A Sister’s Hope on the Western Trail – Extended Epilogue

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One Year Later

Eddie

Eddie looked down at Clara. He didn’t want to bother her, not with how little sleep she’d been getting lately. 

Being pregnant, growing their child, it had taken a toll on her, and he’d noticed how many times she was up at night, either due to a pain here and there or to use the bathroom. 

She opened her eyes, a smile pulling at her lips as her gaze met his. 

“Good morning.” 

“Good morning, my love.” He sat down beside her, leaning in to kiss her forehead and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I was hoping that you’d be able to rest today.” 

Clara shook her head, struggling to sit up, and used him as a support to get to the edge of the bed, her legs hanging over the side. 

“You know that I just wake up with the sun, whether I want to or not.” Clara smiled and held his hand to get up. She glanced at her stomach, laying a hand there lovingly. “I had a dream that it was a girl.” 

“Well, I’d be mighty happy with that, then I’d have two perfect women in my life.” 

Clara giggled at his words, her cheeks turning pink. She thought he was joking, but he meant every word he said when he complimented her. She was beautiful, and the prettiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on. 

He still thanked God for sending Clara to him, for knowing the person he needed to heal his past.

As Clara headed toward the bedroom door, she paused and then reached for the wall with one hand while cradling her stomach with the other. 

“I … think …” She couldn’t speak, pulling in sharp breaths. “The baby, something feels different.”

Eddie shot up, racing to her side. He put a hand on her back, peering down at her. 

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think anything is wrong. I think the baby is coming.” Her voice grew strained as she hunched over, clutching her stomach and letting out a soft groan. “We need to get the doctor.” 

“Of course.” Eddie put his hand on her cheek for a brief moment. “I’ll get Nathan or Jacob, and they’ll get the doctor while I come back and help.” 

Clara nodded, as if it were too hard to respond. Then, as he bolted from the room, she managed to say something behind him. 

“Tell Eloise to come, too. I need her.” 

Eddie swallowed hard, his heart racing too fast to try to stop it. He had heard terrible stories of childbirth, of people who passed away while trying to bring their child to the world. 

He’d had nightmares about it and had spent countless hours praying to God for protection when it came time for Clara to give birth to their child, so that it would be safe for both of them. 

The idea of losing her, of losing their little family before they even got to start it, was like a vice, gripping his chest. He didn’t know how he could get past that. 

He nearly ran smack into Jacob, who was coming around the corner of the barn. 

“I was just about to come find you and …” Jacob stopped, his eyes jumping to Eddie’s face. “What’s wrong?” 

“Clara.” Eddie struggled for breath. His lungs were already taking a toll with the short run he’d taken so far. “She’s in labor. She needs the doctor and Eloise. Can you get them?”

“Of course.” Jacob dropped the bucket of water he’d been carrying. He only paused for a moment, hopping on his feet, as if he were trying to decide the fastest way to get to the doctor, to bring help. “I’ll tell Eloise on my way and get the doctor. Don’t worry, I won’t be long!” 

Eddie only watched him go for another second before he turned and went back to the house. Clara was not in bed but pacing the parlor floor. She barely acknowledged him as he matched her pace, back and forth. He reached over to touch her back or forehead when he thought it might help in some way. No matter what he did, he felt helpless, and he hated seeing her in pain. When she stopped in between the pains, she tried to reassure him, to calm him, and it made him feel worse. He should be the one calming her. 

He spotted Eloise running up the porch and letting herself in through the door. 

“Clara is in labor?” she asked, her eyes as wide as saucers. 

“She is. I keep trying to help, but I don’t think I’m doing much. Thank goodness you’re here.” Eddie took a step toward the door. 

“I’m right here, both of you,” Clara spoke up, an exasperated huff in her voice. She wasn’t able to expand on her words before she knelt over with fresh pain. 

“I’ve got you! I’m right here.” Eloise rushed past Eddie and took her spot beside her sister. “Nathan is outside. If you need anything, he’ll be there.” 

Eddie nodded, and after checking in on Clara one more time, placing a tender kiss on her forehead, he hurried out to the porch. He didn’t want to make the women uncomfortable and was going to go crazy watching Clara in so much pain, unable to help her at all. 

He paused at the door, wondering if he was making the right choice, when Clara used her hand to shoo him on. 

“Go,” she urged. “I’ll send someone if I need anything.” 

She smiled at him, filling him with reassurance. After one more look, he joined Nathan. The man whom he had once regarded with suspicion was now one of his best friends. The pair helped each other with almost everything when it came to the ranches. 

“How are you holding up?” Nathan asked. 

“I think I’m doing all right, but this feeling, I’ve never been so helpless before.” Even when Clara had been in the grasp of Silas, at least then, he’d worked on his restraints and had been able to help. 

