A Heart Full of Flowers – Extended Epilogue

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Logan hesitated outside of his parents’ house. It had been almost three weeks since he’d been to visit, Logan had been by to see his father and his family many times. He wanted to grow the relationship that they had, even though it was more than a little complicated.

“You don’t have to be nervous, you have done this before.” Katie’s voice beside him gave him courage. She was holding Ivy, his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Ivy’s hair was identical to Katie’s. She had his blue eyes and the cutest smile Logan had ever seen.

“You’re right.” Logan rose his fist to the door. It opened before he could knock.

“Logan, Katie, what are you doing standing out here, come on in.” His father opened the door wide and motioned for Logan to come into the parlor he’d grown up in. “Ivy, you’ve grown.” Logan’s father touched Ivy under the chin and Logan grinned.

Logan followed his father’s instructions. It had been through many long conversations in the parlor that they had begun to build a new relationship. Since they had started to strengthen their relationship, his father had been more and more involved in their lives and in Ivy’s life. Logan sat down on one of the benches in the parlor. Katie did the same, then passed him, Ivy. Ivy was a bit of a handful sometimes, and she seemed to prefer to sit with him. Logan certainly didn’t mind. He loved holding his little girl, having her close. She was so important to him. He loved her as much as her mother and enjoyed showing it.

Logan’s mother walked into the parlor, a bright smile lighting up her face. She rushed over and scooped Ivy up out of his arms. “My baby, how you have grown. What have they been feeding you?” Logan’s mother kissed Ivy, then placed her back with Logan.

“Logan, Katie, how have you been?” she asked, as she came around to give him a half hug. Once she had finished with him, she moved on to Katie. Logan watched with a soft smile. His mother had accepted his marriage to Katie without question. She always greeted them with open arms and loving smiles.

“Good, Ma. Actually, we wanted to tell you something.” Logan looked between his parents, then over at Katie. He and Katie had wanted to tell his parents for almost a week now. He was certain they would be happy for them. Their news was going to change a lot in their lives, and they were excited to share it.

“What is it, is everything all right?” Logan’s mother wrung her hands in her apron. “Has something happened?”

“No, ma, nothing like that.” Logan reminded himself to start out announcements a bit better. Ever since the sheriff’s accident, his family was a bit sensitive when he didn’t think about how things would sound.

“Yes, more than all right. I actually…Katie and I are expecting a second child.” Logan said the words with a grin. He couldn’t help it. His mother’s face lit up with excitement. He should have made them guess, or drawn the news out a little longer, but he couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“Oh, Logan, I am so happy for you. Ivy, you must be so happy.”

Logan smiled down at Ivy. She was very much excited for her younger sibling, or at least she seemed to be. She was only a year and a half old, so there were some things she didn’t understand. But she seemed to understand well when Logan or Katie explained to her that there was a baby in Katie’s stomach that would be joining their family soon.

“You’ll have to tell us if there is anything we can do to help.” Logan’s mother patted him on the shoulder. “We are truly excited for you both. How have things been going with the big new change?” Logan’s mother sat down across from them both.

“They have been going all right. The sheriff has still been showing up at the sheriff’s office to teach me. I know that he wants to hand things off to me, but he is also sad about it. I know that he feels the pain of what happened.” Logan frowned as he thought of the sheriff. He had never expected to be sheriff himself so young.

Only four months ago, the sheriff had lost his leg in a terrible wagon accident. He had been on a trip to another town and the wagon had flipped, pinning him underneath. His leg had to be amputated right below the knee. Logan hated to see the sheriff that way. The sheriff always liked to have things uncontrolled and to be contributing in some way. Now, he had handed everything over to Logan.

“How has the sheriff really been? I’ve heard that he isn’t happy at all about giving up the sheriff’s office.” Logan’s father looked sympathetic. Logan knew that his father was still angry at the sheriff for how he’d chosen to let Logan become a part of the gang in order to gain their trust. But just like his own relationship had improved with his father, so had his father’s relationship with the sheriff.

“He’s been having a tough time of it, but I think he will be happy eventually.” Logan imagined what it would be like to lose his leg, to never be able to run normally again, to struggle with everyday tasks. He knew that it had to be hard for the sheriff. Their conversation left the sheriff and went on to other things until Logan’s mother ushered them all into the kitchen for something to eat. Logan’s stomach growled. He was ready for something to eat. He helped Katie and Ivy into the kitchen. It was strange to be in the kitchen he had grown up in, with his wife and his child. There had been a day when this time would have seemed so impossible and unattainable, yet here he was. He grinned as he sat down at the table. God was good.

