Epilogue

Jake sat on the front porch of the Clifton Bed and Breakfast and smiled when Becca came through the front door. He patted his knee and she took a seat on his lap.

“A little bit. This is a lot different from running a coffee shop.” She pressed a kiss against his jaw. “I can’t get over that all the rooms are full for our opening. It’s a little scary.”

He kissed her temple. “So am I, Red. I wanted so much to get my hands around that bastard’s neck and squeeze the life out of him.”

“You shouldn’t have walked out there,” Becca scolded him. “He could’ve killed you.”

“I had faith in Wyatt. I knew if I walked out there, Harris wouldn’t concentrate on you as much, and Wyatt could get a clean shot.”

Jake wrapped his arms tight around her. “Wyatt said he took great pleasure in shooting the bastard, especially when he saw Steve aiming for you after you kicked him in his jewels. He said he’d be damned if that son of a bitch was going to shoot his future sister in-law.”

Jake thought back to the pain when the bullet slammed into his shoulder but when he went down, he didn’t take his eyes off Becca—not once. When she started running toward him, all he could think was, now, Wyatt, now. It was as if Wyatt had heard him. His brother took the shot and hit Steve dead on. The bastard fell without getting another shot off.

“When are you going to marry me, Red?” Jake asked Becca, inhaling her sweet scent.

“Darlin’, you could say right now and that would be fine with me.” Jake tipped his face up to look into her eyes. “I’m never letting you go, Red. Not in this lifetime or beyond.”

He thought about how surprised, yet pleased, everyone was that the Clifton B and B had a full house for the grand opening. It was already August and Becca’s six months were up. The ranch was staying in her possession and Jake was very proud of her. Olivia had agreed to stay in Clifton, so she and Becca sold the coffee shop. Emma was already trying out her recipes.

Jake saw the postman coming up the drive. He nudged Becca and together, they stood. He watched Becca walk down the steps to retrieve her mail. She had to sign for something. She held it up to show him. It was a certified letter. Jake smiled at her when she grinned and shrugged. He motioned for her to take a seat beside him on the swing. He watched her open it, scan the contents, but then heard her gasp.

“It’s from Mr. Gray. It’s a letter my grandmother wrote to me,” she answered. He saw her lips tremble as she handed it to him to read.

My Dearest Becca,

We both know what it means if you’re reading this. I’m not sure what I can say to you about what happened between your daddy and me. I tried to talk to him but he was so angry and now as I think back, I realize it was my fault. He lost all the love he once had for the ranch when his own daddy died. After he left for college, things changed for him. He didn’t want to run the ranch and we had a big argument about it. I shouldn’t have told him that he wasn’t welcome at home. I will never forgive myself for that.

Know this, Becca, I kept an eye on you. Thanks to your mom, I saw you grow up through pictures and phone calls. After Will and Sarah were taken from us too soon, I hired a private detective to find you and keep me posted on you. I was so proud when you bought that little shop of yours. I wanted to see you but didn’t know what you would think of me after all the time that had passed. I’m leaving you my ranch in the hopes that you’ll love it as much as I do. If for some reason you don’t, then please sell it to my friend, Jake Stone. He certainly doesn’t need it but I trust him with it and he’s a good man. He’ll take care of it and won’t let any strangers take Daniels’ land. He’s like a son to me, so if he has it, I’ll be fine with that. Please know that I love you, Becca-girl. I always have and I always will. I really hope you love the ranch and decide to stay. It would be wonderful if you could find a good cowboy and have some babies here in Clifton. Remember, I’ll always be watching over you.

I love you,

Gama (that’s what you called me when you were 3)

“I remember calling her, Gama. I remember saying that,” she said with wonder. Becca couldn’t help but see that Jake’s eyes were bright with unshed tears so she wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her tightly and laid his cheek on the top of her head.

“I’m so glad Hattie wrote this to you. If it hadn’t been for your mom...I can’t imagine how Hattie would’ve felt,” Jake said before pressing a kiss against her hair.

“She loved you very much, just like I do.” Jake grinned. “And I think we should do what she suggests.”

Jake chuckled. “Well, you found yourself a good cowboy...that would be me, by the way, so now we should get married and work on those babies.”

Becca felt her cheeks burning as she smiled up at him. “I think that’s a really good idea, Stone.”

Jake burst out laughing. “Finally, Becca Daniels agrees with me on something.” Becca giggled and smiled against his lips when he kissed her. “I love you, Red.”

“I love you too, Jake and I will forever.” Becca put her head on his shoulder and silently sent a prayer of thanks to the grandmother she’d never known, but who had always loved her with all her heart.

Susan was born and raised in Cumberland, MD. She moved to Tennessee in 1996 with her husband and two children. She now lives in a small town outside of Nashville, along with her husband and their three dogs. “Jake” is her first book in a series of nine. Although, writing for years, it was just recently she decided to submit to publishers and went with Secret Cravings Publishing. You can find her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skdromanceauthor and her website at http://susanfisherdavisauthor.weebly.com/

Susan is a huge Nashville Predators hockey fan. She also enjoys fishing, taking drives down back roads, and visiting Gatlinburg, TN.