Epilogue
BLAZE
Six Months Later
The Last Stand Tavern had never been quiet for a single day since the Ranger’s took over ownership.
Today was worse.
Much worse.
“Who invited this many people?” I muttered.
Wolf snorted beside me. “You did, dumbass.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“You proposed in the middle of town.”
“That doesn’t mean everybody had to come.”
Trigger walked past carrying two cases of beer.
“You cried during the proposal,” he informed me casually.
I glared instantly.
“I did not cry.”
“You absolutely cried,” Wolf said.
“I was bleeding.”
“You were emotional.”
“Both of you are crazy. I’ve waited half of my life to marry Felicity, so maybe I was emotional. Now move out of my way.”
Neither one looked remotely bothered.
Outside, laughter echoed across the mountain air as more trucks pulled into the tavern parking lot.
The Magnolia Ladies had apparently decided this engagement party required enough food to feed a small army.
Mabel alone had threatened three grown men with a wooden spoon already.
Grandma Dot, as she wanted to be called, was somehow in charge of decorations despite openly admitting she’d stolen half of them from another church event.
And right in the middle of all the chaos?—
Flick stood on the tavern porch smiling.
God.
That smile still hit me like a freight train.
Six months later, and I still sometimes caught myself staring at her like an idiot.
The bruises were gone now.
The fear in her eyes mostly faded.
She laughed easier.
Slept through the night more often.
And somehow…
she’d completely taken over my life.
Not that I was complaining.
She wore one of my flannels over a soft cream sweater while autumn wind tossed strands of hair around her face.
Mine.
That dangerous little thought still lived permanently in my head.
Mine to protect.
Mine to love.
Mine to grow old beside.
Flick caught me staring and smiled wider.
“You’re doing it again.”
I walked toward her slowly.
“Doing what?”
“Looking at me like I hung the moon.”
I stopped directly in front of her.
“Maybe you did.”
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
Hell.
I loved that too.
Behind us, Wolf made a disgusted noise.
“Jesus Christ.”
Trigger nodded solemnly. “They’re unbearable now.”
Flick laughed softly while I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against me.
The engagement ring on her hand flashed in the afternoon sunlight.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Perfect for her.
She rested her hand against my chest quietly.
“You okay?”
That question hit deeper than she probably realized.
Because six months ago?
The answer would’ve been no.
I’d spent years angry.
Half-dead inside.
Existing instead of living.
Then Flick crashed back into my life like a wildfire and somehow stitched pieces of me back together without even realizing it.
I kissed her forehead softly.
“Yeah,” I answered honestly. “I am now.”
Emotion flickered across her face.
Then Sheriff Tate suddenly yelled from across the parking lot?—
“IF YOU TWO START THAT AGAIN, GET INSIDE!”
The entire crowd burst into laughter.
Flick buried her face against my chest instantly.
I smirked.
“Jealousy’s ugly on him.”
Wolf shouted?—
“WE CAN STILL HEAR YOU!”
Mabel appeared beside us, carrying a pie. She walked inside.
Nobody knew where she got all the food.
The mountain air carried warmth and smoke from fireplaces while music drifted across the tavern property.
Safe.
Peaceful.
Home.
And standing there with Flick in my arms while our people laughed around us…
I realized something important.
Shepherd lost.
Not because we killed his men.
Not because the Rangers fought harder.
He lost because after everything he did?—
Flick was still smiling.
And I’d spend the rest of my life protecting that smile.