Her Heart’s Way To Forgiveness – Extended Epilogue

One year later

Audrey was nursing her new baby daughter, and Caleb was in the bakery as usual. The unusual thing was that his helper was not Max but Peter, his father.

“You two okay in there,” Audrey called. “Ellie is sleeping, and I can help.”

“You stay right where you are, “Caleb’s voice came back. “The old man taught me how to bake in the first place.”

“Not so much of the old man,” his dad’s voice called out. 

“I can help as well if you like,” Emma offered. She had a month-old baby that was also sleeping peacefully after being fed.

“You rest as well. This is the first time you have been out and about,” Caleb put his head around the door and told her. Then he went off to serve a customer. The bakery was doing so well, and Caleb was looking for someone else to work with him.

“Does Max like his job?” Audrey asked.

“He loves it,” Emma said. “Being deputy sheriff gets him out and about all the time, and the wages are good.” She paused. “I will be glad to be out and about again. Staying in the house drives me crazy.”

“Little Morgan is adorable.”

“He’s Morgan Jansen, and I’m Emma Jansen, and the Doors name is long gone.”

Audrey reached out and patted her friend on the arm.

“You have made a really good life for yourselves. Morgan will be a lucky lad.” Audrey looked at the little girl in her arms and laid her in the crib beside the sofa. “I will get into trouble but would you like some lemonade?”

“Love some,” Emma said, and Audrey tiptoed into her kitchen to find the drinks. Caleb came back in from the shop and caught her as she had known he would.

“Please sit down and rest, Audrey.” He took the lemonade and carried the glasses into the living room. Emma laughed.

“She will never sit still for three weeks.”

“I have dresses to make and orders to complete.” She looked at Caleb. “And I can do those sitting down.”

“Is your Mom on the way?” Emma asked as the baby was only just over a week old.

“Yes, she could not make it for the birth, but Caleb’s dad did, and he has worked non-stop since he got here.”

“Where will they both sleep?” Emma asked, and Audrey sighed. 

“We really do need an extension, but Agnes says dad can stay with them while Mom is here. Dad wants to sell up and move here all the time.” She looked at Emma and grinned. “Mom has a boyfriend,” she whispered. “I think they will get married eventually, but she does not want to leave the place where she is.”

“Well, she is still an attractive woman,” Emma replied. “I hope they are happy.”

“So do I,” Audrey added as Caleb brought them both a piece of cake. He went to pour some coffee and came back to sit in the living room. Peter, his dad, came as well, and the shop had no customers long enough for them to take a break.

“What is this man like that Mom is walking out with?” Audrey asked Peter.

“I met him a couple of times, and he is a retired carpenter. He still does some bits of woodwork but is at home most of the time.” He paused and thought for a moment. “He has dark ginger hair, going grey, and a beard to match. He has a great sense of humor, and I think he makes your mom laugh a lot.”

“That would be good,” Audrey said. “She is coming tomorrow. Caleb can meet her at the depot and drive her here in the carriage.”

“The new and very shiny carriage,” Emma said mischievously.

“I’ll take my things around to Agnes later today,” Peter added. “Be good to have a family get-together.”

Emma decided that the little one should be taken home and took some bread and cake with her.

“I need to use the sewing machine sometime when it is not in use,” she said to Audrey as she left.

“What are you making?”

“Just a pinafore for when I work in the kitchen.” Audrey kissed the month-old Morgan on top of the head. She went back inside and found Caleb nursing his new daughter.

“You are getting braver.” She laughed. “Thank goodness she is a good baby. I will feed her and then stitch the hem of the skirt that Nancy ordered for a customer.”

Are you sure you can manage?” Caleb asked with a concerned expression.

“This is me.  Audrey. I need to do something. I cannot sit here like a statue. She can sleep beside me, and I can stop work if she needs to be fed or changed.”

“Give in, son,” his dad said. “She will do it anyway.”

“You are right there,” Audrey added and looked into the bakery. “Is there something in the oven?”

“Oh Lord,” Caleb said and rushed to take the smoking item out of the heat and dump it in the waste. “That will teach me not to sit and talk.”

In the evening, his dad took his things and went off to take up Agnes’ offer of a bedroom while her mom was staying and Caleb settled with Audrey. She fed the baby again, changed her, and then took the little one to the bedroom and laid her in the cradle. They stood looking over their daughter, and Caleb put his arms around his wife.

