One Year Later
“Is that him? Coming down the road now?” Emily asked, pushing herself up on her tiptoes. Lucas peered over her shoulder. Sure enough, there was her father, the infamous Mr. Jones, coming up the well-maintained path to the Lucky Thunder.
The old bullet wound above Lucas’ elbow stung with phantom pain, something that had been happening with any hint of doubt since returning to the ranch. With a successful year under his belt at the Lucky Thunder, Lucas ought to have been proud of the place.
As per the judge’s orders, he’d been keeping to the straight and narrow, which was easy, thanks to Emily’s encouragement. He’d built a lovely ranch house for Emily, and there were already plans for an expansion.
The ranch was in the black, which was more than most independent ranches could say for themselves after a year. There was no reason why Lucas ought to have been nervous about Mr. Jones’ visit. Emily was thriving and happier than ever, and no one could accuse Lucas of not taking care of her. They took care of each other.
Still, the sight of the old man’s silhouette, still impossibly upright in posture, was nerve-wracking.
“Why did I invite him again?” Emily whined, sliding behind a post on their porch that looked down over the hill that led to the road.
“Because you wanted to make peace. And if he doesn’t want to match that peace, then so be it. He can turn right around again.”
“I’m starting to wonder if this belated marriage party is a good idea after all. We should be getting ready for winter, not wasting our time and preserves on a flippant celebration for something that already happened a year ago.”
Lucas shook his head. “No, no. The boys have been begging us to throw a party ever since we got back, and just because other things have gotten in the way, and we had to postpone for a while, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t follow through. That, and…well, Jack mentioned he might be proposing to Sarah tonight. You wouldn’t want to get in the way of that, would you?”
Emily’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? I was wondering when he might get around to doing it. It’s been too long! Oh, this will be the perfect night.”
“Just don’t go spilling the beans to Sarah. I already wasn’t supposed to tell you. Listen, they’ve already started playing music! It’s too late to cancel anything, and it’s too late to take back any invitations you might regret.”
Emily and Lucas stopped talking as Mr. Jones finally reached the house. He stayed on his horse as if he wasn’t quite sure yet whether he wanted to stay. Maybe it was so that he could relish the feeling of tallness for one more second before dismounting and having to look up at Lucas.
“Hello, Father. Thank you for coming. I know it’s a long trip,” Emily said, measured and even.
“When your daughter gets married, it’s generally tradition for the father to attend. Even if the actual marriage happened a year ago,” Mr. Jones replied gruffly.
“It’s a long story. The townsfolk that helped us so much after I—well, there were a number of factors that contributed to…to why we decided to get married with so little notice, but I can assure you that it—”
“I don’t need an explanation,” Mr. Jones replied, finally getting off his horse. Both Emily and Lucas descended the porch stairs to talk to him. Neither knew whether or not to offer a hand or a hug, so instead, no contact was made whatsoever.
“It’s nice of you to come,” Emily repeated, doing her best to fill the air with something.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to forget the past and carry on with a clean slate. You left that note for me, Emily. I think it told me everything I needed to know about why you did what you did. I don’t need an apology nor am I prepared to offer one. That being said, I…it would be nice to…”
Mr. Jones trailed off, not practiced in the art of vulnerability. Lucas looked over to Emily, who was wearing her finest blue dress with lace trimmings. Her hair tumbled loose down her back, with flowers woven into small braids.
The dress wasn’t nearly as fine as the one the Knoxville women had lent her, but she looked exactly like the Emily he knew and loved. To Mr. Jones, however, she was probably unrecognizable.
Emily looked caught in time. Lucas could tell she was struggling between the urge to tell her father just what she thought of his treatment of her, while also wanting to let go of the past. Having it out would surely be the fastest road to recovery, but this was not a relationship to be rushed. Proper mending would take time. Even if talking wasn’t possible right now, it could be in the future, if treated with enough delicacy.
“Alright then. We can start over, Father.” Emily held her hand out for Mr. Jones to shake, and he took it without any trace of resentment. Lucas followed suit, and while he wasn’t sure Mr. Jones would be as quick to forgive him, it was still a good start.
