Now she was getting married, going to be running a motel and boarding house with her mother and family friend Julia, and living in a town that was so special to her. Silver Springs might be a small town, but the miracles that had been wrought in her life because of this small town were anything but small.
Epilogue
Five months later, Saturday morning in early May at the Three Brother’s Lodge…
“I’m sad the school year is almost over,” Jessica said to the room in general as she helped bring food to the table. She and Justin had been married in the first part of December, with Gracie and Mason following a week and a half later.
Mason had moved to town with Gracie, taking over the second master suite in the William’s house. As the town doctor, she felt that it was important for her to be close to her office, and Mason had readily agreed. The school board had leased the property for their new school teacher, Jessica, and there were still times when she and Justin stayed in town, especially on nights when the weather turned foul, and driving up and down the mountain to get her to school was dangerous.
Kaillar and Becca had gotten married the second Saturday in March. It had been a cold and blustery day outside, with snow falling, and grey clouds blotting out the sunshine. But inside the small church, flowers had been blooming, and love had flowed around them as they celebrated the beginning of their married life.
That had been two months ago, and as had become custom, all three couples were at the lodge for the weekend. While the girls made brunch, the guys had gone out to take care of the chores. Everyone was working well together, and these times were always the highlight of not just Becca’s week, but everyone seemed to look forward to them.
“That just about does it,” Becca told the other two women. Before anyone could reply, the front doors opened, and the three men came walking in.
“Breakfast smells amazing,” Kaillar told her as he joined her and kissed her on the cheek.
Justin kissed Jessica and took a seat at the table, pulling her down to sit beside him. Mason and Gracie took seats on the opposite side of the table, and soon everyone was enjoying good food and good company.
“I was thinking that we could saddle up the horses and go for a ride after we eat,” Justin suggested.
Mason and Kaillar both nodded their heads before Mason turned to Gracie, Sounds good, huh?”
“Sounds fun, but I think I’ll stick around here this morning. I’ve got just a few work things I need to clear up so I can enjoy the rest of the weekend.”
Mason looked disappointed, “Are you sure?”
Gracie smiled at him and nodded, “I’m sure.”
Justin took Jessica’s hand, “You up for a ride?”
Jessica shook her head, “I think I might stay here as well. You guys go and take Becca with you. I’ll even start lunch while you’re all out.”
“Mac and cheese?” he asked with a grin.
“Sure. Mac and cheese it is.”
“Uhm…I think I’ll stick around as well. But you guys go and have fun,” Becca said in a too bright voice.
“Becca, you like to ride. Now anyways. Come with us…”
Becca shook her head, “I really shouldn’t….I mean, I can’t…” She was stammering all over herself trying to come up with a reason to not go riding. She didn’t do a good enough job, and Kaillar narrowed his eyes at her.
“What’s going on?”
“Yeah, I think I might like to ask the same question,” Mason replied, watching his wife carefully.
Becca blushed and then shook her head, “Nothing is going on.”
“You’re hiding something.”
Her blush intensified, and she closed her eyes and wished she’d practiced being a better liar. “I just don’t want to go riding. Not today.”
Kaillar watched her, suspicion lurking in his eyes before he asked, “And when might you feel like going riding.”
Becca smiled up at him, realizing he was putting two and two together, and coming up with five. “Maybe another six months, give or take a few weeks.”
“You’re pregnant?” Gracie asked, joy lighting up her features.
Becca nodded, “I think so.”
Gracie beamed at her, and then whispered to the room in general, her eyes firmly fixed on her husband, “We can raise our children together then. I’m two months pregnant as well.”
Mason looked at Kaillar, who was still watching his wife with a mixture of shock and approval. “Well, here I thought we might be to a point where I didn’t have to pack a box of tissues around with me. Guess I was wrong.”
Kaillar shook his head, and looked at Jessica. “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant as well?”
Jessica stuck her tongue out at him and tossed her hair, “Fine I won’t. Justin dear, I’m pregnant.”
Becca, Gracie, and Jessica were all crying by this time and chattering away about how close their children were going to be. “This is so cool!”
The three men finished their brunch, and then headed out for a ride. When they were standing on the top of the ridge, overlooking the mountains and valleys below and in the distance, Justin finally spoke up.
“What are the odds that we would all find the loves of our lives within a few weeks of one another? And now, we’re all going to have children.”
Mason grinned, “What do you think Uncle Jed would say if he could be here right now?”
The three men were quiet for several long moments. Finally, Justin spoke up. “I think he’d remind us of all the life lessons we learned. How to be a good steward of the land and resources. How to love the Lord and our family.”
“But most of all, I think he’d remind us that children need to be nurtured and led in the right direction. He’d remind us to always be good role models. And I think he’d tell us how proud he is of the men we’ve become.”
Justin looked at his brothers, one on either side of him and laughed, “The Donnelly Brothers are going to be daddies!”
Mason whooped and laughed. Kaillar tipped his head back and howled. “God has been very good to us.”
Justin and Mason agreed. “He sure has been. Now, I say we go back to the lodge and spend some time with our women. Hopefully by now they’ve stopped crying.”
“Don’t bank on it. They’re probably already planning nurseries and playdates.”
Mason frowned, “You think so? That means they’ll expect us to put together cribs and changing tables, and whatever else they can find.”
“Welcome to fatherhood, boys!” Justin told them, turning his horse around and heading back to the lodge. He’d take whatever blessings God sent him and Jessica’s way.
Once they had taken care of their horses, he stopped and waited for Mason and Kaillar to join him. “Boys, we’re going to be much better parents to our kids than our mom even tried to be. Uncle Jed was only one man, and he taught us well. Our children are going to be the most loved kids in the county.”
Becca, Gracie and Jessica were standing on the front porch and overheard his comment. “We already feel like the most loved women in the county,” Gracie called out.
“Good.” Each man collected his wife, and soon they were sitting around the living room, making plans for workdays and deciding where they were going to put a nursery. When Stacie and Julia walked in several hours later, the boys accepted their congratulations, and then each man handed their wife their own box of tissues.
Life was good, and they were living proof that God could take any situation and turn it around for good. The Three Brothers Lodge was intact and would be for generations to come. Filled with love and the promise of God’s blessing over their lives.
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Kaillar (Three Brothers Lodge #3) Page 10