Falling For His Gentle Soul – Extended Epilogue

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Ellie ran a hand over her stomach. It was so big now that she couldn’t believe that it could possibly get any bigger. She was feeling the kicks and movements from the baby every single day now. She leaned against the table for a moment to get a bit of relief from the weight she carried around constantly. 

The sound of someone walking into the kitchen behind her made her turn around. Charlie was standing there, a look of concern on his face. 

“Charlie, what are you doing back so early?” Ellie asked. She wasn’t disappointed to see him in the least. In fact, her feelings were quite the opposite. She missed Charlie whenever he was in town, and she always looked forward to when he would come home. 

“I decided to leave things in Tommy and Vance’s hands for the rest of the day. You’re about to have the baby any day now, and I don’t want you to be alone when you don’t have to be.” 

Ellie smiled. “It is a bit different having the house to ourselves, isn’t it?” Ellie hadn’t minded when Charlie’s mother lived with them, not a little bit. In fact, she’d only grown her relationship with Winnie in the last year. But Winnie had also been growing her relationship with Carl, and a week ago, the two of them had decided to get married. 

After much discussion and back and forth during the planning stages of the wedding, both the reverend and Winnie had decided it would be better to live their life in town, at the reverend’s home, and that they would visit. Ellie had dreaded being left alone in the house, but Winnie talked her into it, reminding her that soon, it would be a family of three and that she and Charlie would need their privacy. 

Since the wedding the week before, Ellie hadn’t seen Winnie. They were supposed to visit that day for a late lunch, and Ellie was looking forward to it a lot more than she was willing to admit. 

“It is different. I suppose that it is nice too, in a way. I love having my mother around, but sometimes, it is nice to just have my wife to myself.” Charlie chuckled. “Speaking of which, Ma and Carl said they’d be here around two this afternoon. Billy is coming, too. Is it strange I have a new little brother now?”

“I don’t know. How do you feel about it?”

Charlie shrugged. “Before, I would say that I was very worried and terrified of how to deal with it. Now, I suppose I have gotten more used to dealing with new things, and I am confident that it will be an enjoyable experience. I don’t know how you do it, but you are so good at adapting to change and new things. I am learning from you, but slowly.” 

Ellie shook her head. “You say that like a compliment, but I’m not sure if it is.” 

Charlie pulled her in close and kissed her cheek, then her forehead. “Of course, it is a compliment,” he murmured. “You know, I hope our baby is a girl, that way, she will be just like you. I think that would be very nice to have around, two copies of you.” 

Ellie giggled. “You say that now, but I would bet you really want a little boy, so he can follow you around and learn to be a deputy and eventually a sheriff, too. It sort of runs in the family, I hear.” 

A low laugh rumbled through Charlie’s chest. “You know me well, my love. I suppose we will have to wait and see what God has sent us.” Charlie placed his hand on Ellie’s stomach. “Whenever you are ready, little one, we are too.” 

Ellie pulled back and took Charlie’s hand in hers. “Speaking of having time to ourselves, I wanted to talk to you about something. You know how I have been writing back and forth with Dale for a while?”

“Yes.” Charlie frowned slightly. Ellie shared every one of her letters with Charlie, and Charlie had even sent a few of his own letters to Dale. The relationship had slowly been growing. 

“He’s been showing a lot of improvement, or at least that is what he says. He claims he has stopped drinking and has held down the same job for eight months. In light of our new baby, I want him to have a chance to have a part in our lives again, in my life. I want to invite him to come for a visit, to come to Piper Falls. Maybe if he wants, he could move here, and we could be closer.” 

“Do you think he’s ready for that?” Charlie’s frown deepened. 

“If I’m honest, I don’t know. I can never tell if he’s changed before I see him for myself. If I don’t have a chance to talk to him face-to-face and see how he lives his life and allow him to come back into our life, how will I know if he’s turned himself around? Besides, it’s been so long since I’ve seen him, and he is family.”

Charlie sighed. “I want you to be happy, Ellie. You know the only worry I have is you getting hurt. I don’t want Dale to disappoint you, so I suppose I’ve always seen it as a nice way to keep a relationship with him by writing. However, if you want him to come to Piper Falls, it is all right with me, and I will do my best to do whatever you need to make things easier.” 

“Are you sure?” Ellie was surprised by his reaction. She’d expected him to oppose the idea of Dale coming to Piper Falls a little bit more. Instead, he seemed like he was more than open to it but willing and even excited about it. 

“Of course, I am sure. Ellie, I have never had anything against Dale. In fact, I feel as if I have a sort of appreciation for him because he is important to you. I have seen over the past few months how much you have enjoyed his letters, and I’ve also seen the progress he seems to have made in his relationship with you. If there is one thing I want, it is for you to have the happy family relationship you’ve always wanted.” 

