This is why I had the farm. This is the reason I decided to stick to this little town and make my life here. She just added to it. She was the last piece of this puzzle.
A cool breeze ran through the barn as Remington walked up behind me. I’d just put Apache in cross ties to brush him down for a ride. I needed a ride. A moment to sit atop a horse and be free because this not doing stuff was too confining for my liking.
“And just what in tarnation do you think you’re doing? You been cleared by the doc for manual labor?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, “Yes, mother.”
His eyebrow lifted, “Cass know about this outing?”
“Not yet.”
“Hey, some guy dropped this off at the barn earlier today. Thought I’d give it to you first.”
I looked down at the envelope he held in his hands. Cassidy’s name was written in cursive across the front in bold black. I wanted to tear it open immediately and find out what was waiting inside, but I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do. Cass needed to know about it.
“Thanks, man,” I said folding it and putting it into my back pocket.
He raised an eyebrow. “You ain’t gonna open it to see what’s inside?”
I shook my head. “Nope, it aint mine to open. I’m gonna walk this into the house real quick. Leave Apache tied up. I’ll be back.”
“Your call, boss. I’m ‘bout to head out. Got a reservation at that restaurant you suggested. Picking up Faith in a few.”
“Good for you, man. Get your girl. You think of that something special for her?”
He turned to walk away from me. “Sure did. You know, she slipped and kissed me the other day.”
“You must be doing something right then.”
“I sure hope so.”
I heard the front door creak as it opened and Beau appeared with an unsure look on his face. My feet carried me to him. “What’s wrong? What happened? Are you in pain?”
“No, nothing like that Cass.”
He handed me an envelope with my name written on the front. I searched his eyes, questioning if he knew what was inside it, “What is this?”
“I don’t know. Remy gave it to me. Said some guy dropped it off for you this morning. Didn’t leave his name, just said it was for you.”
Weird.
“Okay, then. Let’s open it.”
I squeezed the tabs together and pulled the envelope open. Inside were three tiny pieces of paper. As I pulled them out, my heart skipped a beat.
What does this mean?
The three small papers fell to the ground as I checked the envelope for any other information. Bending down, I leaned over to pick up the papers.
Vivere una vita bella e intensa. Live a Full, Beautiful Life.
The other two papers were the newspaper articles. One was what Devin had shown me in the barn. The date was from the week after I left. Andrew had been truly dead for months, like I’d thought all along. I finally had closure. He was gone for good and would never hurt me again. The other was an article showing Devin’s arrest and charges. It was all over. The players, and villains were in their rightful places. One in the ground, one in jail, and one free. I guess the Italians felt that it was safe for me to know the truth. I was no longer a threat or loose end to anybody. I could live. Live freely and happily. A simple, blissful life in the country.
“Is that?” Beau spoke over my shoulder.
“Yes, it’s the same article that Devin had about Andrew’s death. He’s truly gone.”
“How are you feeling right now?” He asked tentatively.
“I’m not really sure, to be honest. I’ve assumed he was dead for months, but now it’s real. He’s gone. Never again will he be able to ruin my life. I won’t have to look over my shoulder. I have closure.”
“You know what else? One bad ending gives us our chance at a new beginning. We’re free to get married. Cassidy Mae, we can get married now,” He whisper-shouted, emotion flowing through his words.
A wide smile spread across my face and I couldn’t believe how happy that made me. I no longer felt like getting married again would tie me down. I’d be equal partners with Beau. His best friend, his soul mate. Fate gave us a gift, love.
4 Months Later
We were getting married in three days. It’d taken a couple months to get everything figured out and to plan. I was happy.
So happy.
In three short days, I would be Mrs. Cassidy Mae Montgomery. The past left in the past where it should be. No longer a Peterson. All those doodles in my high school journals came back to my mind. Somehow those journals knew all those years ago that we’d end up together, or at least that’s what I choose to believe. We were having the wedding ceremony at Willow Springs Stables. A field wedding behind the barn with only close friends and family. My mama had been helping me plan the wedding and everything was going just as planned. Reagan was turning into a crazy bridesmaid-zilla if that even was a thing. She kept telling me that it all had to be perfect. Our love needed to start out perfect. I knew perfect didn’t exist, but I knew that our love was strong and it could conquer anything.
Beau came over, looping his arms around me and kissed my forehead like always. “Okay, Mrs. Almost Montgomery. Anything I need to do? Are we set up?”
“Yep, it’s all set. You nervous about being married, Beau Montgomery?”
His grin was panty-melting, “As long as the sex is as hot as it is now, I’ll be quite content.”
I swatted at him, “Beau Montgomery, you are one dirty cowboy.”
He leaned over and whispered
