by Cora Seton
“All ours,” he corrected. Or it would be. Riley was working with a lawyer to create a trust in which to hold Westfield ranch in perpetuity. It was complicated, and he was sure someone would spell out the terms and conditions to them eventually, but the takeaway was that he’d live here at Base Camp forever—they all would.
“You’ve built something good here.”
Walker nodded. He knew Sue wished he’d concentrated his attention on the reservation. “I haven’t left, you know. I never did. My heart is always at home.” And now that he was in Chance Creek for good, he meant to spend a lot of time in the place where he’d grown up, renew all his old connections and forge new ones. He might have found a different place to live, but the home of his ancestors would always be important.
“Bring some of this energy back to us” was all Sue said, and he knew she understood that he would. They all would. His friends here were ready to share their knowledge with anyone who asked—and he knew Sue would ask. She was already talking about the possibilities of training her students to be ready for a green energy economy. Every time she visited Base Camp, Boone and Jericho cornered her to share ideas about joint projects and school initiatives.
He found himself more drawn to the bison herd than ever, studying them at all times of day until Hope joked that he was going to be competing for her research dollars.
“Just wondering what makes them so peaceful,” he told her.
“I wonder about that, too. I think it’s the same thing with most animals. They’re just themselves, you know what I mean? A bison doesn’t try to be anything other than a bison, and he takes life one minute at a time. He gets stirred up when there’s a reason to be stirred up and shakes it off when the danger has passed rather than ruminating on it endlessly.”
That sounded right to Walker.
“Guess it’s time to shake it off and start enjoying the moment,” he said.
“Exactly.”
“I heard from Elizabeth,” Sue broke into his thoughts, dusting off a speck of dust from his blue Revolutionary War uniform jacket. “She and Gabe are planning a wedding for next spring. At the reservation.”
He could tell she was pleased. “That’s good.”
“You should have heard her. Proud as anything. Says Lawrence Energy is being investigated based on the information she presented at the hearing.”
“She should be proud. She did a brave thing.”
“So did you.” Sue lifted her chin, and he knew that was the extent of the praise he’d get from her.
“Cab says those men who grabbed Avery will see jail time—a lot of it.”
She nodded her approval.
“I like that Gabe,” she added. “He says he’ll bring Elizabeth home every few months. Says Montana is good for her.”
“He believes in family,” Walker guessed.
Sue nodded. “He is a good man.”
As soon as Gabe had announced that he was Elizabeth’s fiancé, Walker wondered how he’d ever missed it. His love for Elizabeth had been evident in a hundred ways.
“I’m glad they found each other.”
Sue stepped back and looked him over approvingly. “Your father should be here. I feel him close by this time of year. He loved summer when he was a boy.”
“I wish I’d gotten to know him better.”
Sue shut her eyes but didn’t allow her emotions to carry her away. “I feel him closeby all the time,” she admitted. “I see him in the apple blossoms in the tree out back every spring. He loved to climb that tree. I feel him in the west wind when a storm’s blowing in. He used to love the wild wind. I smell him when rain falls—he used to track in the mud and laugh at me when I scolded him. He’s everywhere.”
That was good to know. “He’s everywhere,” he repeated, letting his gaze rest on the sloping land outside the tall windows of his home.
“It still hurts,” Sue said simply.
It did. Far more than he’d realized. “We don’t talk about him enough,” he said. “I want to talk about him. I want to hear the stories.”
“Yes.”
“We should have a memorial,” he heard himself say. “Bring our people together to talk about my father’s life.”
Sue pulled back. “It’s been years. We had a memorial.”
Had they? He supposed so, but he could barely remember it—a solemn, silent affair that hadn’t eased their pain.
“We need another one. A celebration this time of all he was.” He waited, knowing Sue would pull no punches if she thought it was a bad idea.
She took a deep breath and let it out. “Yes.”
“He was a good man.” He held his breath.
“He was a good man.” Sue’s eyes shone. “My boy was a good man.”
“Time to tell his story.” As soon as he said it, he knew it was true. No one died on the reservation without it affecting everyone else. The unspoken pain of Joe’s passing must still be carried in everyone’s hearts, given how firmly it had lodged in theirs. They needed a chance to clear the air, remember the good times along with the bad. Remember all the ways they were still connected despite the pain that had come with their losses.
After a long moment, she nodded. “You’re right.”
He took her hands in his and squeezed them. “We’ll heal the old wounds,” he promised her. “We’ll build a better future.”
She admired him in all his wedding finery. Nodded. “You already are.”
“I told you to be patient, and your true love would find you,” Avery’s mother said, joining her in one of the large guest rooms on the second floor of the manor. Her parents had stayed all week, delighted with an extended visit to their daughter’s new home.
“Never doubted it for a minute. No daughter of ours could ever be lonely,” her father chimed in.
