Coming Home to the Mountain: Complete Edition

Epilogue

Epilogue

R euben

Four Months Later…

After so much tragedy, finding and falling in love with Meadow was the best medicine for my battered soul. After our engagement, she, Plum, and I spent a month learning all about one another. We hiked the mountains, picnicked in the parks, and those traditions I was so keen on making with Plum suddenly felt so much more manageable. Taco night and family movie Fridays became the highlight of our weeks.

Now, it’s our wedding day. And a family of two is going to become a family of three. I try not to get too emotional thinking about it, but as I stand in my bedroom, knotting my tie and slipping on my navy-blue blazer for the ceremony, it is impossible not to feel overwhelmed at the reality of my life. Love has found me three times over. Once with Beth, then with Plum, now with Meadow.

“Hey, you ready?” Graham asks, knocking on my door.

“Yeah, come on in.”

The door opens and in walks my brother. He hands me a tumbler with whiskey. “In case you have wedding jitters,” he says.

“I’m not nervous,” I say before taking a drink.

“I just want you to know, I am always here for you, through thick and thin.”

“Thanks, Graham.” I pat him on the back. “And thanks for being my best man for the second time.”

Graham nods. “I know life hasn’t gone as you planned but you’ve proved to me time and time again that you should be the older brother.”

“Not true. When I was at my worst, after the accident, you were there for me. My rock.”

“That’s what family is for, right?”

I nod. “So are you next?”

He chuckles. “I am working too much to meet anyone. Besides, I think Mom and Dad have had enough weddings to throw this year.”

I chuckle. “Thing is, you never know where you might find someone and fall hard. Hell, Meadow was lost on the mountain.”

“You saying I should traipse the mountain ranges around here looking for a bride?”

I shrug. “You never know.”

“Well, I know you and Meadow are going to be so happy together,” he says. “You two are so perfect for one another. And I don’t think Plum has ever been so happy in her life.”

I grin at that. “She is walking on cloud nine today. That flower girl dress Fig made her is fancier than a wedding dress.”

“She deserves it though, doesn’t she?” Graham says, the look in his eyes telling me he remembers. Remembers all our loss that came before this newfound joy.

“Hell yeah, she does. That girl, she deserves the world.”

We walk from my room out to the cabin where my other brothers and brother-in-law Anchor are gathered.

“You ready?” Rye asks.

I nod. “Completely.”

The six of us leave the cabin and cross the small bridge that connects my property to that of my parents. There are hundreds of people here—Meadow’s friends and family live across the country and so many flew in for this occasion. Half of Home, Washington, is here too—after all, Plum is the light of so many people’s lives. To see her so happy gets everyone in town emotional. Me included.

My parents meet me behind the house. Mom looks beautiful, and somehow relaxed.

I gave them both hugs. “You look happy, Mom.”

“Well, I can’t stress about much when my son is marrying into such a generous family. The women in Meadow’s family have been helping me in the kitchen for days—making sure everything is done up right for you two.”

I grin. “I’m so glad it hasn’t been stressful. The girls all seem okay today?” I haven’t been allowed to see anyone all day.

Mom beams. “Everyone is doing wonderfully. Plum is with Fig, Lemon, and Lulu. Meadow is with her parents. Just breathe, Reuben, everyone is going to be fine.”

I exhale, relieved to hear that all is well. “I guess that just means it’s time for me to walk you down the aisle.”

Dad kisses Mom on the cheek, and then I take her arm. “I know I’m not your youngest son, and I try not to be a mama’s boy, but Mom, I couldn’t have gotten to today without you. You helped me so much the last few years, and I am a better man because of your support.”

Tears fill my mother’s eyes, and she gives my hand a squeeze as music begins to fill up the grassy field where the wedding is taking place. There are rows of white chairs, flowers lining the lawn, an archway at the end of the aisle where Meadow and I will take our vows.

“I love you more, Reuben. You’re a good man, a great father, and you’re going to be a wonderful partner to Meadow,” my mom says.

My brothers are at the end of the aisle in their suits, all dressed for the occasion. I give a wave to my Rowdy cousins who are all single, and all ready for a good old party. Thankfully there will be plenty of food and good music—Meadow’s family is taking care of the entertainment.

When I take my place next to them, a wave of joy washes over me. Everyone is here, ready for our big day. The last few months have been a whirlwind of excitement. When Plum finished kindergarten, the three of us flew down to Mexico to meet up with Meadow’s family. Meadow was able to perform with them for a few shows. After that, the three of us took a family vacation together.

It was incredible to watch Plum splash in the hotel pool, Meadow and I sitting with our margaritas. We walked the beach every evening, holding hands, our hearts wrapping around one another, creating family bonds that, God willing, will last a lifetime. Meadow and I wanted Plum to feel cemented in her place in the family. It was such a good decision because walking into today, I am not worried if Plum is going to handle this well. I know she will. I didn’t just long for a partner—Plum wanted a mother too.

