Two years later

Carrie

Church emptied slowly that Sunday morning. Carrie stood near the back with Eli balanced against her hip while Garrett spoke with Reverend Whitby for a few minutes near the front. She looked down at her son’s round little face. She still felt amazed sometimes, realizing she was a mother, with a little boy of her own to raise. 

Eli had been restless through the last part of the sermon and was more interested now in tugging at the ribbon on Carrie’s bonnet than anything happening around him.

“No.” Carrie caught his little hand before he could pull it loose again.

Eli grinned at her. She held back a smile of her own. It was impossible not to laugh when he looked at her like that. 

“You know exactly what you’re doing,” she whispered to him. At a year and two months old, he had already learned that smiling could get him out of a surprising amount of trouble. He had Garrett’s dark hair and an expression that reminded Carrie of him every time she looked at her son.

Garrett finally came back from talking with the reverend and Jack.

“Ready to go?” he asked. 

“Very ready. Eli is a bit restless.” 

Garrett laughed and reached for Eli. The boy immediately leaned toward him, but Carrie shifted him higher against her.

“You can have him after we go outside.”

They stepped through the church doors into the cold sunshine. The little graveyard behind the church was quiet, its stones scattered beneath winter-bare trees. Carrie’s steps slowed as they followed the narrow path between the graves.

They stopped first at Samuel’s. Carrie looked down at the familiar stone. She no longer felt the same grief as before. Instead, she felt a certain appreciation for Samuel, for what he’d done for her and given her. She would never forget how he was an integral part of her life.

She wouldn’t pretend that part of her life had never existed simply because another one had begun. Carrie touched her fingers to her lips, then rested them briefly against the top of the stone.

“Come on.”

Eleanor’s grave was farther along the row. It had taken almost six months after their marriage until Garrett felt more comfortable visiting it. Now that they had a child, Carrie had convinced him it would be good for Eli to grow up hearing about his grandmother. 

Garrett took Eli from Carrie, and the baby boy settled against his father’s chest, immediately grabbing hold of Garrett’s collar.

“There she is.” Garrett nodded toward the stone. “That’s your grandmother Eleanor.” Garrett smiled. “You would’ve liked her. She probably would’ve spoiled you terribly.”

Carrie laughed softly, looking over at the man she’d come to love more than life itself. The genuine love and affection for his mother was like a cloak he wore. 

Garrett adjusted Eli in his arms. “She was kind. And she was stubborn when she needed to be. She gave me a Bible that saved my life.” He touched Eli’s back gently. “And she left us some words we needed a long time after she was gone.”

Eli had no idea what his father was talking about. He reached toward the stone and babbled something only he understood.

Garrett laughed, and Carrie slipped her hand through Garrett’s arm. There were still times she wished Eleanor had lived long enough for Carrie to meet her. Garrett spoke of his mother more easily now than he once had. Wesley did too. Even Cyrus occasionally mentioned her here and there. After standing there for a few more minutes, they walked back to where their wagon waited. 

Garrett passed her and Eli before climbing up into the driver’s seat; then he accepted the baby, while Carrie got up beside him. On the way through town, Carrie spotted Maggie and Henry sitting together on the porch of the boarding house.

Maggie waved.

Carrie smiled and lifted her hand. “Good afternoon!” Henry waved back while Maggie called something Carrie couldn’t hear over the wagon wheels. Their wedding had been nothing like Carrie’s.

Maggie hadn’t wanted a crowded church or half the town watching. They had married quietly, with only a few close friends present and a meal afterward at the boarding house. Carrie loved every minute of it. Maggie cried before the ceremony even started. Henry had been so nervous he nearly dropped the ring. Jack had teased him about it for months. 

Carrie glanced back over her shoulder as they continued through town. She’d passed the house at the Donelly Fright company to Jack. He lived there now, alone. She and Garrett had purchased a small ranch of their own a little outside of Bishop’s Crossing. It wasn’t large, especially compared with the Holloway property, but Carrie loved it.

There was enough land for horses, a good barn, a small pasture, and a tiny little cabin with two small bedrooms. Garrett slowed the wagon as their house came into view.

“Well, look who’s here!”

Carrie followed his gaze. Wesley and Cyrus Holloway were sitting on their porch. There may have been a day when Carrie dreaded an interaction with Cyrus Holloway, but no more. Over the past two years, he’d kept his word. Donelly Freight even shared a few routes with Holloway Freight. 

After a lot of work and patience, Cyrus had become a wonderful grandfather to Eli. 

Wesley spent plenty of time around them too. He’d purchased the neighboring plot several months earlier. His house was still small, and half the time he seemed to be repairing something on it, but he had made it his own.

Some Sundays, he attended church with Wesley. Other Sundays, neither man appeared.

When Eli spotted Cyrus, his entire face lit up.

He made little babbling noises that almost sounded like pa. When he was older, they’d teach him to say grandfather. 

Cyrus’ stern expression disappeared immediately. “There’s my boy.” 

Carrie laughed as Eli reached both arms toward him.

Garrett climbed down and lifted Eli from the wagon before handing him to Cyrus. Cyrus held the boy with a tenderness Carrie never would have imagined the first time she met him.

Two years. That was how long it had taken for their lives to once again be transformed into something unrecognizable, in the best way.

Garrett

Garrett watched his father with Eli. It wasn’t long before his father had Eli balanced on one knee, listening with exaggerated seriousness while the boy babbled.

The sight still caught him off guard sometimes. Eighteen months had passed since Garrett had heard his father raise his voice to him or Wesley. He was a changed man. Garrett was proud of him for that.

