OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Hearts Across the Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
One Year Later
“Oh! He’s getting ice all over!” Miriam cried as Buck shook the snow from his coat. “Goofy dog, go lay down!”
She headed to the kitchen and grabbed one of the towels to mop up the mess, and Molly chuckled as she laid her baby in the cradle.
“No matter. It’s bound to be a little dirty in here this time of the year. You know how early spring is.”
“It’s one thing I’m never going to get used to about the frontier, I do declare,” Miriam said as she finished mopping up the melted snow. “I just want it to be perfect.”
“Our families are coming together for a meal. That’s what makes it perfect to me,” Molly told her.
“Oh, don’t fuss,” Miriam said when her own baby started making noises in the crib next to Molly’s little girl.
“Do you want me to pick her up?” Molly asked.
“If you wouldn’t mind,” Miriam said. “Look! The men have just pulled up, and that wagon is full!”
Molly glanced out the window and her heart skipped with happiness. Clayton and Ward had gone into town to pick up Molly’s parents. It had been almost a year and a half since she’d last seen them, and though she was nervous, she was also happy.
The past year, she and her parents had exchanged letters. They’d written about their differences and the hurt that they’d caused, and they had reconciled. It had been a slow process, but in the end, Molly was happy for the outcome.
Asher and Ruth were also in the wagon, Felicity in Ruth’s lap. She’d grown a lot in the past year, and she now toddled about as best she could. The snow made it difficult for her to walk, however, so Ruth would carry her until she was back in the house.
“Here, I can take her,” Miriam said.
She stepped forward and took Madeline from Molly.
“Alright, baby, I’m here,” Miriam cooed to her daughter. Madeline wiggled and fussed for a moment longer, but she soon settled down. “Are you going to be okay back in the crib? Do you want to be by your cousin?”
“You keep telling them that and they’re really going to think they’re related,” Molly laughed as Miriam laid Madeline back in the crib next to Molly’s baby.
“And what’s wrong with that?” Miriam asked with a mischievous grin. “You’re the sister I’ve never had, and I’m proud to say so.”
“I was adopted,” Molly said. “So I know well family can be built. I’m alright with calling them cousins, more than okay with it.”
“Come in, come in!” Molly cried when the door opened. “Oh, Margaret! So glad you were able to make it!”
“Yes, yes, I wasn’t sure,” Margaret said as she followed Ruth and Asher into the house. “I stopped by to speak with Horace before coming, and he sends his best as well.”
“How much longer will he be in jail?” Molly asked.
There had been a time when she was glad that Horace was locked up. Though she still felt he deserved the time he served, things had changed. Just as she had managed to patch up the relationship with her own parents, Horace had apologized to Ruth, and he’d tried to make amends for the things he’d done.
The process had also been slow, but Ruth and Asher had gone with Margaret to visit Horace in jail more than once. Felicity, too, had gone with them. It would take time for the old wounds to heal, but it seemed the family was ready to come together again.
To Molly’s surprise, Margaret and Ruth had done what they could to fix Horace’s image to the rest of the town as well. He’d wronged many of the folks who lived in Mansfield, but he seemed to be a changed man.
Though it would still take time for more to forgive him, it seemed that others were willing, so long as he proved he wasn’t who he’d been before. Molly had been encouraged by the forgiveness, and she felt that Reverend Greene was right.
Mansfield was a place filled with good people. It was a community that was like a big family. Folks made mistakes, but there was forgiveness to be had. Time healed old wounds, and many were willing to move forward.
Even Clayton had been willing to bury the feud. He’d gone to the jail one time to speak with Horace, but it seemed that one time had been enough. He’d seemed lighter, happier even, when he came back to Molly.
And that made her happy, too. She didn’t hold the kidnapping against Horace. She wasn’t sure she could forgive Sam, but then, she never supposed she’d have to speak to him again. After the trial, she hoped she’d never have to see the man again in her life.
“Just another few months,” Margaret said with a warm smile. “I’m glad. I’ve missed him.”
“I think we’re all glad,” Ruth added. “Even Asher is looking forward to his getting out.”
“I’m so glad things are going well for you all,” Molly said, pouring coffee for everyone. She looked out the window once again, her heart leaping to her throat when she saw Ward and Clayton helping her parents out of the back of the wagon. Ward then followed Clayton to the barn to put up the horses, but Molly was frozen as her parents headed for the door.
Miriam let them inside, and Molly remained where she stood for another moment. Then her mother spoke.
“My Molly! Oh, my dear! How I have missed you!”
Her words shook Molly out of the trance. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her mother. Her father then wrapped his arms around them both, holding them tightly in a hug.
“My family is back together!” he said, tears falling.