“We are lucky,” he said. “Please don’t do too much and make yourself ill.” She turned in his arms and lifted her face for a kiss.

“I promise to be careful, but I have to do something, or I will go crazy.”

“And I know you have orders for clothes. Let us bring a warm drink to bed and have an early night. I want to ask you something.” She gave him a sideways look, and he laughed. “Nothing like that,” he added. He went to bring them both warm milk and honey, and Audrey was already in bed when he came back. They sat side by side, and she waited to see what he would suggest.

“You know we need to extend this house.” She nodded and sipped her drink. “What if we extended the bakery and had another shop area for your dresses and bags and things?”

“Oh, I never expected that. I thought you meant the house.”

“Well, we need at least one more bedroom, probably two, and a sewing room to get you out of the living room when you have customers.”

“Can we afford that much?”

“I think so. It would be done gradually anyway, and we could pay for the work as we went along. What do you think?”

“You mean go further into the yard toward the corral and out to the side for the shop part?” He nodded. “Yes, I like it. If we can have two bedrooms, it would be useful if another little Ellie arrived at some stage.” Caleb laughed and took away her empty cup. Then he turned out the lamp and climbed in beside her.

“I do love you, Mrs. Wheaten.” They curled up together and had three hours sleep before Ellie needed a feed. Audrey sat on the edge of the bed with a warm robe around her and tried hard to keep her eyes open until the little one was happy. Caleb never moved, and she slid down beside him again until the morning.

“We have a plan,” she said when daylight arrived. “We must decide who to ask about doing the work.”

“We can keep thinking about the changes for a little while,” he said as he went off to turn up the ovens and make the breakfast. 

That is one thing I like about being told to sit still. Caleb makes me breakfast in bed, she thought to herself and enjoyed a few minutes indulgence as Ellie was still asleep.

They went into the normal daily routine and Caleb admitted that he appreciated that she was helping him again. She had fed Ellie and put the mixtures ready for him to knead, and then she tidied the living room and sat with her baby in her arms.

“What a picture you make,” he told her as he came through and opened the store. He took the first batch out of the oven and slid it onto racks to cool off. Then the second batch went in, and the customers started to arrive.

Audrey could hear the questions about how she was and how the baby was, and in the end, when she heard Nancy from the haberdashery, she took Ellie in her arms into the shop.

“Oh, my goodness,” Nancy cried. “Is it alright if I hold her for a few minutes? There is nothing quite like a new baby. How are you, Audrey?” she asked while rocking the baby in her arms.

“I’m fine, thanks, and I have hemmed the skirt you wanted. It’s still to press, but it’s finished. Come through and see it.”

Nancy carried the baby into the living room, and Audrey laid Ellie in her crib. Then she handed Nancy the skirt.

“I do love that material. It looks wonderful. Will I do the pressing and Mrs Sherry can have it later today?”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Audrey said, and then she paused and took a breath. “We are thinking of making an extra part of the shop so I can display some things. I hope you won’t mind that. I will still want to use your shop as well.”

“The town is expanding all the time,” Nancy told her. “We need more space to sell, and if you take some of the threads and things, we can help each other.”

“Thank you,” Audrey said and hugged her friend. She pulled two fresh loaves from the rack. “And your extra commission.” They put the loaves in the basket and folded up the skirt. Nancy gave Ellie a little stroke on the cheek with her finger.

“Welcome to the world, little Ellie.” She went away, and Audrey mixed another batch of ingredients for Caleb. Then his dad arrived, and she thankfully handed over the jobs to him.

Audrey took the chance to spend some time with her new daughter and thought it was a good idea to ease herself into work gradually. She tidied up and changed Ellie. The little one had finished a late morning feed, and there was a break in the customers for Caleb and Peter to stop for a drink as well. The doorbell tinkled and Caleb sighed.

“I’ll go,” Audrey told him. “I have had a break.” She went into the shop and then stopped dead before hurling herself into her mother’s arms

Caleb and Peter heard the noise and came out as well.

“Oh, what a lovely surprise,” Audrey cried with tears on her cheeks.

