EPILOGUE

1 YEAR LATER

WREN

"If someone does not get this man away from me, y'all might as well call the police and put me in cuffs now," Willow exclaims, pointing a finger at Jasper—one of the new farm hands we hired a few months back.

"Now, Willow, that is no way to treat your future husband," Jasper jokes with her. He's been chasing after her since the first day he started working here. She hasn't quite warmed up to him yet.

"Over my dead body," she seethes.

"I think what you meant to say is ‘til death do us part." Jasper risks his life and takes a step closer to my sister. Technically we aren't sisters yet, but after working and living together for a year, I can't imagine calling her anything else.

"Turn around Jasper. What do you see?" Willow asks.

"Grass," he says .

"Close. That," she points toward the vacant fields, "is acres and acres of land. I can hide your body where no one will find you." Willow glares at Jasper. Most men would buckle, but he smiles gleefully.

"So, that's a yes to getting married then?" he asks her. Willow throws her hands up and screams. Then storms off toward the main house. "I think I'm wearing her down," Jasper says, before chasing after her like a little puppy.

Wyatt's deep chuckle has me spinning around. "You're done early," I say, wrapping my arms around him. He spent the day laying the foundation for Willow's bakery, while I spent most of my time working in the general store.

We were able to open the store last spring. After a good summer and fall season, it left us with enough funds to build a decent size store near the main road.

It's become quite the attraction. People from all over stop by to buy homemade pies, cakes, jams, and jellies—all made fresh here on the farm. Charlie's even visited a few times with her boyfriend.

"I couldn't stay away any longer. You ready to go home?" His hands slip into the back pockets of my shorts.

"I am. Let me tell Mama I'm leaving. I only came outside because I saw Willow and Jasper cutting across the field. I thought the porch needed a good sweeping."

Wyatt chuckles. "You're catching on. What did you figure out? "

"If I had to guess, Willow's pissed she's attracted to Jasper. Instead of giving in she keeps making death threats. He of course calls it progress."

"Willow could do worse. Jasper's a good guy. I like him."

"You like that he gives Willow hell. It's payback for all the teasing she's given you over the years."

"She gives it back. That's what you Rivers women do. I'm pretty sure ‘ Give ‘em Hell ' is your motto," he jokes, as he opens the door to the general store.

"We should get T-shirts made," I suggest.

"T-shirts for what?" Mama asks from behind the counter.

"Wyatt just came up with a new slogan for the farm," I tell her. It isn't a bad idea. I'm always looking for new ways to advertise. A fun slogan on a shirt is a great way to do that.

"We can talk about it at the next meeting. I'm taking her home. We'll see you tomorrow. Is Dad coming to get you?" Wyatt asks.

"Yes, he'll be here soon. I'll get everything closed up and wait for him on the porch. Y'all get out of here."

Dad has been allowed to drive the four wheeler from the main house to the store to pick up his woman . Sometimes they drive straight home but most nights you can find them taking a long drive around the property with Mama behind the wheel.

They claim they like the serenity that comes right before dusk. It's just them, the crickets, and the summer breeze. I think they like admiring everything their children are accomplishing—everything they've accomplished .

Wyatt parks the truck beside our little trailer. We saved up enough money from the summer and fall harvest last year to buy ourselves a one bedroom trailer. Someday we'll have our dream house built here. Until then, this is perfect for the two of us.

We've talked about getting married and having kids a few times. There's no rush. I don't need a ring on my finger to know this man is my forever. He completes me and fills me in places I didn't know were empty.

Good thing that was an inside thought. Wyatt would definitely make a joke about it.

"What are you smiling about?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. I have a surprise for you. Follow me." I grab his arm and drag him past the trailer into the open field. "Stand here and close your eyes."

Once his eyes are closed, I turn him where he's facing our future front yard. "What's going on, birdie?"

"I got you something. I know we're a long way off from getting our house built, but I wanted to give you this. Open your eyes."

His eyes bounce from me to the giant oak tree in the front yard. It's the only reason we chose to have our house face this direction. It's the best tree to hang a tire swing on.

"When did you do this?" Holding hands, we walk to the swing.

"This morning after you went to work. Ford and Lenny helped me. "

"This was the important business meeting he had this morning?" Wyatt holds the swing and steps inside.

"I guess. I didn't tell him to make up stories. Want me to push you?"

"Hop on." He pats the other side of the swing.

"I don't know if it will hold both of us." I look skeptically at the ropes tied around the branch.

"Look how much fun it is." Wyatt walks backward as far as he can before lifting his feet and flying into the air. "You know what else we could do on here?" He waggles his eyebrows.

"Absolutely not," I say, laughing. "It's not a sex swing, Wyatt."

"Not with that attitude it isn't." He stops swinging and climbs out. "Get on. Let me push you, baby."

He holds the swing still while I attempt to climb on. "Stop laughing at me." I know I look ridiculous as I try to balance on one foot and climb over the edge of the tire. "I've never done this before."

"Are you sure this can't be a sex swing because you look hot as fuck right now." He bites down on his lip as he circles around me. His forearms flex as he pulls me back towards his body. "Keep your legs up for me," he whispers into my ear.

Damn him. He said the same thing to me last night and now it's all I can think about as I fly back and forth through the air.

The swing begins to slow down and Wyatt helps me get down.

"Thank you for this. It's exactly what I wanted."

"We'll get the house one day too."

"Two out of three ain't bad." His hand grips the back of my head and he pulls me in for a kiss. My stomach does a little flip. Just like it did the first time I kissed him. "I've got the most important thing right here in my arms."

I couldn't agree with him more.