Epilogue

One Year Later

“Giddup!”

Pressing his heels against his horse’s ribs, Brett urged his steed to go faster. Each thunderous pound of his horse’s hooves rumbled through him; each moment of delay felt like a nail to his heart. Oh God! What if I’m too late? What if something went wrong and I’m not there to save her?

At long last, he spotted the horse and buggy on the road ahead. Waving his hat like a madman, he yelled, “Stop!”

The vehicle pulled to the side of the road. The derby-hatted driver leaned over the side of his wagon. “Confound it, Tucker. The way you were carrying on, I thought you were a highwayman.”

“Sorry, Doctor. Your wife told me you were on your way to check on Old Man Fletcher.” Brett’s horse did a fancy dance beneath him. “It’s Kate!”

The doctor gave a solemn nod. “Well, what are we waiting for?” With a shake of his reins, he pulled his buggy forward and made a wide circle in the middle of the road.

After waiting for the doctor to turn, Brett led the way, his heart in his throat. Hold on, Kate. Hold on.

Some twenty minutes later, he raced past the sign reading KATE’S ANIMAL INFIRMARY and reached the house ahead of the doctor amid a chorus of barks, bleats, and neighs. Quickly tethering his horse, he raced up the porch. Ringo greeted him as he burst through the door. “Down, boy!”

Racing through the parlor, he came to a sliding halt at the bedroom threshold, the strong smell of vinegar watering his eyes.

Kate was sitting up in bed. He’d left her writhing in pain and swearing like a sailor, and here she was upon his return, with a sweet smile on her face. What the…?

And then he saw the bundle cradled in her arms, and he practically fell to his knees in relief.

Connie was the first to speak. “Congratulations. It’s a boy.”

Aunt Letty ran an arm over her damp forehead. “A big, beautiful boy,” she added with a wide grin. “And he’s gonna drive the girls wild. I can tell. He’s got the look.”

“The look, eh?” Brett said and laughed. Pulling off his hat, he walked to the bed, his eyes misty. “Well, what do you know?” Awed and humbled by the sight in front of him, he felt more than anything grateful. The baby hadn’t been due for another two weeks. When the first pains came, he’d been so afraid for Kate, so afraid for their baby. Afraid of losing them. Losing the two people who meant more to him than anything in the world.

Kate moved the blanket away from the baby’s downy head. “Isn’t he the sweetest thing you ever did see?”

He peered at his son’s tiny red face and thought his heart would burst with joy. Paternal love bubbled up inside him like hot lava. How was it possible for something so small to command so much love?

“What did I ever do to deserve such a precious child? Such an amazing wife?”

“And an outlaw dog,” Kate added. “Don’t forget that.”

He chuckled and tenderly cupped his son’s head. “He has your red hair,” he said, his voice choked.

“It looks kind of blondish to me.” She smiled up at him. “And he definitely has your eyes.”

The doctor rushed into the room, black bag in hand, and skidded to a stop at the foot of the bed. “Good God, Letty. You’ve been at the vinegar again, haven’t you?”

Aunt Letty crossed her arms and raked him over with a disapproving look. “Somebody’s got to practice medicine around here! Since you’re never around when we need you.”

“Sorry. Got here soon as I could.” He set his bag on a chair. “Well? Are you gonna introduce me to my new little patient?”

Brett proudly gathered his son in his arms and held him so the doctor could see. “Dr. Avery, meet our son, Joseph.” With a loving glance at his wife, he added, “We named him after Kate’s uncle.”

“For now, we’re calling him Joey,” Kate said.

Upon hearing the news, Aunt Letty clasped her hands to her chest and promptly got all teary-eyed. “Oh my! Your uncle would have been so proud.”

“That’s a mighty fine name,” the doctor said with a hearty nod of approval. “Let’s have a look.” As he moved toward the bed, he got his foot tangled in a bunch of cords. “Oh no, don’t tell me,” he said, untangling himself.

“Harvey’s baby sling,” Aunt Letty said, rolling her eyes to the contraption on the ceiling holding the thing up.

“Don’t worry, Aunt Letty,” Brett said. “Long as Kate has me, she won’t be needing any baby sling.” He laid his son at the foot of the bed with a chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Kate asked.

“I was just thinking of the candy I plan on making in his honor. What should we call it? Joey Chews? Joey Pops? Joey—” He tilted his head. “You laugh?”

“I can’t help it,” she said. Though her face still looked strained with exertion, her eyes shone with an inner glow. “My husband, the candy maker.”

He couldn’t blame her for laughing. In one short year, he had gone from Texas Ranger to confectioner and had loved every minute of it. While Kate was in confinement and with Aunt Letty having retired, it had been up to him to run the shop with only the one employee. If his idea for expansion worked as he’d hoped, he would soon have to hire more.

“What about Joey Almond Bits?” he asked.

Kate’s smile filled her whole face. “I like it.”

While the doctor examined little Joey, Connie walked to Kate’s side and patted her on the shoulder. “Since you’re now in good hands, do you mind if I leave? I believe I have a date with a pickle.”

“No, you go ahead,” Kate said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “And, Connie, thank you.”

“A pickle?” Brett asked after Connie had left the room.

Lowering her voice, Kate explained. “She thinks Frank is about to propose marriage.”

Brett frowned. “You mean after all my tutoring, Foster’s still…”

“Being Frank, and that’s just how she likes it,” Kate said and laughed. “Frank and Connie. Who would have thought such a thing possible?”

“Who indeed?” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Brett tilted her chin upward and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

With a happy sigh, she clung to him. “Oh, Brett,” she whispered. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever, ever stop.”

Laughter rumbled in the back of his throat. “I have a feeling that my stopping days are over,” he said. And with that, he kissed her again.