An Innocent Change of Heart – Extended Epilogue

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Brave Hearts of the Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

---

Helen woke up to the sound of the rooster crowing. She took a moment to stretch her arms over her head and appreciate the soft light streaming into the windows. Early mornings were her favorites. She reached down and touched her swollen stomach. She was more than ready for the baby to be here. After two years of being married, she and Jon were about to welcome their first baby into their family. 

Helen had thought that pregnancy and childbearing was something that women were created to do and, therefore, in a way easy, but she had been mistaken. It was harder for her to get up as early as she once had, the skin of her stomach hurt, and her back hurt. She loved feeling the fluttering kicks of their baby inside of her, but sometimes, he or she would get quite rambunctious, and those kicks would hurt. 

Needless to say, she was ready for the little one to arrive. According to Mrs. White, she still had one month left. She sat up slowly and pulled her hair back into a bun. Jon’s side of the bed was empty. He’d taken their ranch seriously from the moment they’d started it. He had stopped working for the Olsen’s almost a year ago now, and Helen had noticed that instead of working less, he now worked more. They had what would be considered a farm and a ranch. While Helen managed a lot of the animals at home, Jon took care of the cattle. They hired one ranch hand to take them out to pasture, and when they had to do cattle runs, he would hire a second one. 

Their ranch was tiny compared to others, but Helen knew it would continue to grow as they poured their time, love, and effort into it. 

Helen took her time getting dressed. She was terrified of falling now that everything was harder to do. She had heard that it could be dangerous for the baby if she were to fall and hit her stomach. By the time she made it to the kitchen, she was surprised to find Jon there, making a pot of coffee. 

“Good morning, beautiful.” He smiled as he came over and kissed her. Jon’s affections and sweetness had not changed at all in the past two years; they had grown if anything. 

“Good morning.” Helen leaned into him and returned his kiss. “I didn’t expect you to be back so soon. I suppose I slept longer than I meant to.” 

“That’s all right. You need your rest. I have heard the stories my mother used to tell about when she was pregnant with me.” Jon shook his head and made a face as if it was terrible even to imagine such a thing. 

“Nonsense. I am still well enough to make breakfast and take care of you.” Helen winced as the baby kicked her for what seemed to be the fifth time that morning. “I think it is going to be a boy. He has your strength.” 

Jon chuckled. “That would be nice. Then I would have some help with the ranching and someone to watch over all his little sisters.” Jon returned to the stove and took the coffee off; he poured himself a cup. “Do you want one?”

Helen wrinkled her nose. “The smell of coffee still makes me sick. I hope that after the baby comes, I will be able to enjoy it again. I have certainly missed it.” Coffee wasn’t the only thing that was hard for her to enjoy these days. Eggs made her stomach turn and chicken. She had mostly eaten bread, jam, and the things that didn’t make her want to lose what she put down. Despite her aversion to certain foods, she still did her best to keep up with making meals for Jon. 

“So, when are your parents coming?” Helen knew that it could be any day now. 

Jon’s eyes lit up. “I just received their telegram in the mail. They are going to be here in two days. It has been such a long time since I saw them. It has also been such a long time since I dreamed of bringing them here. Having them live here with us, having them around for our first baby, it is so surreal.” Jon sat down with a dreamy look on his face. 

Helen nodded, pushing down the jittery feeling in her stomach. She tried not to think about what would happen if Jon’s parents didn’t like her. She had read the letters they sent to both of them, and they seemed to like her, but there was nothing like meeting in person. She wouldn’t be able to hide what she looked like, who she was, or anything from them once they were here. 

“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wasting your time. My parents are going to love you. How could they not? Besides, they won’t be living right on top of us. I am very happy that the second cabin was finished last week.” 

Helen was glad about the cabin too. She was certain that Jon’s parents were a joy to be around by how he talked about them, but she still liked the idea of keeping their own space and privacy. The house they’d built for his parents was tiny but adequate for two people. It had one bedroom, a small parlor, and a kitchen. She hoped they would be happy there. She knew life in the country was different than the city in many ways. 

“All right. I hope you are right. I don’t know what I would do if your parents didn’t like me. We still have a few things to finish in the cabin. I am almost done sewing the quilt and the curtains. I should be able to put them up today.” Helen had been working feverishly, ever since she’d known that Jon’s parents would be coming soon, on bedding and curtains for the new cabin. She wanted his parents to see they were excited to have them there. 

