Epilogue
River
The thing about Montana sunsets is they’re so breathtaking, they almost make you forget you’re knee-deep in cow shit half the time.
Almost. But tonight, as I stand by the fence line with Colby’s hand in mine, the golden light spilling over the mountains feels like it’s wrapping around me, cradling this moment in a kind of magic that doesn’t come around often.
I feel it in my bones, the connection we have. The connection I have with this place.
And him.
The man who stood up for me, the man who believed in me, the man who loves me.
Colby Burke is all that and more.
“Have I told you lately that I love you, Thurston?” he asks, turning toward me.
“Mm-hmm, but tell me again.”
He smiles and pulls me into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We kiss, and the heat builds between us. I can’t get enough of this man. It’s been six months since the day he showed up and asked me to stay, and I’m still head-over-heels in love with him. And not just with him, but with the life we’re building together.
I never thought I’d find something like this.
Something so real. But now that I have it, I can’t imagine going back to the way things were before.
Colby has become my whole world. He’s the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep.
He’s the person I share everything with.
The highs and the lows, the good and the bad, and everything in between.
“I have something I’d like to show you,” Colby says, breaking the kiss.
“What is it?”
He smiles and takes my hand. “Follow me.”
I let him lead me into the barn and through the large doorway at the back.
The pasture stretches out in front of us, and the herd of cattle is grazing peacefully under the setting sun.
There’s a fallen tree lying across the grass, and it’s become my favorite spot in my time here.
Colby and I spend a lot of time sitting there, talking and planning for the future.
But as we get closer, I realize something is different. There’s a blanket spread out across the ground in front of it and a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice. There are flowers, too. Bright orange daisies. My favorite.
“Colby, what is all this?”
He grins. “It’s for you.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“Six months ago, today, you agreed to stay. It’s been the happiest six months of my life.”
I smile. “Mine too.”
He reaches out and takes my hand. “Come here, River.”
I take his hand, and he leads me to the blanket. We sit down, and he pours us each a glass of champagne. He raises his glass, and we toast.
“To the future,” he says.
“To the future,” I repeat.
We clink our classes, and I bring mine to my lips, but Colby is staring at me like he’s waiting for something. When I tilt my glass back, a flash of light from inside the liquid catches my eye. I turn the flute around and look at the bottom. There, shining up at me, is a beautiful diamond ring.
My mouth drops open, and I stare up at Colby in shock. “Oh, my God,” I whisper.
He grins and takes the glass from my hand. Then he plucks the ring out and holds it up between us.
“River Thurston...” His voice is shaking when he says my name, and my heart pounds so loud I can hardly hear the words.
“...You are the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.
I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were something special.
I didn’t know how special until you stayed.
I didn’t know how much you’d mean to me until we made a home here.
Together. You’re everything to me, and I can’t imagine spending another day without you. River, will you marry me?”
I’m speechless. I’m stunned. I’m shocked. But mostly, I’m happy. So damn happy.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes!”
He slides the ring onto my finger and pulls me into his arms, kissing me and rolling me around on the ground while I squeal and laugh. When he finally stops, we’re both covered in grass stains and dirt, and the champagne is splashed all over us, but neither of us cares.
“God, I love you,” he says, kissing me again.
“I love you too, Colby Burke.”
“So, this is forever?”
“This is forever.”
Just love this story! Such a nice flow and snappy dialogue.
River and Colby are terrific and a great match.
Smoking love scenes too! And I really liked your scenes with River and Linux, as well as the bull.
Seems like you know a lot about ranch life and livestock.
Great descriptive details. One thing I was curious about is Christian’s fate, LOL. Hoping he got the book thrown at him!
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. I grew up with my grandparents on five acres with every critter imaginable.
Now I have eight in TN that we visit several times a year totally off-grid, and we’ll be moving there full-time next year, so yes, I’ve got some experience, lol.
I’m finishing up the next book in series, and I hadn’t thought to mention Christian, but I love that idea!
I’ll add that in once I get it back from my betas.
The End
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