Epilogue

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

JULY 1912

Carter gripped Ellie’s hand as they stood at the top of their favorite lookout in the national park. “The older I get, the more I realize I won’t be able to make this climb forever, but I sure do love it.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m glad your parents don’t mind taking the kids off our hands for a few days each year so we can do this.”

“Me too.” He kissed the top of her head. He held her in his arms, and they stared out at the glaciers and mountains before them.

Thank You, God.“You know. I was an idiot when I met you. That whole summer, I said and did some pretty dumb things. But I sure am thankful that God took a flawed mess of a man like me and gave me the greatest gift ever.” He looked into those eyes he loved so dearly. “The woman who completes me. My helpmeet.”

She pulled back a few inches and looked up at him. “I had no idea how lackluster my life was until I came to Kalispell. God used that journey to bring me back to Him. And in the process, He brought me to you.”

He kissed her on the forehead and then trailed his kisses down her cheek and neck. He pulled her into his arms. No need to worry about being disturbed. There was no one else around for miles.

After several moments of heart-pounding kisses, Ellie pulled back, breathless. “Carter Brunswick”—she stepped away and put a hand to her stomach—“you still know how to take my breath away.”

“Good.” He winked. “I hope it’s always that way.”

“Oh, believe me, I don’t think there will be any trouble with that.” She dashed away down the trail to another lookout point.

Carter gave chase, knowing the trail almost as well as she did. These times when they were able to get away from the hubbub of life with four children were a refreshment for them both. Heart, mind, body, and soul.

She stopped at the next spot and gazed at the waterfall gushing over the cliff.

He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about how much I love you. With each tomorrow, it grows stronger as we grow closer together and to the Lord.”

“I love you too, Ellie.”

She swayed back and forth. “I keep thinking of a few verses from the Psalms. ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.’ And ‘In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.’”

He shared the next part. “‘The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.’”

They spoke the last verse together. “‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.’”

He turned her to face him and kissed her. Then took her hand and led her over to a large boulder. He got down on his knees and she joined him.

“That should be our family’s guiding principal from here on out.”

Her lips tipped up in a smile. “With each tomorrow, let us worship and bow down.”