Page 17 of Mail Order Mountain Man

I narrow my gaze, suspicious of the whole encounter.

Dad laughs again. “I’ll call your sister right now. She deserves an—”

“Wait, wait, wait!” I bark, holding my hands in the air. “What the hell? Are you dying or something?”

He shakes his head and places his hand on my shoulder. “We’re all dying, Junie. Enjoy your life. You found a good man. I was wrong and I’m apologizing. Is that so hard to believe?”

I nod. “Yes… actually. Very much so.”

He laughs again before he turns away. “I’ll drop that extra wood off for you next week.” He’s talking to Cole and in the back of my head, I’m still wondering if he has something sinister planned.

“Let it go, sweetheart,” Cole laughs. “This is good. Maybe he trusts me because he’s known me for years.”

My stomach is still turning and I’m beyond suspicious of my father’s sudden desire to be kind and understanding, but when Cole looks at me with big, dark eyes, I can’t help but forget everything else. He’s the man of my dreams. The love of my life.

“You mentioned that you were going to marry me back there,” he smiles. “I’m not sure I’ve asked you yet.”

My lips tighten with embarrassment. “I know. Sorry. I got caught up in the moment.”

He kisses my forehead, then drops to his knee. A breeze blows in from the west and the clouds move to highlight the dark mountains lit by the dusky light. “Junie, I thought feelings like this were just in fairytales, but they’re not. With you, they’re real, and I want to experience them by your side for the rest of my life.” He pulls his key ring from his pocket and pulls off the keys before sliding the ring onto my finger. “Will you marry me?”

For years I waited for love to find me.A real love.An old fashioned love. The kind of love that makes you feel adored and cared for. The kind of love that smacks you on the ass and calls you a kitty cat. The kind of love that gives up everything for a chance at that same love.

Now, I’ve found it.

I kneel down on the ground with Cole and lean into his arms, my lips brushing his as the word‘yes’slips out.

Epilogue

Cole

Six Months Later

I press submit on my final essay for vet school. I’ve been working on it all semester. It’s a personal statement that explains the skills I’ve learned and how to best use them for the betterment of all animals. When I tell people what it is, they laugh it off like it’s an easy task and not at all the final project they had to complete their senior year, but the professors require more than a simple note about loving animals. They’re looking for a deep and profound journey that demonstrates the growth of the person helping them.

“How’d it go?” Cole rubs my shoulders. “You’ve been in here all afternoon.”

Here, is the office he built me seemingly overnight now that he has more time. It’s across from the baby’s nursery. Raine Elizabeth should be here in three months. Who would have thought our romp in the hay was going to be all it took. We found out six weeks in… and two days before the wedding.

We only had a few people in attendance, but it was everyone who needed to be there. My dad, who surprisingly never retaliated. My sister and her boyfriend, Mick. Ella and Boone, with Mabel in tow. Maggie. Cole’s parents and brother. It was a bright summer day and everyone was happy to be sat down by the river bank with the wildflowers as we said our vows. Afterward, we had the reception in the field and Cole gave tours of the house he’d just finished, including a banner in the nursery announcing Raine’s arrival. I’m not sure the day could’ve been any better.

“I have to deliver some carvings to town in an hour. Why don’t you come lay on the bed? I want to—”

“Hello! I’m here with all the good things!” Maggie knocks on the back door, but lets herself in. She’s carrying a basket filled with baby toys, blankets, and diapers.

I glance toward Cole who’s plans have been momentarily derailed. “I’m sorry.” I kiss his lips gently and smile toward Maggie. We really need to talk about this barging in thing.

“Thank you! Does this mean you’re officially going to miss the baby shower?”

She puckers her lips. “I’m sorry! I haven’t seen my brother in months. He’s renting that cabin by the lake and—”

“Emery will be there…” I raise my brows and call her out on her tricks before she gets a chance to skirt around the truth.

She grins. “Something like that. It’s the first time we’ve seen each other in a while. Plus, he’s my brother’s best friend. It can never happen. And… he’s like twenty years older than me, so it’s just weird.” She sighs. “Then again… look at you two, defying all the odds. Who’d have thought?” Laughter bubbles up her throat. “Oh yeah, me!”

“Maybe that means it’ll happen for you, too. If you like Emery, take your shot. What do you have to lose?”

Her lips purse to the side. “My dignity, respect for myself, and the chance to ever be in a room with him again.”

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