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Seraphina gathered up a stack of plates and hurried out of the cabin. She nearly ran into Marcus, who was passing by carrying a long plank of wood with Barney’s help.
“Will there be enough room for everyone?” Seraphina had been worrying about the feast since they came up with the idea. Since a lot of the people they’d traveled with on the wagon train had settled nearby, they’d decided to celebrate with a feast that year, to reconnect and remember the journey. Not everyone would come, but it would be a moment to share with people who had experienced one of the most difficult seasons of life alongside them.
“There will be, if we have anything to say about it!” Marcus chuckled. Giggling reached Seraphina’s ears as she rounded the corner of the house. Daniel, Margaret, and Theodore were all playing together beside the huge makeshift tables that Barney and Marcus were setting up.
They’d used big tree stumps and slabs of wood laid across the top to create them. They’d used a similar method to make the benches for people to sit on.
“Can I help you, Mama?” Daniel came over, still panting from exertion.
“Of course you can. Help me set the tables.” She passed him a stack of plates, and the two made quick work of setting the first table. By the time the first guests started arriving, they were ready. Patience and Phineas arrived with their children in tow, including their newest baby, who was seven months old. Seraphina had barely finished saying hello when Captain Zach arrived, along with Silas, Annie, and Jesse. The captain had just finished guiding another wagon train and had arrived in the area less than a week before.
“Thank you for the invitation, both of you,” Captain Zach said as Barney and Seraphina greeted him together.
“Of course. It’s good to get everyone we can together again. It’s been so long.” Seraphina scooped Margaret in her arms when her daughter tugged on her skirts. She was four years old but still liked to be picked up and carried.
“Who is this?” The captain turned his attention to Daniel. “You’ve grown quite a bit! The last time I saw you, you were still learning how to walk. You caused quite the upset in the wagon train.” The captain chuckled, and Seraphina’s chest ached at the memory. She’d almost lost Daniel to the Iron Wolves gang that had wanted him for all the wrong reasons. It set her mind at ease, knowing that Jasper and the others were still locked up for everything they’d done.
“I’m four!” Margaret spoke up, pulling the captain’s attention.
“Yes, you are! I received your father’s letters, telling me all about you, and your little brother, Theodore, is it? Is he around here somewhere?”
“He sure is,” Barney grinned and hurried off to find their youngest, to introduce him as well as make sure he wasn’t somewhere he shouldn’t be. Theodore tended to get into trouble more than anyone would expect.
“I’ll catch up with you both later,” the captain continued. “I should go around and say hi to some folks.”
“Of course,” Seraphina smiled as she watched him go. The next couple that was walking up the path made her smile grow. It was her father, Reverend Harwick, and his new wife, Widow Ashford. It was strange, coming to call her Amelia. She’d asked Seraphina to call her that, ever since they’d grown close, and then Amelia had become her stepmother.
“Father, Amelia…” Seraphina leaned in and gave both of them a warm hug. The last five years had been full of ups and downs when it came to her father. It had taken a lot of work and forgiveness for the two of them to rebuild their relationship, but it was an effort well spent.
“Thank you for the invitation.” Her father grinned. It was good to see him smile so often again. Amelia had brought that out in him. “Where are my grandchildren?” He reached for Margaret. “Come here, child.”
Seraphina handed her daughter over and joined Amelia for a moment. Her father had come to love the children, and while warming up to them had been slow, he’d come out of his shell little by little, more and more comfortable with being a grandfather, and loving them the way he once had with her when she was a child. He told stories that made them hang on every word, took them on walks, gave hugs when they were hurt, and listened to their ramblings.
“How have you both been?” Seraphina asked Amelia.
“Good. I never thought that I’d fall in love a second time, and I don’t think your father did either.” Amelia smiled, a bit shyly. “Starting over has been hard, but these past eight months have been lovely.”
Before Seraphina could respond, Daniel came running up to them.
“Grandmother Amelia!” he shouted, running into her arms.
