Seeking Justice and Reprisal – Extended Epilogue

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Five years didn’t sound like a long time, but those months following the wedding were followed by some unique milestones.

The money afforded her the opportunity to do anything she wanted, but it quickly became clear her desires revolved around Henry and his chiseled physique once she got his pants out of the way.

She recalled with vivid clarity the wedding night and every night after that until she was pregnant. They got the first surprise when she went into labor and two identical little bundles of joys arrived.

It was a girl and a boy. Hal and Shelly were a handful with independent spirits.

Their curiosity was exhausting.

She had to leave and get some air brandishing the ax several times to work out her frustrations at the crack of dawn while they were still sleeping.

“You are a sight for these sore eyes,” Henry said.

Sally turned at the sound of his voice. “I was wondering what it was going to take to get you to come back home where you belong. I’m not sure it was a good idea for you to become the sheriff. We did talk about it at the time, but I really didn’t know what the demand on your time was going to be,” Sally protested while holding onto the ax handle with the blade touching the ground.

“I know where this attitude is coming from. It’s a good thing your aunt decided to stay with us. Beatrice has been a godsend. I’m not sure what her trick is dealing with them but without her, I think I would have gone prematurely gray,” Henry announced from where he sat atop his horse, the wide brim of her dead husband’s hat shielding him from the sun.

He looked mighty fine in leather chaps with that chiseled jaw making her yearn for something that had become a distant memory.

It had been almost three months to the day since they had been intimate with one another.

She wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. It was tedious work, but she had to take on the role of mother and father in his absence.

“There was no way to predict how this job was going to take up my time. But it does give me a purpose. My brother’s reputation no longer follows me around like a dark cloud. This job is more like a career choice. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but I need to contribute to give our children the life they deserve,” Henry argued, absentmindedly shining the badge on his chest with the sleeve of his shirt.

“I don’t suppose you have thought about delegating authority to one of your deputies? It’s a novel concept. You don’t have to be there every single second of the day. Things will get done when you’re not around. Your children need you. And they’re not the only ones craving your attention,” Sally replied

“I could take a few days off. Nothing pressing is going on at the moment, they can handle things on their own. What do you say about getting some food and taking the children on an excursion this weekend? We haven’t done that with them since they were little,” Henry suggested with his shoulders hunched.

Sally looked up at him, holding the ax handle, and wondered how she had gotten so lucky to find the man of her dreams. The love they shared got deeper every day. It was true about the heart growing stronger with distance, but she still desired the feel of his hands in the middle of the night.

“I’m not sure how they will feel about that. Aunt Beatrice will most likely be grateful for the break, even though she doesn’t complain even when they are screaming bloody murder,” Sally said before returning to the task of splitting the wood in half.

It was hard work, but with a byproduct of the reward of occupying her mind with something monotonous. She enjoyed doing the chores. That was her happy place these days.

“We are their parents. It’s not that complicated when you think about it. I didn’t even ask how the new job is going. It must be difficult juggling two things at the same time,” Henry said, referring to her occupation as a blacksmith.

She had what most people called intuitive talent.

She was a savant when it came to making weapons, knives, and horseshoes. It had become her passion, but she still remembered the way the gun felt in her hand when she shot the man responsible for killing her husband. It was unfortunate he had to be Henry’s brother. She still woke up in a cold sweat some nights, almost hearing his voice and footsteps on the stairs approaching the bedroom door.

The wood split in half with a satisfying crack down the middle.

“You don’t know what we’ve been going through. Those kids are driving me to drink. Don’t worry, not a single drop of alcohol has touched these lips since we got married. I don’t have any interest in drowning my sorrows when I have nothing to cry about,” Sally called out over her shoulder, well aware that he was watching her every move.

It always made her feel important in his eyes. The hungry stare of a man that had been without a woman in three months was not lost on her. But making him work for that intimacy was going to take more than a few choice words.

