The moment Danny left, Clayton, Abby, and their three kids came to talk. Taryn loved getting to meet the children. Eventually, everyone made their way over to her and Jace to share a few words.
When they finally got a few minutes to themselves, Taryn chuckled and looked at Jace. “Is everything with Boyd really over?”
“I think so, but he had a large organization. We’ll need to be careful for a while. Bobby will keep tabs on things.”
“You trust him?”
“I do. He’s only telling a select few agents, who will continue monitoring both Fort Worth and Clearview. If anything happens, he’ll know which ones to talk to,” Jace said.
Taryn set aside her mug. “I hope that we won’t always have to keep looking over our shoulders.”
“We won’t,” he vowed.
She looked around at the houseful of people and smiled.
“I haven’t had a chance to say I’m sorry about Payton.”
At the mention of her sister, Taryn’s grin faded. She swung her gaze to Jace. “All the signs were there. I just didn’t see them.”
“You can’t blame yourself.”
“Maybe if I hadn’t been so wrapped up in you, I would have.”
Jace shook his head. “Remember what you just told Ryan? You can’t hold onto the past.”
“I know.” She blew out a breath. “When I think about Payton and what she did, I’m just…” She shook her head, unable to find words.
Jace brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “It’s going to take time to deal with everything that happened with her.”
Taryn looked down at their joined hands. She hadn’t taken the wedding ring off since the hospital. “And what happened at the hospital with Boyd and Mona.”
“If I could take that from you, I would.”
Her eyes lifted as she smiled at Jace. “I know, but I can handle it. Like you said, it’s just going to take time.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you. Look at everything you’ve gotten through these past years.”
She drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. “Did you suspect Payton?”
“Not at all. They knew just what to say and do to ensure that you believed everything they told you. None of us had reason to believe that Payton would turn out to be the one who masterminded everything.”
“She was my sister,” Taryn said as tears stung her eyes. “All I wanted was for her to be happy and have a life. I tried to take care of my family.”
Jace touched his finger to her chin to get her attention. “Baby, you did. The simple truth is that Payton was just a bad apple. You couldn’t have thought she would turn your father and brother onto drugs or have all of you kidnapped and made all but slaves to Boyd.”
“She had my father and brother killed,” Taryn said, her tears giving way to anger. She shook her head as her ire grew. “She took me away from you, robbed us of years we could’ve been happy.”
Jace shot her a sexy grin. “But we triumphed. We’re here, together. She tried her damnedest to keep us apart, but it didn’t work.”
“No, it didn’t.” Taryn’s smile was wide as she realized she had many things to rejoice about—the main one being that she was with Jace.
“Are you ready?”
She cocked her head to the side. “For what?”
“For the future.”
“Oh, yeah,” she said with a nod. “I dreamed about it every night while I was away.”
He shot her a wink. “No need to dream anymore. It’s right here, darlin’.”
Epilogue
Four months later
Jace had been waiting for this day for some time. He wasn’t sure how everyone—including himself—had managed to keep it all a secret. But they had.
“I’m just about ready,” Taryn called from the bedroom. “Just putting on my boots.”
He smiled, thinking how absolutely glorious life with her had been. Their journey to each other might have taken a bit of a detour, but it had all worked out in the end. Although there had been some close calls.
Taryn walked from their bedroom in a pair of jeans, boots, and a green plaid shirt. Her long hair was loose as she walked to him where he stood next to the island, and kissed him as they wound their arms around each other. “I can’t believe this day is finally here. No more physical therapy.”
“That’s right. Now it’s time to celebrate with some good food.”
“And a horseback ride.” She pulled back and quirked a brow at him. “You said I’d get to ride. My physical therapist said it was fine.”
Jace gave a nod. “You’re going to get to ride.”
“Then what are we waiting for? We need to get to your parents’, visit, and have lunch so we can saddle up the horses and ride to the river.”
He smiled at her enthusiasm. It was on the tip of his tongue to spill the secret, but he managed to keep it to himself as they locked up the house and hurried to his truck. The entire drive to his parents’, she sang along with the radio and looked out the window. Jace looked at their linked hands and sighed in happiness.
When they reached his parents’ house, his mom and dad greeted them at the door. Jace kept hold of Taryn’s hand as they made their way to the kitchen. His mother had the double back doors open to let the cool fall air in. Jace spotted all their friends outside. He tugged Taryn away from his mom long enough to bring her out to the backyard where everyone waited.
“Oh, my God,” Taryn said when she saw everybody.
Jace stood beside her, watching her greet everyone until she finally saw her surprise. Everyone went silent as Taryn’s mouth fell open at the sight of the silver buckskin mare held near a fence by Caleb. Jace had jumped through many hoops to do this for her, even had Caleb and Cooper travel to Wyoming to acquire the animal.
“She’s all yours, sweetheart,” Jace told Taryn.
Her eyes teared up as she covered her mouth with her hands, looking from Jace to the horse with its black mane, tail, muzzle, and ears. Two of her legs were also black. Silver buckskins were rare in the horse world, but the mare was as unique as his wife—making them perfect for each other.
Taryn threw her arms around him. “Jace. What did you do?”
“Bought my wife a present.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a kiss then hurried to the horse.
As Taryn stroked her hand down the mare’s back, she looked over her shoulder at Jace and mouthed, “I love you.” He blew her a kiss and grabbed a beer as his parents gave her a black saddle and matching tack.
“You look content,” Cooper said as he walked up.
Jace nodded, unable to take his eyes from Taryn. “More than you can imagine.”
“I think we’ve all earned some peace.”
“I’ll drink to that.” They clinked their beer bottles. Jace looked around at the friends and family that made up their circle. “We’ve all survived a lot. We’re lucky to be here.”
Cooper nodded as he drank. “And to find women who will put up with our shit.”
“Not all of us,” Jace said as he nodded at Ryan.