Jon stood and put his hands on her arms. “Helen, don’t worry yourself too much. I already have the bed in there and the chests. They are going to like their home, and they are going to like you. If it is too hard to finish the curtains and the quilt, don’t worry.” 

Helen nodded, biting her lower lip. She knew she didn’t have to finish, but she wanted to; she wanted to make a great first impression. Two days wasn’t a lot of time, but she hoped it was enough.

—*—

Helen took a step back and admired her handiwork. She had stayed up late the night before, then gotten up early to resume her work this morning and finished both the quilt and the curtains for the cabin. They looked lovely on the glass pane windows. Helen took the mop she’d prepared and went into the bedroom. True to Jon’s word, the bed was there, all ready for his parents. That morning, they had taken out the mattress stuffed with straw to air in the sun. It had been freshly stuffed not even a week ago, but Helen still wanted to make sure it smelled fresh. 

Jon had brought it back in for her. She took her time making the bed, folded the sheets at the corner, and tucked them in. She was proud of the stitches that made perfect little rows up and down the edges of the cloth. She then threw the quilt over the top. It was colorful, made from all the scraps of her projects during the last year. Whenever she got too many scraps, she would make a quilt. She had many of them laying around the house, waiting for the baby, and she had given some away as gifts. 

The curtains were a light yellow color. There was one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, and one in the parlor. She had already swept the entire place, and once she was done tending the bed, she began mopping. It was a big job, and it reminded her of the first day she had spent with Mrs. White. 

Once Helen was content with how the cabin was, she closed it up tightly and headed back to the main house. She put away her cleaning supplies and grabbed her shawl. She wanted to walk down to Mrs. White’s house and say hello while she could. She had a feeling the next few days were going to be terribly busy with Jon’s parents’ arrival, and she wasn’t sure when she would see Mrs. White again. 

After Helen had moved away with Jon, Savannah had moved in with Mrs. White. She took over the business of the eggs and the cheese and butter as well as helping Mrs. White around the place. A person would never know that the two had once had a bad relationship. They seemed like mother and daughter now. 

Helen hurried her pace. She had around an hour before she had to get home and make some dinner. Walking was good for her, or at least that was what she thought. When she went walking, she always felt better the next day. The walk to Mrs. White’s house took around fifteen minutes. When she arrived, she knocked on the front door, and Mrs. White’s face lit up with surprise when she answered. 

“Helen! It’s so good to see you.” Mrs. White leaned in and gave her a quick hug. Over the past two years, her gruffness had faded. 

“It’s good to see you too. I don’t have much time, but I figured I would stop by and visit. I can’t believe Jon’s parents are finally coming tomorrow. It seems like a dream.” 

“Come in, come in. Savannah is in the kitchen.” Mrs. White ushered her through the old house that Helen both recognized and missed. Those times seemed like such a long time ago, and yet they also felt so recent. Just as Mrs. White said, Savannah was in the kitchen. She had her hands covered in biscuit dough but stopped her work to give Helen a half hug. 

“Helen, I’m glad you came. I’m sorry if I got dough in your hair.” 

Helen laughed. “It’s all right.” She accepted a chair from Mrs. White. She couldn’t stay long, but she loved moments like these. Mrs. White and Savannah were still her family now as much as they had been two years ago. So much had changed since then; sometimes she felt she was living in a different place. No one in town seemed to remember that she was once an accused thief. The Olsens never did tell the townspeople that Milly was the one behind the misunderstanding that had Helen falsely accused, but it didn’t matter. Some of them figured it out, and others came up with much more interesting stories. 

Milly had finally found a rancher who loved her for her, and they had married last year. From what Helen heard, the pair were getting along quite nicely. Helen was happy that Milly had finally succeeded in finding what she wanted. Helen looked over at Savannah. She was officially planning on marrying Samuel now, and there was bound to be a wedding any day. Helen was not surprised; she was only surprised they had taken so long to announce it to everyone. 

Helen liked the way things had changed; they were good changes. She only hoped they continued to be. 

—*—

Jon tapped his foot anxiously as he waited for the stagecoach to bring his parents. Helen had decided to stay home and prepare dinner while he came into town to retrieve them. He was eager to see them again. When he finally spotted the small cloud of smoke from the stagecoach, his heart picked up its pace. Would they be the same as he remembered them? Would they all be as close as they used to be? He had imagined this moment so many times, and right now, it felt unreal. 

