A Christmas Star to Guide the Bounty Hunter – Extended Epilogue

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One Year Later

Abigail Salinger looked down at the baby she was nursing and sighed. Blue eyes watched her back and the infant waved fist at her. Almost automatically, Abigail lifted the hand that wasn’t currently supporting her daughter and held a finger up to her tiny hand. The baby grabbed it, and Abigail couldn’t keep from smiling.

Ty entered the bedroom then and came over to kiss her on the top of the head.

“How are my girls doing?” he asked.

“I’ll have to let you know,” said Abigail dryly. “Your daughter has been eating for more than half an hour. If she doesn’t finish up soon, I’ll never be ready on time.”

Already dressed in a new suit and looking far too handsome than should be allowed, Ty lounged on the bed and grinned at her. “What can I say? She comes from good stock.”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “Is Rebecca ready?”

“She is. She’s dressed and just wants you to fix her hair. She said something about… Well, I don’t know what she was talking about. But it seemed to be related to a hairstyle. Or maybe an embroidery stitch?”

That wrought a chuckle from his wife and Ty looked pleased. They smiled at each other happily.

“Lucy will understand if you’re running behind,” he reassured her. “I’d be shocked if this wedding happens on time as it is. Van says Lucy has a lot of big-city ideas about how weddings are supposed to run.”

“It’s sure to be an event Grant’s Ford has never seen before. She decorated the church with evergreens and holly berries and ordered a wedding cake that’s three layers high.”

Ty put a hand on his stomach. “Just so long as the food is good and there’s plenty of it, I’ll be happy.”

“Don’t say that to the rest of the wedding party,” scolded Abigail. “As the best man, you’re supposed to care deeply about this entire event.”

Her husband schooled his features and answered, “I vow to take my role seriously. I just hope my stomach doesn’t start growling before we get to eat something.”

“Go make yourself a snack,” suggested Abigail. “It won’t do for your stomach to interrupt the exchange of vows.”

“Good idea. Do you want me to make you something?” Ty asked as he got to his feet.

Touched as she always was when Ty did something thoughtful, Abigail smiled softly at him and said, “Yes, please. I’ve never been so hungry as I have been with baby Anne here.”

Anne finished her meal and was burped. Then Abigail was able to lay her in the basinet while she put on her own new clothes. Just as she was putting the finishing touches on her hair, Rebecca entered the room, a book in her hand.

“Abby!” she exclaimed. “You look so pretty!”

“So do you,” Abigail replied. “Are you ready for me to fix your hair?”

Rebecca nodded and stepped in front of the mirror. She told Abigail all about the book she was currently reading. Abigail listened but still managed to marvel at the changes in this child.

Now that she was ten years old, Rebecca was taller and more filled out. But she also had a curious mind. Mrs. Rooney supplied her with books from her personal collection once Rebecca had read all the books available to her in the small library.

Abigail had wondered how the girl would adjust to her new family and then again what she would think about having a new baby. There had been some bumps along the road, but all in all, the Salingers were a happy group.

Finally, Abigail was able to eat the sandwich Ty gave her, get Anne dolled up in the lace-trimmed dress she doubted would stay clean for long and bundle everyone up against the cold. Then they crossed the street and made their way to the church.

“There you all are!” cried Mrs. Wilde. She came forward and enveloped Rebecca in a hug. To Ty, she said, “The men are gathering in the vestry. Abigail, Lucy wanted to see you. She’s waiting in Reverend Moffat’s study.”

Knowing that Rebecca was in good hands, Abigail headed off to find her friend. She cradled Anne, who looked around with her infant eyes, more interested in the light coming through the windows than anything else.

Abigail knocked on the door to the office and was told to come in. When she entered, she gasped at the sight of Lucy in her wedding dress.

“Oh, Lucy!” she cried.

When Van had finally proposed back in June, everyone had expected the pair to marry within the month. But Lucy had stood firm as Abigail had known she would. Lucy’s parents had left money for her wedding, and she intended to do things up right. Luckily for her, Van was a patient man who understood how much this meant to his future bride. She couldn’t have her parents, but she could have the dream wedding they would have provided her with.

Now, Lucy stood looking as lovely as Abigail could have hoped. The dress had a long, white velvet train which flowed from a gathered shelf bustle in the back. The front was of white brocade with many swags down the skirt. The bodice was trimmed in lace and came to a very flattering V-shaped cut that showed Lucy’s round face and full figure to its best advantage. She wore a long, filmy veil and looked just like a fashion plate in a magazine, in Abigail’s opinion.

