Charmed by the Traveler’s Heart – Extended Epilogue

The train rumbled along, the miles ticking by as Noah and Kitty traveled to their hometown of Burnt Branch. It had been three years since their wedding, and they were both still deliriously happy as if they had just married. They had joked many times that their honeymoon period would never be over.

Kitty was only slightly uncomfortable on the thin cushion that protected her bottom from the hard wooden bench underneath it. She had been gaining weight for the last month. It had prompted her to see the doctor in Paris, where she was sorely pressed to find someone who spoke English and could confirm what she suspected.

She hadn’t told Noah yet. She’d only known for two weeks. She’d found out the day before she’d asked Noah if they could visit Burnt Branch.

Kitty and her father had been corresponding with letters quite often. Maybe not as many as Georgia, who had decided to marry Sebastian Montascu and become an expert in all things Italian in a surprise turn of events. She had traveled back to his home country with him, as well, but the two had returned after only a few months. Georgia missed her home too much, she’d said.

Kitty was almost as anxious to tell her father as she was to tell Noah. They hadn’t really talked much about children, just that they both wanted them. She wondered how he would feel about it.

“Look at this, Kitty,” Noah said, tilting the magazine in his hands to face her. “Look at that.”

He was showing her a recent magazine photograph that depicted the three pyramids of Giza.

“This is the largest one here. It’s the pyramid of Khufu. That’s where we’ll be going first. Have I told you about these pyramids before?”

There was very little about Egypt, the pyramids, and the Sphinx that Kitty didn’t already know. She had read the same book as him, after all. He just continued his research and knew a lot more about it than she did. Whenever he started to talk about Egypt, she let him. Sometimes he reminded her of interesting facts she’d forgotten and enjoyed hearing about again.

“Yes, but what has you fascinated right now?” She turned her eyes and tilted her head to look at the magazine he was holding out to face her.

He pointed to a small spot on the pyramid.

“This is how they got in. Right through a door there that you can barely see because it was closed off when the tomb was finished. That is after Khufu was buried there. It’s 450 feet tall.”

Kitty nodded. “Yes, the largest of them all. The tallest anyway.”

Noah also nodded, his eyes still on the magazine. What he was saying wasn’t written there. All his knowledge came from his own brain. He continually impressed Kitty with it. He knew things she’d never even thought to question.

“It’s the oldest one, too, you know. There are quite a few, too, some large and some small. The Pyramid of Menkaure, you know I always like to mention that one. Djoser, the red pyramid, the pyramid of–”

“Wait a minute,” Kitty interrupted him, putting one hand on his arm. “Red Pyramid? What’s that? Do you have a picture?”

“Well, you can’t tell from the picture that it’s red, but it’s said to be. It does look darker in the pictures than the others. I reckon the only way to really know is to see it. Which we’re going to do after this visit with your father.”

Fabian had discovered after a year of traveling through Europe with Kitty and Noah that he was too old for such ventures. There was a lot of walking, some climbing and hiking, some sleepless nights as they traveled in uncomfortable positions.

Also, much to his dismay, Fabian couldn’t handle being on a ship. There was no way to travel across the ocean otherwise. So he decided to stay in America. If Kitty and Noah decided to make trips around Wyoming again or anywhere else he didn’t have to sail to, he would go.

Even though she really missed him, Kitty understood why he couldn’t come along.

“Let me see …” Noah flipped through the magazine to see if there were any pictures of it. He found one near the back and held the magazine toward her. “There it is. The Red Pyramid of Sneferu. It’s near Cairo. We’ll be going there, too. You’ll be able to see it yourself.”

Kitty gazed at the triangular building, amazed by its structure and history.

“It was built with red-colored limestone on the exterior. Built, of course, by Pharoah Sneferu. It’s about 105 meters high. The third highest after Khufu.”

“Well, I’ll be. I can’t wait to see it in person.”

The train was rumbling into the station at Burnt Branch. The station was just a road stop, really, with a platform that allowed maybe a dozen people on it and one small building the size of a storage shed for buying tickets and redeeming luggage.

Adrenaline raced through Kitty. She hadn’t been back in nearly two years. They had spent so much time traveling Europe; she hadn’t really had time to miss it. Now that she was back in the small town, she felt like she would cry.

She stepped off the train onto the platform to see her father waiting for her. She ran to him, throwing her arms out and falling into his.

“My dear Kitty. My sweet girl, look at you! Oh my. You have been eating good. You’ve gained weight. You look so healthy.”

Kitty laughed. That was one reason why she might look like she was gaining weight.

Noah and Fabian greeted each other warmly.

“I must go see Georgia and Sebastian!” Kitty said enthusiastically. “Come with me, Noah!”

“Of course, of course. But don’t you think we should spend some time with your father first?”

“He can come, too!” Kitty grabbed her father’s hand and dragged him toward the steps taking them down to the dirt lot. “You brought the buggy, right? Of course, you did. Noah, get our bags. I want to hurry. I’m anxious to see her.”

