A Widow’s Secret on the Oregon Trail – Extended Epilogue

Patrick glanced around the house, taking in the stone fireplace and the hearth built to match. There was a woodstove in the kitchen, with glossy wooden counters and a deep basin for cleaning the dishes.

He ran his fingers over the scratched table in the center of the kitchen, taking in the initials carved there. For a moment, it felt odd to be in another person’s house, about to make it his own.

Anne beamed as she moved from room to room, Daisy in her arms. “I forgot how beautiful Evelyn and David’s house was in the time I was gone. It feels right to raise Jamie here though. They’d want him to be in the house they built for him.”

Patrick followed her down the hall that led to the bedrooms. “Are you sure there’s going to be enough space for all the children?”

“We only have two.” Anne shifted Daisy as the baby start fussing. She rocked her gently, humming a song Patrick didn’t think he had heard before. Though, that didn’t surprise him. Since they had been married, Patrick had learned that Anne had a never-ending repertoire of songs.

Hearing her hum to Daisy and Jamie was his favorite part of the day.

He cleared his throat, following her into the larger of the four bedrooms. “I was thinking that in time we might have another child or two. I’ve always liked the idea of having a big family, and I know how much you love children, so I thought it might be—”

“I’d love to have more,” she said, sparing him from the rambling that came with the uncertainty of the future.
He used to dread that uncertainty though. Now, he liked it. He loved not knowing what their future was going to bring and getting to spend nights by the fire with Anne, just talking about all the possibilities.

Anne kept humming to Daisy, looking at the other bedrooms. “We’re going to have to get these cleaned up. I know Lillian, one of the women I used to work with at the orphanage and one of my oldest friends, was keeping track of everything.”

Patrick’s lips twitched. “I know who Lillian is. you’ve talked about nothing other than seeing her for the last few days.”

“We have a couple hours until dinner with her and Mrs. Dorothy. Do you think that’s going to be enough time to get everything in order here?”

“Thomas is taking care of securing the land for the ranch today, so I have time to be here.” Patrick leaned in and kissed her temple. “We need time to prepare for the dinner as well. You said that the letter instructed us to come in our Sunday best.”

Anne held out her skirt, looking at the stains left on it from weeks of traveling the trail back home. “I’m not sure that’s clean, but this dress should do.”

Patrick took Daisy from her arms. “We’re not going to clean tonight. We still have a room at the inn for another two nights. We can take our time here. Let’s collect Jamie and go get ready for dinner.”

“I’m right here!” Jamie shouted, running into the house and heading straight for Daisy. He took her little hand and kissed the back of it. “Do you think everyone is going to like the name I gave her?”

Anne nodded, taking Jamie’s hand and leading him out of the house. She stopped in the doorway and Patrick watched her run her fingers over the grooves in the wood, closing her eyes for just a moment.

He didn’t know what she felt being back in this home, but he was sure it had to weigh heavy on her, but perhaps lighter in a way. She didn’t have to raise two children alone.

Patrick put his hand on the curve of her waist. “Are you well?”

Her sad smile and watery eyes met his. “I wish I could’ve introduced you to them. They would’ve loved you.”

“I wish I could, too.” Patrick kissed her temple. “We can build a memorial to them in the back garden.”

Anne lit up and nodded. “I think that would be nice. I still have so much to talk to Evelyn about.”

“We could add something for Theodor, too.” Patrick walked outside with Anne, looking around at the fields surrounding the property. They weren’t large enough for the ranch he and Thomas would run, but they were good for raising animals and farming for the family.

And there would be more than enough room to build a beautiful memorial.

Anne stared at him for a moment before throwing her arms around him. Patrick laughed, trying to keep Daisy from getting squished while hugging Anne back. He kissed the top of her head, holding her for a moment while she reigned in the tears that tracked down her cheeks.

“We’re going to be late!” Jamie shouted over his shoulder.

Patrick chuckled and shook his head. “We better get going.”

***

His jaw dropped when they walked up the road to the orphanage, a long table surrounded by chairs and familiar faces.

Mary sprung up from her seat and rushed over, pulling him into a tight hug before snatching Daisy from his arms. “I was wondering when I was going to meet my niece and nephew, but then I got a letter telling me about the supper.”

Geroge chuckled and held out his hand, grasping Patrick’s and shaking it. “It’s good to see you again.”
Anne appeared with Jamie, smiling and leaning down to whisper something to her when he tried to hide behind her.

Patrick gestured to them both. “This is Anne and Jamie. Anne, Jamie, this is my sister Mary and her husband George.”

“Nice to meet you,” Anne said before she was off and rambling with Mary, both of them talking about something to do with the embroidery on Mary’s dress.

Jamie looked up at Patrick. “Can I go play with the other children?”

