A Love Blossoming in Ruins – Extended Epilogue

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Sandy and Luke decided after they married to stay on at Parker Ranch and work for—or with, on occasion—Daniel Parker. Luke’s wounds healed quickly and the two went on to have two sons, Andrew and Carter. 

On a bright, early morning, Sandy prepared her children for school, first creating a fine fire in the hearth in the living room of the house they’d build on the Parker property—with Daniel’s permission, of course. She’d been up for a half hour already, preparing breakfast for her family.

She could hear Luke readying himself for the day. The eggs were the only thing she had left to cook for everyone, as they didn’t take very long at all. 

She pushed open the door to her older son’s room and stuck her head in. She was proud of the house they’d built but she wished they’d thought to make the rooms bigger than nursery size. The room she shared with Luke was three times the size of the smaller rooms they’d put in the house for any children they might have. 

It might be time for an expansion. With Andrew being nine and Carter seven, they were getting to be fairly big boys. In a few years, they would be teenagers, and the rooms they had at present were not suitable for teenage boys. Babies, maybe. Toddlers, perhaps. But they were already cramped.

“Andy,” Sandy said softly. “It’s time to get up.” 

He sat up in bed and looked at her, his eyes open. She knew he wasn’t fully awake but was only responding to her calling his name. 

“Andy?” she said again, waiting for him to focus on her. When he did, he smiled, yawned, and stretched one arm over his head while rubbing one eye with the other. 

“Momma,” he said. “Is it time to get up already?” 

“Yes, honey. School in an hour.”

“Okay, Momma.” He tossed the quilt off his bed and slid his lanky legs out to hang over the side. She watched him stretch as she closed his door, leaving it open enough for him to get the warmth from the big fire. 

She went from there to Carter’s room next door. Carter wasn’t as easy to wake up as Andrew. In fact, she was sometimes amazed by how opposite they were from each other. In Carter’s room, she headed straight to his bed, where she sat on the edge and rubbed his shoulder.

“Carter. Carter Standing. Carter Daniel Standing, wake up. Wake up, sir. Wake up, mister.”

She continued murmuring the words until Carter groaned and grunted like an old man. She grinned, watching him wrench himself from the comforting arms of deep slumber. This boy slept like a rock. She had a mind he could sleep through an earthquake.

“Is it morning?” he asked, angrily.

Sandy kept herself from giggling. “Yes, I’m sorry but it is.”

“I don’t want to get up. It’s cold out there.”

“I know, son. But it will warm up. And you’ll be happy to see your friends at school and you’ll forget all about walking when it’s cold. There’s eggs and bacon and ham and warm tea for you to drink. Okay?”

Carter didn’t answer but he did give her a nod. 

“You’re going to get up and not go back to sleep?” she asked.

“I’m up, Momma,” he replied, even though his eyes were closed. 

She had to take that as a solid yes because she needed to get back to what she was doing. She only reserved five minutes or so to get Carter up. 

When she returned to the kitchen and dining room, Luke was seated at the table. He had prepared himself a plate and was eating while he read the newspaper. He looked up when she came out of Carter’s room and kept his eyes on her as she walked down the short hallway to the open dining area. 

“You’re looking very nice this morning,” he remarked.

Sandy pulled back her lips in a closed-mouth smile. Luke was always very complimentary. She didn’t look any different than she did any other morning.

“Breakfast is delicious,” he said, closing the newspaper and pushing it forward, “but I’ve got extra work at the ranch and I need to get there early. You and the boys will be all right getting to the schoolhouse, won’t you?”

Sandy let out a little laugh. “Of course,” she replied, heading for the stove to make plates for her sons. 

They didn’t eat a lot. She was happy when they finished their meals and tried to make food she knew they liked and would eat. She wanted them to have plenty of food, never going without. It was very important to her. 

“We do every morning, Luke. Why would this morning be any different?”

“The winds are strong out there today. I don’t know much about weather, but I know when the winds are likely to blow someone right off their feet, and it’s like that out there today.”

Sandy nodded, glancing at him over her shoulder as he stood up, lifting his fork to his mouth and taking the last bites of egg from the plate. He looked up as he pulled on his jacket and dropped his hat on his head. 

“I’ll see you in a couple hours, lovely.” He walked around the table and she went toward him a few steps the two plates in her hands. She leaned forward and the two met in the middle for a quick kiss on the lips.

“I love you,” she called out softly as he headed toward the door. He turned and gave her a sultry look, tilting his head down slightly and looking at her from under the brim of his hat.

“I love you, little matchbox girl.”

