A Baby Miracle at Her Doorstep – Extended Epilogue


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“Jake Dalton, if you don’t put that hammer down right now, you’re going to break something, and it won’t just be the fence,” Lila’s voice rang out across the yard, clear and firm.

Jake glanced up from where he stood, leaning against the half-finished fence he’d been working on. The mid-afternoon sun gleamed on his dark hair, now streaked lightly with silver at the temples. His grin was as boyish as ever, though, as he waved the hammer in her direction.

“I thought you liked the idea of a new paddock for the horses,” he replied, teasing.

“I do, but not if you’re going to throw your back out before supper,” Lila shot back, brushing her hands against her apron. “And don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to finish it all in one go just because Rory’s coming by later.”

Jake straightened, placing the hammer carefully on the ground as he made his way over to her. “What can I say? I’m a man who likes to get things done. Besides, I thought you liked my hardworking nature.”

“I do,” she said, meeting him halfway and tugging playfully at the front of his shirt. “But I like it better when you’re not groaning and limping for the rest of the week.”

Jake laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Noted. I’ll take it easy. For now.”

Lila’s lips quirked into a smile, but her gaze softened as she glanced toward the house. “Speaking of taking it easy, did you check on Hannah and the baby before coming out here? She said she might need a hand.”

Jake nodded. “I peeked in. She and Annie were fussing over him together. Little Peter is already ruling the roost.”

“Just like his namesake,” Lila said fondly, her thoughts drifting to the ranch hand who had stayed with them for years before moving on to start his own family. “Seems like this place is always full of little ones these days.”

Jake chuckled. “Seems like it. Though I don’t hear you complaining.”

“How could I? Every one of them feels like a blessing.” Lila’s eyes sparkled as she leaned against him, her hand slipping into his. “Do you think we’ll ever have enough room for all these blessings?”

Jake kissed her forehead, his voice low and warm. “We’ll make room. That’s what this place is about, isn’t it? Family, friends, a home for everyone who needs one.”

Lila nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. It had been years since the hardest chapter of their lives, but the ranch had grown into something beyond her wildest dreams. The once-lonely house now bustled with life, laughter, and the promise of a bright future.

She sighed, content. “You know, Pa would’ve been proud of what we’ve built here.”

Jake squeezed her hand gently. “He would’ve been proud of you, Lila. Everything you’ve done—everything we’ve done—was because of your grit and heart.”

The sound of a horse approaching broke the moment, and both turned to see Rory and Hannah arriving in the cart, their son gurgling happily in Hannah’s arms. Annie followed behind on horseback, Brady riding with her, his face lit with excitement.

Jake glanced at Lila, his smile matching the joy in her eyes. “Looks like it’s going to be a good evening.”

Lila nodded, squeezing his hand. “The best kind. Let’s go welcome them.”

The courtyard buzzed with activity as Rory pulled the cart to a stop near the barn. Jake was already stepping forward, his hand extended to help Hannah down. She passed the baby to him, and little Peter immediately tugged on Jake’s hat with a delighted squeal.

“Now, Peter,” Jake said with mock sternness, “a man’s hat is sacred. You can’t just go around grabbing it.”

Peter responded with a giggle, and Jake tipped his hat forward onto the boy’s tiny head. It wobbled, nearly covering his eyes, and everyone laughed.

“Looks like he’s got the Dalton spirit,” Rory quipped as he climbed down from the cart. “First the hat, next the ranch.”

“Let’s start with learning to walk first,” Hannah interjected with a grin, her eyes twinkling. She glanced toward the porch where Lila stood, waving. “Lila, don’t just stand there. Come meet your godson.”

Lila chuckled, making her way over to the group. She reached out to take Peter from Jake, cradling him close. “Look at you, little man,” she cooed. “You’re growing so fast. Your mama’s going to have her hands full soon.”

Hannah rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Tell me about it. He’s already figured out how to crawl out of his crib. I swear, Rory and I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in weeks.”

“You’re in good company,” Annie said as she dismounted her horse and helped Brady down. The boy, now old enough to run on his own, darted toward Lila with a wide grin.

“Auntie Lila!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her skirts.

