Page 89 of Mustang Valley

Epilogue

DASH

Come Easter,I realized I’ve officially known Molly for almost a year, but it feels like a lifetime.

Molly and I have truly settled in our apartment. Lily has already had a run-in with Bobby. She punches me in the arm when we’re talking, like Jolie does, and she charmed Hank into helping her put up shelves at her apartment. It brings me no end of joy seeing Molly’s sister settled.

And her mom is settled, too. At Christmastime, Francesca Russo, or Frankie, as my mom and the rest of the family soon dubbed her, came to celebrate with the Hunters and never left. My own mother took Frankie on in a way I somehow knew she would but didn’t realize just how deeply they would click.

Both those women needed each other. Frankie benefitted from having my no-bullshit mom pay for her to get some proper medical help. Frankie is one strong woman. She’d been stepping down her meds without any medical help or therapy. My mom insisted on getting her professional help.

And my mom? Well, she found a new companion. One she probably needed. And one who likes turquoise as much as she does. Lately, the two women have been spending a lot of time at the Navajo Nation reservation where my mom’s aunt still lives. They always come home with more precious stones and ideas about opening a jewelry shop on the main street.

Having a purpose has helped heal Molly’s mom and my own, from a pain she seemed to have been holding on to since my dad died.

Molly and I are out on an early morning trail ride before going over to Sam and Colt’s for Easter lunch. We have been on countless rides with Amigo and Romeo, and she’s becoming a confident rider. Then again, Romeo adores her. Looks after her. Those two have quite the bond.

Hooves crunch through brush, and we land at the edge of Mustang Valley. I stare out at the Valley. We won’t go down today because Sam and my mom have been stressing about the twenty-pound ham they got to serve all the people coming today. Sam stressed about Christmas, too. I guess catering is her weak spot. She and my mom have been talking about it for two weeks.

Molly offered to help. It was cute because I’m pretty sure she’s never cooked a twenty-pound ham before but she has the composure of someone who has. Very little makes my woman flap. I admire so much about her, discover new things every day, but even a year after first meeting this beautiful woman, there’s nothing I love more than her determination.

I glance over at my woman. The cowboy hat I gave her for Christmas sits proudly on her head. Turquoise earrings dangle off her cute ears, accompanied by a matching pendant around her neck. She’s straddled all sexy, and her long, chocolate strands cascade down her shoulders and blow in the breeze. Her ass stretches her jeans, jeans I can’t wait to peel off later.

The tip of her nose is pink from a chill in the air that still hasn’t left, even in April. She stares out at the beauty before her, the mountains, the gift of sunshine spilling over them, and searches the best she can for the mustangs down below. “You sure we shouldn’t just scramble down and check the pipe?”

“Nah. Mateo said he did it this morning.”

I stare out one last time at the place where, until I told Molly I loved her, was the only place on earth I ever felt any calm. With Molly, I’m a changed man. Or maybe I’m just more me than I ever was. Maybe now I’m the man I was always meant to become because I don’t exactly feel different.

I feel whole.

This is the place where my heart first shattered into a million pieces. It’s where I renounced love for good and where I let it back in again. I can’t help but laugh to myself. Love fell from the goddamn sky right into my arms here in Mustang Valley. And I still think my dad had something to do with it.

* * *

Sam and Colt’s house is hot as hell. I had to strip off thePrepare to DyeEaster sweatshirt Eve got me because with the fire going and an oven on all day, it’s goddamn summer in here. Plus, almost a dozen bodies mill about in the space. Hungry bellies keep stopping by to peek in the kitchen, and it’s starting to stress Colt out.

I’ve never seen him like this before. Not Mr. Cool Calm Collected Suave Hunter.

Colt carves the ham in the kitchen, and I assemble it the best I can to look nice, per Sam’s instructions, on a platter she put in front of me.

Colt mumbles, “Logan better get here in time for this ham. Sam’s been stressing about this goddamn hunk of meat forever…”

Logan is typically late. In part, it’s because he’s the type of guy to keep talking after the conversation should be over, has to say the final goodbye, and will always be the last man standing at a party.

But another part of me thinks he’s late because he likes to make an entrance. He likes to let people worry just a little bit that he won’t come so they’re extra grateful when he arrives. He thrives under attention and has gotten into a scandal or two because of his relentless pursuit chasing it.

Chasing tail more like it. I make an excuse that this time it was due to his away game.

Finally, the front door opens, and in bursts Logan, with Ashton in tow. Thank God those two reconciled. Though having a common enemy can do that.

Sam ushers them in, and Jolie rushes over to kiss Ashton. Logan does only half an eye roll this time. I might have rolled mine, too, seeing our sister loved up with someone, and my brother’s best friend at that. But I suppose because I have Molly now, I look at Jolie having love differently than I used to. One day, Logan will catch up.

When we finally sit down to dinner, the table is beautiful, and hats off to Sam, my mom, and to Eve, who folded some of the napkins into swans.

I eat with my family, sit back and enjoy the full, rich feeling that consumes me along with one of Sam’s mint tulip cocktails. I’ll have it to thank for the courage I’ll need in a minute.

It’s hard for me to interrupt all the conversations and laughter around me to bring attention on myself.

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