Free Blazing the Trail (Sunshine & Shadow Book 5) by Alie Williamson

the
feeling of being newly engaged. For the remainder of the night, she touched the
ring frequently. She shared secret glances with her fiancé, wondering if all
true love felt this way, or if she was lucky. In the moment, she didn’t care
either way; she simply relaxed into his firm, yet caring embrace, and let Kip
kiss her into oblivion.

Epilogue
     
     
     
    The colt was standing by
his mother’s side. Willow was calmer now that she had given birth. She eyed
April with caution and April didn’t go closer. She watched the foal with
adoration. He was black, with a short, spiky mane and whip-like tail. He shook
his head often, his inky coat shining in the wintery sunshine. April was
worried he would be cold, but he was already plump and the sun would sink into
his black hair, warming him up.
    “Hey, buddy,” she
murmured, holding her hand out over the fence and watching Willow give her a
look. She chuckled. “Calm down, momma. I won’t take your baby.”
    Sure-footed, with no fear,
the foal stepped up to her hand, sniffing it twice. April turned her hand over
to touch his silky nose and the colt’s ears flicked back, pinning against his
neck for a moment. He turned around, kicking up his heels in a determined
defiance.
    April laughed.
    “He’s a little fighter,
eh?” Kip approached from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing
her forehead.
    “Yeah,” April said, nodding.
“Have you named him yet?”
    Kip raised his eyebrows
in question.
    “Come on,” April said, “I
named Willow. It’s only fair.”
    He looked at the colt,
standing again by his mother’s side. His head was up, standing his ground
against the humans, but knowing he had no strength without his mother behind
him. He flicked his head, smacking himself with his oversized ears and scared
himself.
    Kip laughed. “How about
Maverick?”
    April nodded, looking up
at him and squeezing his waist. “I love it.” She snuggled in tighter. “Just
like I love you.”
    Kip kissed her cheek.
Leaning his forehead against hers, he said, “I love you more.”     
    She shook her head. “Not
possible.”
    “Yes, possible.”
    They watched the foal
begin to suckle and April sighed. This was her rightful place. This was where
she felt safe, and loved.
    She had finally found her
home.