Epilogue - Gage
Months pass by, and to say things have changed would be an understatement.
Sloane officially moved to Bell River within the first month of us making our relationship official. She also decided to make over the house so it matched both of our styles, but when I told her I didn’t have a style, she quickly quipped that she already knew that.
The house is exactly as Uncle Sam left it. I didn’t feel right changing anything at the time, but now that Sloane has moved in permanently, she says we need to make it our own. I tend to agree with her, especially if we’re living here for the rest of our lives.
We should be comfortable where we are, and it should reflect us.
Things have begun to settle. Horizon Group seems to be a thing of the past, and the condos they were building just beyond our land have been taken over by another developer—one who’s actively working with Bell River to make the area more desirable.
It helps that they’ve even had Sloane on a contractual basis to assist with Bell River planning and land use. It’s been a proud moment for me to watch her settle in here and find her footing.
Tommy did what he set out to do. He got involved with the county commissioner, filed a complaint, and brought the attorney’s office in.
Monty was able to create a lawsuit on our behalf, but if not for Tommy, the county wouldn’t have been made aware of how severe Horizon Group was to our community and the neighboring ones.
I still remember the day Sloane tells me, after she gets off the phone with her dad, that Horizon Group filed for bankruptcy and officially lost all credibility after settling outside of court.
That’s just the short version of all the lead-up to today.
When I walk outside the house with my cup of coffee, I spot Sloane far down the hill near the crops.
She managed to convince me to expand the fence to our full acreage, but I don’t think she expected how much space we have. Her response is that she’ll find a use for it. And I don’t doubt that.
She picks some of the ready crops below and places them in a basket, and I take a moment to admire her in her element.
The love I have for her has grown tenfold, and it’s because of the little things she does that seem mundane to others, but beautiful to me.
The light she brings to the ranch every day is what lets me get up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, and feel stress-free.
With these new beginnings come fixes, too.
Hollis Carter Ranch has officially been renamed in the county registry, and Sloane’s list of upgrades has been completed. Naturally, she was right.
The money we’ve saved since the solar panels and the new water main were put in place is proof she knew exactly what she was doing, replacing outdated systems, and solidifying our water supply into one reliable source.
As Sloane walks up the hill, she spots me at the top, waiting for her with another mug in my hand. She smiles lovingly at me, and damn it, I’m at a loss for how I got so lucky.
For months, we’ve fallen into this comfortable groove where I head out to the ranch to work with the hands, and she checks the books, makes orders when needed, then goes off to do her consulting work for the day.
We meet back later in the evening, cook together, eat together, and then go to bed together. It’s reached a point where we’ve gone domestic, and this is exactly how it should be. Sure, we have our little arguments, but it’s nothing like how we were when we were initially forced together.
All of it gets me wondering.
Is she ready to be my wife now?
Am I ready to call her my wife?
I carry my grandma’s ring in my pocket. I have for a few weeks now, as I ponder the idea of finally getting on one knee and asking her the most important question.
At first, it was tough to know when because of how rocky our beginning was, but as weeks turn into months, I realize the need is getting harder to ignore.
The desire to have Sloane be my wife isn’t new. I know I wanted it before I ever confessed my feelings to her.
I only prolonged it because it felt like the right thing to do, and because Sloane seemed like she wanted to wait. It wasn’t something I minded, but now it feels like the only thing that makes sense.
Uncle Sam gave me my grandma’s ring just after my aunt passed. He told me it had been passed down to him from my grandpa, and now he wanted me to have it.
At the time, I don’t think I ever believed I’d use it. I still want to keep it safe, thinking maybe one of my cousins could have it someday, but the reality is I’m the last one unmarried and single.
But now the opportunity to place it on Sloane’s finger is here, and I’m nervous as all hell. If she says no, I’m not sure what I’ll do. But if she says yes, I think I might faint.
Either way, it won’t be a pretty sight. But if she does want to marry me, then we’re one step closer to finally having it all.
