Epilogue

WILLIAM STEPPED out the door of the cabin to a myriad of birds singing in the trees above. Sasha stayed next to him for a few seconds before bounding off in pursuit of some small animal. William was about to call him back but stopped himself. Sasha just wanted to play. He returned, tail wagging wildly, as William continued his trek down to the lake. He stood on the shore, took a deep breath of the cool spring air, and smiled.

Across the lake and to the north, Denali watched over everything. The mountain had become one of William's touchstones over the past year. So much had changed that William didn't even try to recount all of it.

"I figured I'd find you here," Garvin said, draping an arm over William's shoulders.

"This is my morning spot." Even through the past winter, he had come here most mornings just to center himself.

"When do you have to go?" Garvin asked, disappointment in his voice, making William smile in a perverse way.

"I have an afternoon flight Monday," he answered, moving closer to get some of Garvin's warmth. "I'm filming two commercials, and Arnie and I are going to pitch them an idea for the next series. I talked to him yesterday, and we finalized everything. Remember how we used the pie crusts they sent as samples to make campfire pies in the reflector ovens? Well, they're interested in expanding the marketing around building family time."

"And if they go for it?" Garvin asked.

"Then they'd shoot the spots out here in Alaska. And if they say no, then I'll inform them they need to find another spokesperson." He was getting tired of flying back to LA every month for a week to ten days. Inevitably they'd schedule everything, get him down there, and then delays would push back his departure.

"Have you given more thought to what you want to do up here? "

William sighed. "I have a few leads. One of the radio stations might be interested in some voiceover work, and I thought I'd approach the television stations and local companies about commercial work here. I was talking to Enrique and thought we'd devise a ‘Come to Willow' campaign to highlight what our area of the state has to offer. There are enough scattered businesses that would benefit, including the perennial farm, the trading post, and a number of outdoor excursion companies and bush tour leaders. This area has a tremendous amount to offer, and it's close to Anchorage."

"Will you be back in time for the hearings in Juneau?"

William turned, gazing into the eyes of the man he adored with everything he had. "Yes. They know that I will not be extending this trip under any circumstances." Last spring, once the snow melted, the full extent of the mining explosion and avalanche had become apparent. Not only was the company negligent in their storage of explosives, but the chemicals they had left on-site had contaminated a large area due to the avalanche spreading the damage farther. Because of the short growing season this far north, it would take decades for the area to recover, if it ever did. "Don't worry about that. I will be there to tell the story of what we found right alongside you. And I have a friend who is going to compile all the video we took of the area into a presentation for the committee. There will be no way they will ever get a license to mine in this state again." Just thinking about the devastation—decades-old downed trees, the river choked with debris, bits of buildings strewn all along the valley floor—he shivered, and Garvin held him closer. The whole idea made him angry enough to spit nails.

"Thank you for all of it," Garvin said.

William smiled brightly. "Of course. I'll do whatever I can. Maybe when I get back, we can make another trip up there to try to clean up more of the mess." They had organized a number of trips to try to clean up the man-made items so that wildlife wasn't injured. The worst was already gone, but there was more work to do.

"We'll see. The snow is still deep up on the pass, but we can take a look at what's left in a month or so." Garvin tugged him closer and then kissed him. It was gentle, but with the promise of heat. He pulled back.

"Good. I want to do what I can," William said, turning his gaze across the lake to the mountain that was already beginning to disappear from view. Garvin sighed softly as a shiver ran through him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Garvin answered quickly. "It's just that sometimes I can't believe that you're here."

William chuckled. "I've lived here full-time since last June, and we just spent an entire winter together in that tiny cabin. If that didn't send me running for the hills…." He smiled.

"I know, and it was amazing, but sometimes I wake up and there you are, and I almost can't believe you're still here."

William turned to Garvin and slipped his arms around his neck. "I'm here because I love this place, and I'm here because I adore you more than life itself." He kissed Garvin hard, loving the way his eyes goggled once he ended it. "Besides, you, Sasha, this place… it's home. And I'll never need anything more." He guided Garvin back toward the cabin. "Now let's go warm you up." He leered heatedly at his sex-on-a-stick partner, thankful it was Saturday.