April 1857

“Mama! Mama! They’re here. They’re here,” Alison shrieked, running through the simple log cabin. She skidded to a stop in the room Eirica and James slept in. “Pa says to hurry.”

“I’m coming,” she called out. It still thrilled her to hear her children call James Pa. They were his and no one loved them more fiercely than he. “Now hold still, Summer Jones, and let Ma finish dressing you.” Her daughter, now eight months old, squirmed and fought, but finally, she was dressed and her hair was combed.

“Need help?” James asked from the doorway.

Hearing her father’s voice, Summer squealed. Her hands opened and closed rapidly, her quiet demand for her father to pick her up. “Come on, sweet pea. Your aunt, Jessie, is here.” He held out his hand for Eirica.

Eirica took his hand, thankful to have such a loving, wonderful man. True to his word, he’d made sure she knew how to take care of herself and her children here. They were a team and had worked together to build their house and clear their land. Soon, they’d plant some fruit trees and purchase more cattle to add to the small herd Wolf had given them as a wedding present.

But the gift James had presented to her on their wedding day was what really made him dear to her heart. He’d given her the deed to the land. So much had changed during the last year and there were more changes to come. Thinking about them brought tears to her eyes.

“Oh, James, I can’t believe Jessie and Wolf are leaving in the morning, or that Rook and Sofia are going with them.” Tears fell from her eyes. Her husband handed her a clean handkerchief. “I’ll miss them so much.”

“I know.” His own eyes darkened with sadness. Not only was he losing his sister, but Jeremy had surprised them all that morning by announcing his intention to go with Wolf and Jessie.

For a moment, they held each other, much to Summer’s displeasure.

His voice broke. “Come on. Everyone else has arrived.”

From the main room of the three-room cabin, Eirica heard raised voices, then she heard a rough voice demand, “What’s keepin’ them two? They’s best not be gettin’ all smarmy again.”

Rook poked his head into the room. “Git out here, you two.” He stepped in. “There’s my li’l lass.” Summer reached for him, arms outstretched, a huge toothy grin covering her face. She squealed and clapped excitedly when he took her from her father.

James shook his head and grinned ruefully. “She’s fickle-hearted already.”

Eirica laughed, feeling lighter of heart. She straightened her apron, a clean, crisp new one to go with her new green calico dress. Together she and her husband joined bedlam—there was no other way to describe the absolute chaos that greeted them.

Coralie and Jordan had arrived, bringing their two nearly grown puppies, reuniting them with the two pups she and James had kept. Alison, Lara and Ian dashed after the animals, creating a racket of excited shouts and barking dogs.

Eirica sighed. James left her side to corral the dogs and chase them outside. Eirica greeted Coralie who held her newborn son. The two women hugged, then Eirica pulled the blanket Coralie had knitted off the baby’s face. Jordan, Jr., slept peacefully. No one would ever guess that Coralie had once doubted her ability to be a mother. She and Jordan doted on their son.

“He’s so precious.” Eirica smiled to herself as she ran a finger over the baby’s soft mat of curly black hair. She hadn’t told anyone, not even James, but she suspected that she herself was pregnant again. Maybe she’d have a son, a miniature of his father.

Sofia and Rook joined them. More hugs followed, then Eirica burst into tears. “I can’t believe you and Rook are leaving as well.” How could she bear to lose these two wonderful people who’d stepped in and filled a void in her life? They were returning with Wolf to help with his and Jessie’s boarding school.

Rook bounced Summer in his arms. The little girl was dressed in the pink dress Coralie had made her, and to see this big, barrel-chested old man holding a dainty little thing like her daughter made Eirica want to laugh and cry at the same time. He drew her into a bear hug. “You’ll do jest fine, lass.”

After a few minutes of talk and tears, Sofia slid her husband a knowing look. “Time to get the meal started.” She headed for the stove. Rook, still carrying Summer, followed fast on her heels, arguing over who’d do what.

“Well, some things haven’t changed,” Coralie giggled. Then she glanced around. “Where is Jessica?”

“Right here, Corie,” a breathless voice said.

Jessie joined them. In her arms, she held her daughter, Sarah, named after Wolf’s mother. Eirica reached out to take the pink bundle. Peeling away the blanket, she revealed a tiny matching pink dress lovingly adorned with embroidered stitches.

Coralie nodded approvingly at Jessie’s choice of garment for her daughter. “There’s hope for you yet, Jessica.”

Jessie wrinkled her nose, an impish gleam in her eyes. “Don’t count on it, Corie. She’s only wearing a dress today ’cause you made it and we’re leaving. I figured if you went to the trouble to make it, the least I could do was let Sarah wear it one time.”

Jessie and Coralie continued their good-natured bickering. James rejoined them and Eirica grinned at her husband. “Some things haven’t changed,” she mouthed.

Glancing around, Eirica frowned. “Where is Samuel?”

Jessie motioned to Wolf who was talking to Jordan. Wolf came over, looking every bit the proud papa, carrying a tiny blue bundle.

Coralie stepped back to widen the circle. Soft sighs filled the immediate area. Twins. Jessie had shocked them all by giving birth to a son and daughter, both with curly black hair.

After several more minutes of talk, everyone spread out. Eirica handed the baby back to Jessie and smiled. She’d gotten her wish. Love and laughter filled her house.

James caressed her shoulders from behind. “Happy, sweetheart?”

She tipped her head back, leaning against him. “Oh, yes.” A sudden crash and a yowl of protest broke them apart. On the other side of the room, Ian had knocked over a chair in his attempt to get to the food on the table. His uncle Jeremy rescued their feast and was carrying the half screaming, half laughing boy away, holding him high overhead.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart,” James murmured into her ear.

Eirica laughed softly. Rook and Sofia continued to argue over the wood stove, with Summer adding her opinion in her high voice. Elliot had his arms around a very pregnant Catarina. There had been so much hardship on the trail, but so much joy at its end.

Joy and happiness filled her heart as she watched these people she held dear to her.

What a family they were.