Finding his Heart’s Destination – Extended Epilogue

Five years later

“I cannot wait for the stage to arrive,” Charlotte said to her dad. “I miss her so much.”

“Your sister is doing us proud,” Philip replied and kept on building the wooden blocks with his granddaughter. The toddler had the copper-colored hair of her mother and as she told her grandad what she wanted to be done with the building blocks, it looked like she was preparing to take over the household at a later date. Philip adored her.

“Here comes trouble,” Charlotte said as August came in with his four-year-old son. Little Eliza forgot the building and grabbed at her brother. The lad was good with his sister. He handed her a cookie that had come from Bonnie. That woman had certainly absorbed her mother’s cooking skills and they all benefitted from that.

“I sent Glen with the small carriage to pick up Matilde,” August said and sank into a chair.

“Oh, I am so glad she will be coming home,” Charlotte said.

“She has enjoyed college but I am guessing that she is keen to be home,” August added.

“The book is successful and we might find out how much money she is actually making,” Philip observed.

“Don’t you dare ask her that outright,” Charlotte warned her dad. 

He smiled. “I have learned some things over the years.”

“She has been places and done things that I never did,” Charlotte said. “All of the train journeys and living away from home.”

“I am sorry you never got that chance,” Philip told her and she went and kissed the top of his head.

“I have had the life I wanted, Dad,” she told him. “I have what I want right here.” Louie, the four-year-old grabbed at her skirts and she swept him off his feet and up in the air. “My handsome man,” she said. “Did you see little Jason?”

“He is allowed to have a pony,” the lad said with a sad look on his face.

“Stop trying to make us do the same,” Charlotte said and put him down. The lad went and put his arms around his dad’s leg and held on.

“Divide and rule,” August said and pulled the lad onto his knee.

“What is divide and whatever you said?” Louie asked.

“If you cannot get what you want from Mom, you try it on me.”

“And on me, if that doesn’t work,” Philip added. 

“Jason’s dad works with horses all of the time and has bought a miniature one,” Charlotte explained but the youngster was not impressed.

“I could ride a proper one,” he said.

“I am sure you could but you are still too young,” Charlotte answered. “How old was I when I was given my first horse, Dad?”

“Eight,” Philip said. “And you are only four, Louie.” 

The lad pulled a funny face and went to the door. 

“Carriage,” he said ad Charlotte grabbed his hand to run outside. Glen pulled the vehicle to a halt and took Matilde’s waist to swing her from the seat. Charlotte ran with arms outstretched and the two sisters clung onto each other with tears of happiness streaming down both faces.

“Oh, I missed you so much,” Charlotte cried out.

“I am so glad to be home,” Matilde added and went to hug her dad, August, and the two children.

August went to help Glen who was carrying what seemed like an enormous amount of luggage into the house. Matilde ran back and picked up a large bag herself. She sat on the sofa and called for the children. A large doll was produced from the bag and Eliza was entranced. It had a porcelain face with eyes that opened and closed. The toddler touched them gently with her finger.

“What beautiful clothes that doll has,” Charlotte said. “You will have to give her a name, Eliza. What a lucky girl you are.”

“Dolly,” Eliza obliged and they all laughed. Matilde handed Louie a wrapped up parcel and apologized to her sister. The lad ripped off the wrapping paper and found some leather reins for a pony. His face was a picture and he ran the leading rein through his hands. 

“Does this come in here as well?” Glen asked and held a parcel that was very obviously a small saddle. Charlotte groaned in mock despair.

“This has cost a fortune, Matilde,” she said to her sister.

“My pleasure,” Matilde answered and took the paper off the saddle as Glen held it up. Louie did not see what it was until the paper was put to one side. Glen put it over the arm of the chair.

“Will it be the right size for you, Louie?” he asked and smiled at the look on Louie’s face. The lad touched it with his fingers and looked at his mom.  

She sighed and looked at August.

“Okay. Tell him.” 

August picked up his son.

“Come on, everyone.” 

Glen picked up the saddle and reins and followed behind the family. Matilde fell into step beside him.

“Glad to be back,” she said quietly. He smiled.

“Not been the same without you.”

August led the way to the new stables that were constructed behind Jason’s house. Jason saw them arrive and came as well.

“Hi, Matilde. Good to have you back.” Glen held up the saddle.

Inside the stable, August led the way to the far end where because the sides of the stall were high, there was nothing to see until you looked over the gate.

