Extended Epilogue

The ten-day trip to Sacramento took forever. All Leona could think about was starting her new life with Marshall.

As soon as they arrived and everything with the wagon train was taken care of, Marshall bought five thousand acres to start a ranch. He also started the process of building a barn, house, and ranch house.

“Where are we going to live until that’s done?” Leona asked.

“With us,” Dorothy, the newly married Mrs. Oscar Williams, insisted, linking her arm through Leona’s.

“Aren’t you going to want to be alone with Oscar?” she asked. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“Nonsense. Oscar and I have the rest of our lives together,” she said.

Leona slept with Jeremy in the guest bedroom that night. She was up with the sun the next morning. Dorothy was already cooking breakfast. Leona helped and then the two women went back upstairs.

Pulling out a dark blue dress, Leona quickly dressed. Dorothy used a metal curling iron that had been heated on the wood stove to curl her bangs, framing her face. She formed the rest into a chignon, enhanced with braids. Dorothy put a coronet woven with purple, pink, and white asters, enhanced with bay laurel leaves on her head as a finishing touch.

“You’re absolutely beautiful,” Dorothy said, turning Leona around to face the mirror.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I just hope Marshall thinks so.”

“You could go down there wearing nothing but rags and covered in mud and he would think so,” Dorothy said. “Let’s go.”

They walked downstairs and Marshall’s eyes grew wide when he saw her. Leona smiled shyly as she looked at her handsome almost-husband in his charcoal gray suit.

Marshall put his hands on her shoulders and whispered, “You’re so beautiful.”

He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The room disappeared and there was only Leona and Marshall in the entire world. Her insides melted with the intense love she felt for this man.

Oscar tapped him on the shoulder. “You’re going to be late for your own wedding. You can kiss her later.”

Jeremy was wearing a matching gray suit and was very dignified as he sat in the back of the wagon with “Uncle Oscar.”

A half-hour later, they arrived at the church. Several of their friends were already there. After unhitching the horses, Marshall took his place at the front of the church and, after Dorothy fussed over Leona’s hair once more, she followed. Jeremy walked behind her, carrying their rings in a small wooden box that Marshall had carved.

Oscar walked her down the aisle.

Leona looked at Marshall standing in front of the altar. Her heart thundered a million miles an hour in her chest. She couldn’t believe that this incredible man wanted to marry her. The love she felt for him was overwhelming.

Once they reached the front, Oscar gave her a smile and took his place next to Marshall as the priest began to speak.

“We’re gathered here today in the sight of God to witness the union of Leona and Marshall in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred bond, created by love, commitment, and the joining of two lives. It’s a journey of companionship, support, and shared dreams.”

Leona looked at Marshall and he winked at her. She smiled at him and was so drawn in by his eyes that she almost didn’t hear the preacher.

“Marshall, please repeat after me: I, Marshall, take you, Leona, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”

Marshall repeated the words, looking deep into Leona’s eyes. She trembled from the incredible warmth she felt.

“Leona, repeat after me: I, Leona, take you, Marshall, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, to cherish and obey, until death do us part.”

As she repeated the words, she said them with her heart and soul.

“Having pledged your love and commitment to each other, I know pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

Marshall brushed a kiss across her lips and then they faced the group.

“May I present Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Turner.”

The reception was held at a nearby park that everyone could walk to.

Mary had made a cake and everyone brought food to share. There were several gifts. There weren’t a lot, as everyone had just started their new lives in Sacramento, but Leona didn’t care. She was glad that the family she’d formed during the journey was there to celebrate one of the happiest days of her life.

***

Eight Months Later

“The house is finished. Are you ready to see it?”

Leona’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Of course I am.”

She looked at Dorothy. “Will you be okay?”

“Absolutely. Go see your new home,” Dorothy said.

Leona, Marshall, and Jeremy had been staying with Dorothy and Oscar for the last eight months. She was sure that Dorothy and Oscar were ready to be alone. They’d been dolls and very hospitable, but they were newly married.