“We’re so sorry,” her mother said. “I know we’ve said so in letters, but you have to hear it from us directly. I’m so sorry for what we did to you!”
“It’s forgiven! Already gone,” Molly laughed as she held them. “Come and meet your granddaughter.”
She led both her parents to the crib.
“This is Callie. Your granddaughter.”
“We don’t deserve to be called her grandparents,” her mother whispered as she scooped the baby into her arms.
“Nonsense,” Molly said. “We’ve had our differences, but we are family, and that means we forgive and persevere.”
“Sam Pearl has been transferred to a prison in New York,” her father said. “It turned out that he was part of a large fraud scheme, robbing banks all over the east side of the country.”
“That’s horrible,” Molly said with a shake of her head. “But I suppose it makes sense. He was so proud of his money, but no one ever really knew where he got it.”
“He always had a different story,” her father agreed. “And I feel so foolish having fallen for his tricks.”
“He was a good conman,” Molly told him. “But it’s in the past now. No need to keep dwelling on what happened then.”
“Bless you.” Her father gave her a hug before taking Callie from her mother.
Molly stood to the side, watching as her parents met her daughter. There had been a time when she never thought such a thing would happen, but now she was witnessing it for herself.
And she was happy.
The door opened, and Ward and Clayton came bustling inside. They brushed the snow from their jackets, and Miriam raised another fuss.
“I just wiped that up!” she said with a scolding laugh. “My goodness! There’s a porch for a reason!”
“It’s just snow!” Clayton told her. “It’s fine!”
“There’s a baby who’s barely walking!” Miriam pointed at Felicity. “She needs it clean and dry!”
“Alright, alright,” Ward said, taking the towel from his wife. “Let me get it, then. We made the mess; I’ll clean it up.”
“Thank you,” Miriam said. She still shook her head in a scolding manner, but there was an amused smile on her face.
“Let me get the coffee,” Molly said as she started for the kitchen. She poured new mugs for the two men who had just come inside, then she put the cups on the tray to carry back to the living room.
Conversation hummed while she worked, and she smiled in the peacefulness that swept over her. She could hardly believe what her life had become. It was time to tell everyone the secret she’d been keeping for the past month.
She rehearsed what she wanted to say in her mind, then she picked up the tray and started for the living room.
“I guess now that everyone’s here, it’s a good time to tell you all that I’m pregnant!” Molly beamed as she stepped into the room.
As she said the words, she realized she was speaking at the same time Ruth was.
“I’m pregnant,” echoed in the room, and the two women looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Did you just—” Molly started.
“You’re pregnant?” Ruth said at the same time.
They both burst into laughter.
“Congratulations!” Molly cried as she ran to hung Ruth. Ruth said the same as she embraced Molly in return.
Both women broke free of each other to hug their husbands, then the rest of the guests in the room.
Molly had set down the coffee, and everyone took a glass. But Clayton refused to let go of her hand once he got a hold of her.
“Pregnant again,” he said with a shake of his head. “And here I thought we’d have a year or two between the babies.”
“Not a chance,” Molly laughed. “I found out I was expecting a month after we were married, so I suppose it stands to reason I’d be pregnant again when our daughter is just a couple months old.”
“Well, at least they’ll be close in age,” Clayton said. He looked amused by the idea, but proud, too. “I just hope you won’t be overwhelmed.”
“Look at how many hands I have to help,” Molly said as she nodded to the rest of the room. “They say it takes a whole village to raise a baby. I think we have a village already.”
“Agreed,” Clayton said as he pulled her close. He kissed her, and Molly smiled against his lips.
“Are you happy?” she asked. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you when we were alone or just let everyone know at the same time.”
“I like that you did it this way,” Clayton said, talking against her lips in return. “And yes, I’m happy. I’m the happiest man in the world.”
His words caused her heart to race. She felt her stomach flutter with joy, and she couldn’t stop smiling. She sat against him, turning to watch their loved ones talk and laugh with each other, filling their ranch house with a joy Molly had always wanted.
Their children would grow up together, and they would all be friends. They would all be there for each other, sharing with each other in both the good times and the bad.
“I never thought this is what my life would be,” she told Clayton, her smile bright. “When I got off that stagecoach, I never imagined this is what would happen.”
“Is it what you hoped for?” Clayton asked, his hand finding hers.
Molly shook her head. When Clayton gave her a confused look, she smiled and squeezed his hand.
“This is far better than anything I could have hoped,” she told him. “This is my dream come true.”
He wrapped an arm around her, and they fell silent once again. Molly drew in a breath and let it out in a contented sigh. Her life was better than anything she could have imagined.
Her reality was truly heaven on earth.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Hearts Across the Frontier", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed every moment of the book and Extended Epilogue! Can’t wait to hear from you. 🙂