He began to pace as the stagecoach grew larger. Minutes seemed to stretch into longer and also shrink into smaller all at once. Before he knew it, the stagecoach door was opening, and his parents were stepping out. They were older than he remembered; that was the first thing that struck him. His father’s shoulders were slimmer, and their hair greyer. They looked more tired than he remembered them. He rushed towards them and wrapped them both into a tight hug. They were there; he would never say goodbye to them again. 

“We’re here, son. We finally made it,” his mother said against his shoulder. 

Jon pulled back, his eyes moist. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t even know what to say. You look good.” 

His parents laughed in unison, then his father’s expression turned serious. “I am sorry it took us so long. There was so much to do and prepare back in the city. We had lived there for so long, you understand.” 

“I do.” Jon reached out and took his father’s bag from his hand. “Is this all you brought?” 

“Of course not.” His father shook his head. “I had to bring my shoe-making things; that grandbaby is going to need some warm shoes.” 

Jon laughed. “Of course he is. I’ll get your things.” When his parents said they had brought a few more things, they had meant they’d brought half the city. By the time Jon was done helping the man from the stagecoach load up the wagon, it was almost full. 

“I hope everything is going to fit in your new home.” Jon smiled, knowing it would. He couldn’t stop looking at his parents. It was so strange to have them there, within hugging distance. During the ride, he did his best to show them the different places he had spoken about in his letters over the years. His parents listened intently, chiming in with occasional questions. When his ranch came into view, Jon felt a swell of pride in his chest. 

“This is where we live.” He motioned with one hand while managing the horses as they went up the small road toward home. 

“Son, this is marvelous. I don’t know how you managed to do this all alone.” 

“He didn’t do it alone; he had Helen to help, didn’t you?” Jon’s mother asked with a smile. 

“I most certainly did. You both are going to love her.” Jon spotted Helen on the porch, standing with her hands together, watching for them. She looked nervous, even from far away. He had tried to set her mind at ease, but it probably wouldn’t be completely at ease until she met his parents and got to know them. 

He pulled the wagon up to the guest cabin, and Helen walked over to join them. He helped his parents down and then motioned for Helen to come closer. 

“Ma, Pa, this is Helen. You both already know a lot about her, but there is nothing like meeting in person.” There was an awkward moment of silence after Jon’s introduction, and then his mother rushed forward and wrapped Helen in a hug. 

“It is so lovely to meet you! My son was not exaggerating when he told us how beautiful you were.”

Jon fidgeted uncomfortably at his mother’s words. He watched as his father stepped forward and gave her a quick hug from the side. 

“I am honored to meet the woman who conquered my son’s heart. We have heard so much about you and our grandchild.” Jon’s father looked down at her bulging middle. 

“How have you been feeling, my dear? Pregnancy can be so rough.” Jon’s mother placed her hand on Helen’s stomach, and the two of them launched into a conversation about children and babies and everything having to do with the like. 

“Come and see the house; we hope you like it.” Jon felt he had to interrupt. He wanted his parents to see their new home and know what they thought of it. His parents and Helen followed him inside. He stopped in the parlor first, letting them get a good look at the chairs that he’d made, the simple fireplace, and the mantel. 

“It is lovely, son. I can imagine your father will enjoy a nice rest on a cool evening here.” 

“I thought so.” Jon grinned. It was nice to hear they were happy. The house they had lived in the city had been both expensive and smaller than the cabin. There were times when it didn’t have heat, and they would all snuggle under a blanket to keep warm. Here in Texas, it wouldn’t get that cold, and if it did, there was plenty of wood for a fire. 

“This way is the kitchen,” Helen interrupted. “I made the curtains. I am not sure if you like the color.” She looked shy and nervous. Jon thought it was sweet how she wanted to please his parents. What she didn’t know was that they would have been pleased no matter what she did. 

“They are beautiful, Helen. Jon tells me you are a seamstress. I can tell why people buy their things from you; thank you.” 

After the kitchen, they went to the bedroom. His parents were equally impressed. His mother’s eyes filled with tears, and she wrung her hands. 

“You both have done too much for us.” 

Jon shook his head. “You both did so much for me, and Helen and I are so glad that you will be here with us from now on.” Jon looked over at Helen. “I think there is some dinner waiting for us over at the other house; why don’t we have something to eat, and then I will help you get your things in?”

Everyone nodded in agreement and filed out of the cabin. Jon couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. Having his parents come was the best thing ever. His family was together again, and he had all the people he cared about in one place. There was no comparable feeling. 

Readers who read this book also liked

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Brave Hearts of the Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

---