She and Jeremy excitedly got into the wagon and rode the few miles down the road to the farm that Marshall had bought with all the money he’d earned over the last few years as a trail boss. He got lucky as he was able to purchase the land just as California officially became a state in September of 1850 – a few weeks before the wagon train ended its journey in Sacramento.

Leona hopped out of the wagon almost before it stopped. Her heart fluttered as she stared at the two-story white clapboard house. A large-around porch was supported with a white railing. Although the house sat in the middle of a large grassy area, a white picket fence outlined the yard.

“Can we go inside?” Jeremy asked, jumping up and down.

“Yes. Let’s go,” Marshall said.

Jeremy grabbed his hand and practically dragged him inside.

They stepped into a small foyer. A door to the right led to a large kitchen. A basin with a hand pump for water made Leona’s eyes widen.

“Wow. Oh, my goodness,” she gushed. “Marshall, that’s amazing.”

He puffed up his chest exaggeratingly and grinned. “Of course it is. I thought of it.”

She laughed. The large wood-burning stove was against one wall and would be used, not only for cooking and baking, but to heat up a large portion of the downstairs during the winter months. A large pantry was at one end of the kitchen.

Another door led to a dining room with a long table and six chairs.

“In case we have company,” he said, indicating the extra chairs.

“I’m sure we will.”

She walked from the dining room into the large sitting room with a beautiful rock fireplace. Marshall had an office to one side of the sitting room and he’d set up a sewing room for Leona next to his office. He’d also included a washroom for laundry and baths.

Leona put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. I never dreamed that I would live in a house like this. Marshall, this is incredible.”

He grinned widely. “Wait until you see upstairs.”

The master bedroom was large, with a large brass bed in the center of the room.

“I bought a feather mattress. I thought that you might like to buy the quilts and blankets for it.”

Leona’s mind briefly went back to that moment just over a year ago when the clerk had given her groceries out of charity. Now, she would be able to go to the general store and buy quilts.

Two wardrobes sat side by side and he’d even bought her a dressing table. In the corner was a pitcher and water basin. In the other corner was a rocking chair. A small wooden stove against one rocked portion of the wall would provide heat.

“Marshall, this is perfect. Wow. I can’t believe this.”

“It’s all for you. For us.”

“What about me, Dad?” Jeremy asked.

“You have a room all your own over here,” Marshall said.

He led them to a bedroom with a smaller bed in the middle. It had a wardrobe and a small desk. There were shelves for him to put books, toys, or other belongings on.

Jeremy turned around in a huge circle. “Whoa. This is big.”

Marshall grinned. “Do you like it?”

“Yes. I love it.”

They looked at the other bedrooms, which weren’t yet furnished. Leona grinned at Marshall. “I’m glad you built a house with so many rooms. We’re going to need it.”

“Why. Are we expecting company?” Marshall asked, confused.

She grinned. “I’m going to have a baby.”

Marshall’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I’m going to have a baby. You’re going to be a father again.”

Marshall leaned down and captured her lips with his own. “I love you.”

***

A year and a half later

Leona’s and Marshall’s yard was filled with people and laughter.

“Mom, Dad, look! They brought me presents,” Jeremy said excitedly.

“Yes, they did, but you can’t open them until after we’ve had lunch and some cake.”

Jeremy opened his eyes wide and stuck out his bottom lip. Leona looked at Marshall. “Did you teach him that?”

“No, I think Eliza did,” he said pointing to the baby in Leona’s arms.

As if on cue, she looked up at her mom and stuck out her bottom lip.

“That trick might work on your dad, but not on me. No presents until after cake and whatever else you want… no.”

Jeremy nodded and ran off to join his friends.

Several people from the wagon train who’d settled in the area came for the celebration. The tables were groaning under the weight of the food that people brought.

