An Unexpected Family for the Lone Sheriff – Extended Epilogue

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A year later

Bram stood in the corner of the south pasture, one hand resting on a fence post, surveying the land, taking a break from the backbreaking work he’d been doing since breakfast. The fences were in straighter lines, and each post was driven deep into the earth, keeping them steady.

The large herds grazed together, lowing to each other. He had nearly doubled his head count since the previous year, as more people were buying cattle as they settled out West. He’d also procured a nice contract with the army.

He looked over at Samuel, who was working with Micah and Andy as they were castrating and branding the young bulls. His nephew had taken to life on the ranch as though he’d been doing it his entire life. He knew that Thomas had a ranch, but left most of the work to the paid hands. Samuel was taller and stronger, growing like a weed. His shoulders were wider, and he took pride in becoming a man like Micah. He and Beatrice had a hard time keeping him in clothes and boots.

Bram sighed and walked back over to the men, spelling Andy, so he could take a break.

When the sun was high in the sky, they gathered up their tools, loaded the wagon, hitched Comanche and Dakota, and headed back to the house.

After taking care of the horses, they made a beeline for the kitchen. Mrs. Bowman had promised them chicken and dumplings for lunch with apple pie for dessert. As they stepped toward the porch, Lily raced by, her skirt pulled up in both fists, her curls bouncing as she ran. Cody was hot on her heels.

Bram couldn’t believe how much she’d changed over the past year. Not only had she grown, but she was a lot more confident. Something had changed that day that she’d run away from the kidnappers. She climbed trees and wasn’t shy about speaking her mind. She acted as though the world belonged to her.

Mrs. Bowman opened the door. “Everyone, wash your hands before you even think about coming in and eating.”

Dutifully, everyone turned toward the hand pump and washed their hands.

Bram looked up as a wagon pulled up next to the barn. Owen jumped out and helped Clara out of the wagon. She looked radiant as she rubbed her rounded belly.

Jerry popped out of the barn and told Owen to go inside, and that he and Elijah would take care of the horses for him.

Mrs. Bowman greeted Clara with a warm hug. “I’m so glad that you could come. It’s getting close to her time, and I know you’d be a comfort.”

Clara kissed the older woman’s cheek. “Of course. I know she’ll be there for me when my little one arrives.”

Owen and Clara were married soon after Bram and Beatrice. They had bought a small house close to the school. Clara was excited about the garden that Mrs. Bowman, Lily, and Beatrice had helped her create in her backyard. Mrs. Bowman said she was a great student when it came to learning about different plants and their uses.

Beatrice waddled out of the house to greet her friend. She was so large with the baby that Mrs. Bowman had teased her about having twins. Beatrice said that if she did, she would love them both, but said that one would be enough.

Lily followed the women inside. “Will school close when you have the baby?”

Clara laughed. “I’ll have the baby in the summertime, so school will be closed anyway.”

Samuel groaned. “You mean we won’t get an extra vacation?”

Tugging gently on his ear, Clara shook her head. “No. And what’s all this about? I thought you two loved school.”

Samuel shrugged. “We do, but we like vacations, too.”

Beatrice chuckled. “I guess that’s fair.”

They took their places at the table, and Mrs. Bowman ladled out generous portions of chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, and beans. As promised, the meal was followed by apple pie. Everyone chatted about how well the ranch was doing, about the rain they were expecting, and how Lily had taught Cody a new trick.

Owen shared some news quietly with Bram after lunch.

“I spoke with the judge today. It seems that Caldwell’s been moved from Oregon back to Virginia to face more charges. It turns out that he’s been running schemes for at least two decades. He’ll be locked up for the rest of his life.”

“Good. After the pain he caused Beatrice and the children, he ought to be glad that he didn’t face a little bit of frontier justice. The same goes for Blackstone.”

“The judge had information about him, too. It turns out that he tried to start some trouble while in prison. A huge fight broke out. Let’s just say that no one has to worry about that particular piece of garbage any longer.”

“That’s justice. There are some people who don’t deserve a second chance.”

***

The next day, a large freight wagon drove up to the house. It took a while to unload everything. It was the rest of Thomas’s, Madelaine’s, Samuel’s, Lily’s, and Beatrice’s belongings. The furniture had been sold along with the house and ranch. All of the money had been put into a trust for the children. Each would get half when they turned eighteen.

The family spent a couple of days sorting through worn books, framed sketches, old toys, fancy clothes that didn’t fit anyone, and certainly weren’t appropriate for ranch life, and a million other objects.

Bram unwrapped a picture of Thomas, Madelaine, and the children and stared at it for a long time, as though he thought his brother could speak through his image. He hung it above the fireplace in the sitting room—a place of honor.

