Rescued by Love’s Medicine – Extended Epilogue

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

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

---

Eleven Months Later

“Now, we can move on to the community announcements. It is my sincere pleasure to tell you all that Stephen Rivers and Vivian Oakley are engaged, to be married in the new year,” the pastor declared, to much joy from the congregation. 

Darryl looked down the pew to see where his sister and Stephen were sitting, both blushing from the publicity. Stephen looked very bashful, whereas Vivian was waving to everyone as if she were the Queen of England. As much as she was enjoying the spotlight of the new engagement, she had revealed to him earlier that very morning that she was glad not to have the pressure of being “Darryl & Alma,” Bleak Hills’ own “Romeo & Juliet,” only with a much happier ending.

Beside him, Alma reached for his hand and led it to her protruding belly just in time to feel the baby growing inside kick. He felt the small foot make contact with him through Alma’s stomach and held back his surprise at the sensation so as not to disturb the rest of the congregation. It was strange and wonderful all at once to think that kick came from what would soon be their baby. 

He gave Alma a big smile, trying not to think about everything that still needed to be done before the baby came. He needed to finish work on the crib and cradle, which Alma was far less concerned about than he was. She was probably right. With three months left to finish the work, Darryl was likely more preoccupied with the pressure of being a father in the first place.

Guilt had something to do with it as well. Just as they found out Alma was pregnant she’d also received acceptance to a medical school in Cheyenne. She’d had to delay for a year on account of the baby, and Darryl wanted more than anything that it wasn’t a permanent postponement. For her part, Alma didn’t seem worried in the least. She’d taken to the pregnancy quite well and seemed to be excited about the prospect of moving to Cheyenne the following year. 

“How are you feeling?” Mrs. Mott asked her daughter outside in the churchyard following the service. 

“Heavy and tired, but it’s wonderfully strange to feel what the body is capable of. Honestly, I think this experience will only help my medical practise. And to think I wasn’t sure if I wanted this at all!” Alma said with a laugh, looking up to Darryl to assure him she was only kidding.

“It’s a point of pride that I changed your mind on the subject of marriage and family,” Darryl replied with a humble nod.

“Hardly changed my mind. You just made it all seem possible.” 

“You know, your father has been telling everyone who will listen that you are going to medical school,” Mrs. Mott revealed conspiratorially. She gestured over to where Dr. Mott was talking to the town mayor. “He’s probably bragging about it right now.”

Alma was already glowing, but she looked positively radiant to know that her father was so proud of her. 

“I think he’s just excited to know he’ll be able to pass the sanatorium on to someone in the family. Or maybe, he’s just looking forward to retirement as soon as I get my degree and take over!” Alma joked, but Darryl could tell she was chuffed regardless.

“I should get him. If I don’t remind him we’re having Mr. and Mrs. Oakley over for lunch, then he’ll just talk and talk until the sun goes down. See you both soon!” Mrs. Mott said, kissing them both on the cheek before hurrying over to fetch her husband. 

“They look sweeter together than I’ve ever seen,” Darryl noticed out loud. Dr. Mott put his arm out for his wife and patted her hand affectionately. The Dr. Mott of only two years earlier would have probably stormed out of the churchyard ahead of his wife without a thought to walking with her.

“I know. It’s very nice to see. It … gives me hope. Anyone can change, and the flame of love can reignite even in the harshest of atmospheres,” Alma mused.

Darryl nodded along. He knew that matters were still slightly strained between Alma and her father, but they’d both taken great strides to mend the bridge. The quiet and not-so-quiet ways in which he showed respect for her as a woman, a future doctor, and his daughter were finally aligning in the ways Alma had always wished for. 

“Speaking of happy couples, we should probably go congratulate Stephen and Vivian on the announcement. Where are–” Darryl stopped talking abruptly as he turned around to find his sister, only to see that she and her future husband were talking to none other than Sheriff Rivers. 

Only, he wasn’t the sheriff anymore. The months had not been kind to Tom Rivers. He’d slowly started shifting responsibilities to Stephen until the day finally came when he said he wanted to give up his position altogether and move to his hunting cabin outside town. Stephen had tried to talk him out of isolating himself like that, but he couldn’t be talked out of it. 

“What is it?” Alma asked, turning to look at what had caught Darryl’s attention. 

“It’s Tom Rivers. Talking to Stephen and Vivian.” 

Alma got a quick look then whipped her head back in Darryl’s direction. Darryl looked away too, not wanting Tom to catch them both staring.

“It’s been ages since I saw him,” Alma whispered.

“I know. Me too. Not since … since he stumbled into town that one night ranting and raving about how no one appreciates him. He looks a lot better now.”

“Is he clean-shaven?” Alma asked.

Darryl flicked his eyes up to get a better look. 