Noah laughed, hurrying to the small building to inquire how long it would be for the bags to come off the train. No one else had gotten off there, which wasn’t a surprise. So there weren’t many bags to pull from the train.

Only a few minutes later, Noah came down the steps, carrying several bags under his arms, as well as carrying two in each hand. Kitty rushed back over to him and took some from under his arms. Her father did the same on the other side.

“Oh, Noah, I wasn’t thinking. I’m so sorry.”

Her husband grinned at her, his usual good-natured self.

They were soon in the buggy heading toward town. Five minutes later, the buggy pulled up in front of the bookstore, and Kitty was jumping down. She hurried to the door and went in, looking up with a smile when the familiar bell tinkled above her head.

Sebastian was behind his desk, as he had been three years ago when she left town.

She threw her arms up in the air. “Sebastian!” she cried.

“Kitty Fleck!” Sebastian responded with just as much enthusiasm. “Aren’t you looking absolutely delightful! Come and give this old man a hug!”

“You are not an old man!”

Kitty was already in Sebastian’s arms, enjoying a warm, tight hug when she heard the voice of her best friend coming from the aisles of shelves. She broke off from Sebastian, who released her and spun around to see Georgia grinning at her.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!” Kitty jumped up and down, clapping her hands. The next moment she was hurling herself at Georgia, and the girls met in a laughing, crying hug.

“It’s been two years!” Georgia said. “I should be so angry with you for not coming back to visit sooner. But I’ll bet you’ve had just a marvelous time!”

“I have. And I can’t wait to tell you all about it. I want to have a big dinner tonight. Will you two come?”

“You better believe we will be there,” Sebastian exclaimed. “I have been waiting too long to tell Noah how jealous I am of all that he’s done.”

“But not who he married, right?” Georgia giggled, teasing her husband, going over and pressing herself against him. He grinned down at her.

“No, no, my dear. I think all women are where they need to be in Burnt Branch.” He looked at Kitty. “And you, even though you don’t live here anymore.”

“Right now,” Kitty corrected as Noah pushed the door open and came inside. “Right now, we don’t live here. But it will be where we will settle when we’re done with our travels.”

“I look forward to seeing you here all the time,” Georgia said, heading over to hug Noah. “But I’m so happy you two are doing what you want and loving it. Hello, Noah. It’s been too long.”

Noah hugged Georgia. “Hello, dear. I’m glad you didn’t feel left behind when Kitty decided to go traveling with me after we brought your father back.”

“Oh, believe me,” Georgia replied, her eyes sparkling, “I had such a wonderful time that first year with you. But yes, being home for the past two years has made huge changes to my life that I would never have done if I’d stayed on the road with you.”

“I see you’ve done quite well for yourself.” Noah shook Sebastian’s hand. “I’ve missed you, my friend. I will enjoy coming in and talking with you again.”

“As will I. How long will you two be in town?”

Noah looked at Kitty. “I’m not really sure. The little lady was missing her family and friends, so we decided to come back for a while. How long were you thinking of staying, Kitty?”

“Oh, I thought maybe a few weeks or a month. It’s not like the pyramids will move themselves or be gone somehow anytime soon.”

Her companions laughed, and she joined them.

“So that’s where you’re going next?” Georgia asked.

“Yes.” Noah nodded. He turned to Kitty and said in an apologetic voice, “I need to get to the ranch and clean up and get something to eat, Kitty. That train food was not filling at all.”

“It didn’t taste very good either,” Kitty mumbled, bringing smiles to the faces of those around her. “Okay, you two. You come to the ranch tonight about six. We’ll eat about seven. All right? Stay for a nightcap after.”

It didn’t sound like she was asking, and in a way, Kitty wasn’t. She knew her friends would only be flattered by her insisting they be there, practically demanding their presence. She had something to tell them all and was on the edge of her proverbial seat waiting to tell them.

Kitty and Noah went back out to the buggy, where her father was waiting for them. A neighbor had stopped to talk to him and greeted Kitty and Noah before walking off.

“Is Mr. Brigman doing all right?” Kitty asked as Noah helped her up into the buggy.”

Fabian nodded. “Yes. The town has decided to put on a small festival next week. He is in charge of coordinating and has been speaking to me about donating some of my time to help out.”

“Oh, that sounds like fun!” Kitty said, bouncing slightly in her seat. “I’ll help, too. I haven’t been able to give back to my little town here in too long!” She smiled at her husband. “Noah, you can give lectures and speeches for the festival. I’ll bet they’d set up a room for that in the community hall.”

Noah nodded, his face interested. “I like the sound of that. Yes. I will offer my services to Mr. Brigman. Let him set it all up for me, so all I have to do is show up.”

Fabian and Kitty laughed.

“I’m sure he’d be delighted to set up a place for you to give lectures on Egypt or history,” Fabian said confidently.

