“Timber Falls to take over their grandfather’s old ranch. Yeah, I know. What's that got to do with you?"
I rub the back of my neck. “Remember when I told you that I didn’t think crab fishin’ was for me? The captain didn’t want to see me go but then when he told me his sons were lookin’ for someone to help with a ranch restoration, I figured I’d meet with Will and see what the deal was.”
Dad looks over to Will. “Stealin’ my son now, Will?” he says, lips twitching.
The corner of Will’s mouth tugs up. “Made him an offer, he said he’d have to talk to his dad about it first. Didn’t know I’d already met you, though. Now I’m even more sure that Wy is exactly the kind of man we need on the mountain.”
“You’re all grown up now, Wy,” Mags whispers with a teary smile.
I grin back. “Seems that way.”
She hugs me again, bringing her mouth to my ear. “Your mom would be so damn proud of you, even more than we are.” With one last tight squeeze–from the both of us–we pull apart and I look over at Dad who’s watching us closely with soft warm eyes.
“Dad?”
“Are you at least comin’ home for a few days before leavin’ again?”
“Yep. You’ve got me for a month. End of February, I’ll head to Timber Falls to start work with Will and his brothers.
Dad looks to Will and holds out his arm, shaking his hand. “Had a good feelin’ about you when we met and heard nothin’ but good things from Randy. Because of that, I know my kid will be in good hands. And the offer stands, you need help with anythin’, you or your brothers, whatever it is, if we can do it, we will.”
“Thanks, Red. Much appreciated,” Will says before turning to me. “Now I knowyoucan’t drink, Wy, but that drive made me thirsty. I’ll leave you to catch up with everyone.”
“Get a drink and come back and join us. Our family is your family, Will,” Mags says before the man walks away and it’s just the three of us.
“You’re not mad that I’m not stayin’?” I ask.
“Kid, you’re your own man. Timber Falls is a hell of a lot better–and closer–than the middle of the damn ocean,” he says, squeezing my shoulder again. “Proud of you. You worked hard and made a name for yourself, and that opened doors for you. Shows the measure of a man.”
Mags loops her arm in mine and leads me over to the corner of the bar where everyone else has been patiently waiting for us. “Now, let’s get you fed, and you can catch up with the rest of the family.”
After making my rounds with everyone and hearing all the happenings in town, it hits me just how much I missed home. Not just my ranch family, but the townsfolk too.
They may not be blood, but they’re still family in every sense of the word. The familiar faces, the inside jokes, the easy camaraderie - all of it reminds me why my true home will always be here in Spring Haven and at Bull Mountain.
As the night wears on and the conversations flow freely, I find myself gravitating towards Mags and Dad who are never far from each other. Sitting at a corner table, we watch Dee wipe the floor with Will at the pool table while the rest of the family watch on with amusement. Dee is a shark when it comes to bar games. Pool or darts, she'll beat the pants off whoever challenges her, be it strangers or one of the guys.
Mags looks at me with a twinkle in her eye, her smile warm and genuine. "You know, I was lookin’ forward to havin’ you back at the ranch house. I’ve been gearin’ up to cook you all your favorites.”
“Dammit, I’ll have to tell Will I can’t take the job,” I tease, earning a laugh from both of them. “You’ve got me for a month, then I’ll be off again. I need to do this. Will and his brothers need all the help they can get. You know I’ve always liked a challenge.”
“That you have. Well now, I think this deserves a toast,” Dad says, holding up his bottle of beer, Mags and I following suit–her with some girly-looking cocktail and me with a soda. “To new beginnings and bein’ happy.”
I look between the two of them, knowing I don’t need to ask Dad the same question I asked him on the porch that day months ago. The question he never answered, but now I know why.
He wasn't then, but there's no doubt about it, he definitely is now.
That's all I've ever wanted. It's what I'd close my eyes and hope for every single night since Mom passed.
It’s how I know it’s the right time to forge my own path and keep on my journey toward finding myself and my future.
Dad looked after me, Mags looked after the both of us, and now that I know they've got each other, I can go searching for my own happiness. Who knows, maybe I'll find it in Timber Falls?
But no mountain’s call just yet, Mom. I’ve got a life to live before I find my One. Give others a go first.
EPILOGUE 2 - MAGS
5 years later
