Epilogue

EPILOGUE

February 1868

K atie lumbered through the house. With her hands to the small of her aching back, she eased her heavy body into the rocking chair in the parlor close to the window. She moved a hand to her midsection and whispered to the large mound. "You can come anytime now. Just not today. There's a storm brewing, little one."

The swirl of thick snowflakes fell outside, transforming the earth to pristine white. She enjoyed the hypnotic twirl. Her eyes grew heavy, and she gave in to the tug of her drooping eyelids.

She woke to warm hands around her. Josiah knelt beside her with his head once again on her swollen abdomen. She reached out to smooth her fingers through his russet curls.

"Hello, darling." He looked up at her. "How are my two favorite people in the whole world?"

She couldn't help a laugh. She loved the way he included the baby in their conversations.

"It's snowing again. So beautiful." She looked out at the accumulated layers of white. There seemed to be no end to the dance of snowflakes coming down.

"It's beautiful unless the baby decides to come tonight." His eyes filled with worry.

She smoothed a hand over his creased brow. "Relax, my love. Having a baby is as natural as time." Maybe the words could also soothe the twinge of angst needling in her chest. It was normal for a first time mother to be a little nervous about the delivery, right? But she knew beyond a doubt God would give her the strength when she needed it.

He planted a quick kiss on her lips. "Don't you be making light of it. It's not every day a man becomes a father."

"I'm fine. The baby isn't due for another couple of weeks. Besides, in a crunch, we always have Delilah. Didn't she bring you into this world?"

He rose to his feet and offered her a tender look. "Wish I had your peace of mind."

"I've been telling you Jesus?—"

"I know. I know." He cut her short and bent to help her rise. "Supper is ready. Come."

He offered his arm, and they walked into the large kitchen that had become the common area for all the workers to join together for supper. Their growing spread had acquired many more ranch hands, and Katie loved to invite them in like family. She smiled at the rambunctious crowd awaiting their grub as she waddled to the counter to help Delilah and Annie serve.

She'd just picked up the bowl of beans when something seemed to pop inside her, and liquid ran down her legs. A pool of water gathered around her feet as realization slipped through her. "Oh goodness."

All chatter stopped as every eye turned her way.

Delilah moved in. "Land sakes, girl, let's get you off your feet. You're going to have that baby tonight, and you'll be needing your strength. Yes, you will." She turned to Josiah. "Boy, move on over here. Don't just stand there gawkin."

The place erupted in pandemonium as everyone rushed to Katie's aid. Embarrassment flooded her face, and she whispered to Josiah, "Take me to my room." Much to her horror, he swept her up in his strong arms and climbed the steps two at a time. Delilah followed, huffing and puffing all the way.

He laid her gently on the bed. "I'll ride out and get Doc."

Katie's hand shot out and grabbed him. "No. This child needs a father, and I will not have you lost in a blizzard. Do you hear me, Josiah Richardson?" Her hand shook as a wave of pain wrapped around her, and she curled into as much of a ball as her belly would allow. She clutched Josiah's arm tight.

"Ohhhhhh," she cried out as the pain intensified. She struggled to take a deep breath through the agony. "Promise me, you will not—ahhhhh. You will not go out in that storm." She rocked back and forth, anything to lessen the band around her middle.

Delilah removed Katie's hand from Josiah's arm. "Go get her ma. This baby is surely not waiting for no town doctor. I done brought one Richardson into this world, and Jesus and I can bring another."

A scream pushed out from her, and Josiah ran.

Within an hour, a lusty cry filled the air, and Katie had never been so exhausted. Yet, as Delilah brought the tiny bundle to her, a new strength flowed through her. A red-faced baby boy peeked out from the blankets, and she could barely breathe as she took in every perfect part of his precious face.

Josiah stepped into the room as Delilah and Ma left, and Katie could only beam at him. "Come see."

As he moved to her bedside, she drank in the sight of their son. "We have a beautiful baby boy who looks just like his papa." A patch of russet hair stuck straight up in a mohawk swath, his blocky solidness so like Josiah's. She grinned at his innocent face. "Your papa owes me a huge apology, little one, and I'll try not to enjoy it too much."

Josiah chuckled. "Had there been any doubt left, which there wasn't, one look would've cleared that up."

He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead with a smile as wide as the sea. "We're officially a family. And a happier man you couldn't find if you looked the whole world over."

Joy rose up inside her, overwhelming her as she stared at the tiny babe in her arms. "Welcome, my baby boy. Mama loves you so much." She snuggled the babe close and dropped a light kiss on his pink brow.

"May I?" Josiah held his hands out to take the child. She handed him over, then watched her strong husband hold their precious son in his thick arms. "My dearest son. I want some of the first words you hear to be your daddy telling you how much I love you and your mama and how sorry I am for ever doubting her love."

Katie smiled toward the heavens. "God, you are still a miracle worker."

Josiah's booming laugher filled the room.

Katie slipped into the nursery, sure she would find Josiah spoiling their child once again, as she had so many times in the past few weeks. He stood at the window holding baby Seth, wet streaks running down Josiah's cheeks.

Her chest pressed at the sight. "Josiah, what is it?"

He smiled and beckoned her closer. She slipped an arm around his waist as they gazed down at their child.

"I didn't get it until now."

"Get what?"

"What true peace feels like."

Joy slipped through her. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"You tried to tell me, but I was stubborn."

She smiled up at him.

"The night of the fire, a monumental shift took place in my thinking. God did care about our prayers down here. I just didn't get why it mattered to understand the sacrifice for my sins. But the gift of our son somehow makes the gift of His Son come alive. I couldn't imagine giving such a gift to someone else. He must truly love us."

She squeezed his waist and leaned into his shoulder. "Welcome into the family of God, my love."

He leaned into her. "Thank you for believing in us when I no longer did, and for showing me the difference between self-centered love and unconditional love."

She smiled up at him. "Isn't it amazing how God brought us together, knowing what we'd both need long before we did."

He tilted his head towards her and dropped a kiss first on her head, and then on the baby's. "How did I ever get so blessed?"