“Then why do you always seem so strict with him?”

“Because I hate to see it when he hurts or disappoints you. I suppose I am strict and overly harsh with him because I hope it will make him respect me enough to be afraid of letting you down.” 

Ellie leaned in and gave him the biggest hug she could manage around her huge stomach. She missed that, too, the ability to be close to Charlie. With her waist the way it was, it felt like he was always a few feet away instead of right there. 

“I know that I say this a lot, but I love you.” 

Charlie chuckled. “I know, and I love you, too. You’re probably right, and this is the right time to have Dale come back into your life. Maybe, this will go just like you hope it will, and it will be the start of a new journey.” 

“I hope so.” Ellie did hope that Charlie was wrong to have worries about Dale. She placed her hand on her stomach. She was about to have a child and start a new family, and she wanted Dale to be a part of that. She could remember the good times that she had with Dale, and she wanted her baby to see that side of him. 

He had been making progress, or at least that was the image that he gave in his letters. She hoped that it was the truth because it would answer the many prayers she’d made the last year. She wanted to give Dale the gift of the family she’d found here in Piper Falls. 

—*—

A sharp pain ran up Ellie’s back. Those pains were becoming more and more common these days. When she did a lot of activity, it often made it worse. It was one of the reasons that Charlie sometimes never let her do anything strenuous these days. 

“Are you all right? You look a bit pale.” Charlie came over and put his hand on her back.

Ellie nodded. “I think I’m fine. How does the table look?” She’d prepared everything just right, then re-arranged it. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. After all, Winnie had lived with them for a good portion of their time as a married couple. She and Ellie worked well together in the kitchen and the house. Perhaps Ellie felt just a little bit self-conscious about the fact that she was in charge of the house and kitchen now for both Winnie and Dale. She wanted Winnie’s approval, and she also didn’t want to make the older woman feel as if she were being replaced or undervalued. 

“It looks wonderful. I know you are worried about what my mother is going to think, but you shouldn’t. She loves you. I think if the two of us got into a fight, she would take your side.” 

Ellie laughed. “I hope you’re right. I don’t want her to feel as if I am taking over her home and how she used to run things.” Ellie shook her head. “I know that I might feel a bit hurt if someone else came in and changed how I did everything.” 

“Believe me, my mother is not thinking that way. Speaking of my mother, I think they’re here. I just heard the wagon out front.” Charlie motioned for Ellie to follow him, and the two of them rushed to the front of the house to receive their guests. Sure enough, Carl, Winnie, and Billy were all in their wagon out front. 

Carl and Winnie were leaning on one another, laughing and talking. The way they were holding onto one another made Ellie remember the first days when she was married and full of joy. She still felt that way, even a year later. It was good to see Winnie looking so different. Her cheeks were bright, and her eyes looked so much younger than before. 

Carl got down first, then helped Winnie and Billy down to the ground. They all headed up to the house together. Ellie loved Billy as one of her students. He was one of her brightest students and had progressed so much. She loved spending time in the classroom and would sometimes stay late so she could give her students a little bit of extra help. Charlie had mentioned how much everyone in town was talking about how good of a job she was doing with the children. 

She hoped that the children felt the same way. 

“Ellie, my dear, you look wonderful.” Winnie leaned in and gave Ellie a tight hug. Carl shook her hand, and Billy waved hello, looking a bit shy. Ellie imagined it was a bit strange for him to come and visit his teacher, who was now also his sister-in-law in a way. She smiled at the thought. As strange as it was, she was glad that their family was only growing. There was all the more love to go around.  

—*—

Charlie noticed that Billy had spent most of his time that evening off to the side or just listening to the conversation. Charlie had been looking for the right moment to reach out to the boy and establish that he was not upset about their new relationship. He had come to like the idea of having a little brother. 

He’d always wanted a sibling growing up, and now he had the chance to have one, even though it was much later in life and in a completely different way than he ever would have expected.

“I am going to get a bit more wood from the pile. Do you want to come with me, Billy?” Charlie asked, trying to break the ice. Ellie was sitting with Winnie and Carl. The three of them were talking about the new baby, and both Carl and his mother were expressing how excited they were to be grandparents. 

Billy’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. That had been easier than he thought it would be. Billy followed along nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets. 

“So, how have you been doing, Billy? Ellie tells me that you are excelling quite well in school.” 

Billy’s smile grew. “I have been. Miss Winters says that I have to be good at the book stuff if I want to grow up to be a sheriff.” 

“What?” Billy’s statement caught Charlie off guard. 

