Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Okay.” He kisses me hard before leading me to the chaos of his family for breakfast.
EPILOGUE SCARLETT
Scarlett
It’s been a month. Four weeks since I chose love over my dream of being a travel photographer. I’ve never been happier. Sure, the job was exciting, but it would have been lonely. I wouldn’t have a man who loves me to come home to or to come home to me. I wouldn’t have his family, who are now my family, to support us and make memories with.
Looking back, I didn’t need my mother’s letter to tell me what would make me happy, but I guess I did need her to open my eyes. My eyes are wide open now. I don’t want to miss a single second of the life that Archer and I are building together.
Speaking of my man, he called me a few minutes ago and said it was a great day to go fishing. “It’s April,” he said. “It’s time to see if the fish are biting. It’s been a long week, and I can’t think of anything better than a night with you on Willow River.”
So, here I am, packing us lunches. This time, it’s the dinner I had made for us. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I was never much of a cook, but I did follow Carol’s recipe to a T, and the house smells delicious. Just as I’m placing the last of what I’m packing into the cooler, the front door opens.
“Honey, I’m home,” Archer calls out.
“Hey.” I smile as he walks my way. He kisses me swiftly. “I’m going to grab a quick shower, and we can go.”
“Okay. I’m just going to take this out to the truck.”
“Leave it. I’ll carry it.”
“I’m capable, Popeye,” I tease.
He grins. “Fine,” he calls over his shoulder.
By the time I have the cooler and my camera loaded, the garage door is opening, and Archer is packing the chairs and poles in the back of his truck, and we’re on the road.
“Do you think the lighting will be as good as the last time we were here?” I ask.
“Probably. I’ll take us to the same spot. What smells so good?”
“Oh, I made your mom's meatloaf for dinner.”
He groans in appreciation, and I chuckle. We talk about our day, and before I know it, we’re pulling into the same field as before. The wildflowers are already blooming, and my hands itch to get my camera.
We climb out of the truck, and instead of setting up our chairs, Archer surprises me when he says he wants to walk the field with me.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I want to see it from your eyes.”
That’s a good enough explanation for me. We walk to the rocks that I stood on last time, and he helps me stand. I’m looking out at the water. My camera is raised when he clears his throat. Looking down, I see he’s on one knee.
“Archer?”
“I want to share my life with you. I want to share my family with you. I want you to take my last name.” He swallows hard. “I have never felt the kind of love that I feel for you, Scarlett. I never want a day to pass that our love isn’t solidified in every single way.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black box. “Will you marry me, Firecracker?”
I’m nodding yes before I can say the words. He stays on one knee, holding the ring out, and I force the words past my lips. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.” He stands, plucks the ring from the box, drops the box to the ground, and slides the ring onto my finger. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Hell yeah!” I turn to see Brooks and Palmer walking toward us.
“What are they doing here?”
“I needed photographic evidence.”
“That would be me.” Palmer raises her camera and gives it a little shake.
“Welcome to the family, Scarlett. Not that you weren’t already a part of us,” Brooks tells me.
“Thank you.” Hot tears prick my eyes. Some days it’s hard for me to believe this is my life. I have the love of the best man I know, and his family is now my family. It’s everything I ever could have hoped for and more. The fact that he had Palmer here to capture this moment is everything. I never want to forget this day and the love that fills my heart.
Archer lifts me off the rock and kisses me soundly before Brooks and Palmer take turns hugging me. Archer pulls me back into his arms as we thank his brother and sister-in-law for coming. Once they’re headed back to their truck, he leads me back to his. He grips my hips, lifting me onto the tailgate. “I want you to know that I never want you to change. I want you to stay wild, just like this field of flowers.”