Falling for His Guarded Soul – Extended Epilogue

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Eight Years Later

Tillie was standing on a ladder adjusting the red, white, and blue sash. It was one of the final touches she needed complete for the annual Fourth of July celebration.

“Is it straight yet?” Tillie asked her mother-in-law. 

Tillie had been on the ladder for thirty minutes, which wasn’t so bad. She had been expecting children for the last couple of years, and Max wouldn’t let her climb. He was too worried about her taking a tumble. He said one person with leg issues was enough for one family.

“It looks great. Where is your husband while we’re doing all the work?”

“The boys went for a ride to discuss ranch business,” Eve said as she came up behind her mother.

“Did they take a bottle of whiskey?” Tillie asked.

“Of course, it’s necessary when talking business. At least, that’s what Cal says. Not to worry about the children because Lucy is keeping an eye on them. They’re all climbing the big oak tree by the pond. Larry Nickel’s son LJ joined the group, and they’re having a wonderful time. Come on down from that ladder, Tillie. You’ve done enough work for the day.

“I suppose I can’t hide from my children forever,” Tillie joked. “It’s the first time since I took a dip in the pond that Nelly hasn’t been on my hip. I must say, though, I miss the little sprout. I’m going to get her from Lucy.”

Tillie walked down towards the oak tree, where she heard the melodic sounds of the children laughing. They were a tangle of arms and legs as they climbed like monkeys. When her oldest Seth was born, she treated him like a China vase. Tillie had to be stopped from taking him to the doctor when he had a scraped knee. Now there were four along with Eve’s three, the Cosgrove grandchildren, and LJ, Larry’s son. There were enough children to make a small army. Some would become stewards of the Stone Ranch, and others would leave to follow a different path.

Tillie knew that no dream was too big or too outlandish. She never expected to end up where she did. She thought fondly of her years growing up in Herkimer. Mr. Stone knew Tillie missed her family, so he paid for their round trip train fare one year. Edna, Frank, and the two girls came for the opening of the new horse arena. Dougie couldn’t make it because that rascal was in medical school. A doctor in the Acton family was a dream come true for Tillie’s father.

Seth dropped to the ground from an above branch and ran to his mother. He was named for Tillie’s brother, who died far too young.

“Mother, can LJ and I go down to the pond, please?” Seth asked.

“I’d rather you not. Folks from town will arrive soon, and if your father ever gets back, we’ll start eating,” she said. “Mr. Nickel has been tending to the pig on the spit for days. Your father will carve it, and he wants to teach you how. All this will be yours someday, and you have a lot to learn.”

“I’m never allowed to do anything,” he complained. “Can I go to the stable and look at the new foal that Lynx sired? I know father was sad that his horse died, but he left behind a baby horse.”

“You may go riding, but don’t take the horses out without your father’s permission. Some haven’t been broken yet, and you know how Dad feels about them.”

“I know. I’ve heard the story so many times. Years ago, Father was thrown from his horse and never would have walked again if it weren’t for you.”

“Remember to come for dinner when you begin seeing wagons arrive from town.” 

Lucy walked over with Nelly in her arms. She reached out for Tillie, which meant she was hungry. All the children considered Lucy as a second mother as she was always around. When Max and Tillie were married, they moved to their own wing of the main house. It was an area that Tillie didn’t know existed. Lucy moved over with them as a nanny, but more importantly, a friend. It was as if they had their own home because it had its own entrance, kitchen, and dining room. Max and Tillie’s bedroom had a balcony that looked over the coral and horse arena.

“I don’t know what I would do without you. Do you ever get exhausted?” Tillie asked. “We saddled you with not only the Stone children but the Legends also.”

“I think I was put on this earth to care for other people’s children. I wasn’t blessed with my own for a reason. Parson Ed always says that we all have a path and all we have to do is follow it.”

“I hope your positive attitude rubs off on my children,” Tillie complimented her friend.

“I see that handsome husband of yours riding this way.”

“Eight years of marriage and four children later, and I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see Max.”

Tillie handed the baby back to Lucy and skipped through the meadow to greet Max. She grabbed a stem of lavender on her way, placing it in her auburn hair.

“How was the ride with the boys?” Tillie asked.

Max hopped down from the horse with help from his specialized saddle that Cal made. It looked like a regular saddle, except there was an extra handle for getting down. It turned out Max wasn’t the only one with an injury who still wanted to ride a horse. Word got out, and Cal had requests for specialized saddles from all over the country. He gave most of the business to Larry Nickel, who made himself a fortune. Cal’s first love was wrangling cattle, and he took over his father’s job as foreman. He handled upwards of three hundred and fifty cattle and at least twenty ranch hands. Virgil Welch was a seasonal hire each year. Each year Cal asked him to stay year-round, but he preferred San Antonio.