Avery smiled, her heart full of love for her parents even as she acknowledged to herself there was a lot about her they never seemed to see. That was all right. Caught up in their own happiness, they imagined everyone else felt similarly, and bearing witness to such a complete relationship had brought her two pieces of knowledge. One was that she wanted a true, strong love of her own, and two was that she’d always make sure to leave the door of that love open a crack so she could share her attention with everyone else in her life, too.
“I’m so glad you could stay until the wedding. I’m sorry it got postponed.”
“We got to spend a week in Chance Creek! And help our daughter get ready for her wedding instead of showing up at the last minute.”
“I’m glad it all worked out. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Our little girl is all grown up. Our little actress is a star.”
“Hardly.” Avery laughed. “I still haven’t done what I set out to do.”
“Star in a romantic comedy? You sure about that?” her mother teased her.
“More like a romantic horror show,” Avery joked, but she was grateful for all she’d gone through since it had led her to a life with Walker. And she was still working on her screenplay. These days Fulsom seemed more approachable. Maybe she’d try for a conversation with him again.
She’d build an acting career for herself sooner or later.
“This dress is beautiful. It’s perfect for you,” her mother said, and Avery understood she wanted to turn the conversation to happier topics. That was fine with her. She’d had all the drama she could stand, and for now she wanted nothing other than some smooth sailing with the man she loved.
“I wish you could have seen the original. I really loved it, but it was ruined when I was kidnapped.”
“You liked it better than this one?” Her mother frowned in concern.
“Actually… no,” Avery admitted with a laugh. “I did love it, but then Alice came and made this one even better. She’s really something.” The new version of the gown was embroidered to the hilt. Avery wondered if Alice had known all along she’d need a second version and had been working on
it behind the scenes ever since she’d made the first one. Avery thought any museum or art gallery would be proud to display this gown after her wedding. It was a masterpiece.
“You’re something special, too,” her father said. “And as beautiful as ever.” He kissed the top of her head.
“Are you ready?” Riley came into the room, followed by the other women of Base Camp. Under Maud’s insistence, they’d planned the wedding all over again, making it bigger and better this time. While the ceremony was invitation only, the reception would be open to anyone in town who wanted to come. The women of Base Camp were her bridesmaids.
Alice Reed had spiffed up their gowns, too. There had been trips back and forth to Two Willows at all hours of the day and night during the past week. All the men would stand up with Walker. All the women would stand with her. Her father would do the honors and give her away. Her mother followed Sue everywhere, because The Mothers, as she’d designated the two of them, had to stick together. Sue had grown increasingly harassed with each passing day, but Avery thought she was pleased with her mother’s attention.
Avery took a final look in the mirror and smiled at her misty-eyed reflection. As heartbroken as she’d been to miss her wedding last week, this one was shaping up to be even better.
“I’m ready,” she said as her friends lined up. She followed Riley out of the room.
Her father met her in the hallway. As the music swelled in the ballroom and they heard the hush of hundreds of guests holding their breath, her friends descended the stairs. There were soft murmurs as each one appeared through the hall into the big room beyond.
“You know, before this week, we never worried about your future, Avery,” her father said as they walked down the stairs, “not only because we knew such a loving woman couldn’t help but be surrounded by other loving people but also because we knew you had everything you needed inside yourself to make the life of your dreams no matter what happened. You are truly inspiring to me.” He patted her hand as Avery swallowed hard in a throat that felt tight. Then she stepped through the doors into a room brimming with friends and neighbors, all looking at her with so much joy and hope and love in their faces, she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.
Someone let out a cheer. “Go Avery!” Someone else whooped, then the whole room filled with thunderous applause as she made her way down the aisle.
“You represent hope,” her father whispered in her ear. “You represent all that’s good and wonderful in this world, even when times are at their darkest.”
Avery couldn’t take it in. When she reached the altar, with Walker flanked by all the men she’d come to love and respect during her time at Base Camp, her knees felt weak.
“Take care of my girl,” her father said to Walker, placing her hand in his.
“Always,” Walker said.
He met her gaze, and her breath nearly left her. He was going to be hers—forever. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it solemnly before turning to face Reverend Halpern. Avery found it harder to shift her attention to the reverend. Her heart was beating hard. She felt light-headed. Walker’s strong arm supported her.
“Dearly Beloved,” the reverend began. “We are here to celebrate a wedding between two people we hold very dear, and we are also here to celebrate a small triumph of the light over the dark, hope over despair. When you think back on this day in the future, I hope you remember that most of the people in the world are good. Most of us want to heal rather than tear asunder. Most of us do love our fellow man. We have all been through hard times, but the men and women of Base Camp have been tested severely this past year. Today’s wedding marks the triumph of their determination to meet all challenges head on—together.”
When it came time to speak her vows, Avery made sure to say the words in a clear, strong voice she knew would carry to the back of the audience.
So did Walker.
He put the wedding band on her finger with infinite care, his fingertips brushing her palm before he pulled away. She knew that tonight, finally, they would have all the time they wanted to be together.
