Page 124

Three weeks later

“ A re you sure?—”

Jacob cut her off. “If you ask me that one more time…”

“You’re going to what?” Addie glanced over. One brow raised. “Because I just might want to see where that threat leads.”

“No brownies.”

Addie gasped. “How dare you!” The mock ire lasted half a second, then she dissolved into laughter that rang through the predawn valley.

“You’ll scare the deer.”

“Good. They should steer clear of people.”

Neither of them mentioned Hank or his “hunting.” In the last three weeks, and since he’d been released from the hospital, his whole Bible study group had shown up to help Jacob clear up his apartment and set everything back to rights.

Hank had left evidence that pointed to Jacob being the culprit for Austin’s murder, which Hank had committed. Jacob hadn’t enjoyed hearing how the guy shoved Addie and ran from the scene.

Or any of the rest of it.

Let alone telling any of them what happened with Hank in the cabin—seeing Addie’s face.

Russ was alive and home, along with Mona.

Hank was dead.

Jacob had Addie’s hand in his, and they were here.

He tugged, and she stopped walking slow up toward Golden Hills Bluff. He didn’t want to think about the fact his stomach still hurt. He’d nearly died, but apparently there was more for him to do here on earth because he hadn’t been called Home.

“What is it?” She moved close.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Addie touched her hands to his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. Jacob slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close—as close as they could be. For now.

It was all there in her kiss.

Promise. A future. Hope.

When she leaned back, she said, “Are you going to tell me why we’re freezing our butts off on a mountain this early?”

Jacob lifted his chin. “Somewhere you need to be?”

“We couldn’t watch the sun come up from your apartment?”

“The view from there is good.” He’d watched it every day since he got home from the hospital. “But this is better.”

They set off again.

“This is where your grandpa brought you when you were little?”

Jacob nodded, a lump in his throat.

“Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“We won’t be long. Then you can go to work.”

“As if I’d rather do that than spend the day with you.” She glanced over.

“How are Kyle and Stella?”

She chuckled. “Complaining that they keep finding more things to like about Benson and then threatening to pack up and leave. It’s pretty hilarious.”

“They’re hooked. They just don’t want to admit it.”

She glanced over. “I’d have said the same. But I’ll freely admit it.”

“I love you.”

She squeezed his hand, her cheeks turning a gorgeous shade of pink. It was an expression he’d never seen before. Confidence and vulnerability. Strength and brokenness.

Life’s journey was like the path up this mountain, with its twists and turns. Blind corners and tricky drop-offs. Patches of flowers that would bloom with the seasons.

This route saw winter. It saw the blazing sun and pouring rain. But in the end, they would reach the summit.

When the corner came, he picked up his pace. “Come on.” The vista took his breath.

Beside him, Addie gasped. “I’ve never seen this. It’s beautiful.”

“If you look to the left, you can see Benson. All the way over there.” He pointed.

Between were mountain peaks—and patches of snow. Overhead, the dark sky above glowed to lighter blue, then a yellow haze. Below was a stripe of orange, then red met the horizon.

“It’s stunning, Jacob.”

“Jake is fine. I told you that.”

“I like both.”

He shifted to stand behind her, then carefully tugged her against him— ouch— as he wound his arms around her. “I’ll have to find the tree where Grandpa carved his name.”

“We should carve our names.”

“I’m not sure I’m in favor of destroying nature like that, but I appreciate the sentiment.” He shifted and pulled the tiny thing from his pocket.

So small in his big hand.

Jacob held it in front of her and spoke over her shoulder. Whispered in her ear. “Marry me, Addie.”

She tensed.

Jacob held himself completely still, not sure what her reaction would be. It was on his heart to ask if she would be the subject of his next book. But maybe that was a story they’d write together—one that would last a lifetime.

Then she whispered back a single word.

“Yes.” Addie’s lips spread to a wide smile.

Jacob lifted his gaze to the sunrise. You were right, Grandpa.

There was always hope.

The End.