Now, the prelude for the wedding begins and my eyes fill with tears as I watch my little girl walk down the aisle. She insisted on being the flower girl—even though we were more than willing to have her next to us as we said our vows. But she wanted the role that was pretty much designed for five-year-old girls.

She is wearing a poufy white dress, a pink sash around her waist, her hair tamed into soft curls. She grins when she sees me, but she takes her job seriously. She gently plucks petals from the basket she holds and lets them fall to the ground.

When she makes it to the front, everyone is dabbing their eyes. I kneel down and pull my daughter into a hug. “You are such a wonderful person,” I affirm. “I love you so much, and I am so proud of you, Plum.”

She kisses me and places her hands on my cheeks. “I love you too, Daddy.”

I give her another hug before she squeals. “Daddy, it’s Mama!”

I turn, and together we watch as Meadow and her father walk down the aisle. The processional music is played by her brother and sister-in-law, on fiddles, and when our eyes lock, I know fate brought us together, but the commitment we have for one another, for family, is what will make our marriage last.

I give her father a hug, and Plum stands right with us, even though she thought she wouldn’t want to. It makes me happy she is at our side. This day is about all three of us.

Meadow takes Plum’s hand, and I take her other. We stand in a circle that feels unbreakable. The rest of the ceremony is a romantic blur—we make promises, we exchange rings, and we are pronounced husband and wife. The whole time, I can’t take my eyes off my girls.

Meadow is a sight to behold in her princess-style white dress—she let Plum help her decide on it. It has layers of tulle and a corset top, and damn, she looks divine. I want to pull her to me, tight, not let go—and then proceed to undress her. Because, God, my wife looks incredible.

Wife.

Damn, I never imagined I would be saying that word this summer—then again, I never imagined I would meet Meadow.

“You may now kiss the bride!”

The words cause an uproar of happy cheers throughout the field, and Plum is twirling in her pretty dress as I wrap my wife in my arms and kiss her deeply.

Her smile lights up my heart, and I want to bottle this memory, look back on it for the rest of my life. It’s a moment of such pure love and devotion that it brings tears to my eyes.

“You make me so happy, you know that?” I say to her as we walk down the aisle toward the reception.

She kisses me again, pausing right there in the aisle. “I love you so much, Reuben Rough.”

“I love you more.”

Later, in our cabin, Meadow and I close the door, exhaling. Not in relief, but in satisfaction. Plum is with my parents, and we have the cabin to ourselves.

When I turn on the lights, we exclaim. “Oh, damn, someone had fun in here!”

Streamers hang from the rafters; a bottle of champagne sits on ice on the coffee table. We walk hand in hand toward the bedroom where rose petals cover the bed, battery-operated tealights set along every surface.

“It’s magical,” Meadow whispers as I draw her to me.

“Like a fairy tale.”

She licks her lips, looking up at me. “Today was more than any girl could dream of for their wedding.”

I run a hand over her cheek. “It was perfect, all of it.”

“Even your Rowdy cousins had a good time.”

I chuckle. “They always have a good time.”

She takes my hand, placing it on her back as she turns around. “Help me with this, husband.”

I unbutton her gown, tenderly allowing the moment to be sacred, to be ours. I kiss the base of her neck, breathe words of love into her ear.

She holds my hands as she steps from the dress, in panties and nothing else.

Her breasts look incredible, perky and full—and bare. “I didn’t need a bra with that dress,” she explains.

I step toward her, cupping her tits in my hands. “Lucky me.”

I massage her breasts, my cock aching as I kiss her smooth skin. “Man and wife.” I shake my head. “God, I feel so lucky.”

“Me too,” she whispers as we move to the bed. I undress as she lies down. Naked, I join her.

“You are a goddess. My goddess.” I lean over her, cradling her frame with my arms. I kiss her again. And again. And again.

“Fill me up,” she whispers, and I do. I move against my bride, taking care of her the way she deserves.

With bodies entwined and hearts pounding in pleasure, I tuck back a strand of her loose hair. She smiles up at me, her eyes melting with mine. “Welcome home, Meadow.”

Preview for next book:

Rough Enough

Graham and Ginger

When a mudslide hits the Burly Mountains, Graham joins a search-and-rescue crew. As a police officer, it is his duty to defend and protect.

While working with the crew, he comes across a beautiful, broken woman—who has a baby in her arms.

Ginger has lost everyone, and everything.

Determined to keep her safe, he plans to find her shelter.

But he can’t let her go. She’s staying with him. And she’s more than a little relieved—she’s terrified of being found.

Someone is after her and the infant. And Graham will stop at nothing to protect them both.