Leaving Her Heart Behind – Extended Epilogue

Cassidy wondered if Houston would ever stop growing.

She had a feeling that it wouldn’t. Someday, it might even be as big or as popular as New York City. It had been five years since she returned to the West and married Levi. Every year was just better and better, both around town and in her home.

Could hearts grow bigger? She wondered about this frequently as she thought about her family. There was no way that she could have known how much would happen in her life, how much would change. She loved it more every year.

“There you are, Mrs. Boone.” The general store owner, Mrs. Barrett, waved as she hurried over to the front of the shop. “I have your delivery right here. Quite a few books, you know.”

Smiling sheepishly, Cassidy met her in the middle. “I’m sorry, perhaps I should have warned you. I hope you didn’t put yourself out,” she added while pointedly looking at the woman’s growing stomach. “How is the newest Barrett faring?”

Mrs. Barrett chuckled and shook her head. “Almost as eager as I am to get him out, I think. The doctor thinks it should be any day now. It’s terrifying and yet I don’t think that I could possibly be more thrilled. It’s worth it, right?”

Cassidy nodded. “Yes, yes, it is. I promise.”

The two of them talked about children for a few more minutes before a customer moved over and waited for Mrs. Barrett at the counter. Cassidy said her farewells, picked up her heavy pile of books, and headed out the door. She’d ordered four books a while ago and had waited impatiently for them over the last three months.

She hummed as she put her package into the small wagon. One last errand and then she would be on her way home. Her skirts swished around her ankles as she crossed the street over to the post office.

“Well, well,” Mr. Quincy said as she walked in. “How is it you always know a letter has come for you?”

Immediately beaming, she skipped over to the counter. “So you do have something for me?”

The man nodded. He stood up and walked to the back for a second before returning with a letter in hand. It was a faded pink color meaning that it was from home. She grinned at Mr. Quincy, grabbing it when he offered it to her.

“You come in right after each letter for you or your family has been delivered. I’ve been noticing that now. How? How do you do that?”

Cassidy shrugged. Fiddling with the letter, she suggested, “I suppose I’m just really good at it. The Lord knows what He’s doing, perhaps?”

He chuckled. “Sure, sure. You have a good day now, Mrs. Boone.”

She thanked him and left. Once she was outside walking toward her wagon, she decided to open the letter now. She wondered what it was like in New York and how the weather was. She remembered the cold wind and the ice skating and the parties. Some of it had been nice and some of it had been dreadful.

“Of course,” Cassidy murmured to herself. 

This was a letter from her mother telling her what to bring up for the holidays. Warm clothes, ice skates, and their nicest things. Chuckling, Cassidy tucked the letter away. Agreeing to come spend  Christmas with her family in New York City might have been a loaded idea, but now it was too late. They would be on a train headed back east in just four weeks.

She still remembered how that had all come together. Just a few months ago, around her birthday, she had received a little journal from home in the mail.

“That’s nice of them,” Levi told her as he came around from behind and wrapped his arms around her. Cassidy immediately melted back into him. “They do pretty good when it comes to gifts. Are you sure we shouldn’t be sending them anything?”

Shaking her head, she craned her neck up to kiss the edge of his jaw. “No, trust me. They don’t need anything from us. Everything they want is in the city. Why, the only thing they could possibly want is having us there.”

“Ah, well,” he said. He kissed her head and then set his chin on it. 

She brushed her hand across the soft leather cover, enjoying how simple and perfect it was. Notebooks were her favorite. Being out in Texas gave her so many opportunities to learn about new things, especially animals and bugs, and plants. This book would be perfect for jotting down new notes.

Levi spoke up again, pulling her from her thoughts. “You miss them, don’t you?”

“A little bit,” Cassidy admitted reluctantly. “It’s silly, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. I was actually thinking, Cassidy… It’s been a few years, hasn’t it, since you’ve seen them? Besides, the girls are getting older and I think we could manage all right.”

“Manage what?”

He gave her a small squeeze. “Manage a trip to New York. I was thinking we could go spend three, maybe four weeks in the city. We can see your family and the kids can meet everyone. What do you think?”

Setting the book down, Cassidy had whirled around to look at her husband. A smile made it onto her face as she looked at him. How did he always know just how to make her happy?

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. “I think that sounds wonderful,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, my love.”

Cassidy was impressed how she didn’t even feel nervous about the journey. If anything, she could hardly wait. It was strange to consider how she had somehow grown closer to her family now that they were far apart. 

But she would take whatever she could get. She wanted more love in her life. Ever since that kidnapping incident with Wilder, Cassidy had found more reasons to talk to her parents. They had been sending each other letters every month ever since.

She felt everyone had become happier during this time as well. 

