Epilogue

KAT

It started with a simple task; building something new to prepare for summer.

I watched Clay hammer the last nail into place, his back a solid line against the spring sky. The ranch hummed with life around us, the air filled with the scent of fresh grass and earth waking up after winter. We'd been through hell and back since Ben's murder, but we'd clawed our way out.

Now, things were looking up.

"Whatcha think?" Clay grunted, stepping back to admire the sign swaying gently beside the barn. It was new, handcrafted, a splash of hope painted with wildflowers and the silhouette of a horse.

A shadow, running across the plains.

Gabe stood beside me, hands in pockets, a clean white button-up hugging his broad shoulders just right. "Looks solid," he said, nodding.

I blinked away tears, quick and sharp. "It looks great," I managed, voice thick. The sign wasn't just wood and paint; it was a symbol, a start of something new.

The Benjamin Martin Memorial Equine Center.

The words etched on the sign made my heart ache with a bittersweet twist. Today was more than just a day; it was the kickoff party for this new chapter, a legacy to honor Ben and to keep the ranch he'd loved thriving.

"Good." Clay swiped his brow with the back of his hand, leaving a smudge of dirt on his forehead. "I'm gonna go inside, grab a beer. You two good out here?"

"Sure thing," I called after him as he ambled towards the house. He clapped Gabe on the shoulder in passing, a silent message between men.

I wasn't sure what it meant yet, but I had a feeling Gabe was up to something.

Gabe watched him go, something unreadable in his gaze. The ranch was alive with change, and I wondered what churned behind those green eyes. But then he turned to me, his smile easy, and any questions I had melted away in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

"I love you, spitfire." Gabe's voice pulled me back. He swept me into his arms, his grip sure and strong.

Laughter bubbled up as I met his kiss—playful, alive. But the kiss deepened, grew urgent, and a thrill raced through me, raw and real. I pulled away, breathless, my laughter barely masking the tremor in my voice. "Careful now, you'll ruin my makeup before everyone gets here."

"Wouldn't want that," he teased, but there was an edge to his voice—a flicker of something I couldn't place.

We started walking toward the house, our fingers lacing together, hands fitting like they were made for each other. His thumb brushed mine.

"Something on your mind?" I looked up at him, trying to read the lines of his face.

"Me? Nah, I'm good. Better than good." He winked. He winked , and I knew then that he was absolutely hiding something.

"You're being weird," I scoffed.

"Trust me," he said. "Today's a good day, Kat. A really good day."

As we approached the house, the sound of laughter and the soft thud of a ball hitting the ground drew our attention. Gabe's father was there, his tall frame more robust than in months past, the evidence of recovery in each step he took without a walker. His face broke into a grin, and he waved with the kind of vigor that spoke volumes about his regained strength. It reminded me of my father, and of Ben—a reminder of people I'd lost.

"Look at you, old man!" Gabe called out. "On your feet at last."

"Hey, I might be old, but I'm not out," his dad shot back. He reached down to pet Bandit and the dog sat down in the grass, tail wagging, ball still in his mouth. Gabe's dad smiled…then his eyes found mine, serious for just a moment. "Heard about Owen and Nia's trial ending—and the guilty verdict. That Everett Jones finally got what was coming to him." He paused, the weight of his next words hanging between us. "How does it feel to finally be done with it all?"

I sighed. "We can finally start fresh, and start our life together."

His dad looked at Gabe then, an unspoken conversation passing between them. A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth—a knowing, cryptic thing. My brow furrowed. "What's going on?"

"Nothing to worry your pretty head about," Gabe's father teased, winking conspiratorially at his son.

"Men," I muttered under my breath.

"Need a hand in here!" Livy's voice pulled my focus. She stood at the front door, hands on her hips, her brow furrowed. "People will be here soon and Clay's too grumpy to be any help."

I started toward her, but not before catching Gabe's dad pulling him close, whispering something that made Gabe beam. "Proud of you, son."

My heart swelled, and I couldn't help but smile too as I walked into the house.

"Thanks, Dad." Gabe's voice followed me, warm.

The sound of engines and car doors slamming signaled the start of the party, echoing through the house just minutes after I went in to help Livy. People trickled in, a wave of enthusiasm washing over the ranch. Betty Thompson, her beau in tow, beelined for the kitchen, dishes stacked high with more food than we'd need for a week.

"Got enough pies to feed an army, Kat!" Betty called out, pride shining in her eyes.

"Wouldn't expect any less from you, Betty," I shot back with a grin, the scent of her cherry pie already filling the air.

Lisa Morales slipped past, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Can't wait to see the barn," she said, excitement clear in her voice.

"First tour's yours," I promised.

Out by the makeshift bar, Clay laughed, slapping Sheriff Callahan on the back. Deputy Chris raised a beer in salute.

Livy's friends, a gaggle of pre-teen energy, darted around the yard, laughter trailing behind them like a kite string.

They'd all come to support me…to support us.

To remember Ben.

Before I knew it, the sun was setting, painting the sky in strokes of gold and amber. It was the first quiet moment I'd had all day, standing there on the porch, watching the sun go down. I missed my brother…but I loved this life.

I was grateful to him for bringing me home.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Gabe's voice was soft, his hand gentle on my elbow. "Nothin' like Big Sky Country."

"Stunning," I murmured, leaning into him as we watched the light fade.

We were quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying the peace. Crickets had started to crawl out of their winter shelters, singing a song to welcome the night. I could hear happy voices inside, Bandit barking every so often. Somebody was playing a guitar somewhere in the house, maybe starting a little jam session.

I felt safe.

Safe in a place I'd always thought would hold the memory of a murder committed not a mile away.

"Kat?" Gabe's tone suddenly took on a weight that drew my gaze to his. I turned, looking for him—but he wasn't there.

He was below eye level.

Down on one knee, a small velvet box held in his large, calloused hands.

Shock punched the air from my lungs. My hand flew to my mouth, fingers trembling, as I stared at him in disbelief.

He was serious. This was happening.

"Kat," his voice was rough, like gravel on a backcountry road, "I ain't gonna lie. I've messed up more times than I can count." His eyes never wavered from mine. "I'm a bad man in a lot of ways, but for you…for you, I wanna be better."

Every word hit hard, honest.

"I love you, Kat Martin. Plain and simple." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I'll fight for you, protect you, whatever it takes. All these things I know, sure as the sunrise. But this," he tapped his chest, right over his heart, "this is what I know most. I can't live without you. Not anymore."

It felt…monumental.

It felt insane.

It felt perfectly ordinary.

And I knew this was what I wanted.

So I nodded, the word slipping past my lips.

" Yes ."

In moments, I was in his arms—like when he held me on the mountain, when he pulled me from the river, when he took hold of me after we'd fought at the Spur and he'd told me he couldn't stand the idea of me being hurt. This man had been there through it all…and we'd come out on the other side not just in one piece, but better.

I was confident we belonged together.

Certain this was the direction we needed to go.

And as the sun set on my childhood home, pink and gold and lavender lighting up the big Montana sky, I knew one thing above all else.

With Gabriel Mitchell, the future was beautiful .

THE END