The Heart Knows No Limits – Extended Epilogue

Three years later, Viola Edwards was still at the sewing machine but keeping an eye on two-year old-Ellabella. It was quiet in the kitchen because the day before, Morgan had finally found a place he could rent to run his own bakery. The lad worked so hard to build up what his grandfather had done before him. He had found so much help with Magdalena, who had boundless amounts of energy, and the two of them were to marry in a few days’ time.

Viola stopped work and gazed into the distance. She smiled and thought back to when Morgan had frightened her in that hotel room and really been more frightened than she was.

“What is that smile for?” Joseph asked as he came through.

“I was thinking back over how Morgan has changed. He is a handsome man now and has worked so hard.”

“They were made for each other and she is as good a baker as he is now. Are you going down to see how the bakery is doing on its first day? I can watch Ellabella.”  He picked up the toddler and lifted her high. She giggled and tried to pull at his hair.

“Thanks,” Viola said, patted her hair and grabbed a basket. “I am sure to buy something.”

“Are we still driving out to the ranch tonight?” Joseph asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said and kissed his cheek as she left.

The little bakery was bursting with customers and Viola was hard-pressed to get inside. She slid behind the counter and asked if she could help.

“Oh, please,” Magda replied. “Mom was helping but had to go home for a while.” Viola knew the prices of all of the breads and cakes because they had all been sold from their own store until the day before. She also knew everybody who came inside and had a quick word with all of them. Magdalena was able to go and take the next things out of the oven and Morgan was happily kneading dough again as always.

The supply of customers finally dwindled and Viola picked out the things she wanted herself and popped the money in the till.

“The dress is finished and in the bedroom out of the way,” She told Magdalena. “We are out tonight but tomorrow I can take it down to your mom’s house and we can make sure it is all perfect.”

“Wonderful,” Magda said and Morgan groaned.

“Yes, Morgan. Joseph wants you for a final check out as well.” She laughed. “This is going so well. Good luck.” She picked up her basket and went back up the street. Missus Crawford was in the store and was jiggling Ellabella on one hip. The child was happy and good.

“You have a way with children,” Viola told her. “She loves you to come in the store.” She relieved the woman of her wriggly burden.

“Florabelle sends her love. Her dress for the wedding is perfect,” Jeannie Crawford said. She paid for the goods and said she would see them at the wedding.

“This wedding,” Viola said, “is going to be the biggest event since Marta and Robert’s.”

They closed the store and put River into the shafts of the little carriage they had bought. It was still new and quite smart.

“I always feel quite the grand lady when I have a carriage.”

“The child with you soon stops that feeling,” Joseph joked. “Keep tight hold of her. Here we go.” He clicked the reins and they left Samuel and made the journey out to what had been Joseph’s family home.

The ranch was a different place altogether since Roger and Bella had moved there. The railings were painted and tidy. The whole house had been given a facelift. The barns and corrals were mended and had stock in them. Both Bella’s family and Roger’s had been a great help and made the place a working ranch in no time at all. There were two other hands who lived in a bunkhouse and the place was busy. That was especially so since Bella had given birth to twin boys and they were now just walking and they took all of her time.

Bella was on the front steps and ran down to meet them. She took Ellabella from her mom and cuddled her.

“My favorite girl,” she said and they went inside the now sparklingly clean ranch house. The twin boys were in a playpen that the men who built the shop extension had made. The boys could hold on and pull themselves to standing but were safely contained.

“I hope you haven’t eaten,” Bella said. “I made steak and potatoes.”

“Even if we had I could eat it anyway,” Joseph said.

“Let me have a cuddle with these two first,” Viola said and the two youngsters were let out of their prison. Viola and Joseph picked up a child each and Ellabella tottered around looking at the toys in the pen.

”We are so lucky,” Viola said. “Who would have thought it?”

“Remember that we owe it all to you for coming and making everything right,” Bella told her.

“Rubbish,” Viola said, because people did occasionally say that to her in town. Samuel, Wyoming, without the gang of crooks was a happy and quite prosperous place.

“See you at the wedding,” Bella said. “My mom is having the two terrors.”

“I am taking Ellabella,” Viola said. “The bakery opened and is doing a great trade.”

“Do you remember that day when he saw her in the store? You have to believe in love at first sight.”

Viola smiled and nodded.

“I am taking the dress down tomorrow. Magdalena knows what she wants. I sure hope it is perfect.”

“It will be,” Bella replied. “I am wearing the lavender with lace.”

“And I am in a lavender sort of blue. We will tone in with each other.” Roger shook his head and asked if Joseph wanted to see the barns. The two men went outside and Viola watched the children as Bella finished off the steak and potatoes.

