Author's Note: This is it. This last chapter of this story and I'm as sad as the rest of you. But this is not the end of the series. Keep checking back because I plan to start putting the next story online in a few days. And I will keep working on Wiley and Dex's story as well. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed my stories. I really enjoy reading each and every one and appreciate all the comments, suggestions, etc, and look forward to your reviews on my other stories as well. NStone

"Why don't you just call her?" Beth Ann said.

Jeremiah shook his head and shoved back away from the table. His mother was driving him nuts. Beth Ann had been on his case to get in touch with Callie every day since she had left.

"I already told you, ma, I can't. She needs time and I'm going to give it to her."

"But I hate to see you this way, Jerry. You're not eating. You leave for work early and come home late. And you barely say two words when we do see you."

Jeremiah sighed, digging deep for patience. "Ma, I know you're concerned, but you don't need to be. I'll be fine."

At least he would be if he could just see Callie again. Just hold her. Just kiss her. The ache in his heart grew. Oh how he missed her!

"Of course I'm concerned!" Beth Ann said. "It's breaking my heart to see you like this. You need to find some way to deal with it."

"As a matter of fact, I talked with Dave and he's letting me take another week off from work since things are slow. I'm going to get away from here for awhile and I think Danny is going with me."

"But you've only been back to work for a week!"

"I know, but I can't concentrate on much of anything right now. I need to get away for awhile."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to take a road trip," he said. It wasn't a lie, just not all the truth. He didn't want Beth Ann to find out and drive him nuts about it.

"And Danny is going with you?"

"Yes."

"And when are you leaving?"

Jeremiah glanced away. "Tonight."

"Tonight!" Beth Ann stared at him in surprise. "Were you even going to tell me you were leaving?"

Eric interrupted gently, "Bethy, Jeremiah is an adult. He doesn't have to ask our permission to do anything."

Thanks, dad! Jeremiah breathed a soft sigh of relief.

"I know, but..."

"But let's leave Jerry alone now. I'm sure he needs to get ready for his trip."

As a matter of fact, he was already packed. Had been since last night. He only had an hour to pick up Danny and then they would be taking off. But since Eric had given him his out, Jeremiah decided he might as well get his bag and head for Danny and Zeke's apartment. With a little encouragement, maybe he could get his little brother to leave a few minutes early.

Jeremiah only had to wait a few minutes for Danny to finish getting ready. With quick goodbyes to Zeke, the two young men headed to Anchorage in Jeremiah's truck.

"Does mom know where we're going?" Danny asked.

"No, I just told her I needed to get away and was taking a road trip."

Danny grinned. "Well, that's partially true."

"Are you sure you don't mind going down with me? I know work is probably crazy for you right now."

The grin was replaced by a scowl. "Wish I could say that was the case."

Jeremiah glanced at him. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, my editor informed me the other day that the paper is going to be laying off people and since my column is basically just taking up space, I'll probably be one of the first to go."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Daniel."

"Don't be," his brother replied. "I was getting bored with what I was doing, anyway. I think it's time for a change."

"You have any idea what you might try next?"

Danny shook his head. "No, but I'm going to keep my eyes open while we're on this trip. If the right opportunity comes along, I might just take it."

"You would live outside of Alaska?"

"Why not? I've always had an itch to see what else lies outside this state. I think it will be a good change."

"Does anyone else know what you're thinking of doing? Like Cassie?"

Danny shook his head. "I haven't told anyone, not even Cassie. I didn't want anyone getting upset over nothing if I end up back home."

"Well, if you do decide to stay outside, you better let Cassie be one of the first to know. You'll break her heart if she hears it from someone else."

"You're right, I know."

Jeremiah just hoped he was right about what he was doing tonight. Getting on a plane and flying out to Montana to see if he still had a chance with Callie might end up being the biggest mistake of his life. He didn't want to risk getting his heart broken if he had misunderstood her. But he couldn't risk not going and breaking her heart. It was a chance he had to take. Either way, in twelve hours or less, he would have his answer.