“The Dalton gang was hard to track down. We played a bit of cat and mouse for a few days. They tried to stay one step ahead, but we finally cornered them in El Paso, Texas a few days ago. Only one survived the gunfight. Dalton, surprisingly, gave up when his men were slaughtered,” Henry recounted his latest claim to fame with a vivid clarity that was rather shocking to Sally.

“I know you enjoy bringing them to justice, but you don’t have to take that much pride in your work. Show some of that confounded enthusiasm for your family. We have missed you, but I have done my best to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads,” Sally mentioned under her breath.

She was trying not to show her disdain with three months of anger simmering on the surface.

“I’m ready to make it up to you and the children. I guess I have been trying to make up for my brother’s actions. I feel I have to atone for his sins to get the town to respect me. It wasn’t my intention to take on this role, but you encouraged me to do it,” Henry blustered, his fingers stroking his clean-shaven face.

Sally pondered his words and realized being the sheriff was something he had to do. Hal had left a lot of people shaking their heads in disbelief.

His death didn’t necessarily wipe the slate clean.

“I know what your brother did ruffled a lot of feathers in the town. It wasn’t an easy road, but you managed to win them over in the end. While I understand the reason, that doesn’t make it easy. This is your way of leaving a legacy your family can be proud of,” Sally announced, leaning against the door, parched and thirsty for something more than water.

“I will never be able to wipe my family blood off of my hands. I was the one that led him to his demise. He became a lamb to the slaughter when we tracked him down looking for justice. I made my peace with that, but I still need to convince those on the fence still wondering if I am like my brother,” Henry spoke with defiance.

“It’s all in your head. I’ve told you this several times, but you still don’t grasp the concept. There might be a few who doubt, but for the most part, I would say you have come a long way. You don’t have to continue to prove yourself to them,” Sally persisted with the ax coming down over and over again.

“My brother left a long trail of bodies and bad feelings. I want this face to be a symbol of justice. I agree with you in theory. It doesn’t stop me from wanting to make things right with those who suffered at my brother’s hand. I’m just glad Pastor Dave and his wife are here to keep the peace with soothing words from the Bible,” Henry added, referring to the recent transplant of Pastor Dave and his wife to a congregation that was resistant to change.

“I have to go into town. Come with me and we can make a day of it. I know a place nearby, I heard about it from my deputy. Wyatt has come a long way. I’m glad I took your advice and hired him. His resources are quite extensive. He has saved my life too many times and I have done the same for him,” Henry spoke with admiration about the man who had become one of his best friends

Sally breathed deeply and dropped the ax. She was glad to have him home after three long months. This wasn’t the first time there was an extended absence between them, and it wouldn’t be the last.

It was something she was just going to have to get used to. She knew he wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks when his family was waiting for him to walk through those doors.

Henry was feeling a little perplexed. His new position wasn’t the problem. He didn’t want there to be any distance, but something had been brought to his attention.

He couldn’t quite find the words to tell her.

Her hand felt warm and inviting around his waist. The place he had in mind was where everything would be revealed. It wasn’t an easy thing to talk about.

“It’s not like you to be quiet. Is there something you want to talk about? I hope you don’t have another woman,” Sally broached the difficult topic with a sense of whimsy courtesy of a small giggle behind his back.

“I can’t imagine anybody taking me away from my family. The only thing I think about when I’m hunting down these criminals is you and the kids. I’m not foolish to think life is going to be a bed of roses. We have faced trials together in the past,” Henry pointed out

He still mourned his brother’s death even after five years. Every year on the anniversary of Hal’s death and on his birthday, Henry would sit quietly at his grave and wonder how things could’ve been different.

“You’re not telling me something. I know you well enough to understand when you’re hiding something. I usually wait patiently to see when you are going to finally open up, but let’s skip that part and get down to the meat of the matter,” Sally suggested, her fingers squeezing a little bit tighter.

It let him know that she was always going to be there. He pondered the notion of this secret breaking them apart. How could she possibly accept the truth of his silence?

“I do have something on my mind. Celeste died a couple of weeks ago, and there was the matter of her last will and testament. A man tracked me down while I was hunting the Dalton gang. He was quite adamant and wasn’t about to take no for an answer,” Henry started and then stopped, still trying to find the right words when he hardly believed it himself.