“This is Barney,” August said. “He is a miniature. Do you like him?” He put the lad on the ground and Jason led the little horse out. Louie looked at the new arrival and stroked his nose.

“Grandad,” he said to Philip and the rancher took pity on the lad. He bent down beside him.

“Listen, Louie. This horse is yours. All yours. Would you like him?”

Louie looked from one to the other of the grown-ups and saw smiles on every face. Matilde was carrying Eliza and Bonnie had come out with little Jason to see everyone. He looked at the horse and flung his arms around his grandad’s neck. His eyes were filled with tears but his grin was as wide as a new moon.

They led the little horse outside and tried on the new saddle. Then they put Louie on his own little mount and let him walk around in a circle.

“Now slide down and take off the saddle yourself,” Jason said and Louie struggled with the weight but put the saddle on a peg that had been put at the right height on the wall. “Take him into the corral with Wilma.” The two miniatures looked lovely together and the two boys grinned at each other in excitement. Bonnie and Charlotte nudged each other and remembered their own childhood rides.

“So, you plan to breed miniatures, Jason?” Matilde asked. The foreman nodded. ”Come on over to the house with us,” she added.

From the enormous bags, Matilde produced small Stetsons for the two boys and a pretty dress for Eliza.

“I guess Bonnie and Charlotte are about the same size. I hope I was right.” The parcels revealed velvet gowns in the height of fashion. The men all had fancy shirts and that included Glen.” I have shirts for Boxer, Anthony, and Bernie as well and jewelry for Ladybird. She has a lot of dresses.”

“What about Betty?” Charlotte asked.

“Another velvet creation.”

“Girl you have spent a year’s wages here,” Bonnie said. “I love the dress. Thank you so much.” Then she realized the boys were missing, She and Jason went to check on them. They were wearing Stetsons and looking through the bars of the corral. Glen had followed them across and stood talking about the horses for a while. Then Matilde came and linked her fingers into his. Jason and Bonnie tactfully offered the boys some lemonade.

“Am I still allowed to do this?” Matilde asked, squeezing his fingers.

“Do you still want to?” he answered a question with a question.

“I did the right thing and went to college. Charlotte was right. I learned to write properly and that was what I wanted to do. I could have stayed in the city but the city lacks one thing.” He waited and smiled. “You were not there,” she added.

“The letters made it okay,” he said.

“And I am eighteen. It has been a long wait.” 

“What about your writing? Will you write here?”

“Oh yes. I can try out the ghostly mysteries on you.” He laughed and they held hands and walked around the barns and corrals. The hands around the place called out a welcome home.

“And this time, I do not have to leave again,” she shouted back.

Then Ladybird called out and waved them over. She was holding a beautiful necklace and threw her arms around Matilde to say thank you.

“This shirt is far too fancy for me,” Boxer said with a smile. “I might hang it on the wall as a decoration.”

“You will do no such thing,” Ladybird exclaimed.  They went back to the ranch house together and looked at all the gifts they had been given.  Ladybird and Boxer had work to do and left to go back to the cookhouse.

“I am glad they decided to be together,” Matilde said. 

“They tied the knot very quietly and seem to be really happy,” Charlotte told her. “Glen, you can stay for a bite to eat, can’t you?”

“You’re the boss, Charlotte,” he said and eyed the food on the stove. She laughed.

“You are working in the house, I think,” she said. Charlotte and Matilde had always been close and her younger sister had told her a long time ago that she loved Glen. The man had kept his distance but it was obvious to everyone on the ranch, that they were only waiting for the right time. In fact, the men did not even have a laugh about it. It had been part of the ranch for so long. Glen had been a very young hand when he started to work there. He was also good at the job and likable.

“I am going to change into something I can relax in,” Matilde said and went off to her room. When she came back, she asked who wanted to go into town to see Betty, Anthony, and Bernie.  Nobody had time to answer because there was a knock at the door and the deputy said that a homestead was on fire and could the doctor come and help.

“I’ll come as well,” Glen offered. Charlotte and Matilde both grabbed jackets and ran for the stables. August detoured to pick up supplies. Charlotte brought out his horse and they followed the deputy at a fast pace. It was out of the town and down a track but they smelled the smoke and saw the flames long before they reached the house.

“This is Sadie’s mom and dad’s place,” Charlotte shouted. She tied her horse well away from the fire and ran as close as she could get. She found Sadie’s sister hysterical and screaming with burnt hands.

“Where are your mom and dad?” she shouted.