“We had a lot of laughs and gave each other a hard time as usual. We stopped at the horse arena, and we were in awe of all the hard work you’ve done.” Max put his arms around Tillie’s waist and pulled her in tight. “Marty Cosgrove wanted to know where you got your energy. You got me walking again, have four children, oversaw the construction of the horse arena, and never stop smiling. I told him you were heaven sent, and I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

“I’m just following the path God laid out for me. It’s easy when I have a partner like you to walk with.

“I’m going down to check on the pig. I’m going to let Larry have the carving honors this year. He spent hours making sure it cooked just right; he deserves it,” Max commented. “It’s not fair to step in and steal his glory.”

“You’re a good friend, Max. I don’t know what Larry would do without you and his son LJ. To be married for one year and then your wife dies in childbirth, I don’t know how he does it.”

“We keep telling him he needs a wife, but he’s too busy. I’m thinking of picking one out from a mail-order bride catalog for him. We’re lucky to be blessed with good health for ourselves and our family,” Max said.

“All except for Mercer,” Tillie mentioned.

“That was a shock to us all, but he went how most of us hope to. He went to sleep and never woke up. Cass was next to him, and he got to see his first grandchild a week earlier.”

“You’re right. It was beautiful to see the Legend family get stronger in the face of tragedy.”

“Cass is well taken care of, and her faith has carried her through,” Max remarked.

“You go, I see the wagons are arriving, and I have to welcome the folks from town,” Tillie insisted.

Max kissed his wife before walking away. It was something they did so often that close friends joked about it.

“Parson Ed, so glad you came. How’s construction on the new church coming along?”

“We’re organizing a roof-raising get-together at the end of summer. It’s in large part due to the generous donation put forth by your family.”

“A lot of folks in the community helped, but thank you for noting the donation. It’s going to be so nice when we have a seat for everyone to worship,” she said.

The town of Thistle had gone through many changes since Tillie arrived. A railroad spur had been laid connecting the town to Austin. With that came booming growth, which people like the Cosgroves, Barneses, and Gus Bosworth benefitted from. Thistle grew, but it never did and never would lose its small-town charm.

“Mary, is that one of your grandsons in your arms?”

“It is. I had six boys, and so far, I have five grandsons. I used to pray for a girl, but I figure God knows what he’s doing. I’m blessed that they’re all healthy.”

Tillie spotted Cal welcoming a man dressed in a vest and pinstriped trousers. He looked like a banker or some other sort of professional. It was odd because Larry took most of the custom saddle customers. Tillie concluded that it must have been an equipment salesman who happened to show up at the oddest time. 

Eve was helping to welcome folks to the ranch for the celebration. Mrs. Stone once said Tillie would be the future matriarch of the Stone Ranch, but she wasn’t so sure. Eve deserved the title as much as she did, so perhaps they could share it.

“People say I’m perky with endless energy. I’m not the only one,” Tillie commented.

The older Eve got, the more she looked like her mother. It was the highest of compliments because Mrs. Stone still looked half her age. She had taken Tillie under her wing just as Max’s grandmother had done for her. She taught her all about etiquette and managing the many requests for the charity that arrived in the mail.

“I either go, or I stop. I think I’m about to lose all energy which tends to happen during the first months.” Eve smiled and rubbed her belly.

“You’re having another child? Does Cal know?” Tillie couldn’t ask questions fast enough.

“Yes, I will have a baby for Christmas. Cal knew before I did because I tend to eat things I don’t normally like when I’m pregnant. He saw me eating beets from the garden and guessed right away.”

“You know this means that I have to have my fifth baby. Max insists we end up with more than you. I don’t know why,” Tillie remarked.

“It goes back to our childhood. He always wanted to do one better than me. Max has always been competitive with me and said he was going to win every time. It’s not only because I’m younger, but I’m a girl,” Eve joked, and Tillie laughed.

“Do you know who the formally dressed man was who came to see Cal?” Tillie asked.

“Yes, I do know, and you’ll find out soon enough.” Eve skipped away to greet Julie Barnes. She looked back and smiled impishly.

Tillie called out, “You’re my sister, and we aren’t supposed to keep secrets.”

Eve ignored her. 