“Daniel! I’m so glad to see you. I know it’s only been a week since we came over for dinner, but I think you’ve grown an inch. Why do you look so upset when you have so many friends over?”
“Margaret keeps interrupting me.” Daniel pouted, no doubt hoping that Amelia would sympathize with him. Seraphina held back a little smile.
“Oh, really? I’m so sorry to hear that. Why don’t you tell me some of your famous wagon trail stories, and I’ll listen all the way through, no interruptions.”
Daniel’s crestfallen expression brightened until a wide grin covered his face.
“I’d like that!” he dove right into his first story, talking Amelia’s ear off. She didn’t seem to mind and gave Seraphina an apologetic smile before walking away with Daniel, still chattering hand in hand.
Seraphina shook her head, amused, then walked off to find Barney. Daniel talked about the wagon trail events as if he remembered them, but he only thought he did because Seraphina and Barney told him so often about everything that happened.
He didn’t know about his father fully yet. Seraphina wanted to wait until he was a little older before presenting it all to him. He did know that Seraphina and Daniel had found him with his aunt in the middle of the woods and had raised him as their chosen son.
Seraphina frowned. She still exchanged letters with Jasper, telling him about his son and his accomplishments. Jasper had told her that he’d found God and repented his past ways, and that one day, he’d like to exchange letters with his son. Seraphina had seen a difference in his way of writing and the way he spoke of things, but sometimes she worried it was her own wishful thinking. Only time would tell.
Barney
“I’m glad you could come.” Barney leaned against the pasture fence, looking at all the festivities happening in their front yard. Silas had joined him, one of his crooked grins on his face.
“You know I wouldn’t miss it, even if I am terribly busy dealing with the harvest. Jesse and I have had a time of it, getting everything done in time.”
“We’ve been in the same situation, or I’d have been over sooner to help.” Barney shook his head. He’d joined Marcus’s work of tending to fields and animals, but at the same time was also the only doctor within more than a day’s journey, which meant he was called for every single injury, whether it be a head cold, an achy tooth, a baby being born, or more serious issues.
Being a doctor was what he still loved, but sometimes, he felt as if he couldn’t quite keep up.
“I have some news, it’s still a secret, but when I think of secrets, you and Seraphina are the first people I want to tell.” Silas chuckled. “Annie’s expecting a baby. In a few months, I’ll be a father, for a second time, I suppose, since I consider Jesse my son in all the ways that matter.”
“Congratulations! You’ve been a great father to Jesse, and I’m sure you’ll be just as good to your new son or daughter. I’m happy for you, Silas. I’m sure Seraphina is going to be thrilled, especially since she, Patience, and Annie have grown close these past few years. Honestly, we all expected you to have children much sooner.” Barney grinned mischievously. Silas had married Annie three years ago, and their little family seemed happy and got along very well. He kept thinking that their little community was going to grow bigger any day, and it seemed he’d been right, just not as fast as he thought.
Barney spotted Marcus approaching them. His brother, who had previously lived a mostly solitary life before he’d shown up with Patience and the other settlers who had made their homes in the area, had brought more livelihood to his life.
“Barney, there you are. Seraphina’s looking for you.” Marcus held a hand out to Silas. “Good to see you again, Silas. One of these days, we’ll have to team up and finish both our harvests. You’re probably falling behind like we are.”
Silas nodded enthusiastically. “I am! How’d you know? If we teamed up, I bet we could make some good progress.”
Marcus chuckled. “You read my mind. Let’s see what date will work for us both. I know a couple of other ranchers who would like in on the action, Phineas for one. The bigger the group, the faster we could do it. We have to get everything in before the next big rainstorm.”
Barney gave them both a polite nod before extracting himself from the conversation and heading off to find Seraphina. His brother liked the growing community, and Barney knew that he had his eye on one of the young women who had come with their group five years ago. The two had seen each other at the church services Reverend Harwick held every week. Barney had found himself on good enough terms with Reverend Harwick since he’d seen the older man go through so much work to rebuild his relationship with Seraphina, their children, and him.
