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Everly's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?"
"Serious as a heart attack," Ridge said. "Looks like I'm staying after all."
Everly jumped from the couch and wrapped her arms around her brother just as he stood. "That's the best news!"
Ridge winced. "Ev, don't scream in my ear."
She pulled back, clutching her hands to her chest. "Sorry. I'm just so happy!"
Blake stood and slapped a hand on Ridge's shoulder. "That's good news."
"And I'll be starting a kids co-op program here."
"At the ranch?" Everly asked.
Ridge nodded. "Right here. Mr. Chambers and I have been working up a business plan. He's going to lease me the land, and I'll be hiring a few people to help out."
"Are you sure?" Blake asked. Running a new business on the ranch meant Ridge would be dealing face-to-face with more guests.
"I'm sure. I've been praying about this for a while, and I'm tired of running. I don't really care if someone in the media decides to write some story about me, but I want the good news to outweigh the bad." Ridge squeezed Everly's shoulder. "Plus, you don't need me anymore, sis."
Everly hugged her brother and took a deep breath. "You're going to be great at this."
"I agree,” Blake said. “You're going to be working with kids, man!"
Ridge straightened and lifted his chin. "I've learned a lot at the ranch, and I want kids to experience the value of hard work. I want them to be proud of something they're doing and building. Working at the ranch will be good for building responsibility."
Everly rounded on Blake. "What are you going to do? Are you going to keep the big house by yourself?"
Blake glanced at Ridge. They'd talked about a plan for when Ridge moved, and Blake wished he'd brought the ring with him today. He'd ask Everly to marry him on the spot.
"I was thinking you and I could make that decision together."
Her brows pulled together slightly as she absorbed his words. "You mean..."
Blake nodded. "I mean we'll keep it if you think you'd want to build a life with me there." Everly had mentioned more than once that she liked the house, and it had plenty of room to start a family.
"If you'd rather start with something smaller or—”
"No," she interrupted. "I love it. I want that."
Blake wrapped her in his arms. He would happily follow Everly anywhere she wanted to go. Home was wherever they were together, and what better place to start than Blackwater.
EPILOGUE
Everly
Everly’s fingers rapidly pecked over the keys on her laptop. The time in the bottom corner of the screen read 5:59.
“Everly Grace!” Remi shouted from the stairs.
“One second!” Everly finished up the email to her client and hit send.
“No more seconds,” Remi said as she stepped into the doorway of Everly’s bedroom. She took in the rustic bedroom and shook her head. “I can’t believe you get to live in the main house. I’m so jealous.”
Everly slapped her laptop closed and tossed it onto the bed. “If you have to be homeless first, I don’t recommend it. Plus, Jess is an awesome roommate.”
“True, but this bedroom is straight out of my dream home.”
