Teaching his Heart to Love – Extended Epilogue

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One Year Later

Elizabeth lifted the window and called out to Sam and the children who were in the barn doing chores. 

“Are you sure I can’t help you with that?” Martha asked as Elizabeth started passing plates to the table. Her cousin had been staying with them for the last month, to help with the baby. She appreciated Martha’s help, more than she could say. 

“I think… It’s fine.” Elizabeth rested a hand on her stomach. The baby would be coming any day now. Their first baby. Neither of them had really known what to expect after marriage, and they weren’t sure about starting a family right away but it had happened all on its own. God’s timing, they would tell people. 

The baby kicked in her stomach and she smiled. Sam, Lily, and Jack all came into the house, leaving their shoes by the door and washing their hands in the basin. 

Sam came to her, giving her a tight hug from behind, kissing the top of her head. 

“How are you feeling, darlin’?” 

“Good.” Elizabeth turned and gave him a little kiss on the chin. “I’m ready to be a mother, and have this baby out of me.” 

“You and I both, I mean, to be a father, not a mother.” Sam chuckled as someone knocked on the door. 

“I’ll get it,” Elizabeth said, hurrying past Sam to the door. She opened it to find Daniel and Joan. They’d been married a month after her and Sam, and were also expecting their first baby. She reached for Joan, giving her a tight hug, a feat they could hardly manage, considering their stomachs. 

“Look at you.” Joan laughed. 

“And you.” Elizabeth shook her head. To think that a little more than a year ago, they’d barely known each other. Since then, their friendship had only grown closer.

“Come into the kitchen. Dinner is ready.” They had dinner together often, which worked out well because Daniel and Sam spent ample time at each other’s ranches, helping out. They’d expanded into Ethan’s ranch, bringing it back to its glory days. 

Elizabeth sometimes thought about Jasper and Christopher and how in a way their betrayal had given her a happy future. She hated that they’d all had to face such danger, but now she had Sam, the children, her baby, her friends… 

Jasper and Christopher were still in jail, with time added to their sentence for trying to escape. Elizabeth thought of her parents. Their business was doing better than ever, and someone had offered to purchase the shop. Her father was considering it, so they could move closer to her and the children. 

She couldn’t imagine her life getting any happier, and yet, having her parents close by, that would be something she couldn’t turn down. 

As she sat down by Sam and looked at all the happy faces around the table, the warmth in her chest grew into a big ball of happiness. She had everything she could ever dream of, and she would pray daily that God continued to bless them. 

***

Four Years Later

Sam looked down at the cross marking his brother’s grave. It was a sunny day, the birds singing, grass growing a fresh green that made him feel at peace. They still kept the tradition of visiting Ethan’s grave once a year, to remember the time of year he passed away.

“Are you all right?” Elizabeth asked. She had Maddie on her hip. Nataly and Little Ethan stood beside her. Lily and Jack were on his left. He wrapped his arm around her waist with a smile. They’d come so far from when they’d met and married five years ago. 

“I’m perfect. Let’s go.” He took Maddie from her, hugging her close. He was a father himself now, of three children. Baby Ethan was their first. They named him after Sam’s brother. Nataly came two years later, and Maddie a year after that. They were one big happy family. Lily was now entertaining the idea of someone special herself. And as a twelve-year-old boy, Jack was a bigger help and personality than ever, though he was still rather quiet. 

They piled into the wagon. 

“Daniel and Joan are going to be meeting us at the river, along with Martha and my parents. Apparently, there’s someone special Martha wants us to meet.” Elizabeth giggled. “I was starting to think she’d never choose, but… she seems to be serious about this young man.” 

Sam shook his head. “Glad to hear it. After everything, she deserves a good husband.” He had seen how Martha had been there for Elizabeth, but also for their family for a long time. She was reliable and kind and would make a wonderful wife and mother to someone one day. He had come to care for her like a sister, and could see that Elizabeth felt the same way.

Elizabeth nodded and met his gaze. 

“Did the marshal tell you what he heard about Christopher and Jasper?” Her voice was uncertain, worried. He knew that it was hard for her to think about them possibly getting out one day. He’d thought about it himself more than once. Still, they both wanted to hear about any important developments.

