Page 31 of Guard Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #5)

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Joy arranged the last of the honey jars on their display table, the morning sun catching the amber syrup like liquid gold.

The market square bustled with Saturday energy as vendors called out greetings and early customers wandered between booths.

Three-month-old Willow dozed peacefully in the carrier strapped to Andre's chest, tiny fists curled against the fabric.

"She gets bigger every week!" Mrs. Rodriguez from the herb stand shuffled over, pressing a tiny knitted hat into Joy's hands. "For when the wind picks up later."

The hat was butter yellow with small white flowers embroidered around the band. Joy held it up, her heart melting at the delicate stitches. "Oh, Mrs. Rodriguez. It's perfect."

"Officer Holt!" Ellen Cooper waved from her pottery booth two spaces down. "Good to see you!"

Joy watched Andre wave back, noting how he'd grown into his multiple roles in the community.

Not just the cop who'd saved their town, but her husband, Willow's father, part of the market's extended family.

She could still picture their wedding day just six months ago—exchanging vows under the apple trees where he'd first helped her search for scattered goats, her small bump barely visible beneath her grandmother's flowing lace dress.

Holly appeared at their booth's edge, her own baby carrier holding six-month-old Jasper. "Look at our babies, already plotting their takeover of Fate Mountain."

Joy laughed, reaching out to stroke Jasper's chubby cheek. "Between all of them, they'll be running this place by the time they're teenagers."

"All of them?" Andre glanced around, confused.

"Ash and Eliana's Eli, Max and Laney's Sophia, Cyrus and Daisy's Rose, Henry and Ivy's Oliver." Holly ticked them off on her fingers. "The next generation of Fate Mountain defenders."

Joy felt a flutter of pride mixed with hope. These babies would grow up in a world where shifters were known and accepted, where their parents' battles had already been fought and won. They'd never know the fear of discovery or the violence of those who'd tried to steal their heritage.

The market filled as the morning progressed. Joy found herself in her element, explaining her products to curious customers, sharing the stories behind each soap and candle. Willow seemed to draw people in, her presence softening even the gruffest mountain folk.

"I saw you in that Culinary Magazine article!" A woman from Portland held up her phone, showing the spread about Fate Mountain's artisan revival. "I drove up specially to visit all the featured businesses."

Joy's cheeks warmed as she wrapped the woman's purchases. "Thank you for making the trip. Try the brewery too, if you have time. Max has some new seasonal releases."

When Willow began to fuss, Emma appeared at Andre's elbow. Joy's cousin had proven invaluable as her full-time employee over the past six months.

"Want me to take her for a walk?" Emma offered, already reaching for the baby. "I know that pre-nap grumble."

Joy watched Andre's protective instincts war with practical necessity as he unbuckled the carrier. His phone had buzzed twice with texts from Heath about next week's schedule, and he needed both hands free to respond.

"Please." Andre settled Willow against Emma's hip with practiced ease. "I’ll take her to check out the new food trucks."

Joy smiled as they disappeared into the crowd.

The morning rush continued. Joy taught an impromptu beekeeping lesson to a group of curious tourists, her hands moving expressively as she explained hive dynamics.

Andre manned the cash box when he wasn't fielding work calls, making change and small talk with customers.

The rhythm felt natural now, far removed from those early days when he'd scared off sales with his hovering.

“Morning, Joy.”

Joy looked up to find Mr. Patterson, the elderly customer Andre had growled at during those first overwhelming weeks. The man clutched a paper bag from Sweet Summit Cafe, his weathered face creased with purpose.

"Mr. Patterson." Joy straightened, ready to get his regular order.

"I wanted to thank you both," he said, the words tumbling out like he'd been practicing them. "For what you did last year. Defending our town. My granddaughter lives in Portland, and she was planning to move here with her family. If those developers had succeeded..."

"It was a community effort," Joy said gently. "Everyone played their part."

"Maybe so." Mr. Patterson's eyes crinkled. "But you two stood on the front lines. You and your family. That means something."

