Chapter 43 — EPILOGUE

"Maybe it's not about the happy ending. Maybe it's about the story." (unattributed)

No charges were brought against Ysabel or any of her party. The day after the hotel debacle, Ysabel Santiago and her colonel were joined in matrimony by Bishop O'Shea himself, who reckoned that any determination as to the holiness of the union was best left to a much higher authority than himself. And the day after that, the newlyweds and their considerably reduced entourage entrained for San Francisco. Ysabel's embalmed brothers in lead-lined coffins rode in the baggage car. Attorney Raymondo García telegraphed his resignation to his home office before hopping on the stagecoach bound for points east.

Andrew Sherman was preparing for his departure to St. Louis. He'd passed his entrance exams with superlative marks and the acceptance letter from Smith Academy was in his brother's proud hands. Although the summer term wouldn't be commencing until the first week of May, it was decided that he should arrive two weeks early to allow for settling in. As the interim days dwindled, he grew more excited… and more sad about leaving the only home he'd ever known and the people he loved. At the same time he accepted that he wasn't cut out to be a rancher… that his career path lay elsewhere. Whatever it turned out to be, he hoped it never took him too far from Wyoming… or, at least, was such that would allow him to return often.

Jebediah Jones and his long-time lady friend Emmaline Whatleigh Giancomo had accompanied Andy to Cheyenne where, as a courtesy, the test had been proctored by the superintendent of the city's school district. Upon their return, it was revealed that Jonesy and Emma had sealed their heretofore unacknowledged relationship in a private ceremony conducted by a justice of the peace. Furthermore, the couple would be relocating to St. Louis to live with Jonesy's widowed daughter Alice Jones Merriwether and his grandchildren. It was already arranged that Andy would be joining the household as a day student rather than boarding in the academy's facility. Emmaline (aka Madam Aline) sold out to her business partner Mildred Jane Fisk (aka Madam Vidalia Shallot) her share of their prosperous bordello on the north side of Laramie. Her private residence was part of the deal although she and her new husband were occupying the premises until the actual day of departure, at which time she would be relinquishing the keys.

Jess Harper—having almost completely recovered from his ordeal and slowly regaining his strength—was, for the time being, content to immerse himself in the humdrum existence of ranch and relay station maintenance. And—for the short time they had left—he continued enjoying hours spent with Carolina Compton. Carrie'd regretfully informed him that she, too, would be moving to St. Louis. Miss Emma had declared her talents wasted in a backwater such as Laramie and had offered to sponsor her establishment of an haute couture salon in the big city. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Jess had accepted the news with grudging grace—deep down recognizing he wasn't ready for family life, either... not that kind, anyway. Although he wasn't ready to admit it to Slim just yet, his heart was telling him that he'd already found his forever home. Yes, there would be differences of opinion and arguments to come—their divergent personalities would ensure that—but together they would surmount those obstacles.

Slim Sherman—having at last become reconciled to losing Andy to the far-away halls of academe—was applying himself to long-range planning for the future of the ranch. It was a given that the stagecoach business was in decline. To survive, he needed to diversify and expand the ranch and he couldn't do it by himself. He needed Jess Harper by his side. Although Slim could never prove it and Kim never admitted it, he now knew—almost for certain—who'd been responsible for the anonymous financial assistance.

Kimball Kahále—freed from his obligation to Slim—and his daughters were temporarily 'boarding' with Sally Whatleigh Lowenstein, occupying the previously unused third floor of her rambling home. Publicly, he was delaying their return to the islands until the last wrinkles in his divorce/annulment were ironed out. Privately, he and Sally were conducting a probationary period with a view toward a possible future permanent alliance. There were too many variables to consider before tying a knot... not the least of which were the children. Anela and Noelani had been enrolled in Laramie Primary for the remainder of the school year. With Jacob functioning as their champion, they were swiftly adjusting to the American educational format, which was radically different from what either girl had been accustomed to. Sally had worried at first that the girls would be subjected to the cruelty children can inflict on those who are 'different' but Kim had assured her they could handle all comers... and they did.

On a sunny, unusually balmy March afternoon, Kim and Sally were sitting side by side on a railing watching their progeny at play in the pasture. Jacob was astride Scooter, Kim's unattractive little dun horse now past any useful work. He could get around well enough but could no longer support the weight of an adult—soon he'd be joining the other retirees at the Rocking W Ranch. Noelani was riding PeeWee, Andy's outgrown pinto pony. Anela was on Sparrow, a sturdy mid-size child-safe Morgan mare on loan from the Bartlett's outfit down the road. They appeared to be engaged in some form of three-horse polo with crude homemade mallets and a misshapen leather-covered ball.

"Something I've been meaning to tell you," Sally said. "Forgot about it 'til just now..."

"What's that?"

"That first day we brought the girls out here and introduced them to Slim? Did you notice how strangely Anela reacted to him? How she watches him like a hawk every time we're visiting?"

"Not particularly. She probably just has a crush on him. It happens."

"And then she said the oddest thing..." Sally shivered. "She looked up at me and said 'that's the man I'm going to marry when I grow up.' Surely she was joking... there's eighteen years between them!"

Kim didn't say anything for a minute, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

"My tai-po—that's my father's grandmother, Meihui—had the sight. Pélé claimed Anela inherited it."

"Baloney!" Sally laughed.

"No... really. She knew things, saw things. She could foretell the future."

"And was she always right?"

"Not always accurate, but close enough to scare your socks off."

"Like what, for instance? What did she predict for you?"

"She said I would marry three times. The third time would be a gweiloh—a white woman—from across the eastern sea."

"You're making that up! And anyway, you and Pélé weren't actually married."

"As good as. She also said I'd have ten children. Your two and my seven make nine. So she missed the mark on that one... why are you looking at me like that?"

Sally gulped before replying slowly. "No, Kim... she didn't. She was right on target..."

Kim stared back as the full import of her words sank in. Neither noticed that Anela had slipped off her mount and approached the fence with a bemused expression.

"So... is Sally going be our new mother?"

Kim shook himself out of his trance. "I... uh... we... that is... we haven't decided yet."

"It's beginning to look that way, Anela," Sally finished with a smile. "If you and Noelani and Jacob and the other girls agree."

"Good. 'Cause 'Lani and I already decided we want Jake and Lily to be our new brother and sister. And another brother'll be nice too! We think Keanu'll be a good name for him, after our step-granddaddy."

The girl returned to the game with a satisfied smirk, leaving the pair of grown-ups gobsmacked.

Much later—after the visitors had gone, chores finished, dinner over with and Andy already in bed—Slim and Jess repaired to the front porch to enjoy their coffees and watch the moon come up over the mountains. Although they were as yet unaware of it, this quiet time together was to become their evening ritual. They hadn't yet reached that level of friendship that allowed each to fully disclose to the other his innermost hopes, dreams and fears... but they were getting there. Respect, admiration and trust were already present in the bedrock. What more could a man ask of his best friend?

THE END

With many thanks to my wonderful beta, Sally Bahnsen — Queen of the Slash-and-Burn Editing Technique and Buckets of Red Ink

(Author's note... In the early twentieth century, anthropologist Margaret Mead explored adolescent sexuality in the tropics... where children mature much earlier than those in temperate climes. Also in that same and earlier eras, child marriage was practiced in America's deep south and Appalachian regions, where girls as young as twelve and thirteen were routinely married off as soon as they were physically capable of reproducing. Child marriage and plural marriage were religious traditions observed by early Mormons and many Native American tribes.)