“You look beautiful!” she declared before reaching down to give her friend a one-armed squeeze.

“Thank you,” sniffled Lucy. She pulled a lacy handkerchief from her sleeve and frowned. “I can’t keep from crying today. All morning, I tear up whenever I least expect it. Is my nose red? Are my eyes puffy?”

“No, not at all. Why are you crying? Are you missing your parents?”

Lucy shrugged. “Yes. And no. I don’t know. I’m so happy,” she said as the tears began to flow once again.

Not wanting Lucy to think she was laughing at her, Abigail pressed her lips together and gave her friend one more hug. Once Lucy had another minute’s good cry, she patted her eyes and tried to calm down again.

“Look at that little angel.” She sighed, looking down at baby Anne now sucking her fist. “I hope I have a baby by this time next year.”

Abigail looked down into her daughter’s little face and smiled. “I hope you do, too, Lucy. You’ll make a wonderful mother.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” Lucy said with a laugh. “But I’ll certainly enjoy dressing it and pushing it around town in a pram with my handsome husband by my side.”

Knowing she was teasing, Abigail laughed. Then there was a knock on the door, and she made her way upstairs to take her seat for the ceremony. Unlike Abigail’s wedding, Lucy had invited the entire town. Abigail was surprised to find a man in a fine suit waiting to escort her to her seat. When he asked, “Bride or groom?” Abigail had just shrugged. She’d known Van longer but was now closer to Lucy.

Luckily, this didn’t seem to faze the usher, who delivered her to an appropriate pew. Abigail enjoyed letting her eyes drift over the winter decorations that Lucy had chosen as quiet music came from a four-piece string quartet near the front of the room. It was quite possibly the most elegant event Abigail had ever attended. She was very glad she wore a new dress for it.

And while the wedding itself was very formal with a bridesmaid attending Lucy and Ty standing at Van’s side as best man, Abigail admitted inwardly that she preferred her own simpler wedding to all this rigmarole. She just wasn’t a fancy sort of woman.

Though, she did enjoy the sight of her husband standing up front looking extremely appealing in a new dark suit. He turned and winked at her a few times and Abigail felt a little thrill run through her every time he did so.

Soon, Reverend Moffat instructed Van and Lucy in their vows, and the pair exchanged rings. Then he had the couple turn and declared them husband and wife. Abigail couldn’t keep from cheering as the pair shared their first kiss as a married couple.

Her eyes drifted to her husband and found him watching her with an intensity that always made her stomach do a funny wiggle. She sighed with happiness as he walked back down the aisle, now escorting the bridesmaid.

The wedding reception was lovely, and the food was as delicious as Ty had hoped. Despite a propensity to burst into happy tears, Lucy was a beautiful bride. The way Van kept smiling down at her made Abigail sigh. It was so special to have her friends find each other in this way.

The Salingers returned home, and Abigail spent the evening preparing for another arrival. Her father and brothers had planned to come for Christmas the week before, but a big storm in Colorado had forced them to postpone their plans. Abigail had received word that the train was finally able to make it through and would be arriving the following day.

She was terribly excited to see her family. Though the past year had brought plenty of good changes, she’d missed her father and brothers. She’d fretted over them at times. Only the letters that came sporadically had helped Abigail get a glimpse of how they were getting on.

“Sit down,” Ty urged her. He stood rocking Anne, watching Abigail flutter about cleaning dirt that only she could see.

“I don’t know if I can,” she admitted. “I’m so eager to see Papa and the twins. It’s been ages since their last letter. And even then, it came from Mrs. Winslow, not any of them.”

“Yes, well, Mrs. Winslow is a far better and more reliable pen pal than your father or the twins. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t get much news from Denver at all.” Ty managed to grab Abigail’s wrist and draw her down onto the sofa next to him.

She sat and then huffed, “I didn’t really expect them to send long, newsy letters. And I’m very grateful they found such a wonderful housekeeper and cook. It’s just… not the same.”

Ty managed to capture her hand in his and give it a squeeze. “Van gave me some interesting news today.”

“When was this?” Abigail asked with a frown.

“When we were waiting in the vestry. He received word from the sheriff over in Mattou that Mad Dog’s appeal was denied. He’ll be in prison for the rest of his life.”

Abigail sighed. That was a burden she hardly noticed carrying any longer. First there had been a long trial in which Harold “Mad Dog” Boone’s lawyer had argued that he was a businessman and not at all guilty of what they’d accused him of. Fortunately, Sister Benedict had been on hand to discuss what she knew as well as half a dozen other witnesses. Mad Dog had received a life term in prison, which he’d promptly appealed.

