Epilogue
Christmas Day
Robert was nervous. In the few days since the tree-decorating party, he had come to a very important decision. He wanted to marry Lucy. That was the only thing he could really think about, and it sent butterflies flitting through his stomach, churning it several different ways.
What if he asked and she said no, or laughed at him, or thought he was being ridiculous and said it was too soon to know if this was love? What then? What would he do?
He didn’t know.
The more Robert worried about asking Lucy, the more time he seemed to spend with Ethan, who was in a similar state of nervous unrest.
With the prospect of his mail order bride coming out to Unity and the danger the town had a habit of falling into, Ethan was worried.
“I know she’s a nurse, but …” he sighed. “What if she’s leaving home to get away from that sort of thing?”
“What sort of thing?” Robert asked.
“From the gore of working in a hospital,” Ethan said.
Robert considered this. “Did she mention anything like that?”
“No.”
“Then I wouldn’t worry. Every one of the women who have come here has somehow adapted to our strange situation,” Robert said. “They’ve found ways to make themselves useful and?—”
“Yes, yes,” Ethan said, cutting him off as they passed a few people and waved their hellos.
They were heading to the square. It was Christmas morning, and Father Sumner was going to give them a sermon in front of the tree. Since the church had suffered in the attack, this was the best way to do it.
The sky was leaden, and Robert hoped it wouldn’t rain on them. He was hoping to find Lucy in the crowd and when the sermon was over and Christmas lunch was about to be served, he would ask her the big question.
He had to do it before lunch, or he would never get a bite down. Everyone had made something to bring to the table. Not being much of a cook, Robert had bought some ingredients and given them to Lucy, who said she could turn them into a pudding.
They were going to meet at the square because she would go a little earlier with Mrs. Odenkirk to help set things up.
She was feeling much better and insisted on being involved.
He wished she would take it easy, but Lucy wasn’t that kind of person.
She didn’t take things easy. He loved that about her.
As he and Ethan approached the square, they joined a mass of people who were also heading that way and, after a few minutes, reached the square. The benches were out again, and Robert searched them, looking for Lucy.
He eventually spotted Mrs. Odenkirk and then found Lucy sitting between her and Ben. As he approached Ben, he smiled, wished him a Merry Christmas, and moved up on the bench so that he could sit beside Lucy.
She beamed at him. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” he said. He was so nervous that his mouth was desert dry. He licked his lips and found they were also dry.
“Are you okay?” Lucy asked, looking at him with great concern on her face.
Robert nodded. He looked around and saw that Ethan had gone to sit with Kyle and Alice and her sister and her husband. It was nice to see how folks were making friends and getting to know one another.
Okay. You’re here, She’s here. Just focus on the sermon and relax.
Father Sumner waited for the last stragglers to find their seats and then began his Christmas sermon, but Robert found his mind wandering.
How was he going to phrase it? Should he start by pouring out his heart to her? Should he just blurt it out?
His heart was beating too fast, his breath not really reaching his lungs as he ran through scenarios in his mind.
When they were asked to sing several carols, he completely forgot which one they were singing and began to belt out one song when everyone else was singing something different.
Cheeks burning, Robert accepted the laughter and the quick, “Well, we’ll sing that one next” from Father Sumner.
When it was time for the prayer, Lucy asked him if he was really okay.
All Robert could do was nod. Sure, he was okay. Kind of.
The sermon ended, and Robert couldn’t wait any longer.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked.
Lucy nodded, and he led her to the edge of the square, where they could talk privately.
“What is going on with you?” she asked with a smile. “You’re as jittery as one of my brothers on his fourth cup of coffee.”
“Ah, well …” Robert said. He drew in a deep breath. “Lucy, this is probably not the time, but I can’t …” He sighed. “I love you. I didn’t know it until …” No, that wasn’t what he wanted to say. “When you were shot …” That wasn’t right either.
“I understand. I was terrified I would lose you too,” she said, taking his hands in hers. “I love you too, Robert.” Her tender smile was everything, telling him she accepted every part of him, including the one that sometimes couldn’t get words or feelings out properly.
That was all he needed to hear. Now his words could flow.
“I have never felt this way about anyone before,” Robert said honestly.
“I can’t imagine life without you. You make every day bright and every evening warm and cozy.
I love you, Lucy. I’m so grateful to God for bringing you into my life.
Would you consider making me the happiest man on earth? Please, will you agree to be my wife?”
Even though they probably weren’t the most romantic words ever spoken, nor were they very articulate or anything more than straight and to the point, Lucy drew in a sharp little breath and smiled from ear to ear. “Oh my!”
Robert waited. She seemed to reel for a moment and then pressed his hands firmly as tears filled her eyes. “I would be honored to be your wife, Robert. Nothing would make me happier.”
They stared at each other in stunned, besotted silence for a moment before Robert pulled himself together and dug into his pocket.
Taking the little velvet box out, he opened it and offered her the simple ring. It was his grandmother’s, and he could only hope it would fit.