After changing planes in Seattle early the next morning, Jeremiah and Danny flew into Bozeman, landing around eleven a.m.

"Well, this is it, bro," Danny said, slapping Jeremiah on the shoulder and grabbing his bag from the baggage carousel. "The moment of truth."

Jeremiah could only nod his head. He was too nervous to find an adequate reply to Danny's statement.

Together the two men walked down the short hall to the main entrance of the building. Jeremiah scanned the surging crowd of travelers looking for the tall, shapely blond. His steps slowed to a halt, his heart sinking. She wasn't anywhere in sight.

Danny gave him a worried look. "I'm sorry, man, it doesn't look like she's here."

Jeremiah nodded. "I know."

They stood where they were for several minutes watching the crowd thin out around them.

"What do you want to do?" Danny asked.

Jeremiah had no idea. He hadn't slept at all on the plane last night, not only because the seats were uncomfortable but because of the anticipation of seeing Callie again. He was tired and hungry and his chest felt like it had a hole in it where his heart used to be.

"I don't know." He sighed heavily. "I guess we should try and rent a car and find some place to crash. Then I'll figure out what to do next."

Danny nodded. "Okay. That would probably be the best thing. Why don't you stay here and I'll go find a car rental agency?"

"Okay," Jeremiah said, "I'll just wait over there on the bench."

Danny turned around and headed towards a rental car counter. Jeremiah bent down and grabbed his bag, as the entrance doors slid open with a whoosh. Sighing wearily yet again, he straightened.

"Well, hello, stranger!"

The bag slipped out of his grip. Callie stood in front of him just a few feet away, wearing jeans, a blue print western shirt and cowboy boots. A huge smile was plastered on her face. Jeremiah's heart jump-started itself.

"Callie..." With a mind of their own, his arms opened up to receive her. She flew the last few steps to him, flinging herself into his arms and giving him a passionate, welcoming kiss.

"I've missed you so much!" Callie said a moment later as they hung on to each other.

"Not as much as I've missed you," Jeremiah told her. "I didn't know if you would be here. I thought maybe I had read more into Lesson Fifteen than what you had meant."

She laughed, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. "No, sweetheart, you read it just right. Without a job here anymore, there was no reason for me to stay away from you. I truly intend to marry you and as soon as possible."

Jeremiah let go of her and reached into his pocket. He pulled out the engagement ring and she held up her hand. He slipped the ring back on her finger and kissed her hand.

"I love you, Callie Cayhill, will you marry me today?"

"You bet your bottom dollar I will!"

"I take it the marriage is back on?" Danny spoke suddenly. Jeremiah looked past Callie at his brother and Lacey standing together with grins on their faces.

"It was never off," Callie informed him. "As a matter of fact, we have an appointment in 45 minutes at the Justice of the Peace. We better get going if we want to get there in time."

"Did you rent that car?" Jeremiah asked.

"No," Danny replied. "I saw Callie come in and figured I'd wait to see what happened."

"Don't worry about renting a car," Callie said, "we'll ride together in mine."

Hanging on to Jeremiah's arm, she led him out into the bright, sweltering sunlight and to the dark blue 1966 Mustang parked a few feet away. She pulled the keys out of her pocket and handed them to Jeremiah.

"Here you go," she said. "It's all yours."

"No, you can drive. I don't know my way around."

"Jerry!" She laughed. "This is my wedding present to you. She's all yours."

His eyes widened. "No way! But this is your car."

"It's yours now. Or ours. Whatever. Come on, we're wasting time. Open up the trunk and throw your bags in."

Jeremiah planted a hard kiss on her mouth and opened a trunk. He put Danny's and his suitcases in on top of an already full trunk and then slammed the trunk shut. Then, Danny and Lacey climbed in the back and Jeremiah took the wheel as Callie sat in the front passenger seat.