“We’ll need to tell Rebecca tomorrow,” Abigail said. “Maybe she’ll sleep better knowing he’s not going anywhere any time soon.”

“Did it help you when you learned the Dempsey brothers were given back-to-back life sentences?” asked Ty.

“Some,” Abigail admitted. Her nightmares had lessened with the news, come to think of it. But between Richard Hastings, the bounty hunters, and Mad Dog all causing such trouble within such a short span, it was hard to feel at ease enough to sleep soundly. “What really helped was learning that Richard had sold the bank and his house and wouldn’t be returning here.”

“Maybe he’ll find a wife in his new city,” suggested Ty.

“I’d pity that poor woman,” said Abigail.

Though she did sleep better that night with the reminder that she was out of reach of all of the men who’d caused them trouble. Or, at least, as well as a mother with a two-month-old baby was able to sleep. But no suspicious characters haunted her dreams, and Abigail awoke the next morning excited to see her family members who were scheduled to arrive on the train.

Rebecca was equally excited and between the two of them, Ty’s patience seemed to be tested by midmorning. Finally, Abigail could hold out no longer. She insisted on all of them pulling on their coats and making their way to the depot.

“The train might be early,” she justified.

From the lift of her husband’s eyebrow, she understood that he was resisting the urge to point out that the train had never once been early in its entire history, but he was wise enough to keep this thought to himself.

Waiting at the station was no better. Abigail began to admit that it might have been a mistake when a distant train whistle reached her ears.

“It’s them!” called Rebecca, jumping up and down with excitement.

They strained their eyes down the track as first a speck appeared, then a toy train, then finally the train itself pulled to a stop at the platform. Abigail craned her neck to see a glimpse of her family through the windows up above. Where were they? If they’d missed the train, she’d be heartbroken.

But then Artie appeared at the train’s door, beaming at her in a familiar way. No sooner was he on the platform than Ant came bursting out the door. Abigail pulled her brothers into a hug, tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. The boys and Rebecca greeted each other a little stiffly but with eager smiles that suggested they’d be fast friends again in no time.

“Where’s Papa?” Abigail asked, once again searching the train.

“He’s come behind with Dorothy,” said Artie.

Abigail’s head whipped around to stare at her brother. “Who?”

“Oops. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

But there was Dr. Peterson, standing at the door to the train, waving cheerfully as he helped a plump, middle-aged woman to find her footing on the steps to the platform.

“Abigail!” he cried and pulled her into a warm hug. Then he stepped back and indicated the woman who could only be Dorothy. “Let me introduce you to my wife! Dorothy Peterson, this is my daughter, Abigail Salinger, her husband Ty, and this must be little Anne. Abigail, I need to hold my granddaughter. Oh! And there is little Rebecca with the boys.”

Abigail handed the baby over, mouthing wordlessly. With a frown at her husband, Dorothy stepped closer.

“He insisted we keep it a secret,” she said apologetically. “Otherwise, I would have written you to explain.”

“You’re Mrs. Winslow,” Abigail stuttered. “The housekeeper?”

“Yes, dear. I’ve been working for your father this past year. But he liked my cooking so well, he decided he couldn’t let me go. So we were married a month ago.” The older woman leaned in and searched Abigail’s eyes. “Are you terribly upset?”

Abigail gulped, looked over at Ty who was watching her carefully, then over at her father and brothers. Dr. Peterson looked happy and healthy. The twins had sprouted several inches and seemed so grown up. They’d been well cared for.

“No, I’m not upset at all. Just surprised,” Abigail said. “Welcome to the family.”

Soon they were all heading toward Main Street and the Wildes’ house for a nice luncheon. Ty and Abigail found themselves at the back of the line of walkers.

Just as the group rounded the corner, Ty drew Abigail to a stop out of sight.

“Are you really all right, Abby?” he asked.

Abigail’s heart warmed at the caring in his voice. He really was the best husband a woman could ask for, she decided yet again.

“I’m fine. It’s amazing to see all these changes. Just over a year ago, it was just me, Papa, and the twins. Now our family has doubled in size.” She shrugged, suddenly choked up.

Ty put a hand under her chin and nodded with understanding. “Just over a year ago I was all alone. I never could have guessed things would have come out this way in such a short time.”

Abigail slipped her arms around his waist. She never would have believed that the water-logged man at her door would have changed her life in so many ways. But he had.

Abigail’s heart squeezed with love as she smiled up her husband. And they still had the rest of their lives to live together. What on earth could be in store next?

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