Fifteen minutes later, Fabian turned the buggy onto the drive going up to their house. Kitty’s eyes filled with tears. Two years had felt like two decades. She’d missed her home and her father more than she realized.

“It feels so good to be home,” she murmured, gazing lovingly at the tall building in front of her. She turned her eyes to look up at Noah. “You should consider this your home while you’re here, Noah. You only lived here with us for a few weeks before we left to go traveling. You probably don’t feel like it’s your home, do you?”

Noah raised his eyebrows. “No, I reckon not. Not really. But that’s okay. It’s your home, and I feel at home here just because you’re here. Home is where the heart is, right?”

Kitty smiled warmly. “Yes.”

“I’ve set up the room you two occupied before. Well, had it cleaned anyway.” Fabian pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the porch steps. “I never really changed it, other than the bedclothes, which have been freshly laundered. The room has been dusted and cleaned, the windows and the floors included. There is a new rug in there. I think you’ll like it.”

“I’m sure we will, Papa.”

The house was just as she remembered. Fabian had changed very little about it. She ran to the kitchen and poked her head in to say hello to the servants. The cook was unfamiliar to her, so she went in and extended her hand.

“I’m Kitty. And you are?”

“Ah, Miss Kitty!” The small woman looked highly energetic. “It is so good to meet you. Your father has done nothing but sing your praises since I was hired. He loves you very much, doesn’t he?”

Kitty laughed. “Yes, I believe he does. You’ve been treating him well, right? Making good food for him?”

“Yes, Miss. I always strive to serve the best. And he deserves it.”

Kitty giggled, leaning down to the woman, who must have been at least three inches shorter than she was. “I have a special announcement to make at dinner. Will you bake a cake for us, so we can celebrate?”

“I certainly will, Miss.”

“It’s not miss anymore,” Kitty said with a laugh, “even if my father gives that impression. Just call me Kitty. And you are?”

“Daniella. Wonderful to meet you, Kitty. I’ll be sure to get right on this special cake of yours.” She winked at Kitty, causing a thrill to run through Kitty’s chest.

Four hours later, at precisely six o’clock, the knock on the door signified the arrival of Sebastian and Georgia, who were the only ones Kitty had invited. She rushed to the door and led them to the dining room with great fervor.

“My goodness, you are excited this evening,” Georgia said, pulling Kitty to the side as her husband went into the dining room to greet the men waiting there. “What are you up to? You are so mysterious.”

Kitty giggled, tempted to let Georgia in on her secret early. She thought about it for a moment and decided it couldn’t hurt if Georgia already knew. If there was one person she trusted to keep her business, it was her former maid and present best friend. She leaned toward Georgia, cupping one hand around her mouth and whispering in her ear, “I’m going to have a baby.”

Georgia let out a delighted squeak and jumped up and down, clapping her hand softly.

“You can’t let them know yet!” Kitty exclaimed, pushing Georgia’s hands down and glancing over her shoulder into the dining room. Fortunately, the men were all in there talking and laughing about something or other.

“I’m going to tell him tonight after dinner.”

“Oh, how can you wait so long? I can’t believe you haven’t told him yet. Unless you mean your father. I would have told Sebastian the moment I found out.”

“I wasn’t sure. I wanted to see a doctor first. I saw Dr. Spradlin right before I left, and he confirmed it for me.”

“Oh my. I don’t think I would have lasted five minutes, much less a train ride that had to take a day or two.”

“I’ve been anxious about telling him because I’m not sure how he’ll react. We’re finally going to Egypt, after all. I don’t know if he will want to take our child with us.”

“You’ll never know until you ask.”

They were barely inside the dining room when Kitty could no longer resist. It wasn’t made easier when Noah looked at her suspiciously, his eyes moving from her to Georgia.

“Looks like you two have a secret,” he said in a wise voice.

Kitty’s eyebrows shot up, and she shared an astonished but happy look with Georgia.

“Yes, I suppose we do,” she said.

Noah’s eyes turned to Georgia. “Oh really? Is there something you need to tell your husband, Georgia?”

Kitty and Georgia looked at each other again and burst out laughing.

“What?” Sebastian asked, his voice a tad concerned. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

“No,” Georgia replied through her laughter. “But there is something Kitty needs to be telling Noah.”

Kitty was delighted when the blood drained from Noah’s face. His mouth fell open, and she could see him breathing rapidly.

“Kitty?”

Kitty stuck the tip of her tongue out between her teeth, grinning wide and nodding.

“We’re going to have a child?” Noah practically screamed the question.

Everyone in the room started laughing.

“Yes, husband,” Kitty responded, barely getting the words out through her laughing and crying at the same time. “We are going to have our own little baby. I just found out. I was wondering whether you were ready, whether you wanted to take a child traveling. I don’t really want to stop. Not yet.”

Noah had his arms around her moments later.

“Our children are going to love seeing the world,” he murmured. “I love you so much, Kitty.”

“I love you, too, Noah. Forever.”

THE END

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