Epilog

Shortly after the wedding as the couple settled into their new life together, a hiker wandered into the clearing in front of the dwelling. Lance warily opened the door at his knock. “Can I help you?” he asked.

“You wouldn’t by chance be Sullivan Proctor, would you?” the man asked.

“I would not,” Lance stated, firmly.

The man gave Lance a knowing look but didn’t question him further.

“Who would you be?” Lance asked, suspiciously.

“My name is Danny Norton. My dad owned all this land at one time.”

“At one time?” Lance felt a chill run up his back. “Who owns it now?”

“Well, my dad left his estate in trust to his children, but he also left instructions for us to allow one Sullivan Proctor unrestricted use of this cabin and the surrounding twenty acres. He took a liking to the man and he knew none of us wanted the old shack.” He stopped and looked around. “Although, it doesn’t look like much of a shack anymore.”

Lance stood, mouth open in surprise.

“May I ask who you are?”

“My name is Lance Matthew. I’m a close…friend of Sullivan’s. And you’re right; he has made a lot of improvements to the old place.”

The two stood in silence for a few minutes, gazing at the cabin. Finally, Danny turned and hefted a backpack from where he had set it on a stump. “Well, anyway, you might want to let Sullivan know about his legal right to use the land and cabin. Our lawyers are searching for him and hope to see him soon.” The man passed over a business card, tipped his ball cap in Lance’s direction, winked, and wandered on down the trail.

Lance dropped onto an old stump beside the door and laughed, his heart light and free for the first time in years.