At first, Luke’s term of endearment for her had been hard to hear. It reminded her of a time in her life that she didn’t want to remember. 

But now, ten years in and having never told him of her objection, she considered it the compliment he intended it to be. What she’d been through those long years on the road had taught her to be who she was. It had taught her to be strong, self-reliant, careful, and cautious. 

She was proud that she had lived through those days and was now a wife and mother to her two beautiful sons. She had a home, a wonderful, happy life with her husband. 

*

Sandy was still thinking about it as she and the boys trudged through the harsh winds through town toward the schoolhouse. It was only a fifteen-minute trek on a normal day, but today it might take a bit longer, as they really were battling their way to school. 

It was Sandy’s day to teach, or she wouldn’t have bothered to take the boys. The other children, if they’d made it to the schoolhouse, would be wondering what happened to her if she just didn’t show up. She taught the morning classes every Wednesday. 

Every Wednesday, Sandy went past the stores she used to sit in front of, the alleys she used to hide in, seeing the same people there that she’d seen back then. They didn’t give her a second glance these days, unless it was to wave and smile. The only one who had never come around to accept what Sandy had become was the woman at the dress shop who had told her to leave the premises. 

Sandy was grateful to her. She had started the ball rolling so that Sandy could have what she had now.

A familiar alley came up, the one where her box had been. The crate she had called home for—she tried to remember—nine months? Ten? It was the one alley that never had a strong wind blowing down it. For some reason, the layout of the buildings, perhaps, any breezes and winds were blocked from there. 

She glanced down the alley and halted in place when she saw a huddled figure directly across from the crate she used to use. Sandy narrowed her eyes, reaching out both arms to the sides and stopping the boys, who had been hurrying behind her as she tried to block the wind from them. 

Instinctively, Carter moved toward the alleyway to get out of the wind. As she had remembered, when Sandy did the same, the rushing gusts immediately stopped. She took a moment to feel amazed before she moved to crouch by the figure.

She rested a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Are you all right? Can I help you?”

When he looked up, Sandy immediately recognized him. It was Jerry. 

She was stunned by the age on his face. She’d suspected him to be about forty when they had been wandering the streets together. His hair had been brown and he’d had sharp, light brown eyes. 

But now his hair was gray and was in patches from what she could see under the hood of the coat he was wearing. His face was still dirty and grimy, but he’d lost even more weight. He was emaciated. She tried not to immediately recoil, all the feelings she’d experienced those long years ago rushing back to her mind. 

She couldn’t help taking a small step back, her eyes widening.

“You got some money, lady?” Jerry hissed in an unfriendly way. 

He probably didn’t get a lot of help looking and acting that way. 

“Jerry?” She said his name softly. Maybe if he realized who she was, he would be less surly. 

His reaction wasn’t what she expected. At first, he searched her face for recognition. She immediately knew when he realized who she was because his eyes widened and then narrowed again. His jaw clenched.

Fear spread through Sandy like a cold chill, and she stood up straight. It was a good thing she did because Jerry was immediately on his feet. 

“Girl,” he growled. “You’re the girl from… the matchboxes…”

“Jerry…” She held out one hand, clutching her coat together at the neck. “Let me help you. I can give you some money…”

“Traitor…” He hissed the word, pulling away from her as if she was the one who was covered in grime and had aged thirty years in ten. “You left me… you left me here to die… you’re a traitor! You betrayed me!”

Sandy immediately backed up, wrapping her arms around her boys, who were still at her sides. She looked down to make sure they were okay and felt a strong sense of pride fill her as she saw their defiant looks. It wouldn’t be just Sandy defending herself if he attacked. He’d have two small men on him, as well.

She squeezed the boys’ shoulders and pulled them back as she left the alleyway. The moment she stepped out from the shelter of the alley, she bumped into a somewhat soft form. She looked up and behind her into the eyes of Daniel Parker. 

She lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “D-Daniel!”

He wasn’t looking at her. He had put his long arm around her and pulled her away from the opening to the alleyway, his eyes on Jerry. Sandy turned her gaze to see the man was stumbling directly toward her, an enraged look on his thin face. 

Daniel stepped forward so that he was in front of Sandy and the boys. To Sandy, it looked like he simply held out his arm. But in doing so, he had punched Jerry in the face, knocking the man backward. 

He turned to give her a comfortable grin. “You saved me once some years ago from this man,” he said. “Now, I have returned the favor.”

Sandy gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, Daniel,” she said genuinely. 

