“Nope. Jesse will remain locked up now, and his trial will start real soon, unless he agrees to a deal, which it looks like he’s doing. We can now take you back to Montana,” he said as he made his way to her bedroom.
He thought she’d be relieved to go back to her real name, and to leave this episode in her life behind her, but disappointment flooded her features.
“I’ve never lived in a place this nice,” she admitted as he laid her down.
Ah, that was the problem. “I know of a beautiful four-bedroom home that overlooks the lake and has deer who are unafraid to come and take an apple right from your hand.”
“Oh, that sounds beautiful, but something like that would be priced far too high for me. Plus, it would probably be wiser for me to be close to town so I can get a good job while I go to school.”
“It’s only about a ten-minute drive to town, Misty, and the roads stay plowed in the winter. It only gets bad when a freak storm hits.”
“Still…”
“The price is right, too. It would only take one piece of paper and you could own the place,” he said, unbelievably nervous as he lay down next to her and looked into her eyes.
“What? I’m confused,” she said as she reached up and ran her fingers through his short hair.
“Marry me, Misty. Come home with me and live in the mountains of Montana. Let’s fill our log cabin with a dozen pets, and hopefully a few two-legged creatures as well.”
Her eyes grew big, and he couldn’t believe how frightened he was that she might turn him down. His heart was in his throat.
“Are you sure, Bryson? I mean, maybe it’s just the adrenaline from the situation, or maybe you think you love me and you don’t, or maybe —”
“I love you, Misty, more than I could ever show you. Yes, our relationship has been intense, but that’s not why I love you. I love you because I can’t go a single day without thinking of you, and when I thought I could lose you, my world stopped having any meaning. I love you because you make me want to be a better person. I love you because you’re you.” The truth of his words shone brightly in his eyes.
She was silent for a minute, and his heart thudded as he waited on her verdict.
“I love you, too, Bryson, so much more than I thought I was capable of loving anyone. I want all of that and more.” Tears of elation welled up in her eyes and a bright smile flashed across her face.
Bryson pulled her into his arms and held her close, knowing that his future was now set. There wasn’t anything they couldn’t accomplish as long as the two of them were together. He planned on a lot of beautiful tomorrows.
Epilogue
“I can tell he’s going to have my rugged good looks.”
Misty laughed at her brother as he held her newborn son in his arms. “Yes, Damien, he certainly has his uncle’s eyes, or at least it appears that way right now. It’s a bit hard to tell with them closed all the time.”
“Don’t you be taking credit for all the hard work I put into my son,” Bryson said. He looked down at the baby, his pride evident.
“What hard work? It wasn’t like that part wasn’t enjoyable,” Damien said with a laugh.
“Hey, who do you think had to drive into Taco Bell at two in the morning every time she wanted her favorite Crunchwrap Supreme?” Bryson asked.
“Yeah, I kind of miss those late-night-craving runs. Sierra was so adorable when she was pregnant,” Damien said, a fond smile on his face. “Of course, I gained a few pounds from all the junk food.” He patted his perfectly flat stomach.
“Well, it’s a good thing you like me pregnant, because…” Sierra said.
Everyone was silent as they turned toward Sierra, who was glowing in happiness.
“Really?” Damien gasped.
Bryson took his son from Damien’s arms before his brother-in-law could drop the baby in his excitement. Damien rushed over to Sierra and lifted her into the air, hugging her gently before kissing her with a passion that looked as if it would never die down.
“Really,” she assured him with a big smile.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Misty said, and she held out her arms for her son. Bryson put the child right where she needed him to be.
“What are you naming the young lad?” Sierra asked when Damien finally stopped kissing her.
Misty looked at Bryson, who nodded. They’d discussed names and both had a favorite. “Paxton Damien Winchester,” she said, and then noticed a suspicious sheen in Damien’s eyes before he turned away and coughed.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Sierra said.
“Yes. Paxton was my late grandfather’s name, and, well, obviously, you know where Damien came from,” Bryson said, his own eyes bright.
“That’s a fine name,” Damien said when he turned back around, no hint of tears anymore.
“I thought so,” Misty told him. “My life has turned around so much since meeting you and finally getting to have a family. My only regret is that I didn’t know you my entire life.” She had enough tears for all of them.
Damien moved over to the bed. “Oh, Misty, I have the same regret, but we can’t go backward, so we just have to fill our tomorrows with as much joy as we possibly can.” He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
“Yes, I agree,” she said.
Misty had never imagined that her life could be blessed with so much joy. She was married to Bryson, and she was falling in love with him a little bit more every day. She now had a beautiful son, one whom she would cherish and whom she hoped eventually to give some sisters and brothers. And she was finished with her first two semesters of college. She hadn’t picked a major yet, but she had plenty of time for that. Right now, she was just enjoying moving forward — not standing still and definitely not falling back.
Someday she would be like the rest of the Andersons. She would be able to build her own place in the business world, and even be a tycoon. Yes, she liked that thought — she was a tycoon in the making.
“I love you, wife,” Bryson said, and he kissed her gently before rubbing his son’s little bald head.
“And I love you, husband,” she replied.
She had decided that fairy tales and magic had to be real. She’d gotten a little bit of both the day she’d met and Tased Bryson Winchester.