EPILOGUE
Six weeks later
– ELODIE –
I throw my phone on the couch and stomp toward the window. “This sucks.”
The only communication I’ve had with Jaxie these past few weeks has been through text messages. Murray’s arms wrap around my waist, and he pulls my back against his hard chest. His warmth and comfort eases some of the frustration running inside me.
“You want to help and visit your friend. I get it, but you’re helping by keeping your distance,” Murray murmurs right next to my ear.
Easy for him to say when he just returned from a meeting with Seamus and Jaxie.
All while I’m following the advice Orson and Helena gave me six weeks ago.
With Murray being an employee of Stalwart Ridge Security, and having the paid assignment to protect me, I didn’t have a threat hanging above my head anymore. Not with Nolan dead.
The investigation now focusses on Royce and Joline Hagan, Helena’s half-sister. All the evidence is circumstantial, even if Murray identified Joline running away from the scene. I have no clue how far along they are or what they found out.
I do know they had a warrant for Joline’s arrest and she was brought in, but they had to let her go after twenty-four hours. Again, no details were shared with us and it’s more than a little frustrating. Jaxie and Seamus know a lot more, I’m sure of it, but they too keep their distance.
All I’ve been told is what concerned me.
Nolan was the one who slaughtered my horse and did it to get Jaxie away from her cabin to search the place.
Murray mentioned some details to me as well.
They apparently gave Royce false information in the hopes he lets his guard down.
I have no clue what this means or what they’re doing because I have been keeping my distance, as promised.
Murray was paid for keeping me safe, which means he was able to get some paid time off to take care of his horse, the way he had planned.
It’s been bliss to wake up together and spend time on this mountain with Hank and the horses.
I can’t imagine not spending a day up on this mountain with Murray by my side.
Weird how my life keeps shifting these past few months. Going from training horses, managing the ranch, and keeping my focus on that for decades, and having it all change when Jaxie asked me to join her up this mountain. The turmoil that followed led me to where I am right now.
I might be frustrated and complain, but deep down I’m thankful we’re still alive. What if Murray opened that door six weeks ago? What if I did? Ballard fought Nolan and luckily survived. It was touch and go here and there due to the massive blood loss, but he pulled through.
It was hard to see him in that hospital bed.
He had countless stitches and thinking about it still makes me a little lightheaded.
Damn. Ballard came close to losing his life that day.
He did lose something, though. His voice.
One of the cuts he sustained was deep enough to hit the vocal cords. Again, he’s so damn lucky to be alive.
“Do we have a name yet?” Murray asks.
The shift in conversation allows me to shake my thoughts and actually look at the window instead of staring off into nothing. The smile tugging my face is instant when I see Ruby’s foal dart through the small pasture.
“Not yet,” I admit.
I didn’t even know Murray called Lisa weeks ago to have her bring Ruby to our cabin.
Taking care of a horse again has definitely been a welcome distraction.
Throw in the fact that Ruby recently gave birth to an amazing foal, it’s safe to say I have my hands full.
Both Ruby and her foal have a buckskin coat.
The foal darts around Ruby and starts to buck.
“She’s going to be a handful.” Murray chuckles.
I snort. “Going to be? She already is.”
Murray reaches out and playfully tugs at my hair. “Just like you, little rebel.”
“Rebel,” I echo. “It’s a good name for her.”
His arm tightens slightly around my waist and I feel his hot breath beside my ear when he says, “Already claiming my horse, eh? Giving her the nickname I picked for you.”
I turn and sneak my arms around his neck. “We might not be swinging by the courthouse any time soon like Jaxie and Seamus, but this also isn’t a fling with a time limit either.”
“Agreed. We’re in no hurry, and no damn pressure.” He brushes his lips against mine when he murmurs, “I do have plans to call you my wifey soon enough, though.”
I give him a lingering kiss before I tell him, “Then I have plans to one day wear a white dress and heels.”
His hands move to my ass and he grinds his hard length against me. “Did I say we’re in no hurry? Shit. Now I can’t wait, ’cause I know you’re going to look so fucking stunning when I take you in those heels.”