Her father had cleaned up his act like they had talked about, focusing on honesty and building relationships at work. He worked less now and took on fewer clients. It was less money but everyone seemed content still. Her mother had started working at a charity so now she was working more than her husband. Anjelica was happily married and a mother of two, balancing the family life and her busy social life. Then there was little Robby, who wasn’t so little anymore, and he was thriving in boarding school in Europe. 

And now everyone would be gathered together for Christmas. 

A cold wind swept through as though to remind her that winter was there even if they didn’t have any snow. She put the letter in her pocket and started over to her wagon. It was time she grabbed her coat and returned to her family. There was always more work to do and she wanted to do her part.

Grabbing her coat, she glanced around the street. She knew most people in town by now, especially since Levi was still well-loved. How could he not be?

But she forgot everything when she spotted a man in a dark suit and a flat hat. 

Her whole world went cold. Cassidy remembered the fear from her kidnapping and dropped to the ground to hide. She gasped for breath, frantically thinking about what to do. This made no sense. It had been years. They had told her everyone had been locked up. She knew that Wilder had died just a few months ago. How had Charleson found her? Her heart hammered loudly as she tried to think.

She had to get away. She had to find Levi and their children. She had to do something.

Gathering her courage, Cassidy swallowed. Then she glanced up to see if she might have a chance to get away. Her eyes searched for the man she feared before noticing him crouched down across the street. 

He was talking to three little girls. The man pulled off his hat and showed a bald head. Then he reached into his pockets and offered what looked like candy to the kids.

Her shoulders relaxed. It wasn’t him. She wasn’t in danger. Cassidy climbed back onto her feet, looking around in the hopes that no one had noticed. It had been a while since she’d grown so anxious like that. Usually, it was just a bad dream. Her hands continued shaking as she climbed onto her wagon seat and started for home.

Getting back to the ranch with Levi and their girls would bring her the peace of mind that she needed. They had fresh Texas air, open land, and a good home. She loved the hard work and all the fun she had with her family. They made everything better at the end of the day.

She couldn’t get there fast enough. Rolling up to the barn, Cassidy hopped down and watched her little family in the nearby grass.

Levi knealt with their two girls in the grass as he worked through the motions of showing them how to wrestle. She crossed her arms but couldn’t hide the smile from her face. Leaving the horses there for a moment, Cassidy strolled over.

“So you want to grab the neck,” Levi was telling them. “But just to hold onto for balance, that’s all. Then you put this knee on the ground and the other leg has to hook around your opponent.”

Four-year-old Lacy was paying close attention. She had a long, thin braid of red hair trailing down her back. Standing tall and straight, it was clear that she was a strong-minded child. That’s how it had been since the beginning even before she was born.

Being pregnant with her first child had been anything but easy, Cassidy thought. She had hardly managed to keep food down for the last six months. 

The last couple of weeks had put her in bed. She could only move and eat whatever it was that Lacy was willing to put up with, which wasn’t much. Fortunately, when she wanted out into the world, she came quickly and without any further trouble. Lacy had cried whenever she didn’t get what she wanted but had been eager to share her toys and food when her little sister came along.

Little Ruthie was just barely two. But she had bright eyes and a smile that could melt any heart. She had Levi’s eyes and had the curliest hair that neither of them had expected. Being pregnant with her had gone so much easier. 

Just thinking of those days made Cassidy smile. Lacy had been very demanding when she wanted her little sister to come out in the world. 

Everything had gone so well that Cassidy had gone riding with Levi on the day that their girl was born. Henry was at the house watching their young daughter so the two of them could take a break and enjoy a picnic. They’d only had a few bites when she felt the labor pains.

“We have to get you back the house,” Levi said hurriedly, putting their food away. “Just one second. All right, let me just…”

A sharp contraction had burst through her. “No!” Cassidy reached out to yank his hand. “No. Levi, I don’t think I can get back up. It hurts too much.”

“Can’t I carry you?”

She shook her head before putting her hand back on her stomach. Panting, she closed her eyes and tried to get comfortable. It seemed impossible. “No. Oh, Levi, something doesn’t feel right. It’s too fast. I shouldn’t have such strong contractions yet. It hurts, Levi.”

“I’m here,” he promised her. “I’m right here. We’re going to work this out. You’re going to be all right.”

Levi tried to help her get comfortable by a tree to rest against, but it didn’t feel right. Ultimately she had ended up on her knees. Clutching her husband’s hand in hers, Cassidy made him promise to save their baby at all costs. The rest was a blur of pain and blood and sweat. 

What happened next had been told to Cassidy shortly after the affair. After being gone so long, Henry got their foreman to come looking for them. The foreman delivered blankets and water before rushing off to get the doctor. 

