Forced to Be the Rancher’s Wife – Extended Epilogue

Two Months Later

It was incredible to Emmie that no matter how hard a person worked, one was never quite ready for a wedding.

“The chapel hasn’t been decorated,” she muttered fretfully, pacing up and down the kitchen, “and Tabitha wanted flower sprigs on the ends of the pews.”

“I’m sure she won’t mind,” Mary said, a little hopefully. “It’s her wedding day, after all. She’ll be thinking about her husband.”

The whole town was excited about the wedding. The last wedding in town had been Pinch and Emmie’s, and of course, nobody had actually attended that one. Before that, Emmie couldn’t even remember the last wedding.

There was a flutter of excitement inside her that had lingered for the past few days, and it wasn’t entirely to do with Reggie’s wedding.

I’ll think about that later, though.

“Now, is Reggie ready?” Emmie asked, pushing aside thoughts of the chapel. The pastor’s wife might add a few decorations, but of course, the most important thing was that the ceremony went by without a hitch. Afterward, there would be dancing, music, and food out in the town square, where they’d celebrated a party only two months earlier.

Pinch came hurrying through the kitchen, looking tired and excited at the same time. They all looked similarly exhausted.

“Reggie’s just about ready,” he explained, snatching up a small posy of daisies from the kitchen table. “Here it is! I knew I’d picked him one of these. It’s to match Tabitha’s bouquet, you see. Is the carriage ready?”

“It is, Davey’s outside, all ready to go,” Emmie responded.

Without another word, Pinch darted away, back towards Reggie’s room.

“Mary, are you ready? Are you going to be warm enough? That chapel is drafty,” Emmie said.

“I’ll be fine.” Mary laughed. “You won’t be able to fuss over me when I live with Davey in town, you know.”

Almost at once, Emmie’s heart sank a little, and Mary’s smile wavered.

“I’m sorry, that was a silly joke. I know we haven’t talked about it much, but you are okay with me and Davey moving out, aren’t you?”

Emmie sank down onto her usual seat beside Mary.

“I’m going to miss you all so much,” she confessed. “And Pinch will miss you even more. Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”

“I want to stay,” Mary admitted. “But I want to go, too. Davey and I were always so close. The weather in town is a little less harsh than it is up here, and that might help my lungs a little. I’ll even be able to walk to the market. And besides all that, I don’t want Davey to be alone. He’s been alone too much lately. Anyway, if you and Pinch have children, there won’t be much room in this house, will there?”

“We’d make room,” Emmie said firmly. “But anyway, I want you to know that you’re always welcome here. If you want to come back, we’d welcome you with open arms.”

“Thank you, Emmie. That means a lot.” Mary reached out, taking Emmie’s hand in hers. They sat there for a moment like that, until voices approached, and Reggie and Pinch came striding into the room.

Reggie was freshly shaved. His hair was still damp from his bath, and his skin gleamed with cleanliness. There was a sort of jittery energy about him, and he smiled nervously at his sister and at Emmie.

“How do I look?” he asked, holding out his arms to either side.

Mary jumped up, throwing her arms around him. “You look so handsome, Reggie! Oh, I’m so glad I can come to your wedding! I was disappointed not to attend Emmie and Pinch’s. No offense, Emmie.”

“None taken,” Emmie laughed. “Ours was unorthodox, to say the least.”

“We should leave soon,” Pinch announced, “or else we’re going to be late. A bride can be late on her wedding day, but the same doesn’t go for everybody else.”

Minutes later, they were all piled in the cart, with Reggie sitting stiffly in the front seat, trying desperately not to wrinkle his suit. Davey and Pinch had chipped in to buy him a new wedding suit—which would now become his Sunday Best—and a silver pocket watch to go with it.

They traveled quietly to the chapel. Reggie was quiet because he was simmering with nerves, but Emmie was sure that the rest of them stayed quiet because they were lost in thought.

Everything’s changing, she thought wistfully. People are leaving. Our lives are turning into something else. It’s not bad, or worse than what we have now. It’s just different.

But maybe different would be better. It would be strange, living with only Pinch in that big house. She loved Pinch, of course, she did—that wasn’t in doubt—but she would miss Mary. She would miss Reggie. Davey had only stayed in their house for a few nights in the beginning, no more than a week or two.

“He’s changed,” Pinch had confided in Emmie once. “I suppose we all have. I hope it’s for the better.”