“Away at my aunt’s,” Sadie’s sister answered and started to calm down when August found some salve and bandages to stop her hands hurting so much.

“I tried to get as much out as I could,” she sobbed.

“Nobody is hurt or trapped inside. That’s good,” Matilde told her. “Has somebody sent for your mom and dad?”

 The men joined the chain of bucket carriers that were passing buckets between them but it looked as if the house would be a complete write-off.

Sadie then arrived on a horse along with Bernie and ran to her sister. The two girls clung to each other and gazed with horror as their parent’s house burnt to a cinder. Bernie joined the water team.

Thankfully, there was not a lot for the doctor to do and he was passing buckets along the line with the rest. Anthony came to see if he was needed and joined the line as well but the fire ran its course. The buckets did very little to stop it. In the end, they stopped throwing water and watched as the flames turned to smoke and ashes.

The sheriff came and joined the group. Everyone looked to see if he had found Sadie’s parents and he said that he had sent a messenger.

“Thing is, I thought you should all know,” he looked at Charlotte as he spoke. “Jeremiah escaped from the county jail,” he hesitated, “and he has been seen in the area.”

Charlotte looked at Glen.

“Ride like the wind and tell Dad and Jason to put patrols around the ranch and get the kids inside.”

“I’ll go as well,” Matilde said. They jumped into the saddles and set off as fast as they could go.

“Was this started deliberately?” August asked and Sadie’s sister nodded.

“I saw someone riding away as the fire caught hold. I am pretty sure there were kindling and dry grass in the doorway.”

“Was it Jeremiah Smith?” the sheriff asked and she looked around. Then she nodded.

“I think so.”

Charlotte gasped.

“You went out with him, didn’t you?” The girl agreed even though it was a long time ago. She said that she had told him that she did not want to keep on seeing him.

“Come back with us,” Sadie said. “Bernie and I have room and mom and dad can stay as well.”

“Good idea,” the sheriff said. “I will send your parents there when they have seen this.”

“This will finish Dad,” Sadie said as they started to leave. “He is finding the place hard to run now anyway. He will not be able to build another house.”

The helpers started to disperse as Bernie and Sadie took her sister away.

“Let’s call and see Betty and then get back,” August said. Betty was hovering at the door when they arrived and took them inside. She put her finger to her lips and whispered that the twins were asleep.

“Thank goodness nobody was trapped inside,” she said.

“Jeremiah has escaped from the county jail,” Charlotte told her. Sadie’s sister thinks she saw him ride away.” Betty made the same connection that Charlotte had made and mentioned something her once upon a time going out with him.

“I sent Glen and Matilde to tell Dad and Jason to put patrols on.”

“Oh, Lord. Will we ever be rid of the man?” Betty sighed.

“He will be caught and go back to jail,” Anthony said ad asked if the others wanted to wash the grime from their hands.

“Matilde has gifts for you and the children,” Charlotte said. “She will be back tomorrow, I guess.”

“You will be glad to have her home,” Betty observed and Charlotte agreed. They set off for the ranch and promised to come back the next day.

“I think we ride fast and make ourselves a difficult target,” August suggested ad they started to gallop as soon as they left the buildings behind. No shots rang out ad they reached home safely. Men were at the gates and everyone was inside.

Philip and Jason had organized well and the night passed without any trouble. Over breakfast, Matilde asked her dad what he thought was a fair price for the homestead that had been on fire. He thought about it and gave her a figure. She took him away and swore him to secrecy but showed him the bank accounts of her money.

“Good Lord above, girl. How did you manage that?”

“Two successful books and an amount in advance of the third one.”

“You are incredibly clever. I am proud of you. Are you thinking about buying the homestead?”

“Depends if Glen would let me use my money. I guess you could buy it for me and offer him a partnership.”

“Let us just find out a bit more and think about it.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She kissed his cheek.

Charlotte looked curious. Matilde relented and told her what she had told her dad.

“I won’t say a word. Glen offered to go into town for supplies. He went off about an hour ago.” When he came back, he had news that Sadie and her family were staying at Bernie’s and did not want to see the burnt-out shell of the house. 

“Bernie went and made sure the stock was okay.”

The day passed without any sign of Jeremiah and they hoped the sheriff would catch him.  The next day dawned and ranch work went ahead. Ladybird was talking to Matilde and Charlotte on the porch steps when one of the hands said the cattle had broken through the fence and were stampeding. Philip sent the men to round them up and said he would keep an eye on things. August had seen a patient and sent them home when through the gate with a blazing torch held above his head rode Jeremiah Smith.

