Hero (Alpha Mountain 1)

Epilogue

Ford

* * *

I had her eyes covered as I led her through the snow. It had fallen overnight, and it was crisp and clear now.

“Ford,” she complained on a laugh.

Yeah, not much of a complaint.

The cabin was done, and I’d somehow been able to keep her from seeing it. I’d wanted it to be a surprise, and she’d respected that, steering clear of the creek for the past few months. But now it was time to show her where we’d live. Together.

I had paid extra for the contractor to add extra men and build faster. They’d stepped up to the task, and only three months after I’d rescued Indi off the mountain–or she’d rescued herself–it was time for the big reveal.

I’d covered her eyes just before the rise and had guided her the rest of the way in.

I dropped my hands, and she blinked. I stared at her as she stared at our new house. A smile spread quickly across her face. “God, Ford. It’s amazing. I love it!”

Relief pumped through my veins, and I smiled too.

I tugged her hand and led her up onto the porch that wrapped all the way around the place. Stomping the early season snow from our feet, I pushed open the glass door.

She looked up and around, then slowly walked around. I followed, but stayed quiet and let her look. A two-story great room with a kitchen. Windows were everywhere. There was a ground floor master and a loft with three bedrooms.

When we got through the entire tour, she flung herself in my arms and kissed me. “It’s perfect,” she murmured.

I cupped her ass because… well, I always cupped it. It was my hand’s place to touch her.

“Good, because this is where we’re settling.”

Her house in town was fine and all, but we belonged here on Ledger land. Not only because it was locked down tighter than a supermax prison, but this was where we’d come together originally and would stay together.

“Buck would be proud, I think,” she admitted, nuzzling her nose into my flannel shirt.

I stroked her hair, left long and wild down her back, and lifted her chin.

“His name’s been cleared. He died in the line of duty.”

Which meant the Buchanans received his death benefits. Money was no consolation for a lost loved one, but it being refused had stung. I wasn’t sure what Indi and her parents were going to do with the money, but it didn’t matter. Everyone now knew Buck was a hero.

“I’m proud of you,” I added.

“For what?”

“Taking over SOA.”

She sputtered out a laugh. “Brandon literally left town.”

“When you sue him for millions of dollars for unsafe working conditions and–”

She set a hand over my mouth, knowing the asshole only pissed me off every time he came up. The dumbass wasn’t completely stupid because he’d done as I’d said that day and fled. I’d forced Indi–with her parents prodding, too–to seek out a lawyer for how Brandon had spitefully put her in danger by sharing her whereabouts with Tully. The family on Indi’s hike had been more than happy to back her in the case against Brandon. He’d settled from Oregon or Arizona or wherever he went.

My woman had the company she wanted and was making changes for the better. Hiring more female guides, setting up women-only trips. Gearing it toward ladies-in-the-wild, which I thought was a fabulous idea.

“I work for you,” she said, the reminder soothing me. She told me that often. Pleasing me. I’d told her she should be a consultant for my team. Leading my crew into the backcountry for less wartime-like survival skills. “I think Quincy’s going to be a great addition to my guide squad.”

We heard the rotors of a helicopter, and Indi rolled her eyes.

“Speaking of,” I said.

“I can’t believe you actually got a helicopter.”

I frowned, but she pressed up onto her toes to kiss me. To make me feel better. I’d always wish I’d had one sooner to save her from Tully.

“And a pilot,” I added.

“Quincy’s a badass.”

Fuck yeah, she was. She’d been in the Navy with my team and extracted us from missions. Her skill behind the stick had saved our bacon more times than I wished to remember. I didn’t know a better helicopter pilot. Fortunately for us, Kennedy had heard she’d left the military and was going to take a commercial pilot job. When I’d offered her a better arrangement than working the commuter flights to Des Moines, she’d jumped at the chance.

So now we had a helicopter and a pilot as part of the team. Gram was thrilled to have another woman stay in the house with her and Roscoe.