Epilogue
I wipe my brow with the back of my deerskin work glove, the soft leather warmed by the summer sun. CJ is digging up the rusted metal fence posts ahead of me while I clip the gnarled barbed wire into sections. He glances at me from beneath the shade of his cowboy hat, a smile tugging at his lips.
I smile back, my heart fluttering.
Dad and his girlfriend, Keo, are behind me, making coils of the wire, flirting like usual as they work.
Colton is ahead of all of us, digging up and clearing bitterbrush and sage that has grown around the old sheep fencing, practically running circles around the rest of us with his bottomless energy.
Turns out he and CJ have the same uncanny memory for nature facts, and as I clip my way down the rusty wire, their volleying and laughter fills the air.
I spent a year and a half as a wildlife biologist for the state of Idaho.
Long enough to see some big changes, including the hiring of a new senior biologist—a woman—to replace Keith when he took an early retirement the summer after I returned to work.
Long enough that I managed to change a few key policies.
Both accomplishments I’m super proud of.
But when a position opened up with The Nature Conservancy in the Lower Clearwater region that offered me the chance to combine my grant writing skills with my passion for all things wild—including plenty of fieldwork—I jumped.
Switching to the private sector has been a much better fit.
I love my wonderfully quirky coworkers and the projects we get to tackle.
Even though the work I do now may only benefit a smaller region of my home state, its protection will never come under fire because of swings in politics or budget cuts.
As part of my hire, I asked to spearhead a renewed Winter Range Project to benefit the Snow Creek herd, but it quickly became Colton’s pet project.
Though CJ oversees everything and The Nature Conservancy helps with funding, he’s in charge of organizing volunteer work parties like this one, though with my family and extended network of friends pitching in, we always have a full crew.
Today marks our fifth, and my heart is practically bursting when I think of how much we’ve accomplished.
Even if only one more antelope or elk or moose makes it down to the lower elevations without getting tangled up in this old fencing this winter, it’ll be a win.
Dad’s friend Luke and Sheriff Rumsey worked for months to help CJ track down his sister, but it wasn’t the answer he was hoping for.
Molly Parks died of an overdose at a truck stop outside of Prosser, Washington.
CJ was devastated, and sick with guilt, but thanks to his therapist and the love and support from me and my family, he’s learning to let her go.
I catch up to him in a patch of shade, where Zach and Sofie have set up a cooler with cold drinks. He hands me a can of sparkling water, then leans in for a kiss.
I lean in, closing my eyes, and savor the scent of pine and sun-warmed earth and the softness of his lips.
He hums in delight, then leans back with that sultry smile that knocks me flat. “Your dad’s getting around pretty good.” He cracks open a can for himself.
“Is it weird now that we’re both gone?” Dad needed almost six months of rehab before he was cleared for duty.
Some of that time was spent in the role of temporary Deputy Director, thanks to Scott Shay getting the promotion he so wanted after taking credit for IDFW’s role in rescuing me—the scoundrel.
But Dad only spent nine months back in the job before he turned the Clearwater Lower Bitterroot over to CJ.
His new hip has allowed him to be more active again, and he hasn’t slowed down since.
He’s either hiking in the mountains with Colton, or adventuring with Skye, Curren, and Tanya, or going on horseback rides with Keo, or skiing with me, or working on projects with CJ, like the house we bought this spring.
A fixer-upper but with good bones and a practically new barn for Jasper, his pack horse Jambalaya, and my mare, Oreo.
CJ cocks his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I miss cornering you in your office. I miss that desk.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “The kitchen counter seems to be working just fine.”
He leans in to kiss the place below my ear, sucking just a little. “Maybe at quitting time, I can drive us into the woods and bend you over my tailgate.”
I turn to nibble at his ear, my pulse tapping lower. “Think we have time before the picnic tonight?”
He winks. “Time management is one of my many skills.”
I wrap my arm around his neck. “You’re on, cowboy.”
“I love you, Linnea Jaymes.” He kisses me again.
Even though we’ve been saying these words to each other for over a year now, hearing them still gives me butterflies.
