Her thoughts then drifted back to the night Darlene had shared a story by the water’s edge. The resentment she’d been carrying suddenly melted away.
Now, all she hoped for was that Terence could catch the poaching ring he’d been chasing and finally find peace within himself.
The wind swept through the mountains, brushing her hair lightly.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw the young man who had once rushed toward her without hesitation. He had short-cropped hair, and that day, the rain had been heavy, the wind biting cold. Yet his hands, holding the gun, had been steady. She remembered being cradled in his arms, the sound of stepping into wet ground mixing with his steady breathing. The faint scent of tobacco clung to him, strangely comforting, making her want to linger there forever.
But now, this wilderness would have new stories to tell.
As for the dream born in the name of love, it was time for her to let it go.