Epilogue (Book One)

    Belle and Elizabeth traveled by train back to the Roma area, and went by stagecoach back to the town itself. There, they decided that Belle would move to the ranch with Elizabeth. The two had become close friends during their journey, and did not want to separate. Belle had also decided that she wanted to live a different kind of life, and was eager to try her hand at the healthy living of a ranch. For her part, Elizabeth was happy to have another friend at the ranch, and welcomed another helping hand. Belle was to help with cooking, cleaning, and entertaining, as well as the running of the business.

After several months, Belle wrote back to Roma and arranged to sell her business to one of the other ladies in the house. She moved into a more permanent room in Elizabeth’s ranch house, and began caring for some of the younger children. She also took over the bookkeeping, to give Elizabeth more time with her horses and children.

A couple of other ladies in Belle’s house moved to Elizabeth’s ranch as well, offering to help with cooking, cleaning and gardening. Elizabeth welcomed them with open arms, knowing that there was always enough work to go around, and thinking that it might be good idea to have more women around when men stayed in the lodging house. She did not encourage prostitution, but knew that a man enjoyed a woman’s company when he was eating and drinking. She encouraged the women to educate themselves through reading and writing, so that they could have intelligent conversations with the travelers. As her household grew, Elizabeth’s reputation as a hostess increased. Before long, her ranch had become a destination for travelers, as Roberto had hoped it would be.

Will returned to Boston and focused on healing his shoulder. He and Elizabeth continued their correspondence, planning to see each other as soon as possible. As the months crawled past, they began to make real plans for their reunion.

Will and Elizabeth Travel to New Orleans (Book One, Chapter Twelve)

    Two weeks went by while Will and Marshall Rainey searched for a short-term sheriff for the town. They interviewed many men, and finally found two that they thought would serve as sheriff and deputy. As time went on, the marshall would judge the men and decide whether they should become the permanent lawmen in the area.

Elizabeth spent her time volunteering at Will’s house. She put herself in charge of sorting through his things and setting aside what she thought he would want. She kept for him the picture of him and Mary, and put some of Mary’s handkerchiefs in the pile of Will’s belongings, but decided that the rest should go. Too many of Mary’s goods would only bring pain and longing, she thought. Arrangements were made for the rest of the furniture, and all of Mary’s belongings, to be sold. Will did not need to be reminded of the house or its tragic end, and she thought that he would prefer to have the money for his journey.

Will arranged to leave by stagecoach at the end of his two-week stay, and told the town of his plans. He also asked Belle to accompany him and Elizabeth on this next leg of the journey. Elizabeth and Belle had become close over the two weeks in town, and he thought that it would be better for Elizabeth to have company on the way home from New Orleans. When he told her of his plans, she laughed at him; how like him, she said, to think of her safety when he had his own healing to worry about.

When the coach arrived, the entire town turned out to say goodbye. Will, though, was nowhere to be found. Belle asked around, and found that no one had seen him since the day before. Frowning, she turned to Elizabeth, who smiled gently.

“He has gone to his property to say goodbye to his wife,” she said softly. “He left yesterday with the memorial marker, saying that he would rather put it up on his own. I haven’t seen him since then, though he promised that he would be back in time for the stage.”

The people busied themselves with packing the luggage onto the stage, and waited. They put Elizabeth’s bags on the roof, and followed those with Belle’s own bags. Elizabeth had packed all of Will’s belongings into several bags, and handed these to the stagecoach driver as well.

When Will arrived, he looked tired and dirty, but had lost some of the tension around his mouth and eyes. He hugged Elizabeth, then turned and hugged Belle, and handed his horse to a woman standing near him.  

“Belva, you are Roy’s sister. I believe that you will give my horse the best care possible. Take good care of him, though, for I’ll be back to claim him before too long.” Belva blushed and started to cry, but nodded through her tears.

Will turned to the people in the crowd and smiled. “Thank you all for your kindness and friendship. Please write me in Boston. I will see you soon.” Then he turned to Belle and Elizabeth. “Ladies, shall we?”

Nodding, both women stepped up into the stagecoach, ready for the next part of their journey together.