Rescued by the Guarded Rancher – Extended Epilogue

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Daniel paused at the entrance to the sitting room, taking advantage of the moment to watch Samantha before she realized he was there. She was sitting in the rocking chair he’d made for her a month ago, swaying back and forth, the soft glow of the fire reflecting on her face.

She held a baby blanket in her hands, knitting needles flashing as she worked. He cleared his throat, stepping inside. He’d come in through the back door after finishing chores.

He enjoyed the little moments when he was able to observe Samantha without her noticing. He loved the peace on her face, the soft smiles she let play on her lips as she looked down at her swollen stomach.

Samantha looked up from her knitting, her eyebrows raising and her eyes widening.

“Daniel! You startled me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. You’re just so beautiful, sitting there like that. I had to watch for a minute.”

Samantha shook her head, her cheeks flushing a deep red. He stopped beside her chair and leaned down, kissing her lips gently, savoring the moment.

They’d moved into their own cabin on the property, which was even a little bigger than the main house. He’d built it over the last eight months with Thomas and Samuel’s help. He wanted a space for himself and Samantha to start over, to be able to be their own little family, and to not feel self-conscious for spending time with one another.

Not that Margaret would judge. If anything, she was ecstatic that they were married and enjoying their relationship. Even so, Daniel thought it was the right thing to do.

When he pulled back from the kiss, he reached out and placed his hand on her stomach.

“How is the little one tonight? Is he moving around again?”

“He?” Samantha shook her head with a little smile. “You’re so sure about that, aren’t you?”

“Positive. I’m telling you that I’ve never felt one way or another that a person’s baby is a boy or girl, but with ours, I just have this feeling.”

Samantha laughed. “Well, if it is a boy or a girl, we will love them.”

“Yes. We will love him.” Daniel reached out and took her hand with his free one. “Oh. I have something for you.”

He let go of her hand for a moment, pulling a simple envelope from his pocket. It was a letter from Henry, Samantha’s brother. He still wasn’t any happier about her writing to Henry than he had been when they married. In fact, he hated it. But he had no choice, no reason to keep Samantha from communicating with her only remaining brother.

She insisted that he’d changed and that he was different from the way he used to be, but Daniel wasn’t so sure. He was willing to give Henry the benefit of the doubt for Samantha’s sake, but it wasn’t easy.

“Oh! Henry wrote back.” Samantha reached for the letter, tearing open the top and pulling out a single sheet of paper. “Do you want me to read it out loud?”

“Sure.” Daniel frowned, waiting for Henry’s excuses and reasons for his actions, or asking his sister for pity because of the situation he was in.

Neither came. As she read the letter in her soft voice, he found his own heart softening just a little toward Henry. It was harder and harder to convince himself that Henry hadn’t changed.

Dear Samantha,

I hope you are doing well, and that both you and Daniel are ready for the baby. I’ll be an uncle soon, I suppose. My only regret is that I won’t be there to welcome him into the world.

You having a baby, it has me thinking about everything. I’m not sure how much of a proper apology I’ve given you for everything that happened. I can see now that the only reason I tried to drag you to do what I wanted was because I was selfish. I was focused on what others thought of me, what I had, and what I could get. I didn’t stop to think about what it was doing to you. Every line I crossed led to the next.

I want you to know that I don’t deserve you as my sister. I don’t deserve your trust or your forgiveness. I hope that one day, you can at least think of me without disdain, but if not, I understand. I have damaged our relationship so terribly. I know you will make a wonderful mother, and Daniel a wonderful father. While I can’t be there to see your family blossom, I know you will do a good job.

Henry

Samantha grew quiet after she’d finished reading.

“He’s sorry. Did you hear that? I can hear it.”

Daniel nodded. “It sounds like he’s coming around.”

Samantha folded the letter and turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You know, he will get out one day, and I’d like to see if we can have a relationship again. Things weren’t always bad with Henry, you know.”

“I know.” Daniel sighed. “For now, I’ll settle on getting our baby born safely.”

Samantha nodded, then her face twisted in a strange expression.

“Did I say something you don’t agree with?” Daniel raised an eyebrow.

“No, I…” Samantha gripped her stomach, her face going pale. “I think the baby is coming now.”

—*—

The panic on Daniel’s face was immediately visible as soon as Samantha said the words. The baby was definitely coming. The second pain was worse. She’d been having little aches and pains all day but had ignored them, remembering how Dr. Freedman said it could be her body preparing for the baby.

“What should we do?” Daniel shot up to his feet, fear on his face, mingled with awe and shock.

“We need to get help. Can you fetch Lisa, and then get the doctor?” Samantha stood up and started walking the length of the sitting room. She’d been waiting so long for their baby to be born, to be a mother, and now that it was actually happening, it felt too good to be true.

She took a deep breath, as a third pain pulsed through her.

“We don’t have enough time.”