Lila shifted Peter to one arm and bent down to hug Brady with the other. “There’s my big helper. Have you been behaving yourself?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Brady said, his eyes wide with sincerity. “Mama says I can help Uncle Jake with the horses later.”

“Only if Uncle Jake says it’s okay,” Annie added, following her son with a small shake of her head. “You don’t get to decide these things on your own, Brady.”

Jake winked at the boy. “We’ll see about that after supper. Maybe you can help me brush down Daisy, too.”

Brady’s face lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, sir!”

Rory reached into the back of the cart and pulled out a small crate. “I brought a little something from the inn for dinner. Hannah insisted I couldn’t show up empty-handed.”

“You’ll get no arguments from me,” Lila said, her stomach already rumbling at the thought. “It’s a good thing you did, because I haven’t finished cooking yet. Come on inside. The table’s already set.”

The group moved toward the house, their chatter and laughter filling the air. As they climbed the porch steps, Jake paused, his gaze sweeping over the ranch. The setting sun bathed the land in golden light, and for a moment, he stood quietly, soaking it all in.

Lila noticed his stillness and touched his arm. “You all right?”

Jake turned to her, his expression soft. “Yeah. Just thinking how lucky we are. A few years ago, I never would’ve imagined this.”

She smiled, leaning into him. “Neither would I. But here we are.”

“Here we are,” Jake echoed, his voice full of wonder.

With a shared look of understanding, they stepped inside together, ready to join their family for the evening.

The dining room was alive with conversation and the clinking of dishes. The long wooden table, polished smooth by years of use, was laden with steaming platters of roast chicken, fresh bread, and roasted vegetables. Rory’s crate had yielded a pie, still warm and fragrant, which Hannah proudly placed at the center of the table.

“Rory outdid himself with this,” Lila said, leaning over to inhale the sweet aroma. “Apple and cinnamon?”

“Peach, actually,” Rory corrected, pulling out a chair for Hannah. “It’s been our most popular dessert at the inn lately. I thought I’d let you all be the judges.”

Annie laughed as she helped Brady into his seat. “You don’t have to convince us. Lila’s still talking about that blackberry pie you made last time.”

“And she’ll talk about this one, too,” Lila added, taking her place beside Jake. She turned to him with a grin. “Are you ready to fight Brady for the last piece?”

Jake smirked, reaching for the serving knife. “I’ll let him win. This time.”

The room erupted into laughter, and the meal began in earnest. Plates were passed around, conversation flowing as freely as the sweet tea in their glasses. Brady regaled the table with tales of his latest adventures on the ranch, animatedly describing his attempts to ride the gentlest pony, which had apparently ended with him flat on the ground.

“And what did I tell you about getting on that pony without help?” Annie chided, though her tone was laced with affection.

Brady’s cheeks turned pink. “To wait for Uncle Jake or Auntie Lila.”

“Smart boy,” Jake said, giving him a wink. “Next time, you’ll listen, right?”

Brady nodded earnestly, shoving a bite of chicken into his mouth.

The conversation turned to other matters. Rory shared news from the inn, recounting the latest antics of his customers, while Hannah beamed with pride at his storytelling. Annie chimed in with updates from Silverton, her life now a stark contrast to the chaos of the past. As she spoke, her gaze often drifted to Brady, her love for her son evident in every word.

Lila sat back for a moment, her hands resting on her growing belly. She took it all in—the warmth, the laughter, the sense of belonging. This was what she had always dreamed of: a home filled with love and family.

Jake’s hand found hers under the table, his thumb brushing gently against her knuckles. She turned to him, catching the way his dark eyes softened when they met hers.

“You all right?” he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

She nodded, squeezing his hand. “Better than all right.”

The meal stretched on, and as the plates were cleared, Rory stood, raising his glass. “Before we tuck into dessert, I want to say something. To Jake and Lila, for bringing us all together tonight—and for everything you’ve done to make this place feel like home for all of us.”

Hannah raised her glass as well, her smile radiant. “To family.”

“To family,” the others echoed, their voices ringing out in harmony.

Lila’s heart swelled as she clinked her glass against Jake’s. The toast was simple, but it carried the weight of everything they had endured and everything they had built together.