Evening set in before the baby came in. Finding the baby was feet first, she’d had to wait and the doctor had applied pressure gently to her stomach to move their child around. Then she woke up as a cart arrived for them to help her back to the house. And Levi was there, a baby girl in his arms crying loudly with all her might.

What would she do without him? 

Cassidy watched her husband as he playfully wrestled the girls in the grass. They screamed and shouted with delight as he tossed them in the air and playfully rolled around with them in the dirt.

She thought about the last couple of years and how often Levi had saved her. This man had done so much to bring her to where she was now. Because of it, they had a life together here in Houston that exceeded all of her wildest dreams. Her hand brushed over the ring that Levi had given to her when they were children. It made her wish that she could go back to her childhood and assure their younger selves about all the good things that would happen to them someday.

“Mommy!”

Blinking, she grinned as the girls ran over to her. “Oh, now you notice me?” Cassidy chuckled while she bent down to scoop both girls into her arms. They were getting bigger every day. “Oh, I missed you both so much!”

They laughed as she covered them in kisses. Though they pretended to shy away, she could see the happy smiles on their faces.

“All right, I’m coming. I want my kisses too,” Levi called. He picked himself up and wiped away the grass and dirt before coming over. Grabbing Lucy in his arms, he kissed the girl before turning to Cassidy. “What about me, huh?”

“I would never skip kissing you,” she assured him. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” 

Levi was still as handsome as ever. Though he didn’t do any more wrestling or boxing unless he was teaching someone, usually children, the man had more than enough to do to stay physical. 

The ranch had nearly doubled in size since her arrival, meaning they’d added a second bunkhouse for more ranch hands. It was hard work but she saw how much Levi loved being out on the prairie around the animals. She helped him most nights in the study to manage their customers with the deals and the letters. 

That had happened purely by coincidence because they both liked to be in the study after their girls went to bed. Levi had work to do about the ranch and she had her reading to do. She’d even been thinking about writing her own book lately about life in Texas. Already she had dozens of pages of notes. She just needed to actually gather the determination to get started.

But she could worry about that another time.

Their girls laughed as Levi leaned over to kiss Cassidy on the lips. She heard them squeal as she closed her eyes. His lips were chapped but still soft and inviting. Even after all these years, he could make her weak in the knees. She leaned into him and so he wrapped his spare arm around her. All she wanted to do was enjoy this perfect moment. They were a happy little family with a lifetime of joy ahead of them. 

When they came apart, she let out a contented sigh.

Levi smiled while he rubbed her back. “How was town?”

“It was good. My books are in the wagon and we have a letter from my mother. She’s already started shopping for our trip there,” Cassidy added with a roll of her eyes. Yet she still smiled. “Are you sure you are up for this?”

“We already bought the train tickets. It will be just fine. Good, even,” he added. “And it won’t be anything like when I was there the first time.”

She wrinkled her nose. “No, it certainly won’t.”

“What happened?” Their four-year-old asked curiously, tugging on Cassidy’s dress.

Cassidy glanced at their girls before looking at her husband. They never lied to one another and were determined not to lie to their children. “Some difficult things,” she said at last. They put the girls on the ground. “I’ll tell you another time, all right? But right now, I need you two to go wash up. Wash your hands and faces, please.”

Both of them started moaning. “No! We don’t want to. No washing!”

“Your grandfather is coming here for supper,” she reminded them. “Now wash up or you won’t get to play with him. Shoo, please.”

Lacy and Ruthie grumbled but started over to the water spout. Watching them go, Cassidy grinned with a shake of her head. She looked at Levi who was also studying their children with a small smile on his face.

“You have to wash up too,” she told him teasingly. “You’re filthy.”

“What? Never. You’ll have to wrestle me.”

She didn’t have a chance to speak up as Levi sneaked his arms around her and tossed her down. The world rushed by as she squealed, clutching him. Before she hit the earth he moved so that she’d land on him, and they rolled a few times in the dirt so neither of them was bruised.

“I can’t believe you did that!” Cassidy gasped, finding herself on top of him. “Now we’re both dirty.”

“Then you better wash up,” Levi told her teasingly.

Lacey and Ruthie shrieked with laughter, hands dripping as they pointed at her. Cassidy glanced at them with a stern expression. So they hurried inside obediently, still giggling. Then she turned back to Levi. It was rather comfortable resting on top of him.

His hat had fallen off and his hair was a mess. There was a spot of dirt on Levi’s chin and she could see he was beginning to develop wrinkles around his eyes. Studying him only made her smile wider. This was the man she married, the one who she wanted to spend every minute of her life with. She couldn’t be more grateful for this life that they had built together.

“What is it?” Levi asked her. “What’s on that beautiful mind of yours?”

Cassidy smiled and leaned down to kiss his nose. “You, of course.” 

THE END

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