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Two Years Later
Emma paced back and forth in the simple cabin, her hand on her stomach. Perhaps it was because it had been almost four years since she’d gone into labor, but it felt worse than last time, and also faster.
“How are you feeling?” Mrs. Westbrook asked. She had become like a mother to Emma over the past couple of years. Her memory had faded even more over the past two years, and most days, she barely remembered her name, and yet it was in her nature to be loving and kind.
She was always looking out for Emma, asking how she could help, or telling one of her stories. Even when she’d told the same one over a dozen times, Emma never corrected her.
Emma smiled at her, leaning into another contraction, gritting her teeth.
“He or she is on their way. I suppose it won’t be long now until we meet the new member of the family.”
The door burst open, and Dr. Townsend came rushing in.
“I came as soon as I could. How is it coming? Are you doing all right?” He asked, looking at Emma, going up to her, pressing a hand to her forehead. “We should get you into the bedroom. How long between your contractions?”
Emma smiled, shaking her head as another contraction hit her before she could answer any of his questions.
Caleb took to one of her sides, and Dr. Townsend to the other. They helped her through the house and down the hall. They got her into bed, and she lowered herself to the edge of it, bracing for another pain.
The pain was terrible, but she knew what came next would be joyous.
“You should wait outside,” Dr. Townsend said. “Don’t worry. I’ll come get you as soon as there is any news.” Dr. Townsend shooed Caleb out, but not before he kissed Emma gently.
“I’ll be right out there, and if you want me to come back before the doctor is ready, you just call my name.”
Emma smiled, but she was unable to respond. The pains were coming one after another now, without any break between them. It might have been four years since she’d last had a baby, but she knew what that meant. She was about to give birth, whether she was ready or not.
She heard laughter outside, just as Maggie joined her, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.
“Are you ready? She asked, leaning in close.
“I’m ready. And you? To be an aunt? And soon a mother?” Emma’s eyes fell to Maggie’s swollen stomach before the next pain hit. Maggie and Tom had married seven months ago, and already, they were expecting a baby, who would be born around half a year after her own. She was excited to share her pregnancy with her sister and was even more excited to soon share motherhood. They’d always been close in everything.
“You know I am.” Maggie kissed the top of her head. “But let’s focus on you for now. Luke is outside with Tom and Caleb. He’s excited to meet his little brother or sister.”
Emma nodded. She didn’t know what their baby would be, but she knew that they would be eternally loved, no matter what.
Caleb
Caleb paced back and forth on the porch. He wasn’t the only one pacing. Tom had also taken up pacing. They took turns walking to opposite sides of the porch.
Tom stopped, running a hand through his hair.
“Is this what it’s going to be like when Maggie goes into labor? How am I supposed to take that?” he asked, shaking his head.
Caleb slapped him on the shoulder. “How are you supposed to take it? Think about her and what she has to go through. We’ll have to find a way to handle it.”
Despite his words, Caleb was struggling to handle it. He could hear how difficult the labor was for Emma, and there was nothing he could do about it. When she’d been with the gang, with a kidnapped Luke, at least he could search for her. He could knock down doors, find information, and search for her day and night.
But hearing her in pain and knowing that there was absolutely nothing he could do to alleviate some of that pain, it was torture in the worst kind of way.
“Papa!” Luke tugged on Caleb’s pant leg, and Caleb lifted him. “Is mama okay?”
“She’s all right, little man. She is trying to get your little brother or sister here for us to meet.” Caleb grinned while he wondered if he still wanted another four children as he’d discussed with Emma. If it meant this feeling, of fear, of the risk of losing her, every single time, he wasn’t sure he could take it.
“I hope it’s a girl!” Luke clapped his hands.
“A girl?” Caleb raised his eyebrows. He’d been secretly hoping for a girl to. After all, Luke was his son, and a girl seemed like a good way to complete the family. However, he would be thrilled to have another son, too.
“Yes. My friend has a sister. She’s nice.”
Caleb chuckled. “Well, you’ll be the big brother in this case, so you’ll have to be nice to her.”
“Oh.” Luke’s little eyes widened. “Can we meet her?”
Caleb drew in a breath to answer when a wail broke through the sudden silence. It wasn’t Emma this time; it was a baby’s cry. He exchanged looks with Tom, and the two of them dashed for the door. They almost ran into his mother as they did.
“Wait a minute, you two, you have to give her a few minutes to get cleaned up, then you can go in to visit.”
Caleb shook his head.
“I have to see her, Ma, is she all right?”
His mother nodded, a proud smile on her face.
“She is all right. She did a wonderful job. You have a beautiful baby girl.”
A girl. They had a daughter and a son. They had the start of the perfect little family. His mind wandered as he waited, back to the days when he thought that he would never have anything to do with Emma. Then their lives had changed, throwing them together in the most unexpected way.