“He did tell me, darlin’. They’re both going to be in jail for the rest of their lives. He connected them with two other robberies and a couple of other deaths. They won’t be getting out as fast as they thought; and they certainly won’t be coming here to give us any issues.” 

He could see Elizabeth’s shoulders visibly relax a little. 

“I know it’s silly, but sometimes I dream about them coming back to try and get revenge for us putting them in jail.” 

“We didn’t put them there, Elizabeth. They put themselves there.” He reached over and gave her hand a soft squeeze. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

“You’re right.” She sighed. “In a way, I suppose we have them to thank for what we have now. Especially since my family moved out here. Funny thing, but with their smuggling and trying to hurt us, they gave us everything we wanted.” 

“God did,” Sam added. “We both needed a fresh start, someone new to love. God gave us that, brought us together.” 

“I don’t know what we would have done if God wasn’t on our side.” Elizabeth leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment, as he turned the horses down the last stretch before the river. 

Joan and Daniel, their children, and Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker were already setting up a picnic. Before Sam had pulled the wagon to a full stop, the children all tumbled from it, rushing toward their friends. 

Daniel came over and shook Sam’s hand, pulling him into half a hug. 

“Glad you all got here,” he said with a smile, turning to where the children were starting a game of tag. “Looks like they’re making teams.” 

Sam shook his head in wonder as he gazed at the group of children. “I still can’t believe you and Joan already have four children.” 

“Who woulda thought? I never thought of myself as a family man necessarily, and yet…” he motioned to the children running up and down the banks of the river. 

Sam smiled, leaning against the wagon. 

Elizabeth was right. They had everything they could want. He couldn’t even think of something that would make their community better. They loved one another and had each other’s backs, and their children would grow up, remembering the strong friendships that had given them their childhoods. He was excited to see what came next. 

Elizabeth

Elizabeth pulled her mother into a tight hug.  “It’s good to see you, Mama.” 

“We live a ten-minute walk away, dear.” Her mother pulled back, touching Elizabeth’s cheek fondly. Her eyes crinkled at the edges, showing her age, but they also sparkled, showing how happy she was. 

“I know, but even so, every time I see you and Papa, I remember everything that happened, and how I almost lost you both from my life forever.” 

Her mother nodded. 

“I know. It’s not easy to remember those times, but they did bring us together. Your father and I… we still feel bad we didn’t do more, leave sooner, try to keep our family together.” 

“It’s all right. I knew that you were always on my side.” The two of them headed over to where the other women were. Elizabeth hugged Joan first, then Martha. 

“It’s so good to see you! It feels like we never talk anymore.” Martha said with a smile. 

“Someone had been very busy with a certain someone else.” Elizabeth waggled her eyebrows. 

“Yes, I suppose I have.” Martha sighed happily. “He’s perfect. Attentive, wants a large family, loves my family. His name is Nathan.” 

“I’m happy for you—we all are.” Elizabeth reached out and squeezed her cousin’s hand. It had taken time for her to find someone, but she had in the end. 

Elizabeth looked over to where Daniel, her father, Nathan, and Sam were chasing the children, making them squeal with laughter. 

“It’s time to eat, we should gather everyone.” Joan stood and hurried over to where the men and children were, getting them back to the area where they’d spread quilts and were dishing up food. 

They’d all brought different elements of a large lunch. Fried chicken, spice cake, apples, mashed potatoes and more. Lily came over and sat down beside Elizabeth. 

“Elizabeth, can I help?” Lily reached to grab a plate to help serve, but between the other three, most everything was taken care of. 

“That’s okay.” Elizabeth’s gaze fell on a small tear in Lily’s dress. “What happened?”

“It was the twins, they’re a bit rough.” 

Elizabeth gigged. Martin and Larry—Joan’s twins—were quite the handful. They were four years old and gave Joan quite a bit to handle. 

“Don’t worry, I can mend it,” Lily said, brushing the ripped part of her dress away so Elizabeth couldn’t see it.

“I know. You’re very good at mending your clothes and making them. The dresses that you made for the girls are spectacular. Thank you.” Elizabeth had taught Lily how to sew, and the girl took to it with her usual lively and creative imagination. 

