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“I’m not leaving, May. This is my home.” Elizabeth’s voice was steady, her eyes firm as she stood at the edge of her husband’s grave. The wind tugged at the hem of her skirt, but she didn’t flinch.
May took a step closer, her voice softer than she wanted it to be. “But, Mama, we could start over. Together. You don’t have to stay here, all alone.”
Elizabeth shook her head, her hand brushing over the simple cross marking Ulysses’ resting place. “This is where I belong. With your father. This land… it’s all I have left of him.” She smiled faintly. “You go. Find Corbin. Live your life, May.”
The ache in May’s chest was almost unbearable, but she understood. Her mother had always been tied to the land, to the home they’d built together. There was no convincing her otherwise. “I’ll write when I can,” May promised, stepping forward to wrap her arms around her mother. “I love you, Mama.”
Elizabeth returned the hug, holding her tightly for a moment before pulling back. “And I love you, my brave girl. Now go on. You’ve got a long journey ahead.”
May nodded, a lump forming in her throat. With a final glance at her father’s grave and the house that held so many memories, she turned away, mounting her horse and looking toward the north. The wind was sharp, carrying with it the cold bite of early spring, but it couldn’t chill the fire burning in her heart.
Her journey had begun.
The first few days were quiet, the trail leading her through familiar territory. But as she pushed further north, into the dense forests and towering mountains, the wilderness began to close in around her. Snow still clung stubbornly to the ground in patches, and the nights were cold, forcing her to build larger fires than usual to keep the wolves at bay.
On the fourth day, she encountered her first real danger. Bandits, lurking along the trail, emerged from the trees with greedy eyes and worn pistols. May’s hand instinctively went to the rifle strapped to her saddle, but she stayed calm, her voice steady as she called out. “I’m just passing through. Don’t want any trouble.”
One of the men, a lanky fellow with a scar running down his cheek, chuckled darkly. “Trouble finds everyone out here, missy.”
But May was no stranger to danger. With a quick move, she pulled her rifle, pointing it straight at the leader. “I suggest you let me pass.”
The standoff was tense, but after a few moments, the leader raised his hands, backing away with a sneer. “Go on, then. But don’t think everyone you meet will be so kind.”
May didn’t wait for them to reconsider. She urged her horse forward, heart pounding, but her determination stronger than ever. She had come too far to turn back now.
She continued northward, facing not only bandits but also the dangers of the wilderness—wild animals, biting cold, and treacherous terrain. But nothing could stop her. Corbin was waiting.
The thought kept May moving, even when exhaustion weighed down her limbs and the cold seeped into her bones. Her horse, a sturdy bay, trudged on through snow-covered paths, its breath visible in the crisp winter air. The wilderness around her was harsh and unforgiving, but May had always been resilient. She had to be, especially now.
A few days later, May reached the edge of a small clearing just as the sun began to dip behind the mountains. Her eyes narrowed as she saw smoke rising from a distant campfire. She tightened her grip on the reins, scanning the area for signs of danger. Bandits had been scarce since her last encounter, but this far north, the rules of civilization didn’t apply as strongly.
She decided to ride closer, cautiously, but with her rifle ready. As she approached, a figure emerged from the trees, dressed in fur-lined clothes, carrying a bow and arrow. It was a native woman, her sharp eyes locking onto May.
“Who are you?” the woman asked, her English precise but accented. “Why do you travel alone?”
“I’m looking for someone,” May answered, lowering her rifle slightly. “A man named Corbin. Have you heard of him?”
The woman studied May for a long moment before nodding. “Not here. Further north. Across the river. There is a town. You will find people who can help you there.” Her voice softened slightly. “But be careful. The wilderness tests even the strongest.”
“Thank you,” May replied, offering a nod of gratitude before urging her horse forward once more. The wilderness was testing her, but she refused to fail.
Several more days passed in a blur of snow, freezing winds, and relentless travel. She braved nights alone with only the crackling fire for company, the eerie howls of wolves echoing in the distance. The sun rarely made an appearance, hidden behind thick, gray clouds that stretched endlessly over the horizon.
Finally, after what felt like weeks but was probably just days, May arrived at a small town nestled at the base of a mountain. It was late winter, and the snow here was still deep, though paths had been shoveled clear through the streets. The town had a quiet, rough-hewn charm, the kind of place where people kept to themselves and survival was the first priority.
May guided her horse through the center of town, her eyes scanning the few people bundled up against the cold. She approached a man chopping wood near a small cabin, calling out to him as she dismounted. “Excuse me, sir. I’m looking for someone—Corbin. Corbin Gage. Do you know where I can find him?”
The man stopped, resting his axe against the stump, and wiped his brow despite the cold. He looked her up and down, then nodded toward the distance. “If it’s the man you’re talking about, he lives out at Whalebone Beach. Follow the river north, and you’ll find it. He doesn’t come to town much, but folks say he’s still around.”
May’s heart leapt. She was close now, closer than she’d been in months. “Thank you,” she said breathlessly, mounting her horse again. Without another word, she turned her steed toward the river, ready to find the man she’d been searching for.