***

Logan leaned against the support beam for the blacksmith shop. This had been one of the places he frequented every single day before he went into work. He enjoyed the smell of the blacksmith shop, and the sound of clanging metal, but the main reason he frequented the blacksmith shop was to do his best to convince his best friend, Jose, to become his new deputy.

“Logan, I don’t think that I am cut out for it.” Jose was protesting yet again. Logan wanted him to work in the sheriff’s office. The sheriff had already told him that soon he needed to pick a new deputy. The only person that Logan could think of who he wanted to work with and trusted was Jose. There were other people in town who would probably accept the job, but Logan wanted Jose to accept it. He didn’t know what else he could do to convince his friend.

“You are cut out for it. Jose, remember when you helped the sheriff stop Red and the other gang members at the bank robbery? You are good at being a deputy, you just don’t know it yet.”

Jose sighed. “Logan, why do you want me to be your deputy so badly, is there no one else who is qualified?”

“No, there isn’t. I have looked and no one is my best friend or knows what I need and how to protect me like I know you will. I think we could work well together. Don’t you think we would work well together? Just think of how long we have known each other. The fact that we know each other should make it easy for us to work together. I think the pay is even better than what you are making here.”

Jose smirked. “It isn’t really about the pay, it is about the fact that I know I can be a blacksmith, I don’t know if I can be a deputy.”

“Do you trust me, Jose?’ Logan asked. He knew it was low using Jose’s trust against him, but he was desperate.

“Yes, I do, but I don’t think I can trust you with something like this. How do I know that you know what I will be good at? There was a time when I was really young when I thought I would be a good deputy. Then I grew up and I realized that we can’t always be what we thought we would be.”

“Come on, Jose. This is your chance to pursue your dreams. I promise that I can teach you everything you need to know. I’m sure the sheriff would love to teach you if you feel like you need someone more qualified.”

“It’s not that I need someone more qualified.” Jose paused with the metal he was shaping. “I just don’t know. I could be wrong, but what if I am not cut out for being a deputy?”

“I know that you don’t think I know what I am talking about, but I do. I am not just saying this because you are my friend and I desperately want you to work with me. I really think you could make a great deputy.” Logan shook his head. “There is nothing more I can say to you, Jose. I am just begging you to please say yes because I need a good deputy and I would be honored if that person was you.”

“Fine, fine. I will think about it. It looks like the sheriff is here.” Jose nodded toward the sheriff who was walking up to the steps of the sheriff’s office. He was walking along with a pair of crutches that Logan made for him himself. He wanted the sheriff to get some of his independence back, but he could see that with the crutches, it was almost just as hard for him to move around.

“Okay, I have to go. Think about it!” Logan bounded toward the sheriff. “Morning sheriff.” Logan kept his pace just behind the sheriff. He wanted to help the sheriff up the steps or do something to be useful, but he forced himself to wait for the sheriff to do it alone. The last time that Logan had tried to help, the sheriff told him that it was important for him to figure things out alone.

“Good morning, Logan. How are things for you today?” The sheriff had a brave smile plastered on his face, though Logan could tell that it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Pretty good. You know, it has almost been a week and I haven’t gotten a single bad comment or a mean thing said to me. I think that this town is finally letting the past go.”

“See? I told you that one day it would happen.”

Logan nodded. “It didn’t exactly blow over. Remember when you used to say that if we gave it enough time people would get over it? I never imagined that the time you were speaking of was more than two years. People had to find out the truth, and even then it took forever for them to accept me. It has been more than two years since Katie and I got married.”

“Well, it’s progress. I never said it would be fast, just like becoming a good sheriff will not be fast. I know that you can do it because you know how to persevere.” The sheriff sighed as he sunk down into his chair. “Now, catch me up with everything that happened yesterday.”

Logan launched into an account of how the previous day had gone. The sheriff was right. He and Katie were making progress with the town, and that was the important thing. They had a family here in town, with everyone who lived there. Their children were going to have a good place to grow up, and hopefully, by the time they were older, the past would be forgotten.

