Epilogue

 

Four years later...

 

“Nervous?”

Summer sighed as Tim’s arms encircled her waist, pulling her back against his chest. She never tired of the feel of his arms around her. God willing, she never would.

“Why would I be nervous? I’m not nervous. There’s nothing to be nervous about,” she said. Nervously.

“It’s just a graduation party,” Tim said, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’ve been to graduation parties on the rez before.”

She had. For the last four years, she’d spent her summers on the White Sandy, tutoring kids and watching Georgey relax in a way he never quite managed while living in Minneapolis.

“Correction—it’s Georgey’s graduation party. That’s huge.” It truly was. Considering Georgey had barely been able to read when she’d become part of his life, graduating from high school was a major accomplishment. Yes, he was almost twenty-one, but he’d made it through by sheer force of will.

And a lot of nagging from Summer. She wanted this moment to be perfect for him. In all honesty, she kind of wanted it to be perfect for herself. She wasn’t a part-time Indian anymore and, at least in her mind, this party marked the start of her living on the White Sandy—and with Tim Means—full time.

Which was a lot to ask of any one party, frankly. “I mean, his mom is coming, for heaven’s sake.”

Tim chuckled in her ear. God, she never got tired of the sound. “You’ve met Eileen before, babe.”

Summer turned her head to give the man she loved A Look. “Was that supposed to make me feel better? Because it’s not working.”

Not considering the last time Eileen Crow Dog had bothered to put in an appearance—at her own mother’s funeral two years ago—Tim had been forced to call in Ezra Johnson, his deputy, to arrest the woman.

At least Tim hadn’t arrested her himself. Score one for family harmony.

Still, Summer had agreed to include Eileen today for one simple reason. “It’s important to Georgey that she’s here. So she’ll be here.” He might never see his mother again and she wanted him to have one more good memory of the woman who’d tried to raise him. Even if she hadn’t succeeded.

“She’ll be on her best behavior.” Tim didn’t say or else but Summer heard it anyway.

She smiled to herself. Tim loved Georgey like…well, maybe not like a son. But like a brother, definitely. She and Tim both walked that line between sibling and parent. But at least they walked it together. That was the important part. “I’m glad I’m here,” she said, holding him tight.

“I’m glad you’re here, too. There’s no place else I’d want you to be.”

Was it her imagination or did Sheriff Tim Means sound nervous, too?

Surely not. The man wasn’t capable of anxiety. For four long years, he’d been her rock of stability as she’d shepherded Georgey into adulthood. Long video calls, longer drives, intense weekends together—through it all, Tim Means was unflappable.

No, she was just projecting her own anxiety onto him. She looked out across the community room she’d reserved for the party at Sinte Gliske Community College, checking to see if there was anything she’d missed. This was the first party she’d thrown herself and she wanted it to be just right.

Everything looked perfect. Two banners hung over a long table set with punch, snacks and five huge cakes decorated with enough icing to put the entire tribe into diabetic shock. One read, “Congrats H.S. Grad!” and the other, “GO ARMY.”

A table by the doorway was laden with store-bought blankets, towels and pillows, as well as baby blankets, hats, scarves and mittens Summer had started knitting for just this occasion four long years ago. Giveaways were an important part of any celebratory milestone out on the rez and she wanted to put her own touch on it.

Then Georgey walked into the room, his military dress clothes highlighting just how damn much he’d grown over the years. Summer’s breath caught at the sight of him. She hadn’t seen him in almost three months—Tim had been the one to pick Georgey up at the airport and drive him home to the rez. Since then, he’d kept out of sight.

Now she knew why. She wasn’t going to get through this without crying. “Oh, Georgey,” she said, blinking back the tears. “You look like...”

“A warrior,” Tim finished for her, pride in his voice. “Your dad would be proud, son.”

Georgey gave them a salute and Summer couldn’t take it anymore. She threw her arms around his chest and hugged her little brother.