Oscar walked over with his arm around Dorothy. “The pig is done. I think it’s time to start carving.”

Marshall touched Leona’s cheek and walked back to the pig with Oscar. Dorothy sat in the chair Marshall had just vacated.

“This is amazing. I never would have guessed so many people would have come.”

“Me either,” Leona said. “I’m glad.”

Mary and Hannah joined them. Mary was holding her third child, Isaiah. Hannah cuddled little Ruthie in her arms.

“I think we’re working on doubling the population of California,” Leona said. “It seems that everyone is having babies these days.”

“I think they are. And the little christening gowns you make are so amazing,” Dorothy said. “Have you finally started making them to sell instead of giving them as gifts?”

Leona nodded. “Mrs. Thompson, who owns the dry goods store, said she’d take all I could make. I’m saving up to buy Marshall the new rifle he’s been looking at. He hasn’t bought it, because he says his old one is just fine.”

Everyone enjoyed the dinner. Leona helped Jeremy cut the cake and make sure that everyone got a piece. It was a large cake with a wagon and two oxen painted with icing. Mary had made the cake as a gift.

Leona was sure that Jeremy had put his entire piece of cake into his mouth at once because he was so excited to get to his presents.

Oscar and Dorothy gave him a small wooden cart that he could pull around.

Leona leaned over to Marshall. “I hope he doesn’t think about hooking up one of the dogs to the cart. That would be a huge mess.”

Hannah and William gave him several carved animals, while Mary and John gave him a set of tools, including a wooden box to keep them in. Other gifts included shirts, marbles, a ball, and a set of blocks.

Then, Marshall brought out their gift. It was a morgan horse that had been well trained and was perfect for Jeremy. He had a saddle that was just his size.

“My own horse? My very own horse?” he yelled.

“Yessir,” Marshall said.

“Can I ride him?”

“Not right now, because we have guests, but you can get to know him and ride him tomorrow. You can pick out a good name for him, too.”

Jeremy’s face was lit up like the brightest star in the sky and he jumped up and down, clapping. He ran over and hugged Leona and then Marshall.

“Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. This is the best present in the entire world!”

“You’re welcome,” Leona said. “Why don’t you play with your new toys with your friends?”

He nodded and ran over to his pile of gifts, yelling at everyone to come play with him.

“Thanks a lot,” Mary said, shaking her head. “Now, Josiah and Rebecca are going to want horses, too.”

Leona grinned. “I’m surprised they don’t already.”

“Actually, we were thinking about Christmas. John thinks that it’s about time that Josiah learns how to do a few things around the ranch. Rebecca, too, if she wants to.”

“Does she?”

Mary shrugged. “She seems interested enough. I never have a problem getting her to take care of the chickens. She even milks her own cow every morning and evening.”

“Nice. I’m so glad that we have Robert and David to take care of that. I’m capable, but it’s not my favorite chore.”

“You bribe them with food, don’t you?”

Leona nodded. “I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’d cook for them anyway, but they don’t need to know that.”

Finally, the party wound down and everyone headed home after they helped clean up. Jeremy was so excited and had been running around like a jackrabbit chased by hounds that he fell asleep right after supper. Marshall carried him upstairs and put him to bed.

Then he joined Leona in their room. She turned to smile at the handsome man she’d married as he lit a few candles by the bedside. She wondered if she would ever stop feeling like a nervous schoolgirl around him, and as he whisked out the match and walked to her through the smoke, she knew she never would.

As they stood in the silvery moonbeam shining into the window, Leona looked into the deep blue eyes of her husband. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was soft and gentle at first but became more passionate as the flames exploded inside of them.

He pulled back, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you, Leona Turner.”

She smiled and leaned her head in the crook of his neck. “And I love you, Marshall Turner. I love our life, and our house, and our family.”

“Oh?” He leaned away, looking down at her. “All that?”

She kissed him again and smiled. “All that and more.”

Marshall touched her face lightly as he agreed, “And more.”