We’ve talked about the future in quiet moments—about what we want, what we’re open to, and what we’re willing to grow into together. There’s no rush, no pressure, just the steady understanding that whatever comes next will be something we choose side by side.
While I’d much prefer to be married before babies, I’m aware that time is creeping up. I want to make sure we don’t miss our chance.
Sloane makes it up the rest of the hill, and I hand her the mug with creamer. She kisses me softly, then takes a sip. “You got everything you need?” I ask, and she nods.
“Yeah, Aunt May will be stopping by later to help with the side dishes,” she replies as we walk up the steps.
Ever since things calmed down, we want to bring life back to Bell River. Horizon Group put a strain on a lot of us, especially after news breaks that Fred worked under the table for them.
All of us are shaken, wondering if there are others like him, hiding behind greed and the promise of a large payout. Trust shook our community, but when no one else was named in the settlements and lawsuits, the town starts feeling less suffocated.
It’s Sloane’s idea to bring everyone together and do a BBQ. She talks about how excited everyone was during the Annual Barn Party, and how she wants to bring that same energy to the BBQ.
I admire the fact that she’s trying, especially when she isn’t from around here. Despite that, she’s made a name for herself and helped so many people since moving here permanently.
We walk up the steps, and she stops and turns to me. “You’re still okay with us doing this, right?” she asks, checking in on me like she always does.
It’s no secret that I don’t do well in social settings, but this means a lot to her, and I’m willing to put my feelings aside to make her happy. Not to mention, I know I can always turn to her if I feel too out of place.
“You’ve asked me a dozen times, little miss,” I reply, tugging her close with my free hand. She sighs contentedly as I pepper her neck with gentle kisses.
“I know, but I just want to be sure. Last thing I want is for you to be uncomfortable,” she says, and I end the conversation with a kiss to her lips.
“I will never get comfortable if I’m not uncomfortable first,” I reply as she stares at me thoughtfully.
“That’s a good life lesson.”
Yeah, I thought so too.
As expected, I’m not comfortable when everyone arrives with their own food and cheerful faces. It’s been a while since we’ve had so many people from Bell River at the ranch, but I know Sloane is right when she says we need to rebuild morale in the town.
I hit the grill with Uncle Eddy, Aunt May’s husband, and Hank. Of course, Hank tries to steal the food with false claims of being the taste tester, but we manage to wrangle him before he can.
In the distance, I watch Sloane talking to the other women in town who are around her age. She’s gotten a lot closer to the other women, which makes me happy to see.
One of the things that worried me about her moving here was whether she’d even like it without women her age around. They obviously existed, but Sloane wasn’t making a habit of meeting people when she believed she’d only be here for six months.
Now, she’s managed to build a whole friend group, some with kids and others on the way. Sloane is the only one without them, but it isn’t like we aren’t trying.
She’s clad in a light, flowing sundress paired with her cowboy boots, and I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. The grilling becomes secondary the moment my eyes find her.
One of her friends glances toward me before tapping her arm to point in my direction.
When she looks up, she meets my gaze, and we share a meaningful look. She mouths the words, “I love you,” to me, and it’s easy to say it back, leaving her blushing.
“Hey, stop making eyes at the lady and finish these weenies. I’m gettin' hungry,” Hank says, pulling my attention back to the grill.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, you’re just now getting hungry?” I ask jokingly, rotating and flipping everything over.
Uncle Eddy takes a sip of his beer, watching our exchange before speaking.
“Hey, Gage, I heard from May you’re thinking of proposin’,” he says, pointing at me with the bottle.
Hank stares in shock, the news clearly not reaching him yet—mostly because I think his big mouth would’ve spilled it already.
“Yeah, I’m thinking tonight,” I tell him, and he nods, taking another drink.
“Well, I’m happy for you, Gage, truly. Sloane is a lovely woman,” Eddy says, and I smile appreciatively at him. Uncle Eddy and I aren’t as close as I was with Uncle Sam, but I always know that when I need something, he’ll be there for me in an instant.
The same goes for Hank. “I cannot believe you didn’t tell me.” I roll my eyes, then stare at him. “What? You think I’d say somethin’ to her?”