Who was, of course, about eight inches taller than she was. He’d grown into his hands and feet and broadened both with regular meals and basic training.

One thing was clear—he was not her little brother. Not anymore.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice cracking. Maybe they should have had this little reunion in private, not right before the big event, so she could cry her happy tears and not worry about smudging her makeup.

“Geez, sis—don’t do that. It’s embarrassing,” he said, but he couldn’t even pull petulant off anymore. His voice was too deep and his eyes shone bright with unshed tears. Before she could scold him, he pulled her back into a fierce hug. “Missed you, Summer.”

“I missed you, too, Georgey. Sort of,” she added, just because she could. They laughed and that helped with the tears.

Living with Georgey for four years had been a challenge, even on the good days. She hadn’t been able to afford a bigger place and it hadn’t taken them long to learn each other’s irritating quirks.

But for all that, she’d loved having her brother with her. Her mother Linda had basically stopped speaking to her and, if Summer hadn’t had Georgey to focus on and Tim waiting for her, she might have crumbled in the face of such rejection.

But she’d had Georgey and Tim and, when she could make the trip out to the White Sandy, the rest of the tribe. Well, that part was at an end. She wasn’t going to spend another second making long-distance video calls or counting the days until the next weekend one of them could make the long drive.

Four long years of focusing on Georgey first were finally at an end. He’d flown through basic training with flying colors, thanks to Tim doing his best to prepare Georgey for military life. He was heading out for his first tour in a few days and then...

This was her home now. Tim was her home. True, he hadn’t asked her to marry him yet, but hell, that was just a piece of paper. She’d happily live in sin for the rest of her life if that’s what Tim wanted.

People began to trickle in—kids Georgey had gone to school with, families of littler kids he’d played soccer with at the Child Care Center, veterans who always, always turned out to honor another warrior. The whole tribe showed up, it seemed.

Shorty came with his younger sister and his mother. After Levi had been sent to prison, Shorty had come back to the rez, finished high school and had just completed his first year at Sinte Gliske. He had a job working cattle for Jacob Plenty Holes on the far side of the rez. Summer couldn’t be prouder of the kid.

Jeremy, the kid Georgey had saved at the pow wow, came with his entire family, which meant Georgey got hugged again. As far as Summer could tell, Jeremy’s mom cried and hugged Georgey every single time she saw him. Georgey shot Summer a desperate look as the woman clung to him, but all Summer did was laugh.

Circle came back from college at South Dakota State, where she’d gotten a scholarship after earning her GED. She spent her summers at the Child Care Center and had plans to become a special education teacher. Although no one said anything about it, Summer got the feeling she was waiting for Georgey. But was Georgey waiting for Circle? Summer didn’t know. He’d dated in Minneapolis, but nothing serious. Not like the way Circle walked up to him, her eyes wide, and certainly not like how Georgey pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.

People kept coming. Rebel Runs Fast and Dr. Madeline Mitchell showed up with their daughter Kathleen who, at three, just sat in her father’s arms and watched the whole party with huge, soulful eyes while Madeline caught up with some of the older guests. Summer figured that, with Rebel and Madeline as parents, Kathleen was going to grow up to run the world.

Clarence and Tammy Thunder arrived next with their kids in tow—Mikey, now a cocky ten-year-old with a mind that still moved a mile a minute and Farrah, who announced to anyone sitting down that she was four and a half, going on five. Farrah was followed by Katie, who was just starting to walk, much to Flo Tall Tree’s delight. Then, tucked against one of Clarence’s shoulders was little Sean who, at three months old, was starting to smile at everyone and everything.

