by Joyce Armor
Epilogue
“Just one more push, Bridget, you can do it.”
Per wiped her cousin’s brow and nodded at Karl, who stood behind his wife as she labored. As she began to grunt, he lifted her back up.
“That’s it, that’s it.” She smiled in triumph as the baby emerged into her hands. “It’s a boy! You have a son!”
Karl felt tears in his eyes. Bridget had given him a son, and it was the most awe-inspiring thing he had ever witnessed. He laid her back down and kissed her thoroughly.
“A son,” she grinned.
Three brothers would join Edward Karl Burgen in the coming years before a daughter and another son were born. They became playmates and great friends with the four cousins Per and Gus supplied, another boy and two girls to bedevil Henry. Buddy lived to be 13 and became a protector of all the children. By then a young mutt, Arnold, had joined the family. The barn had long since been rebuilt, thanks to the massive reward money the family received after turning in the outlaws, all of whom were wanted. They shared the reward with Jeff and Marty, of course, and built the barn bigger than before. After that, they added more horses and cattle and over the years gained a reputation for supplying top stock.
White Eagle came back years later as a young man. He spoke rudimentary English and stayed for a supper of venison roast. He mentioned he still had the mechanical clown Bridget had given him, and his children played with it now. They reminisced about the time his people rescued them. As it turned it, the man was his father, who was old now but still active.
“To think that this all started with a letter,” Bridget said one day as she and Karl sat on the porch watching the children playing marbles in the dirt.
“The same with Gus and Per. And your sister Lindy and cousin Sophie. You must be out of marriageable sisters and cousins by now.”
“No, there’s my sister Anya, who just turned 20. She’s been writing to a rancher in Idaho. I thought I told you that.”
“Oh, right. The one who’s crazy about horses.”
“Yes, and she has a big heart and no fear. And doesn’t mind telling you if you’re a fool.”
“Sounds like someone I know.”
“Who could that be, Mr. Burgen?”
He grasped her hand in both of his. “The love of my life, Mrs. Burgen.”
“Well, she better stay away from here, or I’ll knock her out of her knickers.”
He laughed and pulled her into his lap. The kids looked over and several made the “eeeyoo” sound, disgusted at their display of affection. Life was good, and it all started with a letter.
The End
About the Author
Award-winning scribe Joyce Armor is a former television writer (“The Love Boat,” “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “Remington Steele”) and the author of numerous books, ranging from romance novels to parenting and humor books and a combination thereof. Her credits also include hundreds of newspaper and magazine columns and articles, children’s poetry and several produced plays. The mother of two grown sons, she lives in Mentor, Ohio, with her current soulmate, Darby, an Aussie/spaniel mix, and spends much of her non-reading, non-writing, non-schmoozing with friends and family time walking/running/getting dragged by the dog.
Email: [email protected]
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