Epilogue #3
The Walkers join next. Tom and Ann dance with stars in their eyes after all these years as their youngest sons sway nearby with their own ladies.
Jaxon and Landrie hold each other as close as possible, despite Landrie’s swelling belly, their baby expected in the new year.
She’s still glowing as brightly as the whole town expected.
Luke finally plucked up the courage to date Tess a few months ago, so I won’t be surprised if a wedding announcement is made for them, too.
He gives me a look that says, “Look what we made happen,” as he gestures to Archer and Tess, and I laugh.
Tate and Liv Walker haven’t joined the dance yet, too busy comfortably speaking with each other, as we usually find them these days.
The stress from the events last year have faded, and now, there’s no couple more at ease—though Tate still has that bulge in his lower back, letting the whole town know he’s packing and always protecting his woman.
Giggling sounds through the crowds, and me and Archer both turn to see Emma, Carson, and his daughter Penny dancing raucously at the side, though the music is slow.
“Come on, move those limbs,” Carson says as he swings his daughter around and around with Emma, her glasses nearly sliding off her nose from the speed.
Penny’s rolling her eyes, though her delight is apparent at her dad’s teasing.
“Good thing Emma made that bulletin board last year,” I say to Archer, motioning to the librarian. “Otherwise all of Autumn Ridge wouldn’t have been so invested in Dad’s relationship.”
“She needs to make one next for Lisa Ellis.”
I follow his gaze to where Dad’s secretary is making eyes at a man across the room—all while having her hand on her current date.
“The library bulletin wouldn’t fit the amount of men she has in her back pocket.”
We share a laugh.
“What about Sharon?” Archer asks next.
“Last I heard, she’s dating a doctor at the hospital.”
“Juliet? Juliet!”
I look over my shoulder, Rosie running up to me with wide eyes. Dean Alden walks slowly behind her, amusement on his lips.
“Did you hear?” she asks in a harried whisper when she reaches us. “The pastor’s wife bailed on the fall festival again. You don’t think...You don’t think they’ll ask me to be director, do you?”
I don’t need to respond as Dean takes her hand in his. “If they do, what do we say?”
She looks at him in confusion, then slowly, a calm blanket seems to wrap around her. “No. We say no.”
“That’s right.” He places a kiss to her hand, then pulls her in for a dance. “Because we’ve got a wedding to plan that’s more important than the festival. Now, let’s let the lovely couple enjoy their dance while we enjoy ours, okay?”
Like a spell had come over her, she smiles into his eyes. “That sounds nice.”
They dance away from us, clearly on Cloud Nine.
“No one to run the festival...” Archer muses.
I look up at him. “What, you’re not thinking of doing it, are you?”
“Not just me.” His grin grows. “You’ll be finished with your final online semester and officially have your business degree.
What do you say you put it to use somewhere other than the stables and The Velvet Wick and give it another go—this time with an accomplished cowboy to help instead of, well, Rosie? ”
I laugh. “Only if you’re in charge of the pumpkins.”
“Done.”
He pushes me out to spin me beneath his hand, then pulls me back in, only to lead me outside.
“We’ll avoid the generator area,” Archer whispers. “For obvious reasons.”
He leads me out into a nearby field, the light from the tent shining in the distance as a few of his horses follow us, curious. We pat a few of them before they lose interest and return to their grazing in the dark.
It’s still warm out, the land not yet autumn kissed, but it’s only a matter of time. I can’t wait to experience another season with my cowboy.
He pulls me into his arms and stares down at me. “Ride tomorrow?”
“If we go to our spot.”
He grins, then leans down and kisses me in the freedom and shelter of the clear night’s sky. His kiss promises of many more to come, of our own wedding, and of our lives that are happier now they’re interwoven.
“I love you,” he whispers to me as he pulls back to rest his brow against mine.
“I love you, too, cowboy.”
And I do.
I count my lucky stars every night that little Teenage Juliet never gave up hope on her crush. If she had, I wouldn’t be standing here in the arms of my love, my very own cowboy fantasy turned reality. Now, I’m living my best life, no longer fantasizing—but living.
This is exactly where I want to be, forever wrapped in the safety of Archer’s arms and in the warmth of Autumn Ridge.
Teenage Juliet has finally been freed, joining the ranks with Adult Juliet. And you know what? I’m going to let both stay, the woman I was then and the woman I’ve become. Because that’s the real me.
And I’ve never been happier than I am now—with Archer at my side and with myself at the reins.
THE END