Nobody and Melonie Bodine showed up, which made Summer smile. Jamie Bodine, now sixteen, gravitated to Georgey and within seconds, the two guys were deep in conversation while Circle sat on the ground, singing to the babies. Jamie might very well wind up in the military. Heaven knew the boy had been raised with a strict code of honor. The Bodine girls, as twins Susanna and Sophia were known because they were identical and no one—except for Nobody and, on good days, Melonie—could tell them apart, made straight for their cousin Kathleen. Within seconds, the trio of three-year-olds were in danger of upending the table of cake. Melonie got there first and saved the table while Nobody swooped up his daughters, smiling as they shrieked with glee.

Summer let the laughter and chatter wash over her. The men congregated around the punch and talked of old battles and old loves, as well as new ones. The women were by the cakes, keeping a close eye on the kids and talking about birthdays and anniversaries. The grandparents took over the chairs, laughing and singing and enjoying the heck out of having Georgey serve them cake in his dress clothes.

Eileen Crow Dog showed up late. She looked terrible—a lifetime of alcohol abuse was catching up to her, but at least she seemed sober today. Summer watched from a safe distance as Eileen hugged her son and patted his arm and even smiled at him. It was, hands down, the most maternal Summer had ever seen the woman act and Georgey beamed down at her.

There. Georgey had his moment. The party, as far as Summer was concerned, was a total success.

She sighed with happiness. This was what she’d missed growing up, but she wasn’t going to miss out on it ever again. These were her people but more than that, they were her family. They always had been, even when she hadn’t known it. Summer loved them all.

She’d resigned at the end of the last school year and left her apartment in Minneapolis behind. She’d officially moved in with Tim and, even though the front door still stuck, she loved actually living with the man. They cooked dinner together and turned everything they could into a date, even if it was just a grocery run. And when the weather was right, they headed out for the middle of nowhere and made love on the hood of the car.

It was perfect. Even if it meant that Georgey still had to sleep on the couch when he was home on leave.

Even now, she glanced back at where Tim was laughing—actually laughing—at something Nobody Bodine had said. She loved being here, loved having this celebration with her whole family. But she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t looking forward to later tonight, when Georgey went out with his friends and she had Tim all to herself for a few hours.

The years had barely touched the man. Aside from a streak of white coming in at his temples—which he blamed entirely on either Georgey or Nobody, depending on the day—Tim was as rock-solid and gorgeous as he’d been the day he’d found Summer lost on the White Sandy. The first day she’d come home.

She might have loved him from the beginning. Her summer fling had become so much more.

And now she’d moved out here to be with him. She even had a job. Technically, two jobs. She continued to tutor students for their GEDs at Sinte Gliske every weekday morning and she’d began to contact the area high school teachers about student retention and college preparation classes. Which was nice because she didn’t have to teach Shakespeare anymore.

The Mitchell Foundation, a trust run by Dr. Madeline Mitchell and Melonie Bodine, was funding the construction of a new after-school center next to the Child Care Center. The Teen Reach Center would be geared for kids ages twelve and up and, in addition to having plentiful snacks and homework help, the foundation was also footing the bill for an outdoor skate park and basketball courts, as well as computers and books. Lots of books, graphic novels and audio books. There wasn’t a library outside of a school on the reservation, so Summer was dedicating one whole wall to young adult literature.

The kids on the White Sandy needed a place to go where they could be warm in the winter and get a meal they might not get at home. Teen Reach would be a place where they could still be kids, get homework help and, most importantly, stay connected to the tribe without joining a gang or falling through the cracks, like Georgey almost had.

Summer was in charge of the whole thing. It was terrifying and wonderful at the same time, because this was how she fit into Tim’s world. She might not have the skills to change diapers but she could be here for kids navigating puberty and adulthood and, hopefully, keep them out of Tim’s jail.

She was chatting with Melonie Bodine about how they were going to decorate the skate park—decorating was Melonie’s strong suit—when she caught Tim and Georgey with their heads together, both glancing at her over their shoulders.

She knew that look. Those two were up to something. She turned, but Madeline appeared next to her. “How’s it going?” she asked in that tone of voice that made it clear she expected—nay, demanded—an answer. Summer liked Madeline Mitchell a great deal, but the woman had a way about her that could be off-putting, to say the least.

