An Outlaw’s Refuge in Her Heart – Extended Epilogue

Three Years Later

Aspen Falls, Wyoming Territory, March, 1872

Hannah washed the bandages in the kitchen and went to hang them on the line. When she returned, she checked on the patients in the front room. Mr. Smith still had a fever, and Richard, a local stableboy who had broken his leg, was staring out the window.

“How are you feeling now, Richard?” Hannah asked, checking his leg and making a few notes.

“Doin’ just fine, ma’am,” he said with a grin. “You wanna know something funny? Before the accident, people never really asked me how I was doing, but now they keep asking all the time. It’s a nice feeling.”

“There has to be something nice about healing,” Hannah said, “because it’s not a very fun process.”

Richard shrugged and turned back to the window. “As long as I can walk again, I’ll be fine.”

Hannah smiled to herself and left the room. She nearly ran into Nell, who was walking Penny out to the yard. Penny was an adorable mixture of both Nell and Wesley, with curly brown hair and bright green eyes.

“Nana,” Penny said, holding out her arms to Hannah.

“That’s right, honey,” Hannah said, picking Penny up. “It’s Nana!”

“She’s always so happy to see you,” Nell said, rubbing her belly as she watched Hannah play with Penny.
Hannah groaned as she placed Penny on the ground. At six months pregnant, it was getting harder and harder to lift Penny. However, she couldn’t find it in her heart to deny Penny anything.

“That’s good, because I’m always happy to see her,” Hannah said, twirling one of Penny’s pigtails with her finger.

“You headed home now?” Nell asked, gesturing at Hannah.

Hannah nodded. “I checked on the patients, and finished with the medical inventory. I tried to finish early so that I could spend a little more time with Henry.”

Nell nodded as they walked out the door. “I’ll walk through town with you. I can’t stay in the house any longer, I’m going mad!”

“Wesley’s going to grumble again,” Hannah chuckled. “He prefers it when you’re home safe.”

“He goes mad when I’m with child,” Nell said, rolling her eyes. Despite her annoyance, there was a fondness to her tone. “He likes going on the walks with me, but since you’re with me I’m sure it will be all right. Goodness, I can’t wait for this one to come along now so I can feel human again!”

“I understand what you mean.” Hannah grimaced as she glanced at Nell’s growing belly.

Nell was already eight months along, and it looked like the baby would come at any moment. Hannah and Wesley spent most of their days waiting for the first cries that indicated she was giving birth.

“Mama has a baby in her belly,” Penny said, reaching up to pat Nell’s stomach.

“I know,” Hannah gasped. “Me too. Do you think it’s going to be a boy or a girl?”

The streets were almost empty, as most people were at work or at home. It was an unseasonably hot day, and most people preferred to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.

“Girl,” Penny said, scrunching up her nose. “And her name is Penny!”

“But your name is Penny,” Hannah pointed out, tapping Penny’s nose lovingly.

James walked past, guiding a horse to the stables. He’d gotten a job at the inn earlier in the year and helped keep the guests’ horses clean and healthy. James waved enthusiastically and tipped his old cap at them.

Hannah waved back fondly.

“This Penny too,” Penny said, patting Hannah’s stomach carefully.

Nell chuckled and shook her head. “She’s so excited to meet her new sibling. I’m hoping to give her a brother. And I think Wesley would enjoy having another male around. Although he’s convinced it’s going to be another girl. He’s thinking of naming her Nancy.”

“Nancy is a pretty name,” Hannah said.

“And how about Henry?” Nell asked, placing a hand on her lower back as she groaned.

“What about him?” Hannah asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Is he excited about the new baby?”

“He doesn’t seem to quite understand what it means,” Hannah admitted. “That’s why I’m trying to spend more time with him so that he won’t feel lonely when the new baby comes along.”

Nell sighed. “I’m going to miss not having you around every day.”

“Well, I have to take a break from nursing while the new baby’s still young,” Hannah pointed out. “But don’t worry, I won’t be gone for long. Isaac’s trying to convince me to take a year off, but I think six months should be fine.”

“We’ll visit each other often,” Nell said in determination. “It’s so special that our babies will only be a couple months apart. I want them to be best friends. We have to introduce them straight away.”

“Straight away!” Penny announced.

Hannah chuckled. “All right, I hear you. We’ll make sure they see each other often.”

“Oh!” Nell grabbed hold of Hannah’s arm.

“Nell?” Hannah asked in concern. “Are you all right? Is it your birth pains?”

Nell shook her head. “No. I just thought of something. Imagine I have a boy and you have a girl… Imagine that! They’d be soulmates.”

“Let’s not plan their lives,” Hannah cautioned. “They might do exactly the opposite of that just to make their own way.”

“Own way,” Penny said, nodding seriously.

“Oh, I can’t help it,” Nell gushed, waving her hand dismissively. “Imagine that wedding… we’d finally be related. Yes, I love this.”