He thought that Marcus, the man who had once posed as his friend, deserved his life sentence in prison. But in a way, Marcus, the man who had taken everything from him, had been responsible for giving him everything. If he hadn’t come and tried to destroy Emma’s life, then Caleb wouldn’t have been near Emma; he wouldn’t have realized how much she was missing from his life.
Now, he couldn’t imagine what one day would look like without Emma and Luke in it, much less his life. Not to mention how Tom had fallen in love with Maggie. They were all one big happy family, and it had changed his life in so many ways.
“All right, you guys can come in for a few minutes,” Maggie poked her head out from the bedroom. Caleb didn’t wait to be asked again. He took an excited Luke down the hallway and into the room.
“Mama! Can I see the baby?” Luke reached for his mother. At four years old, he was talking in full sentences and sometimes surprised Caleb with his conversations and questions.
“Of course you can. Come here and meet your little sister.” Emma motioned to the little baby tucked beside her.
“Have you thought of a name?” Caleb asked, getting close to the bed. They’d talked about several different names, but hadn’t been able to settle on one.
“I think, Elizabeth Rose. She’s delicate, like a flower.” Emma held the baby out to Caleb.
“Here, do you want to hold him?”
Caleb reluctantly set Luke down beside Emma, and then he sat behind him, reaching for the baby. Maggie helped place her into his arms.
He ran his fingers over those little hands, his eyes growing misty with emotion. His daughter.
“She’s pretty,” Luke said, reaching for the baby’s hand.
“Yes, she is. She’s perfect, just like her mother.”
Caleb reached around his children and leaned in over Emma, kissing her first on the lips, then on her cheek, her forehead, the top of her head.
She had been through so much, and her strength amazed him. She was full of love and life and gave that to everyone around her, including her babies. He was honored to be her husband and the father of their children.
“Elizabeth. I like that name.” Caleb passed the baby to Maggie, who held her tenderly as Tom picked Luke up so he could get a better view. Caleb turned all of his attention to Emma for a moment.
“Are you all right?” he asked, taking her hand in his, and kissing the back of it.
“I’m perfect. I couldn’t be better. She’s everything I expected and more.”
Caleb nodded, kissing her hand again.
“She is, just like her mother. But I don’t know if we can do this again, Emma. Losing you terrifies me. I can’t even imagine the possibility.”
Emma laughed softly. “You won’t lose me, Caleb. I was put in your life for a reason, and I think it was so the two of us could come together and create something beautiful. We will have each other until we grow old together. I am certain.”
Caleb chuckled. “You’re always so optimistic. You know, when I was out there, waiting for her to arrive, I kept thinking about how we found one another, how we fell in love.”
“Oh?” Emma lifted her eyebrows.
“Yes. I kept thinking that if I had been less of an oblivious sheriff, then I would have realized what a beautiful, wonderful woman I had right in front of me a whole lot sooner.”
Emma shook her head and squeezed his hand.
“Don’t you dare think like that. Everything that you went through, and that I went through, was to shape us into the people we needed to be for one another. When we were ready to find one another, we did, and it has made all of this into what it is. We needed Luke, and we needed every aspect of our pasts, good and bad.”
“I love you, you know that?” He asked, her words washing over him. She always had such a good view of everything.
“Yes, and I love you.” He leaned down and kissed her once more. “I should let you rest.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need to rest yet. Let’s enjoy this moment while we can.”
He looked around the room, to where Maggie and Tom were cooing over Elizabeth, Emma looking exhausted, but content as Luke talked her ear off. This was perfect. He had once thought that he needed to guard his heart, to block out distractions, and anything that might take him away from being a good sheriff. But now, he realized that distractions, love, and family, only made him into a better sheriff, a better protector, a better man who could take care of his family and his town.
So many good things came out of a bad thing. Jasper was doing well at the inn in town, Maggie was married, Tom was married, and he and Emma had brought a new life into the world. He was certain that there were many more things in their futures that would draw them closer and bless those around them in unforeseen ways.
He also knew there was heartbreak in their future, as awaited everyone. He would lose his mother one day, but somehow, the fact that they lived with so much love, with so much unity, made it bearable. He was happy, embarrassing all parts of life, and the one who made that possible was Maggie. He met her gaze, her sparkling eyes reflecting the intense love he felt. She held his heart, and he hers. That was how it should be.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Brave Hearts of the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
My dearest readers, I would love to hear your thoughts on this book and the extended epilogue. Looking forward to your comments! 💗
Fantastic story. The strength Emma demonstrated throughout her life was amazing. Loved the extended story showing their new family ties.
Thank you so much. I’m glad Emma’s strength and the new family ties resonated with you.