“Now,” Elspeth told her. “Lead me to my granddaughter.” She paused and looked at the man waiting patiently behind her.  “Ready for the new shock, Audrey? This is Tobias Skelton, and,” she paused and took a breath. “He is my husband.”

There was a stunned silence before they all spoke at once, and the men shook hands with Tobias, told him congratulations, and Audrey hugged her mom and then her new stepdad.

“My granddaughter, “Elspeth said loudly. Audrey pulled her mom by the hand into the living room and took little Ellie out of the crib. She handed her to her mother, who took the precious bundle and let a few tears roll down her cheeks. Tobias came and put his arm around her.

“Isn’t she just wonderful?” Elspeth whispered.

“And,” Caleb interjected as he looked at the woman holding her grandchild. “She is the absolute model of her granny.”

“She is?” Elspeth asked.

“She is,” Audrey exclaimed. “Why did I not see that before?”

“Oh, this is one of the best days of my life,” Elspeth said and sat with the baby in her arms. 

Customers came and went and were served. Peter and Caleb kept on baking, serving, and still found time to talk to the newcomers, and Audrey made a meal for everyone.

Around the table, Elspeth and Tobias told them they had decided that being together was the obvious thing to do and had a quiet wedding with just two witnesses.

“What will you do now?” Caleb asked.

“Not sure,” Tobias answered. “I like to work even though I am slower than I used to be.”

Audrey told them what she and Caleb had been planning with the shop and the house.

“We need extra space,” she told them, “but we will have to find someone to start the work.”

Tobias looked at Elspeth, and she nodded. He looked at Caleb.

“That was my job, and if you found someone younger to help with lifting and moving, I could do your extensions.”

“That would be wonderful, but can you stay long enough to do that?” Caleb answered.

“I think it might answer a question for us,” Elspeth joined in. “It will give us time to decide where to live and what we would like to do.” She laughed. “And I can help by looking after my granddaughter. Can I do that, Audrey?”

“Oh, Mom, of course, you can. It will be just marvelous to have you close at hand.” 

Caleb laughed.

“Audrey is already working out that she will have more time to do her sewing.”

“So, it is a good idea?” Tobias asked and heard a chorus of excited replies. 

In the evening, Peter said he would go and bring Agnes up to date.

“We don’t want to make you leave for us,” Tobias said. “We can stay at the hotel.” Peter would have none of it.

“I need a break from this bakery. I had forgotten how hard I used to work.” 

“We’ll look for somewhere to rent,” Elspeth said. “It will give us time to decide if we should move here all permanently.”

“I cannot believe how this is working. I love having you both close by, and Ellie will have her granny and new gramps close at hand.”

“Never thought I would be a grandad,” Tobias added.

“Try it out.” Audrey laughed and handed him the little bundle that was still sleeping. The man settled in as if he had been holding babies for years and asked them about local timberyards and mercantile stores.

“Caleb said that they would have to work out a payment for the work, and Tobias said that the next day, he would measure up and work out what was needed. Audrey took the baby back for a last feed before bed, and after that, the house settled for the night, and Audrey cuddled up to Caleb.

“I cannot believe we have your dad and my mom starting her to be part of our lives.”

“The life we always dreamed about,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose. 

 

Tobias settled into the family as if he had known them all for years. He needed something to make him feel useful again and could see Elspeth’s happiness. Audrey started her sewing again with her mom to help with the meals and the baby. She had bought a wheeled carriage for the little one and went off to Agnes’ house quite often where they could coo over the little one together.

Max and Emma came to call quite often, and Max offered to help Tobias in his spare time. The three- month older baby was adopted as a second grandchild by Elspeth and Tobias. Elspeth put her hand on Emma’s arm, and the girl waited to hear what she wanted.

“When he talks, can he call me granny?” she asked quietly, and Emma burst into tears. Elspeth gathered her into her arms as if Emma was the baby, and Audrey asked what was wrong. Emma found a handkerchief and dried her eyes. She smiled.

“Your wonderful mother just asked if she could be called granny by Morgan.”

“Mom, that is just the best thing to do. Morgan will have a granny. Max’s mom passed away.”

“Come to Granny,” Elspeth said and held out her hands to take the baby. The three women settled down with the babies and chatted about family plans. 

A few days later, the men were having a cold drink in a lull in customers, and Tobias said he would start the next week on the foundations for the first part of the extension. Emma had arrived so that Morgan could see his granny again and was having a sarsaparilla.