He purchased three bars of soap and a large jar of honey before moving on. Emma returned with a sleepy Willow just as Joy finished restocking their soap display. The baby immediately reached for Andre, making small grabbing motions until he settled her back into the carrier.

"Is everything okay?" Joy asked, noting the slight tension in his shoulders.

"Just clarifying some details about that traffic stop on Highway 20." Andre adjusted Willow's position, the baby immediately snuggling into his neck. "Nothing urgent."

The market's energy shifted as the afternoon approached. The breakfast rush gave way to leisurely browsers. Joy helped a customer select the perfect candle scent while Willow dozed in her carrier. Through the coffee vendor's open window, a radio droned the news.

"In federal court today, the last of the Crown Mountain conspirators received sentencing. Jason Prescott, grandson of developer Samuel Prescott, will serve life without parole for his role in orchestrating attacks on Fate Mountain..."

The vendors nearby barely paused in their work. It was old news now, wounds that had scarred over. The community had moved on, focused on building rather than defending.

Andre's phone chimed with a text. Joy watched his face light up as he showed her the photo. Six-year-old Tommy stood proudly in his blue bee suit, addressing what looked like an entire elementary school auditorium.

"Uncle Andre, I taught my whole class about gentle bees!" The caption made Joy's heart warm. Below it, another message from Megan. "His presentation was a hit at the science fair. Thank you for everything.”

"Tommy?" Joy peered at the screen. "Oh, that's adorable. Can’t wait to see them at Christmas.”

The sun began its afternoon descent toward the mountains, casting golden light across the square. Joy finished packing their remaining inventory while Andre secured Willow in her car seat.

"Want to stop by Mom's pumpkin patch before we head home?" Joy asked as they loaded the truck. "She said the Halloween pumpkins are almost ready."

The drive to Timber Bear Ranch was peaceful, Willow dozing in her car seat as they wound through the familiar mountain curves.

Her dad’s truck wasn’t in the driveway when they parked in front of her parents’ house.

She then remembered they’d planned to go to the diner for dinner that night.

But she knew her mom wouldn’t mind her visiting the garden without them.

Andre lifted Willow from her car seat, the baby blinking awake with curious eyes. They walked hand in hand toward Maria's garden, the orange pumpkins dotting the rows like fallen suns. The earthy scent of rich soil and autumn leaves filled the air on the evening breeze.

A few late bees still worked the nearby wildflowers, their contented hum a familiar soundtrack. Joy knelt beside a particularly plump pumpkin.

"See the big orange one? That'll be perfect for carving. And these little ones are for pies, like the ones Grandma Maria makes." She knew her baby couldn’t understand her, but that didn’t keep her from explaining everything anyway.

Willow's eyes tracked the movement of Joy's hand over the pumpkin's surface, her tiny fists opening and closing reflexively. She made soft cooing sounds, mesmerized by the bright color against the green vines.

"Your first autumn harvest, little one," Joy murmured, kissing her baby’s cheek. "Someday you'll be helping pick these yourself."

Andre's free arm came around Joy's waist, pulling his girls close.

The sun painted the pumpkin patch gold and orange, transforming it into something from a harvest fairy tale.

Joy thought about the journey that had brought them here.

From Andre's desperate need to control everything to their beautiful partnership.

From ashes and fear to abundance and hope.

Willow dozed against Andre's chest, lulled by his steady heartbeat and the gentle evening breeze. Joy looked at her small family and saw it all—the past that had shaped them, the present they'd fought for, and the future growing in their arms.

"We did it," Joy said softly, leaning into Andre's side. "We really did it."

Andre pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and Joy closed her eyes, breathing in the mingled scents of autumn earth, crisp air, and home. Through their bond, she felt his contentment, his certainty that this was exactly where they both belonged.

The sun continued its descent, painting the sky in shades of rose and gold. Somewhere in the distance, a great horned owl called its evening greeting. The bees began their return to the hives, their work done for another day.

And in the pumpkin patch, they stood together as one, surrounded by the life they'd built. The future stretched before them, bright with promise, and rooted in the mountain they loved.