He put the key in the ignition and cranked the engine. It roared to life and Jeremiah grinned at Callie.

"Nice!"

"Not as nice as you, babe," she said, leaning towards him for a kiss.

"Thanks, Callie, I love it."

"I love you. Now let's go."

The drive to the courthouse only took twenty minutes. After finding a place to park, they locked up the car and went inside. Once the paperwork was filled out and signed, the clerk led them into the private chambers of the Justice. Ten minutes later, Jeremiah was sharing a kiss with Callie as husband and wife. Danny and Lacey hugged and kissed them and wished them the best and after finishing the last of the paperwork, they made their way back outside.

"So what's the plan?" Danny asked.

Lacey answered, "Callie and I figured you guys would probably be hungry and want to eat. We'll have lunch at the SteakHouse and then Callie and Jeremiah can drop us off at my apartment. That is, if you don't mind staying with me while you're here, Danny. We figured it might save you a little money plus you'd have the use of my car."

"Don't you need your car?"

"Actually, I bought Callie's old one of her so I have two."

"Cool! That works for me."

"Good," Callie said. "Let's go eat then. I don't know about you guys, but I've worked up an appetite."

They laughed and joked all through lunch and up until Callie and Jeremiah dropped Danny and Lacey off at Lacey's apartment.

"So when are you guys taking off?" Lacey asked as they retrieved Danny's suitcase out of the trunk of the car.

Callie looked at Jeremiah. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I don't want to rush our drive back to Alaska. I have to be back at work next Monday."

That gave them a week and plenty of time to get there.

"Well, in case we don't see you again, I guess we better say our goodbyes now," Lacey said, turning to her sister. She and Callie hugged as Jeremiah and Danny shook hands.

"You better let the family know what you decide to do, Danny," Jeremiah said. "Just don't stay gone too long."

"I won't. Either way I'll home for Christmas. Take care and you guys call when you get back home so we know you made it."

Jeremiah hugged Lacey. "Thanks for all your help, little sister. Take care of my brother and keep him out of trouble."

"He'll be perfectly safe in my hands," she said with a smile. "Take care of my sister and give me lots of nieces and nephews, okay?"

Jeremiah laughed. "We'll see what we can do. Hey, Danny, you better give ma a call and let her know we made it down here. Just don't tell her about Callie and I getting married. Okay? We want to surprise everyone when we get home."

"Okay. My lips are sealed."

Finally, Jeremiah and Callie were on their way.

"Take this street," Callie said, directing Jeremiah. "It'll take us to the Interstate. The hotel I booked us in is in the next town about an hour away. It's a nice, private one and I figured it wouldn't hurt getting a head start on our trip.

She leaned back in her seat, unable to wipe the smile off her face. Twisting the plain solid gold band around on her finger, Callie still couldn't believe she was married. Just a week ago, it hadn't seemed possible. She hadn't even been sure that Jeremiah would come for her. But when she had walked into the airport and saw him standing there bigger than life, she knew her dreams had come true.

"No one knows what we're doing, do they?" she asked, studying Jeremiah's strong, handsome face as he focused on driving. Like her, his smile seemed to be permanent.

"No. Only Danny. What about your parents?"

"Lacey is going to break the news to them in a couple days. I think mom suspects, though. She stopped by the apartment a couple times while I was packing. She knew I was moving out, but didn't ask where to. I'm sure she knows I couldn't give you up."

Jeremiah turned his head briefly to smile at her. "I couldn't give you up either. When you weren't at the airport, my heart shattered. I thought you had changed your mind."

Callie leaned towards him and kissed his cheek. "No, never, Jeremiah. You're my life, my everything. I'll never change my mind. I'll love you until the end of days...and then beyond."

"And I'll love you beyond that," he told her, his voice soft with emotion.

There was no need to say anything else.

