EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Trinity
Two years later
“Mom it popped!”
“That’s what jars do when they seal, honey. Now we’ll be able to store those green beans and eat them in the winter when it’s cold out.”
“Those are the green beans I picked?”
“Not only picked. You planted them, picked them, snapped them, and then the two of us canned them. You did everything.”
“Wow,” Sequoia says.
“Wow is right,” I say.
But not just a wow because of the green beans. Wow, because all our kids help out so much with everything. They never complain. Whether they have to carry buckets of water up from the stream, pull weeds from the garden all day, or trounce out in the snow in the wintertime they always keep a positive attitude.
I think it’s because they know we’re living the life. What may seem like hardships to some are opportunities for us. Opportunities to bond, become closer as a family, and to love and to share.
There’s something about coming together to battle the elements. And although things are great now, once winter rears her ugly head that will all change.
But it wasn’t always that way. It was that one cold winter’s day that brought me here, and for that I’ll always be grateful even though I was lost, confused, and literally being hunted at the time.
But now the only one hunting me is Elijah.
“Oh!” I say. I feel his hand squeeze my butt. He always makes sure the children aren’t watching though.
And this past year we’ve had more time to ourselves where we can do whatever we like without worry about anyone seeing.
Elijah has loosened up a bit and allowed me to take the kids into town and socialize with other kids their own age.
It works great both ways. The other kids are so curious about their lives and our kids are equally as curious about theirs.
Next week we’re even going to host a gathering for some of the other families that our kids have befriended. One of the fathers offered to have it catered, which we laughed at.
No catering company will haul food up here nor would we want them to. Why would we eat anything other than the fresh food we grow and hunt right here? No packages and no preservatives.
But speaking of packages I might need to go into town and find some wrappers for Elijah’s…uh…member. He likes to do everything naturally, including sexy time. I’m all for it, but at some point I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to go through labor anymore. Seven kids and a family of nine is getting to be plenty to handle. I think once we get ten I’m going to have to take drastic measures. I laugh at the idea of him wrapping his penis in sheepskin or getting snipped. No way he’ll go for that, especially when he wants more children so badly.
Who am I fooling? I want the same thing. As much as carrying children around in my belly can be tiring there’s nothing more enjoyable and when they’re born there’s no greater moment in life.
And life is perfect thanks to him.
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you and how perfect you are and how much you’re a perfect wife and mother.”
I smile at the mouthful of words. “Every day,” I say.
“Well it should be every hour if not every minute, because that’s almost how often I’m thinking of you.”
“Almost?” I say. I playfully spank him with a spatula.
“Almost, because the honest answer is I think about you every second. Day and night. Even when I dream, I dream of you.”
“Awww,” I say. I give him a big hug. He wraps me up in those big safe arms of his and holds me with his Paul Bunyan-like hands.
I feel safe, secure, and loved. And I feel that way always, and it’s all because of him.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you,” he says.
He leans down and kisses me on the lips.
His beard tickles my face and thoughts of him still tingle in my heart.
I’ve got my very own mountain man. A rugged man who will love me and protect me against anything nature can throw our way.
And I know with him, we’ll always come out on top.
And by us, I mean all nine of us. Our entire family. Together.