The Scarred Beauty’s Lost Hunter – Extended Epilogue

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Brides of the Untamed Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

---

Five Years Later

Evelyn stood on the front porch of the newly renovated Silver Lantern Inn. Her youngest child, Aggie, balanced on her hip, and her oldest, Jonah, Jr., tugged at her skirt. J.J., as they called him, was eager to run off and play with his cousins.

The late-afternoon sun cast long shadows across the yard, and the smell of fresh paint still lingered faintly in the air. It had taken months of planning, saving, and hard work, but the inn was finally finished—thanks to the new bank manager in town. Tonight was the grand reopening, reserved only for family and close friends.

“There you are,” Jonah said, smiling as he wrapped his arms around Evelyn and Aggie. “I was missing you.”

“I’m here. Just getting some air.” Evelyn smiled as Aggie squealed at the sight of her papa, her chubby little hands reaching out to him.

Jonah chuckled and took her from Evelyn, cuddling her.

“No rush,” he told her. “I think Winnie was getting antsy to hold this one.”

“And me, too, Papa,” J.J. reminded him.

Jonah laughed and tousled J.J.’s hair. “Actually, I thought maybe we’d let Aggie visit with Aunt Winnie while you and I went to the stables and fed the horses. What do you think?”

J.J.’s three-year-old eyes widened, and he bounced on his heels excitedly. “Yes!”

“Come on, then,” Jonah said before looking at Evelyn. “You okay?”

“I’m perfect,” she told him. “Just thinking about the first time you came here.”

Jonah grinned. “Best decision I ever made. To get beat up during a snowstorm and a tornado.”

Evelyn laughed. “Best decision I ever made to look after you.”

Jonah’s eyes warmed. “And I’m so grateful that you did.”

She looked at him for a moment, feeling the truth in his words. She never thought her life could be this good.

“Go on now. Before I get all mushy,” she said, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ll be in shortly.”

He leaned in, giving her a quick kiss. “Don’t be too long.”

She watched her family go inside the inn. Her inn. Agatha and Wil had insisted on hosting everyone tonight. They wanted to share all the changes, to celebrate the end of a long, difficult chapter, and the start of something better. Evelyn was glad for them. They had earned this.

She needed to go inside. Jonah’s sisters had arrived from Colorado the day before, each with a child in tow and a wagon full of gifts, baked goods, and lots of stories. They visited as often as they could, but it never felt like enough.

Evelyn had grown close to them—close in a way she hadn’t expected. They treated her like family from the start, and she loved them for it.

Dorothy waved when she spotted Winnie in the yard with Aggie. “There she is,” she called. “The busiest woman in Wyoming.”

Evelyn laughed. “Not today. Today I’m just here to enjoy the food.”

Winnie snorted. “You say that now. Give it an hour, and you’ll be helping Sierra in the kitchen.”

“Not if Agatha catches me,” Evelyn said. “She wants me to rest.”

Jonah joined Winnie and kissed her cheek before lifting their son into his arms. He looked tired, but in a good way. Ranch work suited him. They made their way to the stables, and Evelyn turned to go inside.

She’d seen the new renovations many times, but still, they never failed to surprise her. The new restaurant space—once the old east wing—was nearly unrecognizable. It had been closed up for years before Agatha decided to give it new life.

Fresh woodwork, polished floors, new tables, and a long counter formed the center of the inn, where Sierra and her helpers were already setting out dishes. The smell of roasted meat and herbs filled the room.

Sierra glanced up and spotted Evelyn. She smiled widely and waved with a flour-dusted hand. She wasn’t Emma, but Evelyn liked her. She was young, quiet, and serious about her work. Emma had chosen well before leaving for New York.

Her letters said she was cooking for a wealthy family there, learning new techniques, and seeing more of the world than she ever imagined. Evelyn missed her, but she was proud of her, too.

Agatha bustled out from the kitchen, cheeks flushed and her apron tied tight. Wil followed behind her, carrying a tray of glasses. Another thing that Evelyn wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to. He still treated patients, but he spent most of his time doing odd jobs for Agatha.

“There you are,” Agatha said, pulling Evelyn into a quick hug. “Good. I was starting to worry.”

“You always worry,” Evelyn said.