“Maggie and Blake are around back with the other children,” Jane said, coming over to them with an older woman.

“Mrs. Dorothy!” Anne shouted, rushing over and pulling her into a hug. “I’m so sorry and I missed you so much and I promise I’m never going to do something so foolish again.”

Mrs. Dorothy laughed, hugging her back, tears in her eyes. “You’ve been promising me that since you were a little girl and you’ve never been able to keep it.”

“What about us?” Reverend Hale stepped out of the orphanage, others trailing behind him.

Patrick’s jaw dropped when he saw Daniel and Sarah followed closely by Benson and Milly. Others followed, spreading out and greeting each other, passing around hugs for Anne like none of them could believe they were seeing each other again after only several weeks.

Reverend Hale came over with his Bible tucked under one arm. “It’s been weeks.”

“You would’ve had to set out after us to get here in time for this.” Patrick shook his head, clapping the other man on the shoulder. “What made everyone travel?”

“Daniel and Sarah didn’t want to get married without you and Anne there, so we all spoke and thought we’d make a trip of it. And while we’re here, Benson is going to be gathering another wagon train, and we’ll take new people back to the settlement, too.”

“Very good.” Patrick watched Anne as she hugged a woman he didn’t recognize. “I think I’m about to be called to go meet some people. We’ll speak later?”

“You should know that Calvin Malloy and Eli Greene are going to be serving long sentences. When the sheriff ran their background, he found that both had a long list of crimes they were wanted for.”

Anne appeared then, stiffening before breathing a sigh of relief. “It’s really over then? We don’t have to worry anymore?”

Patrick shook his head, his hand finding the small of her back. “It’s over. They’re not going to be coming after us.”

“Well, in that case,” Anne turned and motioned to the woman beside her, “Patrick, Reverend Hale, I’d like you to meet Lillian.”

Before long, Patrick had gotten to know the names of all the children and the women working at the orphanage. He couldn’t keep track of all the children running around him, but when it came time to eat, everyone made their way to the table and took their seats.

Reverend Hale led the group in a prayer before they dug into the food, passing around plates and laughing like they had all known each other their entire lives.

Every few minutes, he snuck a glance over at Anne. She was radiant, laughing and whispering with the children like they all shared secrets, getting up to run with them when they finished their meals even though hers was mostly untouched.

When she finally made her way back to the table, breathless, her arm linked with Jane’s, Patrick nodded to her plate. Anne poked her tongue out at him, a new light to her that he hadn’t seen before.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked as she sat down beside him and started picking at one of the rolls on her plate.

“Daniel and Sarah and the others are going to be here for the next two months. They want to have their wedding in Missouri so all their old families and friends can come.” Patrick slung his arm over the back of Anne’s chair. “I was thinking that since everyone is here, if you wanted to do another wedding reception, we could do that and celebrate with our friends and family this time.”

Anne looked at the people surrounding them before her gaze landed back on him, a small smile curving the corners of her mouth. “They’re all our family, but I do like the idea of doing something to celebrate with everyone. Maybe we could have a picnic in a couple weeks? There’s a beautiful lake not far from here. We could load up the wagons and spend the day there.”

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll talk to the others about making it happen.” Patrick lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

The smile she gave him had him grinning back, unable to believe that this was his life.

For so long, he had felt alone in the world, but with the people surrounding him in that moment, he knew there was never going to be another day he felt alone.

Anne finished her food as the musicians began to play. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up from his seat, not that dancing with her ever took much convincing.

They danced together until her cheeks were pink and his sides hurt from laughing. He spun her around, jigging with her when the music changed, kicking high and jumping around.

Jamie came over, doing his best to jig with Anne. Patrick danced over to Mary, pulling her up from her seat and taking Daisy from his arms.

Before long, everyone was dancing and laughing.

Anne found her way back to him, arms looping around his shoulders as the sun set. “Could you imagine a more perfect life?”

“I could imagine a thousand perfect lifetimes and all of them would be the one we have right now.”

And as he leaned in to kiss her, music and laughter accompanying their happiness, he knew that he had found his home. His heart was full, his children were happy and healthy, and his wife was everything he had dreamed of.

“Have I told you how much I adore you?” he whispered as he pulled her in closer.

Anne shook her head, an impish smile tugging at her full lips. “I don’t think so.”

“I adore you. Endlessly. Hopelessly. I would find you in every lifetime and I would follow you to the ends of the earth.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I love you.”

“Is that a promise?” she teased.

“An oath. One that I would lay my life on.”

Her head tipped back as she laughed. He spun her around again, his heart soaring. Anne took Daisy, holding her close, while Patrick lifted Jamie.

The four of them danced together, their adventure as a perfect little family just beginning.

THE END