“Mmm,” she murmured, when that beautiful kiss ended. “I really think I’m going to enjoy Montana—even more than I ever expected.”
EPILOGUE
“Well—what do you think now?” Carrie grinned at Trace and Kris, then turned back to study the framing of the new cabin. “Is it what you expected?”
“That and more,” Kris breathed. She leaned against Trace’s side, savoring the warm strength of his arm around her shoulders as she surveyed the grassy meadow.
Now strewn with early spring wildflowers, a riot of color waved in the gentle breeze—tiny yellow bells, snowy spring beauties veined in pink, delicate purple shooting stars.
“Even after all the fire debris was hauled away, the site looked like an open wound,” Kris continued. “Now it feels like a wonderful new beginning.”
New beginnings, in more ways than one.
“The sheriff says he’s bringing Sam out this afternoon to see it, now that he’s doing better,” Trace said. “I hear he might even be able to go back to work in another month.”
“I still feel badly, knowing he got shot while protecting my property.” Kris shuddered. “Bascomb didn’t even care that he’d shot his own blood relative.”
“You won’t have to worry about him any longer.” Trace gave her an extra hug. “He’ll be looking at a good twenty years just for arson, not to mention breaking and entering, theft and assault. Add that to shooting a police officer, and I don’t think he’ll ever see sunshine and freedom again. His son will be going away for a long time, as well.”
The last few months had brought other changes, too.
Allan’s buddies were back in jail after violating their parole, and Allan was back in Idaho, well aware of the repercussions should he ever violate a new Montana-based no-contact order.
And Trace and Kris had fallen deeply, irrevocably in love.
Carrie beamed. “I still can’t believe that you’re staying here after all.”
“I don’t need to change careers to find what I need. I found what makes me happiest—this beautiful place and a job I love. It’s like God led me through a lot of dark times in my life, just so I could be right here, right now, and know enough to appreciate it.” Thank You, Lord.
Trace laughed. “Okay…the mountains. Your job. Anything else?”
“Hmm. Let me think.” She stepped into his open arms for a long kiss that sent shivers down her spine. “Nothing—unless it’s the perfect cowboy.”
He kissed her again. Longer this time, a kiss filled with all the promises of a life together. The chance to grow old with someone she loved with all her heart. A future she’d never believed possible such a short time ago. Blessings beyond measure.
And then, her joy and thankfulness overflowing, she kissed him back.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Montana Rockies! I hope you enjoyed your stay, through the pages of this book. If you’d like to visit again, the first book in this series was Final Exposure, which was out in September 2009. The next will be out in June 2010.
I also hope you enjoyed the story of Kris and Trace, two people who needed to overcome troubles from their past lives in order to finally be happy and capable of falling in love. Trace had been shouldering a burden of guilt over the death of his best friend. And healing emotionally from a childhood tragedy was Kris’s key to being able to lead a full and abundant life—the life God wants for all of us.
One of my late father’s favorite Bible verses was Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” It’s one of my favorites, too, because it’s such a wonderful reminder that with faith in God, life can unfold in mysterious and wonderful ways that we can’t even fathom…even when there are hardships along the way. If you are still struggling with emotional trauma from tough times in your own life, it’s my hope that perhaps this story has offered some encouragement. Turning to God in prayer can make all the difference!
Wishing you blessings and peace,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Kris no longer has family ties, and she longs for that sort of connection. Have lost or damaged family ties affected your own life? How? Is there any way these relationships could be recovered?
As a young girl, Kris was traumatized by the brutal murder of her friend, and it has continued to affect her into adulthood. Have you experienced traumatic incidents in your own life? What is the best way to help a child—or an adult—suffering in this way?
Kris’s former husband still wants her to give him money, saying he desperately needs her help, and he isn’t above threatening her in order to get what he wants. How should she deal with him?
Kris and Trace both pray for help during this story. How are their prayers answered? Have you prayed for help in your own life? How were your prayers answered?
Kris initially believes that since God didn’t step in to save Laura, then surely He won’t care about Kris’s well-being, either. Why do terrible things sometimes happen to good people? What does the Bible say about this?
Kris is harmed by vicious rumors circulating about her past. Have you ever been the subject of rumors…or have you passed them along? Which of the Ten Commandments addresses this?
St. Francis of Assisi said, “If you have people who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and kindness, you will have people who will deal likewise with their fellow human beings.” Do you agree? Do you know of any pets that are being mistreated in your neighborhood? What should you do?
Trace feels responsible for the death of his best friend, and that guilt has proved to be a heavy burden. What would you say to him about guilt and forgiveness if you had a chance to help him?
Kris and Trace were believers before this story began, but events in the story brought them to a deeper level of faith. What events in your own life have affected your belief in God? What could you say to someone whose faith has been faltering?
Look up Philippians 4:6–7. How does this relate to the main characters at the end of the story? Could these verses apply to your own life?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4870-4
FATAL BURN
Copyright © 2010 by Roxanne Rustand
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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*Snow Canyon Ranch
*Snow Canyon Ranch
*Snow Canyon Ranch
**Big Sky Secrets
**Big Sky Secrets
Fatal Burn Page 16