For now she was going to enjoy every moment of making promises to him, every hug and kiss from her friends, every bit of the good food Maud and the other women had arranged and every dance on the ballroom’s wonderful dance floor until she couldn’t dance any more.
This was her life. This was her moment.
She was happy.
He’d been shaking all day, a fine tremor Walker knew no one else could detect but felt like a live current racing through his veins.
Avery was his. For now and for always.
They’d said their vows. They’d exchanged rings. They’d looked into each other’s eyes and shared the love that had kindled a year ago when they’d met for the first time.
No one could take her away from him again. He’d never let them.
As the evening wound down and the band played a slow song, he cradled Avery in his arms and moved her slowly around the ballroom.
“Are you ready to go?”
She nodded. They’d spend their honeymoon in their tiny house. Good enough for him. He hoped Avery wasn’t disappointed.
“It’s perfect,” she said as if reading his mind. “I don’t want to have to wait a minute longer to be alone with you.”
“It’ll take more than a minute to get down there from here,” he pointed out.
“Not if you run.”
Walker pulled back. Checked to see if she was serious. Tossed her over his shoulder and dashed from the room. A cheer went up from the other men when they saw what was happening. Laughter and applause followed them down the hill, but Walker slowed as they passed the edge of the illumination of the manor’s lights. He shifted Avery in his arms so he could see her face. She looped her arms around his neck and gazed at him happily as he carried her to their new home.
“It’s all over,” he said. “No more cameras or television crews.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” she told him. “Anyway, I’ve gotten used to them.”
“No more sabotage by Fulsom.”
“I hope not.”
“Just life.”
“I know.”
“I can’t wait to get you alone,” he growled into her neck. Avery laughed, a sound that brought joy to his heart. This was how he wanted to spend his days, making Avery smile.
She loved to smile, so it shouldn’t be that hard.
“Watch your head,” he told her as he opened the front door, turned sideways and carefully carried her over the threshold. Inside, he set her gently down. “What do you think?”
“I love it. All of it,” Avery said. Of course she’d been in here many times before, but it was different this time. Now it was their home.
“I need to see the loft, though,” she added. “I haven’t gotten a real good look at that.”
Walker chuckled and gladly led her to the ladder. He handed her up it, following slowly until she was over the top and perched on the bed. When he reached the top, he had to smile.
“That’s exactly where I want you,” he admitted.
“It’s exactly where I want to be.”
He joined her there, pulling her into a long, soft kiss that grew harder and hungrier over time. When they were both breathless with longing, he shrugged off the uniform jacket and began to undo his shirt. Avery kicked off her shoes, reached around and started to undo the fastenings of her gown before she gave a little groan of frustration. “I don’t want to wait,” she told him. “I want you right now.”
She climbed into his lap, helped him off with his shirt and reached for the waistband of his pants. Their hands tangled together as they opened his fly, and Avery tugged up the skirts of her gown, guiding his hand to the discovery of what she wore underneath—
Nothing.
It was Walker’s turn to groan. He grasped her hips, lifted her and hesitated wordlessly.
“Yes,” Avery said. “Please, Walker.”
A
s she sank down around him, they both gave a low sound of desire, but soon Walker was moving inside her, Avery holding on. There was no time for finesse, no long, slow lovemaking. This was just to take the edge off.
She felt amazing around him, hot and wet, her body designed to strip him of his defenses. He didn’t fight the feelings that overtook him, surrendering to his desire for this woman, eager to show her all the love he had to give to her.
He kept his strokes strong and sure, pleased with the way she moaned in his arms. Avery never held back with him, and her obvious enjoyment stoked his desire even more.
He ran his hands over her, her gown pooled between them. Soon he’d strip it off her, but for now he was content to watch her face as her pleasure built.
She gave a cry, and Walker’s pulse leaped. As Avery’s fingernails dug into his shoulders, he held on, riding out her release, then let himself go in turn, crushing her against him, letting her know how badly he needed her.
When she slumped against his chest, he held her there, breathing hard, already wanting more.
Avery laughed. “Yes,” she said again. “A thousand times yes.”
He fell back on their bed, inched up it until they were lying on it properly, then turned Avery over. “I want to see you,” he told her.
“Sounds perfect.”
She lay still as he carefully undid the fastenings of her beautiful gown and peeled it up and over her head. As she shrugged out of her underthings, he took a good look at the woman he’d just married.
“Beautiful,” he breathed.
Avery stretched luxuriantly, and he took the opportunity that afforded him to get better acquainted with her breasts. Every inch of her was marvelous. As he teased and tasted her, he knew he’d never tire of this. Avery was an unending mystery to explore, and he was determined to spend his days unraveling her.
“Happy?” she asked him, moaning with pleasure under his touch.
“Happy,” he confirmed.
Walker’s touch was everything she’d hoped it would be. Avery knew when he pushed into her again, he’d please her every time they were together. He filled her like no other man had before, coaxing sensations from her that made it all too easy to lose control.