An hour later, they checked into the hotel and Jeremiah carried a bag for each of them into their room. Callie grabbed a Do Not Disturb sign, hung it on the door handle and locked the door. Jeremiah dropped their luggage on the floor near the bathroom and turned to Callie.

"I should have carried you over the threshold."

"No," she said, stepping closer. "When we move into our own house, then you can do that."

She laid her hand on his chest, feeling the strong rhythm of his heart beneath her palm. Her left hand joined the right, working to unbutton his shirt. Jeremiah's hands came to rest on her shoulders and then swept down over her back, pulling her a step closer. Callie slipped her hands between the open ends of his shirt and ran her fingers over the warm skin of his chest.

"Callie."

She lifted her face. Jeremiah's head came down and his mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss. She sagged against him, enjoying the feel of his hands running over her body, pulling her close, and holding her.

"Oh, Jeremiah," she breathed raggedly when he moved his mouth from hers to explore the tender curve of her neck.

He drew back slightly to look in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"No! Everything is right," she told him.

He cupped her cheek with his hand. "I can't believe that you're finally mine."

She lifted her left hand, flashing her wedding ring in front of his face. "This says that I am."

He captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. "I love you so much, Callie Cayhill..."

"Uh, uh," she said, smiling. "It's Callie Kleiber now."

"Callie Kleiber," he repeated. "It does sound nice, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does," she said. "But you know, I'm not officially your wife until we consummate this marriage."

To her delight, Jeremiah's face reddened. His eyes dropped briefly and then he looked back up a twinkle in his eyes.

"I'm afraid I've never...you know."

Callie gave a soft laugh, playing along with him. "Why, Jeremiah Kleiber! You've never...! Well!...I've never...either. What ever shall we do?"

He chuckled, pulling her firmly against him. "I was thinking maybe a few lessons would be in order."

"Hmm, what are we on now? Seventeen?"

"I think so," he said, his mouth hovering over hers.

She brushed his lips with hers, anticipation zinging through her body.

"Well, I guess Lesson Seventeen is one lesson we're just going to have to learn together."

"It looks like the gang is all here," Callie commented five days later as Jeremiah stopped the car in the driveway behind Isaiah's green SUV.

"Except Danny, Hosie, and Davis," Jeremiah said. "You just don't turn down mom's Saturday night dinner or you'll risk losing a layer of skin from a tongue lashing."

"Hmm, then I guess it's a good thing we made it in time," she replied. "Uh, oh, someone spotted the car. Here they come."

Jeremiah planted a quick kiss on Callie's lips. "Let's go give them the news."

They climbed out of the car in time to hear Cassie call back to the others. "It's Jeremiah! And he has...Callie with him!"

That triggered the stampedge.

"You're back!"

"You brought Callie with you!"

"I knew you two were meant to be together."

"Is that your car, Callie? Cool!"

"When are you getting married?"

Jeremiah was finally able to tug Callie to his side.

"There's not going to be a wedding," he informed his family and neighbors. "Callie and I got married last Monday in Montana."

"You what?"

"Oh, my!"

"Hey! We wanted to give you guys a wedding!"

"Jeremiah!" Beth Ann wailed. "I wanted to be there!"

Callie stepped forward. "I know, Beth Ann, I'm sorry. Danny and Lacey were the only ones who were present. My parents weren't there, either."

Her mother-in-law gave her a weepy smile. "Well, you've made my Jerry happy. I guess that's what matters."

She gave Callie a hug and took her by the hand. Urging her towards the house, she said, "Now, we have a little matter to discuss."

Callie shot a worried look back at Jeremiah who was following behind with the rest of the family. He shrugged as if to say he had no idea what it was she wanted to discuss.

"What's that, Beth Ann?"

She gave Callie a sharp look.

"First, now that you're part of the family, I only answer to 'ma'". Second, I want to know when you and Jeremiah are going to furnish me with more grandkids."

Callie met Jeremiah's gaze and they both grinned.

"Not to worry, 'ma', we're already working on that."

The End