Epilogue—Montgomery

Hair wet from her recent shower, Swayze combed through it with a small brush. It was early morning, which added to the sleepy look in her eyes. She’d been tired for weeks since all the stuff went down with Kathy Jo.

It’d been a shock.

Sometimes he felt like he lived in a different world than Swayze, with her brother following her, but in reality, he hadn’t known he was living it.

The look of fear that haunted Swayze’s face had started to slip away, but there was one more thing Montgomery needed to do for her to help her heal.

Montgomery leaned over the back of the chair where Swayze sat and kissed her temple, loving the smell of her skin fresh from the shower.

“We need to leave soon.”

“I wish you’d tell me where we’re going that involves me having to pack a bag.”

Montgomery walked around to look at her, dropping to his knees. She looked beautiful with a makeup free face, those blue eyes intense, and a small smile on her face. “Don’t like surprises, huh?”

Swayze shifted her weight so she could cross her legs. “You know I don’t. What should I wear?”

He rolled his eyes and handed her his coffee cup. “Here, it’s a drive until we get there, and we can stay the night so we won’t have to drive at night. I’ve already asked Abigail if she would watch Ryker—”

“You know I don’t like being away from him much since—”

“Baby,” he said, standing up. “How many times do I have to tell you that we’re safe?”

Swayze closed her eyes briefly. “It’s abnormal for me to feel safe.”

Montgomery nodded. “I know that, but I’ll do anything for you to know we’re good. Come on, Ryker can come with us if you want.”

Swayze looked over her shoulder toward the hallway that would lead her toward Ryker’s room. His many voices echoed down toward them as he played with his action figures.

“One night?” she asked.

Montgomery ran his fingers through her wet hair. “Yeah. I’ll take him down there while you get ready, okay?”

“Okay.”

Montgomery got Ryker’s things together and got him dressed. After a thirty-minute goodbye session between Swayze and Ryker, Montgomery took him down to Kaden’s.

Montgomery wouldn’t lie and say their brotherhood had instantly restored itself, but it’d taken a step in the right direction. Kaden had made an attempt to go to the bar with him and drink, and it’d been weird, but turned out better after a few beers.

They hadn’t really talked about Kathy Jo or the ordeal; it was just a known fact that they didn’t need to.

Not now.

Kaden had said he was sorry, and that was all Montgomery had ever wanted.

Abigail greeted them at the door with a popsicle and a smile. She’d looked happier over the last few weeks. Montgomery assumed it was because Kaden had finally pulled the grudge out of his ass, but he couldn’t be sure. Kaden was the most bullheaded person he’d ever met. It took Kathy Jo to kidnap Ryker and threaten them for him to get it.

But he loved him anyway.

“You have everything ready down there?” she asked.

Montgomery wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. “Yeah, as good as it’ll ever be.”

Abigail handed Ryker the popsicle, and he raced inside where Kathryn stood in the hallway.

“She still has no idea, huh?”

Mont grinned. “Nah, she’s clueless. Thank you for watching him. Swayze is nervous, but there is nothing more to worry about.”

Abigail nodded. “Yeah. Kaden already left this morning to go pick up a load of horses, but he said safe travels.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow.”

Montgomery walked over the gravel driveway and hopped into his truck. Swayze waited for him with her small bag on the porch, her chocolate hair twisted into a bun on top of her head, one leg tucked underneath her on the swing.

He got out of the truck and helped her load her bag. She slid into the warm leather of the seat and buckled her seat belt. She wore ripped jeans and a T-shirt. It was almost the end of August, but the humidity still felt like fire.

“So,” Swayze said, looking at the GPS, but Montgomery covered his phone.

“No way, baby,” he said.

She laughed, sat back down, and started fiddling with the radio. After an hour of driving, Swayze gave up and fell asleep.

Montgomery was glad because eventually, she’d gather where they were going, and Montgomery wasn’t sure how she'd feel about it.

***

Swayze held Montgomery’s hand tight, her face emotionless as she stared down at the gravestones. It hadn’t been his first choice, to spend his money on the man that threatened Swayze’s life, and for the man that had been her husband before, but it was her family.

The only family besides Ryker and him that she had left. The family she had before him, and her husband deserved a tomb…and her brother, a place to rest his head.

For the longest time, she stood and stared at both their faces on the separate tombs without a word being spoken. He’d been a handsome guy, looked a lot like Swayze in the eyes. Her husband looked like someone off of a toothpaste commercial, but Montgomery tried not to dwell on it.

After what seemed like forever, she cupped her palm over her face and began to cry.

Montgomery held her against him, letting all those tears soak his T-shirt. “Thank you for doing this,” she whispered. “I know they aren’t in there, but thank you. I would have never been able to afford them myself.”

She’d never have to afford anything for herself again, but he didn’t mention it. Swayze knew she belonged with Montgomery, and he didn’t need to keep reminding her.

Healing is a long process, so he needed to be there for her, but not push her. She’d come around to be his wife one day, but in the meantime, he’d show her why she needed to say yes when that day came around.

“I did it for you, so you could heal.”

Swayze looked up at him through blurred, blue eyes. “Take me to the hotel?”

Montgomery walked her back toward his truck and started back toward town. Georgia was a drive from Louisiana, so nighttime had fallen over them shortly after they arrived. Their hotel was nice with a Jacuzzi and California king.

They ordered room service when they got back, and Swayze seemed lighter. Her mood had changed, with a smile on her face and eyes wild for him.

She looked free.

“Want to watch a movie?” he asked.

Swayze pushed her plate away and crawled to straddle Montgomery’s waist. He went to lean up, but she pushed him down with her palm to his chest. “How could I have found not one, but two good men in my life that would love me this way?”

Montgomery gave her a lopsided grin. “Because you deserve a strong man that’ll love you forever…and in the meantime, I’ll be here to take care of you. To love you. To love Ryker. You just take your time, Swayze Sways.”

Swayze closed her eyes and laughed. “You’re serious about me staying with you? What will people think?”

“People can kiss my ass. I only care what you think about us. You want to stay with me, sweet girl?”

Swayze looked at him carefully, taking in the strong shape of his jaw covered in scruff, and the wild look in his light eyes that always sent her heart into overdrive.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

She bent down to kiss him, and he deepened it, his palm guiding her toward him, and his mouth devouring any chance of another man pleasing her.

Swayze had never thought she’d fall for a cowboy. The cowboy hats and boots had never drawn her attention, but Montgomery King had never stopped trying to gain it.

He was something handpicked from God for her. Soft touches that turned into muttered groans and lines that made her laugh but set her soul on fire.

She’d never thought she’d fall for someone else again.

But all of the what ifs were gone.

It was them forever…and always.

All she needed was to let her guard down and open her heart because that was all Montgomery King needed to steal it.