In Love With His Hurt Soul – Extended Epilogue

Two months later

Daisy didn’t think she would be sad to see the back of the Trentons. Not after all that had happened. But she could see on James’s face that he was sad to be leaving. It was his town, after all. He’d grown up here and given it oh so much of himself. 

“Are you certain that leaving is fine with you?” she asked again. She knew she was repeating herself and probably driving him mad, but she had to know he wouldn’t resent her later for this. 

“There’s nothing here for me if you go,” James said flatly. 

“Nonsense,” she said. “Your family is still here.” 

James shook his head. “My family hasn’t been a family since my sister was taken.” He sighed. “That was a long, long time ago. Daisy, I want to go with you to California. You and Ronald are my family.” 

She smiled. “All right but let me warn you. Ronald is a terrible person to travel with.” 

“Why?” James asked. 

“Oh, you’ll see,” Daisy said. 

A lot had changed in the Trentons in the last two months. For one thing, the Unification Movement got its greatest wish. The towns were in the process of merging under the watchful eyes of both David Webb and Mayor Berger. 

Daisy thought that was a good thing. After all, the towns had been feuding for a long time, and it made no sense to anyone to keep it going. Mayor Berger was convinced it was that feuding that had allowed the rot to slip in, in the first place. 

Sheriff Roth, Donald Poole, Karl Visser, and Alexander Harrington had been shipped off to Boulder to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, among other charges. The good news was that the US marshals he’d handed them all over to had commended him and McAvoy on their capture. 

He had given James the name of the person to write to if he was serious about joining up. And, at first, it seemed to Daisy that he would write that letter instantly. But as the days passed and the letter never came into being, she began to worry. Was she holding him back? Was she stopping him from achieving his dream? 

And so, she’d asked him. 

James had shaken his head. “I need a break,” he’d said. “This murder investigation has made me wonder what I want to do with my life. We were almost killed. That kind of makes one rethink things.” 

Daisy had let it go. She suspected they hadn’t heard the last of it, and maybe with some distance from the place where things had almost gone wrong, would come a certain amount of perspective. 

All this flitted through her mind as she waited. Luckily, there was the jingle of harness, and soon, the cart came into view. It was driven by Mr. Finder. He smiled at her as he pulled to a stop in front of her and James. 

“And where is Ronald?” he asked, blowing on his hands. The snow had turned to slush where many feet had trampled it. January was coming to an end, but it was still freezing. 

“He’s saying goodbye to Tim,” Daisy said. 

“Ah,” Mr. Finder said. “I understand. He’s fond of the boy.” 

“We all are,” James said.

“You know I never thought I would see the day that James Andretti left Trenton,” Mr. Finder said. “You’re mind’s definitely made up?” 

James nodded with a smile. “Absolutely. I want to see sandy beaches and be warm for once.” 

“Well, I’ve heard you’ll get all of that in California,” Mr. Finder said. 

Just then, the door to the sheriff’s office opened, and Ronald Burrows came out. He was carrying his bag in one hand with his other around a skinny boy’s shoulders. 

“Room for one more?” he asked Mr. Finder. 

“What?” Daisy and James asked in unison. 

“Well,” Ronald said, looking a little uncomfortable. “Tim and I were talking and—” 

“There’s nothing for me here,” Tim said, looking really hopeful. 

“So, we thought,” Ronald began. 

“That I might as well come with,” Tim said. He beamed. “Oh, say it’s all right, Daisy. Please!” 

Daisy was surprised at this. She nodded. “Of course, it’s fine. You’re welcome to come too.” 

“Great, now get in the cart,” Mr. Finder said. “I still have a saloon to run, you know.” 

They heaved their bags into the back and then climbed up themselves. Daisy and James sat together on one side and Ronald and Tim on the other. It was beastly cold and reminded Daisy of the ride she’d taken that brought her to this place a scant few months ago. 

So much had changed. So much had happened. 

As they rode up the street to Upper Trenton and out of the town, she looked back. James did too, and she thought she saw sadness cross his face. But it was gone the moment it appeared, and he clasped her hand in his and kissed her cheek. She smiled. 

“We’re off on a big adventure,” Tim said, beaming. 

“We are my lad,” Ronald said. “Life is an adventure. If you do it right.” 

Daisy considered this as the afternoon wore on and the towns disappeared behind them. They were headed to another town she had forgotten the name of. It wasn’t too far and had a train station in it. They would buy tickets to California from there, and with luck, Ronald wouldn’t get them thrown off again. She didn’t think she could handle that. Not again. Not when the last time had led to him almost being executed for a murder he didn’t commit. 

A few hours later, they reached the town and said goodbye to Mr. Finder. It was a sad parting. He’d been good to them, and Daisy shed a few tears. 

“Write to us and let us know how you get on,” he said, wiping at his cheeks too. 

“We definitely will,” she promised. It would be great to have someone to write to. Daisy had never had that in her life before, people who stayed in one place. It would be a novel experience. She was quite looking forward to it. 