“Well, when Randall kidnapped me and the other children and Miss Winters, I remember thinking how I wanted to do something. Then you came, and you saved all of us.” Billy looked suddenly shy. “It made me think about how much we all needed you, and what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.  I decided that I wanted to be like that one day. I wanted to be the one to help people and save them when they were in trouble.” 

“Are you sure?” Charlie felt a swelling of pride in his chest. He had never had anyone want to be like him before. It touched him in a way he never imagined it could. 

“I’m sure. I talked to my pa about it, and he said it was a good dream to have. He said that I could even be a minister and a sheriff, just that I would have to work extra hard to do both.” Billy glanced up at him. “Is that all right with you? When I get bigger, can I be a deputy, maybe?” 

“I think that would most certainly work out. There are quite a few things I have in mind that I could teach you already. I’ll tell you what. If your father is all right with it, you’ll have to come over after school sometime, and I will teach you how to shoot a pistol. How does that sound?”

“That sounds great! You’d really do that?”

“Of course, I would. You’re my little brother now, and brothers stick together.” 

Billy looked very happy at this statement as he gathered up the wood beside Charlie, and they headed back inside. Charlie kept looking over at Billy. He’d thought this new relationship would bring so many things, but it never occurred to him that Billy would be so accepting of him so soon. It felt good to have someone looking up to him and making him feel valued and respected. He hoped that he could live up to Billy’s expectations. 

—*—

“Charlie! Quick, it’s…it’s time.” Ellie’s yell from the doorway caught Charlie off guard. He was out in the front of the property, showing little Billy how to shoot properly. It would be a long time until Billy could really learn how to use a pistol. However, his father had agreed to let Charlie teach him a few things. Charlie looked down at Billy with wide eyes, and Billy mirrored his expression. 

“The baby, it’s coming. Billy…we have to get the doctor here. Go tell Ellie that I’m going, all right? Get anything she needs.” 

Billy nodded, looking pale and uncertain, but as if he wasn’t going to talk back or question Charlie’s authority on the matter. Charlie rushed to the barn and grabbed his horse. His hands shook as he quickly saddled him. Right before he mounted, he rushed to the house. Ellie was pacing the parlor. 

“I’m going for the doctor. Will you be all right?” 

“I’m fine. Just go.” Ellie looked like she was anything but fine. She looked pale and in pain. Charlie wanted nothing more than to stay there with her and make sure she was all right. Instead, he rushed to his horse and mounted it, then started toward town. 

He had never ridden so fast. Every second seemed to stretch into hours. It reminded him of when he had ridden toward the schoolhouse when Randall had kidnapped Ellie and the children. He wanted nothing more than to be there already, but he couldn’t make the horse go any faster. When he reached the doctor’s office, it didn’t take long for the doctor to join him. 

He didn’t say a word as they rushed back toward the ranch. 

To Charlie’s surprise, there was a carriage out front when they got there. He immediately recognized it as Reverend Carl’s. Carl was out front with Billy pacing back and forth. Charlie watched as the doctor rushed inside, and he held back to talk with Carl. 

“What happened?” he asked. 

“Winnie and I came to pick up Billy, and he told us what was happening. Winnie went in right away, and they’ve been in there for almost an hour. It took a while for you to get the doctor.” 

“I know. What if she isn’t all right?” 

Carl shook his head. “I have a feeling she is going to be just fine. It always works this way, you know. It feels stressful and like the world is standing still but in the end….” The wail of a baby interrupted what Carl was saying. “Well, I’ll be. That was much faster than I expected. Usually, it takes hours and hours.” 

Charlie rushed inside. The doctor was standing in the hall, drying his hands. “It’s clear I wasn’t needed here. I walked into the room, and the baby was already being born. It seems your wife was having pains most of the morning but thought they were nothing.” The doctor smiled. “You’re one lucky man. She is one of the fast ones to deliver. Go ahead and meet your son.” 

Charlie didn’t need to be asked twice. He hurried into the room. Ellie was lying on the bed, and Winnie was standing beside her, holding a baby. Both of them looked at him as he approached. 

“Oh, Charlie, he’s beautiful.” Winnie handed him the little bundle, and Charlie’s heart melted. He’d never seen anything so tiny and flawless. He held one of the baby’s hands, rubbing his thumb gently against the soft skin. 

“I suppose you didn’t get a daughter,” Ellie smiled up at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes. 

“There’s always next time.” 

Ellie giggled. “I suppose there is.” 

Charlie looked back down at his son. He felt as if he’d come full circle. He was a father now, with a son to protect and guide and love. At that moment, he felt as if nothing else mattered. Everything he’d ever wanted was in this room, his wife, his child, his family. God was good and had given him much more than he knew he needed. 

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