Extended Epilogue

Dan woke up at sunrise to tend the livestock. The sun had not yet risen in the sky. This was his best chance to get the work done. It was another day on their ranch. He had gotten the farm up and running after a long period of trial and error. He stepped outside and saw the first touch of light on the eastern skyline. There was little time to be wasted.

Today was a special day. It marked the one-year anniversary of marriage with Pauline. He wanted to do something special for her. Dan had not said a word about it, hoping she would think he had forgotten. He knew he had to be quick. Soon, their newborn daughter would be waking up, hungry and ready to be changed. They had named her Dorothy. She was only two months old but was already smiling and laughing.

The two of them had replaced the ghosts Dan had known. Instead of hearing his trauma repeated in the silence of the empty rooms, the house became filled with life once again. Pauline loved to sing. Sometimes he would stop what he was doing just to listen. Her voice was soft and delicate with perfect pitch. She and Dorothy would play, their laughter echoing throughout the property. Right now, however, things were silent.

It no longer bothered Dan. There were times when he appreciated it now that it was a rarity. The lack of noise gave him the space to meditate and process everything. He fed the cows and gave them water before checking in on the chicken coop. The smell was rotten. It was one of Pauline’s least favorite things to do. That was why he had gotten up early. He wanted her to have the perfect day, just as their wedding had been. They’d had a small ceremony on the property and fell asleep that night as soon as they laid down. Everybody from the caravan traveled to Arizona to celebrate.

Dan thought back to that day as the sun continued to rise in the sky, illuminating everything around him. The chirping of the birds interrupted his thoughts until he went over and saw Jesse. As he fed the horse, Dan remembered getting back from their journey. He had almost lost both Jesse and Pauline. The entire experience had changed him for the better. Thanks to his determination, and Jesse being the trustworthy steed he was, things had ended as they should have.

He shook his head in disbelief. He had never expected to find love again. He was not sure if he had wanted to, either. That was what made him so conflicted over Pauline to begin with. He had been so transformed by his grief that it seemed unattainable for him. It took everything that happened for him to be able to open back up to someone. Sometimes he could feel Martha and Johnny in spirit. It gave him comfort to know they were watching over him. There was no regret anymore, only a sense of closure.

Suddenly, Dan heard the baby crying inside. Dorothy had woken up earlier than normal. If he wanted to give Pauline the day she deserved, he had to run in and pick her up before she cried too long. By the time he made it inside, her bedroom door was open. Dan could hear the chair creaking. He walked up and saw Pauline sitting there, just as beautiful as she had ever been, with baby Dorothy in her arms. Dan stopped in the doorway and smiled at her as she rocked. Dorothy smiled up at him and made a happy noise.

“I tried to beat you here,” he said to her warmly. “You were too quick for me.”

“Well, if that’s the case, why’d you go outside and give me a head start?” she quipped playfully as baby Dorothy giggled.

Dan let out a laugh. She had a point. Pauline was good at keeping him on his toes. She gave Dan a challenge he loved. Over the last year, Dan had seen her personality blossom now that she was no longer on the run or a victim. He had loved her as she was then, but it made him so happy to see who Pauline had become. Her natural wit allowed Pauline to always be one step ahead of him. He looked up and saw she was waiting for his response.

“I did all the work outside. Fed the animals, cleaned the coop, and got them all fresh water. After that I was going to get her up so you could sleep a little longer,” he said with a laugh, “and after that I was hoping to make breakfast.”

Pauline gave a hearty laugh and looked at him with a glowing admiration. “Why on earth did you think you could do all that?”

Dan shrugged. “I wanted today to be special. You know what it is, right?”

Pauline nodded. “It’s our one-year anniversary. You know I would never forget.”

“Me either,” he said.

They looked at each other for a moment. Dan took in her loving gaze. He knew he did not have to do anything. It was that he wanted to. Then Dorothy made a noise.

“Are we not paying enough attention to you?” Dan said in his sweet voice.

Dorothy smiled at him and stuck out her arms. He came over and picked her up. She ran her hands in his beard and giggled.

“She’s becoming a daddy’s girl,” Pauline said as she stood up. She put her face in Dorothy’s. The baby made a noise and pushed her away.

“See what I mean?” she yelled playfully.

“That’s why I can’t go on any more drives, isn’t it?” Dan said to her in his baby voice. “Dorothy would scream the whole time I’m away. Wouldn’t you?”

She let out another giggle. Dan stared into her eyes. They looked just like Pauline’s, though she insisted the baby looked more like him.

“You know you can go,” Pauline reminded him, “I can handle her, and you know the money would help.”

“I know,” Dan said as he kept staring at Dorothy, “but how could I leave? Look at her!”

Pauline rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, you say that every time Henry, Dorothy, and the boys come by. You should go, Dan. You always love catching up with them whenever they come around.”

“That’s because we sit by the fire and talk about life on the road. That doesn’t mean I want to do it again.” He turned back to baby Dorothy, and she smiled.

“Maybe when you’re older,” he said to her.

Dan was in no rush to leave. He had been lucky to get a second chance at happiness with Pauline and their daughter. That was more important to him than work. The three of them had everything they needed in each other.