Ever since the reverend had found himself a wife, he’d changed even more. Amelia, the previous Widow Ashford, had brought out the best in the reverend. Barney found Seraphina easily. She was laughing with Patience, and her whole face lit up when she saw him.
“There you are. We are almost ready to start. I was wondering if you were going to say grace, or if we should ask my father.”
“I think your father would appreciate being able to do it.” Barney grinned. “I didn’t expect so many people would actually show up,” he shook his head in wonder. More than sixty people had come, including children, and were sitting on either side of the tables he’d constructed with his brother. People were laughing, talking, catching up—everything he’d hoped for from the reunion they’d planned.
“Me either, but I’m glad they did. It’s a good reminder of everything we went through.” Seraphina looked up at him and smiled. “You know, looking back, I’m glad that I got caught in that storm that day, and you had to save me, If that hadn’t happened, I don’t think we ever would have found each other, or Daniel.”
“You’re right.” It’s scary to think about, just one different decision, and we wouldn’t have all this.” he pulled her close, circling his arms around her waist, and staring down into her beautiful eyes. He thanked God every day for His plan so that he would be forced into a second chance, the one he’d truly believed he would never have.
“I love you, today, as much as I did before, if not more, and for the rest of our lives.”
Barney leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you too, my darling. Now, we should really get this feast started. I think people are looking at us strangely.”
Seraphina giggled and pulled back. “I’ll find my father to say grace.”
Barney stared after her as she wove through their guests as they found their seats. She was the biggest blessing of his life.
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!
My dear reader, what did you think of this extended epilogue? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below! 🥰
Thank you so much for reading! I’m so glad you reached the extended epilogue—your thoughts mean the world to me. 🥰
Ms Lilah
Hope Cradled in His Arms was a wonderful book and extended epilogue. The adventures of the wagon train were so wild and especially knowing that the gang of outlaws was out there wreaking havoc on people. There was a lot of people settling in the land past Fort Bridger and Sheraphina dad certainly changed a lot for the better. All the children were welcome additions to the story
An amazing story.
Sincerely
Sharon
Dear Sharon,
Thank you so much for your lovely message. I’m truly touched that Hope Cradled in His Arms and the extended epilogue meant so much to you. I loved writing Sheraphina’s journey and the wagon-train adventures, and it makes my day to know the characters—and those children—found a place in your heart.
With warmest thanks,
Lilah
I really enjoyed the book and the little free xtra, I always love to read the ones that continue with the same characters somewhere woven into a new book with new characters to carry on the story!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it—and that extra peek! I love weaving familiar characters into new stories too; it makes their world feel alive. 💛
Miss Rivers, the story had a a real slow start to it but you made up the steam as we went further in! I’m glad I continued to the rocky, suspenseful, daring, frightening, fearful, loving chapters!
I did enjoy this book. The end was just as I was hoping & the extended epilogue & the cherry on the cake, was exactly the family & friends bonding I was expecting & you made it so much more! Thank you!🌸
Thank you so much for sharing this dear Judette! I really appreciate you sticking with the slow start, and I’m thrilled to hear the story picked up the pace and delivered the suspense, emotion, and heart you were hoping for. It means a lot to know the ending—and especially the extended epilogue—left you satisfied and smiling. Your kind words truly made my day! 🌸🤎📚
Thanks for the exciting story. I found the book to be full of xcitment with many twists and turns. I enjoyed the extended epilogue with the new children added Andy new families being added to the commmunity.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the twists, turns, and the extended epilogue. It means a lot to know the growing families and community touched your heart. Your support truly encourages me!
Well, I loved this book and extended epilogue! I will be reading more of your books (this is my first of yours). I really loved the pace and lengtb, and the ending was very fulfilling. I am also glad that I got to see the change in Jasper because of tbhe letters she wrote.
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled your first book of mine was such a joy to read and that the ending and Jasper’s journey resonated with you. 💛 I can’t wait for you to dive into more stories!