Epilogue
Ana scratched the baby fox’s chin. Its eyes closed and tilted its ears down. While it was in a blissful daze, she slipped the medicine into the back of its throat. The creature swallowed and blinked with wide surprised eyes.
“That’s it, baby,” she whispered.
At the sound of her voice, the young fox settled onto its bedding and relaxed. Ana closed the door of its enclosure and wiped her hands off on a rag hanging from her pocket. She walked down the hall, passing birds in an aviary and stopped at a large stall with an old chestnut mare. The horse was lying down with its hooves tucked beneath its body.
“Rosie, you should be up on your feet.”
Ana opened the door and walked over to the creature. She placed her hand on the mare’s forehead, then let it drift down its crest. With gentle coaxing, the elderly female got up. Ana wrapped her arm around its neck and reached into her pocket to pull out a carrot.
“Look what I found,” Ana said.
Rosie swayed her head to the side, grabbed the treat and started crunching on it. Ana rubbed the horse’s forehead once more. The sound of footfalls echoed through the vaulted building.
George appeared at the stall door and said, “Ana, I can take Rosie for her walk. You should get back—I think they’re ready.”
“Don’t feel like having some cake?” she asked with a smirk, knowing full well George wasn’t one for groups.
His boots scuffed against the hay as he walked beside her and patted Rosie’s withers. “Save me a slice and I’ll eat it later when everyone’s gone.”
“Will do.” She exited the stall.
Ana walked to the end of the building and out through the wide double doors. Parked beside the animal rehabilitation sign was Tallulah, the vintage Ford 150. She climbed behind the wheel with just enough room for her burgeoning belly, turned the key and brought the engine to life.
It was a quick drive back to the house, even creeping along slow over the bumps and potholes. She pulled up beside the log cabin and the other vehicles. Tallulah creaked to a stop. Through the windshield she could see everything was shaping up. The picnic table and a few foldout tables were covered with food. Balloons and streamers covered everything tape could stick to.
She slid off the bench seat, holding on to the door to steady herself. Before she could close it, she was caught up into a hug.
“You thought you could sneak off to do some work without saying hey to us?” Aunt Tera said. “My you’re getting so big now. You sure you’re not carrying twins?”
“Leave her alone, Tera,” Uncle Jace said with a wink at Ana. “A woman doesn’t need to be reminded about her size—that’s what you always tell me.”
Aunt Tera hooked her arm through Ana’s and guided her toward the party. “I put out the soup Chance made, but I think it could use a little thyme.”
“That’s his Three Sister’s Soup. A special family recipe passed down to him. I wouldn’t touch it, Aunt Tera. He likes you—let’s keep it that way.”
Her aunt shrugged and waved her hand. “Very well. Just promise you won’t leave us alone again. Only problem was that you left that precious child for us all to fight over. It’s like old times—your sister still won’t share with me.”
On the grassy slope in front of the tables, Melissa and Aiyana were both clutching the hands of a little girl and swinging her like a bell. Clothed in a yellow dress and barefoot, brown hair curled to her shoulders. Her green eyes twinkled in delight as she giggled with joy.
“Mama!” she squealed. Melissa and Aiyana set her down and she immediately sped over to Ana, who scooped her up in her arms.
“Hi, sweat pea. Having fun with your grandparents?”
“Yesss,” she said, squishing up her face. Then, she straightened up and asked, “Where’s Daddy?”
Ana adjusted her on her hip. “Remember he went to show Mama and Daddy’s friends around the ranch?”
From around the side of the house a voice called, “Where’s my birthday girl? Come here, Ryann.”
Her green eyes widened and her lips pursed. Ana set her on the ground, pulled the skirt of her dress down and patted her bottom before she went running.
“Daddy!”
Beside her, Aunt Tera put her hand on her hips. “I don’t understand why you gave her a boy’s name. Pretty little thing deserves a name that suits her.”
She’d heard it so many times before, it didn’t bother her anymore. Ana simply smiled and watched her daughter get swept into Chance’s arms. “It suits her just fine.”
Without another word, Ana walked away from her aunt and uncle so she could greet Derek and Gabby who were standing beside Chance. She gave them both hugs and said with a grin, “You guys look amazing. Haven’t aged a day since I saw you two years ago at Ryann’s birth.”
“See. I told you it’s been too long.” Gabby elbowed Derek. “Sorry we have not visited in a while. We have been traveling so much.”
Derek flinched. “Speaking of which—we stopped by Lifen and Batukhan’s house on the way here. They sent a present for the littlest Morgan.”
Ana rubbed her round belly. “Ryann won’t be the littlest one for long.”
Around the front of the house, Ben, Aiyana, Melissa and Michael called out in unison, “Time for cake—where’s the birthday girl?”
In her father’s arms, Ryann’s eyes bulged. She grabbed Chance’s collar and said in a serious voice, “Cake, Daddy.”
From behind, a very tall, lanky and full-grown teenager held her arms out for her niece just ten feet away. Eva’s long golden brown hair swept past her shoulders to her elbows. “Come here, girlie! Want a piggyback ride?”
“Go on,” Chance said before giving her a big raspberry on the cheek and setting her down.
Derek and Gabby began walking away to join the others, following after a very excited two-year-old who was chanting, “It’s my birfday, it’s my birfday.”
Ana sighed and put her hand on her hip. Chance stepped closer to pull her into him, his hand cradling her low back and the other resting on her baby bump. “Hey, beautiful. How are you holding up this morning?”
“Good. Slowing down a bit, but I saw all my patients. How was it showing Derek around the property?” Ana nuzzled her nose against his cheek. “Did you go flying?”
Chance met her eyes and said with concern, “It’s the best way to see the land. I didn’t want to rub it in though—I know you miss it.”
Ana shrugged. “I do, but I still have my memory of us flying together. It’s been so long since that day—I may have lost my ability to shift, but I have so much more now.”
“And you’re the best healer I know,” Chance answered.
In a low whisper, Ana said, “Don’t let Gabby hear you say that.”
Inside her belly, she felt movement and grabbed his hand to place it on her stomach. A rolling kick collided with his palm and he laughed. “I think Jordan’s telling you she wants cake.”
“Oh, you think so, do you? How do you know he isn’t just taking after his father?”
Chance’s face grew serious, his hazel eyes lowered. “You really think it’s going to be a boy? You know what that means—what if he has powers? I don’t know if I’ll be a good teacher.”
Ana took his hands in hers. His youthful features couldn’t display how much he’d matured since she’d first met him. How he’d grown. They both had, together.
Pinching her eyes shut, she calmed the torrent enough to say, “That night in the cavern when I was feeling lost, you told me not to waste what had been given to me. The same goes for you. We were given so much by Niyol, Balam, and Mac. They didn’t always make the best choices, but they left us both with memories of their wisdom, kindness and love. We’ll have to do our best, just like they did. That’s all any of us can do.”
Chance wiped away her tears and kissed the tip of her nose. Hand in hand, they walked to the front yard to join the party in progress. Birds chirped from nearby bushes and the distant bleating from a sheep echoed through the valley. Happy giggles rang out after two very small birthday candles were blown out.
The End