The trail along the river was narrow and winding, flanked by towering pines covered in snow. The air was crisp, biting at May’s cheeks, but she barely noticed. Her heart pounded with anticipation as she rode toward Whalebone Beach, the place where Corbin had made his home. Each step her horse took brought her closer to him.
The river gleamed in the pale winter light, its surface partially frozen. The path led her up a small rise, and as she crested the hill, May caught sight of the beach below. It wasn’t like any beach she’d ever seen—no golden sand or soft dunes, but rather jagged rocks and snow-covered driftwood scattered along the shore. And there, nestled between the trees, was a small shack with smoke rising from its chimney.
She felt a rush of emotion, her breath catching in her throat. Corbin was here. After all this time, after everything they had been through, she had found him.
May dismounted, her legs stiff from the long ride, but she hardly noticed the ache. Her eyes were fixed on the shack. As she led her horse forward, she saw a figure emerge from the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat.
It was Corbin, but he looked different—almost unrecognizable. His once clean-shaven face was now covered by a thick beard, and his hair was longer, unruly, peeking out from under a fur-lined hat. His clothes were rough, worn from months of living in the wilderness. But even through the changes, she knew it was him.
Corbin stopped in his tracks when he saw her, his eyes widening in disbelief. For a moment, neither of them moved. It was as if time had frozen, the world around them disappearing, leaving just the two of them standing on the snow-covered beach.
“May?” His voice was rough, as though he hadn’t spoken in days.
“It’s me, Corbin,” she called, her voice thick with emotion. “I found you.”
Corbin took a few tentative steps forward, his eyes never leaving hers. Then, in a rush, he closed the distance between them, wrapping her in his arms and pulling her close. May felt the warmth of his embrace, his heart beating against her own, and all the hardships of the journey melted away.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he whispered into her hair, his voice filled with wonder. “I thought… I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
May pulled back just enough to look up at him, her hand brushing against his bearded cheek. “I told you I’d find you. I wasn’t going to let you disappear into the wilderness forever.”
He laughed, a deep, throaty sound that sent warmth flooding through her. “You always were stubborn.”
“And you always thought you could hide from me.” She smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
Corbin’s expression softened, his eyes searching hers. “I never wanted to hide from you, May. I just didn’t know how to face everything after Isaac…”
May placed her finger over his lips, silencing him gently. “We can talk about all of that later. Right now, I’m just happy to see you.”
Corbin smiled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing as May’s warmth wrapped around him like a protective cloak. For the first time in months, he felt at peace. He reached up, placing his hand over hers, holding it against his face as if grounding himself in the reality of her presence.
“Come on inside,” he said after a moment, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s cold out here, and you’ve had a long journey.”
May nodded, her gaze never leaving his, as he took her by the hand and led her toward the small shack. The snow crunched beneath their boots, and the wind swept in from the river, but it no longer felt as biting. Corbin’s warmth, his presence, was all she needed to feel at home.
Inside, the shack was simple but cozy. A fire crackled in the small hearth, and there were shelves lined with supplies—dried meat, furs, and tools he’d gathered during his time in the wilderness. A single chair sat near the fire, and a thick blanket was draped over the armrest. Corbin gestured for May to sit while he stoked the flames.
“You’ve really made a life out here,” she said, looking around, her voice filled with quiet admiration. “It’s not much,” Corbin replied, glancing around the small room. “But it kept me going. After Isaac… I just couldn’t stay where everything reminded me of him.”
May’s heart ached at the mention of Isaac, but she knew Corbin had needed this solitude. “You don’t have to explain. I understand why you came here. But I’m glad I found you. You’re not alone anymore.”
Corbin turned to face her, his eyes softening as he took in her words. He walked over and knelt beside her, taking her hands in his. “You’re right,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “I’m not alone anymore. And I don’t want to be. Not ever again.”
May leaned forward, resting her forehead against his, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and hope. “You don’t have to be alone, Corbin. We’ve both lost so much, but we still have each other.”
For a long moment, they sat there, the only sound the crackling of the fire and the distant call of the wind outside. It was a peaceful silence, the kind that only comes after a long struggle, when two souls find their way back to each other.
Corbin gently lifted her chin so their eyes met. “Stay with me, May,” he whispered. “We can build something here. A new life. Together.”
May smiled through her tears, her heart full. “I’m not going anywhere, Corbin. I came all this way to find you. And I’m staying.”
With that, Corbin pulled her into his arms once more, holding her close as if he would never let go. They sat together by the fire, the warmth of their reunion chasing away the cold and the loneliness that had haunted them for so long.
Outside, the wind howled, and the snow continued to fall, but inside the little shack on Whalebone Beach, there was nothing but warmth, hope, and the promise of a new beginning.
As the fire crackled softly, May whispered, “We’ll be all right now, won’t we?”
Corbin kissed the top of her head, his voice gentle yet filled with certainty. “Yeah, May. We will.”
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Guns and Justice in the West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed my new western adventure story as well as my extended epilogue! Let me know what you think below.
Wow. What a story. I could not stop reading until finished. It was so terrible to find out who the real culprit was.