Charlotte pushed little Eliza into the arms of Ladybird to take inside. The boys were with Bonnie. 

August was armed and so was Glen but they did not draw their guns as Charlotte and Matilde walked forward together.

“Put it down, Jeremiah,” Charlotte said. “You know you cannot win. There are too many of us.”

“And none of us are ghosts. We all have guns and you are wanted by the law,” Matilde added.

“Clever socks, back from college.” Jeremiah retorted. “You and him and your pretend ghosts.”

“I worked hard and if you think I am going to let you stop me marrying the man I love, you are very much mistaken.”

“You all get what you want. You have children, partners, and businesses. Some of us never got the chance.” The man suddenly looked defeated and sad. Charlotte stepped forward.

“Get down from the horse, Jeremiah. We won’t hurt you. Put the torch down.” She held out a hand and the man did as she said. He threw away the flaming torch and slid from the saddle. Then he crumpled to the ground and sat there with tears running down his face. Charlotte knelt down beside him. She put an arm around his shoulders. There was no fight left in the man.

“I am sorry,” she said. “We cannot choose who we fall in love with. You should give yourself up to the sheriff and when you finish the time in jail, start a new life somewhere else.”

The others had drawn closer. Philip agreed with Charlotte but he had a gun in his hand.

“I lost my parents and it wasn’t until I came here, to a different place, that I felt good again. You should do the same. Too many bad memories here for you,” August added.

Boxer came out of the cookhouse. 

“Come and sit inside until the sheriff comes, son. You have had a bad time of it,” he said to the blonde cowboy. Skinny Dave had saddled a horse and set off for town.

The man meekly followed him inside. Boxer saw that Jeremiah’s eyes looked for food and he put a plate in front of him.

“Eat up, lad. We don’t want to do you any harm.” The others sat around and kept an eye on things until Ash Maguire arrived to take the prisoner back to jail.

The sheriff, too, was not hard on Jeremiah. They could all see that he was worn out and a defeated man.

“You will have to stand trial for setting the homestead on fire. Come on. Let’s sort it out.”

When the sheriff and his prisoner had departed, they all looked at each other. The men came back from the cattle and realized that Jeremiah had smashed the fence and set the steers off. There was great relief that he was back in a cell.

Matilde and Glen went off for a little walk together until Charlotte called them for dinner. She asked Glen to stay again as well and he smiled and said that he had wanted to ask Philip something anyway. Charlotte set the food on the table. Glen cleared his throat.

“Boss, eh, Matilde and I would like to get wed if that is alright with you.”

Philip leaned across and offered a hand.

“Been expecting it. Welcome to the family.” Matilde leaned across and kissed Glen’s cheek. 

Charlotte gave him a hug before she sat with her own meal in front of her. 

Matilde looked up from her food.

“Dad, what is a fair price for the homestead that burned?” He gave her the amount he thought and asked why she wanted to know. Philip himself already knew the answer. 

“If I could put up the money would you buy it and go into partnership with Glen and me?” Her dad was about to agree when Glen interrupted.

“Sorry to spoil the plan, Mattie. The place is already sold. I asked in town.”

“Oh, no,” Matilde cried. It would have been just right for us. Not too big and near to the town.” Glen took her hand.

“It was sold to me, sweetheart. It’s all ours.” There was a shocked and stunned silence and then Charlotte started to laugh, the others could not resist and joined in as well. Matilde threw her arms around Glen and cried happy tears.

“What a wonderful man you are going to marry,” Charlotte cried out.

“I saved up for a long time,” the wonderful man said “And asked the bank for the rest.”

It was a cheerful and happy family that went to tell the others on the ranch.

As August and Charlotte stood in the bedroom looking at the two sleeping children, August put his arms around his wife.

“I have the bravest, sweetest, most forgiving woman in the whole world as my wife.”

“Poor Jeremiah. He made a sad figure didn’t he?”

“Maybe he will be able to start again when he does his time in jail,” August added and kissed his wife on the nose. “He was right though. We have great partnerships. Glen and Matilde are starting another. We have beautiful, healthy children, the ranch, the doctor’s practice, and we love each other. We are very lucky people you and me.”

The day you rode into Big Sky was the best thing that ever happened to me. Kiss me, August. The magic still works. We are living the storybook ending of happy ever after.” He leaned over and took her lips and yes, the magic was still there.

THE END

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