“Let us show you around the place and introduce you to the men,” Lucas offered, gesturing to the house. He picked up Mr. Jones’ rucksack to be polite, and while his father-in-law didn’t acknowledge the action, Lucas was sure it was appreciated at the very least.
Once inside, the nervousness between the three of them seemed to settle. Emily led her father through the house, and Mr. Jones made some suggestions now and then about what could be improved about various sections. He made the right approving grunts and murmurs as they moved through the home.
“Alright, enough about how you’re going to decorate and so on. I want to see the herd,” Mr. Jones asserted once the tour was done. Lucas’ nerves jumped up again. Now was when the comings and goings of his ranch were in the spotlight. Mr. Jones was a ranching expert in every meaning of the word, so his approval would mean a lot.
“We had a good morning on the range. Now they’re all back in the corral while we get ready for the party,” Lucas explained, leading the way out the back door toward the heart of the ranch.
He studied Mr. Jones’ face carefully, pleased at the gentle nod he gave.
“The men raised that barn all by themselves. Can you believe it? No help from anyone in town. But now, we have good friends all over who you’ll meet tonight!” Emily gushed.
“That’s Teller we can hear on the banjo now. Would you like to meet the men?” Lucas asked.
Without thinking, he reached for Emily’s hand and took hers in his. Mr. Jones’ eyes immediately landed on the sight of their fingers intertwined, clearly quite uncomfortable with the sight of their connection. Lucas and Emily both noticed the disapproving look, and they split apart quickly.
Lucas never wanted to apologize for his love for Emily, but he also didn’t want to make trouble while they were still on such tentative ground with Mr. Jones.
“Yes, let’s go meet the men my daughter has been living amongst for so long,” Mr. Jones replied darkly.
He turned before Emily or Lucas could say anything to smooth over the moment.
“Well, this is going perfectly,” Lucas whispered to Emily as they approached the barn where the ranch hands were already carousing.
“He’s always liked ranch hands more than me, so I’m sure they will brighten his mood,” Emily answered.
Oddly enough, she was right. The grumpy ranch owner got on like a house on fire with the boisterous Smithy. He was able to bond with Teller and Mark over what was happening in the cattle industry to the south, and all Sawyer had to do to get in his good books was hand over a glass of apple cider.
As people from town and the surrounding farmlands arrived, they brought more food than Lucas had ever seen in one place. That old feeling of acceptance that he’d gotten from the folks in Knoxville swept him up into a warm embrace once more. He was no longer Lucas, the dangerous criminal, but Mr. Taylor, the respected business owner with the perfect wife.
He wished that he was as able to let go of the past, but the guilt stuck with him, nonetheless. Sometimes, he couldn’t believe that he deserved the wonderful life he’d built with Emily. On his darkest nights, he had nightmares of the Knoxville trial ending very differently, sending him straight to prison for the rest of his life. After those nights, he always woke up feeling like there was more justice in his dreams than there had been in real life.
“Look! I think Jack’s getting ready to ask the question. Any minute now, mark my words,” Smithy said to Lucas, poking him in the ribs. Lucas looked over to see Jack dancing with Sarah on the makeshift dance floor. The ranch hands had done wonderful work with the barn, with lanterns hanging from every available nail, and even flower garlands decorating the table. Lucas hadn’t been aware of his employees’ eyes for decorating.
“Jack was worried he might be stealing our thunder if he proposed to Sarah tonight, but I told him it would only add to the magic of the evening.”
“As long as she says yes,” Smithy chuckled.
“If the rumors I hear from Emily are true, then there’s no question as to what her answer will be. I think there was more doubt as to whether her father would give his blessing to the match. It sounds as if they’ve been courting since the second Emily and I had to go on the run.”
Smithy nodded enthusiastically. “Sarah saved us. I’m not shabby in the kitchen, but without her help…I’m fairly sure we would have starved to death. But I think the real reason she came to visit so often was because she wanted to see Jack. Couldn’t tell you why she’s so taken with him, but she’s surely the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Oh, look! It’s happening!”