Hannah laughed and shook her head. “All right. I’ll let you dream. Imagine we both have boys, or two girls…”

As they walked, Hannah spotted Marcy. She raised her hand and waved. Marcy waved back with a smile, but she was busy loading the wagon along with a ranch hand so she couldn’t greet them properly.

Marcy and Roy had finally gotten married about two years before. As expected, Marcy’s father had asked Roy to work at his ranch so that Roy could eventually take over. Hannah didn’t see much of him anymore, but when they did see each other they always had a pleasant conversation.

Hannah wished him well, and from what she heard, he was doing a great job on his new ranch. During Roy and Marcy’s courtship, she’d come to see Marcy as a friend. Marcy managed to smooth out all Roy’s rough edges, and he looked at her as if she’d hung the sun in the sky.

He’d once confided in her that he hadn’t known what love was until he met Marcy. Roy admitted that he was happy that Hannah had declined his proposal all those years ago, because they’d both ended up where they were meant to be.

Hannah couldn’t agree more.

“Then they will be best friends.” Nell stopped short and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I should probably head back. I hate to say it, but Wesley was right. I’m already tired.”

“Do you want me to walk back with you?” Hannah asked carefully.

Nell shook her head. “No. We didn’t get far. I can make it back. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Hannah smiled fondly and waved at Nell and Penny. She kept an eye on them until they made it to their house. When they were inside, she turned and made her way back home. It took about half an hour, but she enjoyed the fresh air and the sight of spring creeping back across the landscape.

When she reached the door, Duke charged toward her like a bullet.

“Hello, darling,” she gushed, ruffling his ears. “Where’s Henry?”

She spotted Isaac riding in the distance with the ranch hands. They’d recently acquired more land, so the ranch was even bigger than before. It meant there was more work, but Isaac was doing an incredible job.

He’d worked closely with Roy for a year as he learned how to manage a ranch. Isaac had picked up the necessary skills faster than anyone expected, and he’d quickly reached out to other ranchers in the area to know more.

Hannah followed Duke to the house, and Rose stepped out to meet her, holding Henry on her hip. Henry lit up when he saw her, and her heart soared. She would never get used to the way she felt when Henry smiled at her. It was the deepest love she’d ever known.

“Who’s my big, handsome boy?” Hannah asked, holding out her arms to Henry.

He grinned as he threw his arms around her neck. “I missed you, Mama!”

“How about I take you with me tomorrow?” Hannah asked. “Mr. Smith’s fever broke so it should be all right.”

Henry nodded enthusiastically.

“You’ll have to bring him home early,” Rose warned. “Isaac was thinking of showing Henry how to plant seeds tomorrow.”

“Oh, goodness,” Hannah said in amusement. “We’re going to have to create a schedule for his time, otherwise we’re going to fight over him!”

“What a lucky little boy,” Rose said, smoothing Henry’s hair away from his face.

After Nell quit to marry Wesley, Hannah had struggled to find a new housekeeper. Thankfully, Rose had volunteered for the job. Her children were all becoming more independent, and Rose longed to be around young children again.

Hannah couldn’t have asked for a better housekeeper and carer for Henry. She was certain Rose would be just as big of a help with the new baby.

“Thank you, Rose,” Hannah said sincerely. “You’re welcome to go home if you’d like.”

“I think I’ll stay if that’s all right with you,” Rose said. “Janet said she’d make dinner for everyone, and Margie did all the laundry today. If I go back, I’ll only feel useless. I’ll go back tonight when we all spend time together.”

“Of course,” Hannah said, leading Henry outside.

She took a ball with her and tossed it to him. He toddled over to the ball as Duke raced him. While Duke got to the ball first, he hung back so that Henry could be the one to pick up the ball.

Hannah laughed at Henry’s gleeful expression. She kept throwing the ball until the heat got to her. When she was too tired to keep playing, Rose took over.

Hannah made her way to the porch and sat in the shade, watching as Henry ran and played. She looked up at the fields, and saw that Isaac was riding toward them. Excitement rushed through her and she stood up to greet him.

He had hardly changed over the years since their wedding. His skin was darker and there were one or two more lines etched into his face, but he was as handsome as ever. As soon as he got close, he dismounted Bullet and jogged toward her.

Isaac cupped her face in his hands and leaned in to give her a long, deep kiss. “I missed you,” he said when he pulled away.

“I saw you this morning!” Hannah laughed.

“You were gone too long,” Isaac said with a shrug. “Are you sure you don’t want to work here instead?”

Hannah rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth turned upward.

“Papa!” Henry squealed in delight.

Isaac crouched down and picked Henry up, swinging him around in the air. Henry laughed, wrapping his arms tightly around his father’s neck. Hannah watched them, holding her stomach as she imagined what it would be like when the new baby was born.

Duke made his way to her side and pressed his head under her hand. She smiled as she ruffled his ears.

“Can you believe this is our life, Duke?” Hannah asked in wonder. “I swear, there’s no one in the world who’s luckier than I am.”

Duke barked happily and Isaac turned to her. He made his way over and put one arm around her waist as he held Henry in his other arm. Hannah melted into his touch.

There was no better feeling than when they were all together as a family.

THE END