Epilogue
WILLOW
Late Spring
“I love riding with you, Mom. Isn’t this fun?” Ro grinned and gushed on the back of Marshmallow. If she could live on a horse night and day, she would.
“It is, sweetie.” Today I rode a pretty and mild Palomino named Pearl, who came to us from an older rancher we’d met at the Open House. He could no longer take care of his animals properly. She turned out to be lovely—and easy on my ass for riding.
Ash rode Tank and took up the rear on the trail. We wanted to take one more ride together on this sunny spring day—as a family—before leaving on our honeymoon.
Juniper couldn’t come with us on the trail because she surprised us all last week with the birth of her foal.
The sweet black and white filly fell instantly in love with Ro, who picked her name, June Bug.
Every day after school, before she got her homework and chores done, she ran to the barn to spend time with them.
After our ride, Ro and I settled the horses and put the tack away in the barn.
Ash had to step away for a quick call with Chris, who had approved building new cabins for some of the ranch hands over the coming summer, along with a corporate retreat center.
Chris had also hired me to drum up business and manage all the events and rentals for that.
Talk about a dream job. I got to be home for Ro to see her before and after school. I also supported Ash with light office work on this ranch—not to mention the best perk being our occasional lunchtime quickies.
“Going to watch Daisy train a new horse, Mom,” Ro announced.
“Keep close. We’ll be leaving soon.” I finished up, giving Pearl and Marshmallow some treats, then visited Juniper and her foal.She hung her head out and sighed and nodded, our connection stronger than ever.
“Hey girl. You’re such a good mama. I know it’s goodbye for now. But we’ll be back. Take care of little June Bug.” I gave her a peppermint and a long hug. I would be forever grateful for her in my life and what she did for me that fateful night last fall.
Outside the barn, I met up with Ash. His face was downturned, and my heart plummeted. “Oh no, what did Chris say?”
His frown morphed suddenly into a broad grin.
“He approved the sale of the acreage at Rhodes Ridge to us. It’s ours, bright eyes.
” He lifted me and swung me around. I yelped and laughed.
Another dream come true. “If I hurry and get plans submitted by summer, with a little help from some men on the weekends, we could break ground and get the exterior finished. Then we could work on the interior through the fall. Maybe move in by winter.”
“I’d love that. Our first Christmas as a family in our new home.”
“Would that make you happy, wife?”
“You’ve already done that. Everything else is a bonus.”
He had been itching for the sale of the land to finalize, pouring his spare time into the plans. He promised me this home would be cozy enough for three—or more. We were in no hurry for the “or more,” simply enjoying our little family as it was for now .
But we loved to practice for the “or more” every chance we got.
“Before anything gets built though, I need to take my wife on our honeymoon. Are you ready to go?” He loosened his hold and slid me down his body, capturing my lips along the way. Warm and lingering over several kisses in the sunshine, my body lit up on fire for the man I now called my husband.
I loved being called his wife.
“Sheesh, will you two just leave already?” Ro came running over, plowing her way between us.
I knew deep down she’d miss us, but right now she was too excited about staying with the Wylde sisters while we were on our trip.
Ivy promised her it’d be one whole week of sleepovers, complete with junk food eating, nail polishing, dancing, and whatever other mischief they got into.
At least I knew Ro would be in good hands with people who cared for her.
“Come here, Ro. Oh my girl. You be good for Daisy and all the girls while we’re gone.” I knelt in front of her and held her tight. This would mark the first time I’d be away from my baby ever. I tried not to cry.
“Mom, you’re squeezing me. I can’t breathe,” she giggled. “I’ll be good, I promise. Will you and Daddy Ash be okay without me?”
The ‘Daddy Ash’ was something she started once Ash proposed to me on Christmas Day.
The proposal came as a complete surprise.
We’d taken Ro outside to make snow angels and forts, but went back inside within the hour.
Ash stayed out longer than we did, teasing us that we were still too much like city girls to endure the freezing temperatures.
Later that night, after Ro slept, he bundled me up and took me out to where he’d built two snow people and a snow child. The female had a diamond ring hanging from her twig arm. He took a knee, but I said yes and plowed into him with kisses before he could even ask.
I spent the rest of the winter planning our wedding, and just last week, we got married at the First Church of Forest Grove, with a celebration party afterward at the Sapphire Saloon.
Daisy and Ivy were my bridesmaids. Colt and Knox stood by Ash.
Our first song we danced to was the same one we heard long ago when we first kissed at the lake.
Ash had a special song dedicated to Ro and danced with her, too.
The day was everything I could have ever wanted and the start of our new beginning.
Wedding done, now we had this wonderful trip together to look forward to.
Ash picked Ro up and gave her a hug and tickled her, too. “Don’t you worry, little miss. I’ll get your mom to California and back safe and sound.”
He put her down and gave a final order to Knox with a knowing glance. “I'm counting on you to take good care of this place while I’m gone.”
“I've got it under control, Boss. Besides, I have a great team with me, too,” Knox sidled up to Daisy and put his arm around her shoulder. Surprisingly, she didn’t shake him off. In fact, she kind of blushed.
Colt and Ivy stepped up next to them, with Ro getting in between them all.
Ivy swore she and Colt were just friends, but at the Sapphire during our wedding reception, Ivy had walked right up to Colt and kissed him.
I didn’t know if that was for show after her ex walked in, or what, and I’d been too busy with my new husband to ask her about it.
No time to ask now, either, as Ash checked our suitcases were secure in back one last time for the trip ahead.
We planned the whole thing together, starting with a drive across Washington to hit the coast. From there, we’d take our time, stopping at little beach towns along the way south to California.
We’d rent a trailer and pick up the things Ro and I had stashed in storage, then drive back home to Montana.
I hoped we’d even call on our fathers while there, and also stop by the cemetery where Scott and his mother had been buried. But we left that part of the trip open and would wait and see how we felt about it, if for nothing else it would help to lay the past to rest at last.
“Ready, wife?” Ash held open the passenger door of his new blue truck and helped me in.
He always insisted on buckling me in, too.
It was a habit we had developed after that night last fall when the fugitive forced me inside the old truck.
This was a way for Ash to assure me he’d keep me safe, and I let him.
I blew my girl kisses and waved out the window as we left, and tried not to cry. A new feeling came over me—like leaving home, which Montana had become, and the people on the ranch like family. Ro and I were so lucky.
Every single day, I grew more and more thankful that I took a chance and got on that bus with my daughter. I left everything we knew behind and took a leap of faith that I’d find love in Ash’s arms. The diamond ring on my left hand proved I did.
“I love you, Ash.” I leaned my head on his shoulder, looking out at the scenery, vowing never to take a day with him for granted.
“I love you, too, bright eyes. And when I say I love you, I mean forever.” He kissed the top of my head.
This gorgeous mountain man was my past, present, and future. I couldn’t be prouder of him and how far he’d come. Maybe I had to force him to face the things he needed to at first when I arrived here, like he told me, ‘You came to Montana and kicked my ass into high gear.’ Exactly what he needed.
I didn’t give up on him, and it paid off. I rescued him, but he also rescued me. Now the future was all ours. We couldn’t have picked a more suitable setting for it than the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch.
Thank you for reading.