EPILOGUE

Lou was not surprised when Melanie did not come to visit the ranch for some time. For weeks she went without seeing her friend, unable to explain to her children why their favorite aunt never came anymore. Lou could not even tell Kid what had transpired between Jimmy and Melanie, for she had been sworn to secrecy. And like Howard's violence, Melanie could not have anyone know what happened. She refused to speak of it again, and never mentioned his name.

After a couple of months, Melanie began to visit her friends once more. She was quieter than she had been, a fact even the Kid noticed, and her countenance was unmistakably graver. But she was still the old Melanie in some ways, and all three children were delighted to have her back. She would spend countless hours reading with Adam as the boy continued to recuperate, playing with Charlie at the creek, and watching Jamie as he perfected his riding skills. Lou believed it was the children who brought Melanie back to life.

One day when Melanie arrived in her buggy, Lou was a little disconcerted to see Howard sitting beside her. She knew Howard thought little of her after the riding lessons she had given his wife, and he rarely came to the ranch other than on business. She was surprised to see he was full of smiles today, and very attentive to Melanie. It was all Lou could do to remember her manners and invite them in for tea.

Howard insisted on gathering the entire family in the living room, claiming he had something important to say. Lou noticed that Melanie looked like she'd rather be anywhere in the world but there, but she could not get her alone to find out why. Howard waited solemnly as Teaspoon joined the others, waiting for their undivided attention.

"I suppose you are wondering why I have asked you all here together," he began with a smirk.

The Kid had never trusted the man and his immediate thought was that Howard was going to foreclose on the ranch. It was just the kind of thing they expected of him, and he would have a smile on his face when he did it too. Kid steeled himself for a fight if it came to that. Grimly, he waited as Howard stalled for effect.

"I bring you glad tidings today. As Melanie's closest friends we wanted to share with you our joyful news… Would you like to tell them, my dear?"

Melanie looked away, unable to answer him.

"Very well, the proud responsibility shall be mine," Howard beamed. "Melanie and I are expecting!"

Everyone on the room stood shocked for a moment, before Kid left out a relieved breath. Simultaneously both Melanie and Howard were enveloped with embraces and congratulations as the family overcame their surprise. Melanie waited patiently for the last of the well-wishers to leave her side before she even dared look at Louise. Her friend was still standing on the other side of the room, studying Melanie's face. Howard was beaming with pride, reveling in the attention that was being lavished upon them.

"Well, what do you say, Louise?" he asked.

Lou did not remove her eyes from Melanie as she crossed the room and stood before her friend. After a long pause she put her arms around Melanie and hugged her tightly.

"Congratulations," she said meaningfully. Melanie smiled gratefully at the sincerity in her voice. She had feared telling Louise about the baby, dreading the moment when her friend would find out the news she so desperately wanted to share with her. She needed all of Lou's support and love now, and judging from her reaction, Melanie knew she was going to get it.

Melanie and Howard stayed for an impromptu celebratory dinner that evening. Howard was far more lively than anyone had ever imagined he could be, and Kid was shocked to learn that the man could almost be pleasant. Lou's opinion of him had not changed, and at the very first opportunity she motioned for Melanie to join her alone outside. They stood on the porch together, listening to the dusk noises around the ranch. Melanie glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye, not wanting to break their silence, but unable to avoid the conversation they needed to have.

"Are you really happy for me, Louise?" she asked quietly.

Lou turned to face her properly and thought carefully about her answer. "I'm happy for you Melly, if this makes you happy."

"You know it does," replied Melanie, her eyes shining. "A baby means everything to me."

"Howard doesn't suspect anythin', does he?" Lou didn't want to ask the question, but felt she must.

"Of course not," she snorted lightly. "He wouldn't entertain the notion for a moment that this wasn't his child. His pride would never permit it. Howard has gotten what he always wanted and so have I. How can I not be happy?"

"You know why," Lou said softly. "Are you goin' to tell him?"

"Howard? Of course not."

"I don't mean Howard."

Melanie sighed. It was something she had thought long and hard about, but no matter what decision she reached, she was satisfied with the answer. "I can never tell him. He can never find out about the baby."

"Don't you think he has the right to know?" Lou asked, defending her old friend.

"No, I don't," said Melanie with conviction. "This is my baby, Louise. Jimmy gave up any claim he had when he left me here. Please don't hate me for this. I need you help me."

Lou regretted her accusing words and her face immediately softened. "Of course I will. I'm just sorry things turned out the way they did. I'm sorry you ever met Jimmy Hickok."

"I'm not," Melanie said quickly, smiling slightly. Tears pricked at her eyes but this time they did not fall. "Jimmy gave me the greatest gift possible. He may have left me here with a man I don't love, but he did give me the one thing I've always wanted. I'd almost given up hope, but now... I'll never be sorry I met him."

Louise smiled back at her friend and put an arm around her shoulders. "I have a feelin' that everythin' is going to be all right, Melly."

"So do I. For the first time, so do I," Melanie replied, wrapping her arm around Lou's waist.

She smiled to herself as they remained standing on the porch, listening to the crickets chirping and the distant whinnying of the horses. Melanie smiled and dreamt of the new life within her.