“Who you calling old, girl?” Miss Fancy demanded, and Alice tipped her head to her shoulder.
“I’m going to keep my red hair, just like yours. I’m going to bake biscuits and ride at a gallop. I’m going to sing with my sister and not be afraid. Because I got away, and I came home.”
She put an arm around her mother, drew her closer. And sat, content.
EPILOGUE
Bodine showered until the water ran cool. And though she’d intended to go back downstairs, she didn’t object when her mother and Jessica tucked her into bed. She couldn’t drum up an argument when Jessica ordered her to stay there, and take the next day off on top of it.
Though she had no intention of doing either, she fell asleep before they’d left the room. And slept five solid hours, unaware for one of them Callen stretched out beside her just to be close.
When she woke, she ate as if she’d been starved for a week.
As promised, Tate came to see her, talked her back through the entire ordeal. She remembered details she’d blurred over. Then surprised herself by dozing again on the sofa while he went off to talk to Alice.
Between sleeping and eating—including a big ranch meal outside so all the hands could join in—she hadn’t managed five minutes alone with Callen.
And she had some things to say.
With that in mind, she announced she needed a good long ride. She sent him a look, crooked her finger.
They said little as they saddled the horses. She chose the route, as she had a purpose in mind.
“I never asked how you found me. I know about Alice’s part in it, but—”
“I got lucky. Found a rancher who knew about the place. I was a good mile off, and about half a mile when I heard the shot.”
“I’m going to have to go thank him in person. If you hadn’t come when you did, I’d have killed two men instead of one.”
“If you carry an ounce of guilt over that, you’re plain stupid.”
“I’m not stupid, and I don’t carry any over LaFoy. It’s not something I can just shrug off, but I’m not feeling guilty over it. I would’ve if I’d had to shoot Easy. He’s not right, no matter what he did, he’s not right. And he’s Alice’s son, so I’d have carried that weight. You came, and I don’t have to. You saved me from that.”
“You saved yourself with a goddamn pocketknife.”
“I did, but it occurs to me you gave me that knife. You gave me the tool, and I used it. That’s one more for you, Skinner. Let’s walk a bit. I need to walk.”
She swung off, waited for him to do the same.
Together they led the horses over land where the trees sighed in the wind, the grass waved in it, and wildflowers bloomed.
“I was so scared,” she admitted.
“Me, too.” Now he stopped, turned, yanked her to him. “Jesus, Bodine, I didn’t know a man could be that scared and breathe.” And he’d never, never in his life erase the image of her standing there, her shirt torn and bloody, her face pale and bruised.
“I knew you’d come, but I couldn’t wait.”
“You had an agenda.”
Laughing, she kissed the side of his neck. “I did.”
“Just like you, ticking off boxes. Thank God for it.” He drew back, cupped her face, kissed her. “I’ll make good on that fancy dinner, sooner or later.”
“I’ll make sure you do. Meanwhile … I like the land here. Can’t beat the views.” She gestured toward the mountains as the sun slowly slid through the wide blue sky toward them. “Plenty of room to spread out.”
She walked over, looped Leo’s reins around a branch. Curious enough, Callen did the same, and went with her as she wandered.
“Already got the ranch road—an easy ride, horse or truck, to work. I figure the house goes right about here, facing west for those sunsets. Barn over there, and a paddock. If and when you’ve a mind to do any serious ranching, you might want to add a bunkhouse. Good grazing here, horses or cattle. I wouldn’t mind chickens,” she added thoughtfully. “I’ve always found chickens oddly soothing.”
Maybe his brain was still frazzled some, all things considered, but he had a hell of a time following her.
“You’re talking about building a house here?”
“The house is your part—though I have several nonnegotiable requirements for it. My part’s the land. My parents promised each of us five hundred acres. More if we want it, but that’s more than enough for me to start. If you did so well back in California, you ought to be able to pay for a house.”
He was catching up now, and liked the direction just fine. “I did well enough.”
“Good. I want a good wide porch, all the way around. Big windows, too. Fireplaces. I want one in the bedroom. In fact, I saw a picture in a magazine of one in the master bathroom. I want one of those.”
“You want a fireplace in the bathroom?”
“I do. And one of those big steam showers. I think double porches, though the top one wouldn’t go all the way around. And … I’ll make you a list.”
“I bet you will. How many bedrooms am I building?”
“I think five would do.”
He shook his head. “Six.”
Eyebrows arched, she slanted him a cool look. “Do I look like a broodmare?”
“Six. And one of those rooms where you put up the biggest of big-ass TVs and watch movies.”
Her eyebrows arched higher yet. “How well did you do in California?”
“You have to marry me to find out.”
“I’m talking about building a house. I didn’t say I’d marry you.”
“You’d better.” He only had to glance at Sundown to have the horse give her a solid head butt, sending her into his arms. “You’re outnumbered. Let’s build a house, Bodine. Let’s make a family.”
“I knew you’d come.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “I was so scared, but I knew you’d come. I couldn’t just sit and wait, but I knew. I wonder now if I always knew you’d come back. You’d come back home, and you’d come to me. I couldn’t sit and wait, but I wonder if I knew. It’s nice to think so. One thing’s for certain: When I had the knife you’d given me all those years ago, and I worked on that lock, I knew when I got out, got away, I’d come back to you. I’d come to you, and marry you.”
She wrapped around him for the kiss, swore she felt their roots planting together on that spot.
“I love you, Bodine. You’ll know it every day.”
“I love you back.” She looked into his eyes. “I love you so much back.”
“You hear that?” Callen swooped her up, gave her a spin.
Sundown gave a whinny of approval, hip-bumped Leo into a snort.
With a laugh, Bodine leaned her head on Callen’s shoulder. “It’s going to be a hell of a sunset.”
“Every night.”
“Speaking of nights. Five bedrooms.”
“Six.” He boosted her into her saddle. “And I’ll throw in a hot tub on the top porch, for the master bedroom.”
Bodine looked at the land, imagined the house. “A hot tub,” she murmured.