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Grab my new series, "Grit and Glory on the Frontier", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!The late afternoon sun stretched golden across the prairie as Emmaline stepped onto the ranch’s wide porch, watching the trail from town with a hopeful smile. She smoothed her skirts, eyes bright as her daughter, Rosie, peeked out from behind her.
“Mama, will Uncle Henry be here soon?” the little girl asked, her face a bundle of anticipation. At only four, Rosie had already learned the excitement of a family gathering, and the mere mention of Henry’s return from his latest journey had her waiting by her mother’s side all afternoon.
“Any moment now, sweetheart,” Emmaline said, lifting Rosie into her arms. “And you know how Uncle Henry loves to surprise us. He might be just around that bend, waiting for the right moment to jump out!”
“Really?” Rosie’s eyes went wide as she searched the horizon, clinging to her mother.
Emmaline grinned, meeting Josh’s gaze as he came around from the stables, wiping his hands clean on his work gloves. “He won’t leave his favorite niece waiting too long,” he teased, tickling Rosie’s chin. “Or his favorite sister, come to think of it.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” Emmaline laughed, tilting her head up to press a kiss to his cheek. “But just wait until Aunt Clara hears you calling me your favorite.”
As if on cue, Clara emerged from the house, waving a wooden spoon with mock severity. “I heard that, Josh Wagner. Now, what’s this about favorites?”
Josh threw his hands up in surrender, chuckling. “All I’m saying is, favorites are like fine desserts—you can have more than one.”
Before Clara could reply, the distant sound of hooves thundered across the open field, followed by a hearty whoop. They turned just in time to see Henry galloping down the trail, his hat waving high in greeting.
“Uncle Henry!” Rosie squealed, wriggling out of Emmaline’s arms to run down the porch steps.
Henry leapt off his horse, catching Rosie as she flew into his arms. “Well, look at you!” he said, laughing. “I swear you’ve grown a whole foot since I left!”
Rosie beamed up at him. “Uncle Henry, did you bring us a surprise?”
Henry’s eyes twinkled as he glanced up at his family gathered around him. “As a matter of fact, I did.”
He set Rosie down and stepped toward the porch, pulling a small leather pouch from his saddlebag. “But it’s news more than anything,” he said, looking directly at Josh. “Something I think will interest the whole family.”
Emmaline and Josh exchanged curious glances as Clara came down the steps to join them, her expression soft with warmth and anticipation. With everyone gathered close, Henry cleared his throat, clearly relishing the moment.
“It’s an offer,” he said, his voice steady but laced with excitement. “Out West, past Arizona—a new settlement looking for ranchers and families. And they’re offering good land, for anyone brave enough to make the move.”
Josh whistled low, while Emmaline tightened her hold on his arm, her heart fluttering with the prospect of adventure once more.
***
The evening fire crackled as the family gathered close, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by the soft glow of lantern light. Henry leaned forward, his face alight as he shared more about his travels.
“It’s a place they’re calling Green Valley,” he explained, laying out a rough map across the table. “I met folks there who said it’s good soil, plenty of water, and even some orchards already going. The kind of land that could be our future.”
Josh’s brow furrowed as he looked over the map. “And you think it’s as promising as they say?”
Henry nodded, glancing at Emmaline and Clara, who were listening intently. “I know you both love it here, and I do too. But Green Valley—well, it felt like the right kind of place. A new beginning for a family like ours.”
Emmaline looked over at Josh, seeing the familiar flicker of adventure in his eyes. He squeezed her hand and murmured, “What do you think, darlin’? Could we make a go of it?”
Her gaze shifted from his face to Henry’s map. She could almost picture it—the open sky stretching over a valley of green, Rosie growing up surrounded by the beauty of a new home. There was a thrill in the unknown, a reminder of the journey her own family had made years ago to start a new life in America.
“I think,” she said slowly, her heart swelling with excitement, “that it’s worth a look. If we’re together, what else could we need?”
Rosie tugged at her sleeve, her small voice full of wonder. “Mama, will there be ponies there?”
Henry chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Oh, there’ll be more than ponies, little one. They’ve got everything from wild mustangs to tame horses, just waiting to be claimed.”
Clara exchanged a look with Franz, her expression thoughtful. “It would be a big change,” she said, leaning into his side. “But I don’t see why we couldn’t at least see it for ourselves.”
Franz nodded, his gaze resting fondly on Henry. “You’ve always had a nose for opportunity, son. And if you think Green Valley’s worth the trip, I’d trust your judgment.”
The family grew quiet, each member lost in their own vision of what the future might hold in a new place. Finally, Josh raised his cup, breaking the silence.
“To Green Valley,” he toasted, his voice warm and full of hope. “May it bring us all we need, and more.”
The others joined in, cups clinking as they shared in the joy of a fresh start, united by the bond that had carried them through so many trials.
The next morning, the smell of ham and fresh coffee filled the ranch kitchen as Clara worked over the stove, her apron dusted with flour. Franz sat at the head of the table, beaming as he watched his family settle around him. Emmaline served up eggs, placing a heaping plate in front of Josh, who gave her a grateful grin before turning to hand Rosie her cup of milk.
Henry leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head with a satisfied sigh. “It’s been too long since I’ve had breakfast like this. City eating’s just not the same,” he admitted, watching as Clara placed a warm basket of biscuits in the center of the table.
“Well, that’s your own doing,” Clara chided gently, a teasing glint in her eye. “You’re the one always running off to Boston or some such place. You can’t get proper biscuits there, now, can you?”
“Not like these, Aunt Clara,” he replied with a grin. “I missed this. A man can only have so many salted fish and hardtack on the trail.”
Franz chuckled, patting Henry on the shoulder. “Then it’s good you’re here to be spoiled a little. Lord knows, you’ve earned it.”
Emmaline buttered a biscuit for Rosie and looked around the table, her heart full as she took in the smiling faces of her family. “I think we’re right where we need to be,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that brought a hush to the table. “All of us, together.”
Josh nodded, raising his coffee mug. “Here’s to that,” he said, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. “May we have many more mornings like this one.”
As they ate, conversation flowed easily from one topic to the next. Henry shared stories of the bustling city life, and Rosie’s eyes grew round as he described the ships and grand buildings along the harbor.
“Do you think we’ll ever get to see Boston, Mama?” Rosie asked, looking up at Emmaline.
“Maybe one day,” Emmaline replied, her smile gentle. “But for now, I’m quite happy right here.”
Franz looked over at Clara, his hand resting over hers on the table. “I think we all are,” he agreed, squeezing her hand as she returned his smile.
They finished the meal in easy laughter and stories, memories shared and hopes for the future voiced as they lingered around the table. Clara poured everyone another round of coffee, and even Rosie joined in with a sip of milk as they toasted once more to family, to home, and to the bonds that made it all worth fighting for.
As they gathered their plates and moved toward the day ahead, Emmaline glanced back at the table, her heart full. The journey that had brought them here had been anything but easy, but looking around, she knew they had all found something precious—a peace that came only from enduring together.
With the sun high and their hearts light, they stepped outside, ready to face another day on the land that was now truly, and always, their home.
🤠 Hello there, I really hope you liked my new western adventure story and the extended epilogue! I would be very happy to read your thoughts below. 🪶🌵
A wonderful story
Trilling story from page 1 throughout to this extended epilogue.
Isn’t Josh’s last name Walker?
At least that’s what he told Franz in chapter 54 of main story.
Thank you for your writing. Highly entertaining stories.