ExtendedEpilogue

Lake of the Pines, California

FIVE YEARS LATER

The sled came to a stop outside the ranch on the hill as fat snowflakes drifted down from above.

Abbie cradled Daisy close to her chest while Jared, Hannah, and Mason argued in the back. Clayton looked over his shoulder at their three oldest children, silencing them with a single raise of his eyebrow.

The front door opened, and Jeff’s fiancée stepped out, a thick fur wrapped around her shoulders. “How is my favorite traveling trail family?”

Jeff followed behind his fiancée. “We didn’t think that you would get here before the storm.”

Clayton hopped out of the sled, puffy white clouds flying up where his boots landed in the snow. “We left from the old homestead early this morning.”

Jeff laughed and reached for the baby. “I haven’t met my newest niece yet. She’s gorgeous, Abbie.”

“Thank you.” Abbie reached for Clayton’s hand. He helped her down from the sled, pressing a kiss to her temple as she passed him. “Do you already have a tree?”

Jeff shook his head. “No. We wanted to wait for you. The kids are old enough that they should be able to find a suitable Christmas tree now.”

The children in the wagon halted their conversation, attention turning to Jeff.

Abbie laughed as her sons threw themselves over the side of the wagon and into the snow. The pair of boys raced down the hill to the pine forest. Her daughter was close behind them, not a care in the world as her skirt tore and her dark curls streamed behind her.

Jeff handed the baby back to Abbie before he turned and clapped Clayton on the shoulder. “We better follow them with the ax. They’ll have a tree picked out quickly and I’m sure those boys of yours will try to knock it down before we get there.”

The men climbed back in the sled and followed the children down to the trees.

Jeff’s fiancée took Abbie by the arm and tugged her inside where a fire was roaring on the hearth. “I’ve got several scraps of ribbon to tie to the branches and enough popped corn to make several strings. There are scraps of paper as well that the children can draw on.”

Abbie set Daisy on the chair close to the fire and pulled the baby from her swaddles. “There are presents hidden in the wagon. I was sure that the children would discover them on the ride here, but Clayton hid them well.”

A little while later, children’s laughter cut their conversation short. Abbie’s sons barreled through the door, tumbling over each other in a hurry to remove their jackets and fur hats.

Clayton followed them through the door. “Have you two forgotten your manners?”

Jared rocked on his heels. His big brown eyes widened as he peered at Abbie. “Mama, we found the best tree.”

“I’m sure you did, but mind your father and remember your manners.” Abbie held her expression neutral, knowing that the five-year-old twins were likely to become beasts of boys if they didn’t mind Clayton.

She would not raise her sons to become anything like Ezekiel. Clayton felt the same and did everything in his power to teach the boys about compassion and respecting others.

Jeff shook his head as he stomped snow from his boots. Large flakes melted from the warmth of the house as he closed the door behind him and shed his jacket.

The children settled themselves in front of the fire with pieces of charcoal and scraps of paper while the men dragged in the tree and stood it in the corner.

Abbie rocked in one of the chairs by the fire, feeling so content with her life.

When she had first set out for California, she never pictured a life in which adventure would become her reality. She thought that she would find Jeff and eventually arrange a marriage with a man.

The last thing she expected was to meet Clayton and fall in love.

Memories of their wedding and the long days and nights they spent on the road came flooding back to her. It seemed like such a long time ago, but the memories were still vivid on nights like these.

The wind howled outside, and snow blew by the windows. Darkness grew as the clouds blocked out the sun. The storm was here, but it didn’t matter because their family was safe inside, with a roaring fire and enough food to fill their bellies.

Clayton sat on the floor in front of Abbie, his legs stretched out and his back pressed against the chair she sat in. He kept one hand on her foot, the other wrapped around their daughter Hannah as she abandoned her drawing to curl up in his lap.

Abbie’s heart warmed watching the two of them together.

Jeff’s fiancée clapped her hands and got to her feet. “We have to make the garland for the tree.”

The children moved their drawings to the side as they were handed a spool of thread. Abbie glanced at every member of the family gathered around the fire and stringing popped corn onto thread. There was happiness and love in abundance.

Tomorrow there would be maple candy and laughter as the children tore into the presents Father Christmas left for them.

Each moment would be one that Abbie would treasure forever.

Clayton got to his knees and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I love you, Abbie,” he murmured in her ear.

She gave him her largest smile. “And I love you more than there are stars in the sky.”

Hannah came over to show them the garland she’d made. “What do you think?”

“That’s lovely,” Abbie said.

“Almost as lovely as your Mama,” Clayton added.

His grin still made Abbie’s heart flutter the same way it did when she first fell for him.

They nestled in with their family, talking and laughing in front of the fire before decorating the tree together. Then they stayed awake until late in the night, telling the children stories about the trail.

When everyone was weary-eyed, they settled in their beds, eager for what the morning would bring.

As Abbie glanced over her sleeping family in the dark, she knew deep within her heart that this had always been God’s plan for her.