“It must’ve been very important for them to go to all that trouble to find you. I get the feeling the place you’re taking me to isn’t so that we can be alone,” Sally replied in a whisper.

“I would have been back a week earlier, but I had to deal with her last request. There’s no easy way to tell you this—I think the best thing is to show you. I enlisted Pastor Dave and his wife to help me. A cabin is located right over there, where you can see smoke over the trees. We have a decision to make but I wasn’t going to do anything until I consulted you. We’re partners, through thick and thin”

Henry swallowed, angling the horse toward a footpath that brought them to the threshold of the log cabin.

Somebody was moving around inside. They seemed to be pacing back and forth in front of the window.

Henry jumped down from the horse, landing heavily on his boots before stretching his hand out to his wife, who stared at him without blinking.

Sally seemed hesitant to take his hand but finally relented She let out a gasp when she landed in his arms before being safely deposited to the firm ground.

The door opened and a disheveled young lady in her early teens was standing there with her head to the side.

“I can’t imagine what you’re thinking at the moment, but let me clear things up. This is Emily. I didn’t think it was going to be this hard to tell you, but maybe it’s the reason why I have procrastinated” Henry choked on the words, licking his lips and trying to retain a calm and soothing tone.

The young lady didn’t say a word and simply stood there quietly, watching them intently.

“I’m afraid you have me at a loss for words. This is all very confusing,” Sally replied, her arm wrapped around her husband’s waist to create a formidable bond nobody was going to break.

“I’m still not sure what to say…” Henry trailed off His mouth felt like it was full of cotton.

“What he’s trying to tell you is that I am the bastard child of Celeste and his brother Hal. I lived with my grandparents. I didn’t even know who my father was until the will was read a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t asked for anything from anybody and I’m not about to start now,” Emily blurted out with one finger twirling a few locks of her curly blonde hair around and around.

Henry turned to face his wife with both hands on her shoulders. “I know how you feel about my brother, but I was thinking about having her stay with us. It’s a lot to ask. What do you think?” Henry inquired.

Sally pushed away from him, her eyes on fire. “This is a lot of information to absorb in less than thirty seconds. You must admit, this is highly unusual. I think the real question we should be asking one another is whether or not she can accept living with me, knowing the truth. Please, tell me you told her before springing this news on me,” Sally pressed.

“I was angry at you, but how could I be when I didn’t even know my father existed. Everything I have learned about him makes me think it was a blessing in disguise we never met. I can’t judge you. I know what my father did to your husband. I can’t even begin to walk a mile in your shoes. For the longest time, I thought my grandparents were my parents. They finally sat me down and told me the ugly truth. I didn’t take it very well,” Emily explained, hinting there was still some animosity.

“You’re still young. It had to be very traumatic to learn about your parents. I’m not going to cast stones. I’m sorry for your loss, but maybe there is a silver lining.” Sally took a few steps closer.

“What do you mean by that?” Emily asked

“Family is very important to your uncle. We have more than enough room, but I do expect you to pull your weight. I’m sure you are no stranger to hard work. Living on a farm with your grandparents must’ve been difficult. I’m not going to preach. We can take it one day at a time. I’m sure my kids would love to get to know you,” Sally said with a nod of her head.

Henry was elated. His fears were unfounded—he should’ve known his wife wouldn’t be judgmental. It touched him deeply to see how she welcomed his niece into the fold.

“I’m not going to promise anything. I was bitter and alone for a long time. It would be nice to get to know my family. I will try to make this work. I guess none of us knows what the future will hold but we may as well face it together,” Emily announced.

“I like the sound of that,” Henry put in

“I have more than enough love for all of you. You will always have a home with us. We will protect you and care for you as if you were one of our own. That is what family does for one another. I’m not taking no for an answer,” Sally insisted

She extended her arms and Emily came closer until she accepted the invitation to become a part of their family. Henry wrapped his arms around both of them and felt an instant connection.

“Let’s go home,” Henry and Sally said in unison.

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