A Sheriff to Rescue Her Heart – Extended Epilogue

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Tessa

Addy jumped up and down, tugging on the sleeve of Tessa’s shirt. 

“Are we almost there?” 

Tessa smiled at her four-year-old daughter. She was a bundle of energy, always with a question to repeat. Her younger brother, Andy, sat peacefully in Tessa’s lap. It would be his second birthday in a few days. 

“Yes, Addy, we’re almost there.” 

Upon becoming a mother four years ago, Tessa had thought she was ready. Still, every single day with Addy, and then Andy, was a learning experience. 

“Somebody’s excited,” Liam chuckled. 

“I want to see Uncle Ronald and Uncle Ian.” Addy jumped up and down in the back of the wagon, holding herself up with the back of the wagon seat where Tessa and Liam were sitting. 

“They’re excited to see you, too, I’m sure,” Tessa assured Addy. The girl’s energy was infectious. 

She felt a pang of worry that Addy would find leaving hard. They’d explained it a few times, but she just four and didn’t completely understand. 

There were only two weeks left before they left Red Rock and moved to Wheaton. It was a growing town, about two days away, that was badly in need of a sheriff. 

“I’m going to miss this,” Tessa said softly, leaning her head on Liam’s shoulder. 

“Me too.” His voice was gentle, full of feeling. 

She knew it would be hard for him to leave behind the community they’d built around them. Her brother Ian and Annie, still her best friend. Ronald and his new wife, Maggie. They were all a part of their lives, and their extended family in a way. 

Liam pulled the wagon around the bend and the river came into view, as well as Ronald, Maggie, Ian, Annie, and all the children. Addy let out a squeal and clapped her hands. Even though she was the oldest of the children, she loved playing with the younger ones. 

As soon as the wagon stopped, Tessa stepped down and set the children down just as Annie approached her for a hug. 

“I’m so glad you guys are here,” Annie said, pulling back. We don’t have many of these get-togethers left, do we?” 

“I suppose we don’t.” Tessa shook her head.

“Are you sure you and Liam want to leave?”

Tessa wavered for a moment. “We don’t want to, but Wheaton really needs our help—Liam’s, specifically. He’s a good sheriff, and they need someone who knows how to clean up a town.” 

Annie nodded, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and scooping up her one-year-old daughter Nancy as she tugged at Annie’s skirt. 

“At least it isn’t too far. Maybe we’ll still see one another.” Annie frowned. 

“Or maybe you’ll move to Wheaton too!” Tessa loved the idea, though she knew it wasn’t likely. 

Her gaze landed on her brother, who had Annie’s and his first baby, a son, in his arms. Their children were all of similar ages. Ian was laughing, a sparkle in his eye. 

There were times when Tessa still had nightmares about how she’d found him in the mine, so close to death. God had led her to him and had given him a second chance at life. 

Even though he had become beyond wealthy with his gold mine, he hadn’t really changed who he was as a person. He lived a simple life and took care of his friends and family. He’d become close with both Liam and Ronald. The three of them were as thick as thieves. 

“If you hadn’t found him four years ago…” Annie shook her head, a hint of remembrance in her eyes. “I think about that sometimes. Did you know he still writes to Nicky sometimes?”

“He does?” Tessa’s eyes widened. She couldn’t have imagined that her brother kept up contact with Nicky. 

“Yes.” Annie’s gaze softened. “He’s completely forgiven Nicky, and while I don’t think he’ll ever forget, I do believe Ian wants Nicky to find God in a real way.” 

“Has he?” Tessa remembered how Ian had written Nicky before. 

“He has. Or at least he says he has. He’s taken it upon himself to help others in jail, to try to bring them to Christianity. Perhaps that is where his ministry is now.” 

Tessa nodded. She had also forgiven Nicky, only because it was no good to hold on to those bitter feelings from the past. She was glad he had turned over a new leaf, and something good was coming from what he’d done. However, he would spend another ten to fifteen years locked up. 

She was happy that she didn’t have to worry about Nicky showing up in town or coming around her or the children any time soon. What he’d done to her, and to Ian, playing them against one another while Ian was languishing away—there was no way to completely forget that. 

Tessa shuddered, and her gaze landed on Maggie, Ronald’s wife. She was a short, stocky woman with curly black hair, rosy cheeks, and a bright smile. 

“We should talk to Maggie. I want to make her feel welcome.” Tessa looped her arm through Annie’s free one and led the way. She liked Maggie and was sad she wouldn’t have time to build their friendship much before Tessa and Liam went further west. 

But as hard as it was to say goodbye to her friends and start over, God was calling both her and Liam to new territories. They were going to make a difference, both by protecting others who needed it and befriending those who had no friends. 

She exchanged glances with Annie. She wanted to be what Annie had been to her, her only friend when she was alone. Doing what was right took sacrifice, and Tessa was willing to go on life’s next adventure—as long as Liam was right there beside her. 