You can’t avoid change, Emmie thought, as the cart rattled up the track that led towards the chapel. Fighting it only ever hurts you.

There were already plenty of people in the chapel, milling around outside, chattering loudly. Reggie cut through the crowd, nodding and smiling at the words of congratulations. People patted him on the shoulder as he went by. Gradually, his shoulders began to loosen, some of the tension leaving his frame. By the time they made their way through the chapel and Reggie took his place in front of the congregation, he was almost entirely relaxed, smiling confidently around at the other guests.

Pinch was Reggie’s best man, and Davey was going to escort Tabitha down the aisle. The pastor was there too, flicking through his Bible and murmuring to himself, no doubt rehearsing his opening lines.

Emmie settled down on the front pew, and Mary sat beside her. Pa was somewhere in the crowd, and she made a mental note to seek him out and wave to him. Pa was doing well, she thought. He seemed happier, and his weekly visits for Sunday dinner seemed to be the highlight of his week.

A hush fell over the congregation, and people who didn’t already have seats scurried to find them. Reggie shifted, glancing excitedly at his brothers. Pinch flashed him an encouraging smile.

The doors at the back of the chapel opened, and everybody turned, craning their necks to see.

Tabitha appeared, arm in arm with Davey, who was flushed and beaming with the honor of it. She had a pale lavender gown on, very simple but immaculate, and held a bouquet of pure white daisies. She carried her head high and walked quickly, not bothering to mince her way down the aisle. Various children from her schoolroom waved and smiled excitedly as she passed by.

She reached the top of the aisle and smiled shyly at Reggie. He beamed back and held out his hand. She took it, and the two of them turned to face the pastor.

He was smiling, too.

“After so much upheaval in our town recently,” the pastor said, smiling around at the congregation and especially at the almost-married couple in front of him, “I’m glad to be presiding over such a happy event, which will be followed by a community gathering afterward. Reginald McLeod and Tabitha Rusher, you are both welcome here. Now, let’s begin.”

Emmie sat back against the pew, listening to the wedding sermon.

I wish my wedding could have been more like this, she thought. I wish that Pinch and I could have had a better start. But really, in the end, does it matter what kind of start you have? We didn’t have a romance before we married, but we have one now. I can’t imagine life without him. I can’t imagine myself being happier.

That wasn’t exactly true, actually. Emmie could imagine one thing that might well complete their happiness, but she’d think about that later.

When the time came for the ring, Davey produced it with a flourish.

“And now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. McLeod, man and wife,” the pastor announced, beaming.

The congregation exploded into applause. Reggie darted forward, kissing Tabitha on the lips, and she beamed up at him. Hand in hand, they turned to face the rest of the townsfolk. Pinch was the first to congratulate them, followed quickly by Davey. While they were all talking, Emmie turned to Mary, who was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

“They’re tears of happiness, I promise.” Mary laughed. “My little brother—married. I can hardly believe it. I’m so happy for him.”

Emmie slipped her arm through Mary’s. “I know you are. I am, too. But don’t waste your tears just yet—you’ve got a whole night ahead of you, with plenty of opportunities for happy tears! Don’t cry yourself dry!”

Mary laughed through her tears. “Oh, Emmie. You always know the right thing to say.”

***

The wedding party was in full swing. Almost everybody brought some kind of food or drink. There was roast meat—pork, beef, fowls, even a little mutton—as well as huge vats of stew, vegetables fried, boiled, or roasted, piles of cornbread, vast pats of butter, jam, various baked goods, sweets, and more. There was more food than even the whole town could get through, although they were doing their very best to try.

“There you are,” Pinch cried, his head popping above the crowd. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I thought I’d just sit down for a minute.” Emmie laughed, watching her husband push his way through the crowd towards her. “I’ll dance some more in a minute, but I’m not sure there’s much room on the dance floor at the moment.”

Grimacing, Pinch squatted down beside her. He had two steaming tankards of what appeared to be hot cider in his hands. He took an absent sip of one himself and handed the other to Emmie.

She went to take a sip, but there was something about the sweet, apple-y smell that turned her stomach. She’d felt the same way about the apple pies earlier. Wrinkling her nose, Emmie shook her head and handed the tankard back.

“Not thirsty?” Pinch asked, surprised.

“No, I’m full. Have you tried some of Mrs. Baker’s gingerbread? It’s exquisite.”

