Epilogue
Wes
Ispread out the picnic blanket on the ground in my favorite spot while Sawyer huddles deeper into her coat. Nearby, Luci and Dolly stand by the copse of trees, huffing out steamy breaths into the frosty air.
Luci has improved leaps and bounds and can finally be taken on trail rides without bolting at every unfamiliar sound. By the end of spring, he might even be ready to help work cattle with some more training by me and Sawyer. The joint effort has made all the difference for him.
The winter chill hasn’t quite dissipated like I’d hoped, but I’m not likely to get many more free afternoons with the calving season on the horizon.
“R-r-remind m-me why we aren’t inside where it’s warm like normal people.”
I hand over the thermos of hot chocolate I brought and look down at her. There’s no snow on the ground right now. It all melted in the warm front that came through last week, but February is still plenty cold.
“I was trying to be romantic.”
"Consider me swept off my feet," she deadpans. "Now, can we please go back to the house?"
I chuckle and plop down onto the blanket, patting the spot in front of me. “Get your fine ass down here, Red. I’ll warm you up.”
She sighs, rolling her eyes toward the sky, but eventually caves, settling between my legs with her back against my chest. I hum in satisfaction, wrapping my arms around her and burying my face in the crook of her neck.
She smells like lavender, sage, and horses—my favorite combination.
Her body goes lax as she warms up in my arms, and I tighten my hold, breathing her in.
“Do you remember our first time coming out here together?” I murmur against her ear.
Her cheeks go taut as she smiles against the rim of the thermos. “How could I forget?” She takes another sip of the hot chocolate and then adds, “That was the night I realized I was falling in love with you.”
“You remember what I said?” I ask, taking the thermos from her.
She tilts her head up, eyeing me upside down. “Which part? You said a lot that night.”
“The bit about this being the perfect spot to build a house.”
"Hmm." She turns her gaze back out to the tall buttes decorating the fields. "You said it was a pipe dream."
“I thought it was.”
“And now?” she questions.
“And now I think we could break ground right here in spring so that by next summer you and I could have a place that’s ours. A place where we can grow together.”
She jerks upright in my arms. “What?”
“We could build you an indoor training arena so you’re out of the sun in the summer and out of the cold in the winter. The stable could go over there. We could put the goats over here, and if you wanted to get some chickens, I could build you a coop right there.”
She smirks, sinking back against my chest. “Mm, talk dirty to me, cowboy.”
I chuckle, my heart pounding as I slip a small box from my pocket. Flipping it open, I reach around so she can see what I’m holding.
“I know that you've never been eager to get married again, and we don’t have to make it a big deal if you don’t want to. We can wait as long as you need. But I’m just so madly in love with you, I can’t imagine not putting a ring on your finger.”
She turns in my lap, wide-eyed. “You’re serious.”
I snort, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. “Yeah, I’m serious, but only if it’s something you want too.”
She smacks my chest. “Of course I want that. I love you, you idiot.”
Her lips slant against mine, and I run my fingers through her fiery locks. The kiss is sweet and unhurried, and it warms me up from the inside out. When she finally breaks away, her smile is bright and eager as she sticks out her left hand and wiggles her fingers.
“Lay it on me, cowboy.”
I slide the simple ring over the knuckle of her finger and kiss her again before she nestles back against me, both of us watching the sunset coat the horizon in warm shades of color.
"I have one more surprise, but you have to get up to see it."
She groans. "You're always full of surprises."
I stand up and reach down for her hands to pull her up with me. She laces her fingers through mine and as my finger grazes the diamond on her ring, my heart takes flight in my chest. How did I ever get lucky enough to keep her?
I lead her to where I’d pointed out the new training arena would go. A wooden sign leans against one of the trees.
“I haven’t had a chance to put it up yet since the ground’s still frozen,” I explain. “I had Hank Mackey make it for you.”
She steps closer, tilting her head as she reads the engraved letters.
“Wild Hearts Horse Training?”
I scratch at the scruff of my beard. "You needed a name. If you don't like it, I can have him make a different one."
She stares silently at the engraved wooden sign, and I start to get nervous.
"If you have a different name in mind, we can change it—"
She turns toward me, eyes shining. "It's perfect, Wes."
Relief floods through me. "Really?"
She nods, stepping into my arms. "Really. I love it. You did good, cowboy."
I smile into her hair, kissing the top of her head. “Thank God. I had all the plans drawn up already. They’ll need to build an access road, but they can break ground in late spring once that’s finished.”
“Mm, that sounds like a dream come true.”
“It does, huh?”
The sun dips low over Cottonwood Creek, painting the fields in yellow, gold, and orange. And for the first time, I know, without a doubt—I’m right where I belong.
The End