Epilogue
TWO YEARS LATER . . .
Rebecca hesitated in the doorway, not wanting to disturb the scene before her. Levi leaned back against the chair, baby Edward perched on his knee and babbling away. Levi nodded seriously at their son, interjecting a comment here and there as if they were having a conversation.
From behind her, the happy shouts of the other children echoed across the yard. One of the barn cats had a litter of kittens, and those babies were the highlight of the children’s days.
“Edward’s just informed me that he prefers carrots to mashed turnips,” Levi said.
Rebecca bit back a grin as she moved through the room. “Oh, is that so? Or is that his father speaking for him?”
Levi feigned offense. “His father would never say such a thing. He adores your mashed turnips.” But his slight grimace gave him away, and Rebecca laughed.
She reached down, scooped up her son, and held him against her chest. Edward immediately turned his head to stare at his father again.
Levi stood, beaming. “I believe he may be the smartest child I’ve ever met.”
Rebecca smoothed down the baby’s downy hair as he began babbling again. “He does love to talk. Perhaps he’ll become an attorney or a politician.”
Levi made a face. “Or a farmer?”
“Of course,” Rebecca said indulgently. Levi had taken to this farm like nothing she’d ever seen. Without another job weighing on his mind, he’d devoted himself to plowing and planting and dreaming up innovations to make the work better and more efficient. And Roger had been beside him all the way. If anyone might become a farmer, it was Roger. Although perhaps Edward would take to it also. Rebecca smiled at the thought of the two boys, grown up and working side by side.
“What would you think if he wanted to become a Marshal, like you were?” she asked as she handed the baby back to the eager arms of his father.
“I’d wish him well.” Levi grinned at the baby before looking up at her.
Rebecca laid a hand on his arm. “Do you ever miss it?” She’d never asked him that before, but she’d wondered about it now and then.
Levi shrugged. “At times. But then I remember what I have now, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” He smiled at her and shifted Edward into the crook of his left arm. He slid his right hand around her waist and drew her close to him.
Rebecca reached up and traced a finger over the baby’s face before turning her attention to Levi. “Well, that’s good,” she said. “Because I can’t imagine how much work it would be to put all these kids on horseback to follow you around while you chase down outlaws.”
Levi threw his head back and laughed. “One look at this brood and the outlaws would surrender immediately.”
Rebecca grinned. Their children were a lively bunch—loud, fun, and always drawing attention. It was impossible to sneak into church services late with them, and trying to corral them inside a store was a trial. “Then perhaps I should send a telegram and let them know you’re coming back?”
He dropped his forehead to hers. “Don’t you dare. I prefer my evenings spent in front of the fire or watching the sunset with a beautiful woman.”
Rebecca smiled up at him. “That sounds just fine to me.”
“So I should just keep farming?” he said, his lips close to hers.
“Yes. Please do.” She closed the sliver of space between them, pressing her lips to his. His hand tightened around her waist, and Rebecca sighed into the kiss.
She would never tire of being close to him. Every time he kissed her felt like the first time all over again. She pressed a hand against his chest as she leaned into him. He held her in place, and she decided she never wanted to leave this moment.
The children played happily outside, a bird sang somewhere beyond the nearby window, and Levi kissed her as if he’d never kissed her before. Rebecca lost herself in the moment, and just as she thought nothing could be more perfect, something yanked at her hair.
Yelping, she broke away from Levi to find that baby Edward had wrapped his tiny fist in the strands of her hair that hung around her face.
Levi’s face crinkled in amusement, and Rebecca laughed as she tried to free her hair from their son’s grasp.
The strands finally free, she smoothed her hair as Levi wrapped a hand around her waist again.
“Now, where were we?” he asked, his hazel eyes filled with joy.
And then he kissed her again.