“Let’s get that pie sliced,” Jake said, breaking the moment with a grin. “We’ve got a future ranch hand here who’s been eyeing it all night.”

Brady raised his hand, his face smeared with a mixture of chicken and gravy. “Me!”

Laughter filled the room again, the sound a melody of love and joy that lingered long after the meal was done.

Later that evening, as the sky deepened to a dusky purple and the first stars began to emerge, the group gathered on the porch. The warmth of the day lingered in the air, and the gentle hum of crickets filled the quiet.

Brady sat on Jake’s lap, fighting sleep as Jake told him a story about a clever horse that once saved his rider from a pack of wolves. The boy’s eyes drooped, but he was determined to stay awake until the end.

“Did the horse win?” Brady murmured, his voice thick with drowsiness.

Jake smiled, his voice soft. “Of course he did. That horse was the bravest there ever was, just like you’ll be one day.”

Brady grinned sleepily, his head tipping against Jake’s chest.

Annie chuckled as she stood to gather her son. “Come on, little cowboy. Time for bed.”

“Nooo,” Brady protested weakly, but his yawns betrayed him. Annie scooped him up, pressing a kiss to his forehead as she carried him inside.

Rory and Hannah followed soon after, arm in arm, leaving Jake and Lila alone on the porch. The lantern light from the house cast a soft glow over the yard, and the distant rustle of the horses in the paddock added a soothing rhythm to the evening.

Lila leaned against Jake’s shoulder, her hands resting on her belly. “Tonight was perfect.”

“It was,” Jake agreed, wrapping an arm around her. He tilted his head to look at her, his expression thoughtful. “Do you ever think about how far we’ve come?”

“Every day,” she admitted. “It’s hard to believe sometimes. When I think about everything we went through with Cal, Annie, and the ranch… it feels like a lifetime ago.”

Jake nodded, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her shoulder. “I wouldn’t change a thing, though. Every twist, every challenge—it brought us here.”

“To this,” Lila said softly, her gaze drifting out to the land that stretched beyond the porch. “To family.”

“To family,” Jake echoed, pressing a kiss to her temple.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the kind of quiet that spoke of deep understanding and shared contentment. Lila let her eyes drift closed, savoring the weight of Jake’s arm around her and the life growing within her.

“You know,” Jake said after a moment, his tone teasing, “I’ve been thinking about names for the baby.”

“Oh?” Lila tilted her head to look at him, raising a brow. “Do tell.”

“Well, if it’s a boy, I was thinking something strong. Like William, after Annie’s husband. Or maybe Samuel, after my father.”

Lila’s heart softened at the thought. “I like that. And if it’s a girl?”

Jake grinned. “I was thinking… Lila.”

She rolled her eyes, laughing. “You’re impossible.”

“You love me anyway,” he said, his grin widening.

“Always,” she replied, leaning up to kiss him.

As the night deepened, they stayed there together, wrapped in each other’s warmth and the quiet promise of the future. The ranch, the family, the life they had built—it was all more than Lila had ever dared to hope for. And she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the best was yet to come.

THE END


OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Western Hearts United", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!




10 thoughts on “A Baby Miracle at Her Doorstep – Extended Epilogue”

  1. I hope you loved diving into the Extended Epilogue! Your thoughts are the spark that makes this shared journey truly complete. ✨ Share your reflections and let the conversation unfold below! 💬

  2. It was a sweet story. I just wish Lila would have trusted jake enough to have a real loving marriage without the contract… an “all in” relationship. It would have made for a better love story for me.

  3. Throughly enjoyed reading this action filled story. One thing in main story narrative Tim is the ranch hand that married Annie Murphy to move to Silverton. Interesting about the silver used for the lockets that the jeweler in Snakebite Hollow designed. It is the little details that flavors the narrative.
    Thank you for your writing.

  4. I really enjoyed this story very much. However, it started off exactly like another story that I had read, but I kept reading and found that it was very different. I enjoyed your characters and the twists, and the details of the locations. It made the story very real. Thank you.

    1. Thank you for your thoughtful review! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the story. I truly appreciate your support and am grateful that you gave the book a chance, even with the familiar beginning. I hope you’ll enjoy more of my stories in the future!

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