Epilogue
Evan
My palms were sweaty.
When was the last time I felt nervous?
Probably when I’d stood in the ATF building in Chicago, hoping that Val wouldn’t turn me away.
It had been six months since then, and life couldn’t be better.
Though Val deserved so much more than the impromptu proposal she’d received, she said over and over that she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Just a month later we married in a quiet ceremony on the ranch.
When Val rounded a corner wearing a white gown and flowers in her hair, I couldn’t breathe.
She was the most stunning woman I’d ever seen, and she had chosen me.
I was a lucky bastard, and I made sure she knew it every day.
In that time I had also taken on more responsibilities at the ranch.
What started as an opportunity to have a leg up and develop skills before entering the workforce had turned into a career I had never envisioned.
Turns out I had a knack for management and solving problems. Ma called it a “ way with people.” It sure was a far cry from how I dealt with people in Chicago.
In time, Ma and Robbie had talked with the other managers.
They offered me a full-time position managing the day-to-day operations on the ranch.
The days were still sweaty and dusty, but the sense of accomplishment always overshadowed the blistered palms and aching back. I could also oversee different aspects of ranch operations and make sure things were running smoothly, efficiently.
Val was also thriving. She loved her role as a marshal on the ranch. If she wasn’t on duty, she’d spend her hours working the ranch, usually with the horses she loved so much. We were still living in the small cottage that had given us our start—there were so many good memories under that roof.
“You sure clean up nice.” I turned to see Gemma smiling at me, a cup of something warm between her hands.
I looked down to my boots, then ran a hand down the buttons of my shirt. I’d made sure it was pressed and tucked in. I still couldn’t get myself to commit to a belt buckle, but I was relieved my attempt to look decent had hit the mark.
Today was special.
“Thanks, Gem. What are you up to?”
“Just grabbing a few things from Johnny.” She gestured with her cup toward Rebellious Rose. “Val with you?”
I shook my head. “She’s on her way. Once she’s off shift, another agent is dropping her off, and we’re snagging some of Irma’s apple pie.”
Excitement shone in Gemma’s eyes. “Ohh. Get me a piece!” She leaned in for a hug, and I squeezed her tight. “Later, Ev.”
“Will do. Bye.” I watched my little sister cross the street, smiling and waving to a town full of friendly faces. She still wrestled her demons some days, but she was here. Safe and, I hoped, happy with her life in Tipp.
A low catcall whistle caught my attention. I whipped around to see Val smiling at me. “Looking good in those jeans, cowboy.”
I tipped my imaginary hat. “Ma’am.”
Val dissolved into a fit of laughter. She threw her arms around my neck, and I wrapped mine around her waist, pulling her into me. I inhaled the bright citrus scent in her hair and swallowed a groan as I kissed her neck.
“I missed you today.”
She smiled at me. “I missed you too. Busy day. We have a new guest.”
I tried to ignore the way my back stiffened. New guests meant a change in the routine. A possible new threat. “Everything okay?”
She smiled and nodded. One concession we had to make when Val became a marshal was that there were some parts of her job she couldn’t share with me. As long as she could share her life with me along with everything else, I had made peace with that.
“Are you ready to finally have the world’s best pie, Mrs. Walker?”
Val’s plump bottom lip caught in her teeth. She loved when I called her Mrs. Walker. “Why, yes, Mr. Walker. Lead the way.”
I snagged her hand and walked her toward the door to the Tabula Rasa.
“Now I know why you kept the pie to yourself the night you followed me out to the parking lot at the Rasa.” Val’s satisfied smile was dreamy as she rubbed her full belly.
“Told you.” I smiled at her across the cab of my truck. “I wasn’t giving up Irma’s apple pie. Even if I did think you were the most gorgeous and intriguing woman I’d ever laid eyes on.” I pulled our entwined hands to my lips and kissed her knuckles.
The nerves were back. I was thankful that my truck was a stick shift, because the constant movement kept me from bouncing my knee. In a matter of moments, Val would know something was up as soon as I turned right instead of left toward the ranch.
Gazing out the window, she noticed. “Where are we going?”
I kept my eyes on the road. “There’s something I wanted to show you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re being weird. Is it a surprise?” Hope laced in her voice, and I knew right there she’d love it. My girl loved surprises.
I stayed quiet, letting the anticipation build.
I couldn’t look at her. If I did, I’d spill my guts and ruin the surprise that I’d been working on for months.
Down more winding mountain roads, I finally reached the small turnoff.
I eased the truck down the dirt road. Val had her nose to the window, taking everything in.
She’d look over in question, but I kept my eyes forward.
After a slight jog to the left, the road opened up to a huge clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a large, two-story farmhouse.
It was white with black shutters—pretty, but simple.
I put the truck in park and rounded the hood before I could look Val in the eyes.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her in front of the house.
“This is gorgeous! What is this place? ”
“Come on. That’s what I wanted to show you.” I walked across the lush green grass toward the wraparound porch. “Al had mentioned this place was going up for sale. We can’t live in the cottage forever. Especially if we want to have kids.”
“Kids?” Val’s eyes were wet with unshed tears.
I nodded. My throat was tight and I swallowed hard.
“I know we’ve talked a lot about kids. Knowing they could never know the truth about my past. But all my worries, my fears about passing on the darkness to them .
.. it’s quiet when I’m with you. I know that your light will fill them with goodness.
Because it has for me. I want this for you. For us.”
I pulled her into my arms and rested my forehead on hers.
“Evan, this is too much.” Her heart hammered against my chest.
“I told you before—it’s never too much if it will make you happy. I will never get enough of you. The seller has already accepted my offer, and the paperwork from the banks is ready to go. If you love it, it’s yours. If you don’t, I’ll find something else. Just say the word.”
Val leaned her head up to look me in the eyes. “It’s perfect.”
“Welcome home, Mrs. Walker.” I planted a warm, wet kiss on her lips and deepened it because, fuck it, she was my wife, and kissing her was the greatest feeling in the world.
“Can we go in?”
I shrugged. “It’s locked, but I can probably break in for you.”
Val laughed and swatted my arm. “Stop it!”
I winked at her and tickled her ribs. She was so fun to tease. I grabbed her hand to give her the outside tour .
“You can see that it backs up to the mountain on this side. There are flower beds—they need a little work, room for a garden. Whatever you want. Anything you want and I will make it happen for you.”
Val leaned against my arm as we walked around the property that would be our home. We’d raise babies here. Spend Saturday nights with a bonfire under the stars. Grow old together. Live a happy life.
Nothing could top the life I’d build with Val.
My name is Evan Walker. I work at Laurel Canyon Ranch. It was there I found redemption.