Page 7 of Pursued By the Mountain Man Enforcer
Journee
Two Days Later
Over the past twodays, True and I have made love on every surface of his cabin and then some. During our breaks from making love, we’ve shared more about our lives. But we haven’t talked about where we go from here yet. I know I need to meet with my family, or at least call them, sometime, but I’m not ready to go back to reality. I need just a little more time with True.
I snuggle deeper into True’s arms when his phone rings. I can only hear his side of the conversation, but the parts I do hear make it clear he’s talking about me. I catch words like Runaway Bride and that he found Goldilocks sleeping in his bed, but it isn’t until True hands me the phone and I hear my sister Jenna’s voice on the other end that I know my time with True in the cabin has come to an end.
“Journee, where are you? Are you okay? He’s not holding you against your will, is he? I’ll kick his ass if he is.” Jenna doesn’t give me time to answer before she’s asking another question or threatening to kick True’s ass. I love my big sister, always ready to save me.
“I’m not exactly sure where I am. The day I ran away from my wedding, I started walking and ended up in an abandoned, fully stocked cabin, or so I thought it was abandoned. I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about me. He’s not holding me against my will. If anything, I’m holding him against his will.” I say, making sure she knows I want to be here and don’t need her to save me.
“As long as you're safe, that’s all that matters.” She says, then lowers her voice. “Did you find your Brad Pitt?”
“And then some. He’s amazing, Jenna. I hope you find what I’ve found one day.”
“I think I have.” She whispers into the phone. “Do you have any regrets?”
“None. And you shouldn’t either, Jenna. Love pops up when you least expect it. Remember, fortune favors the bold—be bold, Jenna, take the leap of faith.” True growls beside me when I mention being bold. “I’ve got to go, Jenna. I’ll see you tomorrow.” We say our goodbyes, and I decide to be bold one last time.
“Is everything okay with your sister?” True pulls me close, our naked bodies touching. I gave up trying to wear clothesyesterday, since True would strip them off as soon as I put them on.
“Everything is fine with Jenna. But I want to talk about us. I love you, True. Sure, I want to meet with my sister tomorrow to make sure she is doing well. But after that, I want to come back here and live with you forever if you want.”
“If I want?” He wraps his arms tighter around my waist and pulls me onto his lap. “Of course I want that, my bold woman. I love you, Journee. I want to expand the cabin and fill it with twenty kids.”
“I want that too.” I press my lips to his, deciding we can compromise on how many kids we have later.
Epilogue - Journee
Twelve Years Later
In the end, wesettled on ten children. Little Ellie is our last baby. I glance down at my wrist as she breastfeeds, at the matching tattoo True and I got a week after we met, with the words Be Bold outlined in wildflowers, then at True, shirtless, sitting next to me on the couch, with his matching tattoo over his heart. I thank my lucky stars I ran from that disastrous wedding and to True’s cabin.
Instead of tearing down the cabin and building a newer, larger one, we added on to it, keeping the original space intact.
“What are you thinking about, Mama Bear?” True, lightly runs his fingers over Ellie’s soft newborn hair before tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.
It’s been six weeks since the baby was born. My doctor cleared me to have sex. With the rest of the kids at Aunt Jenna and Uncle Dash’s house, I want to surprise True after I put Ellie down for her nap.
“I was just thinking about how much I love you and our family.” I pause, then look into his eyes. “And after I lay Ellie down for her nap, I’m going to sit naked on Papa Bear’s lap to see if he’s too hard, too soft, or just right.
-The End-