The farewells took some time, and Mr. Finder wasn’t the only one who had to wipe his cheeks. But soon, he was riding off back to Trenton.

The town they were in was small and snowy and cold. They bought hot coffee that tasted as though it would strip paint from a woman selling it at the train station. After buying their tickets from a little man in the ticket booth who seemed surprised to be selling any tickets at all, there was nothing to do but wait for the train. 

When it arrived about an hour later, they boarded with a couple of other passengers, and were soon on their way, leaving a piece of themselves behind but hopeful for their futures. 

***

A little town outside San Diego, California 

Three Years Later

July

Pregnancy was no fun at all in the heat. No one had told Daisy this little fact, and as she waddled through the hotel, she really wished they had. But then, since her world was chock full of men, she wasn’t surprised that that little nugget was hers alone to discover. She felt like a grape left too long on the vine that was so full of juice it would pop at any moment. 

“Are we ready?” James asked as she came into the hotel’s main dining room. The doors had been thrown open to coax in the delicious breeze that was wafting up from the pristine beach. 

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Daisy said. “The kitchens are swimming in finger foods and lemonade. And the bar is stacked. I don’t think there’s anything else we can do.” 

An ache ran down the side of her swollen belly. She’d been having pains like that a lot lately. She wondered if it was the child inside trying to kick its way out? 

James smiled and kissed her, drawing her to him. The kiss sent flutters of delight through her, and she pushed him away. Those innocent-seeming flutters are what had landed her in this position in the first place. She certainly didn’t need more of them. 

“Are you all right?” James asked. 

Daisy nodded. They had all been working so hard to reach this day. It seemed to have been three years in the making. 

Arriving at The Grand Flamingo Hotel outside of San Diego, California, three years ago had been a shock to the senses. They had left the snow and ice behind and had arrived in brilliant sunshine that none of them were used to. 

The owner of the place was a little man with a stooped back and sharp dark eyes. She knew him as Uncle Ferdinand even though he wasn’t family at all. He had hugged them and shaken their hands and welcomed them into his home and place of business. 

Daisy had soon found that her days were filled with tending to guests and teaching those who wanted to learn how to play poker. It started off with one or two people learning. They would play a few games for fun, and then their time in the hotel would be over, and they would leave. Many returned after a while, and they would bring friends who also wanted to learn to play.

The local community, smelling that something good was happening at the Flamingo, gathered, and the staff of five, including Daisy, James, and Tim, swelled to eight and then to ten as the hotel became more popular. 

Uncle Ronald took on the job of head poker teacher, James was in charge of security, something that was suddenly needed, and Tim helped Daisy to teach people to play. Life was exceptionally good. 

James finally wrote to the US Marshals and found out that with his experience and the letters of recommendation, he could apply any time. It would mean having to travel. When he received that news, James had suddenly seemed a lot less keen on the marshals. 

Daisy felt guilty about that. She was the reason. It had been easy to fall madly in love with James in the wonderful California sunshine. They would walk hand in hand along that perfect sandy beach with the waves lapping at their feet. They spent nights staring at the stars, which were visible so often at night, Daisy wondered if she’d ever seen truly them before. 

It was a time of bliss. 

And then one night in June, sitting on the beach and watching the sun dip into the ocean, James had done it. He had turned to her, his face filled with hope and eager pleading. He’d slid onto one knee, taken her hands in his, and asked her if she would spend her life with him. What could she have said but yes? 

That was the first night she’d felt those innocent, troublesome flutters in her belly. That excitement when he kissed her that she knew would always lead to more. She was so in love with him that there was nothing she wouldn’t do for him. Being in his arms, he was her world, and she was his. 

Their wedding was held at the Flamingo in that very hall. It wasn’t a large affair, but Uncle Ferdinand had found a Mariachi band that played songs and sang all night for them to dance to. And now here she was, married, pregnant, and about to host the biggest poker tournament she’d ever seen. The world was indeed a strange and wonderful place. 

She found the uncles, as she referred to Ronald and Ferdinand, two old, confirmed bachelors, sunning themselves on the veranda. They sat under a large cloth awning on wicker chairs, sipping iced tea with bits of herbs and lemon slices in the glasses. 

They were laughing at something but stopped when she joined them. 

“What’s so funny?” she asked, sinking into an empty chair. Her bulk was too much for two little feet to support all the time. In fact, Daisy thought, a lie down would be wonderful. She had probably overdone it the day before when this tide of energy had filled her, and she’d spent the day running around like a spring chicken doing everything and then some. She sighed and rubbed her aching flesh. 

“Oh, just life,” Uncle Ferdinand said. “I’m still so grateful to whatever brought you two into my life. I have never been as happy.” He smiled. “You have brought life and light into what was a dull and dreary little hotel on the beach.” 

Daisy chuckled. “Well, I’m hoping there will be more life in this place soon. I feel stretched.” 

