Epilogue

EPILOGUE

TWO WEEKS LATER

Everything had changed once the blizzard stopped, although there was no guarantee it wouldn't start up again. Snowfall had been almost daily, which made the skiers happy and the townsfolk impatient. With choppers flying into the crash site and checking on residents trapped by the avalanches, life was getting back to normal. The investigation of a light plane crash had been conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and their findings would be sent to the National Transportation Safety Board. A report would be sent to Jenna at a later date, but although to her it was obvious that the blizzard caused the crash, every small detail would be examined. Answers would be given to the families of the people who'd perished in the wreck.

Jenna had visited Carolyn Stubbs in the hospital. Her ordeal had left her distraught and her family was coming to collect her. Although she'd only suffered a few scrapes and bruises, the time with Oberg would mean she'd need a long time in therapy. The law enforcement offices in Colorado were following up on Oberg's confession and searching for similar crimes in the state. Wolfe had released the bodies of the victims to their next of kin and confirmed the women had all died of exposure within two weeks of each other. Jenna had noticed how exhausted he'd been after finding Julie, and the holidays would give them all time to recover. She just hoped nothing bad would happen over the holidays this year. They all needed time away from crime for a week or two. The office would run on a skeleton staff, with each person responsible for taking the 911 calls in turn and calling for backup if the need arose, but so far peace and goodwill had come to Black Rock Falls.

She placed a hand on her belly, wishing she could feel the baby's movements, but it was too early yet. The ultrasound had shown a healthy baby and a strong heartbeat. Even at this early stage it was big for its age, and secretly Jenna wished it was a boy. She'd always wanted a big family, lots of boys and maybe one girl they could all spoil like crazy, but if two children was the hand she'd been dealt, she'd still be happy. Kane was an amazing father. He excelled at everything he did and fatherhood was no different. She giggled, maybe his kryptonite was changing dirty diapers?

The house smelled of the aromas of delicious food. Kane had been baking for hours with the help of Special Agent Jo Wells, who was staying in the cottage with Ty Carter and her daughter Jaime. Jenna stood and took a box of glass baubles to the tree and attached them. It was an artificial tree, but it looked just the same as a natural pine. Why kill an oxygen-giving tree when a plastic one would last a generation? They'd had fun decorating it and she had taken a picture of Kane lifting Tauri to place the star on the top. Their laughter and love shone from their eyes. She'd loved the picture so much that she'd printed a copy and mounted it in a frame on the mantel. It would be something she'd keep forever. She peered out of the window to watch Kane and Tauri, bundled up so much they resembled a bear and a cub, making a snowman. She'd taken two pieces of charcoal from the grate earlier in the morning for the eyes and had a large carrot for the nose. It was time to go outside and add the trimmings. After pushing her feet into boots and dragging on a thick waterproof coat and hat, she stepped outside.

Immediately her men attacked her with snowballs, both laughing and ducking away from her attempts to throw some back. She pulled her decorations from her pocket and attached them. Suddenly the snowman looked real. "He needs a mouth."

"We've got one, Mommy." Tauri handed her a piece of bent twig. "Now he has a smile."

"And this." Kane pulled a green beanie with a red pom-pom from his pocket and stretched it over the head. He added a straw broom from the barn and nodded. "Now that's a snowman."

A horn sounded and the gates to the ranch opened. A stream of vehicles came along the driveway and parked outside the house. Wolfe, Norrell, and his family piled out first. Julie, wearing a Moon Boot, had a cracked leg but she was doing just fine. Rio and his family were followed by Rowley, Sandy, and the twins. An older pickup rolled into the yard and Johnny Raven climbed out, carrying a box of wine. Jenna turned to Kane and raised one eyebrow. "Really? After all your concerns, you invite him to our home."

"For now, he gets the benefit of the doubt." Kane moved closer. "He saved lives and he's all alone right now. It's the least we can do and I'm covered." He wiggled his fingers. "The changes to my fingerprints are healed thanks to Wolfe's tissue soldering. Yeah, it was painful and permanent, but we'll never need to worry about my prints showing up again." He sighed. "Hopefully Raven might figure I remind him of a guy he knew years ago who died in a bombing. We all have our ghosts, Jenna, and hopefully that's all I'll ever be to him. There is another thing: by keeping him close, we can keep an eye on him, and so can Wolfe."

Jenna nodded. "Well, if he does prove to be trustworthy, he might well be a very useful asset to our team."

"I guess time will tell." Kane smiled and waved at the visitors. "We need a picture." He pulled a camera from his pocket. "Don't laugh, this is a darn good camera and it has a delay."

Giggling, Jenna stared at it. "So does your phone." She took in his amused expression. "I'm sure it will be just fine."

When Carter, Jo, and Jaime came running from the cottage, everyone milled around the snowman. Although Jenna would miss Atohi Blackhawk, Nanny Raya, and Maggie, they all had families to spend the holidays with, and Blackhawk would no doubt drop by later. He was part of her family now and they enjoyed many Sunday lunches together. She smiled at everyone. "Gather around. Dave, set up your camera to take a photograph of us all together."

"I'll set it for sixty seconds." Kane placed the camera on the porch railing and ran back to the group.

They all squashed together giggling like a gaggle of geese, gifts in hands, with the snowman in the middle. Laughter filled the air. Jenna slid an arm around Kane with Tauri cuddled between them. Light snow dusted the scene. It was picture-postcard perfect. "Altogether now for a photo to remember. One, two, three." Jenna stared at the camera. "Merry Christmas!"

***