Page 123 of Huckleberry Hill
“Know what?”
“That your father took her out there every night for two weeks before she passed. He picked her up out of bed and carried her to the truck and drove her out there. They sat underneath the stars and talked. They talked so much that your father’s voice went hoarse.”
“I remember that—the hoarse voice, I mean.”
“They talked about you and Salem. About their life together. It was like . . . each night they renewed their vows.” She took my hand in hers. “Death isn’t the end, you know. It’s just another beginning. With their feet in the pool of the hot spring, they said goodbye.”
I brushed the tears from my face. “I didn’t know. Dad never . . .”
“Never talks about her. I know. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about her all the time. Think about those final two weeks.” She looked at me. “We did okay, didn’t we? We did okay without her?”
“We did okay,” I agreed. “You know it’s weird . . . Mom’s ovaries killed her, and mine don’t work.”
Muddy took my hand and gave it a squeeze.
Tonight, at the hot spring that had no name, I’d confront the ending of a life I was supposed to have. I’d mourn it once and for all. I’d tell Declan the truth and face the aftermath no matter what it was.
Tonight, I’d make peace.
Declan took my bag and strapped it to his saddle. “What do you have in here?”
“Jammies, a change of clothes, three pairs of socks . . .”
He laughed and leaned close, brushing his lips across my ear. “You won’t need your jammies.”
“Sir,” I gasped. “I’ll gladly skinny-dip in the hot spring, but sleeping without my jammies? No way. Not happening.”
“I’ll keep you warm,” he promised.
My cheeks heated.
Making love underneath the starry sky? Yeah, I couldn’t wait for that.
Unfortunately, my happy mood was tinged with anxiety.
“Did the coffee company reach out to you?” I asked.
“Not yet.” He looked at me. “Promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“We won’t talk about it tonight, okay?”
“Okay.”
We mounted our horses and then I took the lead. “You don’t know where we’re going.”
“I know where we’re going,” he said. “I had Muddy show me earlier today.”
“What?” I gasped. “But I wanted to be the one to show it to you for the first time!”
“You’ll understand why I needed her when we get there.” He winked. “Come on, bear snack. I want to see you in your birthday suit.”
He took off at a quick pace and I followed. It was dusk and the sun would be completely set soon. The sky was clear of clouds.
“We might see the aurora tonight,” I said, looking up.
“I’ve never seen it.”