The shop doorbell jingled, and Caleb went to see who was there. Then he came back and said a man was asking for Audrey. He pulled a funny face and waved his hands in the air to indicate that he didn’t know who it was.

“Are you okay to go and see him?” 

Audrey stood up and went to satisfy her curiosity. Then she ran to the door.

“Walter. How lovely to see you. Come in. Come in. Is it safe for you to be seen out and about?”

“Yes, it is. I served my time, and I am a free man.”

“Come and tell us. Emma is in here, and we both have babies.” The man followed her into the living room, and Emma recognized him straightaway. She handed Morgan to Elspeth and came to hug him.

“Have a seat,” Caleb said, “and tell us where you have been.”

“I went away to another area and handed myself in. I gave up the gold jewelry I took after you were shot and said that I had enough of robbing and running. Because of the jewelry, they could find out who it had belonged to, and the sheriff here had the rest. It was mostly returned to the owners, and I was given a year in jail with time off for good behavior.”

“So, you do not need to run anymore. That is wonderful,” Audrey exclaimed. “I am so glad.”

“And I never knew because I blacked out that you had helped to save our lives. I can thank you now, at last.”

“The thing is I remembered that little red jewel that had been on a chain that you said you might find out who it belonged to.”

“I still have it. The sheriff couldn’t find out where it had come from.” Audrey went to a little box on the mantelshelf and found the jewel. It was inscribed on the back to Mo from Mike. She read that out and asked if he had found out who it had belonged to.

“The woman who had lost a lot of things in that robbery wrote to me as she was looking for a jewel that had been taken from her neck. I wrote back and asked what it was like.”

“And this is it?” Audrey was delighted. “Who is she, and how can I get it back to her?”

Walter smiled and said she was on a horse outside.”

“What. Bring her inside. She cannot just be left out there,” Audrey cried and went to the door. “Hello. Come in and meet everyone. I’m Audrey. Please tell me that you are Mo?”

“I am,” Mo said and slid to the ground. Audrey led her inside, and the woman, who looked to be in her early thirties, went to Walter, and he put an arm around her shoulders. Audrey cast a swift glance at Emma, who smiled.

Audrey felt in her pocket and produced the little pendant. She handed it to Mo, who burst into tears. She turned to Walter, who put his arms around her and looked over her head at the rest of them.

“Sit down, both of you,” Caleb said and went for a bottle of whiskey. He poured them both a drink and then one for himself and Peter. Audrey and Emma said they already had drinks. 

“Tell us the whole story,” Caleb asked the newcomers, and Mo started to say that her fiancé had given her the pendant, and it was stolen in a train robbery.

“Then he died from an illness, and I didn’t even have the jewel he gave me. I was so sad, and to make myself do something, I tried to find it again.”

“The sheriff that I had surrendered to knew I was in jail and said he would pass on a letter to me.”

“We wrote and wrote and wrote,” Mo said. “It was a relief to be able to talk to someone.

“It helped me see a new way to go and give me something to plan for.”

“And we keep each other company,” Mo finished. “This is the last piece in the puzzle. Thank you so much, Audrey.”

“That is just great news,” Audrey told her. “What will you do now?” 

The two newcomers looked at each other. “We are not sure,” Walter admitted. “We need to stop moving and settle somewhere.”

“Like here,” Emma said. “Max and I decided to stay here, and Audrey and Caleb are here.”

“My dad has moved here as well,” Caleb said.

“And meet my mom and stepdad. They are going to stay and build the new extension for us,” Audrey added. “We are suddenly a big and happy family.”

“That is just so lovely,” Mo said. “Things are better for Walter and me as well now, and this jewel is the icing on the cake.”

“Cake,” Caleb exclaimed and ran to the ovens.

“Reese’s house is still empty, I see,” Walter observed. “What a waste.”

“Nobody wants it, and I must admit it feels a bit creepy,” Audrey added. “It should be pulled down and used for something else.”

“Can I have a look at it? Does it belong to anybody now?” Mo asked. “I can see the place where you found the pendant.”

“Come on then,” Audrey said and checked that her mom was alright to watch Ellie. 