Lucas was almost as giddy with excitement as Smithy was to see Jack down on one knee. The music stopped as everyone leaned forward to hear what he was saying, but he spoke too softly to make out the words. Just watching their faces told Lucas everything he needed to know.
Jack was flustered and red in the face, but he looked determined, nonetheless. Sarah had a hand clapped over her mouth, and the tears were already streaming down her face. Everyone watched as she nodded her “yes” emphatically and pulled Jack up to standing, fitting perfectly into his arms.
Applause broke out, and Lucas searched the crowd for Emily, only to find her a few feet away, pushing through to get to his side.
“They look so in love.”
“I know exactly how they feel,” Lucas replied, kissing Emily on the cheek.
“I can’t think of a better way of celebrating our anniversary! Even my father seems moved.”
Lucas looked around to where Mr. Jones was standing on the other side of the barn. He could’ve sworn he saw the man wipe a tear from his eye. To his surprise, Mr. Jones met his gaze and gave him a small wave, unashamed of his emotional display. The Mr. Jones that Lucas remembered never would have shed a tear if he knew there were others looking.
“He does, and I think he’s coming over our way. He just waved to me.”
“Next, he’s going to ask me to dance. I don’t know what’s happened to the father I knew, but this is a welcome surprise,” Emily said, slightly stunned.
“You two certainly know how to throw a party,” Mr. Jones exclaimed once he got to their side of the barn.
“I have to give credit to the men. We barely lifted a finger,” Emily insisted.
“Well, it’s a good group of lads you’ve got here. I’d trust them with my ranch. I…forgive me, I’ve grown quite emotional to see what a…what love you’ve gathered around you here. I suppose I never really figured out how to show you that. When your mother died, that part of me died as well,” Mr. Jones explained. Lucas wasn’t sure if he ought to give the father and daughter a moment to themselves, but Emily was clinging to his hand.
“I…I don’t know what to say,” Emily replied quietly.
“You don’t have to say anything. Just…take this. As a belated wedding present. It’s your mother’s pearl necklace. I don’t know why I was hoarding it. I should’ve given it to you ages ago. She never liked jewelry much, so I didn’t get the chance to spoil her very often. It will look beautiful on you.” After digging around in his pocket, Mr. Jones fished out a small silk bag and handed it over to Emily.
“Oh, Father, this is…this is beautiful. Thank you.” Emily poured the necklace out into the palm of her hand. The soft pink and cream-colored pearls shone even in the dim lighting of the barn.
“Thank you for inviting me. You had no reason to let me into your world again, but I hope this can be a new start for us. As a family.” Mr. Jones almost choked over the sentimental words, but Lucas could tell he meant every one of them. Emily hugged her father, possibly for the first time since she was a child.
“Does this mean he forgives me for not asking for his blessing?” Lucas asked after Mr. Jones had excused himself for the evening.
“I suppose so! That was…I’m not sure I have the words to describe what I’m feeling right now. Surprised. Shocked! But in a delightful way. I feel full. I think it’s high time we start expanding this family.”
“I agree. Imagine what it would be like to have a bunch of children running around, playing in the creek, and riding horses. Camping out with the herd in the summer,” Lucas said, letting his imagination run free.
“They can only start riding when they’re tall enough,” Emily pressed.
“So be it. Come on, let’s dance.”
Lucas led her by the hand as the musicians struck up another tune. With her in his arms and the swirling love of everyone around them, Lucas was overwhelmed with the feeling that they’d arrived. By the grace of God and a lot of hard work along the way, he and Emily had made a dazzling life not only for themselves but for everyone who called Lucky Thunder home.
THE END?
Can't get enough of Emily and Lucas? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
Who will be the unexpected guest accompanying Lucas up the hill, and how will their presence impact the dinner at Lucky Thunder Ranch?
In what ways will Lucky Thunder Ranch foster a sense of family among its staff, and how will this family dynamic change over time?
What will be Emily's feelings about not yet having children of her own, and how will her relationship with Lucas evolve in this regard?
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(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “Love Beyond Duty”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)