“Maybe not to her, but you got a habit of talking about not keeping secrets,” Eddy says before I can respond.
I’ll never forget the time Uncle Sam told him about Aunt May’s daughter being pregnant with her first child, and Hank went and blabbered it to the other ranch hands.
Needless to say, Aunt May wasn’t pleased when she found out early—they were planning one of those gender reveals.
Uncle Eddy doesn’t seem to be over it either.
I glance up and see Sloane approaching, using my hands to signal them to lower their voices as she gets closer.
She wraps her arms around my waist from behind. “How’s the food coming, gentlemen?” she asks as I open the grill and test the tenderness of the burgers.
“About two minutes,” I reply.
She smiles warmly, kissing me briefly. “It smells amazing.” She runs her hand down my chest before pulling away and making her rounds again.
How am I going to get through the rest of this when tonight is getting closer?
Late afternoon turns to dark. Food has been served, and everyone is mingling among themselves as music plays quietly in the background. It’s been an overall success, and I’ve been barely uncomfortable.
Sloane sits with her friends around the fire pit, talking about the latest books they’re reading.
I fiddle with the ring in my pocket for the hundredth time tonight, like it’s weighing me down. I thought about waiting until everyone left, but the wait is getting too difficult.
My nerves set in. I take a deep breath, then walk toward her. I stop behind her and kneel down slightly to whisper in her ear. “Can I steal you for a moment?” I ask as she looks up, concern flickering across her face.
“Is everything okay?”
I nod, holding my hand out to help her to her feet. She looks back at her friends and tells them she’ll be right back as we walk off together. I take her down to our place behind the mesquite tree. The clearing is lit with fireflies, the stars and moon casting a glow over an already beautiful spot.
When I decided to share the place with her, I knew it was no longer just my spot, but ours. Everything up to this point has become ours, and it’s been the best decision of my life. And now, I’m about to make the biggest decision yet.
“What’s going on?” she asks, and I let out a deep breath.
“I wanted this moment with you because there’s something I need to say,” I begin, winging it, because even though I’ve practiced over and over, nothing prepares you for the real thing.
“I love you, and I don’t think any amount of words or actions could show you how much I truly am in love with you,” I say as her smile grows.
“These past few months have been incredible and eye-opening in many ways. I learned that it’s okay to rely on someone sometimes, and it’s even more okay to trust the people around you.”
My speech continues, but I’m not even sure where I’m going with it anymore.
I sigh deeply, frustration creeping in. “I had this whole thing planned, but it feels like I’m just rambling.” I grow annoyed with myself, but she reaches out and takes my hand.
She shakes her head, offering me another encouraging grin. “You’re doing amazing. Keep going,” she says, and I take another deep breath.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the future and what I want ours to look like.”
“I’ve been thinking about the life we’re building and how much I want to keep choosing it. With you.”
I slip my hand into my pocket and pull out the ring. She gasps as I drop to one knee.
“Sloane Carter, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?” I ask, finally getting it out. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as I wait for her answer.
Tears have sprung to her eyes, and the wait feels like it’s gone on forever—then she says it.
“Yes.” Her answer is soft, so she tries again. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she replies, pulling me into her arms as she stands. With the final touch, I slide the ring onto her finger and hold her tightly in my arms.
Finally, I can say nothing—and I mean nothing—will tear us apart.
***
Across the yard, just beyond the edge of the lights, movement catches my attention.
A truck pulls up near the gate.
I don’t think much of it at first—people have been coming and going all day—but then the engine cuts, and the silence that follows feels… wrong.
Sloane shifts beside me. “Do you know who that is?”
I narrow my eyes, trying to make out the figure stepping out into the dark.
Tall. Familiar.
Cam.
He shouldn’t be here.
Not after everything.
Before I can make sense of it, another door slams.
And then—
her.
Naiya.
The space between them is charged, tight with something that doesn’t look like resolution.
It looks like unfinished business.
And something tells me whatever just walked back onto this land—
isn’t here to make things easy for anyone.
***
>>> THE END <<<