Page 28 of A Very Mountain Man Wooing

“No. I’m so sorry. I know we should have some time alone, but I’m just not ready.”

“It’s okay, love. We can make a romantic dinner at home together.”

“Are you sure that you’re not mad?”

“I could never be mad at you, Anise. I love you.”

“You’re the best.”

She kisses me, and Molly starts to stir in my arms.

“I’m going to feed her. You might want to head outside to help the guys,” she suggests, and I kiss Molly on the forehead before I pass her over to Anise.

“I’ll be back soon,” I promise her, and she smiles.

“Love you!”

“I love you more,” I say as I grab my gloves and head outside to help our friends.

I smile as I grab an axe and walk across the backyard to the first tree.

TWELVE

Anise

Ten Years Later…

“I’mglad that we’re finally doing this,” I tell Whit, and he smiles as he wraps his arms around my waist.

“Me too. The kids are so excited that we’re all going together.”

We’re going to Hawaii with all of our friends. We’re going to spend a whole week playing in the sand and the surf. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a super cold winter, and a few days in the sun sounds amazing right about now.

“My suitcase is all packed,” Molly says as she joins us in the kitchen. “When do we have to leave?”

“In about an hour. Uncle Hunter and Aunt Grier are going to be picking us up,” Whit tells her, and I notice that Molly perks up when we mention them.

I think she’s developed a bit of a crush on their son, Noah. Grier and I think it’s adorable, but part of me kind of hopes they end up together. They’re still young, though, so we’ll have to wait and see.

“Did you grab your phone charger?” Whit asks her, and she walks out of the kitchen.

“I do now!”

I laugh as I turn to finish up the dishes. The house is all clean, and our bags are backed. Whit starts to rub my shoulders, and I tilt my head to the side, giving him more access to my neck.

It’s been ten years, and we’re still so in love. We just celebrated our anniversary, and I can’t believe it’s already been eleven years since we got married.

Whit has been with me through so many new life changes. He supported me when Mabel, Grier, and I bought Snips. He’s been the best dad to our daughter, Molly, and the best husband to me.

He also helped me navigate talking to my mom again. We’re still not close, and I know we never will be, but it’s better than it was. We talk on the phone a few times a year, and most of the time, it’s just superficial.

She left the church and has been trying to rebuild her life ever since. She moved to a small town in Colorado and started volunteering and then working at the local greenhouse. Turns out that she has quite the green thumb, and she’s been working in the front office, helping them get their books organized. I’m glad she’s so happy now, but nothing can make up for what I went through when I was younger.

There’s a knock at the door, and Whit pulls away from me to answer it.

“I guess they were excited too,” I tell Molly as Grier skips into the house.

“Are you ready to go yet?” She asks me, and I nod.

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