It had taken work from everyone, but finally, they were seeing it pay off.

His father cleared his throat, looking up at him and Wesley.

“While we’re all together, do you both have a minute? I have something I need to tell you.”

Garrett glanced toward Wesley. His brother straightened in his chair. Something in his father’s tone made Garrett uneasy.

“What happened?”

“Nothing happened.” His father looked almost annoyed by the question, then caught himself. “I’ve been thinking.” He rested both hands against the top of his cane, something he’d started using recently. “I’m getting older.”

Garrett didn’t want to think about that. He had just gotten to a point where he could have a good relationship with his father. He didn’t want that to change.

Their father frowned. “You don’t need to look so surprised.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” Wesley muttered.

Their father ignored him. “I’ve been running the ranch and company for most of my life. I always assumed I’d continue until I couldn’t. I’ve spoken with my lawyer,” he continued. “I’ve changed my will.”

Wesley’s eyes flicked toward Garrett. While they often helped their father with the ranch, they’d stopped trying to control his decisions in any way. Surprisingly, he’d made rather kind and generous ones the last several years.

Their father looked at both of them. “When I’m gone, everything I own will be divided equally between you. Half to Garrett. Half to Wesley.”

Garrett stared at him. For a second, he wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

His father continued before either of them could interrupt. “I still own everything while I’m alive, and I have no intention of dying just because I’ve spoken with a lawyer.”

Wesley gave a short laugh, sounding as shocked as Garrett felt. “But I’m tired of pretending the future of the business belongs to me alone.” Their father paused. “It belongs to both of you.”

Garrett swallowed hard.

“I know neither of you wants to live exactly as I did.” His father’s mouth tightened. “I spent too many years trying to make you, but I don’t want the ranch sold off the moment I’m buried,” he added.

“There he is,” Wesley muttered.

Their father pointed a finger at him. “I’m still allowed to have preferences.”

“I don’t think either of us will want to sell it.” Garrett shook his head.

“What you do with it will ultimately be your decision.” Their father looked between them. “Until then, I’d like both of you involved as much as you’re willing. Not because you owe me. Because I think you’re good at it.”

Garrett stepped closer and held out his hand. “Thank you, Pa.” 

His father shook it vigorously.

Wesley stood next. He hesitated a second before offering his hand too.

“Thank you,” Wesley said. Their father looked at him for a long moment, then pulled him into a half hug instead, right around Eli, who giggled in his grandfather’s lap. Wesley’s eyes widened over their father’s shoulder.

“Lunch is ready!” Carrie called from inside.

Their father released Wesley. “I suppose we ought to go in.” Garrett’s father lifted Eli up, chuckling as he bounced in his arms. “I’ll see you both inside.”

Wesley remained on the porch beside Garrett. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Wesley shook his head.

“Can you imagine Pa saying something like that two years ago?”

“No.”

“He would’ve told me I was lucky to have a roof over my head.”

Garrett laughed softly. Wesley watched the doorway where their father had disappeared. “Ma would’ve been happy.”

Garrett’s smile faded. “Yeah. She would have.” He thought about the letter hidden inside the Bible for all those years. Do not mourn what has ended so deeply that you forget to live what remains.

Their father had finally started to live on in what was left.

“All of us have changed,” Garrett said. “God’s done more with this family than I thought possible. I’m seeing it with Pa too.” Garrett glanced toward the house. “I’m still hoping I can get him into church every Sunday eventually.”

Wesley chuckled. “You’ll find a way. You’ve made a fair amount of progress with me.”

Garrett slapped his shoulder. “That might be my greatest accomplishment.”

Wesley smiled, but it didn’t last.

“Garrett.” Something in his voice made Garrett turn.

“Thank you.” Wesley shoved his hands into his pockets. “For not giving up on me.” Wesley looked toward the yard. “I don’t know where I would’ve ended up if I’d kept drinking like I was. Maybe dead. Maybe in jail. Maybe worse.”

Garrett’s chest tightened.

“You did the hard part.”

“You gave me a reason to try.”

“It means a lot to hear you say it.” Garrett was hit with another wave of gratitude, for how he’d been given not only a relationship with Carrie, but Wesley and his father too.

Garrett put a hand on Wesley’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”

Wesley looked away.

Garrett smiled. “You’re my brother. And somehow, after everything, you’re my friend too.”

Wesley cleared his throat. “Don’t get sentimental on me.”

Garrett chuckled as he turned and led the way inside before things went a bit more open than he was ready for. “Come on. Carrie’s going to feed our lunch to the chickens.”

They’d barely crossed the threshold when Jack arrived. He took the porch steps two at a time and walked in without knocking.

“Finally made it home from church?” Garrett raised an eyebrow. “I saw you talking with Bethany at the back of the church.”

Jack’s cheeks turned a bright red.

“Why don’t you tell everyone about it, especially your sister over lunch?” Garrett wrapped an arm around Jack’s shoulders, leading him down the hall and into their little kitchen. At least it was big enough to have a few people over.

Garrett stopped in the doorway.

Carrie was setting food on the table. Eli sat in his chair, banging one hand against the wood. His father was telling the baby how to set a fence post, and to anyone else, it looked like Eli actually understood.

Garrett’s house was loud. Full of love and laughter.

Garrett smiled. Once, he had believed everything good could be taken from him if he loved it too much.

Now he knew better. He bowed his head for just a moment.

“Thank you, God,” he whispered.

Carrie looked up and smiled at him. Garrett crossed the room toward his family, grateful for every little bit of it he had. 

THE END