“One thing about a ranch; you always have steak,” Bella observed as the men came back and they all sat around the table. The twins were back in the playpen.

“This place is just so good,” Joseph said. “If my mom and dad are watching, they will be so pleased.” There was a tapping noise from upstairs and Bella ran up to see what had caused it.

“Nothing there,” she said.

Joseph looked in the air.

“Was that you, Mom?” The tapping noise came again and they all stopped eating and looked at each other.

“I don’t believe it,” Bella said. Joseph asked if his mom was listening and the tapping came again.

“Well, I’ll be blowed,” Roger exclaimed. “Thank you, Missus Edwards.” The taps sounded again and faded away.

The four of them had a wander around the place when the meal had settled and saw that Roger had the makings of a really successful ranch.

“It is amazing what you have done in three years,” Joseph said. They chatted until little Ellabella was tired and packed up to go.

“See you at the wedding,” Viola said. “It should be good.”

Joseph clicked the reins and before they had gone very far, Ellabella was sound asleep in Viola’s arms.

The rest of the week was satisfyingly normal and Magdalena looked so stunning in the satin dress that Viola almost cried.

Sunday arrived and the place was abuzz. Mary had gone to town on arrangements. Her older daughter’s wedding had been a grand affair and the younger one was to have nothing less. The little wooden church had pots of flowers to line the path. Magdalena arrived in a carriage drawn by two beautiful gray horses and was helped down by her adoring father. Her appearance drew gasps from the crowd and all heads inside the church turned as she appeared in the doorway.

Morgan was waiting with Joseph at his side and the sight of his bride was mesmerizing. Viola had excelled herself. The dress was a vision in white satin and pearls that swept around her slender figure in a garland. She had made the cut of the sleeves to emphasize the bride’s arms. Some of the material ran down to a point over her hands. The sleeves and the hem were both trimmed in pearls and feathers.

Magdalena enjoyed her time in the spotlight and also the look on Morgan’s face.

The wedding was joyful and everyone sang hymns with enthusiasm. The married couple walked out arm in arm and happiness written all over them. They reached the hotel and the congregation followed on foot as it was not very far. Viola was thankful that Ellabella had been good and quiet during the service and the child was walking with a parent holding each hand when everything changed.

Out of the crowd and dressed in ordinary clothes stepped the man called Kurt whom everyone thought had gone on the run and would not come back.

“Just wishing you well, Morgan,” he said and the newly married man stopped in his tracks and pushed Magdalena behind him.

“What do you want?” Morgan asked. He had grown and matured in three years, was newly married and had a wife to look after. The crowd had gone silent.

Kurt put his hands in the air.

“I am not pointing a gun at you or anyone else, Morgan.”

“So, again,” Morgan asked. “What do you want?”

“It was you telling everyone that I was called Kurt which put me on the run. I was not at the bank robbery and I would like you to swear that you never said that I was.”

“Not a problem,” Morgan said. “Go to the lawyer and I will come and sign whatever it is.” By this time Joseph had come to stand by the bridegroom and told Viola to get the toddler out of the way. She had slid around the side of the building and was looking out when she saw what the people watching Morgan and Kurt could not see. It was a group of armed men riding into town and towards the group of the wedding party. Missus Crawford was near to her.

“Jeannie, take Ella for me,” Viola called and the woman came and grabbed the toddler.

“Armed men,” Viola cried. “Armed men,” and she rushed into the center of things and grabbed Magdalena away from the men. The wedding guests were not armed but Karl from the hotel appeared on the steps with a rifle and the sheriff was wearing guns in case something happened. Something was happening alright.

“Take cover, everyone,” he ordered. The crowd scattered like leaves in a wind and the sheriff turned to face whoever was arriving armed and on horseback.

Viola stayed exactly where she was beside Joseph and Morgan. The group arrived and the man in the lead told Walter that he wanted him to take into custody the man called Kurt.

“I am not going away for something I didn’t do,” Kurt called out.

“And what might that be?” the man said.

“Robbing the bank,” Kurt answered.

“Mister Jansen,” the sheriff said. “Please get down and put away the guns and we will see what he has done and hasn’t done. I was about to take him to the lawyer anyway,”

“Good, thank you,” the man said and dismounted. His men stayed where they were and although they were not holding guns, it would have been easy for them to draw.

“Is that the man from the gambling place?” Viola whispered but he heard her and looked directly at her.

“Yes, it is, lady, and this man took a great deal of my money. I don’t care if he robbed the bank or not.”

“Oh, Lord,” Viola said.