The smile hurts my cheeks, but it quickly evaporates when I think of how Jaxie missed all of those things. At least she’s happy, that’s what counts.
Which makes me state, “We’ll be needing a huge party once we’re able to put all of this behind us.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “It all might be over in a week or so. Who knows, we might have an engagement party by then.”
I should be completely excited by his proposal, because having an engagement party involves him asking me to marry him and me saying yes.
Though, my mind gets snagged by the first sentence which is why I start to rattle, “Over in a week or so? Do you know something I don’t? And you’d better properly ask me to marry you if we’re having an engagement party.”
“I know a lot of things you don’t,” he huskily tells me.
Huffing out a frustrating breath, I step away and cross my arms in front of my chest. His gaze instantly drops to my breasts and I realize he’s enjoying the way my arms push them up. A little growl tumbles from my lips and he lifts his gaze to mine.
Clearing his throat, he says, “I will properly ask you when the time is right. Though, I wasn’t talking about our engagement party.”
I frown and wonder who he’s talking about since Jaxie and Seamus are already married, and it’s not like we have any more mutual friends.
His voice carries a hint of laughter when he says, “Helena and Ballard’s engagement party. Well, if they manage not to strangle one another first.”
“What?” I can feel my eyes widen in disbelief. “Why would those two be together? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Murray nods. “It does when they are doing undercover shit to expose Royce. According to Seamus, Helena suggested to work with Ballard and fake a relationship. See, Ballard has always been Royce’s favorite after Nolan to give the best assignments to.
Helena’s family connection could be used as well, and together they have backup to get closer to those fuckers.
Shame we can’t catch them in action, though.
Seamus said they’re hilarious together, biting each other’s head off except when Royce is around.
..then they’re suddenly a mushy couple. Add the fact Ballard doesn’t speak and only gives Helena obnoxious gestures.
..yeah, it totally sucks that we can’t see it for ourselves. ”
“Holy shit,” I murmur.
Talk about some twisted stuff right there. All of this must be hard for Ballard. After weeks of healing and dealing with everything, he jumped headfirst into this fake relationship thing.
“How is Ballard handling all of it?” I wonder. “Because he seemed to absolutely hate her guts when he found out about her, and overnight he was smitten, then the attack happened.”
Murray shrugs. “Ballard’s a strong motherfucker.”
I shake my head. “That might be, but it’s a lot to deal with and it sounds like he didn’t even get the chance to process everything.”
His strong arms pull me closer once again. “Helena was the one who saved him, remember? Add the fact she recently experienced some serious trauma herself, I’d say those two are a good match.”
“If you say so,” I murmur.
His lips find mine again and I close my eyes to relish in the warmth seeping into my veins as he deepens the kiss. This man has the ability to swoop me completely off my feet and throw me in a dimension where there’s only me and him. Nothing else around us matters except for us.
Pleasure starts to burn low in my belly and I release a sound of protest when he pulls back.
His voice is husky when he places his forehead against mine and says, “You made me fall hard and fast.”
I smile and let my fingers trace his beard. “I adore you too, and I absolutely love your piercings.”
He barks out a laugh. “Great. Not even saying you love me, your man, but you do love my piercings, eh?”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “I love you, as my man...the one who has lovely piercings.”
“Good, ’cause I love you, as my woman. So, how about we get married in three months?”
Joy crashes through me and I barely manage to say, “yes” right before I kiss him hard. His hands go to my ass, allowing me to wrap my legs around him as he carries me into the direction of the bedroom.
Happiness is certainly rooted in the here and now with a promise of a future together. Especially when he just asked me to marry him. So, it’s safe to say we are having an engagement party a few weeks from now...and it will definitely be ours.
Or maybe we will have another one for Helena and Ballard. Unless they do strangle each other...then we’ll be having a funeral instead.
My ass bounces off the bed when Murray drops me on it and my mind stops thinking. All I can do is stare at my fiancé’s muscled body as he strips away his clothes. My man, my love, my future...and I’m determined to enjoy every damn second of my life from here on out.