He nodded at her, stepping around her and the boys after chucking each of them gently on the chin with his fist and calling them “big, brave men defending their momma.” He reached down with one hand and grabbed Jerry up. The man was touching his face, probably to see if anything was broken. 

“What are ya—”

“Hush you, there’s a lady present and I can’t say what I want to say.” He glanced at Sandy and winked at her. “Go on home, Sandy. You and the boys shouldn’t be out in this weather. I’m gonna take care of this fellow so he doesn’t bother anyone anymore.”

Sandy blinked, wondering what he meant by that. 

He saw the look and laughed. “Sheriff, Sandy. I’m takin’ him to the sheriff.”

“Oh. Of course you are.” She had to laugh at herself. Daniel had never been a violent or dangerous man. 

He led her away and Sandy contemplated whether she should hold school. Deciding against it, she bent and looked Andrew in his eyes.

“I want you to go and tell the other kids that there is no school today. Can you do that? Stay for a little bit and make sure no kids come late. You should get there just in time. Then come home after but come to the Parker house. Not our house. I’ll be at the Parker house.”

“Okay, Momma!” Andrew said. He grabbed his brother by the shoulder and jerked on him roughly. “Let’s go, Carter! We gotta make sure everybody gets home safe in this weather!”

A surge of pride filled Sandy’s heart and soul. “Be careful!” she called out.

“We will, Momma!” Andrew yelled over his shoulder.

She turned to go in the direction of the sheriff’s, intending to put in her part of the report on Jerry. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. Perhaps a few days in the jail would be good for him. It would get him out of the weather, and he’d be fed some proper meals.

She stopped short once more before she passed the alley. There was something strange about the crate. She stared at it, examining it, drawing a bit closer. Now that Jerry was gone, she felt more secure.

She halted when she realized what she was seeing was a shoe. A woman’s shoe. Black and dirty.

She swallowed her fear and continued until she was around the crate and could look inside. A young girl was staring back at her. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen or eighteen.

“Oh… oh my Lord… Miss…” She knelt on the ground in front of the crate, blinking in astonishment. 

The young woman didn’t say anything. She continued to stare at Sandy in silence.

Sandy held out one hand. “Do you understand me? Can you speak? Can you hear?”

The girl nodded, her eyes turning from fearful to pleading. She leaned forward. “Will you help me?” she whispered.

Sandy fought the tears that threatened to choke her as she reached out and took the girl’s hand. The girl gave no resistance as she scooted toward the front of the crate and then left it behind. She was the same height as Sandy with dark hair and eyes. 

“I’m going to take you to a place where you will feel safe,” Sandy promised, putting one arm around the girl’s shoulders and turning her in the direction of the Parker ranch. “Do you have the strength to walk for about fifteen minutes?”

The girl nodded. 

“The winds are harsh but if we hold onto each other, we should be able to make it. Plus, walking this way, the wind is at our backs and that’s good luck, isn’t it?”

She smiled, hoping the girl wouldn’t be too afraid. She remembered what it was like. She shuddered to think what the young woman had been through with Jerry. She could only imagine.

Sandy was pleased when they got to the Parker property and she could see Luke on the porch with Alex. There was also a wooden horse on the porch—two of them, in fact, with lengths of board stretched between them. She had no idea what project they were working on.

It was Alex who saw them approaching. He tapped Luke on the arm and gestured in their direction.

Luke was holding a saw when he looked in their direction. He immediately set it down and walked over. Sandy loved the look of concern on his face. He hopped down the steps with Alex behind him and marched across the compound. 

She felt the girl pulling away as she saw the men approaching. Her breath became quick and frantic. 

“It’s all right,” Sandy said quickly. “It’s my husband, Luke, and the gardener, Alex. They won’t hurt you. None of us will hurt you, I promise.”

The girl relaxed, resuming the position she’d had when she was walking. Sandy was grateful the young woman trusted her.

“What have we here?” Luke asked when he was within a few feet from her. “Looks like someone could use a bath, a good, hot meal, and a soft bed to rest her head.”

“Now, now, Luke,” Sandy replied with a smile. “She might like firm mattresses.” She turned her grin to the girl and was delightedly surprised to see a hint of a smile on the girl’s lips.

“You’re right about that, my dear,” Luke responded. He held out a hand for the girl to shake. “Luke Standing.”

Sandy was ashamed she hadn’t already asked the girl’s name to introduce her to the men. She’d been more concerned about getting her to safety and away from Jerry.

The girl took his hand and shook it. “Hope. Hope Davidson.”

Sandy and Luke shared a look. 

“What an appropriate name,” Luke said. “Let’s get you inside, shall we?”

THE END

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