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Katy,” he repeated, “you believed in me when I was accused of that awful crime, and you never wavered, not once.”
“But I knew you were innocent. I don’t know how, I just did.”
“Yes, you did, and I’m sure you took a lot of flack for it.”
“Sometimes, but I didn’t care.”
“Then you did some very naughty things to get my attention, like ridin’ Mindy down the road when you knew—”
“Okay, okay, I’m not perfect.”
“Will you please be quiet and let me finish?”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t always make the smartest choices, but you’re so brave, and you never give up. And you’re so damn smart and generous. Taking my hot chocolate to the Moonshine Campgrounds…I still can’t believe you did that, and the money’s flowin’ in, like water from a faucet. Katy, I want to share it with you.”
“But that’s for your ranch.”
“Yep, and I want to share that with you too. I love you like crazy. I want to share my life with you. Every day…for the rest of our lives. Please say you’ll be my wife.”
“Oh, my gosh. Doug…I….of course I will,” she sputtered, and with happy tears flowing down her cheeks she threw her arms around his neck. “I think this has to be the best day of my life.”
“Mine too,” he managed, swallowing back the lump in his throat. “And it’s about to get just a little bit better.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Trust me,” he said, pulling back and grinning at her. “I arranged for a delivery. Call it an early Christmas present. And it will be a daily reminder of this moment.”
“What…?
“You’ll see.”
Settling back behind the wheel, he drove slowly forward and pulled under the carport. But as they stepped up to the door, he made her close her eyes, then opened it and guided her in.
“Okay, you can open them now.”
Staring into the lounge, she saw Billy sitting on the floor playing with a black German Shepherd puppy.
“Her name is Betsy. She’s related to Butch, she’s all yours.”
THE END