“That is beautiful,” Lucy said, her eyes wide, an excited and somewhat bewildered smile on her lips. Perhaps she couldn’t believe this was happening either. Even Robert was having some trouble believing they were doing this. He was so happy, the moment didn’t seem real.
Lucy leaned in close to the ring, her hands shaking as she gently lifted it. “Oh, Robert. It’s perfect.”
Taking the ring from her, he held her hand gently as he slipped it onto her finger. Seeing the delighted smile on her face, his whole world brightened. Despite the heavy clouds overhead, there was nothing but sunshine in Robert’s heart.
Flinging her arms around his neck, Lucy kissed him long and slow. Robert wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close and thanking God over and over again. He had never been so happy before. She was everything he had ever wanted.
When they joined the others at the tables that had been set up in the square, everyone was eager to talk to them and see the ring. They found themselves at a table with Ben, Duncan, Alistair, Mr. Rossi, Mrs. Odenkirk, Alice, and Kyle.
“Oh, congratulations,” Mrs. Odenkirk said, smiling and laughing as she inspected the ring that glinted on Lucy’s finger. “I couldn’t be happier for you two.”
“Thank you so much,” Lucy said, beaming.
“Yes, you two are perfect together,” Alice said, smiling. She glanced at Kyle, who was busy speaking to Ben. “You’re so lucky.”
There was a wistfulness in her look that Robert took to mean she wished Kyle would ask her to marry him.
Knowing Kyle as he did, Robert made a mental note to mention this to him.
Although kind and considerate, Kyle wasn’t known for his ability to read into a situation.
There might have to be some strong hints and a couple of plain conversations before he would realize that Alice was ready to get married.
“Where are your folks from?” Mr. Rossi asked Lucy.
“Boston,” she replied. “They run a security company.
“Ah,” he said, leaning closer to Robert. “You may not want to get on your mother-in-law’s bad side. They tend to come and visit and then …” He held up his hands as though encompassing a whole mess of trouble. He brought them down on the table to show how it would land on Robert.
“Is that why you’re still here and not back home?” Robert asked, eyeing the man.
“That and I have my report to finish,” Mr. Rossi said simply. “I think that Mr. Bernini and Mac will be very interested in my findings.”
“Can I ask what those are?” Robert asked.
Mr. Rossi gave him a sneaky smile. “You’ll all know soon enough. I must send the report back before I can speak to you all about it, but don’t worry. I didn’t find anything overly terrible. There are a few places that could do with a little reworking.”
Robert nodded. “Of course.”
Mr. Rossi nodded. “You especially need to look at how you deal with these bandit attacks. Having survived one now, I feel secure enough in my experience to make some comments.”
Robert frowned. “You do? But you were only here for one. We’ve been here for the whole lot.”
“Yes, and that in itself is a worry, don’t you think?
You’re all building this lovely little town and making it such a special place to live,” Mr. Rossi said.
“But you’re so focused on that that you’re not focused on ending this threat to your well-being.
This El Aguila fellow should never have been allowed to harass you for so long. Something must be done.”
“What exactly do you suggest we do?” Robert asked.
“Oh, that is something for a committee to decide,” Mr. Rossi said, waving the words away. “But don’t worry. I’m sure we can take care of it.”
Robert stared at him for a long moment until Lucy managed to distract him. He couldn’t believe the arrogance of the little man. As though they hadn’t been trying to deal with the bandit problem from the start.
“Don’t worry,” Lucy said and gave his forearm a little squeeze. “I’m sure, between us, we can get rid of this threat.”
Robert nodded. What else could he do? He wasn’t as confident, having been in this war for a long time now. Perhaps that was the problem. Perhaps what they needed were the Lucys and the Mr. Rossis of the world to help them bring the elusive bandit leader down.
Everyone became distracted then as the Christmas feast was brought out and placed on serving tables. There were turkeys and sweet potato pie, roast vegetables, glazed hams, and fresh bread rolls. It was a feast, for sure.
As everyone’s thoughts turned to food and companionship, Robert let the fear and worry go.
He could let it lie for a couple of days, just for Christmas.
In the new year, he would pick it up again, and this time, he wouldn’t take no for an answer when he proposed finding out more about El Aguila and prioritizing gathering intelligence about him.
This time, Robert would do it, no matter what Andrew and Michael said, because now he had more skin in the game, and Lucy’s safety was paramount.
As they raised their glasses in a toast, Robert vowed that El Aguila’s days were numbered. He would find that man, and he would pay for everything he’d done. Robert would make sure of it.
Lucy nudged him in the ribs as the toast concluded. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said quietly, and he didn’t doubt that she did; she was so perceptive. “And we’ll get him, Robert. We will. But for now, don’t let him ruin this moment.”
She kissed him on the cheek, and he slipped an arm around her waist and gave himself over to the laughter and conversation all around him, reveling in the great gifts that God had bestowed upon him.
As he sat there with the woman of his dreams and all his friends, Robert whispered a prayer of gratitude and a promise never to take any of it for granted.