At the bottom of one cedar chest, Bram found an envelope. His name was written on it in careful script that he recognized as Thomas’s.

He sat heavily on the couch, his hands shaking, as he opened the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.

Bram,

If you are reading this, then I have gone where words can no longer be spoken. I pray that you will forgive me for choosing ink and paper over talking to you in person.

I started and stopped writing this letter more times than I can count. There were years when I convinced myself that it was better that we keep our silence. That seemed safer than reopening old wounds.

You should know that I never blamed you. You had to choose between Pa and me. You chose him, and you were right to do so. I gambled away the family ranch. I deserved every bit of his anger. 

I could have stayed and tried to work things out. I’m sure that over time, Pa would have forgiven me. But I was full of pride, and it was easier to run.

After the children were born, I wanted to reach out to you. I almost did several times, but I didn’t know how to begin. How could I say that I was sorry when I lost your inheritance? The word was so small compared to what I’d done. So I stayed silent, and that was my second failure.

You deserved a brother who owned his mistakes and came home to make amends. Instead, you got a coward who hid behind distance and excuses.

Even from here, I heard about you. Our aunt told me how you rebuilt everything I’d lost and that you’d become sheriff. You became the man that our father hoped both of us would be. I’m proud of you.

If there is any forgiveness left in your heart, I pray you will grant me some small portion of it. Not because I have earned it, but because I’ve always loved you, and I hope you still have some fondness for me.

Take care of my children, if God has placed them in your keeping. Teach them honesty. Teach them courage. Teach them not to run from their mistakes as I did.

And if you ever think of me, think kindly, if you can.

Your brother, always,

Thomas

He carefully folded the letter and put it back into the envelope, blinking back the tears. Thomas hadn’t been the only fool. So many times, Bram had thought about reaching out to his brother.

Beatrice stood behind him, with her hand on his shoulder. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. Her being near him was enough.

***

Later that afternoon, Mrs. Bowman sent Lily to find Bram working in the pasture, fixing a lean-to that had been reduced to shambles during a violent, straight-line wind Oregon was prone to.

“Uncle Bram, Mrs. Bowman said it’s time to go get Miss Matilda. It’s time for Aunt Beatrice to have the baby.”

Jerry dropped his tools and picked them up again, throwing them in the wagon. “I’m on my way.” He drove off before Bram could jump in and at least get a ride to the house.

Bram and Lily ran back to the house together. He threw open the door and dashed up the stairs, two at a time.

Mrs. Bowman and Clara looked up at him when he burst in.

“I told you to have your uncle get Matilda, not tear the house down,” Mrs. Bowman said to Lily, who’d followed Bram into the room.

Lily shrugged. “I couldn’t stop him. He was like that mean bull that tried to run over Samuel.”

Bram sat with Beatrice for the next two hours, putting cold cloths on her forehead and nearly coming out of his skin every time she moaned.

At one point, she said, “If you don’t settle down and quit fussing so much, I’m going to ask Mrs. Bowman to haul you out of here. You’re driving me mad.”

Finally, the midwife arrived and shooed everyone but Mrs. Bowman and Clara out. When Lily tried to protest that she was a woman, too, Matilda told her firmly that she was too short to see what was about to happen and scooted her out.

The entire group gathered in the sitting room. They took turns sitting down and then standing up to pace around the room. Bram listened intently for any sounds coming from upstairs. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Beatrice cry out.

Mr. Bowman put his hand on Bram’s arm. “Don’t go. Giving birth is a painful process. It’s so painful that only a woman can handle it.”

She cried out a few more times, and his heart stopped each time. Finally, there was a different cry. It was a baby’s cry.

Mrs. Bowman came downstairs. “Bram, you can go up now and meet your son. Lily and Samuel, you can go up and meet your new cousin, but only for a minute.” She smiled at the rest of them. “Beatrice is fine, and the baby is healthy.”

A loud cheer went up.

Bram entered the room slowly.

Beatrice lay against the pillows, hair damp, face pale and radiant all at once. In her arms lay a tiny bundle, wrapped in soft cloth. She was holding his son.

Bram sank onto the edge of the bed. He reached out, hesitantly, touching one small curled finger. It closed around his. His breath caught, and he stared at the tiny baby held by the woman he loved. “Hello, Wyatt.”

They’d agreed to name the child after his father if it was a boy.

The children walked over, wide-eyed.

“He’s so tiny,” Lily whispered.

“He’ll grow, just like you and Samuel,” Bram promised.

Samuel simply stared at him as though the baby was the greatest thing he’d ever seen. “Micah and I will take great care of him.”

They gathered close together, and Bram couldn’t even begin to name the incredible feeling that came over him as his family filled the room.

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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!

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