Five years later

He wasn’t going to have time to read his parents’ letter before the party began. Gideon slipped the envelope in his pocket with a sigh, and weaved his way through the courtyard. They had stalls set out for food, drink and wares, and it was likely that the locals would bring their own food and drink too. They usually did. The summer solstice was a popular event. It was hard to believe that Gideon and Lydia had been hosting the yearly celebration for nearly four years now. 

Marta and Dietrich wouldn’t be attending this year, which was a shame. His mother was still recovering from a fever, and while she was well on the road to recovery, it seemed sensible to avoid a long journey just now. 

But that was fine. There’d always be later. His parents visited them often. They came laden with gifts for the grandchildren, and of course with one or two gifts for Lydia and Gideon. 

On cue, he heard a shrill, “Papa, Papa!” A horde of children stampeded toward him. 

Well. Three children. Almost a horde. 

Edwina led the throng. She was growing up tall and strong, a miniature version of her mother. Behind her toddled her brother, three-year old Devon. Alice followed behind, also three years old. She was a perfect blend of her parents – Temperance and Amos. 

The boarding house had been expanded last year. Work drew people to the town, more and more with each passing year. The silver mine had long since expanded beyond a few simple tunnels. Now, it spread everywhere, and the silver veins got thicker and thicker with each passing year. 

And, of course, men were needed to dig up all that silver. Some brought their families, and ended up buying land. Others took rooms at Temperance and Amos’ thriving establishment. Nell had gotten married last year, and she and her husband both worked at the boarding house. 

Some of the newcomers still balked at the thought of buying lodging from a freedman, and others were confused to have a Mexican man as their employer. 

They got used to it, though. It was hard not to, when everybody else in the town treated it as normal. And anyone who thought otherwise was quickly corrected. 

Gideon wasn’t a fool. He knew that such equality didn’t exist everywhere. But times were changing. Changing fast, he hoped. 

“Hey, Eddie!, Hey Devon!” Gideon laughed and, swept up his children in each arm. He knelt down awkwardly, allowing Alice to swing her arms around his neck. Then he stood up gingerly, taking her with him. “Are you all excited for the party?”

“Are Grandpa and Grandma coming?” Edwina asked. 

“No, not this year, honey. They’ll come in a few months for a nice, long visit. But,” he paused, glancing up at movement down the road, “Somebody else is coming.”

“Who?” Devon piped up. 

“Why don’t you three go see who’s coming? You go too, Alice, honey. You keep my kids in check, won’t you?”

Alice beamed happily. She was a quiet little thing, with round spectacles and a wide, white grin like her father. Already she seemed clever. Temperance proudly announced that there’d be college in her future. Maybe. Who only knew what the world would be like when Alice was grown up? 

He set down the children and they raced off, chattering and squealing together. He stood for a moment, his hands on his hips, smiling. 

Somebody brushed against him from behind. She stood up on tiptoes and hooked her chin over his shoulder. 

“You look very serious,” Lydia purred. 

Gideon broke into a smile. “Well, I’m being pounced upon by the most beautiful woman in the world. That’s a serious thing, don’t you think?”

“I guess.”

She wound her arms around his waist, and he closed his eyes, leaning back against her. 

Five years on, and I love her more than ever. 

I never thought I’d be so happy. 

“Are Temperance and Amos here yet?” she asked, jolting him out of his reverie. 

“Not yet,” he responded, opening his eyes. He placed his hands on hers, feeling the warmth from her knuckles. “I think they went back to the boarding house to pick up those new jams Temperance has been making. And Amos wants to bring his fiddle, of course. I said we’d watch Alice while they went.” 

“Hmm. Is that who I think it is?” she asked, nodding down the road. 

“It sure is.”

“I’m glad they could come.”

“Yeah. So am I.”

Lydia pulled away, linking her fingers through his. With a playful smile, she dragged him forward down the road to greet their newest guests. He felt his heart constrict with love. 

I never thought I’d be so lucky. 

Reluctantly, he followed, dragging his gaze away from his beautiful wife. 

And there, right in front of him, was Ottilie. 

She looked a little older, but not much. She kept her hair half-loose these days, and her freckles were multiplying. There was a softness in her face which hadn’t been there before. 

Her little boy sat on her hip. He was two years old, and his name was Gabriel. He was blonde and solemn, he was the very image of his mother. 

Beside her stood Rupert. 

Tall, skinny, and red-haired, Rupert had a zest for life which was frankly exhausting. He looked at Ottilie as if she’d hung the moon and stars in the sky, and Ottilie looked back as if he were the man who’d invented love all by himself. 

In short, she was happy. 

“Hello, Gideon,” Ottilie smiled. She stepped forward and embraced him with one arm. “I’m sorry we’re late. Our train was delayed.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he responded, smiling. “You’re here now. And look, the party hasn’t even started.”

Ottilie carefully set down her son on the ground. At once he scuttled off with the other children. 

“Let’s get you all something to drink,” Lydia said. She reached forward to hug Ottilie while Gideon shook Rupert’s hand. “This is family time.”

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