Page 21 of Ghost Tour (Haunted Souls Book 19)
EPILOGUECope
Two days later…
Cope, Jude, Lizbet, and Wolf lay on a blanket underneath the stars. This was their last night in Arizona, and he’d wanted to spend it as a family. Wolf had been all too eager to teach Cope the old myths of the Navajo that Eagle had shared with him a few nights ago. He listened with his attention fully on his son, enjoying the excitement in the little boy’s voice.
When Wolf pointed out different constellations, Lizbet pointed with him and squealed with joy. From his position on the blanket, he could see tears slipping down the sides of Jude’s face. Ever since the spirit of Maddie Flynn had appeared, he’d been different. More relaxed, more comfortable in his skin. Eagle had noticed the difference as well. The two of them had gone off for a long talk after Prairie Moon had been found, safe and sound.
There had always been a bit of a chip on Jude’s shoulder when it came to his roots and his childhood on the reservation. All of that was gone now, with peace left in its place.
“Daddy, are you even listening to me?” Wolf asked.
Cope snorted. “Of course I’m listening.”
“Tell me what I just said.” Wolf giggled. It was a question Cope usually asked him, and the little boy looked thrilled to be able to turn the tables on his father.
Cope sighed dramatically. “Okay, I wasn’t listening. I was thinking about how lucky we are to be here right now. One big happy family.”
“Daddy,” Wolf groaned. “We’re always one big happy family.”
“You’re right,” Cope said, sounding surprised. Yes, there were times when Wolf misbehaved, when the baby and Jude were fussy, but all in all, they were always happy to be together. “Let’s come back here every year.”
“Yes!” Jude and Wolf said together. “But no more ghost tours, okay?”
“Deal!” Cope laughed before his mind turned back to Maddie Flynn and the others. Liam Flynn pled guilty to the murders of his family, as well as to the kidnappings and killings of Rainbow, Dancing Leaf, and Silver Sky. Rumor had it that the FBI had taken the death penalty off the table in exchange for information about other unsolved murders they thought Flynn had a hand in.
Not only had the ghosts of the missing women been laid to rest, but so had the ghosts of Jude’s past. He’d spent last night reconnecting with people he’d gone to school with and other members of Navajo Nation who’d been less than kind to him. There had been apologies, plenty of laughs, and a few tears, along with promises to keep in touch. Cope didn’t need his gift to know Jude would do that very thing.
“We have the bestest family in the whole wide world,” Wolf said.
Never had truer words been spoken.
THE END