“We have tracked him here and I wondered if he had the money stashed somewhere.”

Walter indicated with his gun that Kurt should go inside the office and asked Jansen to come as well.

“Sorry about the wedding,” the sheriff said to Morgan, “Can you come as well?”

“In that case, I will join you,” Magdalena said. “My wedding. My choice.” The sheriff looked at Joseph and Viola and they followed along as well. The horsemen stayed where they were with guns holstered.

“Everybody, find a seat,” Walter said and Clint stood at the door with his hand on his gun. “Kurt, tell me why you came to see Morgan.”

My name is spread around every sheriff’s office as a bank robber. Yes, I am called, Kurt but I did not rob the bank in Tenterhill. I just wanted Morgan to say so.”

“Why spoil their wedding?” Viola asked. “There were lots of people around as well.”

“I really didn’t know about the wedding but just went ahead anyway.”

Walter asked why Jansen had come after Kurt.

“You weren’t robbed at the bank.”

“I run a good business. I run the ranch and place where men can gamble. This man was staying with the one called Gideon. When word came he was shot, this one disappeared and so did all of the money.”

“But that was Gideon’s money and I was his partner. It wasn’t your money.”

“Half of it was mine. He owed me rent and other gambling debts. You only run a successful place like mine if you make sure nobody takes advantage.”

Walter turned to Morgan.

“Tell me what you said about the bank.” He already knew that but asked anyway.

“Someone said they heard that a man called Kurt was at the robbery and I said Thomas Edwards had a friend called Kurt. I didn’t know if he was at the bank or not.”

Walter thought about it all. He asked Jansen how much was owed to him and then asked Kurt if he could pay that money back.

Kurt was not happy about that but said he could pay it.

“Where is the money?” the sheriff queried and Kurt said that it was actually in a bank account.

Walter looked at Jansen.

“If I guarantee that he stays in jail until the money is paid, will that satisfy you?” The man agreed that it was the right thing to do. Walter told Kurt that Morgan would sign a paper to absolve him form the bank robbery.

“How much was the money?” Viola suddenly asked and Joseph looked at her in surprise.

“If I went and found that money now, would that finish it here and now?” Joseph suddenly knew what she was meaning. He took up the story.

“My brother who was a murderer and a robber handed Viola a wad of money when he thought that she would marry him. She never used it and it has sat in my strongbox for three years. It was gambling money and should probably go back to where it came from.”

Jansen nodded and held out a hand to Joseph.

“Your brother was not a gentleman but you are. I accept.” Joseph went up the street at a run to open up and find the wad of notes. Morgan sat at the desk and wrote out that he did not see Kurt Delayne at the bank in Tenterhill or know that he was there. He signed it and Kurt read it through. It seemed to satisfy him and when Joseph came back with the money. Jansen took it, took his men and rode away. The crowd started to emerge from where they had hidden.

Walter said that he would put Kurt in jail for disturbance of the peace and the wedding could get back to the hotel.

“One more thing,” Magdalena said and went over to Kurt. She pulled back her fist and hit him squarely on the jaw. “That is for spoiling my big day and this is for threatening my husband.” She kicked him hard on the shins.

“Just in case you didn’t get that,” Morgan said. He drew back his fist and landed another shot on the jaw. This time his head snapped back and he staggered and fell. Morgan turned on his heel and Magdalena linked his arm. They held up their heads and walked out of the sheriff’s office.

“When he lets you out of jail,” Viola said. “I would keep away from Samuel. We don’t take kindly to being threatened.” Joseph offered his arm and they walked out, leaving behind the last man from Thomas’ gang to cause trouble in Samuel, Wyoming.

The four of them were met with cheers and well wishes and they climbed the steps to the hotel to resume the celebrations. Jeannie Crawford handed over little Ellabella and normal life returned.

The floor was cleared for dancing. The band struck up a fast tune and everyone took to the floor. In the end, it was declared the best wedding ever.

Joseph and Viola went home with their daughter and sank onto the sofa.

“You have made Samuel your home,” Joseph laughed. “You defend the place better than those of us who grew up here.”

“The love of my life grew up here,” she told him and lay against his arm. It was their own home and business and their daughter was playing on the floor.

“I am one lucky man,” Joseph told her.

“Well,” she said.

“What? I recognize that tone. What have I done?” She laughed, kissed his nose and put his hand on her tummy.

“Maybe luck will bring you a boy this time.”

“Oh, Lord,” he said and wrapped her in his arms.

“Thank you, Viola, for making me the luckiest and happiest man in the whole world.”

“Happy ever after, Josie. Happy ever after.”

THE END

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