***

Before the fireworks went off, Mr. Stone made a speech. Afterward, Max or Cal usually said a few words of thanks to the local people of Thistle. Desserts were provided by as many people as wanted to make one. There was talk of adding a pie judging contest to the event. Max would be first in line to be a contest judge.

David Stone didn’t move as fast as he had in the past. His back bothered him, which was from years on horseback. His hair was almost all white, but it didn’t matter because he rarely removed his Stetson. He walked up to the porch railing, which was festooned in red, white, and blue.

“I think I’m getting old and seeing double. Every year I stand up here, I see twice as many folks as the year before. It’s probably all the grandchildren I’m blessed with. Today we celebrate America and our freedoms, but we also celebrate each other. This town couldn’t fill a church on Sundays twenty years ago, and now we have to build a bigger church.

“Personally, I want to thank my sons Max and Cal. I didn’t start out with Cal Legend as my son, but he is one now. Not only because he married my daughter but because he’s a good man. We’d have no cattle at all if it weren’t for Cal. When disease ran through herds all over Texas, ours thrived thanks to him. He knew to quarantine them from the sick cows and brought in a team of the best veterinarians. On a sad note, Cal lost his daddy this year. The new gazebo we built in town was named in his honor. It will soon have a plaque that reads Mercer Legend Gazebo.”

Applause broke out, and all eyes were on Cass, who wiped a tear. She was comforted by her son Joe, who was over six feet tall.

“The heart of this ranch is clear to me. She also happens to be my wife, Nell Stone. Every good deed done in this town and on this ranch started with an idea that she had. I don’t know if I’ve ever appreciated Nell as much as I should have. In recent years thanks to someone telling me I was doing it all wrong, I’ve tried to make up for lost time.” Mr. Stone paused because he was choked up.

Nell was standing next to him, and she was moved to tears.

“I’m happiest sitting on these rocking chairs behind me with Nell by my side. I’m telling you all this because you won’t see me much anymore. I’ll be watching sunsets with Nell, and I’m passing the mantle to my son, Max Stone. The man who’s been through more than most and fought hard to be where he is today. He’s a man of integrity and character who will lead the Stone Ranch into the next century.”

Little Seth raised his voice from the crowd. “That means I’m next.”

“Lord help us when he takes over,” Mr. Stone joked.

Max stepped forward. “I’m not taking anything over alone. Tillie Stone will be by my side as she has been since the day I met her. I was nothing until Tillie walked into my life, and marrying her eight years ago was my finest moment.”

Tillie was touched by Max’s words. She learned early on that the ranch wasn’t only the people in the main house. It was them but also the ranch hands, maids, cooks, and the butler. She would follow by example because she followed Nell, who was the best. 

Everyone was shaking hands and congratulating each other when a shiny carriage with gold accents pulled up the long drive. Out stepped Sally Lerch and her husband, Marshall. She was a raven-haired beauty who had definitely outgrown her tomboy years. Eve remained friends with Samson Lerch and his wife, Melba. Sally surprised everyone by marrying the fabulously wealthy Marshall Lerch. He was also a swell guy, and on weekends, he and Sally spent all their time on horseback.

Wagonloads of people headed down to the pond where fireworks would be set off. Tillie was looking for Max and found him with Cal and the formally dressed man.

Max waved her over. “Tillie, this is Glenn Peters with the Central Texas Horse Commission. It turns out our brother Cal has been working on a surprise for us. He put our new arena in contention to hold the fourteenth annual horse show and competition,” Max announced. “Mr. Peters was in the area visiting family, and he stopped by to take a look. I’ll let you take it from here, Mr. Peters.”

Tillie was slack-jawed, and she squeezed Max’s arm tight.

“There aren’t many arenas that have jumps set up for competition. If they do, they aren’t nearly as professionally done as yours. At this point, I normally hand you a list of changes that need to be made, but I’m not going to do that. You don’t have to change a thing. I guess all I have to do is ask, would you like to host our show?” he looked at Max and asked.

Max shrugged his shoulders and pointed to Tillie. “You’d have to ask the woman who designed and is in charge of the arena.”

“Yes. I would love to host the horse show. Send us a contract, and we’ll discuss the details. In the meantime, why don’t you join us for fireworks? We have a lot to celebrate.”

Max, Tillie, and their four children huddled together at the pond. Larry Nickel was in charge of the display that never failed to impress.

“It’s been a heck of a year with many more to come,” Max mused.

“There’s no one I’d rather spend it with. You make all my dreams come true. I love you. Max.”

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