Logan smiled at the idea. For now, he would show this town that he deserved the title of sheriff by being the best possible sheriff that they ever had in town. He couldn’t have ever fathomed he would deserve the honor of being sheriff. In a way, he didn’t deserve the honor. The sheriff decided that he couldn’t continue as the sheriff in his condition, so he had insisted that Logan take his place. Logan had struggled with feeling good enough for a long time. He knew that he would never truly deserve the title, but he was certainly going to do the best he could to come close.

***

“Baby,” Ivy giggled as she carried her doll made of corn husks and fabric scraps. She was so happy with the simplest of things. Lately, she had become obsessed with carrying around her doll and pretending it was the new baby that Katie and Logan were awaiting. Katie watched her spin and dance with the imaginary child.

She loved how innocent Ivy was. She was so full of joy and hope for the world. She had no idea of the things that awaited her when she grew up. Katie placed her hand on her stomach. Soon, they would have two children. Who knew? Maybe after that, they would have three children.

A knock on the door made her stiffen. It was the early evening and she was expecting Logan home from work at any minute, but Logan wouldn’t knock on his own door. Katie crossed the room and looked out the window. Her father was standing there.

She swung the door open and welcomed him with a warm smile. “Pa, what are you doing here?”

“I thought I would stop by and say hi. Even though you and Logan live on my property, I feel like I hardly ever see you.” Katie’s father followed her into the tiny parlor that Logan had built for them himself and took a seat. “Is Logan here yet?”

“No, he’s not.” Katie almost laughed at how disappointed her father looked. He and Logan had created quite the friendship. It seemed that her father had gotten his son after all. She and Logan had taken over the ranch almost completely. Between her and Logan, as well as Larry’s help and two new ranch hands they had hired, they had turned the ranch into something completely different than what it had been. She knew that her father was more than grateful to see the ranch flourishing under their hands. He especially loved to talk about anything having to do with the ranch with Logan.

“He should be home any minute now.” Katie smiled and sat down across from her father. “How have you been?”

“Fine. Living in the cabin all alone is no fun, but I think I am getting used to it. Are you sure that you and Logan don’t want to live over there?”

“Pa, this is our home now. You are welcome to live here with us. It is bigger than the old cabin.” Katie motioned to the cabin she had helped Logan build. When they got married, her father offered to let them live with him besides staying on his land. They had declined the offer and decided to build their own cabin on the property. It was much larger and suited their needs well. However, Katie’s father didn’t want to leave his old cabin behind, so he continued to live in the cabin that Katie had grown up in. Katie was hopeful that one day she would convince him to come and live with her and Logan.

For now, he was determined to stay put where he was. Katie knew that it probably had to do with all of the memories that her father had there. Her mother’s memories, even Red’s memories. They were all in that little cabin. Better times were in that cabin. Katie couldn’t ‘wait to make new times in the new cabin and around the ranch.

“Baby!” Ivy held up her corn husk doll to Katie’s father.

Katie giggled. “She thinks that the baby has already been born.” Katie smiled fondly at her daughter. She wondered if her second baby would be a son or a daughter. The sound of a horse riding up the way made her head to the door. Sure enough, it was Logan. He was riding up to the cabin. When he arrived, he tossed the reins over the hitching post and ran up the porch steps two at a time. Katie opened the door for him.

“Logan, my father came to visit. How was your day?”

“Good,” Logan took off his hat and gave her a quick peck on her cheek. “Everything all right?”

“Everything is perfect.” Katie watched Logan go back into the parlor and sit down across from her father. He scooped Ivy into his lap and tickled her while she giggled uncontrollably. Katie watched as the two men talked. She loved watching Logan when he didn’t know she was watching. She loved seeing how happy he was with everything in their lives. It was clear by the way he treated everything and everyone. Katie felt so lucky to have him.

Katie followed back into the parlor and sat herself down on a third seat while she listened to what Logan and her father said. after a while, she stopped listening. Logan was a wonderful father, he was a wonderful son and he was an even better father. She couldn’t imagine that she could have married anyone better. She closed her eyes and offered up a quick prayer of thanks to God. She was happy, she had everything she’d ever wanted, and at last, she realized how her mother did everything. She didn’t, she just let some things go while she focused on other things. Katie shook her head, there was so much left for her to learn, but she had someone to go with her on the journey. She had Logan, the love of her life.

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