“And I’m usually right,” Agatha replied, but she was smiling.

Guests began to arrive in a steady stream—neighbors, a few ranchers, and some favored townsfolk. Laura and her husband, Sheriff Thomas Avery, came in together. Laura’s belly was round beneath her dress, and she moved carefully, but her smile was bright.

“You made it,” Evelyn said, hugging her gently.

“I wouldn’t miss this,” Laura said. “Besides, Thomas says I need to walk more.”

Thomas chuckled. “Doctor’s orders.”

Evelyn glanced around. “Where’s Jake?”

“He’s running late,” Thomas said. “But he’ll be here later.”

Jake had joined the army a year ago, searching for something he couldn’t quite put a finger on. He wrote when he could, short letters that said he was doing well and learning discipline. Evelyn hoped he found what he was looking for.

The room filled quickly. Laughter rose above the clatter of dishes. Children darted between tables. Jonah’s sisters settled near the fireplace, swapping stories with Agatha. Wil flitted from group to group, making sure everyone had what they needed.

Evelyn stood back for a moment, taking it all in.

Silver Hollow had changed. The trouble with Silas and his investors had brought more lawmen and attention than the town had ever seen. In the end, the investors had been forced to abandon their plans. The railroad line was diverted elsewhere to a less profitable route. The town had been spared, though not without scars.

But tonight wasn’t about scars. Tonight was about moving forward.

Jonah came up beside her, brushing a soft kiss to her temple. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “Just thinking.”

“You’re awful thoughtful tonight,” he teased. “What are you thinking about now?”

“How far we’ve come.”

He followed her gaze across the room. “Yeah. It’s been a long road.”

A long road, but a good one. Evelyn smiled. Their children alone made the journey worth every step—J.J. with Jonah’s stubborn streak and Aggie with Evelyn’s quiet determination. They lived on her parents’ old farm, slowly turning it into a proper ranch. It was hard work, but it was theirs. And they’d made incredible progress so far.

Dorothy and Winnie visited often, bringing their children and filling the house with noise and warmth. Jonah had regained the closeness he once shared with them, something Evelyn knew meant more to him than he ever said aloud.

Lydia, too, had found her footing. Or so she’d heard. Mrs. Needham had reported that Lydia married a traveling salesman back East and wrote occasionally to say she was happy. Evelyn was glad for her. Everyone deserved a chance to start over.

Sierra rang a small bell to announce supper. People lined up, talking and laughing as they filled their plates. Evelyn helped her children settle at a table before setting a plate down in front of Jonah.

He smiled up at her. “Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back,” she said, leaving to go make her own plate.

She was getting accustomed to sitting down to eat at about the time everyone else was finishing up. Such was the price for having a husband and children, she reckoned.

The wait was worth it. The food was good—better than good. Sierra had talent, and with time she might even match Emma’s skill. Agatha and Wil watched proudly from behind the counter, their hands intertwined.

When everyone had eaten their fill, Agatha stood and tapped her spoon against a glass.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said. “This inn has been part of our family for generations. We’ve seen hard times and good ones, and we’re grateful to still be here. We hope this place continues to be a home for all of Silver Hollow.”

The room erupted in applause.

Evelyn felt Jonah’s hand slip into hers. She squeezed it, grateful to have him by her side.

Later, as the lamps burned low, and the last guests drifted out into the cool night, Evelyn stepped outside. The sky was clear, the stars bright, and her husband was there, waiting for her.

“Where are children?” she asked.

“Asleep,” he said, his eyes sparkling. “With Aunt Dorothy and Aunt Winnie watching over them.”

“Good,” she said, stepping into him.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face in his chest. She smiled when she felt him kiss her hair.

“It was a good night,” he said.

“It was.”

He rested his chin on the top of her head. “Do you ever regret leaving the inn?”

“Not even a little bit.”

He laughed softly. “Good.”

Evelyn sighed, then looked up at him. “Ever regret giving up bounty hunting?”

“Not even a little bit,” he said, repeating her words.

She chuckled. “Good.”

He put his arm around her, and they wandered over to the porch rail, looking out at the town that had shaped their lives. Silver Hollow wasn’t perfect. It never would be. But it was home.

The perfect place for fresh starts—for all of them.

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Brides of the Untamed Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

---