“You’re welcome.” Lily’s cheeks burned a bright pink. As she accepted a plate and went to join the younger children, Elizabeth watched her. She was growing up to be such a nice young woman. 

“Everything okay?” Sam’s deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. 

“Yes, perfectly.” He was already holding a plate, and handed her one as well. “I was just thinking about Lily. She’s grown so much since when I first met her.”

“I know.” Sam cleared his throat. “I’m watching her turn into a young woman right before my eyes. She’s my brother’s daughter, and yet, it feels like she’s mine as well.” 

“She is. I mean, you’ve been a wonderful uncle to her, but also a great uncle. She is lucky to have you—all of the children are.” 

“Uncle Sam, can you pass me the ball?” Jack interrupted. Elizabeth saw that they’d accidentally kicked it onto the picnic quilt and it was resting by the bowl of mashed potatoes. Sam reached over, scooping the ball up, and handed it to Jack. 

“There you go, buddy.” He tousled Jack’s hair, and the boy jumped out of his reach. 

“Uncle Sam!” he protested. At twelve, he was trying to look and act more manly. He had a lot of pride in how much he helped around the ranch, how he could ride horses, help train them, and go out with the men to wrangle the cattle. 

“You know…we should do picnics like this more often.” Sam leaned in, turning Elizabeth’s face toward him, and planting a gentle kiss on her lips. It sent tingles down her spine, but she pulled back, her cheeks red. 

“Sam! There are people and children here,” she scolded in a whisper. 

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it, but even so, they aren’t paying attention.” 

She realized he was right. Joan and Martha were deep in conversation; her mother was helping Maddie eat; and Daniel was getting to know Nathan with what looked more like an interrogation than a conversation. 

“You’re right. They aren’t paying attention, thank goodness.” 

“Does that mean I get another kiss?” Sam waggled his eyebrows playfully.

“No. Absolutely not.” Elizabeth giggled and leaned into him as he wrapped an arm around her. “You’re right, we should do more of these picnics. What do you think of Nathan?” 

“Can’t say I’ve gotten to know him much, but he seems like a nice man. He treats Martha well from what I’ve heard, so that’s the important part.” 

“How will you feel when Lily finds a young man who thinks that she would make the perfect wife?”

“I’ll chase him off the ranch with a shotgun.” Sam sat up straighter, and an expression that looked close to appalled covered his face. “Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

“There’s a young man she has her eye on. His name is Mathias. She’s talked about him more than once, and always brings him up when she comes home from school.” 

“She’s barely sixteen!” Sam protested. “She’s got plenty of time to think about boys and getting to know someone, once she’s older. We will need to have a talk with this Mathias.” 

“Calm down, Sam.” Elizabeth held back another laugh. “She needs to have these experiences…fall in love, get to know someone. Maybe not right now, but she will. We can’t keep her from that.” 

He sighed and shook his head. “Yeah…you’re right. Guess I feel extra protective, because I keep thinking about what Ethan would have done. I want to make sure that I am doing him justice with how I parent his children.” 

“I am certain that if Ethan could see his children now, he would be more than happy. You’ve given them a happy home, everything they need, a good education, and most of all a father figure who loves them and teaches them about God.” 

Sam nodded, but he didn’t quite look convinced.

“It sounds good, but I still have that doubt of, did I do enough?” 

“You did enough, Sam, and you’ll keep doing enough until there is nothing else to do.” She planted a soft kiss on his lips, so quick that no one could have seen it unless they were watching closely. 

“What was that for?” 

“Just because I love you so much. You’ve been an amazing husband and father. You’re the rock of our family—I don’t think we could do this without you. I just want you to know that I see how much work you put into everything you do, and especially all you put into our children, into me, our friends. You’re a good man, Sam Callahan.” 

He shook his head and pulled her closer. 

“And you, Elizabeth Callahan, are a very good woman.” He chuckled as they turned their attention back to their friends. 

As they continued to eat and talk, and the children got back up and played by the river bank, Elizabeth looked up at the bright blue sky. Somewhere up there, God was looking down at them. She couldn’t help but say thank you to him, as she would for the rest of her life. 

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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, " Faith and Love on the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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