I let my lips linger on his and roll my body closer. “Love you back.”
Later that night, after the promised detour and a quick stop at home for showers and to pack up our potluck contribution, we head to Hazel Creek Campground, my family’s favorite spot.
This gathering is special because not only are CJ’s grandparents joining us now that they live in Finn River, but Maryanne and Bear, just returning from their honeymoon, are coming too, and Dad’s friend Luke Ballard is coming down from Maple Canyon where he relocated to help out on his family’s ranch.
Losing his fiancée in the conflict with Sons of Eden made it impossible for him to continue working in law enforcement. Dad says being home with his big family is helping him heal, and I hope it’s true.
After a yummy picnic dinner of barbecued chicken and Barb’s famous potato salad and singing campfire songs led by Morgan, Charlotte, Jesse, and Skye around the big bonfire, we roast s’mores and tell stories with lots of laughter.
CJ hasn’t left my side all night, and even though we made good use of his tailgate earlier, I can’t wait for later, when he’ll take me home.
I pull my perfectly roasted marshmallow from the coals, but the pair of graham crackers I had waiting on my knee is gone. “Bruneau!” I say on a groan while my family laughs.
CJ lunges for the box. “I’ve got you.”
But when he offers it to me, the look on his face makes my stomach swoop. It’s intense and tender all at once. A look that says we’re two halves fitted together to make a whole. That we belong. A look that says I love you, all of you.
Puzzled why he’d look at me like this with a box of graham crackers in his hand, I reach inside.
When my fingers brush soft velvet instead of crackers, I jump to my feet, dropping my roasting stick and clamping my hand over my mouth.
“What?” I whisper as I tighten my hold on the velvet box.
The chatter around the fire goes quiet. This can’t be happening. Is this really happening?
CJ sets the graham cracker box aside then drops to one knee.
Sudden tears sting the corners of my eyes as he gently takes the velvet box from my fingers.
I press both hands to my cheeks. Breathe, Linnie.
Sofie and Maryanne come up behind me, and on the other side of the fire, Dad puts his arm over Keo’s shoulders, his eyes misting. Next to them are CJ’s grandparents, and their look of love could move mountains.
CJ forces out a shaky breath, his lips quivering, and gazes up at me with those earnest silver eyes. “I love you so much.”
I release a half-sob, half-laugh because could this moment be any more perfect? A moment I never thought could happen to me.
“I love you too.”
He opens the box, revealing a simple silver ring with a diamond in the center flanked by two sapphires. “This…” He has to pause to compose himself, and I have to brush at my eyes because I think I know why.
“…was my mom’s ring.”
“It’s beautiful,” I get out before another sob steals my breath.
His stormy eyes shine, but he smiles like the sun. “Would you wear it?” His lips quiver, but he slips the ring from its hold, then sets the box on my chair and takes my hand in his. “Linnea Jaymes Whittaker, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” I lock eyes with him as tears spill down my cheek. “Of course, yes.”
He slides the ring on, the gems flashing in the light from the bonfire. Hoots and cheers ring out as CJs stands and takes me into his arms, his mouth crashing into mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back, not caring that everyone is watching.
Because I’m so in love with this man. It doesn’t matter that we met in a bar, or that we’ve made mistakes.
It doesn’t matter that life is still plenty messy.
It’s nice to leave life a little bit wild in places.
Because what we’re building is beautiful, and genuine.
It’s the forever I used to dream about but didn’t think I could have.
CJ’s my safe haven, my copilot, my best friend. And I can’t imagine life without him.
CJ sets me on my feet, and though we’re hugged and fussed over, it’s not long before CJ’s tugging me toward his truck.
When he opens my door, he surprises me by lifting me up and setting me on the seat. Down at the campsite, the party’s still going, the bonfire’s orange flames flickering against the dark night.
“I can’t wait to make you my wife.” He leans in to kiss me.
Heat coils low in my belly. “I can’t wait to make you my husband.”
He pulls away, his eyes flashing with that wicked gleam. “For tonight, knowing you’re mine is enough.”
“I’m yours forever.” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. “Take me home, cowboy.”