“Fine,” Summer said suspiciously.

Madeline and Melonie shared a look, then Tammy Thunder was with them, also staring at Summer while she tried and largely failed not to smile. “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” Summer repeated. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing!” All three women said at once in too-loud voices.

“Uh huh.” Summer narrowed her eyes at them, but their collective smiles held. “Then what’s going on behind me?”

“Nothing!” they all but shouted in unison.

So that was a something. “Is it bad? One of the kids tip over the punch bowl?” Or worse, was Eileen making a scene?

“No,” Tammy said, giving up the fight against that smile. “If there were something going on behind you—”

“Which there isn’t,” Melonie cut in.

“It’d be a good thing,” Madeline finished.

They all smiled again. Even bigger this time.

No, that wasn’t suspicious at all.

“Summer?” The sound of Tim’s voice cut through the room, sending a shiver of want down her back. The room went silent in a heartbeat. Or maybe that was just her pulse pounding in her veins, drowning out all other noise.

Something was definitely going on. What was that man doing?

“You can look now,” Melonie whispered with a wink.

She turned slowly and found Tim standing in the middle of the room, a bouquet of roses in his hand and a smile on his face. Behind him, a circle of their friends and family stood, all looking hopeful and expectant. Georgey was at his shoulder, grinning wildly. “What...”

But that was as far as she got before Tim fell to one knee. She gasped, her hands flying to her chest as the women behind her pushed her forward.

“I never thought I’d meet a woman like you,” Tim began, his voice low and serious and, yes, nervous. “I love this land and I love my people—my family.”

The crowd behind him made a happy humming noise because, no matter what, they loved him, too.

Oh, God—this was really happening. Tim was down on bended knee and he was proposing. To her! In front of everyone! At Georgey’s party!

“But,” Tim went on, “being the sheriff has meant that, too often, it’s a tough love and it makes it hard for anyone to love me back. Before you came to the rez, I’d resigned myself to a life on the edge and it was a damned lonely place to be. Then Georgey happened and—”

“Hey!” Georgey protested, but he did it with a smile.

“You came for him and the moment I saw you, lost in the middle of nowhere.” Everyone chuckled at that, even Summer. “I saw someone more. Someone who didn’t look at me and see just a lawman. Instead, you saw a man and I loved you for it.”

“Oh, Tim,” she tried to say, but her throat closed and she had trouble getting the words out.

He held out his hand for her and she walked forward. Or maybe she was pushed again. In his palm was a simple ring with a small, round diamond set in rose gold. “We’ve spent too much time apart,” he went on. “And I don’t ever want to be apart from you again. You are my past, my present and I want you to be my future.” He took a deep breath and said, “Summer Collins, would you marry me?”

“Preferably before I ship out,” Georgey added. “I wouldn’t want to miss my favorite sister getting hitched.”

Circle, bless her heart, smacked Georgey on the arm and shushed him.

Tim rolled his eyes, which made Summer laugh.

“We’re already living together,” she reminded him. Instantly, alarm widened his eyes. The room felt like it was holding its breath. “But I want something more from you, Tim Means. I want it all. I want you as my family. Because we are all family.”

Tim almost sagged with relief.

Summer knew she was crying but she was powerless to stop. “Yes,” she told him, holding out her hand to him. “I’ll be a wife to your husband. There’s nothing I want more.”

“Thank God,” he said, slipping the ring onto her finger. He pushed himself to his feet and, thrusting the roses back for Georgey to hold, folded her into his arms. “I’m yours,” he whispered against her lips. “Stay with me, for the rest of our lives.”

“I will, because I’m yours, too,” she whispered back. Then he was kissing her and she was kissing him back in front of everyone and people were hooting and clapping and when she and Tim broke apart, there were handshakes and hugs and plans to be made.

She was home because she was with Tim.

Forever.