She was holding her chest where her son had shot her before taking his own life. Her eyes were wide with surprise, even in death. Just as Laura Beaumont’s had been.

Epilogue

Dulcie didn’t hear Kate Corbett approach. It wasn’t until she sat down next to her in the large Trails West Ranch living room that she stirred from her thoughts.

“Beautiful view, isn’t it?” Kate said. “I never tire of sitting here. But it must be very different from Chicago and what you’re used to.”

Dulcie knew Kate hadn’t joined her to talk about the view. “I was just thinking about Russell.”

“I know,” Kate said. “He’s in love with you. But your life is in Chicago, isn’t it?”

“It used to be,” Dulcie said.

“He’ll go back with you, if it’s what you want,” Kate said. “I know Russell. He’d do anything for you.”

Dulcie knew he would. She’d fought him when he’d tried to protect her, believing she had to hang on to her independence. But something had changed since the night at the schoolhouse. It gave her nightmares to think how Tinker could have just as easily wrenched the gun from his mother’s hand and turned it on Russell instead of his mother and himself.

A brush with death changed people. It had changed her. Just as this man and this land had changed her.

“I wouldn’t ask Russell to go back to Chicago with me,” she said. “I know how much he loves ranching with his father. It isn’t just the ranch. His family is here.”

Kate rose to her feet. “There are worse things than him leaving his family and the ranch. I couldn’t bear to see his heart broken. I know Russell. He doesn’t love easily. There won’t ever be anyone else but you. Let him go with you. If you love him.”

Left alone with only the view of the Montana prairie and the Little Rockies in the distance, Dulcie thought about Russell, her feelings for him and what was waiting for her back in Chicago. Then seeing the time, she hurried to her car.

On the drive into town, she found herself reliving the night at the schoolhouse. In a flash of lightning, she’d seen Russell rush to her, drag her into his arms and lead her and Jolene outside. Life and death. Only a flash of lightning between them.

Russell had kept saying her name, over and over, as he held her. Water ran from the brim of his hat and the soft, dark strands of hair at the nape of his neck. He blinked back the rain, his blue eyes alight with the storm and her.

“I love you!” he’d yelled over the pounding rain. “I love you, Dulcie Hughes!”