“No. We don’t.” She was confused about how fast the pains were coming. Perhaps the pain from earlier had been a lot more than practice pains and could have been the real thing.

“I’ll get Margaret, and send Thomas for Lisa and the doctor.” Daniel hurried to the door as she groaned in pain.

She looked around for any sort of relief, but there was none. She was alone in the cabin, waiting for the others to come back for her. She paced back and forth, trying to hold the pain inside.

She could feel the baby kicking around, as if testing out his actions for when he was born. After what felt like forever, the door burst open and Margaret rushed to her side.

“Goodness, the time has come. Whatever you need, just tell me.”

Samantha nodded at the woman who had become a motherly figure for her in the past year.

“Don’t worry, I have her. Why don’t all of you go and wait for the doctor?” Margaret shooed everyone else out and then turned to Samantha. “We’re going to get through this,” she said, and Samantha believed they really would.

—*—

When Daniel spotted Samuel and Lisa walking up the road, he immediately felt relief. He wouldn’t have to face it alone any longer. Every terrible noise from inside the house made him fear for Samantha’s life.

“Everything okay? You look like you’re about to lose consciousness.” Samuel grinned as he approached, his arm around Lisa, comforting, pulling her close. The two had married three months before, to no one’s surprise. It seemed as if they were intended for each other.

Daniel was happy for Samuel. They still joked that their children would grow up beside one another.

“I’m fine, it’s just…nerve-wracking, hearing all of that and not being able to do anything to help.” Daniel took another deep breath. He hadn’t expected it to be so terrifying, listening to his wife in labor.

Lisa came forward, a bit shyly. “Can I go in?”

“Of course.” Daniel motioned for her to go right ahead. “Samantha is expecting you.”

Lisa nodded, then disappeared from view. Daniel had thought of trying to accompany her, but Margaret had warned that men had no place in the labor room.

Daniel tended to agree, because the only thing worse than hearing Samantha suffering from afar would have been watching it happen. He sat down on the porch steps, and Samuel sat beside him. The next couple of hours passed slowly, as if each minute were multiplied by ten.

When at last the strong cry of a baby ripped through the still evening, Daniel leaped to his feet. He turned and rushed into the house. He could hear Samuel calling after him, but didn’t care. Their baby was born. All he had to find out was if his wife and baby were all right.

Daniel almost ran into Dr. Freedman in the hall. He had been able to convince the doctor to stay in town for two weeks, waiting for Samantha’s due date.

“How is she?” Daniel asked, breathless.

“She’s okay. They’re both okay and perfect. Make sure you knock before you go into her room. You want to make sure they’re prepared for you.”

Daniel nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Freedman.”

“It’s nothing.” Dr. Freedman grinned and motioned toward the door of the room that Daniel shared with Samantha. He knocked lightly, and a second later, the door creaked open.

There was Samantha, the epitome of beauty. She was wearing a white nightgown. Her skin was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and a soft smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were trained on a little bundle snuggled up against her side.

“It’s a boy,” Samantha said, with the biggest smile he’d ever seen. “Do you want to hold him?”

Daniel approached carefully. He hadn’t held a baby since just after Thomas was born.

So much had changed between him and Thomas over the past year. He’d married Emily, and despite that, they were still friends. He’d even seen Emily on more than one occasion, and it had been fine.

Daniel forced himself back to the present. He scooped up the baby and settled down on the edge of Samantha’s bed. He stared down into the sweetest little face he’d ever seen. Perfect pink lips, blue eyes, and little hands that waved in the air looked back up at him.

He looked over to Samantha. She was smiling at him lovingly, happily.

“Isn’t he perfect?” She sighed, then frowned. “What will we name him?”

“I’m not sure. Didn’t you say your father’s name was Liam?”

“Yes.” Samantha frowned. “Why?”

“I think that would make a good name for him. Liam Neil Callahan.”

Samantha nodded. “It’s perfect.”

“Liam it is, then.” Daniel settled the baby back in Samantha’s arms before kissing her again. “Everyone is waiting to meet him.”

Samantha blushed. “They can come in for a minute. They should meet him.”

Daniel stood and went to the door, opening it and motioning for Samuel and Thomas to come in. Lisa and Margaret were already by Samantha’s bed, trying to dote on her.

Taking his time, he introduced his son to the world. As he did, Daniel said a prayer to God for protection and for blessings for his small family, and guidance for his future. God hadn’t let him down yet. He’d given him a wife, a child, and friends who all loved one another. He wasn’t sure what else he could want. He was fairly certain there was nothing. Nothing at all.

Daniel took hold of Samantha’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze as Lisa cooed over the baby.

“I love you,” Daniel said to her.

“I love you too.” She beamed up at him. “I’m ready for this new adventure.”

With Samantha, God, and his community beside him, so was Daniel.

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Grab my new series, "Hearts of the Untamed West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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