Page 166 of Give Me Redemption

After we found Chloe and got her help, the police discovered several bodies out behind that factory. It was a nightmare. Chloe was messed up pretty bad. She spent a year in therapy, and now she lives in the city, trying to get her life together. She insisted on it, said she needs to be around people. She’d been locked up for too long.

She’s quiet, but she makes Dalton happy, and that makes me happy.

Dalton and I tied the knot about a year ago. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a trip to the courthouse and some promises about forever.

I knew I wanted to marry her that night at the factory. After she jumped into my arms and cried happy tears, I knew she was going to get over it all.

I knew she’d finally found peace. She worked on herself after that.

She’s no longer an FBI agent. She does help out from time to time on special cases, but we’ve moved out to the ranch and we couldn’t be happier. The air is better at the ranch. A person can think without police sirens going off and gunshots being fired every so often. This is where I want to raise our son. Monroe comes out and visits, and they talk about how things are going at the bureau and about Davy’s newest diet his wife has him on.

I’m working full time at the ranch with the vets. I finally feel useful again. There’s nothing like working with your hands and being around nature. I’ve found a good set of men and we’re a close group. I no longer need the drugs to numb the pain. I’m happier than I’ve ever been and when I’m having a rough day, I pack up with some of the boys and we head to the trails on horseback.

“You hungry?” I ask Chloe as she sits at the table, looking over at Emily and Rylee as they start to clean up their crafts.

“Starving,” she says.

Dalton puts her arm around her sister’s neck and kisses her cheek. “Love you,” she says. “Thank you for coming.”

“Love you, Low.”

“Where can a man get a beer at around here?” Uncle Monnie stands on the porch with a belly bigger than his smile. That man’s always grinning.

If we were blood, I’d say that’s where I get it from.

Maybe it still is. Shit, I don’t know. Mills, Harrison’s dad, stands beside him.

“Beer is in the cooler,” I tell them, pointing near my grill.

“I’m going to help bring the food out,” Dalton says.

“How about you sit with Chloe? I’ll do that.”

“Deal,” she says, lifting her leg to sit on the cushioned bench. Harrison walks down with a dish of green beans and Bryce has the rolls.

“Sorry we don’t have any donuts,” Bryce says to Dalton.

I snicker, hearing my wife say, “Ha-ha.”

Mary walks out with her husband, Charles. He was the preacher at Bryce and Harrison’s wedding. Second chances don’t come often, but it seems Mary got hers.

She’s been clean for a long time now. I’m happy for her, and for me to say that, shows how far I’ve come.

“Anything left to grab?” I ask.

“Nope,” Mary says with a smile.

“All right then.” I walk over to the cooler and grab a beer.

“Hey, get me one,” Bryce says

“Me too,” Pops says, walking out from the house. I grab three beers, handing Pops his.

“Thanks.” He puts his arm around my shoulders as we walk down the steps. My family gathers around the table. My wife, Chloe, Harrison, Mills, and my brother. Rylee, Emily, Uncle Monnie, and Aunt Lou. “That’s some sight, isn’t it, my boy?”

They’re all smiling and talking amongst each other as the outdoor lights shine above them from the trees. Food is on the table and family is here.

“It is,” I say to him. “It really is.”

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