“I don’t want to go back in there,” Emma said. Caleb said he would go along. Peter and Tobias were both curious, and the group stood up. Audrey looked at Walter and put her hands on her hips. He laughed and did the same.

“What are you two laughing about?” Tobias asked, and Walter told them the story of hurting his back and falling when he tried to walk.

“He fell behind the door, and there was only me there. It was quite a push, but I made it, and when he got to his knees, he held my hips and used me to lever himself upright.”

“At that point,” Walter finished the story, “Reese came in and thought I was getting fresh with her.”

“You were lucky he didn’t shoot you straight off,” Emma put in.

“Lived to fight another day,” Walter said cheerfully as they made their way across to the empty house and barns.

They looked through the house’s windows. It was all locked up. Audrey still had a key to the barns and showed Mo where she had found the little jewel.

“I thought maybe one day I could give it back to the owner.”

“And you have.” Mo gave Audrey’s hand a squeeze.

“That barn would make a wonderful workshop,” Tobias said when they all turned as another person came into the building.

“Hi, Larry,” Caleb said. “Were you looking for us?”

“No, I was checking this place out.” He paused and then added that he was offering to buy it. “I do a lot of livery work now and need more space.”

“That would be great to have you as a neighbor,” Audrey told him. “Will you live in the house?” He shook his head.

“My wife thinks it’s creepy. We will pull it down and sell the wood. Then build a bungalow.”

“Hooray,” Audrey said. “I cannot wait to see it go.” She handed him the key to the barn. “I still had that, don’t need it anymore.”

“What sort of money do you want for the wood that is in good condition?” Tobias asked, and the men went to look at the house. Mo and Audrey went back to the shop and left them to it.

 When they came back, two of them were carrying the sewing machine.

“It was the only thing left in there. I guess they thought it was yours, Audrey,” Caleb said.

“I have a new one. I don’t need it,” she said and looked at Emma. “You learned to sew on that. Can you find a space for it?”

“Oh yes, I am enjoying making things. Thanks.”

“We will put it on a cart and take it down for you,” Caleb said.

“Well, that is good news,” Audrey said. “That house is asking to be pulled down, and a new bungalow will be much nicer.”

“And cheap wood for the foundations and shop,” Tobias added. “We can really start to get this extension done.”

“Er,” Walter cleared his throat and looked at Mo. “Tobias needs an extra pair of hands. Could we stay for a while?” She ran across the room and threw her arms around him.

“Can we find a house and stay here?” He picked her up, twirled her around his head, and set her on the ground.

“Your back is fine then,” Audrey said with a grin.

“And life seems to be telling me to stay here. He looked around and then took Mo’s hand. He dropped to one knee. Audrey, Elspeth, and Emma all gasped, and Mo looked a little bewildered.

“Mo Lamont, will you marry me, please?” The man was still on his knee, and Mo opened and closed her mouth a couple of times.

“Say yes, for heaven’s sake,” Audrey cried, and Mo said yes and pulled him to his feet. He kissed his now fiancée, and the customers in the shop wanted to know what all the cheering was about.

It was a happy and full household that made plans for the future. They agreed to start the next day, and by the end of the afternoon, there was only, Audrey, Caleb, Tobias, and Elspeth left to talk things over.

“In the end, I was not right,” Elspeth said. Audrey frowned and asked what she meant. “You said in the letter that I was right and answering the mail order advert was a risky thing to do.”

“But if you hadn’t, we would not have found each other again.” Caleb saw where the talk was going.

“Then you would not have stopped the train robbing and the murder. Caleb would still be looking out for Kirby, and even now, you are helping Emma, Mo, and Walter.” Tobias had heard all the story by that time. “I like Walter. He apparently built a lot of the bunkhouse at the mine and likes building.”

“He saved our lives, and I am so glad that Mo has her pendant again,” Audrey added and went to feed the baby before bedtime. The little one was laid in the crib and went to sleep. Audrey and Caleb stood looking down at her.

“How lucky are we?” Audrey said quietly. 

“The luckiest people in the world,” he answered and swept her into his arms. The magic that happened whenever their lips met worked all over again, and they were taken to that place that was theirs alone.

“We were always meant to be together. Nothing could keep us apart,” she murmured. “I love you so much, Caleb.”

“I love you now and forever. In this world and the next.”

“Happy ever after, Caleb. Happy ever after.”

THE END

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