Liam

“Look how he’s growing!” Liam gave Micah’s little hand a shake. He was two years old, and Ian’s firstborn son. 

“He really is, soon enough, he’ll be taller than me, especially the next time you see him.” Ian’s expression fell ever so slightly, and Ronald shook his head. 

“You sure you want to leave? I know Wheaton needs a sheriff, but what about the people in this town?” Ronald’s frown deepened. 

“That’s where you come in. I’ve already cleared it, and you have the job if you want it.” 

“As sheriff?” Ronald’s mouth fell open, and his eyes widened. 

“Yes, as sheriff.” Liam chuckled. “You’ll make as good of, if not a better sheriff than I did. Isn’t that right, Ian?”

“You know it’s right.” Ian clapped a hand on Ronald’s shoulder. “Besides, soon, you may have your own little deputy to train up on the way.” 

Ronald shook his head and looked a little emotional. “We don’t know if Maggie is having a boy or a girl yet.” 

Liam grinned. “Whichever it is, I’m sure you’ll make a great father. So, how do you feel about being sheriff?”

“I… am a little overwhelmed. I’m happy about it, though.” Ronald sighed. “You know, Wheaton will be close enough that if I ever needed help with a case or a consultation, I could make the trip.” 

Liam chuckled. “I’m counting on it. What about you, are you going to survive here without your sister?” he asked Ian. 

They’d all spent so much time together that Ian felt like his brother, too. He remembered the long days and nights hunting Ian down, finding him, rescuing him. 

“I’m sure I’ll survive. We’ll visit, no doubt, and write to each other. I know she’ll be happy with you.” 

Liam’s heart swelled at his brother-in-law’s words. He loved Tessa, and he would never ask her to leave town and everything she loved if it wasn’t something she wanted as well. He saw her love for God and how much she wanted to serve others, even if it meant sacrificing what had become important to them. 

Ronald would make a wonderful sheriff, and Matt would help find a new deputy. All of them would be perfectly all right, and yet he would miss this town. 

The rest of the picnic passed quickly, much faster than he would have liked. Before he knew it, he was gathering Addy, Andy, and Tessa and saying goodbye to everyone. 

The sun started to set as they headed toward home. Their town had grown only safer since they’d put away Nicky and his men. He and Ronald worked with Matt to hunt down every gang member they could find. They’d built up a reputation that, for a criminal, their town was one he’d want to skip. 

Liam wanted the opportunity to do it all again. He saw how much families appreciated his work and the safety they depended on. 

“So,” Tessa looked over at him, “are you ready for this?”

“I’m as ready as I’ve ever been for a big change.” Liam grinned. “We still have a couple of weeks before we actually leave, and I’m growing more excited as the days pass.” 

“I… have one more big change we might want to be ready for.” Tessa smiled over at him, her bright red hair framing her face and her green eyes glimmering with mischief. 

“Do you mean?” His gaze flickered to her stomach, where her hand rested. 

“Yes. We’re expecting a third.” She looked back at the children, who were in the back of the wagon. 

They were sitting against the side, and Addy was telling Andy a story. Their youngest was lulling himself to sleep, staring up at the horizon where the sun was setting. 

“I suppose our little family isn’t going to be so little anymore.” Liam closed his eyes for a second, imagining another little bundle to call his own. “I like it.” 

“Me too.” Tessa let out a long sigh. “You know, one day I thought that all of this was just a far-fetched dream, but it’s all coming true. We have beautiful children, and we have a mission to help others. I… I feel so blessed.” 

“As do I.” Liam wrapped an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and kissed her forehead, pulling her close. 

Tessa had become a part of him over the years. She was his other half, and he couldn’t imagine life without her. There would be many challenges—leaving their town, starting over, having a new baby—but he was prepared to do all of it by Tessa’s side, with God looking after them. 

He’d learned to be a better sheriff by facing all that God had put in his path, and whatever else God had prepared for him, he would be ready to grow and learn from it.

He put his hand out on Tessa’s stomach and prayed a short prayer for protection over his newest child and his family. He had a feeling that challenges were coming, and yet all he could do was feel excited to find out what they would be and face them with the love of his life by his side. 

Liam pulled the wagon up to their house just as the last of the sun disappeared over the horizon and the moon cast its light over the ranch. His gaze drifted to the children, who had fallen asleep in the back of the wagon. He reached up to help Tessa down, placing his hands on her waist, twirling her around, and pulling her into his arms as he kissed her lips. 

When he pulled back, she was studying him. 

“What was that for?” she whispered breathlessly. 

“Just because.” He chuckled. “I feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world.” 

Tessa leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I suppose that makes me the luckiest woman.” 

The two of them stared into one another’s eyes, holding the moment in their hearts, before everything would inevitably change.  

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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!

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