Page 36 of Trick or Treat with the Mountain Man
He went on, “I’ve been trying to go slow for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah. Who wants a guy acting desperate to trap you after knowing you for two weeks? I know where I want to end up, but I wanted to give you time to get there at your own pace.”
That same heart was now flapping in my chest, loud and unruly. “Get where?”
Tyler kissed my hand, then met my eyes again, his voice dropping down to a husky growl. “Ava Appleton, I started fallingin love with you the second I saw you. I’d like to see us end up on the north side of the mountain, far from civilization. You know I’m a morning person, but I’d even be willing to turn into a night owl for you, since your job keeps you out late. It just depends on if I’m what you want. You don’t need to rush to decide if you’re not sure yet.”
“What if I am sure?” I asked tremulously.
“Then I’d say I’m sure, too. I’ve never met anyone quite like you. And,” he thumped his chest, “the feeling in here isreal. I want to grow old with you. I want to be your Orson.”
Tears sprang to my eyes again. But they were happy tears this time.
“You can be my Orson, but no floods allowed. I want to spend my life with you. Not lost in memories, dreaming of what could have been.”
He kissed me then, and we forgot about everything else.
All that existed in the whole world wasus.
He loves me.
He really, really loves me.
Epilogue
Ava
I adjusted the frame on the wall while the floorboard thumped repeatedly.
“Cordelia, these are your relatives. Your son Wallace is the older man in this photo. And these are his two kids, Ed and Trina. We met them. Wallace lived a long life, but he’s moved on now. Like you should do.” Then I told her the names of every relative in the photo.
When I was done, Tyler added, “And Ed’s coming to get you. Well, he’s hiring a professional service to handle those details. But they’re going to take you to Saint Louis so you can be with Orson.”
The floorboard started thumping so hard, I could see dust flying up in the air with each hit.
“I think she’s happy,” I whispered.
“I think she can hear you, even when you whisper,” Tyler whispered back with a sassy look on his face.
Ladies, whatever you do, don’t get with a sassy mountain man. They’re the worst. And I’d found myself the sassiest one on Red Oak Mountain.
I swatted him playfully, then looked around the cabin. It was empty now, except for the furniture.
Tyler had decided to leave that behind. My place was fully furnished, and he thought my couch was better than his and my bed more comfortable.
We’d decided to have him move into my place, since he seemed so taken with it.
Silas would be the new owner of the old gardener’s cottage after today.
Looking around the building, I said, “We’re going to miss you, Cordelia. But maybe you’ll go on to Saint Louis. Or up into the light, or wherever we go when we’re done here on earth.”
The floorboard thumped again.
We stood there, arm in arm, giving the place one more look.
This property had ended up being just a pit stop in our lives. Our future was elsewhere.