“I know, I’m terrified of when it will be my turn.” Nathan’s words were soft. Eddie’s eyebrows shot up. 

“You and Eloise?” 

“We’re pregnant … I mean, she is, but we’ll be parents.” Nathan fumbled awkwardly with his words, turning his hat in his hand. 

Eddie reached out and shook his hand, pulling him into a half-hug as Jacob joined them on the porch with the doctor. 

Eddie nodded politely to the doctor before turning to Jacob. 

“What happened? Was the baby born?” Jacob looked between them. When Eddie told him Nathan’s news, Jacob laughed. 

“It looks like I’ll be the only bachelor around here. I suppose all the children will need a good uncle figure in their lives.” 

Eddie nodded, trying to fight the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Jacob was like a brother to him, and in a way, Nathan was too. His family was growing, and he didn’t know what to say or think, except to be grateful to God for continuing to provide for them, filling their cup till it was overflowing. 

Clara

Clara reached for the screaming bundle in Eloise’s arms. As her baby was placed in her arms, she blinked away tears of joy. She’d thought for a while that she would never marry, much less have a baby of her own. 

She stared down into a perfect face, with ten tiny fingers poking out of the blanket. 

Her beautiful daughter calmed in her arms, her eyelids fluttering shut as she fell into a fitful sleep. 

“She’s beautiful.” Clara looked up at her sister and the doctor, with so much joy in her heart that it felt like too much to handle. 

“You did wonderfully. I hope I’m as brave as you when it’s my turn.” Eloise’s soft but telling smile made Clara’s heart leap. 

“You’re …” 

“Pregnant.” Eloise touched her stomach. “I wasn’t sure until last week. I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to tell you, but these past few days have been more hectic than I thought they would be.” 

“Oh! Eloise.” Clara pulled her sister into a tight hug. Her stomach wasn’t even visible, but now that she looked closer, she could see the glow in her sister’s gaze. “I’m so happy for you.” 

“Thank you.” Eloise’s cheeks were full of happiness. “I need to go get the men. I’m sure Eddie is beside himself with worry for you.” 

“He can’t stay long; she needs her rest but have them come in and meet the baby,” the doctor spoke up, but Clara could see that he was in good humor.

Eloise hurried from the room, and a few minutes later she came back with Eddie and Nathan. Eddie hurried straight to Clara’s side, something like awe on his face, as he reached for his daughter’s face. 

“It’s a girl, isn’t she, just like in your dream?”

“She is,” Clara beamed up at him. “She’s perfect. What should we name her?”

“Dorothy Joanna.” Eddie didn’t hesitate. It was a combination of the names they’d discussed for weeks. Dorothy meant a gift from God, and it seemed perfectly fitting, considering all they’d gone through. 

God had given them so much, and part of that gift was their new family, their baby. Clara looked down at Dorothy as Eddie drew near. It had been a year since she’d taken off into the frontier on her own, searching for her sister. She’d never expected to fall in love with a stranger. But now, due to their love, Silas and his men were locked up, serving time in jail for years to come. 

Her father had paid back his debt to his town by working for free whenever he could to help out those in a similar position he was when he’d made the wrong choice to care for his family. Both she and Eloise had been given husbands who loved and adored them, who were good providers and protectors. 

She’d grown to love a new community. Eloise had built her own little community in the school where she taught every day in town.

Clara brushed a finger down Dorothy’s cheek, softly, tenderly. A true gift from God. 

“She looks just like you,” Eddie said, pulling Clara’s face gently up by her chin toward him, until she was looking up, and was at the perfect angle to kiss her lips, softly, so full of devotion it took her breath away. 

Clara pulled back, suddenly embarrassed by the audience they had, but no one seemed to mind. Eloise was leaning back against Nathan, watching Dorothy with so much joy in her eyes. The doctor was cleaning up a bit of the mess from the birth. Jacob was peeking in from the doorway to catch a glimpse of the new addition to the family. 

Eddie called him in close. 

“Come, meet the baby,” Eddie encouraged his friend. Clara had gotten to know Jacob over the past year. She’d come to care for him similarly to how she cared for Martin, her brother back home. He was a part of her husband’s life, and in many ways, a sibling to them both. 

He held his hat in his hands, looking nervous. 

“Nice to meet you, Dorothy. When you get a bit bigger, I’ll teach you to ride a horse.” 

Clara and Eddie laughed. 

Clara was sure that Jacob would follow through with his promise, and it made her heart swell with joy. She’d met Eddie when he’d pushed away everyone close, but things had changed so much. They were both surrounded by so much happiness and family. The best part about it all was that their daughter would have that, too. 

She wiped away a stray tear and leaned into her husband, who put his arm around her. She would be content if nothing changed ever again, and they could simply bask in the glory of God’s blessings. 

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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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