Epilogue
Jackson hammered in the final nail on the last wooden plank and stepped away.
There was a brief, awed silence as he and the ranchers of the valley admired his new barn.
Then there was a round of cheers and applause as the group of ranchers celebrated the building.
Jackson shook his head in disbelief and smiled.
From bare ground to a barn in a matter of weeks; Jackson would never forget it.
“Your pa would be proud, son!” Simon said, shaking Jackson’s hand vigorously.
Jackson gave his ma a kiss on the cheek while she dabbed at her eyes. “It’s beautiful, Jackson. George would’ve said it was better than his old barn!”
Before he could say anything in response, she bustled back into the kitchen. The women had been in there for hours, preparing a lunch for all the ranch hands and volunteers.
If Victor could see all the damage he’d caused undone so easily in a matter of months, he’d surely regret his choices.
District Judge Silas Harlow had treated their case with gravity, and Victor, his men, and Sheriff Grady had all faced severe charges.
Those who’d worked for Victor, including Daniel, had simply been fined as long as they gave sworn statements against him.
“I suppose now that we’ve got somewhere to store it all, we’ll have to get cracking on the hay harvest,” Daniel said, his arm still in a sling.
Jackson knew that Daniel’s arm was more than able to perform labor again, but he let the young man get away with doing less for now.
While Daniel carried his scar as a badge of redemption earned by saving his sister, to Jackson it was an everyday reminder of how close he’d come to losing Hope.
No matter how many times Daniel relaxed on a job or forgot to bring the cattle in, Jackson would forever be in his debt.
“You take your time, Daniel,” Jackson assured him. “I’m sure Ethan won’t mind coming in to help us with the harvest.”
“Well,” Ethan muttered, giving Daniel a dark look, “my sister spends so much of her time here, I might as well.”
Daniel grinned sheepishly at Ethan, and Jackson couldn’t help but smile, feeling Ethan in some way deserved what was coming. It was him that had caused Clara and Daniel to meet after all, in a roundabout way.
“It is one fine-looking barn,” Ethan said with admiration in his gaze.
Despite the damage Victor had caused, it had greatly surprised Jackson that the Hale ranch had suffered almost no losses.
Nearly overnight, temporary corrals and pens were built to house all of Jackson’s displaced horses, sheep, and dairy cows.
Extra hands had arrived to assist with cleaning up the remnants from the burnt barn and to clear out the mess.
Within a month, all the provisions for the new barn had simply appeared on his ranch, already paid for.
A month after that, things were ready to start building, just in time for the harvest.
When Jackson had asked Howard to present him with the bills, he’d simply refused. It had been a humbling experience for Jackson, and as he stepped back and admired a barn no longer built just by the Hales, but by the community, his chest swelled with pride.
“You look like you’re going to cry,” Hope teased, appearing suddenly at his side. She smiled up at him, mischief dancing in her eyes.
“Not crying,” Jackson said gruffly, attempting to wipe the ‘sweat’ from his cheeks.
“You didn’t shed a tear when Victor was finally convicted,” Hope pointed out, her tone playful. “Or when Daniel was shot,” Hope continued, raising her eyebrows. “I didn’t even see a gloss of moisture when I was kidnapped by Victor-”
“Well now, darling, there was no time for any of that. I needed to get right busy saving you,” Jackson defended himself, trying to suppress a smile.
“But when your barn is built,” Hope continued her teasing, “you cry like a baby.”
“I was not crying like a baby!” Jackson said with a laugh, feeling a little hot around the neck. “Just got some sawdust in my eye is all.”
“Alright, alright. Will you round up all the men for lunch? Margaret and I have made about a hundred pies,” Hope said.
“I can tell,” Jackson murmured, idly brushing flour from her cheek. “Didn’t Clara help?”
“For some reason,” Hope said, flashing him a coy look, “Clara wanted to be outside laying the table.”
Jackson grinned at her. “That must be why Daniel’s arm suddenly started hurting and he stopped passing me nails.”
He and Hope chuckled together while they walked to the long table set up outside. It was laden with homemade pies, bread, salted pork, cakes, fruit, jugs of cordial, and even some of Hope’s cheeses.
Jackson waited for everyone he cared about in the world to gather around the table.
“Our dear friends,” Jackson said, failing to think of the right way to express how grateful he felt towards every single person. “Thank you for the help you’ve extended to the Hale ranch. Without you, we’d be ruined.”
There was an appreciative cheer around the table.
“Without you, Jackson, this valley would no longer be ours,” David declared, giving Jackson a look.
“Then let this be a celebration of many good things,” Jackson announced. “Let’s eat and enjoy this life God has blessed us with.”
“Amen!” Simon said.
They all sat down, and after a few words for grace, everyone began to eat. Jackson took a moment to look around the table, appreciating how much a community could mean. For so long, he’d mistakenly thought he would be happier on his own, and everyone else safer. How wrong he’d been.
“Jackson,” Hope said, drawing his attention to her. “I made the apple pies especially for you.”
“No mushroom pies?” he asked, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress a smile.
Hope’s nose wrinkled. “Ugh…I hate mushrooms!”
“Then why did you take me mushroom picking that one morning?” Jackson asked, loving the delicate shade of pink Hope turned whenever he teased her.
“Well, because I wanted to spend time with my husband,” she admitted shyly. “I had to find ways to trick you back then, since you kept hiding from me in the barn.”
“Listen here, I barely knew where to look back then,” Jackson spluttered, surprised by how quickly she’d turned the teasing around on him.
“And why’s that?” she pressed, leaning her shoulder against him.
“Because I’d never seen anyone so beautiful before,” Jackson managed, raising her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it.
Hope giggled, stopping only when Simon asked her to pass a plate of meat pies.
“How far we’ve come, Jackson,” she murmured, turning back to him.
“I never would’ve believed it possible to find such happiness with you before,” Jackson said, meaning every word. He’d always struggled to express himself, but being with Hope had lifted that. He wasn’t afraid to tell her anything now, because he trusted her completely.
Her expression grew serious, and her brow creased slightly. “Do you think there’s room in your heart for one more?”
Jackson felt every muscle in his body stiffen, and he wondered if he’d heard her correctly.
“One…more?” he stammered, his lips going numb.
Hope nodded, her cheeks flushed. “One more, in about another seven months,” she said in a low whisper. “I didn’t want to say anything…in case…”
Jackson’s mouth fell open and he stared at Hope, all the progress of learning to express his emotions suddenly failing him.
“You’re…pregnant,” he finally managed with an odd, lopsided grin on his face.
Hope gently touched his hand and nodded. “Are you happy?”
Jackson could see then that her mouth was tight with nerves, so he leaned in and kissed her. When he drew away from her, Hope slid a finger down his cheek.
“You’re crying!” she observed quietly.
“I could only be happier if there were two instead of one,” Jackson confirmed, struggling to stop the tears.
“Well, at least I know there’s something that makes you happier than a new barn!” Hope teased.
Jackson laughed, and then stood up suddenly. “Everyone, Hope and I have some news we’d like to share. Soon we’ll have another little Hale on the ranch!”
There was a hearty cheer. Everyone gathered around them to congratulate Hope as well.
He could see Hope turn shy under all the attention, but he couldn’t contain his happiness.
They had both been through such a crucible of loss and heartbreak in their lives, but together they were healing, growing, and building a future that he would spend his life thanking God for.
THE END?
(turn the page)