“You are droopy today,” her uncle agreed. “But everything is ready?” 

“Except you,” she said with mock annoyance. “Get off your backside and come and help.” 

Ronald sighed theatrically and rose. He gave Daisy his arm to help her up. The chair seemed determined to hold onto her, and she struggled to stand back on those little feet of hers. She was so tired of waddling around and sweating. It was all she did. She drank what was left of her uncle’s tea, smiled at Ferdinand, who laughed and waved her away, and then she and Ronald went back into the dining room. 

All the tables had been set up for a maximum of five players, and there were fifteen tables. They had set up a buffet table along the far wall, and even now, Cookie was bringing out delicious smelling foods on serving dishes. 

“Oh, did she make those crab things?” Uncle Ronald asked. “I love those.” 

“Probably,” Daisy said, grimacing as another ache ran through her. That one was a lot more intense than the others had been. Where they had been dull aches, this one had an edge to it. Maybe she did need a rest. 

Seeing her rubbing her stomach, Ronald smiled. “Okay, you’ve done enough. Go to reception and help Tim with the player registration.” 

“But….” she protested and then agreed. Yes, sitting behind a desk would be lovely now. 

The entrance hall was full of people, men and women lining up to register for the tournament. Daisy’s heart soared. This was exactly what she and Uncle Ronald had dreamed of all those years. A tournament for real money. 

Tim was writing down the players’ names in his careful hand. James had been the one who taught the boy to write back in Trenton. For someone who had had as unorthodox an education as Daisy herself, he was doing well. He had become quite the poker player, almost as good as she was. 

For the next hour, Daisy greeted people she knew with a smile and a handshake, jotting down their names on the list and showing them through to the dining room. She was pleased to see that there were a few strangers in the pack too. That meant that their advertising in the paper had done its job and people had come from as far as Los Angeles and San Bernardino to play. It was good for the first tournament. Now, if only her body would stop aching. 

Soon the games began. 

With all the players in the dining room registered and assigned to their tables, Uncle Ronald began the tournament with a little speech. Daisy wanted to listen, but the pains were becoming quite dreadful. 

“Daisy?” James asked as she staggered into the entrance hall, gripping her belly. It felt as though it would rip open any moment. She was filled with panic. What was happening? 

“Daisy?” James asked again, grabbing her arm. 

She turned, and the most unexpected thing happened. A wet feeling expanded through her nethers as water slopped on the floor. 

“What’s happening?” she asked. 

James smiled. “You’re in labor,” he said. “The baby’s coming.” 

“How do you know?” she asked. 

“Grew up on a farm,” he said. “I’ve seen plenty of calves and lambs being born. But this is certainly my first human.” He sounded, of all things, excited. 

The crashing of a dish on the floor, the ringing of the metal plate as it rolled to a halt shocked Daisy out of her confusion. It was Delilah, one of the maids. 

“I’ll run and fetch Dr. Harper,” she cried. “He should be up in his room.”

“Oh, don—” Daisy didn’t finish her sentence because the most excruciating pain she’d ever felt rolled through her body. She doubled over and began to groan through gritted teeth.

Things happened around her, and all she really knew about was the pain. She was taken to the apartment she shared with James. It was one of the hotel suites and was quite grand. Deposited in her bed, she felt somewhat better. And then the doctor arrived. 

Dr. Harper was a young man of around thirty. He had wire-rimmed spectacles and a thin little mustache. Despite his youth, he portrayed the air of an old hand at deliveries, and Daisy felt safe in his hands. Until he wanted to shoo James from the room. 

“No!” she cried. “He stays.” 

“But this is a time for—” the doctor tried. 

Daisy shook her head. “He got me into this mess,” she spat. “He’s going to be here for the whole thing. Now help me!” 

For the next few hours, Daisy’s world was filled with pain and exhaustion. By the time it was all over, she was soaked in sweat from head to toe and aching. But it was a good ache. Especially as she held her son for the first time and looked into his little dark blue eyes. He was so beautiful, and he looked like his daddy. 

“He’s perfect,” James said. “What should we name him?” 

The name popped into her head as though it were whispered by an angel. 

“How about Robert?” she asked. “After all, he’s the reason we met.” 

James considered this as he held her in his arms, lying on the bed beside her. “You know,” he said after a moment. “I do think he looks like a Robert.” Then kissing the baby’s head, he said, “Now, little one, you have large shoes to fill because your namesake was a remarkably good man. He stood up for all the people who couldn’t stand for themselves.” 

Little Robert made a strange little baby noise, and Daisy’s heart melted. She was the happiest she had ever been. Like this, holding her son with her husband holding her, she couldn’t think of a better way to spend a July day. 

Well, maybe she could think of a few things she’d rather do than give birth, but the end result was perfect. She had a family again, and it was perfect and exactly what she had always dreamed of. 

THE END

---

Readers who read this book also liked