“Yes, he’s clean-shaven. And his clothes look laundered. He almost looks better than he used to before … before everything. Was he there for the whole service?” he asked. As far he knew, Tom had stopped coming to church ages ago.

Alma shrugged. “Who knows. We have to go talk to Alma and Stephen as soon as we can. I have to know what they’re talking about!”

Darryl laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day when you turned into as much of a gossip as my sister is.”

She smiled and hit his arm affectionately. “There’s wisdom in trading information, and that’s all that gossip is. Whoever said otherwise doesn’t understand how humans work. Is he still with them?” 

The coast was clear, so Darryl led her over to where Stephen and Vivian were talking. She leaned on him more than usual, what with the extra weight she was carrying. Most of the congregation had long dispersed, ready to go to their Sunday lunches. 

“Did we just see who we thought we saw?” Alma asked as soon as they reached the newly engaged couple. 

“You can still see him walking toward his horse now,” Stephen replied, pointing toward the hitching post in the distance. Sure enough, there was the former Sheriff Rivers, hoisting himself up and starting to ride away. His shoulders were slimmer and still hunched, but he certainly looked as if the solitude was suiting him.

“What was he doing here?” Darryl asked.

“He heard about the engagement. I guess someone told him it was going to get announced today, so he wanted to come to the service. Cleaned up nicely for the occasion, too,” Vivian noted. 

Stephen sounded more skeptical. “It’s not hard to look clean when you only show your face once every three months.”

“We need to show him mercy,” Vivian argued. Then, she turned to Alma and Darryl, and further explained, “You see, we’re trying to decide whether to invite him to the wedding. Stephen’s worried he’ll make a scene.”

“Because he’s been known to do just that,” Stephen interjected. 

“Yes, but he’s starting to make an effort, and we should reward that. Show him that good things can come to him if he tries. You know the pastor would tell us to show mercy! Think of how Alma and her father have come together again.”

Alma nodded. “It’s true. We’ve reached something like a truce. These matters take time. Don’t rush yourself, Stephen. The wedding isn’t until the new year, so he has plenty of time to work his way back into your hearts by then.”

“Are you sure you’d be comfortable having him around?” Darryl asked, concerned that his wife might be stifling her true feelings for the sake of a reconciliation between Stephen and his father.

“Me? Oh, I’m sure it would be fine. We’d hardly have to speak to one another. We don’t all have to make peace, but I can certainly exist in the same room as him,” she insisted. 

“For what it’s worth, he does feel very badly for how he acted. He’s said it many times,” Stephen said. 

“I believe it. Oh, it looks like some clouds are rolling in. We should get home and pull the laundry in before it starts raining.” Alma tugged Darryl’s arm, and he looked up at the sky. Sure enough, dark, gloomy clouds were rolling in, and it was at least a half-hour walk home. Normally, Darryl would have insisted they take the wagon, but Alma had said she wanted a walk, and he wasn’t in a position to argue with her.

“Can we give you a lift home?” Stephen offered, reading Darryl’s mind.

“No thank you. I’m enjoying the fresh air. Besides, something still gives me tingles about walking up to our own house. The view from the top of the hill is so picturesque,” Alma replied. 

Darryl knew exactly what she was talking about. The house had formerly been a work cabin on the edge of the lumber yard that his father’s construction company used. The lumber yard had since been moved, and he and Alma had set about converting the cabin into a proper house, with the help of Darryl’s father. Now, it was a wonderfully cozy place, settled in a valley ridden with wildflowers and new growth exploding out of where the lumber used to sit. 

“I’m almost sorry we won’t be able to stay in the house for longer,” Alma said dreamily as they approached the house a while later. The clouds had held off for just the right amount of time, but in a few more minutes, they would surely open up. 

“Because we have to leave for medical school? It’ll be alright. This home will be waiting for us when we return. I have a feeling that when you’re a fancy doctor running the sanatorium, however, you’re going to want a finer house that reflects your station in this world,” he teased.

“Oh, you know me, such a fancy lady! If you’re offering to build me a house, Darryl Oakley, I’m certainly not going to refuse. Either way, you should build it here. Right where it all started for us, and where our child is going to see the world for the first time. It’s hard to imagine I’d ever outgrow this valley.” 

He put his arm around her just as large, fat raindrops started falling from the sky. It was light for a few seconds, but soon it was pouring down on them. Alma started laughing.

“I’m sorry I can’t run!”

“No need! Just think about the warm clothes you’re going to change into and the roaring fire I’ll have started in no time. You can hold your feet close while I read to you, and have a cup of cocoa, and–”

Just before they got to the door, Alma stopped him, pulling his face down toward hers and planting the perfect kiss on his lips. Rain was pouring down around them and surely some leaks waiting to be dealt with inside. Darryl did his best to memorize that moment. An imperfect, impeccable, mess of warmth and love. 

Readers who read this book also liked

---

OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

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

---