“I love you, Brooke. I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

She studied him for the longest time. Long enough to start to make him feel... nervous. Long enough that he wanted tofidget.

“You really mean that, don’t you?” she finally said.

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’d never say it if I didn’t. I never will.”

Her smile eased every last worry inside him. “I love you too, Zeke.”

“So you’ll stay?”

She moved to her toes, pressed her mouth to his. “I’ll stay,” she murmured against his mouth.

And she did.

Forever.

Epilogue

A year later, when they got married in their fully renovated house on theirnearlyworking ranch in Sunrise, Wyoming, all their different worlds came together for one perfect night.

Walkers. Hudsons. Daniels. Bent County detectives and North Star operatives. Kids all over the place.

Royal walked Brooke down the aisle, which made her cry. Granger stood up with Zeke, along with his brother, which made her cry harder.

She’d gone from being a lonely teen, desperate not to draw any attention to herself so she didn’t get sent away, to a woman who had... so many different places to go, people to lean on. So muchlove.

And as she promised to love Zeke for the rest of her days, and he returned those same vows, she knew that no matter what threatened, they’d always fight it together.

Their whole, huge, cobbled-together family.

* * * * *