“I have tried it, and it’s delicious. Did you see Mary dancing earlier?”

Emmie beamed at that. Mary had danced a slow, careful reel with Tabitha, the two of them laughing and staggering about, missing the steps, sides sore with laughing. One dance was all Mary could manage, and she was now back in her seat with a hot brick at her feet, swathed in blankets and with a plate of goodies on her lap. She looked tired, but happy.

Reggie was dancing with his bride now. It was a slower dance than usual, the musicians playing a variety of tunes to fit a variety of dances. Reggie and Tabitha were talking about something, smiling at each other with the soft, dopey expressions that newlyweds usually had on their faces when they looked at each other.

Pinch’s hand crept into Emmie’s, squeezing it tight. She smiled fondly at him, squeezing back.

“Are you happy, seeing your brother married?”

Pinch nodded. “Happier than I could ever have imagined. I’ll miss him, of course, but I understand that he wants to set up a life with himself and his bride. He deserves it. And I imagine you’ll miss Mary, too, when she finally goes to live with Davey?”

“I will, of course I will. But then, this isn’t the end, is it? It’s just another kind of new beginning.”

Pinch nodded, swigging down the last of his cider. Crouched as he was behind her, his head was on level with her shoulder. Almost absently, Emmie lifted her hand to his head and began carding her fingers through his hair. She knew that he loved having his hair played with, and his eyes fluttered closed, head pressing against her palm.

“What would I do without you?” Emmie murmured.

He opened his eyes and grinned up at her. “I think the question is, what would I do without you? I can’t quite believe that there was ever a time in my life when you weren’t in it. I love you, Emmie.”

“I love you too, Pinch.”

He took her hand and pressed the knuckles to his lips. His mouth was warm and soft, and Emmie felt a familiar shiver at his touch.

I hope this feeling never goes away.

“We can dance again soon, if you want,” Pinch added. “The night’s only just getting started. Everybody is keen to celebrate the wedding.”

Emmie hesitated, gathering her courage. It was now or never.

“I don’t think I’ll dance much more,” she said at last, choosing her words carefully. “I don’t want to tire myself out too much.”

Pinch tilted his head. “That’s not like you. You don’t usually care about that. Are you okay? You’re not ill, are you?”

“No, no, I’m not ill. But…well, you know how I told you once that I was afraid the house would be too empty without Mary and Reggie?”

“I remember.”

She breathed. “I’m not afraid of that anymore.”

Pinch frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Emmie suppressed a smile. “You remember what we said about new beginnings? Well, I think that you and I have another one on the horizon. I think it’s closer than we think.”

Pinch blinked up at her, still frowning. “I really don’t understand. Emmie, is something wrong?”

She laughed aloud at that. “No, no, nothing is wrong. I’m sorry. I should be clearer. I wanted to wait until I was sure before I said something to you, but I visited Doctor Barker the other day.”

“Doctor Barker?” Pinch yelped. “Emmie…”

“Settle down, settle down! For the last time, I’m not sick. I’m…” She drew in another breath. “I’m pregnant, Pinch.”

Pinch’s eyes went very large and round. For a moment, he was entirely still, and Emmie’s smile began to waver.

“Pinch? Are you…”

Abruptly, he leaned forward, both hands on her cheeks, and kissed her hard.

“A baby?” he breathed, almost shivering with excitement. “I’m going to be a father. We’re going to be parents!”

“Yes, a baby.” Emmie laughed. “That’s what people are generally pregnant with, isn’t it? I’m so glad you’re excited. I was afraid…well, I didn’t know how you’d react.”

“Emmie, I…I can’t believe this. This is excellent news. If anything will convince Mary to stay with us, it’ll be the baby.”

Emmie snorted. “A baby crying all night? If anything, that’ll make her move away faster. But it doesn’t matter. This baby is going to be ours. I imagine that in a month or two, we’ll start worrying about what sort of parents we’ll be, but right now, all I can think about is that we’re going to have a baby. You and me.”

He reached up, cupping her cheek in his palm.

“Thank you, Emmie,” he whispered. “I love you, and I’m going to love our baby just as much. Should we start telling people?”

Emmie paused, glancing around at the happy revelers. She smiled to herself.

“Not tonight. Tomorrow, maybe. Yes, we’ll tell them tomorrow.”

THE END