“Ah.” He pressed another kiss to the top of her head. “It’s not going anywhere. Caleb doesn’t want to go back, either. Got his eye on some pretty girl in town. It’ll just be Jack, and I don’t know if he even wants to go or if he’s just being stubborn.” She felt him shrug. “Might be fun to go up there for a few weeks in the summer every now and then, but Libby needs a mama and I need my wife more than we need to go to Alaska.”

She tucked her head against his chest, loving the sounds of those words. “I don’t want you to feel trapped here—”

“The only time I felt trapped was at the thought that I might not get you back and I had my hand stuck inside a cow’s uterus.” He stroked her back thoughtfully, his fingers moving up and down over her skin in a way that was both comforting and arousing. They’d just had sex, but she’d be more than ready for another round if this kept up. “I suppose I should think about Libby and school a bit more. If she hates it there, I don’t want to force her to go.”

Becca picked her words carefully, not wanting to start a fight. “I understand. I don’t want her to be miserable, either. Amy tells me that most kids cry the first day and then they get used to it, though. It’s a big change for them. If it helps, I’d be happy to go for a few days and stay at her side so she knows there’s nothing to fear.”

He squeezed her tight. “You’d do that for me?”

“No, I’d do that for Libby.” She looked up at him, beaming. “She’s my daughter, too, now.”

“Damn, I love you, woman,” he growled. “Why is it you have the answer for everything?”

“Because the answer for everything is easy.” As long as they loved each other, nothing else seemed to matter all that much.

EPILOGUE

Three Years Later

Slow down,” Becca called after Libby as her daughter raced ahead, the dog bounding at her side. The narrow trail wound through the trees, and in the distance, tall mountains loomed. Even though it was August, the weather was cool and the mountains in the distance had snowy caps. Everywhere around them there were green trees and rolling hills and the air felt clean and fresh. Becca took in a deep breath, smiling to herself. So this was Alaska.

“Listen to your mother,” Hank called, heading down the path after Libby. He was laden with their gear, arms full of sleeping bags and clothing, a cooler, and fishing rods. He turned to give her an exasperated look. “She listens real well, doesn’t she?”