Epilogue

Snake River Sawmill

Four Months Later

Jake opened his office door at the first knock, fully expecting another group of men looking for the six extra summer openings he'd posted on the board at the mercantile. Rather than a bunch of green, young men, his beautiful wife stood on the threshold, her spring coat wrapped firmly around her slim, enticing body.

"Hurry up," she ordered. "It's chilly out here. Someone forgot to tell mother nature it's time for spring."

He backed up quickly. "Sorry, darling. I wasn't expecting a visit."

"I missed you, so I brought lunch."

He withdrew his watch from inside his vest pocket and flipped it open. "I've been gone for four hours. Hardly long enough to be missed."

"Says the man who failed to kiss me goodbye this morning."

"I thought since the bakery is closed today that I'd let you sleep in. Given you've been fighting the flu these past few days, I figured you needed your rest."

"What I needed was a goodbye kiss from my husband."

"Just a kiss? Or were you planning to make me late for work again today."

She tossed him a coy smile that weakened his knees.

"Given you've been so stingy with your kisses, I decided to come directly to the source of my enjoyment."

He gave her a purposeful stare. "Weren't you the one who said you didn't want me to catch whatever you've got?"

"I'm not worried anymore," she told him. "There's no chance of you catching what I've got."

"There isn't?"

"Nope. Not unless you plan to be the first man to ever become with child."

Pulling her into a tight embrace, he clarified, "Are you certain?"

"Yes, I am. We're going to have a baby. If my calculations are right, in about six months."

"Six months?"

"You're obviously a fast worker," she noted. Glancing behind her, she shot him another broad smile, and asked, "Just how sturdy is the lock on your office door?"

The End